The Losing Battle
"PineClan, move out!"
Shadows dashed from bush to bush as I watched over the hill. My clan didn't want this war, but OakClan had no right in trespassing on our territory.
My daughter MapleLeaf approached me. "PineStar, OakClan hasn't yet appeared. Should we wait in the shrubs?"
"Yes, excellent idea MapleLeaf," My daughter was an excellent strategy and tactic thinker. She always was since she was born moons ago. She is just like her father in every way. She has his sharp senses, creative and intelligent mind. If only her father was still around, though I know he watches us from StarClan.
"We have come to battle you!" a sharp yowl breaks the silence. I look to the hills. OakStar stands in the suns path. His pelt was as clean as he always kept it. He was a muscular tom. Light brown with a graying muzzle. Him and I were the only leaders of the forest left with our clans named after us.
PoisonStar had died moons ago from Black cough, and StreamStar had retired to live her days peacefully in the elders den. OakStar would be the next to either retire or die. I was the youngest of the leaders, only 60 moons old. PoisonStar would be 122 moons, StreamStar is 98 moons and OakStar is 84 moons.
Many moons ago, when I was only 25 moons old, our great leaders of Shadow, Thunder, River and Wind had sent us to find a new land for our needs. PoisonStar from ShadowClan, I from ThunderClan, StreamStar from RiverClan and OakStar from WindClan. None of us were deputies. We didn't know anything about being leader. But it was in our path that we would learn how to be leaders.
OakClan came charging at us. "Attack, OakClan! Attack!" OakStar was yowling as he came charging at me. My own brother. Our father from WindClan, our mother from ThunderClan.
"Attack, PineClan!" I screeched as I stormed at my brother. Our ties had broken long ago when I was an apprentice. He was no longer my brother to me, but my enemy. I leaped upon him.
We tumbled together as we used to when I was a kit, but this time, we were attacking. Hissing and spitting, he struck a blow to my flank. As I yowled out in pain, I swiped out my paw, claws unseathed, and bashed against his cheek.
He yowled in agony and stumbled back, blood dripping from his wound. He glared at me, hatred in his green eyes. Suddenly, pain had seared in my shoulders and flank as his deputy, GravelPelt, dug his claws into me. As the blood from my wounds dripped, I swung around and struck GravelPelt in his own shoulder.
Soon, my daughter SpruceShade attacks GravelPelt, allowing me to escape. There are too many OakClan warriors. Retreating is our only option.
"Retreat, PineClan! Retreat!" I wail and run, limping, away with my clan. We lost the battle. PineClan has never lost a battle since I was a leader.