What If Redtail Survived Part 1

(Gore)

Our story begins in ThunderClan territory at Sunning Rocks. A lean and muscular red tortie cat named Redtail, a large hulking brown tabby named Tigerclaw, and a small slender black kitten with a white chest tuft and tail tip named Ravenpaw, are sent out early that morning to recapture some territory stolen by RiverClan the previous night. The atmosphere is heavy and the air stale with the scents of RiverClan cats. It truly was eerie, and Redtail sees how nervous Ravenpaw is.

Tigerclaw however is not bothered by the possible danger, and has his gaze focused on Redtail. Something about him is different today. He seems more worked up than ever, his tail flicking and claws digging deep into the ground.

Redtail flattens his tail, and points it towards some large moss covered rocks, signalling the cats with him to duck for cover. They had to be very careful about what they were doing. One wrong move, one sound and it would be all over. A good strategy was their only option to get the Sunning Rocks back.

“We should get out of here,” Ravenpaw urged, his fur standing up and tail stiffening. The scent of fear taints him, as the anxiety begins to eat up at him. He feels sick, but tries to keep his composure.

Tigerclaw snarls at his apprentice quietly, swishing his tail. “Quit your mewling Ravenpaw! Are you a ThunderClan apprentice or a soft little kittypet!?” He turns his attention to Redtail, and waits for a signal. He is eager for a fight, but keeps his composure.

Ravenpaw flinches, and whimpers. “I’m s…sorry Tigerclaw. I’m doing my best.” His paws tremble as he struggles to hold in his fear. He looks over to Mousefur, who also seems nervous, but eager for a fight.

Redtail gives a reassuring glance to the young apprentice and smiles. He then turns his attention back to the Sunning Rocks. He peeks his head out from behind the mossy rocks, and gives the air a quick sniff. He ducks back down, looking over to the ThunderClan patrol.

“Well?” Tigerclaw asks eagerly, flicking his tail impatiently.

Redtail nods, looking over to Ravenpaw and back to Tigerclaw. “Looks like the coast is clear— For now.” He kinks his tail over his back, and leaps from behind the rocks back towards the river. “Come out everyone. Let’s make this quick and mark our Sunning Rocks, before RiverClan shows up again.”

Tigerclaw and his apprentice leapt from behind the mossy rocks to him. The mighty tabby warrior gives the air a sniff before looking back at his apprentice. “Hurry up Ravenpaw! You heard the deputy!” He thrashes his tail, sweeping up mist and dirt.

Ravenpaw hurries over, his tiny legs and voice trembling. “S…sorry. I’m here Tigerclaw.” The anxiety eats him up even more, causing him to feel cold and hollow inside. He wants to speak out, but he chooses to have faith in Redtail and Tigerclaw.

The ThunderClan patrol begins to mark Sunning Rocks. One by one, every part of the area is sprayed, scratched, and rubbed til only their scent is visible. They know this is the only way to reclaim what is theirs. Once finished, they get ready to leave.

Redtail praises Tigerclaw, despite his crazy idea to attempt at reclaiming Sunning Rocks. “Looks like your plan worked, Tigerclaw. RiverClan will definitely know we’ve been here and won’t dare mess with us again. I it I wasn’t too fond of your idea at first, but once again you proved your loyalty to ThunderClan through your sheer stubbornness and determination.” He turns his gaze to Ravenpaw, who still seems anxious. “And you, Young Ravenpaw—”

Suddenly, from the misty darkness, five RiverClan cats appear. One of them was a large husky red-brown tom-cat— the RiverClan deputy himself, Oakheart. Once again he and his fellow RiverClan warriors have returned to challenge ThunderClan for control over Sunning Rocks. This time however, ThunderClan will not back down.

Ravenpaw shivers anxiously, his paws sinking in the mud as he freezes in fear. “Ack! R…RiverClan patrol!” his voice trembles.

“Well…well…well… So, you still haven’t learned your lesson from the last time, have you?” Oakheart asks, his gaze focused on Redtail. “So, let me be clear once more—” He pauses, glaring at Tigerclaw and Ravenpaw with an intense fury. “This is now a RiverClan hunting ground!”

Redtail erects his tail up, swaying it side to side. He signals for Tigerclaw and Ravenpaw to stay behind him, while he tries to negotiate with the RiverClan deputy. “Tigerclaw, you and your apprentice wait there! I’ll deal with Oakheart!” He focuses his attention on the RiverClan deputy, being extra alert just in case things go wrong.

