Chapter 2

Thornclaw froze for a second as the ShadowClan scent engulfed him. Then he spun on the spot, all thoughts of hunting gone from his head. Not caring whether the ShadowClan patrol heard him or not, he ran. As he pelted through the trees, his paws following well-worn paths that he knew like the shape of his own tabby stripes, he hoped that he would make it to the camp in time. Sure, he knew the way and the terrain better than the ShadowClan cats, but they were very close behind him. And under the sound of his own panting and the roar of blood in his ears, he thought he could detect pounding pawsteps and crashing undergrowth behind him. They had seen him! They knew he was running to warn ThunderClan, and they were trying to beat him to it! Thornclaw dug in his claws and ran harder, fighting his way through brambles and springing right over a massive fallen log.

Finally, he saw the lightness in the trees ahead that meant he was approaching the stone hollow camp. But in his blind running, he had taken a wrong turning – he was on the complete opposite side of the camp to the thorn tunnel that guarded the entrance. There was no time to go around. Bracing himself, Thornclaw raced right up to the edge of the stone hollow – luckily the huge drop wasn't as sheer here as in other sections of the cliff – and skidded down the almost vertical slope.

He dug his claws in, trying to slow down, but he ended up shooting down it like a stone, sending grit and pebbles clattering down around him. One of his claws tore, but he kept going, helter-skelter down to the bottom. He finally skidded to a halt and staggered forwards into the camp, gasping for enough breath to speak. Everyone was staring at him, stunned. Finally he managed to yowl out, "ShadowClan invasion! Hurry, they're coming any second now!"

For a moment everyone was frozen in shock. Then Brambleclaw raced into the centre of the camp and yowled, "Foxleap, Berrynose, Birchfall, Molepaw, Rosepetal, Tigerheart and Brightheart, remain here to defend the elders and the camp!"

The five elders, Dustpelt, Sandstorm, Greystripe, Daisy and Millie, (Purdy had died not long after Mousefur) all peered out of their honeysuckle den. "We don't need defending!" called Sandstorm defiantly. "We can still fight perfectly well!"

"All the same, the camp needs protecting," replied Brambleclaw. "You five can fight off any cats that get past the cats I have chosen to stay here, and protect the nursery – even though there are no kits at the moment, we don't want it to get destroyed." Brambleclaw turned back to the rest of the Clan. "Spiderleg, Squirrelflight and Mousewhisker, guard the entrance. The rest of you, come with me!"

"What about Firestar?" called Thornclaw. He didn't like the way Brambleclaw was taking charge, even though everyone knew that Firestar was far too weak to lead a battle patrol.

"He can stay here to help protect the camp," replied Brambleclaw swiftly. "Now, let's go before ShadowClan get here!" And with that, the dark brown tabby tom raced out through the thorn tunnel, the fighting patrol streaming behind him.

Thornclaw ran with them, still panting from his desperate race through the forest. His torn claw was beginning to sting, but he ignored it. He was still worried about how Brambleclaw seemed to be taking on leadership duties. Firestar was so old and weak these days, particularly after that fight with a vicious dog two moons ago. Thornclaw had no idea how may lives the ThunderClan leader had left, but he was sure it couldn't be many. And now Brambleclaw was –

Thornclaw's thought-stream was cut off as Brambleclaw halted abruptly, so that the cats running behind him almost crashed into him. Thornclaw stretched up to see over Hazeltail's head and saw the ShadowClan leader, Rowanstar, facing Brambleclaw across a clearing. A line of battle-hardy ShadowClan warriors stood behind him, all looking annoyed at losing their element of surprise. That was my doing, thought Thornclaw with a twinge of satisfaction.

"Rowanstar," said Brambleclaw, his voice loud and full of authority. "What are you doing on ThunderClan territory? And in such large numbers, too."

Rowanstar drew himself up, bristling. "Don't act as if you're stupid as well as traitorous," the ShadowClan leader hissed. "We're here to teach ThunderClan a lesson once and for all. It's high time that you fox-hearted excuses for warriors learned your place."

Thornclaw felt his pelt bristling and his claws sliding out. It was ShadowClan that was fox-hearted, sneaking into ThunderClan territory to invade their camp like this!

"You gave us a piece of territory, and then demanded to have it back," Rowanstar went on, his voice rising. "You forced us to fight for it, and then killed our deputy!" Rowanstar glared at Lionblaze, who had been the cat to kill Russetfur in that dreadful battle several moons ago. "And as if that wasn't enough, you've hoodwinked one of our best warriors into joining you!" Rowanstar's piercing green gaze raked the ranks of ThunderClan warriors, but he couldn't spot Tigerheart. Thornclaw felt relieved that Brambleclaw had had the sense to leave the former ShadowClan warrior at the camp.

"We never did anything to make Tigerheart join us!" called out Brackenfur angrily. "He came of his own accord!"

Rowanstar arched his back. "Don't lie to me!" he snarled. "ThunderClan has been getting too cocky. You think you can do what you like, but ShadowClan is going to give you a rude awakening!"

"They already have," muttered Cloudtail behind Thornclaw. "I was having a nice nap until those pieces of fox dung came charging into our territory." Thornclaw stifled a purr of amusement.

"Rowanstar, you haven't been leader long," said Brambleclaw calmly, with a flash of his old, well-controlled nature. "I would advise you to not make the mistake of attacking us so early in your reign."

"Cowards!" yowled Applefur, a ShadowClan she-cat. "Don't try to back out of it!"

"How dare you speak to our leader like that?" hissed Owlclaw. "You're only a deputy!"

"We know how weak Firestar is at the moment," added Scorchfur triumphantly. "We know how you're scared of us, deep down."

"You're the cowards!" roared Brambleclaw, finally losing his temper. "Attacking us just because you think we're weak! Well, ThunderClan will prove you so wrong you'll wish you'd never been born!"

Thornclaw's heart began to pound. The moment when the clearing would explode into battle was seconds away.

Rowanstar unsheathed his claws, but before he could charge, Brambleclaw's battle yowl rang across the clearing.

"ThunderClan, attack!"