Chapter 12

The quiet chirping of crickets told John it was night. He looked around at his surroundings. He was in a wooden construction hut, and as he stretched, he winced.

His arms and legs felt like they were broken, but they could move. He sat up, with some difficulty, and walked to the door. He looked through the small window, and saw that it was pitch black.

He turned the handle, and to his dismay, it was locked.

He looked for a window and saw one that he might fit through. He unlatched it and squeezed through it, his body screaming at him to stop. He finally got through, and got up to look around.

He was in the middle of a construction site. He froze. A man was sleeping next to a truck, his clothes torn like they had been worn for weeks, and John breathed a sigh of relief.

He could see Thunderclan's forest in the distance, and he started to walk towards it, but then a thought crossed his mind.

Did Hollyleaf make it? He looked around in pitch black, then almost jumped to find that he could see. It must be cat eyes I am seeing through now, he thought. If that sense is enhanced, so are my others! He sniffed around the eerie cave collapse, and he smelled her scent around the exit. She made it out. Time for me to go. He ran off to Thunderclan territory, excited to see his siblings again.

…

By the time John arrived in Thunderclan, it was dawn. John transformed and padded into the entrance, and he was greeted by enthusiastic mews and yowls. But one stood out among the rest.

"John!" It was Hollyleaf. She thrust through the throng of cats and pressed against him. "I thought you wouldn't make it." She purred.

John grinned. "Looks like you told the clan the same thing."

Firestar padded up to him. "Thank Starclan! I almost thought the prophecy was ruined."

"Well, I…" John was interrupted by a hiss from Graystripe. The bushes around the Thunderclan camp started to rustle. The leader of Doomclan, Falconstar, padded through the bushes with some of his warriors.

John padded up to him, coming so close that their whiskers touched. "What do you want, Falconstar?"

"Your territory, your rivals, and your life! The clans in this forest have three moons to give up this land to us, Doomclan, or we will take it ourselves!" Falconstar spat.

"Over my dead body." John hissed. "That can be arranged. Three moons, twoleg. Three moons." His warriors stepped back into the bushes, along with their leader.

John's head buzzed. This wasn't good.

The clan cats pelts bristled and some were spitting curses at the Doomclan cats. Firestar walked to the Highrock and yowled, "All cats old enough to catch their own prey gather under the Highrock!" The cats gathered around as he meowed, "I can't find the words to comfort you about this threat, nor can I give false hope. But if it's necessary, we will fight to the death! A clan leader never had such a stronger clan. We are warriors! For Thunderclan!"

"For Thunderclan!" The cats echoed.

John bristled nervously. Even a fight to the death? He thought.

Hollyleaf pressed against his side. "You will do it, John. You will."

But how many won't do it? What will the price be? He glanced around the cats, the fire of battle in their eyes.

His gaze slid to Hollyleaf last. He shook his head. The price won't be high, John. It won't be high. A voice ran clearly through his mind, comforting him. The battle cry of Thunderclan rang through his ears. "For Thunderclan!"

END PART ONE