Edited ✔️✔️
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The black tabby's eyes fluttered opened, emitting a soft, orange glow in the den as they reflected the moonlight that dappled through the leaves. His gaze immediately rested on his brother's dark brown pelt, watching his flank gently rise and fall as he slept like a log, completely and utterly forgetful, as per usual. The black tabby smiled as his brother rested in a peaceful doze, his expression kind, yet bittersweet as he gave him a small tap on the side.

"Springedjoint."  He whispered into the darkness, his head lifting into the air for a brief moment as his eyes scanned over the nearly empty den. He prodded his brother some more, his heart twisting as he disturbed the brown tom's dreams. "Springedjoint, wake up." He leaned away as the other tom, younger than the black tabby by only a few minutes, stirred. His paws rubbed sleepily against his muzzle, and he let out a small, exhausted groan.

Stepping away to let his brother rise in his own, the black tabby lifted his ears and let them swivel back and forth, listening carefully for any disturbance to the night's silence. He felt a small rush of warm air disturb his ear fur, and he flicked it in acknowledgement to Springedjoint standing beside him.

"What is it, Darkblaze?" The brown cat mumbled sleepily, his voice slurred with exhaustion and his head lazily turned in the black tabby's direction.

Darkblaze smiled softly, amused as Springedjoint once again let his forgetfulness get the best of him.

"It's moonhigh." He said quietly, his voice level and carefully toned down as to not disturb anybody else. "Tonight is the perfect night to leave; don't you recall?"

Springedjoint's eyes stretched wide, looking like two bright yellow moons as he tried his best to stifle his surprise. "Yes, of course. It's the night of the gathering."

Darkblaze let out a purr of amusement, flicking his tail against Springedjoint's shoulder as he silently exited the den. His eyes cautiously scanned the clearing, and much to his satisfaction, nobody was in sight. He and Springedjoint had agreed upon leaving as the moon reached its highest peak on the night of the gathering, just to ensure that their escape was as uninterrupted as possible, especially with half the clan gone.

Creeping along the edge of the clearing, Darkblaze's dark pelt melted easily with the shadows. Springedjoint was following soundlessly behind him, their carefully executed plan working almost flawlessly. Almost.

A figure entered the camp, and Darkblaze went as still as stone. Springedjoint collided with his littermate's rear at his sudden stop, and quickly backed away. Darkblaze's eyes narrowed to slits as he recognized the tom who was disrupting their plans, and felt a chill run along his spine as the gray feline's yellow eyes rested on the brothers at the sudden movement.

"Darkblaze? Springedjoint? Where do you think you two are going?" Pebblewing meowed sharply, approaching the littermates with a cold gaze.

Darkblaze heard Springedjoint shuffle behind him, and the brown tom gave a polite nod to the gray warrior. "We're just making a quick run to the dirtplace." He said quickly, forcing a small smile to curl his lips.

Pebblewing narrowed his eyes suspiciously, but nodded nonetheless. "Hurry up then. Newtstar won't be happy if she finds you two wandering outside the camp." The gray patched tom's eyes flashed dangerously.

Darkblaze nodded, his heart feeling as if it would stop. "Of course, Pebblewing." He murmured.

Turning tail, Darkblaze and Springedjoint hurried into the dirtplace. The hideous stench made Darkblaze's nostrils flare with disgust as he anxiously glanced around.

Springedjoint turned to his brother. If the brown tom was panicking, he wasn't showing it nearly as much as Darkblaze, whose chest rose and fell rapidly.

"There's an emergency escape route just behind here." Springedjoint whispered, his eyes darting around carefully. "It's steep, but if we're fast and careful, we can make it out before Pebblewing will manage to exit the camp."

Darkblaze hesitated for a moment, before nodding his approval. "You're a genius." He said with a smile, giving his brother's cheek a soft nuzzle.

Springedjoint beamed, before padding to the very back of the dirtplace and scanning the wall. Unsheathing his claws, he began to carefully tear away at the brambles. Darkblaze joined his brother, helping dig away until a large hole gaped before them. Being as silent as he possibly could, Darkblaze squeezed through the new exit directly behind Springedjoint, shaking small thorns from his pelt as he emerged from the dirtplace. It wasn't the most pleasant of ways to sneak out, but he knew that if they had gone through the entrance, Pebblewing would be on their tails in an instant. Through the back, the gray tom wouldn't even know of their absence unless he decided to check on them.

Darkblaze furrowed his brow. "Where's the exit?" He asked quietly.

Springedjoint smiled, and nodded to the stone wall of the hollow in front of them. "Up there." He meowed.

Darkblaze followed his brother's gaze. This side of the camp wasn't nearly as steep as the others, small indents in the roughed carved stone where they could get pawholds, and some even big enough to rest on as they gathered their breath. It had never occurred to Darkblaze, but the ragged scoops in the walls of the stone hollow seemed quite unnatural.

Springedjoint took Darkblaze's silence as fear, and gave his littermate a gentle nudge. "If it makes you feel any better, I can go before you." He meowed gently.

Startled, Darkblaze gave a swift shake of his head. "No, no, it's perfectly fine." He assured.

Springedjoint shrugged with a grin. "Whatever. I'm still going first."

Without waiting for his brother's protest, Springedjoint launched himself to the wall, claws unsheathed as he hauled himself upwards, ledge by ledge. Hesitating, Darkblaze scrabbled up behind Springedjoint, rocks from his brother's ascent showering down upon him. Springedjoint made it up in no time, his quick and agile climb looking almost practiced. Unlike his brother, Darkblaze pause on a few ledges multiple times to catch his breath, until he finally reached the top.

