Ivypool shifted her paws uncomfortably from her place in the dirt tunnel, crouched and listening. She could hear Firestar in the clearing, ordering around battle patrols, his voice muffled yet tense. Yowls echoed angrily above the hollow, a sign the Dark Forest had reached the woods.
Ivypool bristled in frustration. Dovewing had prodded her awake far too soon. She was trying to reach Blossomfall and Birchfall before the battle started! Now it was too late. She had to find them. Sitting up, she pricked her ears. "Stay with Brambleclaw and guard the camp." Firestar gave the final order, then thundered out of camp. Ivypool paused, anxiety prickling her paws.
Where would Brokenstar send Thunderclan recruits? Not to their own Clan, surely? They'd be more eager to fight with the other clans, and avoid their families and friends. Ivypool turned and crept deeper into the brambles and skirted the dirtplace, shoving her way through ferns and undergrowth until she was clear from camp.
The forest seemed to loom overhead uncomfortably, more threatening and bigger than she had ever seen or felt before. The darkness swallowed it like a shroud, Wind roaring in the treetops. "Ivypool?" Hollyleaf's mew took her by surprise. "Shouldn't you be on Firestar's patrol?" Ivypool whipped around, eyes wide in surprise to see the black warrior standing underneath a rowan tree, eyes narrowed and expression unreadable.
Hollyleaf didn't know she was training in the dark forest. What if she thought she was betraying her clan? Going to find them? "I—I have to find Blossomfall, Birchfall, and Mousewhisker." Hollyleaf padded closer, frowning. "Do you know where they are?" "No!" Ivypool thrust her head away. "I wish I did. I want to stop them before..." She trailed off, unsure what to say.
"Before they betray their clan?" Hollyleaf guessed, face blank. Ivypool's ears flattened onto her head. "What?" She breathed. "No, they would never! But they'll be scared... Brokenstar threatened to kill them if they didn't fight alongside the dark forest."
Ivypool glanced away, and was surprised to feel a soft touch on her forehead. "Go find them. I'll stall the others for you." Ivypool blinked at her. "Really?" "I'm depending on you." "Thank you!" Ivypool meowed hurriedly, her chest bursting with relief as she turned and sped off towards Windclan territory.
She could see no pelts, and smell no blood, but screeches and yowls rang from the moorland and echoed across the water. She pushed harder, paws skidding on the slippery grass as she neared the stream that marked the windclan border. She froze, her tail fluffing up behind her at a sudden meow. "Ivypool." A growl came. Amber eyes flashed in the shadows beyond the ditch angrily. Ivypool unsheathed her claws. "Who is it?" She demanded in a cold tone.
Tigerheart slid out of the bracken. Ivypool glared at him. "Where are you heading?" She leaped over the stream, keeping her distance from the dark warrior. "You know the battle's begun, don't you?" Tigerheart glanced over his shoulder dismissively. "Hawkfrost told me to meet him here." He brushed her off. Ivypool's fur spiked uncomfortably, paws shifting.
"Are you on his patrol?" "Are you?" His orange eyes spark with suspicion. "I uh, don't know yet. I haven't gotten my orders." Her head spun. Which side was Tigerheart on? "Hawkfrost will tell you what to do what he gets here." He grunted. But I have to find my Clanmates! Ivypool thought desperately, and began to push her way through the bracken.
"Where are you going?" Tigerheart challenged with a growl. "I don't have time to wait!" Ivypool continued. "The battle has begun!" "But you don't know who to fight!" Frustration raged through her like a river, and she spun around. "Of course I do!" She spat. "I'll fight and kill any Dark forest rat I meet!" She glared murderously. "And any clan cat who fights with them!"
"But I thought the Dark forest were your clanmates now," Tigerheart took a step closer, a menacing tone to his mew. "Isn't' that what you've been training for, Ivypool?" He snarled. Ivypool shook her head with a disgusted scoff. "I know who deserves my loyalty. I would sooner die than fight with Brokenstar and Hawkfrost."
Tigerheart drew his lips back into a snarl. "You may just have to. You heard what Brokenstar said he'd do if we betrayed him." He growled. Ivypool met his gaze without fear, anger burning her pelt. "I don't care." She snapped. "You sound like your sister." Tigerheart snarled back. Ivypool frowned. "What's Dovewing got to do with this?" She snorted.
Tigerheart lashed his tail angrily. "She put her Clan ahead of me." "So what?" Ivypool snapped. Tigerheart's gaze darkened as she went on. "Shows she's more loyal than you! Your clan should always come first. Did all those moons in the dark forest make you forget the warrior code, Frog brain?" She sneered. Tigerheart bared his teeth. "I haven't forgotten anything!"
