Rose
Animals of different species ran through the Woodburrow entrance. Rose could point out distinctively: a white male mountain lion with black paws, ears, feet, and tail tip with orange eyes, a pale blue female shorthaired cat with purple eyes, a gray male chupicabra with green scales, orange eyes, and torn ears, and an orange and black dragon with black horns and purple eyes. Several more animals came in after them but, there were too many for Rose to count.
SunShadow smirked, his evil green eyes glinting maliciously. "Meet my gang. They'll make you think otherwise." He snapped his fingers again and all of the gang members stood still behind him, glaring at the villagers. There were at least fifty of them, quite a bit more compared to the population of Woodburrow. They all shared one key feature:
Three long scars across their chests.
Rose's fur fluffed up in fear as the orange dragon looked her right in the eyes. She unsheathed her dagger, knowing very well that she could never fight a dragon with it, let alone kill one.
Storm's arms shook in fear, he looked as if he was trying vainly to look unchallenged.
Pike's blue eyes widened and he looked like he was trying to formulate a plan. He then held up his hand in a motion to stop. "Please SunShadow. Call off your army. We can talk this out peacefully. No one needs to get injured."
SunShadow grinned widely, tears running down his face. He giggled a high pitched and ugly giggle. His gang joined in. They looked as if they were told the funniest joke ever. Pike frowned and waited for them to stop laughing.
They eventually did, after several minutes. SunShadow wiped tears off of his face. "Army? Army? What do you take me for? This isn't my army! These are my brothers! My sisters! THIS IS MY BLOOD!"
This caused a loud cheer to break out among his gang. Pike gritted his teeth, fear flashing in his eyes.
Rose looked at Pike for guidance.
"Please, just don't hurt my people," Pike said, his voice shaking slightly.
A black and white bobcat/cat mix walked up beside SunShadow. He looked very similar to the insane leader. His body was split into two different colors; the right side was white, and the left side was black. This newcomer had brighter green eyes than SunShadow, but they were cold like SunShadow's cruel gaze. He just stood next to SunShadow, watching.
"Hmmm. Fine. I have an idea," SunShadow growled, narrowing his eyes. He clearly didn't want to do what Pike said. "You and me will fight."
There were gasps from the crowd. Storm grasped Pike's shoulder and stared at him intently. "Don't do this Pike; you're our leader, you could get hurt. What would we do without a leader?"
Pike narrowed his eyes and brushed Storm's hand off his shoulder. He looked at the tabby grimly, then looked SunShadow in the eyes. "If he wants to fight. Bring it on," he said grimly.
SunShadow's eyes shined with glee and he grinned widely. "Excellent. I have a few things I'd like to say. This battle will decide who will be your chief. If Pike wins, then he remains chief and I will leave. If I win, I get to be your chief and Pike will be exiled. We cannot use weapons, only what Tawnya gifted us with, claws, teeth, and wits. That is how my gang fights."
A loud cheer broke out among the gang members once more. Pike narrowed his eyes and popped his knuckles. "Then a fight we shall have."
The village members stepped back to give the two room. They anxiously stared at Pike, sending prayers to Tawnya that he won. It seemed that no one wanted SunShadow as chief.
The three colored tabby dashed at Pike, claws out. He slashed across the tabby's chest and then punched the back of his head. Pike roared in pain and fury and turned to slash back at SunShadow. The hybrid dodged and kicked the chief in the chest.
Rose's heart pounded with fear. Pike was losing fast.
Pike took another swing at SunShadow and missed again, getting a hard punch in return to the chin. Blood squirted out of the tabby's mouth.
Pike tried again, this time he got an uppercut to the chin, sending him flying through the air. He crashed into the side of his den, unconscious. Everyone gasped in fear and turned to SunShadow.
The three colored cat grinned widely. His gang cheered.
"Citizens of Woodburrow! Meet your new chief, SunShadow!" The orange dragon yelled.
Rose's heart felt like it dropped. Pike had lost the battle.