Hey everyone. I decided to do a double update, while I'm in the mood. So anyways, thanks Cyri's Alter Ego, silverstarfan and Darkness of the Eclipse for reviewing!
[ Chapter Nine ]
Goldenleaf was the first to hear the cries of outrage along the border of ShadowClan. Her hearing was stronger then that of others. She was leading the hunting patrol, and was hurrying towards the sound.
Suddenly she turned to Aspenpaw. He was smaller and faster then the others. He would reach the camp before ShadowClan could. That was, if her patrol was not strong enough to stop the warriors.
It looked as though Dawnstar was prepared to risk the lives of her warriors and herself for this bit of territory.
"Go and warn Cinderstar," she ordered the apprentice.
Since she was leading the patrol, Aspenpaw had no choice. He sped off like a rabbit, towards camp. Goldenleaf turned and quickly led the patrol towards the battle.
Cats were everywhere, fighting to grab ahold of their necks of belly. Goldenleaf spotted Blazeclaw, fighting off two ShadowClan warriors. He looked as if he was about to loose. But she noticed that there was no blood stained on his pelt. Or at least his own blood.
Her Clanmates were bristling with fury, and they jumped into the fray.
A dark brown shape rammed into Goldenleaf. She yowled as his teeth stabbed through her flesh, causing fresh blood to trickle down her leg. She was left unprepared for the attack, and gasped once more as the cat bit harder.
"I will make sure this prophecy does not come true!" the cat yowled.
"Sapfur!" she snarled.
Fury swept through her. He had ruined everything. He was the reason Dawnstar attacked everyone. He was the reason StarClan were dying.
She released all of her anger in one move, that tossed him across the clearing. Sapfur didn't gasp. He only grunted as he flung himself back to his paws and rammed into her once more.
Goldenleaf laid on the ground, winded for a moment. Then something stopped Sapfur. He was pulled from her, and dragged across the clearing.
The dark warrior was spitting and hissing furiously as Stripefur snarled at him. "Didn't expect to see me did you?" Stripefur spat.
Aspenpaw had succeeded in bringing extra warriors. Now the battle was turning. ShadowClan were being driven back into the pine trees, where Cinderstar pinned down Lichenfur.
"ShadowClan, retreat!" Dawnstar's yowl bounced off of the trunks of the pine trees.
Goldenleaf looked up, though it made her bleed even faster. She flinched from her wound, but she desperately wanted to watch the ShadowClan cats flee from battle.
As expected, most warriors were returning to their own territory. Sapfur, however, remained rooted to the ground. His eyes were narrowed dangerously. Stripefur was circling him, preparing for a death strike.
"Stripefur!" Cinderstar's cry made him stop. She had released Lichenfur, and the mottled brown warrior was running after his Clanmates. "We do not kill senselessly."
Stripefur padded over to Goldenleaf's side. Sapfur sneered at him, and bounded after Lichenfur.
"Owlflight is dead," Peppermint announced as the clearing became eerily silent.
Goldenleaf knew no cat trusted Stripefur. He was a skilled fighter, and ambitious. But they did not realize that he had come to protect them from Sapfur. They had no idea that Sapfur was truly the one to worry about.
"Dawnstar will order someone to pick his body up," Cinderstar rasped.
She looked badly wounded. A long scratch stretched from her shoulder down to her leg. Goldenleaf wondered if Lichenfur had given that wound to her.
"No, I say we bury his body right on the border," Firespirit hissed. "That way it'll be a reminder of their defeat."
Cinderstar glared at the young warrior. "It will also remind them to attack us again," she snapped.
"Someone should carry his body back to camp." The statement came from Bumblestripe.
All cats looked at him in surprise. Cinderstar shook her head, suddenly looking fearful.
"If we do that, we will appear as a threat," she replied. "No, we must leave the body. If they do not return for it the next day, then we shall bury it in their territory."
What Cinderstar said made sense. Of course, every cat would resent slipping into ShadowClan territory unnoticed. But they would be doing the opposing Clan a favor.
Stripefur and Blazeclaw helped Goldenleaf back to camp. Peppermint stayed behind her daughter, worried that Goldenleaf would loose too much blood. They had put some cobwebs on her wound, but it was not enough to keep any infection from spreading.
Rainshower was ready for them when they reached camp. He had already prepared nests within his den, in case there were any severe injuries.
When Rainshower reached Goldenleaf, he was surprised that she didn't pass out from her blood loss. He gave her plenty of cobwebs, marigold and thyme for shock.
As soon as he finished, a wail echoed around the clearing.
"Where's Midnightpaw?" It came from Poppyfrost.
She was bounding across the clearing, searching in every den.
Goldenleaf had last seen Mignightpaw at the battle. And two ShadowClan cats had her surrounded. Suddenly a thrill of fear swept through her. What if Midnightpaw had been killed?
Wow, this was my shortest chapter yet. But, a lot of juicy stuff happens. And where oh where could Midnightpaw be? Will anyone guess her fate? Will I stop asking random and pointless questions? You never know...