Thank you all so much for reading! I'm really getting into the swing of this fic; frequent updates will definitely keep happening.
To my lovely reviewers:
Kai Lover911: Thank-you! I hope you continue to enjoy it!
Pandean: Thank-you so much! I'm really enjoying Hollypaw's personality, and I hope you continue to see her growth. And thanks for suggestions! I will definitely use the kit suggestion, she fits perfectly with the kits I thought of in case no one gave me suggestions! As for Hollypaw's warrior name...
I'm currently debating between two, and I like you all to help me choose: Hollyfoot or Hollystep?
All input is greatly appreciated! I hope you enjoy Chapter 8!
Chapter 8
Blood splattered the ground as Hollypaw shook her head and spun to find another badger to attack. The great lumbering creatures were everywhere, making it hard for Hollypaw to find her Clan-mates. Their stench filled the ThunderClan camp. A distressed wail drew her attention, and Hollypaw rushed towards the sound. Brambleclaw was urging the elders to find somewhere to hide while Squirrelflight led Ferncloud and Sorreltail around the very edge of the camp, each she-cat holding one of Sorreltail's kits. Hollypaw rushed to the elders.
"I'll help," she gasped. "You can shelter on the Highledge."
Goldenflower nodded. "That's a good idea." Her pale golden fur was bristling in fear, but her voice was calm. Mousefur let her tail rest on Longtail's shoulders, and the four cats began easing their way around the edge of camp.
Almost there! Hollypaw's stomach flipped as a massive badger swung to face them. She arched her back and snarled. The badger attacked first, lunging forward and swinging its paw with enough force to break a cat as small as Hollypaw. The tabby apprentice rolled to the side, under the attack. She sprang to her paws instantly and lashed out, spitting curses as she raked her claws over the creature's striped face. Goldenflower rushed forward to help her, weaving between its flailing front paws to distract it.
"No, Goldenflower! Keep going! Get Mousefur and Longtail up the Highledge!" Hollypaw shouldered the pretty elder aside, wincing as one of the badger's claws struck a glancing blow to her shoulder. She could see Mousefur still creeping through the shadows with Longtail behind her.
"I won't leave you to fight this badger alone," Goldenflower struggled to her paws, panting heavily. She threw herself at the badger again. Hollypaw leapt from the other direction, jumping on the badger's paw as it tried to swipe at the elder. She sank her teeth into its foreleg and held on as long as she could as it swung its paw back and forth through the air. Finally, she was dislodged and tumbled to the side. She landed hard and the wind was knocked out of her. Try as she might, she couldn't regain her paws. She could only watch in horror as Goldenflower struggled against the massive creature until it brought it paw down firmly on her back, breaking her spine and killing her instantly.
"No!" A pained screech tore from Hollypaw's throat. She forced herself into a standing position, still wheezing from being winded. "Goldenflower…!" Before she could do anything, Brambleclaw was upon the badger, fighting like a LionClan warrior as he attempted to avenge his mother's death. Hollypaw bent and grasped the old queen's scruff in her jaws, pulling her body aside where it wouldn't be harmed further by the ongoing battle.
Finally in control of her breathing, the apprentice charged back into the fight. She spotted Dustpelt and Firestar near the entrance, battling against a massive male badger. Brambleclaw was chasing the badger that had killed Goldenflower towards the entrance, and she felt a surge of satisfaction at his success. Still, there were many more badgers than warriors, and they showed no signs of giving in.
Hollypaw was on her way to help Birchpaw when a chilling wail split the air. She didn't have time to investigate though. The tabby apprentice continued to her brother's side. Together, they faced a young badger, working perfectly together as they darted forward in turn to confuse it and keep it on the defensive. Finally, bleeding and frustrated, the badger turned and fled. Birchpaw let out a triumphant yowl and spun to find a new opponent, ignoring the wounds that decorated his flanks. Hollypaw stayed at her brother's shoulder. Together they managed to drive off another young badger, but not without suffering more injuries of their own.
Death was almost a welcome thought to the tabby apprentice as she stood beside her brother like his shadow. Blood dripped steadily on the ground beneath them.
"Can't keep fighting…" Birchpaw panted, slumping forward. Hollypaw nudged him to his paws.
"We have to," she insisted desperately. Hollypaw knew she couldn't stand up to a badger alone in her condition, and Birchpaw was worse off than she was. StarClan help us!
As she thought it, an unfamiliar battle cry echoed around the clearing. Onestar rushed through the remains of the thorn barrier, WindClan warriors streaming out behind him. The dark tabby apprentice felt relief flood her paws. They were saved. The WindClan warriors fell on the startled badgers mercilessly. Realizing that they were now outnumbered, the beasts were quick to flee, hurrying back to wherever they came from.
