Chapter 5
Jaypaw stared at the ShadowClan cats, her paws kneading the ground nervously. Jaypaw looked up at Leafpool and Stripepaw and saw them bristling although Stripepaw seemed to be shrinking closer to the medicine cat's side. Jaypaw didn't blame her sister. Right now, she was so terrified; she didn't even want to twitch her whiskers.
"So you like to insult us?" The dark ginger she-cat snarled, her eyes glinting dangerously at Foxfang, "How about you try saying it to our face, you piece of mousedung!"
Stripepaw growled loudly and all of the ShadowClan eyes snapped to the brown she-cat, huddling in Leafpool's shadow. Stripepaw's second growl caught in her throat and one of the brown toms jeered, "Look, Russetfur! The little kit is terrified! Maybe it should run back to its mother!"
"Maybe you should run back to yours!" Jaypaw snarled, causing all the eyes- ThunderClan and ShadowClan- to stare at her. Their eyes scorched Jaypaw's pelt, but the golden brown she-cat was too proud to back down like Stripepaw. Holding the jeering brown tom's gaze, Jaypaw added, "I bet you would if you had to fight us! You'd be running back to her with your tail in between your legs!"
"That's enough, Jaypaw," Leafpool ordered and Jaypaw fell silent. Padding up to the dark ginger she-cat- Russetfur? Jaypaw thought to herself- Leafpool meowed, her fur still bristling slightly, "There is no need for a fight, Russetfur. ThunderClan have not crossed onto ShadowClan territory nor have any ShadowClan cats been scented on ours. We should just head back to our camps." Pausing, Leafpool added, eyes glinting just like Russetfur's, "Not even you would attack a medicine cat."
Russetfur nodded reluctantly, but the small brown tom who had jeered at Stripepaw wasn't satisfied. Charging past Russetfur, the brown tom crossed the line and as soon as his paws touched ThunderClan land, the battle was on. No matter what agreement Leafpool and Russetfur had agreed on, it disappeared in the thick of the fight. The cats only cared about protect their land and protecting their clanmates.
Leafpool was clawing at the small brown tom with all the skill of a warrior. Foxfang was fighting Russetfur and the second brown tom with all the ferocity of LionClan, ordering the apprentices to stay back. Soon many more ShadowClan warriors flooded into ThunderClan territory. Jaypaw was so absorbed in the fight; she almost didn't hear the loud squeal that sounded behind her. Almost.
Whirling around, Jaypaw saw Stripepaw struggling with a ginger tom. Leaping at the tom, Jaypaw landed on the warrior's back and brought her claws on his face. Jaypaw could hear the tearing of skin and the ginger tom let go of Stripepaw in pain. Throwing back his head, the tom dislodged Jaypaw and the golden brown she-cat landed on the ground. Scrambling to her paws, Jaypaw saw the warrior lung at her and managed to whirl around, scoring her claws along the ginger tom's muzzle. The tom shook his head scattering red droplets on the grass. Taking the opportunity at her distracted opponent, Jaypaw lunged at the warrior and dug her teeth it his shoulder. The ginger tom howled in pain and took off back to ShadowClan territory. Jaypaw felt satisfied until a dark shape crashed into her back.
Turning her head, Jaypaw saw that Foxfang and his two opponents had drifted closer to her. One of the brown toms had been thrown into her by Foxfang and Jaypaw realized the ThunderClan warrior needed her help. Grabbing the tom by the scruff, Jaypaw managed to pull him away from Foxfang. Letting go, Jaypaw just had time to roll over to escape the warrior's outstretched claws. Getting back to her paws almost instantly, Jaypaw raked her claws along the tom's shoulder. The warrior was suddenly was pulled away from her and Jaypaw saw Brambleclaw scratch at the tom's back.
Looking around her, Jaypaw recognized other ThunderClan cats: Squirrelflight, Dustpelt, Sandstorm, and Cloudtail. They were saved!
Suddenly two voices broke through the squeals of fighting cats, "Stop!"
All the cats obeyed and Firestar padded into view, followed by Honeyfern and Poppyfrost. Another cat- a giant white tom with black paws- padded up to Firestar, flanked by Russetfur and a tabby she-cat.
Holding the giant white tom's eye, Firestar asked, "What happened here, Blackstar?"
"How would I know? I came here hearing the sounds of battle! I thought Sol was attacking our patrol!" Blackstar snarled, his gaze raking the ThunderClan and ShadowClan warriors alike. Jaypaw thought she saw Blackstar's yellow gaze linger on her, but when she looked at him, he looked away.
"Very well," Firestar meowed and then turned his green gaze to Russetfur. Jaypaw had to admit that Russetfur was brave. She wouldn't have been able to keep Firestar's gaze. "Russetfur, will you tell me what happened?"
"Oakfur, Toadfoot, and I were patrolling our borders when we hear him," Russetfur growled, flicking her tail in Foxfang's direction, "Insulting ShadowClan. We asked him if he cared to say that to our face and then the battle started."
"So it was your warriors?" Blackstar asked, glaring at Firestar.
"No!" Jaypaw snarled and both leaders gave her looks that strangled the words she was going to add. Dipping her head in embarrassment, Jaypaw padded over to where Stripepaw was observing quietly.
"Foxfang, tell us your side of the story," Firestar meowed, turning to Foxfang, but Russetfur gave a protesting growl. Turning to Russetfur, Firestar asked calmly, "Yes?"
"He'll blame us!" Russetfur growled, "Why don't you accept my word?"
Blackstar looked at Russetfur and then at Firestar, meowing, "Russetfur is right Firestar. Do you doubt the word of my deputy and my warriors?"
Firestar dipped his head to Blackstar and meowed, "I only want to hear both sides of what happened, Blackstar. I'm sure as a leader you would understand." Firestar stared at Blackstar for another moment before turning to Leafpool and asked, "Leafpool, you tell us what happened. After all, no one will doubt the word of a medicine cat."
"Foxfang did insult ShadowClan, Firestar, but Russetfur and I managed to agree that there was no need for a battle. Then Oakfur," Leafpool flicked her tail to the brown tom that had ignited the fighting, "Crossed the border. ThunderClan cats were the first to attack, that is true, but we only did it because Oakfur didn't want to lose any pride."
Firestar nodded and returned his gaze back to Blackstar, "It seems like both Clans are responsible. Well there was no serious injuries so I suggest we just ignore what happened today, but be warned Blackstar, ThunderClan will not tolerate any trespassing."
"Nor will ShadowClan," Blackstar snarled and gathered his cats together with a sweep of his tail. Padding away, Blackstar looked over his shoulder and saw Jaypaw staring at him. Calling back to Firestar, Blackstar meowed, "Your apprentices fought well."
Jaypaw wasn't sure if the leader of ShadowClan was being serious.
