Mistypaw
Crisp night air stung her eyes as Mistypaw sprinted to keep up with the group of warriors as they made their way to Thunderclan's border with Shadowclan. The young gray and white apprentice had not been to this section of Thunderclan's territory, and her paws were already screaming at her to slow down. However, Snakestar kept a wicked pace for the group, only a few of the more agile warriors keeping up with him. Mistypaw was comforted by an ever-present Blackleaf, who kept pace with her, giving encouraging words each time she grew tired.
They had been running for what seemed like a moon, before the patrol slowed suddenly, and if it hadn't been for Blackleaf stepping in front of her, Mistypaw would have walked right over the ledge of the gorge. A stretching expanse of black abyss came out of nowhere, and despite how much she squinted, Mistypaw couldn't see the bottom.
"Don't get too close." Blackleaf warned from beside her. "The ground isn't always stable here." To prove his point, the black warrior pushed on a loose patch of earth, causing it to crumble away into the nothingness underneath.
"Blackleaf!" A harsh meow echoed over the gorge. Snakestar had led them farther up to an area where the gap between the two territories was slightly smaller. Mistypaw estimated about three warrior tail lengths.
As the pair rejoined the group, most of the other cats were huffing as they caught their breath. Snakestar however was focused on his son. "Blackleaf, you first. Leap across and help your apprentice over." His words drew a few alarmed looks from some of the other cats.
"We're jumping across?" Sandfur stepped forward, until she was nose to nose with Snakestar. "We have some very young apprentices with us. It would be safer to continue on and cross at an easier area." The she-cat got many approving nods from the others.
"She's right." Littlestep had also caught up to the group, and Mistypaw could see Minnowpaw behind him, taking deep breaths around her bundles of herbs. "And what about my herbs? I'll be of little use in battle without them."
Snakestar grumbled. "You'll be of little use with them too." He grumbled at the medicine cat. "We're crossing here." He turned to the patrol, aiming his words pointedly at Sandfur and Littlestep. "If you are too mousehearted to jump, then return to camp. Or better yet, go find somewhere else to call home. I have no use for cowards." With a hiss, he turned and with a great leap, soared over the gorge, landing with a thud on the other side, his back legs hanging from the cliff face. He scrambled briefly before finding all four paws on solid ground. "Now everyone else hurry up!"
Mistypaw's chest tightened in fear as Blackleaf nosed her forward. "You'll be fine. Just don't think about it."
"Why do we have to go first?" Mistypaw couldn't help the shiver of fear that ran down her spine. Snakestar barely made that jump! I'm way smaller than him!
"To relieve the others' anxiety." Blackleaf came up beside her, pressing his black fur into her side. "Look at Minnowpaw. She's terrified. Show her you can do it, and it will give her confidence."
Mistypaw glanced over her shoulder to see a shivering Minnowpaw being comforted by her mentor. Minnowpaw had always been the weaker of the three littermates, and Mistypaw couldn't help the feeling of dread that seeped through her paws.
"Besides," Blackleaf continued, "I'll be on the other side. I'll catch you if you come up short. You'll be fine." With a flick of his tail, Blacktail left his apprentice's side, creeping closer to the edge of the gorge before crouching and leaping across. He landed neatly on all four paws with half a tail-length to spare. He turned to face the group again and beckoned for Mistypaw with his tail.
"This is ridiculous." Sandfur hissed as she strode up beside Mistypaw. "I know you're afraid. I'll jump with you. Are you ready?" The older she-cat gave Mistypaw a knowing glance as the two edged closer to the cliff face.
Mistypaw nodded, relieved to have another cat beside her. With delicate placement of her paws, she inched as close as she dared to the edge before bunching all of her weight into her hind legs. Together with Sandfur, the small gray apprentice exploded from where she crouched, closing her eyes as she trusted in her paws. Time seemed to stand still as she hung in the air above the gorge, the cold night's air whistling past her fur. Without warning, her paws met with hard ground making her tumble forward as her center of gravity was thrown off balance. As she opened her eyes, safely on the other side of the gorge, Mistypaw couldn't have been more relieved to feel solid earth beneath her.
A large black paw scuffed her over an ear, and Mistypaw turned to her mentor. "I knew you could do it. I wouldn't have taken you as an apprentice if I didn't believe in you." Blackleaf purred as he wrapped his tail around her. "You didn't even need my help. The other warriors should be ashamed if they let an apprentice show them up."
Mistypaw relaxed into her mentor for support, feeling the strength drain from her legs as adrenaline left her body. It didn't take long for the other cats to make their way across, until only Minnowpaw and Littlestep were left. A few of the warriors had brought the herb packs over when they made their leap, leaving Minnowpaw able to jump without the extra weight dragging her down. Flakepaw was on the Shadowclan side shouting words of encouragement to his sister and Mistypaw left Blackleaf's side to do the same.
Minnowpaw seemed so small when compared to the distance she had to jump. "You can do it Minnowpaw! Don't look down and jump as far as you can!" Mistypaw called to her. Littlestep waited patiently on the other side as his apprentice got ready. As the pair leapt the distance, Mistypaw's heart dropped as she realized that Minnowpaw was going to fall short. A rush of golden fur flashed past Mistypaw, as her sister's form disappeared from view. Just as Littlestep landed with a thud, Leopardspring dove forward, until he hung into the gorge, his rear legs planted firmly on the edge.
