Chapter 27
Leopardheart walked carefully along the river with her patrol as they neared Riverclan territory. The entire patrol was on edge, ready to fight in case Lionstar decided to ambush them.
Greyfoot glanced nervously at the river and complained, "Why can't Spottedstar send the senior warriors out on this patrol"
"Because", Leopardheart said calmly, trying to hide the growing annoyance that came every time one of the young warriors Spottedstar had sent on patrol with her asked question, "The senior warriors are on constant guard of camp"
"We could protect the camp just as well", Oakpaw grumbled. Leopardheart frowned and shock her head, "Senior warriors are much more experienced than you"
"Or you", Stormpaw shot back quietly. Leopardheart nodded, "You're right, Stormpaw. They are much more experienced than me as well". She narrowed her eyes, "But I always have their support…you don't"
Stormpaw rolled her eyes but didn't say anything else. Leopardheart tried not to take it personally, Stormpaw and her brother where just upset that Spottedstar wouldn't make them warriors. Leopardheart sympathized, because most days Spottedstar was madder than a fox in a fit, but she had to play the role of the leading deputy, which meant no babying.
Leopardheart recoiled at the suddenly fishy stench filling her nose. She narrowed her eyes and whispered to the rest of her patrol, "RiverClan!"
Her patrol ducked into the bushes as two RiverClan cats entered sight. Leopardheart was shocked to see Lionstar and her deputy; Darkheart, this close to the border.
"What's on their paws?", Greyfoot asked from beside her. Leopardheart peered at the two cats and saw that their paws where stained a dark color.
"Maybe its water", Stormpaw suggested. Leopardheart shook her head, "I don't think that's water"
Just as she said that, Lionstar dipped her paws in the water, and cloud of crimson was swept down the river. "Is that…?", Oakpaw started. Leopardheart nodded grimly, "Blood"
The patrol waited until the two where gone to follow where their scent had come from. As the continued, the smell of blood grew stronger and stronger, until it reeked in Leopardheart's nose.
The scent finally stopped and a small clearing near the river. In the middle of the clearing lay two cats; one with tan fur and brown tabby stripes, the other golden.
"It's Thornstripe", Leopardheart said sadly looking at the tan and brown tom, "And Sunstripe", she said shifting her gaze the golden cat. Stormpaw looked at her with wide eyes and said, "Did Lionstar do this?"
Leopardheart nodded grimly, "She wants revenge on Thunderclan. I guess that means kill any cat she catches without a patrol"
"We have to warn the clan!", Stormpaw exclaimed. Leopardheart nodded, "Stormpaw, you go back and warn the clan. We'll get Thornstripe and Sunstripe"
"But that's an apprentice job!", Stormpaw complained. "Yes!", Leopardheart snapped back, "And you are an apprentice!"
"Only because Leopardheart wouldn't make us warriors", Stormpaw contered. Oakpaw scowled at his sister and said, "I want to be a warrior just as much as you do Stormpaw. But this is important and Spottedstar has to know about it"
"Fine", Stormpaw grumbled as she stalked off into the undergrowth angrily.
Leopardheart hoisted Sunstripe's body onto her shoulders as Greyfoot and Oakpaw picked up Thornstripe's body. The walk back to camp was eerily silent; the only noise was the bird squawking in the trees.
Cats stared in shock as Leopardheart laid the two cats down in the middle of the clearing. Sunheart and Silverheart stared in shock down at their mother. Leafbreeze looked down at her mother sadly, but she showed no shock or grief. Leopardheart wondered, as she saw the three cats standing around her mother, what Sunstripe's kits in Riverclan would think of their mother's passing when it was announced. She was sure Stoneclaw wouldn't care, but Tansypaw- well she was probably a warrior by now- she might care.
Spottedstar walked slowly out of his den. Many of the cats stared in amazement, seeing that Spottedstar hadn't left his den since the last gathering.
He climbed proudly to the top of the Highrock and rasped, "Stormpaw reports that Lionstar killed these cats; these loyal warriors of ThunderClan!"
As the clan growled angrily at the thought of Lionstar, Spottedstar smiled, "I won't confront Lionstar now though. I will confront her at the next gathering, that way she will have nowhere to go"
"But Spottedstar", Leopardheart protested, realize how mousebrained this plan was, "Shouldn't we confront her now! More of our warriors could be dead by the next gathering"
"Don't question me!", He snarled, "I am your leader!"
