Chapter Twenty-Five:
A russet red cat leapt from nowhere, howling, "SkyClan, attack!". From there, the she-cat tackled Streamstar.
Tinyfoot knocked over Jewelpaw. "What's going on?" he snarled.
Startled and scared, his apprentice whimpered, "SkyClan is attacking us."
Shocked, he growled, "Why are they doing that? Half our clan is related to them and helped them with rogues."
"Too late to ask now! We're being attacked!" cried the terrified she-cat.
Tinyfoot forced himself calm. "Hide in the nursery. You've never fought before. Take Anglepaw with you since he can't see out of the one eye and is still recovering."
Jewelpaw nudged her frightened brother towards the nursery. Her other brother stood next to them.
"Jewelpaw, I don't understand! Why is SkyClan attacking us?" cried Simplepaw.
"I've got no clue," growled Jewelpaw, gritting her teeth. "Why don't you ask them?" she growled sarcastically.
Simplepaw was suddenly distracted with protecting his siblings, shoving a small brown warrior away. Springfrost, Poppyshade's daughter.
A large tabby tom leapt out of nowhere, tackling Jewelpaw. She urged Anglepaw into the nursery, before turning to face her opponent.
Hawkpaw's dark blue eyes bore into hers. "Jewelpaw," he mewed in a soft voice.
Tinyfoot tackled Poppyshade, pushing his nose against hers. "What on earth is going on, Poppyshade?" he snarled.
"One of your clanmates is working with the rogues," whispered Poppyshade. "Half of my clanmates are bitter and angry, so they became reckless, rash, and irrational. Russetstar finally decided to attack to protect the rest of us, because the whole clan was fighting with each other."
Tinyfoot's back was shoved into the ground as Poppyshade flipped him over in a powerful motion. "The rogues are the real problem, Poppyshade! My clan is getting hurt!"
"My clan already was hurt! One of your clanmates is a traitor! Gorselichen, Hawkclaw, and Icelight are dead."
"Who is the traitor?" Tinyfoot whispered. When Poppyshade hesitated, he hissed, "Who is the traitor?"
He flipped her over. She didn't make any moves of defense.
"It's Whirlwind."
Shock struck him. He started to loosen his grip on Poppshade, when SkyClan's strong deputy bowled into him, knocking the breath out of him.
"Kestrelclaw!" choked Tinyfoot. "Stop!"
His claws sank into Tinyfoot's fur. "How much do you kntha about the traitor ithy our clan?" he snarled.
"It's my brother, that's all I know!" insisted Tinyfoot.
"Briarshine...you don't know if she is involved in the betrayal or not?". The worry in his voice was imminent.
"Honestly, Kestrelclaw," Tinyfoot groaned a little in pain when the cat's claws sank deeper into his shoulder and neck. "I don't think my sister would be able to lie to you. She is so in love with you. And she is the sibling I am closest to, so I can read her the best."
Kestrelclaw sheathed his claws. Blood rushed to the gashes that were now throbbing on his neck.
"Where is my sister?" growled Tinyfoot, shaking off his fur.
"She's at camp. She had her kits. Two toms and a she-kit. Falconkit, Raggedkit, and Goldenkit."
"I'm gueasing Briarshine named Falconkit."
Kestrelclaw nodded. "She said since I'm named after a bird of prey, my son can be too."
Tinyfoot rolled his eyes at his sister's logic. "Take care of her, Kestrelclaw. And please don't hurt my clanmates."
Tinyfoot rushed through the fighting cats, unstopped. He tackled his bigger stronger brother, forcing him off Rainlight. "Traitor!" he snarled. "Why?"
"You don't understand, brother," pleaded Whirlwind. "Let me explain."
Tinyfoot unsheathed his claws, letting them sink into Whirlwind's dark gray fur that glowed silver in the moonlight. "Explain? Explain what? Many good cats have been killed, Whirlwind! Followriver could've gotten killed, Simplepaw, Anglepaw, and Jewelpaw couldve been killed. Do you even care?"
"Of course I care!" cried Whirlwind.
By now, both clans were listening in, falling silent to hear the brothers yell at each other.
"Why? Why, Whirlwind? You betrayed your clan!"
"I can't tell you yet," Whirlwind mewed. "No, it's not like that! It's important, but I would never hurt you."
"You don't love your clan!" snarled Tinyfoot, tense with rage.