"Minnowpaw!" Mistypaw rushed forward, relief flooding through her as she saw her sister dangling helplessly by her scruff in Leoparspring's jaws. With a huge amount of effort, the young warrior had Minnowpaw hauled to safety, leaving her gasping for breath on the ground.
Littlestep rushed forward, helping his apprentice up and shooting a glare in Snakestar's direction. "Your recklessness almost got my apprentice killed!"
Snakestar waved the comment off with his tail. "Her weakness almost got her killed. I would have let her fall. One less weakling amongst our ranks." With a lash of his tail, the clan leader turned from the group and trotted off into Shadowclan territory. "Let's go! We've wasted enough time!"
Darkpaw
"Ya gotta be kidding me, you were training in the stone hollow?" Ivypaw blurted out, interrupting Darkpaw's story. "No fair. Sharpnose only lets me train there on special occasions. He hasn't even taught me any good attacking moves yet."
"Probably for good reason." Darkpaw purred in amusement at her sister's dismay. "Ashflight always says that a good defense is the best offense."
"You're so lucky. I would trade mentors in a heartbeat."
"Ivypaw, don't be so loud!" Darkpaw meowed in a harsh whisper. "Everyone knows Sharpnose has some of the best senses of all Shadowclan. That would really hurt his feeling if he heard you say that. Besides, Ashflight always has really good things to say about him."
"Yeah, I know." Ivypaw groaned in frustration. "I just hate the thought of you leaving me behind. Ya seem so much closer to becoming a real warrior than I do."
"What? No, I don't." Darkpaw fiddled with a rock under paw. "If anything, Shadepaw is the one who always acts so confident. Nothing phases him! He's always so calm."
"Except for a few days ago when he got busted for stealing that mouse from Thunderclan's territory." Ivypaw scoffed. "He got so embarrassed while Mouseleap was scolding him! I bet he'll regret that for a while."
"Don't joke about that, Ivypaw." Darkpaw meowed seriously. "Ashflight said that Lionfrost could have really started a huge problem between us and Thunderclan."
"Uggh, Darkpaw you're getting boring, ya know? All you ever say these days are 'Ashflight this' and Ashflight that',"
"Well, I'm sorry for listening to my mentor?" Darkpaw frowned down at her paws. She wasn't used to arguing with her sister.
"Nah, don't be sorry. I'm just messing with ya." Ivypaw leaned over and licked Darkpaw playfully over an ear. "Anyways, I gotta get going. I think they're waiting for me." Ivypaw gestured over to a group of cats near the front of the cave.
"Have a good patrol!" Darkpaw meowed as Ivypaw got up from where the sisters had been sharing tongues. Night hunting had become a common occurrence in Shadowclan, as the fresh kill pile more frequently remained empty, despite new leaf's usual promise of more prey.
"Eh, it'll probably just be another patrol of listening to Sharpnose's random stories." The sisters touched noses. "I swear, I think I've hear all of his stories at least twice by now. Anyways, we're hunting near the Windclan border, so I'll bring ya back a nice juicy rabbit!" With a cheery wave of her tail, Ivypaw turned from her littermate and joined the cluster of cats that sat beside the cave entrance.
With a yawn Darkpaw glanced around camp. Mudtail and Ashflight were sharing tongues near the elder's den, Darkflower stood watch over the clan for the night and Stalkwind stood guard over the glowstar tunnels. The cave was quiet, as most other cats had already gone to their dens for the night. Darkpaw could hear faint snoring coming from Barktuft in the elders den, and even the kits were all silent. With a long stretch, the russet colored she-cat turned toward the apprentice's den. A long day of battle practice had made her muscles ache.
Shadepaw was already curled in his nest, and Darkpaw turned a few times in her own before settling beside him. The gentle rise and fall of his breathing comforted her as she found her own breaths slowing and her mind starting to drift. Just as sleep was about to claim her, a yowl echoed through the cave. Instant panic shot through her as Darkpaw jumped to her paws, Shadepaw stirring slowly beside her.
"Darkpaw? What's going on?" Shadepaw murmured as the young tom slowly rose to his paws.
"Thunderclan is invading!" The urgent yowl of Darkflower banished any thoughts of sleep from the apprentices' minds. Outside the den, Darkpaw could hear many more cats, and the unmistakable smell of Thunderclan began to fill the camp. Without a second thought, she darted from the den, only to be greeted by a large black warrior.
Mistypaw
The climb up to the Shadowclan camp had been steep. With her muscles already throbbing from trekking through unfamiliar swamp and forest, Mistypaw felt as though she would collapse at any moment. A look at her siblings told her that both Minnowpaw and Flakepaw felt the same. The three apprentices had stayed back with Littlestep, where they made a makeshift treatment area for any warriors that might suffer an injury. They were settled only a few tail lengths from Shadowclan's cave entrance, and Mistypaw could hear a cacophony of yowls and fighting cats coming from inside.
"Here, eat this." Mistypaw looked down at Minnowpaw's small paw holding out a few small bright green leaves. "It's burnet. It will give us strength."