The bracken beside them rustled, and Hawkfrost emerged, eyes narrowed. "Ivypool." His gaze flashed. "Where have you been?" "Looking for Blossomfall and Birchfall." Ivypool replied quickly, ears flat against her head. Hawkfrost stretched his muzzle close. "Find them." He hissed. "Now. Then go straight to Windclan camp. I want you with me in the second attack." He growled.
Ivypool nodded and raced off through the bracken. Thunder cracked ahead, and rain began to storm down on her angrily, clinging her pelt to her side and deafening her with every shock of thunder and blinding her flash of lightning. It was quick to get loud.
Her heart pounded as she glanced back to see Tigerheart leaning towards Hawkfrost's ear. Terror scorched her belly like claws. If he tells Hawkfrost I'm a traitor, they'll all kill me! Heart pounding, she ducked into the heather and fled. "Birchfall!" She yowled over the wind and rain.
"Blossomfall!" She grew desperate when she called for the tortoiseshell she-cat. "Ivypool!" She skidded to a halt as she heard Birchfall's call, spinning around. Her clanmate was crouching beneath a clump of Wind-blown gorse. His pale tabby pelt glowed in the darkness.
Blossomfall and Mousewhisker were huddled at his side, their eyes glittering with fear. Suddenly there was an explosion of shrieks followed close by two Windclan warriors as they streaked past, Dark forest cats on their tails. Farther up the slope, more warriors clashed, their yowls splitting the roar of the storm around them.
Ivypool darted towards the gorse, ears flat. "Thank starclan!" She breathed, hurriedly touching her nose to Blossomfall when she reached them. "What should we do?" Blossomfall whispered fearfully, her nose cold to the touch. "We can't attack clan cats!" Ivypool lifted her muzzle. "Of course not. We have to defend the clans against the dark forest!"
Birchfall stared at her. "Did you know all along this is what they were planning?" He frowned. "Yes," Ivypool confessed slowly. Mousewhisker blinked at her. "What didn't you tell us?" "I was spying." She straightening up, ears still flat along with her pelt, tail twitching behind her anxiously. "I didn't know who I could trust-" A crack of thunder broke her off for a moment. "I had to let you work it out for yourselves."
"She's right." Birchfall stepped forward from the gorse, his pelt whipping around in the wind, immediately getting soaked. "We should have guessed earlier what was going on." He frowned. Mousewhisker glanced over his shoulder. "So what do we do?" He bristled.
"We join the battle, just as Brokenstar ordered, but we fight for the Clans." Ivypool scoffed proudly. "We've been trained by the dark forest, so we can use their own tricks against them." A familiar scent touched her nose. "Applefur?" She called hesitantly. She wasn't sure if the shadowclan cat would have enough courage to face the dark forest cats.
As Applefur slid out of the heather, Breezepelt barged past her. Ivypool's fur lifted and spiked when she saw Thistleclaw and Snowtuft at his tail. "There you are!" Breezepelt's eyes shone. "We're going to launch an attack on the camp." "But Hawkfrost said to meet him-" Ivypool argued meekly, only to be interrupted.
"You will." Thistleclaw growled. "He'll be attacking from the far side." Ivypool blinked at the dark tabby. "Okay. Let's go, then." Her gaze flicked desperately to her Clanmates. They had to play along for now. She charged after Breezepelt's patrol as it sped towards the Windclan camp. The wind rushed through her ears, her pelt mottled and spiked in odd places, her paws and nose freezing as the thunder continued to bellowed in the background.
"We don't have to attack Windclan cats once we're there," She hissed to Birchfall as he fell in beside her. Heather brushed her pelt, its flowery scent smothered by the scent of decay. The peaty earth felt slimy under her paws, the mud stucking between her toes and digging into her claws. "Hurry!" Mousewhisker dashed past her. "We can't let them get there first." Scrambling up between the bushes, her lungs aching, Ivypool followed Birchfall and Blossomfall. From the top she could see Windclan camp. The clearing was littered with shrieking cats.
Emberfoot reared over a dark forest cat who lunged, screeching at him, at the Windclan warrior's hind legs.
Another dark forest tom slapped Crowfeather to the ground and began thrashing his throat with claw-spiked paws. Ivypool recognized Whitewing, Berrynose, and Hazeltail, Broad-shouldered and sturdy among the lithe Windclan cats. Mallownose of Riverclan and Shrewfoot of Shadowclan fought beside them.
A dark warrior battled Mallownose away with a vicious swipe. Another clawed at Hazeltail's belly while others tore lumps from Whitewing's flank. The clan warriors were outnumbered and fighting for their lives. Breezepelt paced the top of the rise, tail lashing. Thistleclaw gazed down into the camp.
