Chapter 11

A battle raged furiously around Maplebreeze. She was in a dark forest, with dark trees all around. Black branches crisscrossed the starlit sky. A sharp stench hit the MountainClan deputy's nose, the scent of blood. The sounds and scents of many cats brawling were evident around her. Clouds of dust, kicked up from the fighting cats as they wrestled and slashed at each other in the dark woods. Screams of wounded cats erupted from all around her. Maplebreeze spotted several bodies lying limply on the forest floor. Maplebreeze's amber eyes widened in horror. Warrior's aren't supposed to kill each other. These cats can't be from the clans!

Maplebreeze stumbled and dodged a pair of cats that wrestled on the dusty leaf-covered earth. A skinny bramble colored tom, his left ear torn at the base and mottled pelt matted, pinned a pale golden and white she-cat to the ground, his amber eyes wild with the energy of the battle. He pulled back his lips, revealing rows of yellow stained teeth bared together.

The golden she-cat thrashed, unable to free herself from the stronger tom's grip. Blood dripped from a deep scratch down one of her muscular shoulders onto the dusty earth, crisscrossed with shallow scratches from the raging battle. The golden and white she-cat's light green eyes were full of fright as she twisted in vain. Her muzzle had faded scars from many moons ago, and her body was lean and muscular. She has the build of a warrior, Maplebreeze mused, watching the battling cats.

"No!" Maplebreeze shouted, seeing the dark brown tom bend down to bite the she-cat's throat. The golden brown tabby she-cat leaped at the pair, her paws outstretched, ready to barrel the dark brown tom over.

"No! Warriors don't kill each other for the sake of victory!" Maplebreeze howled furiously. He is going to kill her! To her surprise, Maplebreeze fell right through them onto the damp earth. Why didn't I hit him? Why did I fall right through them? Maplebreeze thought, puzzled as she whipped around to see the bramble colored tom sink his teeth into the she-cat's neck. The golden and white she-cat thrashed for a moment then lay still, her green eyes staring blankly up at the dark starlit sky.

"No!" a cat yowled, sprinting up beside the she-cat's body as the bloody bramble colored tom disappeared back into the chaos of the battle. The tom, his bright ginger pelt soaked with blood pushed his nose into the golden and white she-cat's scarred hide.

"No," the bright ginger tom whimpered as a pale ginger she-cat bounded up beside him, her pelt bloody and ginger tail drooping in exhaustion. "She's dead!" The bright ginger tom mewled, huge tears running down his cheeks. "Right after they killed Oakstorm too."

That looks like Finchfang of ThunderClan! Maplebreeze thought, shock rippling through her. As Maplebreeze glanced around her, she saw the battling cats pull apart as more broad-shouldered cats gathered around the dead she-cat. These ThunderClan cats seem to be fighting other cats! Did this happen in the past? Am I dreaming?

"StarClan, how many more cats will you take from us?" The she-cat murmured, her sturdy frame shaking with sadness as tears well in her yellow eyes. Oh StarClan, Maplebreeze thought. This battle is a fight with the rogues that are attacking the clans! The fights with the rogues are real, and they need our help.

Maplebreeze watched, unnoticed a little ways away, as the ThunderClan cats made a circle the mourning cats. The first rays of the sun appeared over the horizon, warming Maplebreeze's pelt. The golden brown tabby she-cat gazed out over the battlefield. The grass was flattened where the cats had fought, and the fighting cats had crushed several bushes. The rogue's dead still lay on the battlefield, their blood staining the flat earth.

Maplebreeze tensed up as a scarred dark gray rogue padded to the circle of mourning cats. A broad-shouldered black and white tom bounded to meet him. They exchanged some heated words and then the black and white tom loped back to the clan cats. The scarred dark gray tom gathered the-the scarred rogues and slipped back into the shadows of the forest, their multi-colored eyes shining with triumph.

"Hey!" A loud voice hissed in Maplebreeze's ear as a paw poked her painfully in one flank. "Wake up!" Maplebreeze's eyes shot open, and her breathing slowed. It was just a dream. Just a dream, she tried to reassure herself and calm her thudding heart. But it wasn't just a dream; it happened to cats like us. I need to find my clanmates so we can continue our journey.