Mistypaw nodded gratefully before lapping up a few leaves. The taste was bitter, but went down easily. Both Flakepaw and Minnowpaw ate their own, and Minnowpaw began sorting out the herbs from the packs they had been carrying.
"Need any help?" Mistypaw offered, eager to put her paws to work.
"Can you open that pack there?" Littlestep instructed. "Minnowpaw and I will be dressing wounds when the time comes. I want you two to be able to pass us what we need and chew up poultices." The medicine cat fixed her with a solid green stare. "Can you do that?"
Mistypaw glanced at Flakepaw for reassurance before nodding to Littlestep. "Of course we can." She turned toward the pack and got busy sorting herbs, using what little she knew. "Cobweb… Oh, those are poppy seeds. Um, I think this is marigold?"
"Actually, that's horsetail." Minnowpaw stepped closer to Minstypaw. "I have my pack sorted over there. So we can use that for now. You'll start to remember the names of the different leaves very quickly."
"Thanks, Minnowpaw." Anxiety bit at Mistypaw's pelt as the sounds of combat echo out of the grand cave that Shadowclan called home. She took a few steps forward until she could peer inside. She had never seen the inside of the cave before, and it was alive with writhing cats, all fighting with teeth and claws unsheathed.
Blood splattered the ground just inside Shadowclan's cave, where Creamfur was clawing deep cuts into the underbelly of an older, dark brown she-cat. Mistypaw's eyes widened at the look of anger and pain in the enemy cat's eyes, as she yowled in pain. Looking around, Mistypaw could pick out the other warriors that had made up Thunderclan's patrol. Blackleaf seemed to be easily fighting off a dark gray she-cat and two younger apprentices. Leopardpring seemed to be outmatched against what appeared to be an elder and a younger tan she-cat. Darkdapple and Sandfur were fighting back to back, barely keeping three other warriors at bay, and in the center of camp Snakestar wrestled with a large, scar-covered tom.
"We're losing." As Mistypaw watched her clanmates grow slower and slower with each attack, a large figure stepped out from a crevice in the cave wall, just a few tail lengths from the cave entrance. In a matter of seconds, a heavily scarred, light-brown tabby stood over her. With teeth bared, the tom swing a massive paw in her direction, only for a rough yank to send Mistypaw rolling backwards.
"Rainheart, I'm sorry for the intrusion, but please leave these apprentices out of it." Littlestep stepped forward, blocking Mistypaw from view of the thick furred cat.
"It's too late for that, Littlestep." Rainheart sneered with a scowl. "I may be a medicine cat, but my warrior roots are as strong as ever. Don't think you can take me in a fight."
Mistypaw could see Littlestep stiffen in front of her, however the medicine cat's eyes weren't focused on the enemy in front of him, but on a dark brown tabby pelt that slunk into the pool in the middle of the cave, blood staining the water around it. Much of the fighting ceased as the cats' attention was drawn to the scene.
"Peakstar!" A panicked yowl sounded from behind Mistypaw, and as the young apprentice turned, her heart sank as five more Shadowclan cats pushed past to join the brawl.
"Mistypaw!" Littlestep called behind him. "Hurry. Run back to camp and fetch the others. We're fighting a losing battle, and I'm afraid Snakestar doesn't see that."
Darkpaw
Darkpaw's eyes widened as the fighting seemed to stop. The large black tom she had been fighting with the aid of Shadepaw and Ashflight stepped away from them as all four cats watched the slumping figure of Shadowclan's leader. Darkpaw couldn't tear her gaze from his limp figure in the water, even as Mouseleap returned, with the night hunting party on her tail.
The fight overall seemed to be in Shadowclan's favor, but Darkpaw could tell that Peakstar losing a life had shaken all of her clanmates' resolve. With a brief look in Ashflight's direction, she could tell that her mentor was tiring. Ashflight's thick gray fur was already matted with blood in several areas where she had taken a blow, and the warrior they had been fighting didn't even seem winded.
Looking back to the scene in the middle of the cave, Darkpaw watched as Snakestar stood over Peakstar, bloody drool dripping from his mouth. The tom's eyes were wide with a wicked sense of joy, and as the cave grew quiet, he turned sharply to snap at his closest warrior.
"What are you doing?" With a lashing tail, Snakestar looked around at all of the cats watching him. "WHO told you to stop? Kill them! Kill them all!"
Almost at once, Darkpaw felt the air rush out of her as the large black warrior rammed his head into her side, sending her sprawling. Before he could descend upon her again, Ashflight barreled into him, her blue eyes alive with anger, Shadepaw on her heels. Darkpaw pushed herself up slowly, feeling her sides scream at her as she tried to regain her breath. For a moment, her vision became blurry as she fought to stand, and her paws seemed to feel as though they had turned to stone.
"Stop it! Stop!" A panicked yowl brought Darkpaw's attention snapping back to the fight before her as Shadepaw desperately clawed at the massive warrior's shoulder. Darkpaw's eye widened in horror as she saw a bloodied Ashflight hanging limp in the enemy's grip. The black Thunderclan warrior held Ashflight's throat in his jaws, his eyes dancing with exhileration.