Tigerclaw snarls, his claws digging deep into the wet soil of the river bank. “Yes Redtail…” He glares at his deputy with intense burning hatred in his eyes. His gaze was enough to frighten his apprentice.

“Oakheart, we’re both Clan deputies. Let us not shed anymore blood this Leaf Bare. Our Clans have lost enough lives already.” There is desperation in Redtail’s voice, as he attempts to negotiate with the RiverClan deputy. He thrashes his tail around, ready to fight in case anything goes wrong. But he keeps his composure, hoping to keep things civil.

Oakheart lets out a soft sigh. He keeps his composure, and tries not to snap at his rival. The heat of battle burns within him, and he struggles to resist his instincts. “You make a good point, Redtail, but we need food, and RiverClan refuses to back down.”

Redtail nods. “Tell Crookedstar, that ThunderClan will not back down either. We can settle this at another time and place.”

Oakheart grunts affirmatively, placing a paw on his chin. He contemplates what to do, and whether to give up this pointless feud. After a moment, he looks over to Redtail sternly. “Very well, Redtail. We’ll settle this later, but you and your Clan must keep away until then.”

Tigerclaw growls, and is infuriated by Redtail’s negotiating. How could he just let Oakheart walk away like this and take a part of ThunderClan territory? “That’s it! We settle this now!” Without warning, he charges at and pins down one of the RiverClan cats, a blue-gray she-cat.

Ravenpaw grunts in shock as his mentor swipes down on the she-cat’s back, scratching her shoulder.

Redtail looks at Tigerclaw in disbelief. “NO! Tigerclaw, what have you done!?” His voice is laced with disappointment and frustration.

Oakheart snarls, surprised and outraged by the betrayal. “How dare you… Fish heart!” He shoves Redtail to the ground in anger, and pins him down. “Attacking one of my warriors in the middle of a negotiation? So much for ThunderClan honor.”

“Nrgh! Ack!” Redtail struggles, but manages to kick the RiverClan deputy off of him, and gets back onto his paws. He tries to diffuse the situation. “Tigerclaw, STAND DOWN! Release Mistyfoot, NOW! That’s an order!”

Tigerclaw does as Redtail orders, and moves away from Mistyfoot, giving her a chance to recover her footing.

Redtail looks back over to Oakheart apologetically, but holds his ground. “Oakheart, as you can see, we want this feud to end. Let’s not let a little scuffle get in the way of brokering some peace.”

Oakheart shakes his head in disapproval. He snarls at Redtail, lashing his tail. “I’ve heard and seen enough! What good is ThunderClan’s word, if you can’t even keep one of your warriors in line!? RiverClan will never surrender this territory back over to you, no matter what you threaten! My Clan must eat!” He pounces towards Redtail, only to be shoved back by Tigerclaw.

“Flea bitten water-rat! Keep your paws to your own territory!” The ThunderClan warrior growls.

Oakheart gets back onto his paws, snarling. “RiverClan… ATTACK!” He kinks his tail and points it towards Ravenpaw and Tigerclaw. His menacing gaze is now focused on Redtail, as the two deputies hiss and snarl at each other.

A large muscular black tom-cat charges towards Ravenpaw. He pins down the young apprentice and slashes across his shoulder, leaving a deep gash. He grabs him by the scruff and flings him across the battlefield onto some rocks.

Ravenpaw grunts from the impact, and lies there on his side. His wound slowly begins to trickle out blood, as he struggles to fight back the pain.

Redtail notices this, and quickly comes to Ravenpaw’s aid. “Go back to camp, Young One. You’re much too wounded to fight. We can handle things from here.”

Ravenpaw gets back onto his paws, and tries to protest, despite the clear danger he was in. “But Redtail, I—”

Redtail hisses furiously at the young apprentice. “GO! That’s an order!” He runs off, charging towards a creamy-yellow dappled tabby cat. “Forgive me, Leopardfur.”

Ravenpaw watches the scuffle and freezes there helplessly, as the pain of his wound slowly takes over. He wants to fight, but is afraid to disobey orders from his Clan deputy. Just as he makes haste for the nearest escape route, he freezes up at the menacing presence of his mentor, Tigerclaw.

The ThunderClan warrior snarls, “Where do you think you’re going, Ravenpaw!? Are you my apprentice or a mouse-hearted kit!? Stand and fight!” He tackles down the same black tom who injured Ravenpaw just moments ago. “Go home, Blackclaw! Grnah!”

Ravenpaw struggles, unsure who to listen to, his mentor or the Clan deputy. His thoughts are conflicted, and he is unable to focus on the world around him.

