Chapter 25

Suddenly more "Free Cats" burst out of the brush yowling and screeching. A LOT more, the clan was overtaken. Patchpaw, just managing to to take down a younger cat, who scrambled away into the bushed was tackled by a larger, stronger cat. She yelped as her shoulders slammed into the ground. The cat on top of her snarled and dug his claws into her flesh but did nothing else. His ears were alert, his eyes looking around the camp. Patchpaw squirmed, but she couldn't get him off. Soon, her frustration reached it's breaking point and she bit into the enemy's paw, hard. Her sharp teeth digging into the soft flesh on his pads.

The cat snarled and whipped around to face her. With his not in the way she could see what was going on. ThunderClan was getting annihilated, all the apprentices were pinned, some warriors as well, others fought bravely but were losing the battle. The elders were herded out of their den and pinned down. Patchpaw noticed Willow the she-cat had a ton of injuries, yet kept fighting. Her companion, Night, was still being pinned by Willowfur and Swallowleaf, who were swiping at other cats who got too close.

"STOP!" Swallowleaf finally hollered. Some cats looked at her, but other kept fighting. "STOP NOW, OR WE KILL HIM!" She yowled. This caught the "Free Cats" attention. Willowfur had her teeth next to Night's neck, Sparrowflight stood near, guarding them. The cat on top of Patchpaw, foot still in her mouth, froze as well.

"What happened to your puny code?" A Free Cat sneered.

"It may be broken if absolutely necessary." A cat said and Frozenstar stepped up next to Sparrowflight. Her white pelt contrasting against his brown one. But, her fur was smeared with red, lots of it. She had several scratches down her flanks, a bite mark in her haunches and other small wounds, but her claws were tinged red, and when she opened her mouth to speak you could see her teeth were red too. "If you don't stop this attack we will be forced to kill Night." Frozenstar continued, her tone cool and controlled, but her blue eyes raging like a river.

The Free Cats seemed to think about this. Patchpaw heard whispered of, "what are we going to do?" "We can't surrender!" "But Night can't die!" The cat on top of her finally her finally seemed to realize that he was in pain and slashed her muzzle. She whimpered and let go, tasting blood. Willowfur saw it happen but didn't seem to care she just gazed on right past her, as if she didn't matter. Patchpaw felt a swell of anger and hatred rise. She managed to push it down and not show any emotion.

"You kill him, we kill her." Someone finally said. Patchpaw followed the sound over to a white Free Cat, who had their teeth next to Dewpaw's neck. Willowfur seemed stunned she yowled and leapt away from Night towards Dewpaw. Swallowleaf quickly took her place next to Night's neck. But the Free cats were jolted by Willowfur's movements they leapt in and yowled and screeched, clawing at every clan cat until everyone was pinned except for Frozenstar, who was cornered, her fur bristled and she lashed out at whoever got too close. Willowfur had tackled the cat pinning Dewpaw, Patchpaw felt a pang, when she had been in danger her mother had not come to her aid.

The Free Cats closed in on Frozenstar, the leader clawed and hissed. But was scratched and bitten, yet the cat stayed on her paws. Finally, the Free Cats seemed to be done. The cat on Patchpaw slashed her nose once then bounded off, one by the the enemy's filed out of the camp, when the last one, Willow, was about to leave she turned and snarled. "The Free Cats will be back!" Then she leaped off to join her friends.

Frozenstar seemed shocked, but quickly got out of it. Soon other cats got to their paws, Patchpaw struggled to her feet and walked over to Dewpaw, who lay stunned, on the dirt. She pulled her littermate up by the scruff and let the gray she-cat lean on her shoulder. Meanwhile Patchpaw ignored her mother who got to her feet and limped off to assist Flamepaw, who seemed okay, he had blood on his pelt but no visible scratches. Patchpaw inspected her paw, blood leaked from the area near the missing claw, her pad throbbed from where the Free Cat had dug their teeth into them. Sparrowfight helped Fernwing up and lead her over to the medicine cat den. The cat had scratches and bite marks everywhere, but she came out of the den a few minutes later, cobwebs on her wounds.

Frozenstar clawed onto the High Rock with some effort. "Today we were beaten, in our own camp." She said her blue gaze falling on each cat, but she didn't seem angry, at least not at them. "It is not your fault, we were very heavily out-numbered today. Every cat fought bravely today, we are lucky that no one joined StarClan. The Free Cats are a threat, to all clans. If they are not stopped...the clans might be destroyed. But, if the clans unite they can be overtaken! I would like to know what you think. In this upcoming gathering, should I mention that?"

"YES!" The cats yowled.

Frozenstar's eyes twinkled with approval. "Great! Once everyone is all healed up we will begin battle training, everyone in camp, including me and the elders will be training. I could not ask for better cats to make up my clan!"

No one said anything, then the chant began. "ThunderClan ThunderClan! ThunderClan! ThunderClan!" They wouldn't give up they would fight!