"You're awake!" The fuzzy face of Cherry came into focus. The thin ginger she-cat was bending over the MountainClan deputy. "You were shouting in your sleep," The kittypet chirped. "Something about 'how warriors aren't supposed to kill,' something, something."

"You were shaking," Ember meowed, looking concerned. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah," Maplebreeze said briskly. "Yeah, I'm okay. Just a bad dream." The golden brown tabby she-cat pushed herself to her feet, her shoulder still aching where the wound was just beginning to heal.

"Is your shoulder alright?" Ember asked, nosing her bandaged shoulder.

"It feels okay, it still aches a little," Maplebreeze replied, moving her shoulder back and forth, testing the cut.

"Martha will change the bandage soon. She normally does it once every day. I know from when Cherry cut her leg on a tree branch a few moons ago. The clumsy furball. She hobbled around for a whole quarter moon." Ember told her, smirking at his sister.

"Only because you chased me into it!" Cherry reminded him.

"But you started the game by pushing me off our garden fence and then running away!" Ember smiled.

"Excuse me," Maplebreeze interrupted. When she had their attention, Maplebreeze began, "Thank you both for helping me with my injury and letting me sleep here, but I need to go and find my clanmates." Maplebreeze announced.

"I know you do, but you need to rest while your wound heals," Ember replied.

"My injury will need to be treated, but I'll be alright. The mission I'm on is more important that my injury. Cats will die without my clan's help," Maplebreeze insisted. "A group of cats had been attacking the four clans, and they have been killing cats. The leaders sent two cats each to come to MountainClan and ask for our help. We are traveling to help the clans fight the rogues before they wipe out every cat in the four clans." Maplebreeze told them urgently. Her fluffy golden brown tail lashed with frustration at their blank looks.

"Okay," Ember said, still looking doubtful. "But can you stay at least one more day to let our housefolk change your bandage?"

"Uh, I think-" Maplebreeze began then cut herself off when she saw the disappointed looks on Ember's and Cherry's faces. "Er - I guess one more day wouldn't hurt." She meowed, shifting uncomfortably.

"Great!" Cherry chirped. "We can show you around! Come on; we'll give you a tour." The ginger she-cat beckoned Maplebreeze with her sleek tail. "This is the living room - as you know," Cherry announced. Maplebreeze limped after her, favoring her wounded leg. Ember and Cherry showed her through the twoleg den.

"...and this is our garden." Cherry meowed proudly. A white fence circled a wide expanse of grass. Trees cast cool shadows that shaded the lush lawn. Flowers of all different colors are along the wall, some winding up the posts. The sun shone down through millions of leaves, creating lacy shadows on the fresh green grass that was soft under Maplebreeze's paws. Ferns and shrubs waved gently in a breeze that stirred the tips of the cat's fur.

"It's beautiful," Maplebreeze breathed.

"I know," Cherry grinned. "It's my favorite spot in our whole home." Maplebreeze bounded across the yard and scrambled ungainly up onto the white fence. A thick tangle of trees surrounded the garden and through them Maplebreeze spotted a stream wind through the forest. She leaped down and bounded toward its gurgling banks. The MountainClan deputy leaned down, lapping at the cold water. The coldness of the water ran across her tongue, and an image of her mountain home, with the tall snowy peaks, bare stones, and twisted pines sparked in her mind. I miss my home so much.

Maplebreeze lay in a pool of sunlight on the soft grass in the center of the garden. The sunlight of late afternoon warmed her pelt, soothing her sore muscles. She had rested in the backyard for most of the day, gathering her strength for the long journey ahead. The remains of a water vole lay at her paws that she had caught earlier by the banks of the stream. She had sent out Cherry and Ember to see if they could locate her clanmates and the other cats from the four clans. I miss my home and my clanmates. I hope I will be able to find them. I don't know what our journey has in store or even if we're going to be able to help them.

"Hey, Maplebreeze!" Cherry's excited voice interrupted her thoughts as the ginger she-cat bounded over to her.

"Did you find any of my clanmates?" Maplebreeze asked anxiously, getting to her feet.

