A/N This is rated T for future bloody scenes, so tread carefully...
XCrookshanks: This was originally a single story, but i have been adding chapters, so now I'm into a whole new thing here. I hope you like it!
Fireheart: Ya she means it too. I like it, why shouldn't you?
XCrookshanks: What are you doing here? Your not even in this story!
Fireheart: Not yet I'm not... MWAHAHAHA
XCrookshanks: ...?
Fireheart: Ok, sorry, I'm just here for the disclaimer.
XCrookshanks: Oh, by all means, go right ahead.
Fireheart: She doesn't own Warriors.
XCrookshanks: But new chars are mine.
Fireheart: Are not.
XCrookshanks: Um, actually they are. I made them up, right?
Dustclaw: *bursts into scene* I AM MY OWN CHARACTER YOU CANNOT OWN ME!
XCrookshanks and Fireheart: ...?
Dustclaw: Ok, sorry, yeah, I'm hers. I'll go now. *Bounds off, fur prickling*
Fireheart: Uhhh... back to the story! Good Luck!
XCrookshanks: Thanks, yeah I'll need it with him in there...
"BlizzardClan has invaded again!" A panic stricken yowl split the cold morning air, and the clan gathered around as a small dusky brown tom with wide eyes and spiked fur bounded breathless into the camp clearing. The news brought yowls and hisses of discontentment.
A light ginger she-cats voice sounded above the rest. "What does it take for them to get the point!" She caterwauled angrily. "We have defeated them time and time again, but they keep coming back for more!"
The crowed quieted as a jet black she-cat leaped onto a tall rock-pile. She flicked her tail to the brown tom, and he came closer. "Dustclaw, tell us everything," She invited.
"Thank you, Ravenstar." Dustclaw dipped his head, then turned to the clan. "I was hunting by the pond, you know, the one in our territory, and I saw Froststars warriors stalking around, drinking from the pond, and hunting like they owned the place! I came back right away. They were also sunning themselves on the WarmRocks. It was awful! And they looked ready to invade further, too." Dustclaw sat down, his eyes stretched wide. The clan was deathly silent.
Then, Ravenstar spoke up. "Clear-pond? Why were they there?" She glanced at Dustclaw. "Are you sure they were at Clear-pond?" She asked uncertainly. He nodded. She shook her head. "Well, we're just going to have to show them they can't take out territory whenever they like, aren't we?" She growled.
The clan let out yowls of agreement.
"Good! We go to attack first thing in the morning!"
Dustclaw suddenly looked uncomfortable. Before he could speak, though, Ravenstar leaped down and touched her nose to his head. "How would you like to lead the patrol, young warrior?" She asked. He was shocked. He was barely a warrior, and she wanted him leading a patrol into battle? Shocked as he was, he relished the chance to be at the head of older, more experienced warriors.
He lifted his head proudly. "Yes, that would be great!" He was excited!
"Okay, then, tell the warriors you are taking to be ready," Ravenstar purred. She padded away to her den.
Dustclaw ducked inside the warriors den. The warriors were already settling down for the night. "Ravenstar wanted me to lead the battle patrol," He began. "Does anyone want to join me?"
The ginger she-cat immediately spoke up. "I'll go." She flattened her ears. "I can't wait to get my claws on those fox-hearted crow-food eaters," She growled menacingly.
"Thank you, Tawnyflame." Dustclaw dipped his head. "Anyone else?" He glanced around. Four more cats said they would come, and Dustclaw was feeling more hopeful. When Thunderheart spoke up, Dustclaw was surprised by what he said.
"We fight too much. If we could just get them to realize that they have no right to steal our territory, it would cause us a deal less of bloodshed." He paused for breath. The den was silent with shock. "We should ask them to stay off out land…" Thunderheart paused as Tawnyflame snorted, then continued, "…and warn them what will happen if they don't."
Dustclaws jaw dropped. "Warn them!" He stuttered. "We'd have lost the battle before it's even begun!" The other warriors watched the exchange in silence. The black and white warrior shook his head.
"No, young one. It would give them a chance to surrender and leave."
Tawnyflame snorted. "As if!"
Thunderheart ignored her, instead saying, "You should get rest, all of you." He settled into his nest. "We need to be awake and alert for tomorrow." He closed his eyes.
Slowly, the others retired to their nests and fell asleep. Dustclaw couldn't decide what to do. Thunderhearts idea seemed reasonable enough, but would it work? And then there were the others. What would they think? Then, an idea formed in his mind. He went to sleep that night, satisfied.
The next morning when he woke up, the sun was just barely rising and the den was empty. He yawned and stepped out into the clearing. All the warriors and apprentices were gathered around Ravenstar.
