Chapter 9
The night was quiet and cold, Fallingpaw shivering in her moss bedding without the warmth and comfort of her littermates by her side. During the night, the bramble opening of the den cracked open and the snow seemed to thicken outside, clouds high within the sky. It was silent, something Fallingpaw didn't really enjoy. Frostpaw was out there, in the snow, somewhere. She was doing a Shadowclan border patrol at moon-high.
Fallingpaw slowly sat up and took a deep breath, curling her tail around her frozen paws. I'll become a Frostpaw at this rate, Fallingpaw thought to herself, laughing at her own joke quietly while Rainpaw and Foxpaw slept nearby, not wanting to wake them. Maybe we have something on the fresh kill pile, I could go for a bite to eat… Fallingpaw then shook her head with a small sigh as she padded out of the den and into the cold air. Elders eat first, she spoke to herself as her gaze wandered the clearing.
The sky wasn't clear, and there was soft scents unknown to Fallingpaw. They were near, near enough to touch, it seemed. Fallingpaw didn't know what it was, really, but there was something that felt sinister about the freezing air now. Snow had stopped falling, but what was on the ground had been thick, sticking to her fur.
So cold… Fallingpaw sighed, she feeling as though she was being watched by something or someone. But no warrior seemed awake, no warrior seemed to stir. This place felt… dead, lifeless. What am I feeling…? What is happening here?
Fallingpaw began to stand again, looking around and blinking a bit, but the hostile air ceased. The watchful eyes of the invisible had disappeared, but they remained. Something was terribly wrong, something was going to happen.
In that instant, four cats appeared from the entrance of the den, exploding into the clearing and shouting out. "Shadowclan is attacking! They're coming!" It was Redstrike's voice, filled with fear. Behind her, the apprentices were slowly rising from their dens, but just above came three warriors of fair size, still larger than Fallingpaw herself. There hadn't been time to move as one of the warriors shoved her over the side, her body falling back and landing on the stone with harsh force.
Gasping for breath, she could start to hear the quick pawsteps of her clanmates as they rushed out, the scent of Shadowclan covered by snow but it was there. Fallingpaw felt herself being grasped by darkness, only to shake it off as her paws weakly carried her back up, her piercing blue eyes looking up towards the three cats who had pushed her off.
Where is Frostpaw!? Fallingpaw thought, realizing Frostpaw hadn't returned with the patrol. A growl erupted from her throat as Rainpaw and Foxpaw jumped out, attacking the three warriors themselves. Rainpaw bowled into the first warrior, screeching a battle cry, several more warriors jumping in from the main entrance and jumping down from the top of the clearing and onto the paths that lead to almost every den.
From the top of the clearing, there came another battle cry, a deeper one. "Warriors, defend our camp!"
Fallingpaw looked up to notice that Bramblestar was standing high, she not having realized how big of a cat he really was. The tom's claws were unsheathed, huge to even look at and terrifying. Bramblestar jumped towards the elders den, where Graystripe and Sandstorm had appeared from and were getting ready to defend themselves. The two warriors den poured out warriors of all kinds, Brightheart being one of the first and attacking the closest Shadowclan warrior.
But am I even ready for a battle!? Fallingpaw thought as she began to watch cats rushing around, the clearing becoming nothing but screeching and shouting, the snow taking mere heartbeats to become tainted with blood from both sides.
The world seemed slow, Fallingpaw's heart beating loudly in her ears as the adrenaline pumped through her system. Everything began to feel surreal, panic flooding through Fallingpaw as her skin crawled. This can't be! It's leaf-bare! Don't they know the danger they're putting both our clans in!?
No matter the reasoning that Fallingpaw tried to come up with, this was just as real as the snow surrounding her paws and the blood coating and staining it. What had been white was becoming tainted, the blood of a new war had arrived, these were the first spills. Fallingpaw's breathing quickened, the sight of blood making her gag a moment, she had never seen someone bleed before and never before has an injury made her feel anything. But the blood… It was gathering quickly…
Stop! Stop! Stop!
Fallingpaw felt a tail touch her shoulder, ripping her away from the previous reality she was in and pulling her into the current one. Dovewing stood beside her. "Get your act together, Fallingpaw! We need all the help we can get, and I know you've trained hard to protect your clan!" Dovewing's eyes were filled with fire, blazing with the heat of the warrior spirit. "Protect your clan! You want to be leader? Then you're going to have to fight!"
The she-cat bolted back into the fray, tearing a Shadowclan warrior off of Rainpaw, the one that Rainpaw had launched down with when the fighting had begun.
