Mosspath ran through the forest, desperately swerving to avoid trees. Unused to the forest, the gray tabby she-cat had already run into a few trees, and didn't want a repeat of the incident. Mosspath was heading to the ThunderClan camp, following a scent trail. The scent of ThunderClan was getting more and more overwhelming and when she burst through the gorse tunnel there were four cats in the clearing.
A dark tabby arched his back and hissed. Mosspath forced herself not to flinch; WindClan was depending on her.
"ShadowClan and RiverClan!" Mosspath yowled, her flanks heaving as she fought for breath. "They're attacking our camp! We're outnumbered and fighting for our lives! Tallstar refuses to be driven off this time. You must help or my Clan will be wiped out!" A blue-gray she-cat bolted in the clearing.
"I heard." She muttered before yowling a summons. "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather for a Clan meeting!" Mosspath kneaded the ground impatiently as cats swarmed from their den.
"There's no tim to waste, ThunderClan. It's as we feared-ShadowClan and RiverClan have joined together, and now they're attacking the WindClan camp. We must help them." She paused, and Mosspath realized this must be the legendary leader of ThunderClan, Bluestar.
"But we are leaf-bare weak!" A black-and-white tom complained. "We've taken a risk for WindClan once before. Let them take care of themselves this time." Mosspath had to suppress the wail rising in her throat as some of the cats murmured their support.
"You're right to be cautious, Patchpelt." The same dark tabby who Mosspath had seen in the clearing spoke up. "But if ShadowClan and RiverClan have united, it is only a matter of time before they turn on us. It's better we fight now, with WindClan, than later, alone!" Mosspath held her breath as the Clan looked around. Patchpelt had dipped his head in respect and Mosspath realized this must be the deputy. A broad-faced dark gray she-cat slank up to Bluestar and murmured something. Bluestar nodded to what the she-cat was saying and spoke once more.
"Tigerclaw, I want you to organize two parties, one to head the attack, and one to back it up. We need to get there as fast as we can!" Mosspath let out a sigh of relief as the dark tabby-apparently Tigerclaw nodded and turned to his Clan.
"Yes, Bluestar. Whitestorm, you'll head the second party; I'll head the first." A large white tom nodded. "I'll take Darkstripe, Runningwind, Dustpelt, Wildpaw, and Fireheart." Tigerclaw went on. "You!" Mosspath jumped as Tigerclaw addressed her. "What's your name?"
"Mosspath." The she-cat answered, trying not to be daunted under his paralyzing amber gaze.
"Mosspath, you'll be in my party. The rest of the ThunderClan warriors will join Whitestorm. You too, Brackenpaw." A golden brown tabby got to his paws and raced to join the battle patrol. "Are we all ready?" Mosspath yowled her support and Tigerclaw raced through the gorse tunnel.
Mosspath had left a clump of fur behind, still not used to the tight space. However, she was more used to the woods this time around and managed to keep up, although her mind was back in the WindClan camp.
"We're outmatched!" Deadfoot had yowled, his muzzle glistening with fresh blood. Whether it had been his own or an enemy's, Mosspath did not know.
"You'll have to ask ThunderClan for help!"
"I'll go too!" Mudclaw meowed.
"Okay," Deadfoot conceded. "but be quick!"
"Stonefur, stop them!" A gray-green tom had leaped onto Mudclaw before he'd even had the chance to leave the camp.
"Go!" Mudclaw ordered Mosspath, rearing up to meet the RiverClan warrior. Mosspath hadn't looked back, and now she felt sick and hoped Mudclaw had been unscathed and alive however unlikely.
"Tigerclaw!" A yowl from a nearby she-cat interrupted Mosspath's thoughts. "We're being followed!" Mosspath unsheathed her claws. Had more of RiverClan come across the border? But instead of muscular warriors, three kits appeared from behind a log. One was a thick-furred white tom, and the others gray with darker flecks.
"What are you doing here?" Tigerclaw demanded, and Mosspath winced at his tone to the small kits.
"We wanted to join the battle." The white kit protested.
"Fireheart!" Tigerclaw hissed and and the familiar tom came forward. "You brought this kit into the Clan; you deal with it." Fireheart hesitated before calling to an apprentice.
"Brackenpaw, please take these kits home." Brackenpaw trudged forward and although his tail drooped, he kept quiet.
"I'm surprised by your choice, Fireheart," Tigerclaw's tone was mocking. "I didn't expect you to be so keen to fight this battle."
"If only you were so keen too!" Mosspath was shocked at the outraged hiss from Fireheart. "You'd give the battle cry instead of keeping us here while WindClan warriors die!" Tigerclaw glared at him with undisguised hatred, which made Mosspath wonder what had gone on between the two. But Tigerclaw yowled.
"Fireheart! You know the way to the WindClan camp! Lead us there." Mosspath felt a flash of reproach that Tigerclaw didn't ask her, but she kept quiet.
Fireheart knew the terrain surprisingly well-even underneath the layers of snow. The ginger tom didn't slow his pace until he reached the top of the hill where the WindClan camp was just below.
"Down there!" He called and the sound of screeching warriors made Mosspath's heart ache.