Chapter 13
The following day proved a bit more eventful for Ravenpaw. She was on a border patrol with Stripepaw and Birchfall, who stood beside Lionblaze. The two warriors were whispering to one another in worried tones as they approached the WindClan border. Stripepaw was pressed against Ravenpaw's shoulder protectively, as if she expected an attack to happen at any moment. Ravenpaw tilted her head in confusion as she waited for something to happen.
Sure enough Birchfall came to a halt. His fur was bristling with uncertainty as he sniffed the air. "WindClan," he hissed warningly.
"What are they doing so close to the border?" Lionblaze demanded.
Ravenpaw was beginning to feel uneasy when she saw the outlines of cats appearing over the hill. Her heartbeat pounded as the five warriors approached the patrol. Their approach was aggressive, and she knew that nothing good would come out of the confrontation.
"We're here for revenge," growled a WindClan warrior. Ravenpaw stiffened when she saw the dark gray apprentice standing behind a black tom with amber eyes. "One of your cats killed an apprentice, or so we've heard." The tom's lips were drawn back in the beginnings of a snarl.
"None of our warriors has done any such thing, Breezepelt," Lionblaze replied.
So that's Breezepelt, Ravenpaw thought. She'd heard stories of the aggressive WindClan warrior. Breezepelt was known for starting most of the border disputes set between ThunderClan and WindClan.
"One cat has." Breezepelt nodded to the apprentice, who took a step forward.
"She's the one who let my brother died," the apprentice snarled venomously.
Horror crept through Ravenpaw's spine when she saw the WindClan cats nod in agreement. Weaselfur, the cat she'd least expected to enact revenge, was among them. The ginger and white warrior was glaring at her coldly. A wiry brown and white tom stood beside Breezepelt, while a light brown tabby she-cat stood on his other side.
"We won't let you get away with murder," Breezepelt sneered.
Without warning the WindClan cats launched their attack. Ravenpaw gasped in surprise when she felt claws bury into her shoulders. The battle had begun in a whirlwind of screeches and dust as cats fought against one another. Fur flew when she swiped her claws through the pelt of her attacker.
The attacker wasn't very smart if he thought he could keep up what he attempted. Ravenpaw's lips drew back as she hissed in fury. She lunged forward and sank her teeth into her opponent's scruff. Though her attacker was larger, she managed to get a strong grip around his neck. The attacker screeched in outrage. Ravenpaw didn't let go until the struggle ended—by that point she knew he was going to use one of the most common moves known by apprentices. She released him and backed away, eyes glittering with fury.
"You…you killed Cloudpaw…." The WindClan apprentice's breath was shaky as he tried to catch it.
"I didn't! I would have saved him if it weren't for the fox," she protested.
"That's not what they told me," he spat. "Weaselfur is convinced that you let him die too."
"If there was anything I could do to get some proof…." Ravenpaw cut herself off when she heard a yowl coming from behind her. "You better run now. My Clanmates are coming, and they'll stop at nothing to get rid of pesky apprentices like you." Her voice grew cold, and she didn't know where the words had come from.
I will protect you with my own words, the voice said softly. No scrawny WindClan apprentice will make you look weak.
The apprentice's eyes widened in horror before he disappeared over the hill. By the time the newly arrived ThunderClan cats approached most of the WindClan cats had vanished. Lionblaze was locked in a dual against Breezepelt, whose fangs were bared in a snarl of defiance.
This piece of crowfood thinks he will win, the voice said tauntingly. Ravenpaw realized that there was laughter in the voice's words as it watched the scene unfold before it.
Lionblaze gave Breezepelt enough room to lunge forward with his claws unsheathed. The golden tabby ducked his head, allowing Breezepelt to roll across his back. The black warrior's claws seemed to slip through air as he tried to lay one upon Lionblaze's back. Ravenpaw wined when he landed behind Lionblaze. Breezepelt sprang to his paws once he recovered from the shock of landing on his shoulder.
"That's enough, mousebrain!" Ravenpaw felt a sense of relief when she saw Brambleclaw stand over Breezepelt. "Unless you'd like to feel the wrath of ThunderClan upon you." His amber eyes were narrowed into tiny slits when Breezepelt opened his mouth to argue.
"ThunderClan is full of kittypet weaklings and murderers," Breezepelt snapped. "You can't live forever in a world of lies!"
Coward! The voice suddenly rang in Ravenpaw's head. A shudder of rage coursed down her spine as she glowered at Breezepelt. Your Clan is filled with cowards…. The voice continued shouting words that sounded too harsh to Ravenpaw. She chose to ignore it and watched as Breezepelt staggered past Lionblaze.
"Idiot mousebrain," Lionblaze muttered under his breath. "He should have known better."
"Is everyone alright?" Jayfeather's mew broke through the silence.
"How did you know where we were?" Ravenpaw asked.
"Graystripe heard the yowling," Brambleclaw explained as Jayfeather began to look over Birchfall's wounds. "Stripepaw was sent to fetch his patrol."
It was then that Ravenpaw noticed her sister ducking behind Graystripe in embarrassment. The senior warriors' ears were laid back behind his head as he glared at the stream. Ravenpaw knew that he was having memories of the time when WindClan had been allies with ThunderClan.
"Those mangepelts won't be coming back any time soon," Birchfall snarled.
"They shouldn't have shown their faces in the first place," Graystripe replied. "To think that piece of foxdung called us a bunch of murderers."
The group made their way back to camp, telling stories of how the battle had started. Lionblaze's triumphant victory had ended the moment they returned. He left Ravenpaw to stay with her sister as the group joined their Clanmates. Stripepaw nudged Ravenpaw playfully before she joined Sparrowpaw and Honeypaw outside the apprentice's den.
"Was the battle really that scary?" Honeypaw asked.
"It wasn't too scary," Stripepaw replied. "I went to warn Graystripe about the WindClan cats."
"So you didn't fight," Sparrowpaw snorted. "What did you think about Breezepelt?" He looked at Ravenpaw, whose ears flattened when she realized he was asking her the question.
"He's nothing but a coward," she spat. "He would kill every one of us if he got the chance."
"Really?" Honeypaw's eyes widened in horror. "Mousefur told me that he's Crowfeather's son…. Maybe that's why he hates us so much."
Because Jayfeather and Lionblaze are also Crowfeather's sons, Ravenpaw reminded herself. Breezepelt has other reasons to hate us though. I wouldn't put it past him to come up with another reason to ambush a patrol.
Breezepelt treats others around him like they are worthless cowards, the voice commented.
Would you mind telling me your name? Ravenpaw demanded. She didn't want the others around her thinking she was crazy. She looked away as the three apprentices started chattering excitedly.
You want a name? When Ravenpaw grunted in agreement, the voice sighed. I have not been called by my name for moons. But I once had a name when I was truly alive. I was once known as Ravenfeather.
Ravenfeather…. You lived once before?
Yes, but long before you were born. Long before even Bluestar or the leaders before her were born. When I died, I was considered worthless. But I have been given a second chance at life through you. Ravenpaw's eyes widened in shock.
You mean to tell me that…. I'm not really me?
Ravenfeather laughed at Ravenpaw's confusion. Little on, if only it were so easy. In time you will know who you truly are. I hope you will live long enough to see through it.
Ravenpaw was even more confused than ever as Ravenfeather's voice faded into the background. She could still hear her denmates talking, but their voices were distant as well. Her true destiny was still upon her. She just wasn't sure when it would approach.