Darkpaw leapt forward in horror. "Ashflight, no!" Before the young apprentice could reach her mentor, a pale yellow pelt slammed into the black warrior from behind, making him drop Ashflight to the ground. Darkpaw lunged forward, gripping her mentor's scruff between her teeth and dragging her back, away from the Thunderclan cat. Ashflight groaned quietly as she tried to get her paws underneath her, but Darkpaw could see thick blood oozing from a wound in the she-cat's belly. Darkpaw looked around frantically, unsure of what to do. Shadepaw crouched beside her, his ears flattened back.
"Put pressure on the wound!" Darkpaw looked toward where Sharpnose was now fighting with the black warrior, his yellow pelt ruffled and his teeth bared as he barked instructions at her. "She needs a medicine cat!"
Shadepaw slunk forward. "I'll take care of her here. You go find Rainheart."
Darkpaw nodded and slid around her brother as she looked around the cave. Most of the Thunderclan cats were in worse shape than her clanmates, but the enemy cats weren't backing down. Were they that stubborn to keep fighting a losing battle? Everywhere Darknpaw looked she saw blood and fighting cats. Almost every one of Thunderclan's warriors were outnumbered, two to one. As she slipped between the individual fights, a looming light brown pelt caught her eye at the entrance to the cave.
"Rainheart! We need help!" Darkpaw raced up to the medicine cat, finding him staring down a small gray and white tom from Thunderclan. The two hadn't begun fighting, but the hostility between the two was clear. "Rainheart!" She called again. "It's Ashflight! She's bleeding a lot. It's serious, you need to help her!"
The medicine cat slowly turned away from the other tom and focused his attention on Darkpaw. She wanted him to hurry and run to Ashflight's aid. What was he waiting for? Darkpaw glanced nervously at the Thunderclan cat, spying two smaller cats behind him. Mostly likely apprentices, and young ones at that.
"Ashflight? Ah, I see her." Rainheart meowed as he scanned the cave. "I have to get some herbs and I'll go treat her." He gave a worried glance in the direction of the fallen Peakstar as well. The clan leader had most certainly lost a life, and was now dragging himself out of the bloodied cave pool. Mousleap was clawing at Snakestar, keeping the wild Thunderclan leader busy. Rainheart turned back to Darkpaw. "Come with me." He meowed as he turned and led her to the mouth of the medicine den. He disappeared for a brief moment and came back with a jaw full of herbs. "Here." The large tabby pushed the herbs toward her. "Chew these up and spit them into the wound. It will slow the bleeding. Then find cobwebs and dress the wound. I need to help Peakstar. I'll come check on her when I'm done."
Darkpaw gathered up the herbs as Rainheart left, making a bee line to the clan leader. I have to treat Ashflight by myself? Apprehension crawled through her pelt as she stumbled backwards, tripping on a dark green leaf. She stuck close to the cave wall as she made her way back to her mentor, avoiding the fighting cats and moving as quickly as her paws would let her.
Sharpnose was still fighting with the large black warrior from earlier, and Shadepaw was still hunched over Ashflight, his paws soaked in the gray warrior's blood. Ivypaw was there too, ducking in and out of the fight with the Thunderclan tom, nipping at his legs or clawing at his broad black shoulders. Darkpaw dropped the herbs next to Ashflight, and moved around to crouch beside her brother.
"Rainheart couldn't come. He went to check on Peakstar." Darkpaw shoved some of the leaves toward Shadepaw. "Chew this. We have to press it into Ashflight's wounds. It's supposed to stop the bleeding."
The two apprentices chewed quickly, forming a goopy ball of herb and saliva in their mouths before spitting it out on their paws. Darkpaw pressed the poultice into Ashflight's side, but despite the constant pressure she applied to the wound, the bleeding only swept away the poultice with no effect. Shadepaw tried the same with no better result.
"This isn't working!" Darkpaw looked up and searched for Rainheart, seeing the warrior-like medicine cat now fighting side by side with Mouseleap as they fought back Snakestar. "What am I supposed to do?!" Grief wrapped it's long talons around Darkpaw's heart at the thought of losing her mentor.
"We have to try something else!" Darkpaw got to her paws and turned around frantically. "Cobwebs! Hurry, Shadepaw, find some cobwebs!"
"We just cleaned out the cave. There won't be any." Shadpaw said calmly as he rested his tail on Darkpaw's back. "There's nothing we can do. We need Rainheart."
"We have to try something!" Darkpaw pressed her paws onto Ashflight's wound. "She's dying! We need to stop the bleeding!" Darkpaw looked up from the blood that had pooled beneath her paws. Sharpnose had his paws full just keeping the other warrior at bay, and there still was no sign that Rainheart was coming any time soon.
As Darkpaw slunk down to the cavern floor, her fur brushed against a soft, fawn-colored pelt. As she looked up, Darkpaw was surprised to see the small apprentice she had seen earlier outside the cave entrance. The small she-cat was clearly an apprentice, and Darkpaw recoiled at her presence. "What are you doing? Get away from Ashflight!"
"I'm Minnowpaw. I'm a medicine cat apprentice. I'll help you."
Darkpaw's eyes widened at the other she-cat's words. "But why? You're Thunderclan. We're Shadowclan." The other apprentices actions were puzzling. As far as Darkpaw was concerned, she had only ever heard stories about how ruthless and uncaring the rival clan was.