Springedjoint grasped Darkblaze's scruff and helped to pull him onto solid ground, waiting patiently with his tail folded over his paws as Darkblaze gulped up lungfuls of air.

"How did you do that so effortlessly?" Darkblaze wheezed, lying flat on his stomach. "It's like you've done this before."

Springedjoint's fur bristled, embarrassment rolling off of him in waves of emotion, a small hint of sadness in the mix. "Oh, I'm just naturally skilled at climbing, I suppose." He said quickly with a forced chuckle, taking care to avoid his littermate's searching gaze.

"Are you sure?" Darkblaze pressed.

Before Springedjoint was given time to respond, a voice disrupted the night.

"Oh, I'm sure it has something to do with that handsome WindClan tom he's been sneaking out to see." Pebblewing sneered, stalking slowly out of the underbrush, his yellow gaze sharp and judging as he looked the two toms over.

Surprise flashed through Darkblaze, and he noticed Springedjoint move to stand in front of him, his eyes glowering at the gray patched feline in front of them. Darkblaze slowly gathered himself to his feet, still rather out of breath, but knowing what he and Springedjoint had planned to do if they had been caught. Not letting Pebblewing's words get to his head, he gave Springedjoint's shoulder a gentle nudge. The brown tom looked back, and nodded.

Then, they ran.

Darkblaze's hind claws tore into the soil as he propelled himself forward, sending a spray of earth scattering behind him. His breaths came in heaving gasps, but his ears were flat and his eyes narrow with a fierce determination. Springedjoint was already many tail-lengths ahead of him, and a swift glance back told him that Pebblewing was hot on his heels.

Darkblaze watched as his brother stumbled over a gnarled oak root, his tail lashing out for balance. The black tabby brushed his fur against Springedjoint's shoulder in silent reassurance as he streaked past.

The brown tom swiftly regained his pace, darting past the black tabby with ease and agility, while Darkblaze struggled to move quickly and to breath through the crisp air whipping past him.

Suddenly, unsheathed claws sank into Darkblaze's haunches, and he let out a screech as he plummeted towards the ground. The weight of Pebblewing's body pinning him to the earth. Darkblaze managed to twist around and expose his belly, but in doing so he had an advantage. He struggled viciously to escape the gray tom's firm hold, lashing out relentlessly and slicing his claws into the soft fur of Pebblewing's stomach.

The gray tom let out a snarl, and without hesitation he plunged his teeth into Darkblaze's throat, tearing back with flesh and fur. Darkblaze's mouth bubbled with blood, and the scarlet liquid slipped down his chin. His amber eyes quickly glazed over, and immediately, the tabby fell limp.

***

Springedjoint's paws pounded against the earth, each step thundering in his ears as he darted through the trees. He could no longer sense his brother's presence beside him, and felt a feeling of dread overtake his heart as a shriek filled the night. His paws slithering against the ground as he pulled to a stop, the brown tom turned around to view the sight before him.

Shock and horror filled Springedjoint as Pebblewing tore out his littermate's throat, flesh and blood dripping from the gray tom's jaws.

"No!" Springedjoint screamed, leaping forward as tears began to spill from his eyes. He was blinded by fury, and without a second thought he slammed into Pebblewing's side, knocking him into the ferns.

Springedjoint twisted himself around and knelt over Darkblaze's body, sobs wracking through his shoulders as he gently touched his nose to his brother's now cold fur. "Darkblaze? Darkblaze? Darkblaze, please answer me!" He wailed.

Pebblewing strode from the undergrowth, a low grow rumbling in his throat as he set his gaze upon the grieving tom. The fur on Springedjoint's scruff bristled, and he rebounded Pebblewing's growl with one of his own.

"You killed my brother." Springedjoint said lowly, venom lacing his words while tears pricked at his eyes. "You're...you're a monster!" Springedjoint streaked forward, a screech rattling in his throat.

The brown tom lashed his claws out at Pebblewing, who ducked just before he could be grazed. Springedjoint stumbled, but whipped around quickly as claws caught on his haunches. Crimson blood already swelling from the wound, he let out a battle cry and charged at Pebblewing. The gray patched tom ducked a moment too late, and the two toms locked into a writing ball of teeth and claw.

Shoving Springedjoint away, Pebblewing let loose a hiss as he folded back his ears. "You traitor!" The gray feline shouted, his tail bushed out.

Springedjoint scoffed, a shadowed look in his eyes. "I am no traitor, you fool. You killed your own clanmate; my brother. I know of so many things you've done, and I will never live with you in line to be leader."

Pebblewing's eyes darkened as realization struck him, before a wicked grin upturned his features. "Oh, sweet Springedjoint. So foolish of you not to have told Newtstar..." he paused, walking towards the brown tom who was standing stiffly,  to daring to make a move. "You know, you are the downfall of ThunderClan."

The gray cat brought his muzzle close to Springedjoint's, his breath billowing onto the tom's face. "You will never escape, Springedjoint...but, you were right about one thing." He hissed. "You won't live with me in line to be leader."

Suddenly, before Springedjoint could react, Pebblewing slashed his claws across the warrior's throat, blood spurting from the scratch and spilling onto the ground. The brown tom crumpled onto his brother's body, his yellow eyes glazed over and lifeless. The gray tom's gaze flicked between the two body's, an oddly satisfied gleam to his yellow eyes as he rasped his tongue over a blood soaked paw.

"Now nobody will ever tell my little secret."