Chapter 24: Taking Action
Maplebreeze hurried quickly along the edge of the stone camp wall, past a group of older ThunderClan cats and her own clanmates who were taking together in quiet voices. She clutched the bones of her meal that she had eaten in a couple of bites a moment before as she hurried out into the forest to bury the bones. She reached a part of the camp were the tall stone cliffside fell away and was instead filled by a dense thicket of bramble bushes, abundant with sharp thorns that would make their enemies think twice about sneaking through. The sharp thorns snagged on Maplebreeze's fur as she padded through the secure entrance that the brambles were woven together to shape. She trotted out of the camp and choosing a tall aspen tree close to the entrance; she began to dig a hole to bury the bones from her squirrel at the foot of its trunk.
The sky was dark and overcast, and the forest around her was dark, as night still lay heavily on the land. The crowns of trees bent in a breeze high above her, and an owl's hoot from far away rang eerily through the dark woods. In the sky, crisscrossed by arching branches, a few stars poked their heads out among the clouds and a waning moon shone blurrily through the cloud cover.
Maplebreeze scooped out a shallow hole with her paws and dumped the bones into it. Pushing the dirt back over the hole, she and hastened back toward the entrance.
There was an air of tense anticipation as Maplebreeze entered the camp again. It was still early, as there was not even hint of the sun, but the camp was awake and buzzing with activity. Most of the MountainClan and ThunderClan warriors already stood outside their respective dens, pacing impatiently and talking quietly to each other as they waited for the leaders to announce it was time to leave. The apprentices tussled, though it was less playful and half-hearted as even they knew what was ahead of them. The medicine cat's den was busy as Pebblefur and Birdpaw, aided by a couple of apprentices, bustled about, gathering together bundles of traveling herbs to strengthen their clanmates.
It had been three days since Specklestar and Snowstar had rallied the Clans and since ShadowClan had left the lake. Now, it was the early morning of the third day, the day when the Clans would attack and do their best to defeat their enemy; the rogue cats of the Dark Fangs.
Maplebreeze headed toward the clump of ThunderClan warriors and wove among them, exchanging greetings and encouraging words to with the cats that had grown so familiar to her over the last moon.
"Good luck, Cherrycloud," The MountainClan deputy meowed, touching noses with the senior ThunderClan warrior.
"And to you as well," Cherrycloud purred, her amber eyes warm, but there was a worried glint in them. "May it be StarClan's will that we all come home safe."
Maplebreeze smiled in return and then padded on her way, touching noses first with Finchfang, then greeted Bouldertail.
"Hello," The dark gray tom said. The tip of his tail that was stretched out behind him was flicking back and forth, and his green gaze was flitting all over, as if he was an overwhelmed kit outside the nursery for the first time, trying to take everything in at once.
"Nervous?" Maplebreeze meowed sympathetically, taking a seat beside the young ThunderClan tom and wrapping her feather-like tail over her paws.
"Yeah, I am. This will be my first huge battle." Bouldertail admitted.
"I was was very nervous the first time I went into battle," Maplebreeze told him.
"MountainClan doesn't have any Clans near it, so who were you fighting?" Bouldertail asked curiously.
"The Leafbare before last, MountainClan also had some rogues who were trying to take over our territory. They were not as organized as the Dark Fangs and nowhere near as big, but it did take us a while to drive them out." The MountainClan deputy explained. "I was just a new warrior then, on patrol with my former mentor, Silverflight, she's Dewstorm's sister, Thrushfang, and Shimmermist, another cat who stayed behind. She was Shimmerpaw then and Thrushfang's apprentice. We were on high alert as we patrolled the borders of our territory because only a couple days before, another border patrol had been attacked by seven or eight rogues.
"Suddenly, rogues seemed to come out of nowhere and swooped down on us, taking us by surprise. Silverflight and Thrushfang sprang into battle, and Shimmerpaw ran for help, but I just froze. I had been in fights before, but they were just mock-battles against my clanmates. This was the real deal.
"All of a sudden, a rogue slammed into me, and I had to defend myself. I forgot my anxiousness, and I let my instincts from moons of battle training take over. There were only about five rogues, and they weren't very well trained, so Thrushfang, Silverflight and I were able to defeat them. It was the first victory in that long war.