Another Dark Forest tom slapped Crowfeather to the ground and began thrashing him with claw-spiked paws. Ivypool recognized Whitewing, Berrynose, and Hazeltail, broad-shouldered and sturdy among the lithe WindClan cats. Mallownose of RiverClan and Shrewfoot of ShadowClan fought beside them.
"When do we attack?" Applefur sounded terrified. "When the first patrol had weakened them." Thistleclaw grunted. Blossomfall shifted her paws, pressing her side into Ivypool. She could feed the tortoiseshell's pelt prickling with frustration. "Why don't we help them now?" She hissed.
"Wait." Thistleclaw lifted his gaze to the far side of the camp where Hawkfrost sat, silhouetted against the dark, thundering clouds. His patrol weaved impatiently beside him. Tigerstar's tabby pelt shone among them. A wail flared below, and Ivypool caught her breath as she saw a queen rearing up to grapple a dark forest tom away from a tiny kit shivering beside the frayed camp wall.
Hurry up! She fought to keep her paws rooted to the spot, her eyes wide and desperate. The next moment she saw Hawkfrost lift his tail. Lashing it down, he gave the signal. "Attack!" Thistleclaw yowled and charged down the slope, crashing through the heather wall into camp. Snowtuft bounded after him, Blossomfall on his tail. Ivypool hopped and blocked Applefur's way.
"You're not going to fight on their side, are you?" Applefur stared at Ivypool, eyes wild in terror. "B-but I have to!" She yelped. "You have to defend the clan!" Ivypool hissed. "Isn't death better than having Brokenstar as your leader?" Applefur blinked, her ears flattening. "You are still a warrior, Applefur!" Ivypool scoffed.
"Fight loyally, and with courage. That is all your clan asks of you." Applefur nodded. "Then that is what I will give them!" She sprang away. Ivypool smirked and raced after her. She had to get to Breezepelt.
She exploded through the heather and landed, skidding in the mud. The thunder roared and the lightning blinded her. Cats snarled, shrieked and yowled on every side, blood flying. She scanned the camp, ears flat against her head. Breezepelt was chasing Thistleclaw through the throng. Ivypool snaked through the clearing towards him.
"No!" As Breezepelt reared up to attack a Windclan warrior, Ivypool launched herself at him. Smashing into Breezepelt's flank, She sent him flying. "You can't fight for the dark forest!"
"Are you crazy?" Breezepelt snarled as he stumbled to his paws, eyes wild. "This is what we've been training for!" He snarled. "But you can't possibly believe this is right!" Ivypool spat, and suddenly claws raked her cheek. Pain shot through her face and she staggered sideways. Thistleclaw loomed over her, lips curled to show long, yellow teeth. "Traitor!" He howled.
"I'm no traitor!" Ivypool snarled. "I've been loyal to my clan all along! You just played along to my plan!" She froze as Hawkfrost appeared behind Thistleclaw's shoulder, then Snowtuft landed beside her, eyes darkening with hate. "We won't fight for you either!" Birchfall flung himself at a dark forest tabby.
Applefur lunged for a ragged tom, hissing. "I fight for the Clans!"
Rage flared in Hawkfrost's gaze. "Then we shall kill you first, before we destroy your wretched Clans!"
Ivypool braced herself, stiffening as fur flashed beside her. Claws pierced her flank. She spun around as the full weight of Snowtuft sent her sprawling. Jumping to her paws, she hurled herself at the skinny, white tom. Before he could launch himself at her, a dark shape tackled him away. Tigerheart loomed, lips drawn back into a snarl. "Tigerheart?" Ivypool blinked, ears flattening against her head. "No." He snarled back at her. "I fight for the clans."
"Then why were you in the Dark Forest?" she called to the tom. Tigerheart ducked under Thistleclaw's belly and shoved him off balance. "Same as you. I wanted to find out what they were up to." Thistleclaw rounded on him. "But you're Tigerstar's kin!" "That doesn't mean I have to be like him."
Tigerheart swiped at Thistleclaw. "He almost destroyed ShadowClan once before. I wasn't going to let him do it again!" Roaring, Hawkfrost barged past Thistleclaw. "I'll finish this traitor off." He hurled himself at Tigerheart. "You and Snowtuft deal with Ivypool." Ivypool felt claws slice her shoulders.
Legs buckling, she stumbled sideways. Snowtuft and Thistleclaw reared over her, side by side. Together they began to drive Ivypool back through the ragged camp wall, swinging blow after blow at her muzzle. Ivypool raised her forelegs, trying to fend off the strikes, but her hind paws slipped on the peaty floor.
