Here is chapter twenty-two. Enjoy and review :D

Disclaimer: i do not own warriors or Firestar :( sadly

Leopard crouched low underneath a bramble bush, the thick leaves concealing her dappled pelt amongst the undergrowth. Her heart pounded against her chest and her fur bristled as the first howl rang clear through the territory.

Leopard dug her claws in the ground, resisting the urge to turn and run as the ground began to shake. The howling grew louder and the ground shook harder as the pack grew closer. Slowly she crept forward peeking out from the coverage of the bush, seeing Rowanflight's ginger pelt up in the tree between her and Eagle.

The ginger tom sat still, staring off in the direction of the pack, waiting for a glimpse of Eagle and the pack close behind her.

Leopard felt her stomach lurch thinking about the danger that would be approaching her soon. She began to shake, her tail twitching uncontrollably at the thought. Suddenly a warm familiar scent engulfed her. Firestar?

She turned around seeing the flame like tom crouched beside her, his green eyes glinting with youth and his muscles bunched, prepared to spring. He turned to look at her, a flicker of doubt flashing in his eyes but it was quickly replaced with the glow of determination, his whiskers twitched in amusement.

"Don't be afraid" he whispered "I will run beside you" his youthful pelt burned and his green eyes blazed with determination.

Leopard nodded shakily, crouching beside him, copying his crouch. She bent low, her haunches raised and her left paw placed in front of the right. She leaned back, tensing the muscles in her back legs in order to spring when she needed to.

Leopard began to shake, she looked up at the sky, sending a silent prayer to starclan, she felt a strange calm come over her as Firestar placed his tail on her shoulder.

"Get ready" he breathed "They are almost here". Leopard began to shake again as the howling got louder and the harsh scent of the wolves began to fill her scent glands.

Firstar looked into her eyes, his own green eyes steady "I know how you feel, I was terrified as I ran the last leg for the dog pack" his eyes grew dull with sadness, possibly thinking about Bluestar "But when you see the wolves your fear will disappear and you will run" he lashed his tail, his muscles tensing once more "and I will run with you".

Leopard blinked at him, nodding in understanding; suddenly Rowanflight stood up in the trees and waved his tail back and forth. This was it, whether she was ready or not, here they come.

Leopard tensed herself ready to spring as soon as Eagle came into view, suddenly the brown tabby erupted forward, her eyes alive and bright, fear scent wafting from her. The she-cat sped forward as the first wolf came into view.

It was a large reddish brown male, his large head lifted as he howled and raced after the skinny tabby. His large jaws opened, his white teeth gleaming in the sunlight and once again Leopard was shocked at the size on them.

She turned to look at Firestar once more, nodding to his as she streaked out from under the bramble bush, glancing back she saw Eagle race up a tree, and the pack leader's large slanted yellow eyes fixate on her.

She pelted forward, heading straight for the gorge, the ground shook as the wolves raced after her yipping and howling with the glee of the chase.

Leopard yowled once as her fear came back but looking back towards the gorge, relief flooded her aching limbs as the edge came into view. She narrowed her eyes at the large twisted sycamore tree where Shimmersky was hiding.

Hot breath stuck to her fur and she felt the shaking get closer as the pack gained on her. "Faster Leopard, don't give up" she heard Firestar meowed anxiously to her.

Glancing to the side she recognized the tom's fiery pelt racing beside her, matching her pawstep for pawstep. Leopard nodded as the twisted tree got closer and closer. She pushed harder, despite her fear, trusting in her ancestors.

Seeing her hiding place she pelted forward faster, as a blur of ginger and white streaked out from under the twisted tree. Feeling the hot breath of the wolves change direction for a moment as they looked to see what had raced out she pelted for the slim maple tree.

Digging her claws into the trunk she heaved her body up until she found a branch that would hold her weight. Panting hard and the blood roaring in her ears, she began to shake again. But only for a heartbeat.

Despite the pain in her aching limbs she stood to her paws shakily watching the pack race by, it was made up of four large wolves, all ranging in size and color.

She looked on ahead to see Shimmersky racing toward the edge of the gorge, the foamy water roared like thunder as it raced back and forth creating rapids as the water cascaded over the edge.

Catching a glimpse of Shimmersky she watched as the ginger and white she-cat streaked forward in front of the pack. Leopard dug her claws into the branch of the tree, realizing the wolves were too close for Shimmersky to have time to hide.

Shimmersky skidded to a halt at the edge of the gorge, sending sand and pebbles over the edge. The she-cat panted looking back in forth in search of an escape route, the pack gaining on her. As a last resort Shimmersky leapt into a thin pile of bracken right at the edge of the gorger, her ginger and white pelt making it almost possible to disappear.

Leopard held her breath as the first three wolves charged over the edge, their howling growing panicked as they fell over the edge. The third wolf skidded trying to turn back, but the force of running carried it over the edge.

The last wolf a small black female, almost half the size of the other wolves with large ears and paws, yelped as she began to skid along the edge of the gorge, trying to regain her footing. As her back end fell over the edge, the small wolf threw her head forward snapping her large jaws on the pile of bracken, trying to pull herself up.

A loud screech sounded and Leopard's heart jumped into her throat. She leapt down from the tree running towards the bracken as it began to slip over the edge. The young wolf scrabbled at the edge of the gorge, not being able to catch a grip.

Leopard streaked forward, her paws thudding against the sandy floor, she ran faster than she ever had in her life. Pelting forward she was only a fox length away as the wolf yelped one last time, slipping over the edge, dragging the bracken with her.

A blood chilling screech sounded and Leopard skidded to a halt at the edge of the gorge. Crouching low she peered over the edge, yowling as she saw Shimmersky's ginger and white body lying motionless on a small ledge jutting out from the cliff face.

"Shimmersky" she yowled, the blood pounding in her ears and her fluffed out to twice its size. Digging her claws into the sand and rock filled rock face she scrabbled down carefully towards the ledge, trying to reach Shimmersky.

AN: Well, Leopard's plan worked, but at what cost to herself? I felt bad for the wolf cub as i was writing this lol she seemed so desperate to live and obviously was the only one smart enough to not run off the edge. Poor Shimmersky, shouldnt have hid right by the edge :(

Thank you all my amazing reviewers you are, as always, the best and i don't know what i would do without having this website to escape to. Probably hang out with my family more lol. Nah they arnt as important as you guys lol

Update soon, love you guys RRR :D

PS. the next chapter is already typed, but no chapter for you guys until i get some reviews :P can't be spoiling you all the time lol i already posted two chapters today :D