She's right, Fallingpaw thought, taking a deep breath and feeling her muscles relax. Just got to get in the battle…
Picking her target carefully, Fallingpaw found someone about her size, probably an apprentice. The apprentice had pitch black fur and was fighting against Foxpaw, Fallingpaw bolting forward and standing by his side.
"Nice of you to join us," Foxpaw growled, slightly panting. "Now don't just stand around!"
The black she-cat standing in front of them growled with a slight smirk. "You won't defeat me, you know," she purred, bolting forward and going straight for Fallingpaw. Fallingpaw felt herself relax more.
Just think of it as battle training… with claws… and the potential to die… Fallingpaw had begun to feel her heart pump harder, her body sliding out of the way of the vicious apprentice's first attack. Thrusting her back paws - claws extended - she kicked the apprentice backwards and into another Shadowclan warrior, who growled in response and shouted something at the black she-cat. Fallingpaw hadn't been paying attention and she looked at Foxpaw.
"Get some rest, I'll handle her," Fallingpaw growled quietly.
"Are you sure about this?" Foxpaw asked, looking over the rest of the battle as the she-cat got up slowly and shook her fur of the snow. Her chest had four scratches on it, leaking blood into the crisp snow. Fallingpaw's eyes narrowed on the she-cat now. "Take her down, Fallingpaw, give her a battle she won't forget. I'll go see Jayfeather."
Fallingpaw nodded and growled towards the other apprentice as Foxpaw bolted off, disappearing the mass of fighting fur. The she-cat went to bolt after him, but Fallingpaw was faster and blocked off her chance, her paws moving perfectly against the snow.
"He is no longer your opponent," Fallingpaw growled, her eyes flashing with certainty. "I am your opponent."
"Out of my way, shorty," the she-cat growled. "Thunderclan owes us, and I owe him a finished fight. I finish what I start, and you seem to be a fairly new apprentice."
Fallingpaw grinned and her paw lifted up with a ferocious speed, clawing up the she-cat's jaw and she stumbled back. The black pelt began to stick together as the she-cat laughed. "I'm going to enjoy gutting you." There was a flash of the black pelt, easily contrasted against the bright white snow and heading straight for Fallingpaw.
Instinct told Fallingpaw to duck, but she forced herself to jump instead, using her small body and twisting midair. Her paws landed squarely on the she-cat's shoulders, her blazing amber eyes looking up at her with a heavy growl. Before she could react, the she-cat rolled and knocked Fallingpaw off of her.
Sliding across the snow - some of the stone becoming icy, slippery - Fallingpaw hit the side of the clearing as the she-cat stood up. Her amber gaze was filled with an echo of hatred and pain, Fallingpaw unable to see clearly what it was; but the surface of the she-cats eyes was filled with bloodlust. Her pawsteps could be heard by the crunching of the snow and Fallingpaw stood up, breathing a bit, but she had more stamina than she had at the beginning of her training. Her blue eyes remained on the she-cat.
I will not give up, not against a she-cat apprentice and most certainly not against a Shadowclan one at that! Fallingpaw thought as the she-cat began to rush her. Backing up, Fallingpaw felt her tail touch the rocky surface of the rock wall.
"Big mistake to corner yourself!" the she-cat growled and launched herself at her.
Fallingpaw felt slow again, turning and jumping against the rocky surface, using all the force she could muster to launch herself off and flip over. She landed perfectly on her paws, the she-cat now being cornered.
"What was that about being cornered?" Fallingpaw growled, but didn't smile or show any emotion but anger. She darted forward, starting to rip her claws into fur and flesh, the she-cat crying out with rage. Before Fallingpaw noticed, the she-cat's claws ripped up and slammed into Fallingpaw's chest, pain flaring across her from shoulder to shoulder, just below her throat. The pain made Fallingpaw stumble back, then she felt the force of a brutal attack slam into her and force her to slide across the snow.
The impact knocked Fallingpaw into disorientation. Everything felt wrong, left felt right and up felt down. Her pupils contracted, taking in the light from the moon that had begun to appear, the clouds splitting off in the sky. Words were jumbled, her head feeling torn in two as she weakly tried to stand on her paws, the world moving beneath her.
"I still win."
They were the only words that Fallingpaw could hear, her eyes trying to focus and the black depths expanding to take in more light. The black pelt moved forward, almost like a demon in the snow with huge claws. There was laughter, dark and heavy in the cold air.