Leopardheart dipped her head and backed away. She slipped into the nursery to find Spottedkit sleeping peacefully in their nest. As she sat down beside Spottedkit and began to fall asleep someone said, "It will be alright you know"
Leopardheart turned to see Nightstorm standing in the enterance of the nursery. He smiled softly and said, "I'm sure Spottedstar will clear this all up"
Leopardheart rolled her eyes, "Spottedstar's got as much sense as a mouse now", she looked down at Spottedkit sadly, "It's so sad"
Nightstorm rubbed his cheek against her's and whispered, "Just get some sleep. I'm sure Spottedstar will send a big band of warriors to RiverClan in the morning. They'll sort this out"
The next morning after Leopardheart sent the dawn patrol to the Shadowclan border and after she'd shared a mouse with Spottedkit, she went to Spottedstar's den to discuss the new issue at paw.
As she entered, Leopardheart noted that Spottedstar was having one of his good days. He was smiling brightly and his amber eyes glowed with a look of pride. When he saw her, his smile widened, "Ahh Leopardheart, what bring you to me today?"
"I think your call to wait until the next gathering to confront Lionstar is a big mistake"
"How so?", Spottedstar asked cocking his head. Leopardheart sighed, "I just think maybe we should take action before more cats are hurt or killed"
Spottedstar closed his eyes, "I am just trying to prevent unnecessary blood-shed"
"But don't you see", Leopardheart protested, "It isn't unnecessary. Lionstar and Darkheart killed two of our warriors, we saw them"
Spottedstar's eyes suddenly glowed brighter and an angry look replaced his strangly calm one as he said, "Your right. We should attack RiverClan, they cannot get away with coldblooded murder"
The calmness returned to his eyes as he said, "But we will not attack now, we will attack at half-moon, while the medicine cats are at the Moonstone"
"Is that wise?", Leopardheart asked, "If one of us is injured…"
"If one of them is injured, then they can't be healed", Spottedstar countered, "Everyone needs to be ready to fight and protect the camp. Only a patrol of the strongest and swiftest warriors will go to RiverClan, but we all need to be ready"
"Yes Spottedstar", Leopardheart said nodding, "Do you want me to announce it to the clan?"
"Yes", Spottedstar said, "Please. I need to rest, but I will fight with you and the others when the time arrives"
Leopardheart left Spottedstar's den and approached the Highrock. As she left out a yowl, the clan began to quickly to gather around her. She smiled as she saw Spottedkit looking up at her mother with pride as she sat beside Nightstorm.
"As you know", Leopardheart started, "Lionstar killed off two of our warriors. Spottedstar and I have decided to attack them instead of confront her at the gathering."
As the clan yowled there approval, Leopardheart continued, "We will attack at half-moon, while the medicine cats are at the Moonstone. I will need every cat practicing their battle moves. Only the best warriors will go, but everyone should be ready encase the fight is brought here"
As Leopardheart leaped down, she made her way hastily to Whitefur's den. Whitefur, as always, had beet Leopardheart to his den, despite his missing leg.
"What do you need?", Whitefur asked her old mentor. Leopardheart sighed, "I need you to teach one of the apprentices some herbs, in case someone is really hurt while you're at the Moonstone"
Whitefur shook his head, "That won't be necessary"
"Why not?"
"Because your daughter already knows all the basic herbs, plus a few others"
"Are you sure she'll be okay, healing the clan while you're gone?", Leopardheart asked unsure. Whitefur grinned, "I trust no one more with the health of our clan than I do Spottedkit"
"Thank you", Leopardheart purred, "I'm happy to know the clan will be in safe paws"
As Leopardheart left, Whitefur called after her, "It is".
Leopardheart went to Brackenpaw next. She was practicing her battle moves on Tawnypaw and Ruepaw. Their mentors; Cloverfur and Sunheart, where watching them proudly.
Leopardheart sat next to them and said, "The apprentices are turning out to be great fighters"
Cloverfur nodded. Sunheart's eyes glowed, "They'll good well if they have to fight", he turned to Leopardheart and said, "I wanted to know if I could be on the battle patrol?"
Leopardheart understood why the young tom wanted to fight. He wanted to avenge his mother. His grief would make him strong, so Leopardheart nodded in agreement.
Leopardheart and the other mentor's laughed as Brackenpaw tripped over a stone and gave Tawnypaw and Ruepaw the opportunity to jump on her and win this pretend battle.
Leopardheart entered the apprentice den three days later, tomorrow was the half-moon, and tensions where running high in the clan.
As she woke Brackenpaw up, Leopardheart noticed that Oakpaw and Stormpaw where already gone. Leopardheart frowned in confusion; she'd seen Sleekpelt and Leafbreeze both in the warriors' den when she went to wake Nightstorm earlier. So where could Stormpaw and Oakpaw be?
"Where are Stormpaw and Oakpaw?", Leopardheart asked Brackenpaw. Brackenpaw shrugged, "I saw them last night but…"
Suddenly Brackenpaw's eyes grew round with shock as she muttered, "Oh no!"