"So, my advice; stick close to your allies and clanmates so they can help you, and you can help them. Don't try to think too much; in the heat of the moment you'll just have to react, and don't worry, your training will come back to you as you go. You have more experience with fighting then I did then, with all of the skirmishes with the Dark Fangs, so you know what it's like. But I can understand being anxious. Much depends on us winning today. Oh, and most important of all, trust your instincts, and you'll do fine." Maplebreeze reassured him.
"Thank you for the tips, Maplebreeze," Bouldertail smiled, touching noses with her. Maplebreeze nodded and smiled back, before moving on to speak with other ThunderClan cats.
We can do this! Maplebreeze thought determinedly; her confidence hopes lifted even more after she had greeted Larkflight and Shrewtail briefly, who echoed her hope for a victory that day. ThunderClan and MountainClan are strong. With WindClan and RiverClans' help, we will drive them away once and for all! Maplebreeze thought confidently, struck by the way the ThunderClan cats were united; sharing hopes, advice, and wisdom. They were preparing each other for the hard battle ahead of all of them. This is what means to be a Clan! United, strong, and together to face what's coming. We may have lost ShadowClan, but we are unified. This is an example of what Bramblestar must have meant when he added a new rule to the Warrior Code. Each Clan, now including MountainClan, has a right to be proud and independent, but in times of trouble, we must forget our boundaries and fight together to protect all of the Clans. We must help each other so that no Clan will fall. We are joining to fight the Dark Fangs, but we have let ShadowClan fall. When this is all over, we must bring them back to their rightful place by the lake. And MountainClan will go back to our home, the place where we belong.
"Maplebreeze!" The golden brown tabby she-cat jolted out of her thoughts and turned sharply so see Snowstar beckoning her over to where she, Spiderleap and Specklestar were conferring in a small group at the base of the Highledge.
"We need to leave some warriors behind to guard the camp in case the Dark Fangs attack. I don't want to leave our elders, queen, and kits vulnerable." Specklestar was saying as the MountainClan deputy approached. "Who should stay?"
"I can stay," Spiderleap volunteered, lifting his head, a confident but serious look in his yellow eyes. "I will protect the elders, queens, and kits with my life."
"Alright. Good, Spiderleap," Specklestar meowed to her deputy.
"Of my cats, I think Nettlewhisker, Stoneshade, Fernbreeze, and Frostpaw should stay." Snowstar decided. "I know that they will understand the importance of staying behind to protect the young and old even though they aren't our clanmates."
"Then I'll have Cherrycloud, Skypaw, and Swiftleap stay as well," Specklestar said, listing names of her clanmates who she trusted to keep their young and old cats safe. "And of course, Spiderleap, you'll be in charge of the camp. Can you let the warriors and apprentices know who will be staying and give them positions to stand guard?"
"Yes, right away," The gruff black and white tom turned, striding hastily across the clearing to address the gathered warriors.
"What should I do?" Maplebreeze asked, looking intently at the pair of leaders.
"Maplebreeze, can you check to see how the medicine cats are getting along?" Specklestar requested. "I want to to know if Pebblefur and Birdpaw need more help if they need to gather more herbs and when they will be ready to leave. Snowstar and I are planning to collect the cats to leave soon, so we'll be on time to meet the other Clans."
"Of course," Maplebreeze dipped her head to the ThunderClan and MountainClan leaders and then turned to go, trotting across the clearing towards the medicine cat's den. "Pebblefur? Birdpaw?" The golden brown tabby she-cat called uncertainly, narrowly avoiding the prickly brambles that hung down from the roof of the cave, screening most of the entrance from the outside world, as she poked her head inside.
"Come on in, Maplebreeze!" Pebblefur answered, his deep meow sounding echoey and coming from the depths of the den. The golden brown tabby she-cat emerged into the dark cave, glancing around for the ThunderClan medicine cat.
"Hey, Maplebreeze," Birdpaw chirped, her bright voice loud in the gloomy den and Maplebreeze jumped. The slim amber-eyed apprentice was sitting to one side on the sandy earth, sorting a jumble of herbs that lay scattered around her into neat piles. A bunch of herbs already in bundles was slashed in a large pile to the left of her.
"Hello, Birdpaw. Where's Pebblefur?" Maplebreeze inquired, looking around for the dark gray dappled tom.
"He's in the back of the den, gathering the other herbs we keep stored in the crevice for emergencies. We're almost out." Birdpaw explained as she returned to her sorting.