"Clans don't matter to medicine cats. We're meant to save lives. And that includes the lives of cats from other clans." Minnowpaw set to work pulling out some leaves from a small pack of herbs she had brought with her. Just as Darkpaw had tried earlier, Minnowpaw also chewed leaves and spat it directly onto the wound, working fast.
"We tried that. It didn't work, there's too much blood." Darkpaw mentioned as she removed her paws from the wound to give the other apprentice more room to work.
"Making poultices is actually quite difficult. Chew it too much and it runs right off the wound. Too thick and it won't spread." As the small she-cat spread her poultice on the wound, it stuck, causing the bleeding to slow. "Just right, and it can help heal any wound."
Darkpaw watched Minnowpaw work. How does this tiny cat know so much about healing? She can be much older than 6 moons and she can already heal this kind of injury? "That's amazing." She murmured as Minnowpaw got the last of the major bleeding to stop.
"She's not out of the woods yet. This is just to stop the bleeding. I'm not very good at wrapping such a large injury, but I'll give it my best attempt." After what seemed like moons, Minnowpaw stepped back to admire her work. "She shouldn't lose any more blood as long as you don't move her from this position. Have your medicine cat treat her when the battle is over."
Darkpaw nodded and fixed the other apprentice with a green stare. "I'm Darkpaw. Thank-"
Yet another yowl echoed through the cave, signaling the arrival of several new Thunderclan cats.
Mistypaw
Mistypaw sprinted through unfamiliar territory, passing strange smelling trees, wading through sticky moss and marshes, and hurtling through bushes full of nettles. However, when she broke through a patch of underbrush, she skidded to a halt just before coming upon the steep drop of the gorge. She swallowed, knowing that she needed to hurry, but taking her time to find the correct area to jump.
After several fox-lengths, she found it. The same place th patrol had jumped earlier. I did it just fine last time. I can do it again. With a deep inhale, the she cat crouched to prepare to jump. She still had quite a ways before she would reach the Thunderclan camp to get the others. There's no time to be scared.
"Mistypaw?" A familiar voice jarred her out of her concentration.
"Halfbreeze?" Mistypaw scented the air. It was her mother! And there were others with her too.
Movement across the gorge drew Mistypaw's attention to where Halfbreeze stepped out from the undergrowth, followed by Stonejaw and Bluetoes. Jaggedtuft and Russetsky were with them as well. Without a word, Halfbreeze leapt nimbly over the distance of the gorge, rushing to her kit's side and wrapping Mistypaw up with her tail.
"What's wrong? Are you injured?"
Mistypaw shook her head. "No, I'm fine. But there's no time! Littlestep sent me to get reinforcements! There's too many of them, we need help!"
"We'll go immediately then." Bluetoes called from the other side.
Halfbreeze nodded before nuzzling her daughter gently. "You cross over to your father, and head back to camp. You've done enough for one night, so go home and curl up in your nest."
Mistypaw backed away. "What? No. I'm coming with you. Flakepaw and Minnow-"
"Will be fine." Halfbreeze reassured. "We'll see to it. Besides, Thunderclan's camp is not very well guarded right now. You know how to get back to Shadowclan's camp. If something happens, Spiderflight and the others are going to need you to be able to come and get us for support."
Mistypaw looked across the gorge to where her father waited for her.
"Go on. We need to get to the Shadowclan camp." Halfbreeze nudged the apprentice towards the gorge. "I'll be able to fight more confidently when I know that you're safe."
Mistypaw nodded and gave her mother one last nuzzle before launching herself across the gorge, somersaulting into her fauther's broad chest as she landed. She shook out her pelt and rose to her paws.
"Do as your mother said." Bluetoes bent down and touched his nose to hers. "We'll be back soon. Go straight back to camp and don't stop."
As the small patrol of reinforcements crossed the gorge and raced on through Shadowclan territory, Mistypaw padded into the familiar scents of Thunderclan, racing for home.
Darkpaw
Yet another yowl echoed through the cave, signaling the arrival of several new Thunderclan cats.
The cave grew loud with a chorus of shrieks and yowls as fresh Thunderclan cats clashed with Shadowclan. Despite Shadowclan's previous advantages, the new arrivals of some of Thunderclan's senior warriors and deputy quickly turned the tide of the battle. The scrawny, underfed Shadowclan cats struggled to keep the thick-bodied, well fed Thunderclan at bay.
"I should go." Minnowpaw gave Darkpaw a quick, worried glance before slipping away and darting across the cave to assist Littlestep in treating some of their clanmates. Darkpaw looked towards where Sharpnose and Ivypaw were fighting the black warrior and a new dark russet colored tom as well.
"Shadepaw, we need to help them. Let's go!" Darkpaw called to her brother behind her as she left Ashflight's side to dive into the battle. Ivypaw and Shadepaw fell in beside her, and the three littermates took on the new russet-colored tom.
"I don't particularly like fighting apprentices." The tom meowed as he narrowed his eyes at the three of them.
Ivypaw shot forward at the tom while he was distracted and clawed him over the nose, causing several droplets of blood to ooze out. "We may be apprentices, but there's three of us, and only one of you. Sounds like a fair fight to me."
