CHAPTER FIVE

Very short chapter but it needed to be done. Please read and review!


When her kits had left, Bearfur watched Whitemist stalk back towards the nursery with Smokekit, Timberkit, and Honeysky in tow. Both kits had their heads down and their tails were drooping. They must of had a good lecture from their mothers. Whitemist flicked her ears at the brown queen and looked down expectantly at her son and Timberkit. The two toms sighed and looked up at Bearfur.

"We're sorry for being mean to Firekit, Bearfur," They said in usion. Bearfur gave a nod at their apology.

"Now You'll need to tell that to Firekit himself," Honeysky told them.

"And maybe a week cleaning out the elders den might teach you a lesson about picking on younger kits!" Whitemist hissed.

"B-but thats an apprentices job!" Smokekit argued. His mother just shrugged.

"You have another moon before you're an apprentice, think of it as an early start to your apprenticeship since you can't even play like a normal kit!" And with that, Whitemist turned and padded into the nursery. Smokekit scowled and went in after her with Timberkit following closely behind. Honeysky let out a huff and stood next to Bearfur.

"What a lovely way to start the new leaf-bare season," the golden queen mewed sarcastically. Bearfur nodded and looked around camp. Two patrols had been set out that morning, a border patrol and a hunting patrol. The hunting patrol had just returned consisting of Dewspring, Dustbreeze, and Greypelt. They all carried a piece of prey each but none of it looked very satisfying despite Bearfurs growing hunger. A magpie, a mouse, and even a scrawny rabbit was all they carried. Dawnleaf, Hailsky, Russetstream, Runningfawn, and Wolfstar had come to greet them. Though Wolfstar looked disapointed, it was prey nothing the less. He gave an order that Bearfur couldn't hear and flicked his tail. She saw Hailsky pick something from the fresh kill pile and quickly walk to the two queens.

"I was told to bring you this," he mewed dropping the rabbit Greypelt had caught at their paws. Though it was as skinny as Bearfur thought, her stomach still growled.

"Thank you," Honeysky dipped her head in gratitude. Both queens took small bites from it, careful to leave some meat for the others in the nursery. After they had finished their tiny meal, Honeysky took the rest to Whitemist.

"I heard what happened to firekit, is he alright?" Hailsky asked suddenly. Bearfur nodded her head.

"Oh yes, he's alright. He, Redkit, and Lightningkit went to the elders," she told him, motioning with her tail to the fallen tree. Hailskiy nodded and padded off to join Dustbreeze and Dawnleaf. Just then, the border patrol burst in through the camp tunnel. Ravenwind, Beeblaze, Hawkfang, and Blackfire did not look happy at all when they quickly trodded up to Wolfstar and Runningfawn. Bearfur strained to hear what they were saying.

"Snowclan has finally done it! They've crossed the border!" Ravenwind announced. Yowls of astonishment and anger rose up from the cats in the hollow. Honeysky and Whitemist were once again at Bearfur's side as they tried to see what was going on. Out of the corner of her eye, Bearfur saw the kits and apprentices emerge from the elders fallen tree.

"Firekit, Redkit! Come here!" she mewed loudly, motioning to them with her tail. The kits scurried over to the queens looking very confused.

"What's going on mother?" Firekit asked.

"Hush, no time for questions. Go in the nursery and I'll find out what's happened," the brown queen ordered. Firekit looked as if he was about to argue but decided against it. Without another word, the two other queens ushered the kits inside the nursery while Bearfur remained outside. She as watched Blackfire gave the report and how Wolfstar's calm expression turn into that of pure anger. Ravenwind looked back at his mate and gave her a worried look. Wolfstar paused to take in what he had just heard. Then he suddenly leaped up onto his ledge overlooking the camp.

"Let all those old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the fire ledge for a clan meeting!" his voice rang out. Though almost every member had already gathered, Wolfstar waited until every cat settled.

"Fireclan, I have terrible news, Snowclan has invaded our borders!" hisses and growls accompanied the news.

"Why don't we go show those foxhearts what happens when you tread onto another clans territory!" Hawkfang yowled out. Mrrows of approval came from the cats below. Though Bearfur saw Stormpaw shuffle nervously at her mother's words. Wolfstar seemed to consider the she-cat's words as he looked deep in thought. He then gave a small nod and looked back out at his assembled cats.

"I agree with Hawkfang. For far too long Snowclan has blamed us for their misdoings. Well I say enough! Tonight at moonhigh we will attack Snowclan's camp and show them what happens when they trespass on another clans territory!" the cats let out yowls at still looked uncomfortable at the thought of a fight. Though she had shown remarkable skills in combat, she had never been in a real battle.

Wolfstar was about to dismiss his warriors when loud screeches started coming from the tunnel. Icefang, Eaglebreeze, Owldrop, and Bearfoot burst out into the hollow. The new warriors were helping the medicine cat gather as much herbs as they could for leaf-bare when when they found something.

"Wolfstar! We've found Windclan scents inside the border!" Icefang exclaimed. Hackles raised and claws unsheathed. Windclan too? Bearfur's heart dropped. Never had two clans crossed a border almost at the same time.

"Where?" Wolfstar asked them.

'Up near hollow tree," Bearfoot answered him. "We were looking for borage leaves and catmint when we found the scents,"

"Was there a single scent or multiple?" Runningfawn spoke up.

"There were a few scents scattered," Bearfoot mewed again. Wolfstar shook his head in disbelief. What had they done to provoke Windclan? They had never been allies but disputes between the two clans rarely occurred.

"What are we going to do, Wolfstar?" Dewspring asked from the crowd.

"Perhaps a few of us could pay Windclan a visit while the rest of us attack Snowclan," Beeblaze suggested.

'Are you mouse-brained?" Blackfire whirled around to face him. "A few warriors are not going to win a battle on both sides,"

'Then what do you propose? Let WIndclan and Snowclan walts into our territory and steal prey whenever they want?" Hailsky asked him.

"ENOUGH!" Wolfstar yowled. Every cat stopped their arguing to look back up at him. But before the leader could chastise his clan, caterwauls broke out in the forest. Startled, the Fireclan cats looked around, trying to figure out what was going on. Suddenly, shadows from the midday sun were cast over the camp. Windclan and Snowclan scents flooded Bearfur's nostrils and it felt as if she would choke. Her heart began to pound when she looked up. The two enemy clans had surrounded the camp and had blocked the entrance. From the pounding in her head, Bearfur heard the medicine cat gasp. It was like a wildfire had been trapped in an outrageous snow storm.


I hoped you like this chapter! Updates will be delayed again since this week is my spring break and I plan to spend it with family and friends. Please R&R!