"Hello, Maplebreeze," Pebblefur said as he emerged from the narrow crevice in the back wall of the cave after he set down a bunch of oval light green leaves. "Do you need anything?"
"I don't need anything. I'm here because Specklestar wanted to check to see how you are getting along. Do you have enough for traveling herbs for every cat to have enough and enough herbs to heal injured cats afterward?" Maplebreeze asked, conveying Specklestar's questions.
"We do have enough traveling herbs, and it would be great if you could start having our clanmates come in to eat theirs'. Birdpaw just finished putting herbs that we'll probably need for injured cats on the battlefield, but we're running low on horsetail, chervil, dock and some other herbs vital for treating wounds. We'll have to gather some more as soon as possible. Also, Cinderpaw and Dustpaw should be back now with new cobwebs. We'll be ready to go as soon as they return and the cats who are fighting eat their traveling herbs." Pebblefur reported.
"Okay, thanks. I'll send them in right away." The golden brown tabby she-cat promised. After finishing off her traveling herbs in a couple of swift bites, with only a little grimace at the bitterness, she headed outside. Cinderpaw and Dustpaw passed the MountainClan deputy on her way out, and Maplebreeze purred with amusement as she observed the cobwebs the pair of young apprentices had gathered were stuck to their gray pelts, practically covering them.
Maplebreeze jogged over to the ThunderClan warriors, who were pacing as restlessly as ever in front of their den beneath the fallen branches of an ancient beech tree that had fallen moons before. "Pebblefur is ready and needs all of you to get your traveling herbs!" She announced, addressing the ThunderClan warriors. "You can go in a couple at a time."
"Thank you, Maplebreeze," Cherrycloud replied. As the golden brown tabby headed away, she heard the senior warrior start to organize the ThunderClan warriors into groups to get their traveling herbs to strengthen themselves for the looming battle ahead of all of them.
The MountainClan deputy trotted across the still dim camp, heading for the outskirts where the formerly unused caves were located. The MountainClan warriors were still waiting apprehensively outside the largest cave. Maplebreeze zigzagged through the crowd of her fellow MountainClan cats, exchanging greetings with her clanmates like she had with the ThunderClan cats. As Maplebreeze wove through the throng, she scanned her clanmates for Brackenstep. Finally, she spotted him sitting at the edge of the crowd, watching Sorrelpaw, Emberpaw, and Lakepaw who were deep in conversation.
"Hi," Maplebreeze greeted her mate with an affectionate lick over his right ear.
"Hey, Maplebreeze," Brackenstep responded, gently touching his nose to her ear. "Are you ready?"
"Yes," The golden brown tabby she-cat answered confidently. "The Clans are more than ready to fight the Dark Fangs."
"Fight beside me?"
"Always," Maplebreeze assured him.
"Are both of you done yet?" Sorrelpaw asked, a queasy expression on her face.
"Yes," Maplebreeze replied. "Wait, almost." Playfully, the golden brown tabby she-cat leaned into Brackenstep, resting her head on his shoulder. Taking the cue, Brackenstep rasped his tongue exaggeratedly over her head.
"Ewww," Sorrelpaw recoiled, wrinkling her face is disgust. Next to her, Lakepaw giggled loudly.
"Are the three of you ready to fight?" Brackenstep asked, addressing all three of their kits.
"Yes, absolutely," Sorrelpaw meowed enthusiastically. "I will slash those pathetic prey-stealers limb from limb!"
"Are you sure they should be fighting?" Maplebreeze asked Brackenstep worriedly. "They're so young to be participating in a dangerous battle like this. Maybe they should stay here and guard the camp where it's safe. I can ask Snowstar-"
"Maplebreeze, we're ready," Sorrelpaw answered instead, getting to her paws. "We found the Clans by ourselves, and we survived the journey. We've been training hard. We've fought the Dark Fangs before. We can do this."
"Really?" Maplebreeze asked, still concerned for the safety of their kits.
"Yes," Emberpaw added, reassuringly. "We're ready." Lakepaw was silent but nodded in accordance.
"Alright," Maplebreeze agreed reluctantly. "Be safe, stay by your mentors, and don't take any risks. I don't know what I'd do if I lost one of you." The golden brown tabby she-cat fondly licked each of her kits in turning over their heads.