"Yes and no," Cherry replied. "I didn't find any of them myself, but a friend of mine named Shimmer - she's a great hunter by the way. One time she was stalking a finch when it -"

"Get to the point!" Maplebreeze snapped impatiently.

"Okay!" Cherry meowed, looking startled at Maplebreeze's outburst. "Shimmer told me that she saw a group of cats near where she lives on the outskirts of town. Five cats, I believe, a huge dark brown and gray tabby tom, a pale ginger she-cat, a bright ginger tom, a younger long-haired white she-cat and a gray she-cat with black streaks, I think. They stopped and asked if she had seen any other cats that looked lost. She said that-"

"That sounds like Dewstorm, Sagefrost, Frostpaw, Mistyshine, and Finchfang!" Maplebreeze burst out. She had been standing quietly while Cherry was talking, with a thoughtful look on her face.

"Really?" Cherry asked. "That's great; we might be able to find them!"

"Maplebreeze!" Ember called, bounding down the face and racing across the garden. "I know where you're clanmates are!" He announced, skidding to a stop.

"Really?" Maplebreeze leaped forward eagerly.

Ember skidded to a stop, breathing heavily. "I spoke to a bunch of cats with no luck. The I saw to Blizzard. He's an old loner who lives in the park near the edge of town. He told me that he chased off two cats yesterday, a gray and white she-cat and a dark brown tabby tom. The she-cat was limping, and it looked like her leg was injured."

"You're sure the she-cat was injured," Maplebreeze questioned him, slight panic entering her voice. Ember nodded, looking confused. "Oh StarClan," Maplebreeze breathed, closing her eyes.

"What is it?" Ember asked anxiously.

"The injured gray and white she-cat is my leader - Snowstar. StarClan, I hope she's alright." Maplebreeze whispered gravely.

"We'll look for her first thing tomorrow," Cherry promised, sensing Maplebreeze's urgency to find her clanmates. "Did Martha replace your bandage?"

"Yes," Maplebreeze replied. The three cats headed across the garden, over the fence and into Cherry's and Ember's home.

"We'll find your clanmates," Ember reassured Maplebreeze, draping his ginger tail over the she-cat's shoulders.

The trio of cats had left early the next morning before the sun had even risen. The sky was just beginning to brighten as they headed along the busy thunderpath and further into the twolegplace. The sky was overcast and dark, the clouds covering it for as far as she could see. Maplebreeze padded along the side of hard thunderpath between Ember and Cherry, lost in thought.

I hope we can find me clanmates and the other clan cats. I don't know what to do if we don't, Maplebreeze worried. I hope Snowstar is alright and didn't lose a life from the dogs. I wish one of our warriors was with her, not that Dustflame from ShadowClan. Maplebreeze felt worried and anxious about her clanmates. Much like the color of the sky, she mused. Stormy and cloudy, dark and worried.

Her shoulder and neck were still a little sore, and it throbbed a little as she walked. The wound was closed and healing nicely. Ember had been worried that it would open again, but Maplebreeze assured him that she would get it treated by Birdpaw, the apprentice medicine cat.

They turned onto another thunderpath; this one cracked and gray with age, with weeds poking up here and there. Old and run-down twoleg nests lined the road, and bottles and cans littered the streets. "Is this where Shimmer saw the five clan cats?" Maplebreeze asked, wrinkling her nose at the stench.

"It should be the next street over," Cherry replied, looking around. They headed down the small thunderpath, careful to avoid the litter that was strewn all across the road. A few twolegs wandered around, but it was easy for the three cats to avoid them. After a few more tree-lengths, they turned a corner onto another abandoned street.

Maplebreeze immediately put her nose to the ground and began sniffing. Amongst the scents of twoleg garbage, monsters and prey she could smell a faint scent of clan cats. She could smell her friend, Sagefrost, Dewstorm, and Frostpaw as well as RiverClan and ThunderClan. The scents are probably from Mistyshine and Finchfang.

Out loud she said, "I can smell my clanmates and other clan cats. It's faint, but they passed by here. I'll see if I can track them."

"You can smell them under all of those other scents?" Cherry asked, looking impressed.

