Disclaimer: I don't own Warriors. I frankly wish that I did, but I don't. Humph. Sorry to start a story again with a battle, but it builds suspense. Yay, suspense! 

Moonlight shone down through the branches down into a clearing. Wind whispered softly through the grass. A river gurgled over boulders. Birds called sleepily from their trees.

Below in the clearing, dark figures moved. The cats flitted in and out of the moonlight, the true color of their pelts washed silver. As if on a silent command, they slipped out of the trees.

On the opposite bank, other cats were also detaching themselves from trees. They slipped into the water, kicking out strongly with their churning paws. Without even shaking the water from their pelts, the cats flung themselves forward.

A loud caterwaul erupted from a russet furred tom as he raced into battle. His companions followed him, bowling the other cats over. Soon, the clearing was heaving with cats. Claws flashed in the eerie light.

A screeching bundle of fur rolled past the russet tom. He lunged, pulling the enemy cat off of his clanmate. He bit down hard on the cat's tail and battered him with his hind paws. The russet furred tom didn't let go until the other cat screeched in pain. Then he leapt to his feet and watched the other cat run away. His clanmate got up slowly.

"Are you hurt, Pebbleclaw?" the russet tom asked.

Pebbleclaw winced. "Not too badly. But you should see Windsong when we get back to camp. She'll have a look at those scratches."

The tom growled. "Other cats have been hurt more than I have."

Pebbleclaw glared at him. "Foxpelt, that's an order. As your deputy, I order you to see Windsong as soon as possible."

"Then I'll have to claw off some more RiverClan fur before I go." He whirled

around and disappeared into the thick of fighting.

Pebbleclaw sighed, but followed Foxpelt even so.

A light gray she-cat was trapped under the weight of a much larger RiverClan she-cat.

Pebbleclaw sank his teeth into the tawny she-cat's shoulder, pulling her off of the apprentice.

"Run, Barkpaw!" Pebbleclaw yowled. Barkpaw nodded and leapt away.

The RiverClan warrior spun around, lashing out with both front paws, claws unsheathed. Pebbledclaw ducked and counterattacked with his hind paws. The RiverClan cat collapsed on top of him. Slippery as a snake, Pebbleclaw slid out from beneath the tawny cat. He raked his claws down her flank. Blood welt up under his claws.

The RiverClan she-cat hissed in fury, but she knew the battle was over. She backed up; her amber eyes pools of hatred.

She too disappeared into the fighting. Pebbleclaw leapt aside as a tabby tom lunged at him. He turned to retaliate, but claws raked down his side and he found himself under two bodies. Tabby fur smothered him. Someone had a firm grip on his tail and did not intend to let go. His paws were pinned down, exposing his stomach. Claws rake down his belly again and again. Pebbleclaw felt his strength ebbing away…

Then suddenly, the weight was lifted. Pebbleclaw raised his head. Foxpelt was dragging a RiverClan warrior off of him.

His face flushed with embarrassment. This was the second time that night that Foxpelt ad saved him.

The russet tom had taken care of the RiverClan queen, but his shoulder was bleeding badly and blood was dripping into is eyes. Foxpelt shook his head impatiently.

"We're losing the battle, Pebbleclaw," He said, his voice hoarse. "We'll all be killed."

Pebbleclaw growled deep in his throat. "RiverClan will not chase us out of our home!"

"But look at the clan!" Foxpelt argued, his neck-fur rising. "We don't stand a chance!"

Pebbleclaw gazed around the clearing. Yewpaw was hobbling on three legs and one of his eyes was swollen shut. Robinwing was leaning on Brownfoot's shoulder. Ferntail was chasing a RiverClan warrior but halted and had to limp. Barkpaw had a chunk missing from her ear. Yellowleaf was fighting against two RiverClan cats twice her size. Starfeather was helping her.

'We are losing,' Pebbleclaw realized with a jolt of dismay.

"ThunderClan, retreat!" Pebbleclaw yowled. A RiverClan cat raised his voice in victory. The rest of his clanmates cats joined in.

Hissing defiantly, the ThunderClan cats ran back into the trees. A group of RiverClan cats formed together. Pebbleclaw paused once he had passed the line of trees. The other ThunderClan cats had slowed their pace once they enterer the trees. Foxpelt stopped beside his deputy.

"What is it, Pebbleclaw?" Foxpelt asked.

"They're organizing a patrol," Pebbleclaw murmured thoughtfully to himself. The patrol was running toward the trees. Then it hit him.

"They're chasing us!" Pebbleclaw yowled. He plunged through the trees. Branches stung his muzzle. Foxpelt was hard on his paws, his tail streaming out behind him. "The fittest warriors come to the back! Apprentices to the front. All who are seriously injured stay near the middle!" Pebbleclaw commanded.

As the cats shifted into position, Pebbleclaw heard pawsteps pounding through the undergrowth.

"Hurry!" he called desperately. Pebbleclaw ran up beside Robinwing and let her lean on him.

Through the trees, Pebbleclaw could see dark pelts moving swiftly. RiverClan was catching up.

"Barkpaw!" Pebbleclaw called. The brown she-cat slowed down a bit to run along side him.

"Run as fast as you can. Alert the camp that RiverClan is going to attack. Tell them to go to the Treecutplace and climb the trees there."

Barkpaw nodded and sprinted away.

'Please let her get back safely,' Pebbleclaw prayed silently. 'She's our only hope.'

The group of cats was almost completely surrounded by their enemies.

"ThunderClan! We can't out run them! We must fight!" yowled Pebbleclaw.

Wearily, the ThunderClan cats slowed and turned to face the oncoming flood of RiverClan.

+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*