"Be safe, you three." Brackenstep purred, affectionately licking the trio of apprentices as well. "This is a defining day in the events of this war. We might not call these Clans home, but they follow the same rules as us, they look to StarClan, and they are honorable and just. We must all fight our hardest to protect and preserve them. Keep that in mind as you go into battle today. Fight bravely and honorably and may it be StarClan's will that we all come home safe."
"We will, Brackenstep," Lakepaw promised earnestly, stretching her small neck up to touch noses with her father. "You be safe as well."
"Okay, you three, run along now. We will be leaving soon, so go find your mentors." Maplebreeze told them. Sorrelpaw and Emberpaw complied, trotting away toward the crowd of cats. Lakepaw followed more slowly, turning once to wave her fluffy gray tail in goodbye.
"Do you think they'll be okay?" Maplebreeze questioned, still concerned for the well being of their kits.
"I think they'll be," Brackenstep replied comfortingly. "They're a lot like you; brave, stubborn, kind, and caring."
"And like you; patient, protective, and fair," Maplebreeze added with a smile. The mates grew silent, as Maplebreeze leaned into Brackenstep's shoulder and the light brown tabby tom rested his chin on her sleek golden brown head.
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join beneath the Highledge for a Clan meeting!" Specklestar's cry rang through the dusky hollow, calling the Clans together. The leaders stood side by side on the edge of the Highledge, the white parts of their pelts glowing in the dim light of early dawn. The MountainClan and ThunderClan cats eagerly hurried from the depths of the camp and quickly gathered at the foot of the Highledge. Maplebreeze and Brackenstep strode over as well and chose a place at the back of the crowd.
"Clanmates," Specklestar began. "It is almost dawn, and it's time we go to meet the other Clans. Today is the day that we are going to strike at the heart of the Dark Fangs and if it is StarClan's will, defeat them once and for all!"
The ThunderClan and MountainClan cats cheered enthusiastically, rallied by Specklestar's confident announcement.
"Warriors and Apprentices who are remaining behind to guard the elders, queens, and kits, please take up your positions. Fighting cats, let's move out!" Snowstar ordered, as she followed Specklestar and bounded gracefully down the tumble of rocks and vanished into the crowd. The Clan cats were already moving toward the camp entrance, Snowstar, and Specklestar in the lead. Maplebreeze and Brackenstep had to hurry to catch up with the rear of the group.
The warriors and apprentices were unusually quiet as they swiftly trotted in a long line into the dark woods. The forest, lush with thick Newleaf foliage, was still dark, but the dim light was steadily growing brighter as dawn began to break over the woods. The high-pitched songs of birds floated through the towering trees, and the musky scents of prey were evident everywhere, but no small creatures dared to stray close to the large company of traveling cats.
"I'll be right back," Maplebreeze murmured to Brackenstep as she quickened her pace and fell into step with her pale ginger tabby friend, Sagefrost.
"Oh, hey," Sagefrost meowed, glancing swiftly at the golden brown tabby she-cat, then returned her yellow gaze to the ground in front of them.
"Hi, Sagefrost," Maplebreeze replied softly. "I know you have been upset with me and I'm sorry for whatever it is. But could you put it aside for now? I miss you, Sagefrost. I miss my best friend. I want you by my side as we go into battle like we used to. Will you fight alongside me?" Maplebreeze waited tensely for her former friend's answer.
After what seemed like moons, Sagefrost nodded slowly, her eyes still fixed on the ground. "I'd like that."
"Thank you, Sagefrost," Maplebreeze murmured. "I've missed you a lot." The MountainClan deputy felt a rush of relief and sighed deeply, feeling lighter than she had in days. I've finally reconnected with my best friend. After this battle is over, I'm going to make everything right between us. Everything is going to be okay. We're finally doing something. The Dark Fangs have been attacking the Clans for far too long. We're finally taking action against the cats who have done unspeakable harm to the Clans. We will win this and drive them out once and for all! We can do this!
Hi guys, I'm back again with another chapter. This chapter was organically going to have more take place but it got so long I decided to make it two instead of one. My next update probably won't come for a while, thought. Thank you for reading a please review!
Disclaimer: I, Maplebreeze of MountainClan do not own Warriors (though I wish I did because it's so AWESOME), but they belong to Erin Hunter.
- Maplebreeze of MountainClan