Taking advantage of the situation, a lean and slender stone-gray tom-cat slowly stalks the confused and frightened ThunderClan apprentice. However, he is stopped by Redtail and tackled down.

“Ravenpaw, snap out of it! This isn’t the time or place to stand here like a startled squirrel!” He quickly grabs the young apprentice by his scruff and drags him to cover behind some bushes. “Keep your head down, and stay here till it’s safe to get away!” Redtail rushes back into battle, leaving Ravenpaw alone.

The ThunderClan apprentice does as his deputy says, and stays behind cover. He watches the battle from the safety of the leaves, not noticing once again the stone-gray warrior looking in his direction, and approaching his hiding place.

Redtail once again protects the young ThunderClan apprentice, and tackles the warrior down HARD. “Rgh!”

The stone-gray warrior gets back up and stares down Redtail. He snarls, lashing his tail furiously. “Why you—”

The ThunderClan deputy pins the enemy warrior down, about to dig claws into him. “Now, we end this.”

“Hey! Get off of me!” The stone-gray cat struggles as he is pinned down. He grunts in pain and howls for help. “Nrgh! Oakheart, help!”

Rushing over to assist the RiverClan warrior, Oakheart grabs Redtail by his scruff and pulls him off.

The stone-gray cat gets back up and shakes his fur off.

The red tortie grunts angrily and looks up to see the red-brown tabby pinning him down. “WHAT!? Can’t RiverClan warriors fight their own battles!?” There was a hint of sass in his tone.

Oakheart stares down at Redtail intensely, thrashing his tail around. “Your battle is with me, Redtail.” He looks over to the stone-gray cat. “NO ThunderClan cat is to lay a paw on THAT warrior.”

Redtail shoves Oakheart off and gets back up.

The force of the blow is so powerful, it sends the RiverClan deputy flying onto an unstable rocky overhang.

Before Oakheart can get back up—

CRACK! CRASH!

The overhang comes loose and rocks come crumbling down onto the red-brown tabby. Dust and debris go flying everywhere and take everyone by surprise. The battle ceases as everyone scatters to safety. When it all settles, a tail is seen sticking out from underneath the blood soaked rocks.

Ravenpaw rushes over, panting heavily. He huffs and calls out for Redtail, hoping it wasn’t him under the debris. “R…Redtail!?”

From behind the rocks emerges the red tortie, wounded by a combination of battling and falling rocks, but still standing. He lets out a few sputtered coughs, shaking his fur off. A look of horror is etched across his face as he looks down at his now dead opponent. “W…What have I done?” Redtail asks, sorrowfully, clearly guilt ridden and still in shock.

Ravenpaw can’t believe his own eyes either. Redtail had just killed another Clan deputy. Before he can speak, he senses the menacing presence of Tigerclaw, and lets out a startled grunt as he is shoved away.

Tigerclaw rushes over, his fur tattered and paws stained with blood. “Redtail, is everythi—” He pauses at the gruesome sight of Oakheart’s crushed remains and the blood stained rocks. “Hmmm… He’s dead?”

The red tortie cat sighs with a nod. “I…I didn’t mean to— the rockfall…”

The brown tabby grunts affirmatively and speaks. “RiverClan will be coming back soon to collect the body. They’ll want vengeance for this.” He turns toward his apprentice with a snarl. “Ravenpaw, go back to camp and wait for me. Redtail and I will clear this situation and if needed, deal with any warriors looking for a fight.”

Ravenpaw protested. “But Tigerclaw, I—”

Tigerclaw growls and lashes his tail. “GO! That’s an order!” He gives his apprentice a hard shove, nudging him towards the forest.

Ravenpaw runs off squealing and terrified. He didn’t dare go against his mentor. However, he can’t help but worry about his Clan deputy and Tigerclaw. RiverClan is Hellbent on keeping Sunning Rocks, and they may try to ambush the ThunderClan warriors once again. The ThunderClan apprentice rushes back to the battle ground to aid his fellow warriors, only to witness—

Redtail and Tigerclaw manage to fend off any resistance from RiverClan. Sunning Rocks once again belonged to ThunderClan. With Oakheart dead, RiverClan would be left more vulnerable and unable to strategize further battles without co-leadership. They hightail it and leave with Oakheart’s crushed remains.

The red tortie looks over to Tigerclaw and bows his head gratefully. “Thank you Tigerclaw. Without your brute strength and determination, we never would have succeeded in taking back this part of our territory.” His tail sits flat to the ground, his body relaxing after a tiring battle.

