Pelts pressed together, clumped tightly in the shelter of the undergrowth lay the unusually large patrol of ThunderClan warriors. Their eyes gleamed with anticipation and rage, gaze directed at the faint beams of light that shimmered through the broad leaves. Lips curled to reveal bared teeth but no cat dared move or create sound in fear of giving away their position. The brown tabby at the head had given more than a few warning glares to his warriors, threatening them with a lapse of silence. His crown tilted back to the undergrowth edge, peering out on the pebbly shore at a large grouping of boulders. Currently, many thick pelted felines were languidly stretching, basking in the sunlight's warmth.
The small reddish feline huddled next to the slightly larger, cinder colored apprentice. Her vivid ruby red orbs shone with excitement and anger. Ever since she and the others of the previous patrol had been told off by these useless RiverClan fish eaters, she had quickly grown to despise them. Instinctively, her pelt bristled and ears fell back, pinned against her cranium. Her cinder furred companion whispered in comfort;
"Careful, Redpaw. You'll get your chance to fight too. Just wait until Pinestar gives the signal."
"Quiet Cinderpaw!" another apprentice with ginger fur hissed harshly to the cinder apprentice, glaring at her with a single amber gaze. This was the final result of his early on skirmish with Redpaw. Pinestar's tail swished once, his amber gaze meeting the warriors' and giving a light nod. Yowling, the brown tabby burst from the undergrowth, ThunderClan cats hot on his tail as they charged out of their hiding place.
ThunderClan cats plowed ahead with furious snarls and shrieks, taking the remaining RiverClan cats by surprise. Some scurried off the rocks and prepared to flee while others leapt head first into the fray of bristled pelts.
Redpaw left Cinderpaw's side, colliding rather abruptly with a larger, light brown tom. The reddish feline bounced back a mouse tail from the impact and dropped into a crouch to regain balance. She fluffed up her pelt with a loud hiss, trying to make herself bigger though it made no difference. Her opponent's fur fluffed up even larger before lunging. Claws lashed out at her head but Redpaw managed to duck, the blow connecting with one of her ears and creating a small nick. While lowered on the playing field, the red apprentice dove forward at the RiverClan cat's exposed belly. Snarling triumphantly, she drew a long slice down the white belly fur and watched in pride as scarlet drops spewed out and dappled the gray stones beneath their paws.
Yowling in pain, the brown tom scurried off towards the river. Redpaw yowled after him with pride, watching the fleeing RiverClan cats. She looked around for another opponent in hopes they all hadn't run away. Something bright ginger crashed into her side and sent the young apprentice sprawling. Looking up with startled ruby orbs, she stared into the narrowed green orbs of RiverClan's deputy; Carpfin. The same boastful she-cat who claimed ThunderClan would never reclaim Sunning Rocks.
"Looks like you're wrong," Redpaw smirked up at the ginger tabby who leaned down and snarled.
"Wrong nothing!" Carpfin hissed, saliva dripping from her exposed fangs. "ThunderClan will never have Sunning Rocks as long as I'm here! And I'm certainly not going to be stopped by a kit!"
The last insult stung, repeatedly reminding Redpaw of her height challenge. Everyone saw her as a kit because of her size. For StarClan's sake she was nearly eight moons now! Her unusually colored eyes narrowed, pearl white teeth bared in a ferocious snarl. She scrambled to her paws in a flash and moments later, she had found those same teeth clamped around Carpfin's leg.
The ginger tabby yowled, striking her other paw at her opponent. Her long claws struck Redpaw's crown and drew a small amount of crimson drops. The small apprentice let go only to receive teeth around her throat. The grip tightened quickly and Redpaw felt a sticky substance dribble down her pelt.
"Let her go, Carpfin!" a familiar snarl echoed. Turning her fading gaze to the voice, young Redpaw spotted a wall of ThunderClan cats, no RiverClan cats among them. "Your warriors have fled and you are defeated. Harm another hair on her pelt and you won't be returning to your camp." Pinestar's usually calm stance had been changed to a full on teeth bared, fur bristled, and claws unsheathed.
The ginger tabby growled through reddish fur, hissing loudly before releasing her grip. Redpaw thumped against the small stones with a startled gasp. Her former captor backed up a few fox lengths as a white patched, black she-cat approached her apprentice. "You have won the battle but not the war," the green-eyed tabby snarled. "I promise on my life that RiverClan will be back. However, we will not lose. Prepare yourself Pinestar." With the last of her threats snarled out, the ginger tabby bolted in the opposite direction and splashed into the safety of the river. Her pelt disappeared on the other side and through the thick clumps of reeds.
"ThunderClan!" Pinestar's yowl boomed through the open air. "We have taken the rocks again! Do not let their petty threats get to us! ThunderClan will always have Sunning Rocks!" Agreeing with his triumph speech, all ThunderClan warriors yowled and cheered at their victory.
Despite her place on the ground, still dazed beside Nightfrost, Redpaw couldn't help but cheer with them. Her first battle and she had won. She had many more to come, but there was one thing for certain: ThunderClan had take control of Sunning Rocks. And that was all that mattered.
An excerpt from another one of my stories, Altered Forms, that I haven't gotten this far on. This is Redpaw's first real battle with RiverClan even though it wasn't much of one. It was a few RiverClan warriors vs. an entire battle patrol of ThunderClan cats. But there you go! One of my challenges that doesn't end with death! Aren't you proud?
-Snarky (Redkit of LeafClan)