"Brackenpaw", Leopardheart said calmly, "What is it?"
"Yesterday…", Brackenpaw stammered, "Stormpaw and Oakpaw where upset again because they couldn't be warriors. They said that we should all go to RiverClan and launch our own attack. But everyone thought it was mousebrained, so only Stormpaw and Oakpaw ended up going"
As Leopardheart's eyes grew wide with horror, Brackenpaw quickly put in, "We all thought they would just go to the river, shout a few unkind words across the river, and then head back. None of us ever thought they would actually try to attack RiverClan!"
"Oh my!", Leopardheart exclaimed, "We have to tell Spottedstar!"
The two went as fast as they could to Spottedstar's den. When Brackenpaw told her father her story, he immediately said we should leave and try to find them before anyone starts to worry.
So there they were; Leopardheart, Spottedstar, and Brackenpaw, racing through the undergrowth trying desperately to find the apprentices.
Brackenpaw skidded to a halt as the sounds of the river could be heard. Leopardheart saw her take a deep breath before saying, "I smell blood!"
Brackenpaw was right; when Leopardheart exhaled she could smell the repulsive smell of blood. They followed the scent trail, with Spottedstar until the undergrowth cleared away to reveal the stony bank of the river.
And laying on the riverbank lifelessly, laid the bodies of Stormpaw and Oakpaw. Leopardheart could see the body staining their bodies from there. She rushed forward, with Spottedstar and Brackenpaw on her tail.
Leopardheart looked at the apprentices sadly. Stormpaw's fur was matted with blood from a set a claw marks being raked across her throat. Oakpaw on the other paw, had scratches covering his body. One of his eyes was gone, and the other was mortally damaged.
Brackenpaw gasped, "I think they're alive!"
Leopardheart strained her hearing and found that Brackenpaw was right. She could hear Oakpaw's shallow breathing and Stormpaw's even shallower breathing.
"We have to get them back to camp", Spottedstar said quietly. Leopardheart nodded and grabbed Stormpaw's scruff. Spottedstar and Brackenpaw hauled Oakpaw onto their shoulders and followed Leopardheart back to camp.
Leopardheart flinched as she heard a horrified yowls of her clanmates. One in particular caused a thorn to stab her heart, the scream belonged to Appleleaf; Stormpaw and Oakpaw's mother.
Ashshard was beside Leopardheart in an instant to help carry Stormpaw to the medicine cat den. Ashshard was the apprentices' father, and his worry for his kits was evident on his face.
Leopardheart saw from the side that cats where trying to cover up the blood soaked sand with fresh sand, as is they were trying to deny that it happened. Whitefur seemed to appear out of nowhere as he said, "Hurry, bring them in here. I might be able to save them"
As they laid Stormpaw down next to Oakpaw, Leopardheart heard Whitefur sigh, "His wounds aren't near as bad as Stormpaw's. I think he'll live…if infection doesn't settle in"
After he checked Stormpaw, he back away quietly and said, "There is nothing I can do for Stormpaw. She is on her way to StarClan"
Stormpaw's brilliant grey eyes flashed open, growing wide as she started wheezing. Leopardheart saw Spottedstar gaze sadly at Stormpaw. He stepped forward tentatively and said, "I feel I should make her a warrior. She wanted to be a warrior so bad, I feel she should go to StarClan with her warrior name"
"Is that possible?", Leopardheart asked hopefully. Spottedstar nodded, "I have never done it, but I've been told that if an apprentice was close to death, their leader could give them their warrior name on their way to StarClan."
Spottedstar stood next to Stormpaw and said, "I, Spottedstar, call my warrior ancestors to look down upon this apprentice. She has given her life in the service of her clan and I commend her a warrior in her turn. She will be known as Stormeyes. So every cat will know that even in her death, the storm that has brewed inside all of ThunerClan will forever shine in our eyes. Just as it will in hers"
Spottedstar touched noses with Stormeyes gently. Stormeyes closed her eyes, wheezed, coughed once, and wheezed again, before she stopped breathing.
Leopardheart lowered her head as she heard Appleleaf let out another ear piercing wail. She noticed Brackenpaw had already left, and Spottedstar was making his way to his den. Leopardheart went after him and entered his den. Spottedstar looked up at her and asked, "What?"
"Who do you want me to bring on the battle patrol?", Leopardheart asked. Spottedstar shrugged, "Anyone who wants to fight"
Leopardheart nodded, "We should keep the apprentices out of it though, we saw what will happened if Lionstar gets a hold of them", she glanced out of the den and at the Highrock, where Stormeyes body was laying underneath it.
