Chapter Seven

Russetpaw screeched as sharp claws ripped down her flanks. She spun around to meet her attacker, but the space in front of her was empty. Pain then seared through her as more claws raked down on her body again. Russetpaw caught a glimpse of gray fur ducking down to nip at her forepaws. I've had enough of this.

She reared on her hind legs to see a gray tom, whom she recognized as Dashfoot. Her she looked at him, studying the tom for a moment. He's obviously quick and very skilled. Russetpaw then realized that even as an apprentice, she was bigger than him and much stronger. I just have to catch him. Then I can overpower him easily.

The apprentice snarled and started to flash her claws at him, the sound of battle roaring in her ears. Dashfoot easily dodged them. The ginger she-cat let out a growl of frustration as the WindClan warrior began to land his own blows on her. She hardly managed to duck as Dashfoot's lightning fast paws flew towards her. Panic rose in her throat as she noticed that her attacker was driving her backwards into the undergrowth.

Wait… I am more adapted to dense forest than he is. I can use this to my advantage!

Russetpaw smirked and allowed herself to slip farther into a mess of brambles. Thorns tugged at her thick ginger fur, but she knew her WindClan opponent was having even more trouble than her.

The apprentice guessed correctly. Dashfoot jumped clumsily into the bush, letting out hisses of annoyance as the bramble prickles collected in his pelt.

Russetpaw began to land well-aimed blows on him, shredding his ears before darting out of range of any attacks that he could land on her. Dashfoot grunted with pain and then regained himself. The gray tom suddenly shot forward and fastened his teeth in one of her paws.

Russetpaw gasped at the pain as she felt her bones crunch between his jaws. She pulled back fiercely, ripping her paw from his grip. Her wounds stung, but Russetpaw didn't care. With anger pulsing through her, she lashed out a paw, snagging Dashfoot's shoulder in her claws.

Finally, she thought with satisfaction. Now she easily overpowered Dashfoot, forcefully throwing him to the ground. Russetpaw pounced on him, digging her claws into his shoulders while his blood welled up around her paws.

Dashfoot attempted to squirm out of her tight grip. He left his belly slightly exposed and Russetpaw seized the opportunity without hesitation. She tore through his soft, exposed fur with her hind claws, gray fur and blood spraying everywhere.

The scrawny tom was soon yowling for mercy and Russetpaw released him. She flicked her ear in satisfaction as he fled into the undergrowth, leaving little drops of blood in his trail.

Before she could turn back to the battle, she examined her paw. It was swollen and red where Dashfoot had sunk his fangs into it. Russetpaw gingerly placed it on the ground and sighed with relief when it only felt a bit sore.

"Really think you can win that easily?" a cat suddenly hissed in her ear.

Russetpaw whipped around to see a silver she-cat. Russetpaw instantly remembered Silverpaw.

Silverpaw hurled herself at Russetpaw and landed forcefully on her back, pushing her paws into the apprentice's shoulders.

"Your legs are can be one of your greatest allies in battle," Raventuft's voice hissed in the back of her head. Grunting, Russetpaw pushed up with her front paws with all her strength. Quickly the WindClan cat slipped off of her. She twisted nimbly, clawing her opponent's ears. Silverpaw hissed in pain and turned around. Again she attempted to attack Russetpaw by slithering under her belly.

Russetpaw knew this trick well. She jumped away and whipped around. Silverpaw's tail whisked in front of her and the ginger she-cat grabbed it in her jaws.

Russetpaw bit down hard. She could feel her teeth touch bone as Silverpaw howled in pain. Russetpaw then leapt on her back, forcing her down, but Silverpaw shoved the ginger apprentice upwards, causing the two cats to tumble out of the undergrowth.

Russetpaw yowled as the two dropped over a ridge and rolled down a hill. The enemies clung onto each other as snow covered their fur. The ginger apprentice let herself roll, giving her extra weight to Silverpaw. The lithe tabby struggled against Russetpaw.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the bottom of the hill nearing. Grunting, she pushed with her forepaws and tumbled to a halt as Silverpaw kept going, only to slam head-on into a boulder.