Something gray stood between them, the wind blowing through the fur and breaking up the shape in Fallingpaw's vision for a moment. The world felt just as surreal as before, the fear plowing through her bloodstream, her gaze sharpening instantly and all the colors flooded back into the real world. Reality became as real as before, and standing in front of Fallingpaw was a gray warrior that was just her size.
"Your father would be disappointed in you…" Whispered the warrior, Fallingpaw coughing and realizing that her father was standing in front of her. His fur was matted with blood, both his and his opponents.
"You know nothing of my father," the apprentice growled, lowering her head to protect her neck.
Dewstep growled quietly, tail flicking across the snow as the moon became covered again, snow falling once more. "Darkfire is your father, a family member, like me. I am your father's brother, I am Dewstep." His voice was calm for being so matted with blood, Fallingpaw felt her own blood coat the fur on her chest, the pain no longer there.
"Then you know where Darkfire is," the apprentice growled, her dark amber gaze now on the warrior. "Tell me where he is, so I can kill him for leaving us and making mother give us the names we have!" The apprentice darted forward, her claws slashing towards Dewstep. His incredible speed almost made him seem to disappear, he reappearing behind her with green eyes filled with regret as he smacked the apprentice down.
She's lost her edge, she's angry… Fallingpaw took a deep breath, trying to get her bearings a bit better.
"Even if I knew where Darkfire was, I would never tell Shadowclan," Dewstep growled. "I believe he is already dead, he left and is a carcass somewhere. Maybe he perished on a Thunderpath or a badger got him, but Darkfire is gone. I have no idea where he is." Dewstep held the apprentice down, his grip on her strong, but she had pushed back, much bigger than he was and threw him off.
The gray warrior stood up, his pale green eyes watching the she-cat.
"Tell me where he is!" she howled at him, tears glistening in her eyes. The amber gaze was filled with more hatred than Fallingpaw had seen in her entire life. "Tell me where he is so I can kill him!"
Dewstep took a deep breath, standing strong against the she-cat. "Even if he is alive, a mere apprentice would never beat him. Darkfire is fast, strong, he has the willpower of a stubborn elder and if he didn't want to be found, he never will be found." Another deep breath, it obvious that Dewstep was growing weary. "Firepaw, was it…? You need to relax and think about this, this isn't your battle. This fight with Darkfire you want won't even involve you, it will be Rowanstar and Dawnpelt. You are only a product of their battle, you can change yourself before it is too late-"
There was a movement from Firepaw, her black pelt moving forward with lightning speed. Fallingpaw blinked and bolted forward as well, being nowhere near fast enough to stop her. Firepaw struck one paw out, Dewstep instinctively leaning back, but now his neck was exposed. The scar flashed against the wind, and Firepaw struck again, her claws slicing on the opposite side of Dewstep's throat.
Blood splattered against the snow, warm and thick as Dewstep's eyes widened, memories flooding his pale green gaze. His tail flicked once, Fallingpaw pausing in her tracks, her eyes widened as Dewstep started to collapse. His body shuddered, blood leaking out of his mouth as his eyes began to close.
Fallingpaw's world turned upside down, anger and grief already flooding her system like the adrenaline.
Firepaw was still, anger smearing her face and her grin going from ear to ear. There was the twitch of Firepaw's whisker, and Fallingpaw attacked with no holding back. Her claws remained unsheathed, her body pressing forward and her claws ripping apart Firepaw's pelt, who cried out in surprise, not expecting the attack as Fallingpaw felt tears sting her eyes.
Die! Die! Die!
The words repeated in Fallingpaw's mind, there was no other sound. Fallingpaw then shoved Firepaw into the crowd of Shadowclan cats that were gathering. Someone stood in front of Fallingpaw, pushing her back.
"It's over, they lost and they know it," Dovewing whispered softly, her tail brushing against Fallingpaw's shoulder.
"Too much blood was spilled today," Bramblestar's voice moved over the entire clearing. "Rowanstar, take your warriors and leave. If you return, we won't be so light."
Rowanstar stood on a small ledge, scrapes along his body, Fallingpaw shivering. "Dewstep's life has been taken, but trust me, Bramblestar. More blood will be spilled until we find Darkfire." Rowanstar growled with a smirk, calling his warriors out.
Fallingpaw's gaze moved to Bramblestar, who looked weaker than he had when the battle had started.
"Dewstep!"
Ivypool's voice snapped everyone's attention over towards the edge of the clearing where Dewstep's body had been. The warrior was still, scarlet blood in a puddle, and Ivypool's cries were drowned out by the sound of the wind in the air…
The clouds opened up, and Fallingpaw collapsed.