Tigerclaw nods with a grin. “I’m happy to do whatever it takes to serve my Clan. ANYTHING it takes...” The brown tabby digs his claws into the ground, thrashing his tail. His menacing gaze focusing on an injured distracted Redtail. “Think you have enough strength left to make it back? Bluestar will want an update.”

The ThunderClan deputy licks his wounds. He looks at Tigerclaw with a stern expression. “I’ve suffered far worse, Tigerclaw. I appreciate your concern though. Thank you.”

Tigerclaw smirks with a wide grin, licking his chops. “Noted…”

As Redtail turns and heads for the path back to camp, he is unable to react to a sneak attack by Tigerclaw. He is pinned down, unable to move or fight back. “Nrgh! T…Tigerclaw what’re you—”

Tigerclaw answers with a hard bite to Redtail’s scruff, drawing blood. He snarls viciously like a rabid dog, tearing through the tortie’s flesh and fur.

Redtail feels the air leave his lungs. The pain is so intense to him, it feels like an eternity. He manages to mutter out just one word. “W…Why?”

The brown tabby answers with a wicked grin. “You were always a mouse-hearted fool, Redtail, but soon you’ll be out of my way. ThunderClan needs a stronger deputy. Someone like me, who is willing to get their paws dirty for the greater good of his Clan.” He continues to bite down harder on Redtail’s neck, splattering blood on his muzzle and the ground.

Redtail gurgles, unable to breath or speak. He lets out a guttural moan, and stares back angrily at the traitor before him. Using his strength he manages to mutter something else to the traitorous tabby. “Urgh… Y…Your plan will fail. Bluestar will never choose someone like… YOU.”

Redtail’s blood runs cold. The long held threat was still echoing in his mind. He knows it was only a matter of time before he s StarClan. But he couldn’t let himself die, not like this.

Ravenpaw watches as Tigerclaw walks off and Redtail stops moving. He cries out in protest. “Redtail! NO!”

Tigerclaw looks back, his menacing gaze focusing on the Ravenpaw hiding place. “Hm?! Who’s there?!” He snarls angrily, sensing a presence.

The ThunderClan apprentice lets out a terrified shriek and runs off. He prays to StarClan that his mentor didn’t see him.

As Tigerclaw turns back, he thinks he sees movement coming from Redtail’s corpse. He slowly approaches the tortie, unaware of the surprise he was in for.

The deputy lies there, alive but unconscious. He finds himself lost in an endless white void, devoid of any surroundings, and surrounded by the echoing voices of his own thoughts and emotions. As he looks around, he sees the silhouettes of multiple cats converge upon him, but he can do nothing to fight back.

He opens his eyes, only to see another sight, one more disturbing. A forest echoes with the cries of battle and the sky burns a deep shade of blood red. The tortie can see the flashing glow of fire burning down a burning and smoke engulfing any life left behind. He watches in horror as the smoke takes on the menacing form of the cat who just tried to kill him, Tigerclaw.

The smokey mass begins to converge onto Redtail, its eyes glowing with a burning hatred and evil. It charges towards Redtail, suffocating him. “Rrrrrrrredtaaaaaailllllllll…” Its voice echoes clearly.

Redtail begins to feel his chest become heavy. The air exits his lungs, and he feels a painful burning sensation inside, as if a fire is eating away at his very soul. He collapses and sinks onto his belly, tears in his eyes, begging to StarClan to get him out of this nightmare. Just before he loses consciousness again, he sees a faint flash of light extinguish the flames, and from it a spirit cat emerges.

The tortie watches in awe as the spirit cat burns with a bright flame, yet its paw steps leave the forest floor untouched. It’s almost as if this fire is gentle and warm, like a shining sun. He closes his eyes, feeling himself lose consciousness as the dream around him dissipates into a bright flash of starlight. As he wakes up, he finds himself once again at Sunning Rocks, and looks up to see Tigerclaw approaching him menacingly.

“And now Redtail—” The brown tabby pauses, looking down at the tortie with a wicked grin, unaware his victim has just woken up. “I shall take what is rightfully mine. Soon I’ll no longer be just a deputy, but the leader of ThunderClan itself. Too bad you won’t be around to protect Bluestar when her last life is finally extinguished. Don’t worry though, I’ll protect her.” He lets out a wicked laugh, as he scrapes his claws across Redtail’s back, drawing blood.

Redtail snaps back to reality, the threats of Tigerclaw being enough to push him away from the brink of death and out of StarClan’s grasp. Just mere moments ago, he had been betrayed, and this same cat who attempted his life wanted to take his position? NEVER!

