Chapter 9- The First Battle
Brightwhisker spoke with Moonstar the following morning. Redpaw would have liked to have been there with him, but Beesting had instructed her to clean the elders' den. Even so, she padded in high spiritedly and was greeted by the grateful meows of several elders. Rattooth was nibbling at a mouse, Purrsong was grooming moss out of her thin, calico pelt, and Poppytwig was sleeping, her dark, mottled flank rising and falling gently.
"Hello," meowed Purrsong softly, "Come to clean out our bedding?"
Redpaw nodded. She enjoyed spending time with the elders. She found their stories fascinating.
"Maybe we could tell you about Rushsong when she was an apprentice," rasped Poppytwig, opening her yellow eyes.
"Really?! Oh, please do!" Redpaw set about her task studiously, not wanting the elders to interrupt their story with some complaint or other.
"Well, Rushsong's first task as an apprentice was to clean out the elders' bedding," began Rattooth, "that was, oh, eight seasons ago."
"I had joined the elders two seasons before," added Poppytwig.
"At that time, Shadowstep and Rushsong despised each other," continued Purrsong. She always sounded like she was purring.
Poppytwig scoffed. "Despised each other? They couldn't get along on opposite sides of the territory! They always knew what the other was doing. I suppose it was destiny that they fell in love." She moved aside to let Redpaw gather her bedding. "Well, Rushsong took the bedding from the elders' den to the apprentices' den. Shadowstep had just cleaned it. Not a scrap of the moss he had laid down had been touched yet, so can you guess what Rushsong did?" Redpaw shook her head. "She replaced all the clean bedding with the elders' old bedding, even in her own nest to cover up her tracks, and then she used the clean moss in the elders' den."
Rattooth burst out laughing. "I remember the look on Shadowstep's face when she did that! I was his mentor, you know. We were out hunting, and he suddenly froze in place, the most hilarious look of utter surprise plastered on his face!"
"I couldn't believe your mother had done that." Shadowstep had padded in, Rushsong just behind him.
"I can't believe he didn't believe I would," Rushsong countered, "and it wasn't in the list of things Purrsong had said I wasn't allowed to do."
Purrsong rolled her eyes. "You were my third apprentice, Rushsong. The other two had never been as maniacal as you."
Rushsong winked and then turned to Redpaw. "You better finish in here and then head over to the nursery. Cottonwood had her kits this morning."
Redpaw nodded, her mouth full of dirty moss, and then padded out of the elders' den. Why had nobody bothered to tell her earlier that Cottonwood had kitted? Cottonwood was Poppy twig's granddaughter, and her kits had been long awaited. Poppytwig's kin had a strong reputation for being skilled warriors, both great hunters and powerful fighters.
Redpaw went to the dirtplace just outside camp, situated near the nursery. She spit the moss out, being sure to get all the dirty scraps out of her mouth. It wasn't an advisable method of carrying the stuff, but Redpaw thought it was less mouse-brained than pushing the stuff around the camp. Having dropped off her current load, she hurried back into camp and grabbed some moss from the pile beside Brightwhisker's den. All apprentices put the moss they gathered there. It was easy to get at, and Brightwhisker always had some on hand if he needed it.
She returned to the elders' den to find her parents chatting with the elders. She quickly made the nests and then bounded over to the nursery. Inside, Yarrowpelt was chatting with a young queen who looked to be almost an exact replica of Poppytwig, with the exception of her one white ear. This was Cottonwood. Two newborn kits snuggled against her belly, squirming and mewling.
"They're beautiful," breathed Redpaw, "What are their names?"
Cottonwood licked one of the kits gently. "This one's Squallkit." The little kit was a soot gray tabby she with, like her mother, one white ear. The other kit, also a she, was cream colored, like Brightwhisker. "This one's Brightkit, after her uncle."
Redpaw remembered with a start that Cottonwood's mother was Twigwing. Twigwing had died of Greencough within hours of Raggedear. Twigwing and Brightwhisker's parents were Poppytwig and Warmstar.
"They're beautiful," mewed Redpaw for the second time. She turned towards the entrance when Moonstar's strong voice floated in. "A Clan meeting!"
Cottonwood meowed goodbye and Redpaw slipped out.
