Here's chapter 24! By the way, I've decided to do the allegiances after the prologue. I don't have Outcast, but I have The Dark River, so if some of the fur colors or names are wrong, well, sorry.
CHAPTER 24
Nightpaw tossed Dawnpaw off of her and scrambled to her paws. She noticed Lightpaw fighting side-by-side with Thrushpaw against Tigerpaw. When did Lightpaw join the battle? Nightpaw wondered.
Suddenly, Nightpaw felt a heavy weight crash down upon her. At first she thought it was Firestar, because it was the same flame-colored fur as him, but she soon recognized Rowanclaw, a senior warrior. Nightpaw flipped over the best she could and flailed her unsheathed claws at his face.
Yes, that's good. Quick, move to the side!
A voice in Nightpaw's head seemed to be telling her what to do. She swerved away from Rowanclaw's outstretched claws and slashed his nose.
Bite his tail.
Nightpaw clamped her jaws around the ginger tom's tail and clawed his haunches. Rowanclaw snapped his teeth at Nightpaw's tail, but she moved away from his reach.
Let go and leap over his head.
Some of the words didn't seem to make sense until it was the right time to follow them. Nightpaw let Rowanclaw's tail free and watched as he spun around and charged toward her. Nightpaw leaped and soared over his head. She stretched out her claws, dug them into his pelt, and rolled over with him in a tangle of claws and fur.
Now pin him down.
Nightpaw pressed her paw against Rowanclaw's neck and the other on his belly.
Great job, Nightpaw. I'm looking forward to seeing you tonight.
Nightpaw finally let go of the senior warrior, hoping Sorreltail had seen her. The tortoiseshell was staring at her apprentice, beaming in pride, before being bowled over by a small tabby tom.
Nightpaw quickly glanced at the sky. It was dark and the moon was almost full. It already is tonight, Nightpaw thought.
Once again, the voice in her head spoke. In your dreams, Nightpaw. I will speak with you in your dreams.
Finally, Nightpaw realized who this voice belonged to-Tigerstar! He had been coaching her the whole way through the fight with Rowanclaw, and she had won. She watched the flame-colored tom dart back onto his side of the territory.
Nightpaw leapt onto Tawnypelt, who had Hazelwhisker pinned down against the ground.
Rip her fur off!
Tigerstar's voice sounded angry and fierce. Nightpaw wanted to please Tigerstar, but she didn't want to kill any cat. She sank her claws into Tawnypelt's shoulders and bit down onto the she-cat's ear. Tawnypelt reared onto her hind legs, and one of Nightpaw's paws slipped. She struggled to keep on Tawnypelt's back, but it was too late. Nightpaw fell off with a thud and waited for Tawnypelt to sink her fangs into her throat.
Tawnypelt pinned Nightpaw down and gasped. "You…you're Hollypaw's kit!" Nightpaw lifted her head. "She's Hollytail now, and yes, I am. What's it to you?" Tawnypelt looked curious. "I'm Brambleclaw's sister."
Shock hit Nightpaw like lightning. Brambleclaw had a sister from another Clan? Was Brambleclaw half-blood? If he was, that meant…Hollytail, Lionclaw, and Jaypaw were half-blood, as well. If Hollytail was too, then…Nightpaw and her siblings were half ShadowClan!
"Brambleclaw…is originally from ShadowClan?" Nightpaw asked. Tawnypelt shook her head. "We can't talk now. I'll see you at the next Gathering." Tawnypelt lifted her paws off of Nightpaw and let her go.
Stunned, Nightpaw watched the tortoiseshell she-cat dash away and fling herself onto Cinderpelt. The black apprentice turned around at the sound of a yowl. Blackstar was appearing into the battle.
No fair! Nightpaw thought scornfully. Blackstar gets to fight? We should go get Firestar to help us!
Nightpaw felt a sharp sting on her spine. A dark gray tabby apprentice was raking her claws down Nightpaw's back. Lightpaw, who had just fought off Dawnpaw, stared in horror at the apprentice that was attacking Nightpaw. Lightpaw turned and raced back into the forest, away from the battle.
What's her problem?
Nightpaw twisted around and skidded across the ground on her paws. The gray she-cat leaped at Nightpaw, while Tigerstar continued to speak in the ThunderClan she-cat's mind.
Remember what I taught you during our first training session? Crawl under her and bash her nose!
Nightpaw slithered under the apprentice, but the plan backfired. The dark gray apprentice grabbed Nightpaw's head with her forepaws and flipped her over on her back against the ground. The apprentice pinned Nightpaw down. Nightpaw, who wasn't willing to give up so easily, slashed her claws across the ShadowClan cat's nose.
The apprentice drew back, so Nightpaw had the chance to writhe herself out from the ShadowClan cat's grip. Nightpaw threw herself onto the apprentice, but let out a yowl of agony as the gray tabby slashed her claws across her muzzle. Nightpaw glared at the ShadowClan she-cat through watery green eyes. Yowling, Nightpaw slashed her claws down the she-cat's flank.
No! Watch out!
Nightpaw spun around and felt teeth meet her hind leg. Nightpaw hissed and wrenched herself free.
Great job! Now-
Tigerstar never finished his instructions. Brambleclaw yowled, "Retreat, ThunderClan! Blackstar, you can have as much territory until the stream, but go no farther than that!"
Nightpaw drew back from the gray tabby she-cat, who looked triumphant. Nightpaw gave her one last menacing hiss before turning tail and hurrying over to the patrols.
ThunderClan had lost.
Yes, such a surprise, isn't it, knowing that ThunderClan practically wins every battle they fight? I am in love with ShadowClan, and I hate ThunderClan, so I thought that ShadowClan should win something. One more chapter, an epilogue, and allegiances until the end!
xx-Starfall-xx