With a hiss, the tom shook the blood off of his nose and lunged forward, bringing a razor sharp claw with him. Ivypaw dodged out of range as Darkpaw and Shadepaw took position on either side of him. With a burst of speed, Darkpaw darted in, raking her claws along the enemy's side, causing him to whip around to face her. As he turned, Shadepaw made new claw marks on his other side. Growing frustrated, the warrior kicked out a hind leg, catching Shadepaw in the chest and sending the young tom stumbling backwards.
After several more rounds of darting in, clawing and backing out, Darkpaw could tell that her littermates were growing tired. As Ivypaw had him distracted, Darkpaw remembered the only attacking move that Ashflight had really taught her. Stealthily, the young dark she-cat stalked closer to the tom before leaping up and balancing on his shoulders, griping the skin of his scruff hard between her teeth and digging her claws deep into his shoulders.
The large tom yowled in surprise at the attacker who was now on his back. He whipped around and tried to swipe a paw to knock her off, but Darkpaw held firm. With her back legs, she began clawing deep scratches into his back and hips, feeling blood well up underneath each long draw of her claws.
"Get off!" The tom underneath her yowled, but to no avail. Despite his complaints, she only dug in deeper. It wasn't until Darkpaw heard a warning cry from Ivypaw that looked up to see a heavy black claw swinging at her.
The claw struck home, catching her behind the head and sending her reeling off the enemy's shoulders. She hit the cave floor with a dull thud and felt the warmth of blood seep into the fur behind her ears. She was faintly aware of Sharpnose, now batting heavy paws at the russet tom, and of her littermates scrabbling feebly towards her. However, the sharp pricks of long claws in her side made her alert of the presence of the black tom, hovering over her, digging his claws into her soft belly fur. She glanced past the fighting to where Ashflight still lay, limp and unmoving. The only sign of life being the shallow rise and fall of her chest.
Through the pain, and blurry shapes in her vision, a single ominous sound brought Darkpaw back to full awareness. The mangled, blood-curdling screech of dying cats held the attention of all the cats of both Thunderclan and Shadowclan. For a moment, all fighting ceased as every cat in the cave turned to see Peakstar and Snakestar once again locked together in battle, the two toms each with a death grip on the other. Snakestar with Peakstar's throat in his jaws, and Peakstar with a large claw dug partially into the crook of Snakestar's neck.
As the deputies of both clans rushed in to help their leaders, the fighting began again. However, Darkpaw found that with the distraction, she had been let up from where she had previously been pinned. However, her vision danced, her mind foggy from the previous blow. She could now barely feel the scratches and claw marks that had been stinging her sides before.
As Sharpnose battered back the russet tom, the black warrior tackled him from the side, sending him scrambling to get back to his paws. Darkpaw and her littermates rushed forward to Sharpnose's defense, but were stopped in their tracks by the lone, sorrowful howl of a haunted cat. Reeling around, and searching for the source of the sound, Darkpaw's eyes fell onto the limp body of Barktuft, lying at the paws of a light gold tom. The tom that hunched over the body of Barktuft yowled his sorrow for both clans to hear. His spotted gold fur was soaked in the deceased elder's blood.
As both clans' warriors slowly stopped fighting, the gargled screeches of two cats sounded again, and as Darkpaw looked in horror to the center of the cave, where Peakstar, with an expertly placed blow swiped down hard, slashing through Snakestar's neck, while at the same time, Snakestar crunched down with immense strength, crushing Peakstar's throat in his jaws. Together, both toms crumpled to the ground in pools of their own blood.
Littlestep
"ENOUGH!" The loud command of both Bluetoes and Mouseleap cause each cat to back away from those they were fighting previously. The bodies of Peakstar and Snakestar laid between the deputies, as the cave fell silent.
"There has been enough blood shed for one night." Bluetoes announced with a solumn tone. "Thunderclan, we are retreating."
Littlestep looked over the cats spread out throughout Shadowclan's camp. Both clans had suffered grievous injuries. He turned to Minnowpaw, who was patching up deep cuts in Creamfur's shoulders. Beside her, Flakepaw also worked, chewing up the poultices that Minnowpaw asked for. They work well as a team. He thought to himself as he padded over.
"Good work. That should hold until we get back to camp. Help me triage the rest of the warriors. We need to stop any serious bleeding before we leave, but we're running low on supplies."
As Minnowpaw set to work as instructed, darting around between the Thunderclan warriors, Littlestep approached the small group of cats that had circled around the clan leaders. Both Snakestar and Peakstar still lay limp on the ground.
"As soon as he wakes, get out." Mouseleap snarled at Bluetoes. The small-statured deputy had deep claw marks that parted her fur along her shoulders, but despite the pain she must have been feeling, her hackles were raised as she stared down any Thunderclan cat she could see.
Bluetoes only nodded as her order and turned to Stonejaw, who was just beside him. "Gather our warriors and take them out of the camp. Wait at the bottom of the mountain. I'll bring Snakestar along when he wakes." The deputy's brother nodded and quietly turned to gather the rest of Thunderclan.
Littlestep padded forward, stopping beside Snakestar's mangled body. Looking between both clan leaders he addressed the cats that had gathered. "They will be fine. They'll be waking up soon. Their injuries were deadly, and they've both lost a life."
"Peakstar has lost TWO lives tonight thanks to Thunderclan!" Mouseleap snarled. "And for what? Why did you come here? Over that border dispute? Are you all mousebrained?!"