The WindClan cat was still and a trickle of blood dripped from her forehead. Russetpaw froze. Did I just kill her? She was about to take a step forward when Silverpaw suddenly jumped to her paws.

"Get out!" snarled the gray she-cat. Russetpaw growled back, but on the inside she was relieved to know that Silverpaw was okay. She jumped forward, letting her claws scrape the WindClan cat's pelt before Silverpaw sped back towards her territory.

Panting from effort, Russetpaw regained her strength and limped back to the thick of the battle.

She gasped at the gruesome sight before her. The apprentice could hardly tell which cats were her clanmates. Claws and teeth flashed everywhere as WindClan and RiverClan fought.

Seconds later, Tidetail and Runningblaze rolled by, their claws clinging to each other's pelts as their lips drew back in snarls. Russetpaw caught a glimpse of Tinywave and Raventuft fighting side by side, clawing countless WindClan warriors. They timed their slashes, fighting with an incredible rhythm that sent their opponents fleeing. Sparkpaw, Ashpaw, and Gingerflame were chasing off four WindClan warriors with fresh wounds that they were sure to not forget.

"I didn't know RiverClan let kits come to battle." A mocking sneer made Russetpaw turn to see Flashtail, a senior Windclan warrior.

She growled, rage pulsing through her. I'm not a kit!

Rearing on his hind legs, Flashtail began to land hard blows on her muzzle. Blood sprayed into Russetpaw's eyes as his claws sliced her nose.

Russetpaw hissed as pain scored through her. She dove forward, trying to nip at Flashtail's paws, but the older tom was faster than she expected. In seconds he was behind her, clawing at her hind legs.

Snow clung to Russetpaw's thick fur as Flashtail flipped her over. She protected her belly with her paws, making sure she didn't make the same mistake Dashfoot did.

Flashtail snarled in her face and then raked his claws down her shoulder. She yowled in pain as her ginger fur came out in clumps. Russetpaw could feel blood well up, soaking her pelt crimson.

The light ginger tom leaned forward, his jaws near her neck. Russetpaw's green eyes widened in horror. He's going to kill me! She squeezed her eyes shut while she braced herself for the killing bite.

Moments passed and nothing happened. The weight that had been pressing down on her was lifted off of her chest. Russetpaw flashed her eyes open and blinked in surprise.

Flashtail was a few tail lengths away in a brown tabby's tight grip. Acornpelt… Russetpaw's heart softened as she watched her clanmate claw the WindClan warrior to shreds.

Realizing that she should help, the ginger apprentice jumped to Acornpelt's side. She leaned slightly on his shoulder, favoring her injured paw. The two cats slashed and clawed Flashtail. She could see the panic blazing in the warrior's eyes as their blows grew stronger and harder.

Before Acornpelt and Russetpaw could finish Flashtail, a loud yowl rang through the battlefield.

Blizzardstar's signal for the last patrol!

Russetpaw felt dizzy with relief as the patrol of fresh RiverClan cats poured into the clearing.

She caught a glimpse of Aspenstar's expression, her eyes blazing with shock. Anger and rage soon replaced that as she saw her clanmates being penetrated by RiverClan.

"WindClan, retreat!" The yellow she-cat screeched.

Flashtail darted off into the bushes, towards his camp, along with most of his clanmates.

Russetpaw was about to turn and let out a triumphant yowl when Aspenstar turned to look at the her rivals one last time.

"This battle ended with losses to both clans." She snarled and then turned to run back to her own territory.

What does she mean? Russetpaw looked around and saw her clanmates gather in a small circle. What happened?

She slowly padded over and peeked over Sweetclaw's shoulder, who had her white and brown head bowed.

Russetpaw gasped at the sight. A small, limp, gray ball of fur lay in the snow, battered and stained with blood. Her veins turned to ice as she realized who this was.

"Minnowtail!" She breathed and pushed her nose into the deputy's cold fur.