"No", Spottedstar said shaking his head, "Bring you apprentice, Golenstripe's and Nightstorm's too"
At the mention of Goldenstripe's apprentice Hawkpaw, Leopardheart's heart sunk. Hawkpaw had her mother's spirit, but since Goldenstripe had announced she was having kits, no one was teaching Hawkpaw anything. She just hunted most of the day.
But Leopardheart knew not to disobey Spottedstar right now. She left his den and quietly approached the Highrock. She quietly, but effectively called the clan together and said, "Tommorow, we will attack RiverClan. Spottedstar has put me in charge of choosing which cats will fight"
The clan bursted in approval, Leopardheart silenced them, "There will be one large patrol that first attacks RiverClan. Another smaller patrol will wait outside the camp and wait until we give the signal, then you'll join the rest of us in the battle"
"Spottedstar and I will be leading the first patrol", Leopardheart continued, "But I would be honored if Blackstorm would lead the second patrol"
Blackstorm's eyes widened with shock, "Surely there are more capable…"
Leopardheart smiled, "You are a senior warrior, there is no one more capable than you"
"Then I would be honored", Blackstorm said dipping his head. Leopardheart smiled, "Good, I want Iceshard, Cloverfur, Greyfoot, and Hawkpaw to be on Blackstorm's patrol. On my patrol I want Sharpeye, Echomist, Sleekpelt, Sunheart, Silverheart, Blacksplash, Leafbreeze, Nightstorm, Fadingpaw, Brackenpaw, and Bramblepelt. The rest of you will stay and protect the camp"
She stared down at her clan, the clan she chose over her kittypet life. She felt a rush of pride as she said, "You all have been working very hard, your all should go to your nest early tonight. Because tomorrow…we will storm RiverClan!"
The clan cheered loudly as Leopardheart leaped down from the Highrock. She entered the nursery to get away from the noise and saw that Goldenstripe had awoken. When Goldenstripe saw her she smiled and said, "You really got them spirited!"
"Yeah", Leopardheart laughed softly, "After everything that happened today the clan could definitely need some cheering up"
Goldenstripe nodded and said, "She was so young". Leopardheart agreed, "Too young"
Spottedkit stumbled into the nursery, obviously exhausted. She laid down next to Leopardheart and said excitedly, "I'm going to be a medicine cat tomorrow!"
Leopardheart liked her kit's head, "Only for tomorrow little one"
"But someday?", Spottedkit said almost pleadingly. Leopardheart smiled, "Very soon dear. Very soon", Leopardheart yawned and curled around Spottedkit. Causing the two of them to fall asleep in each other's embrace.
Leopardheart woke early that morning and grabbed a small thrush to share with Spottedkit, who was already about to burst with excitement.
As they were eating, Whitefur approached them and said to Spottedkit, "I'm leaving soon. Make sure to check on Oakpaw and make sure you bring out the cobwebs, we're definitely going to need them"
"I will Whitefur", Spottedkit purred. She nudged Whitefur softly, "Now go, you don't want to be late do you?"
"I have plenty of time", Whitefur protested. But in the end, Whitefur left not long after Spottedkit told him too. And once Whitefur left, Spottedkit bounced off to the medicine cat den to check on Oakpaw.
Slowly cats began to gather around her, waiting for Spottedstar to emerge from his den and give the signal to leave. But Spottedstar hadn't been seen yet.
It was almost sunhigh by the time Spottedstar finally emerged. He looked terrible, and nothing like had looked yesterday. Today was definitely one of his bad days.
"Are you sure you want to attack today", Leopardheart said gently, "We could attack tomorrow"
"No", Spottedstar hissed, "We will attack today!" Leopardheart nodded and as she walked back to the patrol Spottedstar said loudly, "Prepare to leave!"
Leopardheart grinned when she saw Hawkwing's kits saying goodbye. She'd do everything in her power to make sure Fadingpaw and Hawkpaw made it through this battle.
Spottedstar was sitting next to the camp's entrance with the other cats that where ready to go. She walked up to them and said, "I'm ready"
Nightstorm came up and touched noses with her gently. As the patrols headed out, Leopardheart's tail was twined with his and their pelts brushed. Leopardheart could tell he was nervous about leaving his daughter in place for the medicine cat.
As the bushes thinned out and the forest floor turned to stone, the patrol could hear the rushing water of the river. When it finally came into sight, Leopardheart started in awe at it.
Spottedstar stepped in front of the patrols. Leopardheart's tail tip twitched nervously at the sight of her leader. She remembered as he gazed over all the cats here today, that Spottedstar was on his last life!
Leopardheart couldn't dwell on that fact for long though, because Spottedstar gave the signal and the first patrol rushed over the stepping stones burst into the RiverClan camp with Spottedstar's battle cry echoing throughout the camp.
It had begun…
