Blackclaw felt his limbs like stones, would he go? Risking all that he had worked had for? Just to save the life of an enemy clanmember?He hesitated, and saw Sorreltail take off after Whitecloud along the pebbly back. She was running at full speed, watching Whtecloud helplessly bob up and down in the current.
Blackclaw knew she would soon have to turn back, the bank would narrow into a sheer-sided slipery bank, and she would have to backtrack, loosing precious time. He made up his mind, and tore from the bush. He had about four or five tail-lenghts between him and Sorreltail, and he was gaining faster then her. He had longer legs, and they were stronger from swimming all of his life.
He overtook Sorreltail as she turned back, in frustration as she hit the slipery bank.Blackclaw now focussed on Whitecloud who was struggling in the heavy flood waters. He added an extra burst of speed, and drew up along side of Whiteloud. Without hesitation, he gave a sidewards leap, and landed right behind Whitecloud.
She was floundering helplessly, her paws churning around her like sticks, how did she expect to swim like this? She was about as graceful in the water as a leaf spinning in the rapids downstream.
He saw the Stepping-Stones, and knew he had a chance. Churning his paws correctly, he hurried infront of Whitecloud by a few foxlenghts. glancing over his shoulder once, he tensed and heaved himself onto the middle stepping stone. He spun around and had just enough time to pinpoint Whitecloud, before he dove down and grabbed her scruff with his teeth.
For a moment, she stopped, the water pulling her to the rapids. Blackclaw dug his claws into the stone as hard as he could, and scooted backwards. Whitecloud glasped for breath for a second, before Blackclaw felt his grip begin to loosin. He spotted a sandy bank on the RiverClan side, and heard a yowl behind him.
He looked up sligtly and saw Swallowtail bounding into te sandy bank, her dappled fur fluffled up in alarm.She gave him a hard look of understanding, and her leapt into the river. He tightened his grip on Whitecloud severely, his eyes narrowed in derterminaltion. Her churned his paws strongly, pinning his ears back in frustration. The current was beginging to sweep them out of line, he had to do something. He gave one last, strong push off the stoney ground, and Swallowtail lunged forward, grabbing Whitecloud and pulling her in.
Blackclaw shook out his fur, panting. He saw Sorreltail leaping across the stepping-stones to where her freind was laying down, exhasuted. Swallowtail flashed Blackclaw a both a questioning and releived look. Whitecloud was sputtering, coughing up water. SHe gasped and fell down, closing her jade-green eyes. Sorreltail hurried over.
"What happened to her?" she demanded, "Did you kill her?"
"Of course not!" hissed Swallowtail, bristing at Sorreltail, "She fell asleep, wake her up and get off our territory now!"
Sorreltail curled her lips in a snarl, but did not challenge them. She knew it was hopeless, and that she would endanger Whiteclouds life as well. She nudged Whitecloud, rousing her, and got her to her paws. She ten led her to the stepping stones, and they vanished into thunderClan territory. Now Swallowtail turned to Blackclaw.
"Why did you save her?" she asked gently, she was not angry with him, but confused.
"I-I don't know," murmured Blackclaw, "Come one, let's get back to camp."
On the way there, he kept thinking to himself, and as he lay in his den thinking somemore, he made up his mind at last. With the tiniest whisper before he fell asleep, he said, "Yes, I will see her again."