Kaelan
Leader of The Immortal Ones
“You’ll have to forgive me for the sudden intrusion,” Kaelan’s false sincerity echoed off the damp walls, a polite veneer that masked his utter disregard for them as he slowly descended the spiraling path, slow and unhurried. There was no need to rush, not when he stood between them and their only exit.
Behind Kaelan, several of his members carried Ravenstar's lifeless form, the stake jutting out obscenely from the Shadowclan leader’s chest. Once they reached the cavern floor, he gestured to his followers to lay Ravenstar on the cold, damp stone, nearest to the shimmering pool. “It is upon this hallowed ground that I must perform the sacred rite; to drain the essence of Ravenstar’s life force and reclaim his lives as my own, healing myself of the sickness that has plagued my veins for far too long,” he elaborated with an unsettling calm, as if he were discussing something far more mundane; every gruesome nuance laid bare with an eerie nonchalance.
With an unsheathed claw, he gently moved the fallen leader’s head to the side, eyeing his neck— the spot where he would soon sink his teeth into. The familiar tang of blood, rich and metallic, lingered on his tongue, calling to the darkest corners of his mind like a siren's song. It had been a while since he’d fed on another, and he could already taste it, feel the surge of strength and vitality that’d flood his senses once his teeth connected with flesh.
Lifting his gaze, almost reluctantly, he fixed his hollow stare on the medicine cats, a glint of something more feral still lingering in their sickly depths. There was a small fact still unknown to the unsuspecting healers. A detail he had not yet shared. "One among you,” he declared, “Will accompany the Shadowclan leader on his final journey," his gaze raked over the assembled medicine cats, lingering on each face, "And by doing so, I will gain your connection to Starclan, your healing powers." The cave, once a sanctuary, now felt like a tomb as he detailed their fates. Every second closer to the inevitable conclusion that now awaited them.
Before they could even think of protesting, he held up a paw, silencing them. “Now, now. Rest assured that whoever is chosen will not die in vain,” in an attempt to quell their fears, he adopted a soothing cadence, as if speaking to them in hushed tones could somehow mask the horrifying reality of their situation; make it seem less dire. Not that it mattered to him how they felt. While he’d much rather they cooperate, come to him willingly, it didn’t matter if they fought back or not. A decision would be made regardless. “Change is always frightening, especially when it's as profound and necessary as this,” he continued, the feverish light in his eyes at odds with his gentle tone as he tried to reassure them, tried to convince them that they were doing the right thing, “But after I kill your leaders, I will merge the five into one and bring peace to your land. No more will any of you suffer or die needlessly. This is not just a sacrifice; it is a rebirth. Embrace this transformation, for it is through the ashes of the old that the new shall rise. You—all of you—will be the architects of a new dawn.” His breath came in rapid bursts, quick and shallow, as he relayed his vision of a better world. In his mind, this was for the greater good. Not murder.
Turning on a heel, he waved them off with a casual flick, allowing them some privacy to come to a decision. He wouldn’t need an answer from them until after he was finished with Ravenstar. "Deliberate amongst yourselves to select the one who shall fulfill this fateful role,” he told them, languidly making his way back over to the Ravenstar’s body. As he reached the fallen leader, he sat beside him, ready to begin the ritual, when suddenly, he looked as though he’d remembered something.
With slow deliberation, he turned his head, allowing just one eye to lock onto the gathered medicine cats. That single eye, lifeless and startlingly empty, bore into them, a silent threat. "Oh, and if you fail to choose,” his voice dropped, the usual ice and frostiness returning, “I will just slaughter all of you."
Barely registering the voices of the medicine cats, Kaelan sank to the cave floor, giving them very little thought as he settled himself beside Ravenstar's still form. To him, their words were meaningless and insignificant, mere buzzing in his ears. It didn’t matter to him who chose to sacrifice themselves; all that mattered was that someone did. Regardless of how they came to that decision, who they chose, it would have to wait until he was ready to hear them. He had a ritual to preform.