Cats had gathered around the Boulder, eager to hear Moonstar's news. The black she-cat stood on the Boulder, waiting for the cats to settle. Shadowstep jumped up beside her as Redpaw sat between Spotpaw and Greenpaw.
"I'm sure you have all already heard that Cottonwood kitted this morning," Moonstar began, "She has given birth to two healthy kits, Brightkit and Squallkit." A murmur of approval rippled through the Clan. "But that is not why I called this meeting. Cats of ShadowClan, the dawn patrol has brought back news of rogues on our territory, but not just ordinary rogues. These rogues have a mix of scents, including Clan scents. It is quite possible that these rogues are the followers of StarMaster Elder"
Several gasps escaped the crowd. Moonstar had informed the entire Clan of Eaglestar's warning as soon as she had returned home from the Gathering.
"We found their scent near the Pitcave." Shadowstep was speaking now. "It is possible that they may try to move in, so Moonstar and I have decided to send a patrol to investigate just in case."
"I volunteer to lead the patrol." All heads turned towards Whiteheart.
Moonstar nodded. "Very well. Take Rushsong, Moontide, and two others with you."
Moontide stood up. "What about our apprentices? Should we bring them with us?"
"If you believe they are ready. Whiteheart, have your patrol ready to leave as soon as possible." With that Moonstar jumped off the Boulder and padded into her den. Shadowstep and Cragheart followed her.
Whiteheart headed for the camp entrance. "Beesting, Amberclaw, with me."
The patrol quickly gathered, five warriors and four apprentices, and they were off. They raced through the forest, heading for the hills. As the land began to rise, they slowed.
Whiteheart sniffed the air. "We're near the Pitcave. I don't smell any- wait, there's a scent!"
Redpaw opened her mouth slightly. Lightpaw, Brackenpaw, and Snowpaw did the same. As she found the scent, Redpaw's heart skipped a beat.
"No…" Redpaw took a step back, and then shot away as fast as she could.
"Redpaw, wait!" Beesting tried to follow her, but she lost him amongst the hills.
Gasping for breath, Redpaw began to search for the scent again. Yes, there it was. It caused her heart to ache. She padded over a rise and around another hill, and then lay down in the grass. "Hello," she mewed.
John slipped out of a bush and lay beside her. "Hi. Long time no see."
Redpaw licked his ear affectionately. "It's only been a quarter moon."
"You said you'd visit the following night."
Redpaw sighed. She had visited John five times since they had met. "I'm sorry, it's just…I got distracted, and Beesting was getting suspicious. Will you forgive me?"
John twined his tail around hers. "Of course I do."
Redpaw purred softly. "Thank you. But, John, what are you doing so far in ShadowClan territory?"
"Looking for you."
Redpaw paused. "But why?"
"I saw some tough-looking cats heading into your territory. They didn't smell like ShadowClan cats. I heard them talking, too. The one with a twisted tail, I don't remember his name, he mentioned your mother. I got worried, so I decided to come looking for you."
Redpaw felt her stomach clench. "Where did they go, John?" she asked urgently.
"I don't know, but I can find out!"
They leapt to their paws and John opened his mouth, searching for any scents that might lead them to the rogues.
"I got them," the tom mewed, and he began racing away.
Redpaw followed him, fear growing inside. They were heading for the Pitcave. They stopped just outside it, hiding in a lone bush.
"They're in there," John whispered.
Redpaw flicked her ear to let him know she had heard. Both her ears pricked forward when she heard a tiny wail from inside the Pitcave. "They have kits in there!" she whispered.
John turned slightly, causing the leaves to rustle. "Don't look now, but I think your Clanmates are here."
Redpaw glanced over his shoulder and uttered something between a curse and a blessing. "Let's hope they don't realize you're here."
Whiteheart yowled, and the patrol bounded towards the Pitcave. Several strong looking cats surged from the small entrance and lunged at the oncoming patrol. Amberclaw engaged the first one, a brown tabby she. Beesting became locked in combat with a black tom, and Whiteheart paced around a ginger tom. Moontide and Brackenpaw crept towards the entrance of the Pitcave. Lightpaw and Snowpaw joined their mentors.