When she spotted him, her gaze warmed and she beckoned him to the front of the crowd. "Have you decided who you are taking?" She asked.
Dustclaw nodded and said, "Yes, I do now." Ravenstar motioned him on. He pointed with his tail to six cats: Thunderheart, Tawnyflame, Bluefur, Spottedfire, Nightpelt, and Rowanheart. When he showed no signs of choosing more cats, Ravenstar looked mildly surprised.
"So few?" Dustclaw nodded determinedly.
Ravenstar shrugged. "Very well." She leaped gracefully down the rock pile and slipped into her den. Dustclaw watched as the cats dispersed. When all but the cats he'd chosen had gone back to their duties, Dustclaw called them over. He explained in great detail his plan. When he had finished, they were nodding approvingly.
"That's a good idea, but the question is will it work?" Bluefur spoke up boldly.
Spottedfire nodded agreement.
"BlizzardClan may be mouse-brained, but even they couldn't find fault in this."
"How did you come up with such a good plan, anyway?"
"It's a good idea from such a young warrior."
Dustclaw accepted the compliments with pleasure, glad they liked the plan.
"Well, we should probably go now," Thunderheart concluded. "The day isn't getting any longer."
They stood and followed Dustclaw out of the camp and into the darkening forest. They wove through brambles and slid around the trees in silence. When they reached the border, Dustclaws earlier fears were confirmed. BlizzardClan had invaded further into FireClan territory.
"Everyone know what we're going to do?"
When everyone nodded, Dustclaw stood. "Good. Let's go."
He stepped out of the cover of the trees and bounded down the ravine towards BlizzardClan. His patrol was a tree-length away from the gathering of cats when they noticed him.
Froststar stood to address them. "What does Ravenstar want with us now?" He spat.
Dustclaw stood tall and said clearly, "You have no right to trespass on our land. Leave, or face the consequences."
Froststar was shocked to silence for a heartbeat at the prospect of being told off by a warrior barely out of apprenticeship. When he recovered, he narrowed his eyes. "And what right do you have to make me?" He growled in warning.
Dustclaw flicked his tail, and suddenly Froststars warriors were surrounded by FireClan.
Froststar smirked. "You think that will stop us?"
Dustclaw nodded. "Now!" As one, Dustclaws patrol surged forward. BlizzardClan was forced to bunch together in a tight group. Dustclaws plan had worked! They were so tight they couldn't use their claws to defend themselves. Now he could talk freely to Froststar. "So, are you going to leave willingly," Dustclaw meowed, "Or am I going to have to make you?" He narrowed his eyes menacingly.
Froststar hissed. "You can try to stop me," He snarled.
Dustclaw shrugged. "I might not be able to," he mewed. "But they can." He nodded towards his warriors.
While Dustclaw had been distracting Froststar, all the BlizzardClan warriors had been forced to the ground. Thunderheart had Quickclaw and Amberfoot pinned, one with each paw, Spottedfire was struggling to keep Ebonyclaw, a dark she-cat, on the ground, Bluefire was sitting on Petalmoon. Blackclaw, Tawnyflame, Rowanheart, and Nightpelt had Ashfeather, Stormpaw, Leafdew, and Brighteye under their claws. Froststar stared in shock at how easily he had been defeated. He turned back to Dustclaw and narrowed his gaze, his tail lashing. "You may have won this time," he snarled, his voice dripping with venom, "But we will be back!"
He turned and whisked away.
Thunderheart and the others released the BlizzardClan warriors, and when they saw they were free, pelted after their leader. A thin gray tom paused at the top of the rise.
"You heard him!" He yowled at his enemies. "We will be back!" With that, he vanished. Dustclaw turned to Thunderheart.
"Thank you," He dipped his head. "You were great, all of you. Are you alright?" He asked Spottedfire, who had a shallow gash on her shoulder where Ebonyclaw had slashed her. Spottedfire nodded.
"I'm fine. It doesn't sting." She sat down. The others looked unharmed, so Dustclaw started climbing the steep slope towards camp.
"Come on; let's go tell Ravenstar what happened." The others followed him. When they arrived back at camp, the clan was milling around, eagerly awaiting the good news. Dustclaw saw Ravenstar emerge from her den.
"Well?" She meowed when she stood on front of him. "Did everything go according to plan?"
Dustclaw nodded and narrowed his eyes in satisfaction. "It looks like BlizzardClan won't be invading again anytime soon."
XCrookshanks: Was that ok Dustclaw?
Dustclaw: *rolls eyes and snorts* I suppose.
XCrookshanks: Would you like me to change you?
Dustclaw: Nah, thats alright...well you can if you must. But not too much.
Fireheart: Please review! She deserves it!
XCrookshanks and Dustclaw: ...?