Chapter 5

Rainpelt padded over to Tigerclaw, her heart beating so hard she thought it would break through. The last battle she'd been in had killed her entire Clan. Now she was expected to go right back into battle again to fight for a new Clan. Tigerclaw gave her a nod of greeting.

"You'll do fine. I have faith in you," he whispered in her ear, making it twitch. "I saw the way you handled Frostfur. RiverClan won't even expect us. They don't know that we know what they've been up to." Darkstripe walked up to them and Tigerclaw padded out of camp. Rainpelt followed at his heels, his scent filling her nostrils. The wind would blow their scent away from the RiverClan camp. StarClan was working with them today.

Reaching Sunningrocks, Tigerclaw leaped onto the first steppingstone, the river flowing swiftly beneath them. Rainpelt followed; looking down at the river, then up again, holding her head high as a strong warrior. She jumped safely to the other side after the deputy and inhaled the unfamiliar stench of RiverClan. She ducked, realizing the scent wasn't stale, but fresh, and getting stronger.

"Get ready," Tigerclaw whispered, and then leaped to the other side of the river ferns. She heard a startled cry from the RiverClan cat, and Tigerclaw gave a caterwaul. Her and Darkstripe jumped in behind him and tackled the others. Darkstripe had a RiverClan apprentice. Rainpelt was dealing with Leopardfur. The deputy lunged at her, but Rainpelt jumped out of the way.

"What are you doing here?" she hissed.

"Taking back what rightfully belongs to ThunderClan!" Rainpelt arched her back, ready to attack. Leopardfur acted first. She knocked Rainpelt backwards. Rainpelt could feel the air knocked out of her. She almost got up, but Leopardfur jumped onto her. She raked her claws onto her soft belly. Rainpelt howled in pain and threw her off, Leopardfur flying into the ferns. She dashed out, knocking her over again. She bit her shoulder, and then yowled in surprise. Tigerclaw took her strait off of her, biting her in the neck. The deputy raced off.

Rainpelt gave him a grateful nod before leaping onto the other warrior that Tigerclaw had abandoned. She shredded his ear, making him scream in pain. He pushed her off, but she landed softly on her paws and leaped again. Tigerclaw and Darkstripe were watching her from their position beside the rushing river. She bit him in the shoulder sharply and he yowled. She let him go and he scrambled into the ferns, heading for camp.

"We'd better leave," Tigerclaw growled. "They might bring more." Rainpelt and Darkstripe nodded and followed him back across Steppingstones and back into ThunderClan camp. Bluestar greeting them when they entered.

"How did it go?" she questioned, eyeing the warriors.

"Quite well, but Leopardfur was with them. We should be prepared for war," Tigerclaw reported.

"Thank you. Rainpelt, it looks as though you were the one to battle Leopardfur. Go and see Yellowfang about those wounds."

Rainpelt nodded and trotted off to the medicine cat's den. She poked her head in. It appeared Yellowfang was mixing herbs. "Yellowfang?" The gray she-cat turned.

"I didn't hear you enter, Rainpelt. What can I help you with?" she rasped.

"I need some cobwebs for my wounds. Leopardfur put up quite a fight," Rainpelt replied as Yellowfang grabbed some cobwebs.

"Do you need any poppeyseeds?"

"No, thank you. I want to be well awake if RiverClan is to attack tonight." Yellowfang nodded as she pressed the cobwebs against her shoulder wound. Rainpelt flinched at the pain, but was happy it was over quickly. "Thank you, Yellowfang. Is there anything you require if RiverClan is to attack?"

"I'm a little low on burdock root, but I don't think I'll need that for treating battle wounds unless it's for rats," Yellowfang meowed. Rainpelt bowed her head, and then left the den. The first star of Silverpelt had appeared in the sky. The moon was just beginning to rise as she picked up a sparrow from the fresh-kill pile.