Dusk flooded the forest with shadows as three CedarClan cats cut deep tracks through a blanket of fresh, white snow.
Dawnheart trekked through the snow alongside his Clanmates, struggling to push the freezing stuff out of his way. It was thick and undisturbed here in the dawn-wards part of the territory. No cat had been here for a half a moon at least. It didn't yield any prey in the colder moons so there was no purpose.
A lump of snow from a branch above his head fell and landed directly on Dawnheart's muzzle. He sneezed.
The small patrol stopped dead. Swiftwing, the leader, whirled around and fixed Dawnheart with a suspicious stare. Hawkpaw shifted his paws nervously in the snow beside his mentor.
"Are you sick?" Swiftwing demanded. Dawnheart shook his head.
"Just an itch." He said. The black and white tom narrowed his eyes but didn't make an accusation.
It had been like this for days. Every cat who so much as sniffled was treated like they were diseased. The air in the camp was tense and fearful. It seemed like every day a new cat fell ill with whitecough. Dawnheart had heard rumors that greencough was in the camp.
And now Heronpaw and Petalpaw were missing.
Dawnheart focused his attention on looking for any signs of the apprentices; paw prints, a bit of fur snagged on a stick, a scent, anything. There was nothing, however. No cat had been able to find any trace of them.
Dawnheart's mind was fraught with worry. Heronpaw had been particularly agitated this past moon. What could have caused his friend to run off? Dawnheart's gaze flicked to Hawkpaw. The usually rowdy apprentice's tail was dragging in the snow and his ears were flat. Dawnheart felt a rush of sympathy for the tabby.
The sparse patrol made its way to the PineClan border. The snow was thinner here due to the abundance of wide pine trees. Swiftwing led them right up to the border; a thin, unused twoleg path. He sent Hawkpaw and Dawnheart along the border in either direction to remark it. Swiftwing himself sat under a squat pine and waited.
When Dawnheart had returned from marking his share of the border, Swiftwing hadn't moved. Dawnheart settled beside the warrior and shifted uncomfortably. He didn't like being so near a twoleg thing. The path was a stretch of bare soil about a fox-length in width, though right now it was mostly covered by snow. It wound off into the forest in either direction. Short, shiny branches stuck out of the ground next to the path at equal intervals all the way down. A weird brown tendril hung between each branch, connecting them.
Twolegs are so mousebrained. Dawnheart thought. Why make your paths so obvious? CedarClan disguised their pathways by letting natural growth obscure them. Twolegs practically shouted to the forest "We use this! This is ours!"
Swiftwing stiffened beside him. Dawnheart jumped a little and looked up. Through the dim light that filtered through the dense pine trees he could just make out the silhouettes of cats. PineClan.
Swiftwing stood up and raised his tail in a peaceful gesture. Dawnheart did the same. The PineClan cats turned their eyes towards the border. They glowed in the half light. Then they blinked out of sight.
Dawnheart squinted, trying to locate the cats, but they had all but vanished. Swiftwing didn't move.
"Can we help you?" A gruff voice sounded from the right. Dawnheart jumped. He turned to see the PineClan patrol standing at the border's edge. They had appeared from around a thick trunk of a tree. Dawnheart shivered. These cats had completely fooled him with their stealth.
The cat who had spoken was a tall black warrior with a white chest. He fixed the CedarClan cats with a reserved stare, not hostile but not welcoming either. Swiftwing dipped his head to the cat.
"Greetings, Longshadow." He said. "We come on behalf of our Clan."
Longshadow cocked his head.
"Surely CedarClan doesn't need to ask PineClan for help." He said slowly. The apprentice at his side snickered. Longshadow shot her a withering look from pale yellow eyes. The apprentice, a white she-cat, bowed her head.
"Blizzardstar would like to know if you have scented any CedarClan cats on your territory." Swiftwing said carefully.
Longshadow's eyes widened. Another warrior, a dark ginger she-cat, stepped forward. Her neck fur bristled.
"Are you openly admitting to trespassing?" she snarled.
"Back off, Scarletclaw." Longshadow snapped. He turned back to Swiftwing.
"We have not. May I ask why?" the PineClan warrior said. His mew was still polite and diplomatic despite his bristling Clanmate at his side.
While the warriors were talking, Hawkpaw had returned. He came to a halt at Dawnheart's side and examined the situation with surprisingly calm gray eyes.
"Two apprentices have gone missing." Swiftwing admitted after a moment.
Longshadow shook his head. "A shame." He said. Scarletclaw's fur flattened. The third warrior, a tabby tom, stood in the shadows and didn't react.
"I'll ask Griffonstar to keep a lookout." Longshadow said as he signaled his patrol with his tail. The PineClan warriors turned to leave. "I hope you find them." The black warrior added before leading his cats back into the shadows of their territory.
After a moment, Swiftwing sighed and turned away from the border.
"Why did you admit our weakness?" Hawkpaw asked. His tone wasn't accusatory, just genuinely curious.
Swiftwing eyed his apprentice.
"CedarClan has had no quarrel with PineClan for seasons. Griffonstar is an honorable leader. There is no reason to believe that PineClan would use this against us." He said.
"It would be suspicious to ask if they've scented our cats and then say 'oh no reason' when they asked why." Dawnheart added. Hawkpaw looked down at his paws.
"We thought WillowClan was honorable, too." He said under his breath.
