Chapter 24

Stormstar was no longer fighting Shatterpoint. At some point in all the caouse he had changed to fighting a rogue from Scar's group. And he was so distracted fighting this cat he didn't notice the disgusting smell behind him until he was attacked. There was a crunch as whatever creature it was bit into his shoulder. Stormstar let out a yowl. He knew what had happened now, the dark ones had shown up.

Stormstar struggled against the attack, but the way the dark one was gripping him he couldn't do much damage, and the dark ones didn't respond to damage very much anyway.

Then something pounced on the dark one, bringing it to the ground. It dropped Stormstar on impact. Stormstar rolled away a bit. He got up, forced to stand on only three feet, and looked at who had saved him. "Wolves." He breathed.

The wolf gave a stiff nod.

"But, why?" Stormstar wanted to know.

The wolf shrugged. "Your . . . friend. Very convincing." He growled. Then he gestured with his head.

Stormstar followed his gaze, and gasped. "Violet."

Violet heard her name and turned around. Her eyes widened. "Stormstar." She sputtered a few other things, none of them complete words.

"You were dead. I watched." Stormstar stalked closer.

"Yes, and it was a painful ordeal." Violet told him matter-of-factly.

"And you let me continue thinking you're dead! How are you not!?" Stormstar snapped.

Violet leapt towards Stormstar in attack. Stormstar gasped and ducked. Then he saw she was aiming for the behind him, who no doubt had been about to attack him.

"Can we discuss this later?" Violet wanted to know, pinning the cat by the chest.

"Fine." Stormstar said coldly. "If you're not again dead by then."

"Slitherstep!" Slitherstep let out a little yelp, before he realized it had just been Ashpelt. He turned towards him. "We have to get back to camp for herbs. Come on." Ashpelt shoved Slitherstep out of his hiding spot and two scampered away from battle. No one noticed them leave. At least they didn't think so.

The two entered Lightningclan. Luckily the clan was close to the gathering, unlike Fallenclan and even Ripclan. Sadly they still had to run to the other side of the territory to reach camp. Slitherstep saw cobwebs on the way. "Ashpelt! Should we take those?"

Ashpelt nodded. "The more the better."

Slitherstep dashed over and snapped the branched the cobwebs were on off. Then he realized there was a cat behind it. And not just any cat, but Scar. Slitherstep cried out as Scar slashed at his face. He dropped the cobwebs and jumped back.

"Move!" Ashpelt shouted. He pushed Slitherstep away again. They moved further into the territory. Scar bounded after them.

So far they were in the lead, but they were medicine cats, they wouldn't be as good at speed. And they'd have to turn around to get back to the clearing. If Scar hadn't caught up with them by then they'd be running right towards her. Scar seemed to have realized that too, from the grin on her face.

Ashpelt thought. He could only see one solution. Slitherstep had never had any real training in fighting, he'd practically been born in the clan he was still so young. But Ashpelt, he had been raised before the new clans came into existence.

Ashpelt stopped. Slitherstep stopped with him. "No Slitherstep. Keep going to camp."

"But-"

Ashpelt didn't have time to listen to his arguments. "I'll hold her off. I need you to get those herbs."

"You won't win." Slitherstep said.

"I'll be fine." Ashpelt said. It was a lie and they both knew it. "Slitherstep, go!" He pushed Slitherstep away. Slitherstep turned back towards him. Ashpelt hissed. Slitherstep ran away and Ashpelt faced Scar.

Scar came to a stop in front of him. "Where's the runt?" She questioned.

"None of your business." Ashpelt growled.

Scar figured it out on her own. "Oh yes it is." She tried to run around him, but Ashpelt stopped her.

He leapt at her, jamming his claws into her side and tearing at her ear. Scar jerked her head away, letting a bit of her ear tear off. She swung her claws at his neck. Ashpelt tried to move away, but she still got his chest.

Scar kicked him in the head, bringing him to the ground. Then she turned around and ran towards the camp. Ashpelt held his breath and dashed after her. He tried to pounce on her again, but she must've heard him coming. She kicked her hind legs in his neck. Ashpelt fell to the ground, feeling the blood come out of his neck.

Scar left him again. He tried to follow her, but this time he didn't have the strength. Then the world went black.