But where's Rushsong, thought Redpaw.
Three more cats leapt from the Pitcave, two gray tabby toms and a white she-cat with a green…tail. Moontide and Brackenpaw lunged at the toms, but the she-cat was left unchallenged. She sprang at Beesting.
"Ivy, no!" John burst from the bush and lunged at Ivy. They collided and fell to the ground, dazed. Ivy was back on her paws. She dug her claws into John's scruff and lifted him up off the ground. He retaliated savagely.
Redpaw watched in horror as the two friends faced each other. Redpaw was about to slink off in search of her mother when a young calico tom slipped out of the Pitcave. Redpaw's heart stopped when she saw his twisted, jet black tail. He crept up slowly behind John, unnoticed by any other cat. He was about to strike when Redpaw burst from the bushes whit a blood curdling, hissing shriek.
"Leave him alone, Twistedtail!" yowled the furious apprentice as she flew at him.
The calico whirled around, yellow eyes glinting evilly. He yanked Redpaw out of the air and pinned her to the ground. "My name is StarMaster Elder!" he hissed, digging his claws into her flank.
Redpaw hissed. "Fine, StarMaster Elder! You don't deserve a warrior name anyway!" She hissed again as StarMaster Elder's claws dug deeper into her side.
"Warriors are weak," he hissed into her ear, "Only strong kits are permitted in MasterClan. Haven't you noticed that there is currently only one Clan cat in MasterClan?" He flicked his tail towards the cat Beesting was fighting. "Tallear's lucky. He's the weakest of us, but the strongest Clan cat."
"But you're a Clan cat!" yowled Redpaw, "And you've created another Clan!" she gasped in pain as blood welled up from her flank.
"It is the MasterClan. Or call it the Master Tribe, or the Master Society! It is better. And I am no Clan cat! I was born in ThunderClan territory to rogue parents. They left me by the Clan's camp, believing that a Clan life was a better one. They were wrong, and I am better than a Clan cat!"
"Prove it!"
StarMaster Elder's top lip curled in a frightening snarl. "I'll prove it by killing you." He lifted one forepaw high above his head, his claws glinting in the sunlight, and struck bare earth. "What!" he yowled, spinning around.
Facing him were John, Redpaw, and Rushsong. Ivy was now trading blows with Lightpaw and Snowpaw, leaving the red-eyed kittypet free.
"Give up, StarMaster Elder!" shouted Redpaw.
StarMaster Elder's gaze turned to Rushsong. "It is time to choose, Rushsong."
Suddenly Spotpaw and Greenpaw came pelting over a rise and down towards the Pitcave, followed by Shadowstep. Redpaw could just barely hear her father's angry yowl.
"Get back here you two, or I'll rip your paws off when we get back to camp!"
Spotpaw and Greenpaw ignored him, and they slid into place beside their littermate. Lightpaw joined them as Shadowstep stood beside Rushsong. Redpaw flicked her tail and the group attacked. The four apprentices and the kittypet lunged at StarMaster Elder as Shadowstep and Rushsong leapt by him, racing to the Pitcave.
Redpaw ducked beneath StarMaster Elder as Lightpaw jumped over him, lashing him with their claws as they went by. Spotpaw latched onto his flank, Greenpaw snapped at his back leg, and John bit his tail. As Lightpaw landed and Redpaw scuttled out from under the slashing calico all five cats switched places, keeping him too confused to land any proper blows.
Around them, MasterClan warriors disappeared one by one, driven off by the ShadowClan patrol. Soon, only StarMaster Elder remained, fighting the overcoming apprentices that were barely more than kits. Snowpaw and Brackenpaw launched themselves into the attack, but by that time there was no space for any warrior to strike a blow.
With one great heave StarMaster Elder hurled all seven cats off of him. Scratched and bloodied, he snarled. "You have won nothing here, ShadowClan." And then he was gone. Not even a scent trail to track him by.
Rushsong and Shadowstep emerged from the Pitcave, carrying a kit each.
"There are two more down there," Shadowstep managed to meow.
Whiteheart and Amberclaw immediately retrieved them. Once they were back out the patrol returned to camp, save John. Redpaw sighed. She had seen the kittypet slip away just after StarMaster Elder.