Jaws parted, his lips peeled back to reveal the sharp, pointed fangs that would soon pierce flesh as they hovered near Ravenstar’s pulse point. The scent of blood, although stale and old, filled his nostrils, stoking the hunger that gnawed at his insides. However, just as Kaelan's teeth grazed Ravenstar’s throat, a sudden force slammed into him, knocking the breath from his lungs. The impact threw him off balance, sending him staggering to the side as he struggled to regain his footing, and when he looked up, he snarled in frustration. Between Kaelan and Ravenstar now stood the Skyclan leader, head held high and bi-colored eyes burning with a quiet fury.
For a moment, he simply stared at the large, orange tom. He had not accounted for the Skyclan leader to intervene in such a manner. "Firestar," Kaelan hissed, his voice dripping with venom as he slowly stood back up, "How nice of you to join us.” With a sudden, lightning-fast movement, Kaelan lunged at the Skyclan leader, his claws outstretched and aiming for the vulnerable flesh of his throat. Firestar, however, was ready for him. He deftly sidestepped the attack, allowing Kaelan's momentum to carry him forward, and as the Siamese cat stumbled past, Firestar lashed out with unsheathed claws, raking across Kaelan's side; crimson liquid welling up, staining his pale fur a vivid red.
That, however, did little to slow Kaelan down. While it was true that the sickness had weakened him, his desperation and madness had lent him a tireless strength. Careless with rage, he ignored the stinging pain at his side and sprung forward, the mist curling around him as he launched himself again at Firestar, a flurry of claws and teeth.
Desertstar crouched low to the ground, her heart pounding in her chest as she crept silently along the shadows towards Ravenstar. As she neared, the scent of old blood hung heavy in the air, and the sight of the stake protruding from his chest made her stomach churn. She hunkered down beside him, pushing past her nausea, and leaned in close. "Ravenstar, it's Desertstar. I don’t know if you can hear me but I’m going to pull this out of you now," her voice was barely above a breathless murmur, yet the desperation in her tone was unmistakable as she hoped that somehow, against all odds, her words would reach him. Having seen Starclan heal injuries far worse than this, she’d theorized that the only reason why Starclan couldn’t heal him now was because the stake was still embedded in his chest, putting him in a coma-like state, suspended between life and death. It was a gamble, sure, but perhaps if she could remove it, they would be able to heal him.
Kneeling beside him, she gently took hold of the stake with her teeth, careful not to cause any further injury, and with a swift tug, she pulled it free. A fresh wave of blood gushed from the opening, and relief washed over her at the sight. If the blood was still flowing, it meant he was possibly still alive. Still fighting. Desertstar turned her attention back to Ravenstar, her paws pressed tightly against the wound, slowing the flow of blood. "I know you’re still in there," she gritted her teeth, her voice raw with emotion as she willed him to fight, clinging to the hope that he’d eventually wake.
Meanwhile, Kaelan circled Firestar, his movements jerky and unnatural, the sickness that ravaged his body evident in every labored breath. The Skyclan leader was much stronger and healthier than him, he'd give him that, but Kaelan was clever— and far more ruthless. A cruel smile spread across his face before he suddenly aimed for the cave wall behind Firestar. With a powerful kick, he sent a cascade of rocks and debris tumbling down. Firestar tried to dodge, but in the cramped quarters of the cave, there was nowhere to go. A sharp, jagged rock the size of a cat's paw struck his skull with a sickening crack, and the Skyclan leader staggered, his eyes glazing over as blood began to trickle down.
Seizing the momentary advantage, Kaelan lunged forward, sinking his teeth into Firestar's shoulder and wrenching him to the ground. Firestar's eyes rolled back in his head, and he crumpled to the cave floor, his body going limp as unconsciousness claimed him. Desertstar, unable to leave Ravenstar’s side yet, as the blood from his wound was still pooling beneath her paws, could only watch in horror. She kept low to the ground, waiting for Starclan to intervene and heal him before it was too late.