Heather snagged her pelt and she tripped and fell, finding her feet just in time to leap out of the way as Snowtuft lunged for her. Looking up, she realized she'd become separated from the Clan cats. She could see Tigerheart in the clearing, surrounded by Dark Forest warriors.
Birchfall was defending a kit at the far side of the camp. Applefur and Blossomfall fought back to back, blood dripping from their whiskers, fending off blows from four Dark Forest toms. StarClan, help me! Snowtuft and Thistleclaw kept forcing Ivypool back with stinging blows.
The camp slid from view, swallowed by shadow as they drove her deeper and deeper into the heather. Then they paused. Snowtuft dropped onto all fours and stared at her. Thistleclaw stood panting beside him. Ivypool whipped around, catching her breath as she looked for an escape route. Gorse, thick with thorns, crowded every side. Snowtuft and Thistleclaw blocked the only way out. "We've trapped her!" Thistleclaw called over his shoulder.
Hawkfrost strode into the tiny clearing. "Did you really think you'd live after betraying me?" His blue eyes shone as he glanced at Thistleclaw and Snowtuft. "Let's make her death slow," he growled. He lunged at Ivypool, throwing her backward with such force that it knocked the wind from her.
Gasping for air, she felt claws rake her spine. Thistleclaw's pelt flashed at the edge of her vision. Snowtuft grabbed her from behind. Teeth and claws ripped her pelt. Pain seared her flesh. I won't die easily! Terror sent power surging through her.
And I'll take you with me, Hawkfrost! With a roar, Ivypool reared up, strong as a badger, and sent her attackers flying with strong whips of her paws. Hawkfrost landed neatly on all four paws. "I trained you too well," He snarled, His gaze fixed on her throat.
Ivypool backed away. She twisted and ducked under him as he leaped, but his claws sank into her tail and pinned her to the ground. Thistleclaw and Snowtuft attacked from opposite sides, snarling, slicing her ears.
She struggled away from them, crashing into hard muscle. Hawkfrost was behind her now. He stabbed his claws into her shoulders, raking down. With a gasp, Ivypool saw his teeth flashing beside her throat. Then a dark tabby pelt flashed over the top of the gorse. Heavy paws landed with a thump beside her. "Get off her!" Brambleclaw roared loudly, standing strong and tall. Ivypool's world spun as the massive deputy slammed into Hawkfrost and sent him reeling into the gorse.
Free from Hawkfrost's claws, Ivypool turned on Thistleclaw and Snowtuft. She began slashing with her front paws, remembering in a crystalline moment every moon of training. Brambleclaw reared up beside her, matching her blow for blow, as though he instinctively knew where Ivypool would strike next.
Blood sprayed the forest floor as Ivypool sliced Snowtuft's muzzle and tore Thistleclaw's nose. Turning, she kicked out with hind legs and knocked Thistleclaw backward, then sank her teeth into Snowtuft's neck. The white warrior screeched and ripped free from her jaws. Ivypool tasted his blood as he tumbled away through the bracken. She met Thistleclaw's gaze. Fear sparked in his eyes as she spat out a bloody clump of Snowtuft's fur.
"Run," She hissed, taking a slow and intimidating step forward. "Because if you stay, I will kill you! I've done it before, you know I won't hesitate!" Mouth open, Thistleclaw fled, disappearing through the gorse. A shriek exploded behind Ivypool.
She turned and saw Brambleclaw swipe at Hawkfrost's muzzle. The force of the blow sent the Dark Forest warrior crashing away. He dropped with a thump and scrabbled to his paws. Blood dripping from his cheek, one eye swollen shut, he glanced at Brambleclaw and tore his way through the gorse.
Ivypool stared at the massive tom. "You saved my life!" She rasped. But suddenly, Brambleclaw staggered and fell to the ground with a heavy thud. "Brambleclaw?!" Ivypool darted to his side and saw blood pulsing from a wound in his neck.
Panic formed a hard lump in Ivypool's belly. Grasping Brambleclaw's scruff in her teeth, she began to dug him weakly toward the ThunderClan border. Jayfeather would know what to do. "I'll get you home," Ivypool growled through gritted teeth. His massive body was extremely hard to move, limbs limp.
"I promise I'll get you home." She whimpered. A tabby pelt crashed through the gorse toward them. Ivypool braced herself, ready to fight again. "Let me help!" Tigerheart stopped beside her and shoved his nose beneath Hollyleaf's shoulder. Taking half the weight, he pressed his flank against Ivypool.
"We can do this together." The screeches of the battle for WindClan faded behind them as they began to haul the injured deputy away.
Disclaimer
Warriors belongs to Erin Hunter. I own nothing and all of the credit should go to them. I only own character if I state it directly. Otherwise, they are all not mine.