"Yeah," Maplebreeze meowed. "Every cat in the clans can identify each of their clanmates by scent as well as the other clan's scents. Even kits. I don't have the best nose, but many cats in my clan have especially good noses. I have heard that ThunderClan cats are also excellent trackers."

"Wow," Cherry said, fascinated.

"Here sniff the ground right here," The golden tabby she-cat meowed, gesturing to the spot she had smelled her clanmates scents. "See if you can smell a pine and fresh air scent, like me."

Cherry sniffed the ground and after a moment, then said enthusiastically, "Yeah, I can smell the scents!" Maplebreeze grinned and the three cats and trudged along the dirty thunderpath. Maplebreeze followed the scents of the other clan cats along the thunderpath and toward the woods surrounding the twolegplace. She lost the scent trail a few times but found it again after a little searching.

The trail was growing steadily stronger, and Maplebreeze could sense that they were getting closer. The sun was halfway to sunhigh as they left the dirty thunderpaths of the twolegplace and entered a green forest. Maplebreeze could see the green fields where they had first run into the cows. The sky was darkening and in the distance, Maplebreeze could hear a faint rumble of thunder. The branches bent and waved in the wind as the storm drew closer.

"The scents are getting stronger," Maplebreeze announced. "They're probably around here somewhere." The cat spread out, scoured the forest for a while. They searched through clumps of oak and maple trees and small dips in the woods floor. Maplebreeze rounded a row of trees and spotted a stretch of brambles. She could smell the strong scent of clan cats.

Are they in there? Maplebreeze wondered, bounding eagerly forward, her paws crunching on the dried leaves.

"Hello?" A cat called, sticking their head out of a small hole in the patch of brambles. "Who's there?"

"Sagefrost!" Maplebreeze called in almost disbelief, bounding toward her pale ginger friend.

"Maplebreeze!" Sagefrost yowled, her face lighting up. The she-cats skidded to a stop in front of each other and touched noses. "What happened to you? Did the dog injure you? How did you find us?" Sagefrost asked, overjoyed.

"First of all, I'm glad you're safe," Maplebreeze purred. "Second of all, one of the dogs chased me and trapped me in an alley in the twolegplace. Luckily, two kittypets, a brother, and sister named Ember and Cherry rescued me and helped me treat the wound. The dog scratched me on my neck and shoulder."

"Wait, kittypets save you?" Sagefrost asked, looking confused. "I thought all kittypets were fat and lazy."

"Not all of them are," An amused voice said from behind them. Maplebreeze turned to see Cherry and Ember standing a tree-length away under a birch tree. "I see you found you clanmates," Cherry went on. "I knew you would."

"Hey, Cherry, Ember! Come on over here. I want you to meet my friend and fellow MountainClan warrior, Sagefrost." The two ginger cats padded over and exchanged awkward greetings. Neither of the three knew what to make of each other.

By then, the other clan cats had heard them and came out of the bramble den. Maplebreeze exchanged warm greetings with Dewstorm and Mistyshine. Even Frostpaw, who was typically haughty and aloof, looked happy to see her. After meowing a greeting to Finchfang of ThunderClan, she was surprised to see that Thrushfang, Fernbreeze, and Meadowpool of WindClan had found them.

After she had exchanged greetings with the new cats, Maplebreeze felt a tail tap her on the shoulder. It was Cherry, looking somber. That look doesn't suit her, Maplebreeze thought.

"I believe it's time for us to go," Cherry meowed, subdued.

"Yes, I know," Maplebreeze replied, her voice soft with wistfulness.

"Come and see us sometime, please," Cherry asked, a sad smile on her face. "You know where to find us."

"I will," Maplebreeeze promised. "I will try on the way back home from our mission, but I don't know when that will be." Cherry nodded, and the she-cats touched noses. Ember and Maplebreeze said quiet goodbyes and they also touched noses. The golden tabby she-cat watched sorrowfully as the siblings trudged slowly through the forest and disappeared.

The clan cats hunted for a while and then headed into the bramble den to sleep as the sun was setting and the first stars were appearing in the night sky.

Hi everyone, I'm a back with another chapter! I haven't gotten any reviews for a while so please review and tell me what you think. Please read and review.

- Maplebreeze of MountainClan