Firelight
The night air was crisp, and the echo of crickets were the only thing disturbing the night sounds. A stick cracked in the bushes, and soon a slender, tortioseshell she-cat slid out of the shadows. Her ears perked, and the echoes of strange noises came closer. She was alone, exploring these threating noises without the help of her clanmates in PhoenixClan. She crept among the dense, dark ground. The tortoiseshell, now lowest to the ground as she could, peered over the ledge. She could make out dark shapes hushing each other and could hear distant growling. The tortoiseshell's entire body filled up with fear. She sprinted up the Ledges and through the Forest. She skidded to a stop when she had reached a clearing in the forest surronded by thorns. She yowled. A large, smokey-gray tom emerged. He had a look of worry in his eyes.
'' Branchwatcher. What is your report?'' The tom asked.
'' It's DawnClan, Witheredstar. I've spotted them by the Mountain-Stream.'' Branchwatcher reported with caution.
'' This is troubling.. Branchwatcher, wake up our warriors. They'll be here any second now. '' Branchwatcher nodded. She padded lightly to the warrior's den. She meowed rather loudly;
'' Everyone, up. Dawnclan may attack us, and we need to defend ourselves. '' Just then, every warrior awoke.
'' An Attack?'' Rapiddream Echoed. '' Alright. All Warriors, Get Up!'' A series of moans qued after this order. A rustle of pawsteps could be heard in the Distance. '' I hear them! '' Branchwatcher meowed, tense and alert. Now, about every Warrior was up and flocking into the clearing. Witheredstar's emerald green eyes shone in the moonlight as every warrior of Phoenixclan was ready to defend. A challenging yowl came from the camp entrance as Sagestar, DawnClan's leader, padded in with a snarl.
'' Sagestar! How dare you enter PhoenixClanTerritory!'' Witheredstar growled. Branchwatcher was beside Witheredstar, her face showing anger.
'' Simply because.. you see, Dawnclan was battered from that forest fire moons ago. We came to you, begging for shelter. But you turned us away. You have no sympathy for any cats but yourselves!'' Sagestar Accused.
'' We had problems of our own at that time, Sagestar, you know that well. We didn't have the resources to save your cats!'' Witheredstar explained, clearly frustrated from Sagestar's accusation.
'' Witheredstar, what we would like to show you, is the pain we recieved and the revenge Dawnclan has desired for so long!'' She finished, letting out a long, jubilant battle-cry. Her warriors tore through the thorn barrier at once, flinging themselves into the action. Branchwatcher wrestled with a smoky-black tom. She pinned the tom down, but he bit at her legs and she lost her balance on him.
He flipped her over, and went to dig his fangs into Branchwatcher's throat. With all her might, she kicked up on his underbelly with her powerful hind legs. The tom stumbled, and lost his grip on Branchwatcher. She dug her fangs into one of his legs, and he howled and retreated into the crowd. On Clanrock, Branchwatcher observed Witheredstar and Sagestar swiping their claws at each other. Sagestar pinned Witheredstar down, and began to sink her fangs into Witheredstar's throat.
'' No!'' She called, flinging herself at Sagestar. Sagestar was completely unprepared for Branchwatcher's sudden attack, and lost her footing. Together, she and her mate Witheredstar sprang down onto Sagestar. They sunk their fangs into her legs, spine and chest, until Sagestar yowled,
'' Retreat, DawnClan, retreat!'' They let go of Sagestar and she and the rest of DawnClan fled from Phoenixclan's camp.