Rogue - Part 3: Chapter 8

I don't own Warriors.

Chapter 8

Froststar pelted back toward her camp. She heard Gethin's paws behind her, but did not slow. She reached Faithfulheart and stopped. Breathlessly, she explained the situations to her while Gethin caught up. "Froststar!" he hissed. "Think about it, do you want to warn your Clan, or scare their fur off?!"

"They're warriors, they can take it!" she insisted. Her lips curled back in a snarl and her ears flattened against her head. "I thought you did care about my Clan! I thought you weren't concerned about them."

"I'm not, but you're forcing me to be. Look, if the wolves come for your Clan… I might be able to hold them off while you and your Clan evacuate. You cannot trust Tigerstorm… make sure he's out of camp," Gethin murmured. He looked at her; for once his eyes weren't hostile or extremely sweet. His eyebrows were creased in what?—fear?

Froststar studied him for a moment, trying to figure out his motives, and found none related to anything bad. She looked at him. "What will you do… to hold them off?" she asked. Though a part of her despised him, another part cared. It cared about whether he lived or died, it cared what would happen if the dogs caught him. She couldn't bear to think what would happen if Rune's bone-crushing teeth secured around his neck or back. She shuddered at the thought.

Gethin looked off into the distance. A small mountain range Froststar had never taken the time to notice before was outlined against the moonlight. Gethin didn't seem to be staring at the mountains, but beyond them—somewhere in a vast expanse of cherished memories. He had to have a family, or had one. "What I should have done a long time ago," he meowed at last. "It's the pack or me this time."

Froststar's eyes widened as she understood his words. How would Gethin survive? There were at least ten, large, vicious wolves there, waiting to sink their teeth and claws into his flesh, and the flesh of her kin. Gethin was strong, smart, brave, and sly but it was impossible. "You'll die," Froststar whispered.

"I should've died long ago," he responded and padded off toward the camp, his tail drooping slightly. Froststar followed him with Faithfulheart beside them. The three walked in silence to the camp.

When they reached the camp, Froststar looked down into the hollow. Sun was just rising over the horizon making the snow glitter. The sounds of snow sliding off tree branches could be more audible as the sun rose. Its little heat did enough to melt some of it. The breeze that had blown constantly through the night had converted into a steady, chilly wind.

Her white fur blew in the direction of the wind as she watched. She paused at the start of the trail down into camp. Faithfulheart paused at her side. "Go ahead," Froststar mewed flicking her tail toward Gethin. "I'm okay. I just don't want to go down yet."

Faithfulheart studied her for a moment before following Gethin down into the gorge. Froststar saw as Crystaleyes and Jaguarclaw emerged from the warriors' den and stretched. Crescentmoon was already seated at the foot of Rockpile with Darrin and a few other warriors—Midnightclaw, Wolfwind, Mousepaw, Fawnflight, and Cindertail. Kara and Morningflame came out of the nursery and padded side by side to the fresh-kill pile so they could eat before the kits woke. Eclipse came out of the elders' den and limped toward Noonshine's den. Noonshine and Patrick were sharing tongues outside her den.

Froststar watched her Clan awaken and sighed contentedly. It seemed like it had been ages since she learned of the deadly threat facing her Clan. She padded down into the camp. Toby came out of the leader's den and bounded up to her. "Do you have any idea how worried I was?" he hissed. His eyes were hard, but worried.

Froststar gazed evenly at him. "I'm a warrior. Why should you be worried?" she inquired. She padded away from him toward Darrin and Crescentmoon. Crescentmoon sent Cindertail off, leading the small patrol and looked up. She dipped her head to Froststar. Darrin did the same, but with cynical eyes.

"What is the matter, Froststar?" Crescentmoon asked, her ears pricked toward her and her eyes tinted with worried. "What happened?

"I think the two of you should come to my den. I have to get the other senior warriors along with Noonshine and Gethin," Froststar meowed.

The two cats exchanged a glance. Crescentmoon bounded to Froststar's den after summoning Thistlenose, Darkbreeze and Jaggedrock. "Should I call Tigerstorm?" she called back.

"No! No!" Froststar nearly yowled abruptly.