The tortie will fight back or die trying. He will not allow the dark vision he saw become a reality. He kicks Tigerclaw back with all the strength he can muster, rising from the dirt.

Tigerclaw falls awkwardly off of Redtail, and shakes his head disoriented. He looks up in shock and horror, to see a bloodied and beaten Redtail, staring at him with intense fury.

“TIGERCLAW!” Redtail snarls, struggling just to keep his footing, and fighting back the pain. Blood drips down his mouth, as he can barely hold in a flurry of mixed emotions. He pins the warrior down, digging his claws into him.

Tigerclaw struggles and squirms, trying to free himself. But the brown tabby is no match for the new given strength that his former ally now possesses. He tries to collect his thoughts, unsure what went wrong with his perfectly executed plan. “H…how is this possible? He should be dead. He’s not even a Clan leader yet. Where did he get this kind of power?”

After a bit of struggle, Tigerclaw notices Redtail waning. He takes advantage and goes for a paw swipe to the ground. Kicking up wet sand and moss from the ground, the tabby blinds his former ally.

The tortie screeches in pain, rubbing his eyes with the back end of his paw. He is unable to open them though, due to the irritation. “FINE! I don’t need my eyes to fight you, nor do I need them to see the shame you’ve brought to our ancestors. I am going to make sure your evil dies here and now. If StarClan claims me…” He grunts in pain momentarily, but pushes through it. “I’m taking you with me!”

The brown tabby taunts the tortie. “Poor poor Redtail. Even after all that new vigor, you’re still as weak as ever! Too afraid to take one life to save countless others.” He lets out a wicked laugh, sharpening his claws against some rocks.

Redtail retaliates, charging towards the tabby with intense anger and hatred. He is through playing around, through letting Tigerclaw taunt him with empty threats.

The two cats tussle and tear at each other, both trying to finish each other off. Teeth and claws clash, as blood sprinkles all around, and fur flies everywhere. The battle lasts for what seems like an eternity until—

SNAP! CRACK!

Redtail’s teeth meet the soft flesh of Tigerclaw. His jaw is clasped tightly around the tabby’s thick neck and nearly digging into his bones. The red tortie flings his opponent across the battlefield with such power, it drains him. With nothing else left to give, and feeling his life force draining, the tortie’s eyes become heavier as his vision starts to fade.

Tigerclaw gets up, shaking himself off. He notices a weakened and exhausted Redtail just lying there. He smirks with a wicked grin, licking his maw. He thinks to himself, “Now’s my chance to end this. Once Redtail’s out of my way, I will deal with Ravenpaw next. No witnesses. Nothing and nobody will stop me from taking what is rightfully MINE.”

The tabby slowly and menacingly approaches a very disoriented Redtail, claws sharpened and ready to finish off his weakened opponent. He laughs maniacally, his eyes burning with evil intent. “I win! ThunderClan is mine—”

SLASH!

Tigerclaw’s gasps in shock and horror, his eyes dilating. With blurry vision, he looks down to see a deep gash across his torso, and Redtail staggering back up. His words are silenced by the deadly blow to his torso. He gurgles and coughs up blood, letting out a final guttural moan, before collapsing to the ground.

Redtail shakes his head, still weak from the battle, but holding steady. He feels a crimson river pooling down his paws, and looks to see Tigerclaw dead. Somehow, the tortie was able to draw on just enough strength to finish him off for good. “I’m sorry Tigerclaw.”

He sighs with a heavy heart full of regret and sorrow. It shouldn’t have come to this, but he didn't have a choice. He hopes to StarClan that Tigerclaw can at least find some kind of peace and be released from his burdens. He doesn’t want to believe his former ally is pure evil, not after all they went through all those years.

Using whatever strength he can muster, Redtail makes a dash for camp. He is weak from his injuries and running out of blood fast. He knows if he doesn’t find help soon, he will not live to see the title of ‘star’ or watch his kin grow into warriors. The thoughts push him forward, but only so far.

Just as he makes it halfway home, the pain of his wounds overtakes him, and he collapses just outside Tall Pines. He looks around, vision blurry to see the forest just outside his grasp, and reaches out his paw, as if calling for help. “St…StarClan, g…give me strength—” Before he loses consciousness, he looks to see the silhouette of a cat running to him.

A voice calls out from the void. “Hey! Are you alright!?” Something about it is warm and reassuring. “Hang in there, whoever you are! I’ll get you some help—” It slowly fades and goes quiet.