Onestar joined Firestar, pride glowing in his eyes.
"You came," Firestar rasped, his own eyes bright.
"Of course we came," Onestar rumbled. "There are four Clans in the forest, but we can still help one another."
Another badger joined the two leaders, and Hollypaw felt dismay stab at her. Can any cat still lift a paw to a badger?
"Don't worry," Cloudtail limped to her side. "That's Midnight, Brambleclaw just told me." She glanced at her mentor, taking in the nasty wound on his front leg, before turning curious amber eyes towards Midnight again. She had heard stories about the badger who shared with StarClan, but she never imagined she'd see her one day. She considered moving closer, to hear what they were talking about, but fatigue made her paws heavy, and she settled for sitting beside Birchpaw and licking his wounds clean. Leafpool hurried from cat to cat with a bundle of herbs in her jaws, tending to the wounded while Onestar and Firestar spoke.
"Where's Cinderpelt?" Hollypaw blinked up at Cloudtail again. "Surely things would go more quickly if she helped…?"
Cloudtail's eyes darkened in pain. "Cinderpelt is dead."
"Oh." Hollypaw bowed her head.
"StarClan must be angry with us," rasped Birchpaw, his chest heaving with the effort of speaking.
"StarClan have nothing to do with it," Cloudtail muttered. Hollypaw knew that her mentor wasn't the most faithful to their warrior ancestors; at times like these she was tempted to agree with his views. "We drove the badgers out of their homes, so they tried to drive us out of ours. Except we didn't run." He turned a proud gaze to the two apprentices. "You both fought like warriors. You're too young for warrior names yet, but Firestar will hear about it."
Hollypaw felt her heart swell at the praise despite the horrible situation. Assured that the danger was gone, the tabby apprentice sank to the ground, resting her chin on her paws and letting her eyes slip shut as she waited her turn for medical care.
Three days after the battle, the camp still didn't look much better. Only half of the thorn barrier had been rebuilt, and ThunderClan was still grieving their losses. Along with Cinderpelt and Goldenflower, Sootfur had died from his wounds the night following the attack. Thornclaw still inhabited Leafpool's den, his fate in the paws of StarClan.
And those of us who aren't too badly wounded hardly have time to sleep between the repairs to the camp and extra patrols! Hollypaw flicked her ears crossly as she padded from the apprentices' den to the fresh-kill pile. It was a foggy morning, and the dark apprentice had a feeling rain was on the way. Cloudtail was eating beneath the Highledge with Dustpelt. Hollypaw waved her tail in greeting and pulled a mouse out of the fresh-kill pile. She settled down right there to eat it, watching the camp come to life. Brackenfur emerged from the warriors den, yawning, and padded straight to the nursery. Brambleclaw slipped out and stalked over to join Dustpelt and Cloudtail, seemingly asking them about patrols. Rainwhisker followed him, but stopped at the fresh-kill pile.
"Good morning," he greeted Hollypaw as he pulled a starling from the pile.
"G'morning," echoed Hollypaw through a massive yawn. The gray warrior blinked sympathetically at her. Hollypaw felt her heart aching for him. Rainwhisker had been trying even harder than most to keep busy, going on patrol after patrol, his blue eyes haunted by grief. Hollypaw couldn't imagine losing Birchpaw—not ever. She didn't even like to think of the possibility.
"Has Cloudtail given you any duties today?" Rainwhisker's question pulled her from her thoughts.
"Not yet," the tabby apprentice sighed. "He's been over there gossiping with Dustpelt like a couple of elders."
Rainwhisker's whiskers twitched in amusement, though the laughter barely touched his eyes. They continued eating in a companionable silence. Birchpaw joined them, still limping, though Leafpool had finally allowed him to go back to the apprentices' den the night before. Hollypaw wanted to ask if he was okay, but she had hardly opened her mouth when Cloudtail stood and summoned her with a flick of his ears.
Hollypaw touched noses with her brother. "Let's eat together tonight," she suggested. Birchpaw nodded, and Hollypaw hurried to meet her mentor at the half-repaired thorn barrier.
"Are you ready?" Cloudtail meowed as she joined him.
"I'm always ready," Hollypaw quipped, shifting from paw to paw. "What are we doing today?"
The white warrior beckoned for her to follow him and led the way into the forest. "We'll start with a quick hunt to get warmed up, then we'll be in the mossy hollow."
"Battle training?" Hollypaw felt conflicting emotions welling in her chest. She knew battle training was where she shined brightest, but her muscles still ached and the thought of sparring with her mentor only made them ache more.
Cloudtail nodded grimly. "Leafpool went to the Moonpool last night. She'll have been expected to tell the other medicine cats how Cinderpelt passed, and we can't trust the other Clans—ShadowClan especially—to keep their paws in their own territory while we recover."
