Chapter 8

It all seemed so unreal to Timberpaw.

So many wounded.

Too many dead.

Cats weren't supposed to die in battle, it was against the warrior code. You weren't supposed to kill to win. It was now all too obvious that ThunderClan didn't follow that rule.

Nightstar had lost a life. Her seventh. Now she only had two left.

Lightwillow, the deputy, had been killed, her blood spilling around the elder's den where she had struggled to defend the older cats. Her and an elder, Rustlewind, had been killed.

Brightsky was dead, her belly ripped open from neck to tail.

Palepaw was half-dead, scars covering his still-young body and Shortfur wasn't much better off.

No cat had escaped unscathed. All of ShadowClan now sported bleeding cuts, some worse than others but all a reminder of the brutal attack.

Frostcloud had been working feverishly since the attack had ended, nearly two sunrises ago, doing her best to teach Larkpaw how to treat minor wounds while she struggled to keep Palepaw and Shortfur alive.

Nightstar was still weak, staying in her den except to sit at the entrance, watching her clan as they struggled to recover from the brutal attack. She still had not chosen a new deputy and many cats were beginning to whisper and wonder what she was doing. It was a rule of the code that a new deputy had to be chosen before sundown. Whenever anyone tried to confront the stricken leader with these words she hissed at them that ShadowClan was in no shape to worry about the Warrior code and that she would worry about it when the time came.

In the meantime, Shadeclaw had taken over, organizing the patrols for his leader, bringing her reports from Frostcloud on the conditions of Palepaw and Shortfur.

Finally Timberpaw had had enough of his leader's absence and he padded resolutely into her den, his gaze firm and hard as he meowed boldly to Nightstar, "I think we should send cats to RiverClan and WindClan for aid. Frostcloud needs help and we're running low on herbs."

Nightstar gazed at the apprentice blankly for a few moments before hissing harshly, "They wouldn't help us. Look what ThunderClan has done to us? If they knew we were weak they might do the same."

Timberpaw felt himself bristling with anger but he forced himself to keep his voice even, "I don't believe that Nightstar. Without help, Frostcloud will work herself to death and, when that happens, be sure of this, Shortfur and Palepaw will die. Would you risk the lives of two of your warriors on the suspicion that WindClan and RiverClan cannot be trusted?"

Nightstar cringed slightly and Timberpaw felt an inkling of doubt. He knew that his words had been a low blow to the stricken leader but he had to get her to listen. "We have nothing to lose."

Nightstar sighed, a sad look flashing across her face as she nodded, "You are right Timberpaw. I just cannot bear to see my clan in such ruin."

I know. thought Timberpaw, looking away slightly. It hurts me too.

Nightstar nodded, getting shakily to her paws, "Please fetch Shadeclaw for me Timberpaw, I must discuss this proposal with him."

The young tom dipped his head and padded away, his heart feeling a little lighter. Help would come. He knew it would. It had to come.

Otherwise they had no hope.
A little while later Shadeclaw padded out of Nightstar's den, his face unreadable as he yowled, "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath me for a ShadowClan meeting."

Timberpaw was the first to sit down, looking over in slight surprise as Moonpaw sat down alongside him, sending him a sidelong glance.

"Did it work?" she whispered, voice hopeful.

Timberpaw nodded, "I think so."

The pretty she-cat smiled and Timberpaw felt his heart lift even more as she mewed softly, "Good. Maybe now we can have a real clan."

Shadeclaw began slowly, his voice firm as he meowed to the gathered clan, "Nightstar and I have discussed a proposition by a member of ShadowClan involving us sending patrols to WindClan and RiverClan to ask for aid."

Soft murmuring filled the crowd, some sounding doubtful while others held a glint of hope as the tom continued, "We have discussed this idea at length and decided that the risk is acceptable. We need aid and WindClan and RiverClan are the only ones who may be able to give it."

There were yowls of anger as cats leaped to their paws, faces enraged.

"They will attack us if they know we are weak!"

"They will take our territory, steal our prey!"

"Silence!" Shadeclaw screeched, his voice cutting through the others as if they weren't there. "Do none of you know the code? The leader's word is law! Do any of you dare oppose that?"

"You are not our leader!"

"But I speak for her!" Shadeclaw spat back. "And when you oppose me, you oppose Nightstar, understood?"

The clan went silent, seemingly shocked by Shadeclaw's sudden authority.

Shadeclaw calmed down slightly, his voice softer as he meowed, "The cats who shall go on this mission will be myself, Thistlethroat, Timberpaw, Moonpaw and Mousetrickle. Understood?"

There was no reply.

"This meeting is adjourned." Shadeclaw growled, leaping down and padding towards the camp entrance. The cats who had been selected followed quickly and silently as their clanmates slunk away to complete whatever tasks they had already been doing.

"Let's get going, Shadowclan needs help as soon as it can get it." Shadeclaw muttered as he lead the cats out of the camp, heading for RiverClan territory.

The patrol padded along in silence for a long time, each harboring their own quiet doubts at the plan. The risk of WindClan or RiverClan taking advantage of their weakness was definitely there, looming over the cats but ShadowClan's need was desperate.

Could that desperation end up putting them in a deeper rut then they were in already?

Either way, there was no turning back now, not with the lives of Palepaw and Shortfur lying on their shoulders.

It seemed as though it took moons but finally the patrol reached the RiverClan border. Timberpaw took a deep breath and crossed it with his clanmates, heart pounding in his ears.

Cats of opposing clans were allowed on the territory of all clans as long as they stayed within a certain distance of the lake but that didn't mean a RiverClan patrol might attack them on sight.

"Here we part ways." Shadeclaw growled. "Mousetrickle, you will take Moonpaw and Timberpaw to WindClan and Thistlethroat and I will continue on to RiverClan. Do not make any detours."

Mousetrickle, a pretty pale brown she-cat, dipped her head and began padding towards WindClan territory, Moonpaw and Timberpaw following obediently as Shadeclaw and Thistlethroat bounded away, swiftly disappearing into the distance.

"Come on now, ShadowClan is depending on us." Mousetrickle mewed, picking up the pace. "We need to hurry."

The apprentices nodded and soon the three cats were bounding towards WindClan territory. Almost as soon as they crossed the border there was a yowl and Timberpaw found himself being bowled over, claws at his throat.

"What are you doing on our territory?" a gray tabby tom spat.

"Not attacking you obviously!" Timberpaw hissed, squirming beneath the tom's strong paws. "If we wanted to do that you'd have your fur ripped off by now!"
"Let him up Zipwind." a large black tom growled, his green gaze full of annoyance. "He's right, they can't possibly be planning to attack us."

"But Crowtalon-" the tom protested.

"No 'buts!'" the tom snapped before turning to Mousetrickle, his gaze suspicious but willing, "What are you here for?"

Mousetrickle took a moment to catch her breath before replying, "We are here to speak to Stagstar."

Crowtalon dipped his head, "We will take you to him but, be warned, if you step out of line, you will be surrounded by cats who would rip your fur off for less than a mouse-tail."

((A/N- Wow, two updates in one day you lucky dogs! Once more, not much really actually happens. I was actually going to write the scene with Stagstar and stuff in this chapter but I decided not to since that would make it really long and I'm a lazy butt so you'll see that stuff in the next chapter! Once more, reviews are appreciated and I hope you all enjoy!))