Darrin gave her an odd look but went and got the rest of the family. Froststar padded over to Noonshine and Patrick. Noonshine was motioning Eclipse in her den. He was still complaining about his stiff bones and damp nests. "Noonshine," Froststar meowed.

The cream-colored medicine cat turned to her. "Yes, Froststar?" she asked. She saw Froststar's worried face and seemed to understand. "I'll be there soon," she whispered. Patrick looked at his mate, then at his leader blankly.

"My den," Froststar explained and bounded to the warriors' den.

Once all of her family and her senior warriors were rounded up, Froststar sat in her nest and addressed them. The leader's den was overcrowded with many cats. Shadow and Autumn were squeezed against the den walls and Toby was nearly at the exit. Gethin sat on the space in front of her nest, at her right paw. Faithfulheart was somewhere in the midst of the small crowd.

"Now what in the name of StarClan is this about?" Thistlenose asked.

Gethin's lips curled back in a snarl. "Just shut up," he hissed and looked at Froststar for her to start.

The SkyClan leader gulped. She wondered if they would even believe her story. She told them everything from following Gethin to the rock cluster to seeing Tigerstorm talking to the dog pack. She looked around at the crowd to see shocked, terrified faces.

"Tigerstorm… he wouldn't…" Crescentmoon breathed. "I know he's always been aggressive but…"

"He killed Ripplefur… and Foxkit… He wanted me to suffer for not choosing him as a mate," Froststar explained. "Now… now he wants to finish me off and become leader."

"But I'm deputy," Crescentmoon whispered. "He wouldn't try and kill me… Would he? I'm his mate for yowling out loud!"

"Apparently that doesn't matter to him," Gethin muttered irritably. "So shut up and pay attention to the plan!"

Froststar and Crescentmoon both shot him a dirty look. Darrin came forward. He was careful to avoid Froststar's stony gaze. "What exactly is our plan?" he asked.

The gathered cats exchanged glances of agreement. Froststar realized that she had been so preoccupied in telling the story, she forgot about forming a plan. Gethin came forward and saved her. "We'll need to evacuate the gorge. All queens, kits and elders must be escorted by a couple warriors downriver."

"The younger warriors would be best equipped for the job," Froststar put in. "That will keep them out of trouble. The apprentices… we'll divide them. Half will stay in the gorge, the other half with go with the evacuation party."

"How will we defeat the wolves?" Toby asked.

This question also took Froststar by surprise. She looked at Gethin expectantly. The bronze tom's gaze was lowered to his paws. His lips were pursed and his eyes were cynical with thought. He looked up at Froststar. "I was sort of hoping you'd come up with that idea."

Froststar thought for a moment. "They can't come down into the camp," Froststar decided. "We'd be trapped… if we can… get them to Skyrock… we might be able to lure them over the edge and down into the gorge… near the river."

Gethin looked at her, ears pricked with interest. "You think that would work?" he inquired. "They've been following me for many years… I know that they're not easy to trick."

Froststar sighed. "One of us will have to act as bait. They'll have to lead them to the gorge near the river… on the other side of Skyrock. The rest of the attack patrol will be in the bushes. When the dogs get near, the running cat will climb up a tree and the rest of us will charge out and attack. We'll try to chase the two of them off the edge."

Toby looked at her, concerned. "Who will be running?"

"Someone fast," Froststar meowed.

"I will," Gethin meowed immediately rising from his space where he sat. "This is between the wolf pack and I… I will run; I'm faster and lither than the rest of you. I'll be fine," he said. When he said the last part, his gaze was focused on Froststar.

Froststar got an annoyed feeling claw at her stomach. "Very well… Crescentmoon… you will help with the evacuating patrol… if Tigerstorm does show up, I want you to survive. Toby, Darrin, Shadow, Autumn, Nick, Charlotte, Patrick, Chris, Ginger, Candy, Faithfulheart, Cindertail, Peelfur, Crystaleyes and Jaguarclaw will be a part of the attack patrol. Gethin will do the running. The rest will help evacuate."

The chosen cats nodded. Most of the senior warriors had been chosen. Froststar bounded out of the den and toward Rockpile. She had to tell the Clan and repeat her story.

A/N: Review?