Pebblestar darted through the forest as fast as his legs could carry him. His breath escaped him in short pants, sweat drops beading on his fur. His mind was spinning, alarm clouding his thoughts.

He exploded into the clearing and came to a stop. Before him, a large, ominous cave entrance stared, its wide, gaping mouth daring him to enter.

The brown tom sniffed the air cautiously, ears flattened. He could taste the stale scent of badger, most likely from the tufts of fur that still clung to the sharp rocks on the entrance to the cave. Some old rabbit scent from the nearby undergrowth. The heavy, fresh scent of Whisperstone.

But nothing that could vouch for the alarm that Whisperstone had shown.

Why, he wondered, had he been called to this clearing? Pebblestar's hackles raised, unbidden, and he took a small step back.

As he did, he felt something heavy push him off his paws.

The brown tom's head hit the ground, the right side of his skull slamming into a loose rock on the forest floor. A bright burst of pain fogged his vision, his mind suddenly pounding.

He struggled to move his paws, alarm filling his mind. Had some cat with evil intent been lying in wait? How did he not smell it?

A white paw stepped into sight. A different paw kicked him in the back, pressing him into the ground. A low chuckle filled the air.

A familiar face filled his vision.

Pebblestar felt as though the air was knocked from his lungs. His eyes widened, and his paws scrabbled uselessly on the ground, trying to find purchase to fight off the tom.

"Whisperstone... what.. What..."

The white tom let out another grating laugh. "You fool," he hissed, "such a weak leader. Too trusting, too oblivious."

"What is going on?" Pebblestar spat, eyes narrowed.

"Well, my dear leader, I decided that your reign is over. I'm going to lead now." Whisperstone said bluntly.

"Why?" He couldn't fathom this, his trusted deputy and friend turning on him like this.

"How kind of you to ask! Sit, relax, let me explain," the white tom teased, letting his claws dig into the back of Pebblestar's neck. "You are too nice. You bend over, let other Clans walk all over us. You've made us seem weak. I don't appreciate that."

"What have I done that mak- ack!" Pebblestar tried to speak, only for Whisperstone to press on his neck, cutting off his speech. With a swift swipe, he sliced into Pebblestar's flank, leaving a gash that began to softly bleed out.

"Don't interrupt me!" he snarled, eyes flashing. "Now, as I was saying, Quietstar and I have decided that-"

"Quietstar is involved too?"

SLASH. This time, a deeper gash, closer to his unprotected belly. The wound stung, the pain becoming sharper as Whisperstone rolled him over and dirty sand seeped into the cut.

"What did I JUST say?" Pebblestar watched Whisperstone's eyes become unfocused, almost deranged. "DON'T INTERRUPT ME."

Pebblestar pressed his jaws closed.

"Thats better," the crazed tom snarled. He took a deep breath, closing his eyes for a small moment. "Yes, Quietstar is involved. She and I decided that you needed to go. And so, here I am. As far as the Clan will know, I desperately tried to save you but was unable to."

"What do-"

Whisperstone sliced into Pebblestar's skin, leaving another gash. This one was fatally deep, cutting into his neck. The brown tom would bleed out before long.

"You just don't get it, do you?" he hissed. "Quietstar and I will join our Clans together, creating one group that will rule over both territories, commanding power and respect. I wouldn't expect you to understand. You don't need to understand. Regardless, you don't feature in our vision."

"You won't get away with this," Pebblestar hissed out, receiving another wound for his troubles.

"Ah, but that's where you are wrong. After all, you personally demoralized the only cat who has ever suspected me."

Pebblestar's eyes widened in realization. "Lightblaze?"

"That tom has been onto me since the very beginning," Whisperstone hissed, "but you took care of his suspicions very quickly. Thank you for that. It has made this takeover so much easier."

Pebblestar squirmed fruitlessly, feeling his energy drain away along with his blood.

Whisperstone laughed maniacally, taking one final swipe at Pebblestar's neck.