Littlestep looked to Bluetoes. With Snakestar currently losing a life, the clan deputies had all of the power as clan leaders. At least until the rightful leaders awoke.
"Mouseleap." BLuetoes started quietly. "I never believed this was the correct course of action for our clan."
"Then you should have done something! Look at what happened!" The tan she-cat gestured around the blood stained cave. "Our leader lost two lives, and we lost Barktuft! He was'nt fortunate enough to have any more lives that the singular one he was given!"
Bluetoes flicked his ears. Littlestep could tell his father was in a tough position. Loyalty to the clan meant defending the leader's position. However, both Littlestep and Bluetoes had never supported Snakestar's decision in the slightest.
"This will never happen again, Mouseleap. I'll be sure of it."
"You're right." Mouseleap glared at Bluetoes, her voice lowering into a harsh snarl. "Next time, we will be raiding your camp. Leave. Now. Drag that evil cat back to your territory."
Littlestep prepared to argue, but Bluetoes stopped him with a curt nod. "Let's go. Get his hind legs." Together, the two carried Snakestar like an over-sized kit out of the Shadowclan cave. As Littlestep helped lower the leader down just outside the cave entrance, Stonejaw took over for him.
"There are stil a few of our warriors inside." Stonejaw meowed before gripping Snakestar's scruff beside Bluetoes as the brothers carefully dragged their leader down the steep path that led to the bottom of the mountain.
Littlestep turned and padded back inside, finding Minnowpaw and Flakepaw crouched worriedly at Leopardspring's side. The young warrior was shaking beside the body of Barktuft, several Shadowclan cats shooting him glares.
"I swear, I didn't mean to." Leopardspring wailed at no one in particular. "It was an accident. I would never kill another cat, let alone an elder!"
Littlestep nudged the warrior to his paws. "I believe you. Now it's time to go." With a glance around, Littlestep was amazed at how much blood could come from a single cat. The Shadowclan warriors nearby had begun to gather near Barktuft's body, each with pained, sorrowful eyes.
"Littlestep, how could that have happened?" Leopardspring was shaky on his paws, and it was obvious that the young tom was exhausted from such a long battle. With his small amount of battle experience, Littlestep was surprised that Leopardspring did not flee when the battle was looking tough. "I swear, I didn't know I was battling an elder, I didn't even swing that hard. I was aiming for his forelegs, not his neck. He fell. It happened so fast."
"It's okay, Leopardspring." The small statured medicine cat tried to offer comforting words, but they seemed to evade him. "Death happens. It's something you have to accept and move on from. This battle was a mistake. It wasn't your fault."
As the two toms reached the bottom of the mountain, Minnowpaw and Flakepaw followed just behind. Littlestep left Leopardpring with Sandfur and joined Bluetoes. Snakestar had just begun to regain consciousness. As Snakestar stumbled to his paws and looked around, an enraged wild look filled his eyes.
"No! Why are you here?" Snakestar spat in Bluetoes' face before turning and hissing at all of the cats that he had originally forbade from accompanying the battle patrol.
"He's your deputy, Snakestar." Halfbreeze snarled. "It's his job to clean up your mistakes."
With a hiss, Snakestar lunged forward on wobbly legs, thrashing out with a claw and raking Halfbreeze over an eye. With blood dripping from her chin, Halfbreeze shook her head in pain as Bluetoes rammed into his leader.
"What's wrong with you!?" The deputy stared down at Snakestar, who lay in the dirt. "She's your clanmate, Haven't your actions caused enough blood shed for one night?"
Littlestep nosed his mother's shoulder as he inspected the cut. It was deep, but would heal. He wouldn't be able to tell if her eye was damaged until the bleeding stopped. Minnowpaw rushed to his side as well, with the few herbs they had remaining.
"Do we have any horsetail left?" He asked as he licked away some of the blood that har formed under Halfbreeze' eye.
"Uh, no. We used it all." Minnowpaw shuffled through the herbs. "Would marigold work?"
"It'll have to do for now." Minnowpaw began to chew a poultice. "When we get back to camp, you're going straight to my den."
As Littlestep applied the poultice, the rest of the group began to form up, ready to go. It didn't take long for the poultice to take effect, causing the bleeding to slow. Littlestep stepped back and nodded to Bluetoes who had been patiently waiting.
"Let's go." Bluetoes announced, and together the Thunderclan patrol began their long trek back to Thunderclan's camp. The walk was slow, as many cats were injured, and Shadowclan's territory was not forgiving. Together, the cats made their way to the border, where they walked along the gorge for many pawsteps. They passed the area they had crossed initially until they came upon the large old tree trunk that acted as a bridge across.
Littlestep passed halfbreeze of to Bluetoes, who led his mate gently across to the other side. Littlestep stuck close to Minnowpaw, watching her carefully in case she slipped. Once all of the cats were safely on the other side, the pace of the group seemed to pick up and the spirits of Littlestep's clan mates rose. Every cat seemed to feel much more relaxed once they set paw in familiar territory.
When Thunderclan's camp finally came into view, relieved voices began to wash through the group, Littlestep's included.
"I'm looking forward to a long night's rest in our den." He meowed to Minnowpaw, who was practically falling asleep on her paws beside him.
"Oh, uh-huh. Me too."
