[spade]

High Rank Announcement [#hrannouncement]

[ @BILL. ]
The chunk of shoulder that got ripped out was about the last bit that Kestrelstar could take. A clawed paw connected with his face and the leader hissed, flattening his ears. With another quick shove of his hind legs, he sent them flying into Sweetsong's underbelly once more, managing to give himself enough room to where he scrambled out from under the massive cat's paws, sending him a look of pure hatred. He'd remember that pelt, those claws. For next time.

For the first bit in awhile, Kestrelstar had a chance to look around and evaluate.

Olivenose. ...Ottersplash. The countless others who were injured and bleeding.

Two dead RiverClan were too many. And what of ThunderClan? Despite all of the rage he'd felt leading his Clan into battle, their bodies were not lost on him.

This was madness. This was no longer a battle for revenge, or justice, but a bloodthirsty brawl with no honor.

And here he was, at the helm of it. What would Duskfall think of him now?

Black shadows edged around his vision, but Kestrelstar remained upright. The blood continued to drip from multiple wounds, staining the camp floor below as stood in the center of the chaos. Missing a toe or two was seriously throwing off his balance, but still he trudged on, yellow eyes narrowed and ears back.

"RiverClan! We're done here," he began, eyes sweeping around. "Firefly Cove is still ours. Remember that." Despite the results of this battle, Kestrelstar would hold onto it, if only for something to show for this... turmoil. Both Clans were battered and bruised, and the bile that rose up into Kestrelstar's throat was not surprising. He felt sick to his stomach...

Not here, would he admit to his mistakes. His shortcomings as leader. One who was blinded by rage and grief.

Not here.

"Let's go." With that, Kestrelstar gave a wave of his tail and headed over to where Olivenoses' body lay. He'd bare teeth at any ThunderClan cat that tried to stop him from recovering RiverClan's dead as he leaned down, pulling the small molly onto his back. The added weight shook his legs, but the leader remained upright. "Splashleap [ @gs29513 ]," he called to his deputy, where she stood after the result of her own fight. At least she was still standing... "Can you... grab Ottersplash. We need to head back."

Yellow eyes were trained ahead on the entrance, not meeting the gaze of any ThunderClan cats. Kestrelstar made his way out of camp, a limp noticeable in his walk and a trail of blood marking his path.

The battle was over. For now.

THE BATTLE IS NOW OVER

RIVERCLAN CATS SHOULD HEAD HOME!