Chapter 9.

"Run Bumblepaw!"

Brightheart did not turn to check if Bumblepaw had obeyed her orders. All of her senses were focused on the WindClan warriors that were surrounding her. She had faced the dogs, battled BloodClan, crossed a mountain, and even battled badgers, but none of that could compare to this. Unlike all those previous battles, now she was alone against four WindClan warriors.

"Look at what you have done!" she cried staring at Onestar's angry face, "They are going to kill us!"

"Relax," snapped the other Brightheart, "They are just a bunch of skinny cats. The only thing they are good at is running."

Onestar stepped closer and closer to Brightheart, until the she-cat could not breathe without touching the mottled brown tabby tom. "Why don't you say it again?"

"I'm sorry," whispered Brightheart, keeping her eyes down. "I…I didn't mean it. Please…" She sent prayers up to Starclan. "Please don't let me die here."

"Maybe we should get going?" suggested Whitetail, looking in the direction that Bumblepaw had fled. "Our relationship with ThunderClan is shaky enough. If a ThunderClan patrol spots us now…"

"Don't worry," said Onestar, "We'll be done long before help arrives." He turned his attention back to Brightheart. "Now. Let us finish this conversation back in WindClan camp. I don't think your clan mates would like to see this."

Brightheart did not what to do. Should she go with them? Should she fight back? Fighting back was unlikely. She knew there was no way she could fight four WindClan warriors and win.

"That's what you think."

She did have time to ask the other Brightheart what she meant for Harespring snapped at her heels, forcing her to step forward, towards the WindClan border. "I can't believe this!" she thought, "I'm going to be a WindClan prisoner. Cloudtail…Whitewing. I am never going to see them again…"

"Stop being so dramatic. We won't become a prisoner. Not when I'm around."

Brightheart suddenly stopped and Owlwhisker almost bumped into her. "What are you doing?" he hissed, "Keep moving."

"There's no way I'm going with pieces of foxdung like you," hissed Brightheart.

"What did you say?" snapped Owlwhisker.

She whirled around and ran her claws through Owlwhisker's chest, trying to get them as deep as possible. She yanked the claws out and the tom yowled and backed away from the she-cat.

"You foxdung!" Onestar roared.

The three WindClan warriors dove at Brightheart, claws unsheathed. Brightheart did not waste any time. She ran towards Owlwhisker, and ran behind the tom, placing a unsheathed paw on the tom's neck.

"Don't move," she hissed, "Or he will die."

"You don't have the guts to do something like that," Harespring took a step towards her.

Brightheart's eye narrowed and she dug her claws a bit into Owlwhisker's neck, drawing a speck of blood. "Try me."

Onestar lifted his tail, "Wait. She is serious."

"You bet I am," hissed Brightheart, her one eye flashing in anger.

"Are you sure this is a good idea?" asked Brightheart, "I mean… This is…"

"Oh be quiet. I'm trying to keep us alive here and you are complaining?"

"But you didn't have to keep Owlwhisker prisoner. You could have ran instead."

The other Brightheart resisted the urge to roll her eye. She could have done it, but since she was in control of the body the WindClan warriors might use that moment to attack.

"What do you want?" asked Whitetail, "What will it take for you to let him go?"

"Head back to your border," hissed Brightheart, "Cross it and keep going until you cannot see the ThunderClan border." Whitetail looked like she was about to protest. Brightheart shoved her paw a bit more into Owlwhisker's throat, causing the weakened tom to squirm. "Do not argue with me. Once you are gone from my sight, I will release Owlwhisker. He may yowl for you to aid him, but only then are you allowed to return."

Onestar's eyes flashed in anger. "What makes you think we will hold our end of the bargain? And what about you? You could kill him when we are gone."

"ThunderClan may be covered in the stench of half-bloods but at least some of us try to follow the code."

Onestar stared at Brightheart, seeming to look for something. "Who are you?" he finally said.

Brightheart struggled to keep her face neutral, devoid of any emotion. Both Brighthearts were thinking the same thing. "How did Onestar know?"

"Stop dawdling," said Brightheart, "Get going." She pressed her paw harder on Owlwhisker's throat. The tom coughed and began to struggle a bit. Brightheart shifted her whole weight onto the tom's back, stopping his squirming. "Don't struggle anymore," she hissed, moving the paw on his neck off a bit. "Otherwise that claw mark on your chest is going to become a lot deeper."

"From what I know of Brightheart," said Onestar, "She would never act like this."

"Get going!" snarled Brightheart, "Now!"

"Brightheart!"

Brightheart did not move, but her ears flicked to show she had heard. She got off Owlwhisker and the tom struggled to his paws as Cloudtail, Dustpelt, Thornclaw and Birchfall burst out of the trees.

"Retreat," yowled Onestar, heading over the and Harespring grabbed Owlwhisker and began dragging him with them.

Cloudtail ran to Brightheart's side and covered the she-cat in licks. "Are you okay? If those WindClan cats did anything to you, I would rip those cats to shreds."

Brightheart felt herself regain control of her body. "Cloudtail. I'm alright."

"Thank StarClan," he whispered.

"Birchfall, Thornclaw," ordered Dustpelt, "I want you two to patrol the border for now. I'll ask Firestar to send over some more cats later."

The tom turned to Brightheart and looked her over, "You seem alright. No physical wounds. I'm happy that you are alright."

Brightheart did not know why but a warm feeling spread from her head to her paws. She blinked in shock. Why did that one line give her a warm feeling inside?

"Let's go and let Leafpool check you over," Cloudtail placed his tail on Brightheart's shoulder. "Let's go."