"I'm sure Mistypaw will be glad to see you, too." Littlestep chuckled as he ducked through the tunnel that led into camp. When he emerged on the other side, he was slightly surprised to see Snakestar padding over to highrock, calling a clan meeting.
"Can't this wait? We're exhausted." Creamfur complained, limping form her wounds.
"And injured." Halfbreeze pointed out.
"No!" Snakestar snapped. He didn't climb to highrock, but addressed his clan from the ground. "I've decided. Bluetoes, I releave you from your duty."
Shocked meows rippled through the crowd.
"What? You relieve him?" Halfbreeze yowled in her mate's defense. "He's done nothing but help our clan!"
"Bluetoes has always been loyal to Thunderclan!" Spottedpelt chimed in.
"He's earned everyone's respect among all four clans." Stonejaw argued. "He is a model deputy!"
"Enough!" Snakestar snapped. "I've made my decision. That foxhearted warrior has plotted behind my back and turned my warriors against me." Snakestar's tail lashed behind him as he glared at his clanmates. "He is a cowardly embarrassment to Thunderclan, and from now on he is a mere warrior."
"Mere warrior?" Sandfur rose to her paws. "Being a warrior is no 'mere' task. We put our live on the line for you tonight. Including Bluetoes."
"No. Only one of you performed to my standards tonight." Snakestar's gaze cut through the crowd of warriors around him, resting on two cats. "Leopardspring was the only one of you to do what I ordered. To kill them. He succeeded and you all failed. I saw him fight. Without fear, without cowardice. He will be our new deputy."
"You're standards?" Spotted yowled across the clearing. "Your standards are for us to murdur other cats?"
"Leopardspring is too young to be a deputy! He hasn't even had an apprentice yet!"
"You expect us to accept Leopardspring in place of Bluetoes?!"
Enraged cries erupted from the cats of Thunderclan. Littlestep could see the rising tension. Many of the younger cats seemed to be supporting the leader's decision, while the senior warriors were outraged.
"Um, actually." A low, shaky voice cut through the crown. Leopardspring looked blankly towards Snakestar. "Barktuft's death was an accident. I didn't do it to follow your orders. I wouldn't have killed an elder in cold blood. There's no honor in that." The young spotted tom looked down at his paws as Sandfur's tail rested on his shoulders in comfort.
Silence hung in the air at the new clan deputy's words. Littlestep watched as a sour look developed across Snakestar's face. With a thrash of his tail, the leader dug his claws into the ground beneath him.
"So not a single one of you could follow a simple command?" Snakestar spat. "Useless. Every one of you!"
"I may not have killed any cat." Blackleaf stepped forward from where he had been brooding at the front of the crowd. "But I mortally wounded several of Shadowclan's rubbish warriors." The black tom strode forward, turning toward the rest of his clanmates as he spoke. "I was the only one who held my own back there, even before the other patrol arrived."
"That's true. I was there with him. He fought off every warrior that attacked him." Russetsky chimed in to his brother's claims. "If the battle hadn't ended when it did, Blackleaf would have ended two cats' lives tonight."
Littlestep felt the fur on his back rise in disgust. Since when have we taken to bragging about killing others?!
"Blackleaf has always taken interest in planning patrols." Darkdapple sat beside the two toms. "He might a good choice for deputy instead."
"Blackleaf?" Snakestar turned his head to peer at his son. "Well, you did fight well earlier. And I know I raised you to be able to kill." The clan leader waved his tail to hush the crowd of Thunderclan cats. "Leoparspring! You're too weak. Blackleaf will be deputy instead." He announced as outraged complaints once again began to fill the air.
Phew! This was a long one! Over 7,000 words!
I have to admit this one was a little more challenging to write. I haven't written many battle type scenes before, as I prefer to focus a lot more on developing the relationships between characters. However, a lot happened in this chapter. I was a little surprised at the end when Snakestar demoted Bluetoes. I honestly wasn't planning on that happening until a lot later, but it just seemed to happen. Also I want to apologize for some of the mistakes that will be throughout this chapter. I was planning on publishing it by midnight Jan. 10th, buuuut now it's almost 2 am Jan. 11th. So I really rushed through the normal editing phase that i do for all of my stories.
So I wanted to talk a bit about a few of the scenes that I wanted to be major. For example when Snakestar and Peakstar died at each other's paws, and the death of Barktuft. What did you think? What were the most epic moments in your opinion?
For those who own some of the cats that are featured in this story - How were your cats depicted? What would you change? I would like to try and get them to behave the way that their creators originally planned. Also, what Riverclan and Windclan cats would you like to see? They're getting a chapter very soon!
And once again, let me know who your favorite character is so far! Personally I have so many characters that I have fallen in love with and every chapter I find a new cat to admire. This chapter was definitely Darkpaw. The close bond she shares with her mentor Ashflight is how I would picture my apprenticeship if I were i the warrior world. Also, keep an eye out for Sharpnose/Ashflight moments. Just a hint ;)
Please review if you haven't already, as I always love to hear people's feedback. I love creative criticism, but keep in mind, I already know about a lot of the spelling/grammatical mistakes that will be scattered throughout this chapter. Sorry again! I would love to hear any questions you have about past/present/future plot lines, characters, setting, etc. Anyways, thanks for reading!