Hollypaw flexed her claws. "I'd like to see them try to cross our borders," she hissed softly. "I could use some ShadowClan fur to line my nest with."
Pride and amusement flashed in Cloudtail's blue eyes. "For now," he continued, "Head towards the WindClan border. Meet me in the mossy hollow at sunhigh."
Hollypaw nodded and slipped into the undergrowth, aware of Cloudtail continuing towards the lake. The tabby apprentice paused, jaws parted and ears pricked. Rabbit scent wafted to her on the breeze, and she crouched down, carefully moving forward until she spotted her prey. It was the biggest rabbit she had seen yet, fat from a generous new-leaf. She waited—nearly too long—and sprung at the last possible moment, killing the plump rabbit with a swift bite to the back of the neck. She lifted the fresh-kill, snorting as she realized she couldn't lift it completely off the ground. I'll never hear the end of this. Still, she was proud of the catch, and buried it beneath a hazel bush to retrieve later. Soon, a couple of mice and a sparrow joined her stash. Aware that she was running short on time, Hollypaw gathered her fresh-kill and stumbled back to camp as quickly as she could.
"Nice catch!" Firestar's approving meow warmed her from her ears to her tail-tip, though she could see his tail curling in amusement as she tripped yet again over the rabbit. ThunderClan's leader was sitting near the fresh-kill pile, eating with Sandstorm. "Why don't you leave the rabbit here for now? Those mice and the sparrow should be plenty for the elders for now."
Hollypaw dropped the fresh-kill gratefully, resting her neck for a moment before picking the mice and bird up again and heading towards the elders den. Mousefur was watching her with laughter in her eyes.
"Did you catch that rabbit, or did the rabbit catch you?" The wiry brown elder teased.
Hollypaw rolled her eyes and dropped her fresh-kill where Mousefur and Longtail could both reach it. "It's a pretty poor hunter if I'm the best it could catch," she sniffed disdainfully. "I'd hardly feed Longtail."
The striped elder purred in amusement, as fond of the young tabby as Mousefur. "I've earned my right to eat as much fresh-kill as I like," he snorted. "Besides, some cat has to keep you apprentices busy."
Hollypaw purred warmly. "Well, I'm off to battle train. I'll see you both later!"
"Come eat with us tonight," Longtail called after her. Hollypaw flicked her ears to let him know she had heard, trusting Mousefur to relay the message to the blind warrior.
She was surprised to see Cloudtail stalking across the clearing, his paw swathed in a fresh coat of cobwebs. She hurried to his side. "Did something happen?"
The white warrior lashed his tail. "This wound reopened when I bumped my paw on a root, now Leafpool's confined me to camp." Hollypaw opened her mouth, but Cloudtail cut her off. "I've already asked Brambleclaw if you could join the sunhigh patrol."
"Alright," Hollypaw glanced around for the big tabby warrior, spotting him padded from the warrior's den towards the thorn barrier. It seemed that progress had been made while she'd been hunting; only a small gap near the edge kept the barrier from being complete again.
"Do everything he tells you," Cloudtail growled. "If you don't, I'll want to know why."
"Yes, Cloudtail." Hollypaw flicked her tail dismissively and loped across the clearing.
Spiderleg and Rainwhisker had already joined Brambleclaw when she reached the thorn barrier, and as she approached, Brambleclaw flicked his ears and led them out of the camp. "We're heading for the ShadowClan border," Brambleclaw explained as they ran through the trees at a comfortable speed.
"Do you really think they'll try something?" Spiderleg wondered aloud, his tone thoughtful.
Brambleclaw growled, "I wouldn't put it past them."
The patrol slowed as they neared the border, and Brambleclaw turned to Hollypaw. "What can you smell?"
The tabby apprentice was tempted to snap at the big warrior about not being her mentor, but she thought better of it when she remembered Cloudtail's warning. She obediently lifted her head and parted her jaws.
"ShadowClan," she answered.
"I smell it, too," Rainwhisker's shoulders grew tense. "It's far too strong to be coming from the border, though."
Brambleclaw stalked forward and shouldered his way through the undergrowth. A furious hiss drew the rest of his patrol to his side. Hollypaw felt the fur on her neck rising as she saw what had made Brambleclaw so angry.
ShadowClan had moved their scent markers well into ThunderClan's territory.
"Look at that," Hollypaw stepped forward stiffly, pointing with her nose to a pile of squirrel bones lying just within ShadowClan's new markers.
Brambleclaw bristled, a low snarl escaping his throat. "The scents are fresh. Hollypaw, run back to camp as fast as you can and get help. We're going to follow the patrol that left these and let them know just how strong ThunderClan is."
