SUNNING-ROCKS
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Bravepaw lay awake beside Redpaw, listening to Redpaw's snoring as it carried through the still night air. It would be full moon soon, and it shined brightly, casting dark shadows where they lay.
Almost time again for another gathering with the Clans, Bravepaw thought to himself, I wonder if I'll be chosen to go…
He had told Redpaw about what Willowpaw had seen before he had fallen asleep, that the clan deputy was meeting with a loner. Redpaw had eagerly agreed to keep the secret. He was happy at the thought that there was a secret that only the three of them knew. It made it exiting.
They still hadn't decided about whether or not to tell Sparrowpaw…The less that other cats know about it, the less chance there is of someone slipping up and telling.
Bravepaw was shaken from his thought as he heard another anguished groan from over where Briarnut was lying, Elmfur and Shinepelt were standing on either side of her, meowing encouragement to the delivering queen.
Elmfur gently ran her paw across the Briarnut's flank. "It looks like you're going to have a big litter, Briarnut. Just think, not long and you'll have your kits curled up beside you, nice and warm."
Sharp-eye was pacing back and forth a couple tail-lengths away from Bravepaw. Elmfur had told him to go take a walk and keep watch, so that he wouldn't be in the way.
Bravepaw had never seen Sharp-eye so nervous before. He had settled down and almost chewed on his own tail accidently instead of his prey earlier when Briarnut had just started kitting.
Bravepaw suddenly couldn't help the feeling that something was wrong, almost like he was being watched by hostile eyes. He could feel a certain tenseness in the air, maybe it was just the fact that Sharp-eye was fidgeting so much as he paced, or that Briarnut was still struggling to deliver her kits… But he couldn't help the feeling that it was something else. He slowly closed his eyes as he moved closer to Redpaw for warmth and tried to shake off the feeling of dread.
He lay for a few seconds more trying to get comfortable when he suddenly picked up a strange scent and saw that Sharp-eye had stop his pacing, his ears pricked with alertness.
Sharp-eye must've scented it too, Bravepaw sniffed again, it smelled like… like Riverclan!
Suddenly Sharp-eye yelled, "We're under attack!"
Blood-curling yowls split the night air as a large group of Riverclan warriors charged down from one of the hills surrounding Sunning-rocks. The look of battle gleaming in their eyes.
The Thunderclan warriors were caught completely by surprise, many of the warriors were still staggering awake as the Riverclan cats came crashing into their camp.
Bravepaw looked over and saw that Bladestar was tackling a cat whom he recognized from the gathering as the leader of Riverclan. They were both reared on their back legs as Bladestar slashed his claws against her face.
The clearing was full of cats that were fighting each other now. A small dark tom ran right up behind Bravepaw and jumped onto his back, making the young cat stumble forward.
Bravepaw panicked as he tried to shake the cat off his back. He could feel the small tom's sharp claws as they dug into his back as he tried to stay on top of him. Ashnose quickly leapt forward and pulled the tom off and the two warriors started striking blows at each other, teeth barred and spitting with rage.
Bravepaw heart skipped a beat as he saw that Redpaw was pinned down by a large calico she-cat with her paw raised as she was about to claw at his eye, "This will teach you Thunderclan cats to stay off of Sunning-Rocks from now on!" She growled. "It belongs to us!"
Bravepaw ran toward them, picking up speed as he charged toward Redpaw and the calico. He hit swiftly and hard as he bulled into the calico side, sending her sprawling off of Redpaw. He tried to jump on top of her to pin her down, but she was too quick, she pulled her legs pack and thrust them full force into his stomach. Winded, he struggled back up to his paws and received a stunning cuff on the side of his head from the large calico.
He just barely managed to regain his balance and dart her next blow. As he raked his claws along her exposed flank, the cat gave out a pained yowl. Bravepaw looked to his side to see Redpaw right beside him, trying to keep his stability while not putting too much pressure on his twisted paw.
Looking at Bravepaw, Redpaw meowed, "Let's do this."
The two cats then worked together on driving the Riverclan warrior out toward the bushes. It seemed to be working! Together they were able to keep pushing the cat back by taking turns with each blow.
Bravepaw chanced a glance over at the other fighting cats.
Grayleaf was battling with a large tom and was receiving the worst of the blows. He turned just in time to see Bladestar fall stunned, his pelt was dark with blood from a deep cut. The leader seemed to pause and struggle for breath as he looked into the distance, then taking another deep breath he plunged back into the fight.
Bravepaw felt his paws go heavy with worry. Did Bladestar just lose a life?
He ducked as another blow from the calico swung over his head, missing by only a few mouse-tails, the she-cat was on to his and Redpaw"s sequences of fighting and managed to use her back legs to kick Redpaw hard in his chest.
Redpaw fell over, trying to gasp for breath as he struggled to get back on his paws.
Meanwhile, the calico had jumped on top of Bravepaw, pushing down with all her bodyweight on his shoulders. She then gave him several deep slashes with her claws as she screeched out a battle-cry.
Bravepaw could smell the sticky smell of his own blood as it seeped into his brown pelt.
A large burly tom that Bravepaw had never seen before suddenly came to his rescue. Covered in blood, he gave a mighty swipe at the calico cat, knocking her off of Bravepaw.
Bravepaw staggered to his paws, his breathing shallow as his vision came back into focus.
"Help! Over here!" Elmfur yowled urgently, not far from Bravepaw. "Come on, Briarnut!" The medicine cat said, "One more big push, just one more kit to go!" He turned as two of the Riverclan warriors charged toward him and Briarnut!
Oh no! Bravepaw gasped, horrified. Not even enemy warriors would harm kits and a queen, would they?
The Riverclan warrior's looked at each other with surprise when they saw the young ones. They obviously had not been expecting kits on the battlefield.
"Get them out of here, now." Spat one of them, "If you don't move them then we will!"
Every-cat was busy fighting their own battle so they couldn't make their way to help Elmfur defend the queen and her kits.
"Hold on! I'm coming!" Sharp-eye called, bulldozing his way through the throng as he ran to defend his mate and kits.
Elmfur picked two of the newborn kits up by the scruff. Sharp-eye bared his teeth at the warriors then decided this wasn't a battle he wanted to fight. He picked up two of the kittens. There was still one more! Bravepaw staggered up. "Can I help?"
"Here!" Sharp-eye ordered. "Grab the last one."
Bravepaw shakily lowered his head and picked up the last mewling kits between his jaws. It was a small she-cat, her fur was mostly black except for her small white ears.
Bladestar's yowl sounded above the screeching and battling of the cats.
"Retreat! Back to Thunderclan camp!"
Bravepaw gave a last glance at his fleeing clanmates. He saw Redpaw leaning on his mentor as they both ran, following Bladestar's lead. Bravepaw gave one last glance at the RiverClan warriors then turned and fled as well.
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Author note/ So Briarnut had her kits! Five little bundles of fur;) This was my first time writing a battle scene for this… Hope u all enjoyed!
Also, just a little fun side-fact for those who were wondering, Sunning-rocks isn't an island like it is in TPB because in DOTC it wasn't one, and my book is taking place in between, so it's still isn't an island
Thanks to everyone who has reviewed, favorited, followed, or read this story so far!