Swiftwing ignored his apprentice and began leading the patrol back towards CedarClan's camp. Hawkpaw's words worried Dawnheart, though. The apprentice was right. There had been no reason to suspect that WillowClan would suddenly start attacking border patrols and elders and yet that is what they had done.
He felt a pang of grief for Spottedfur. She was always willing to see the best in every cat. Her naiveté was probably the reason she had spent her life in the nursery with queens and kits.
Dawnheart let himself get lost in thoughts of Spottedfur as the patrol made their way back to camp.
When they arrived they were greeted by a sudden commotion. Warriors were gathered around Talonscore and Crowpaw in the center of the clearing. Every cat who hadn't yet fallen ill was here, clamoring to get near the ginger tom and his apprentice. Whiteshade was calling for order.
Dawnheart stopped just inside the clearing. Slatefang broke free from the crowd and bounded over.
"What's going on?" Dawnheart said when the gray tom had grown near enough.
"WillowClan moved the border." Slatefang growled.
Shock shot through Dawnheart. "What?"
"Silence!" A booming yowl cut through the turmoil. Almost immediately the cats fell silent. They turned to face Blizzardstar as he leapt up onto the Highbranch. "Talonscore, report." He said once settled.
The crowd of cats parted and Talonscore and Crowpaw walked forward.
"We found WillowClan scent markers all along the tree-line. There were WillowClan warriors posted every tree-length." Said Talonscore.
Angry yowls burst the silence. All around the clearing cats were jumping to their feet and voicing their displeasure. Swiftwing and Hawkpaw were standing shoulder to shoulder at the edge of the clearing, their fur fluffed and claws out. Kestrelfeather was pacing in angry circles, his tail lashing. It took a few moments for Blizzardstar and Whiteshade to calm the crowd once more.
"They must have done it while we were all searching." Dawnheart muttered to Slatefang. "Did you engage any of the warriors?" Blizzardstar was saying.
Talonscore shook his head.
"We need to confront them." Shadowgrove called from the front of the crowd.
"What if they took the apprentices and are using them as a ransom for more land?" Swiftwing yelled out. Several warriors nodded and began muttering. Ferntail looked horrified.
"There's no evidence of that." Falconstorm said glaring at Swiftwing. The big tabby wrapped his tail around his mate defensively.
"It's still possible." Whiteshade admitted.
"Regardless, Shadowgrove is right." Blizzardstar said. "There isn't time to waste. Shadowgrove, you stay here and guard the camp." Blizzardstar's blue eyes swept over the crowd. "Ferntail and Swiftwing you stay with him. All other able-bodied cats are with me." With that, Blizzardstar jumped down from his perch and made his way over to the camp entrance. Warriors swarmed around him, forming ranks.
Dawnheart cast a glance at Slatefang, ready to put aside their quarrel and head into battle together. The gray warrior avoided eye contact and joined the growing battle patrol.
Dawnheart sighed. Things still weren't quite right between them. Still, he joined the queue to wait for the elders to give each of the fighting cats a quick streak of violet battle-paint.
Once every cat was hastily marked, Blizzardstar gave the silent signal to move out.
Dawnheart fell into step beside Blackmoth who was near the back of the patrol. She nodded to him but said nothing. Her eyes were focused and she was flexing her claws with every step.
The CedarClan battle patrol filed through the fern tunnel and out into the forest. Dawnheart craned his neck, trying to count heads. Nine warriors including himself, two apprentices, and Blizzardstar. Weakened by hunger, cold, and exhaustion, they weren't a very impressive group.
Blizzardstar led his Clan through the now dark forest. The snow muffled every sound and scent, and the trees crowded out the sky. The only sound was the collective rustling of pelts and the crunch of snow under-paw.
Dawnheart's blood pounded in his ears as he ran alongside his Clanmates. Frozen breaths billowed from muzzles that gaped open, showing battle ready fangs. A haze of tension steamed from beneath pelts that bristled with anticipation. Dawnheart breathed in, filling his lungs with stinging, roiling air.
The patrol began to slow. At the head, Blizzardstar raised his tail and moved it from side to side in a careful sweeping motion. Silently, the CedarClan warriors spread out on either side of their leader. Dawnheart followed Blackmoth to a spot between a cedar and a boulder. They stood, ears pricked, a few tail-lengths to Blizzardstar's right.
Blizzardstar raised his tail again and lowered it slowly. As one, the CedarClan patrol crouched down and concealed themselves amid the rocks and dead undergrowth. Dawnheart huddled behind a bramble bush and waited.
Blizzardstar stayed where he was atop a raised mound of soil. A young tree jutted out of the slope behind him. The ground before his paws fell away into a short cliff tangled with roots and slabs of angular stone. Icicles, long and cruel, hung from the lip of the mound. Whiteshade leapt up onto the mound beside his leader.
"Cougarstar!" Blizzardstar called into the night. His voice was like thunder.
There was a long pause. Blizzardstar didn't move or call again. He just waited.
Dawnheart peeked through his bramble bush down the hill. He could see where the tree-line ended from here. Beyond that lay the quietly rushing river. He squinted. He could just make out a few shapes flitting about on the CedarClan side of the border.
A group of five or six cats entered Dawnheart's view. They padded straight at Blizzardstar, their backs straight and heads held high. Dawnheart recognized Cougarstar and her deputy, Owlears, at the head of the group.
The WillowClan cats stopped five or so fox-lengths from Blizzardstar.
Cougarstar stepped forward, her sandy brown tail twitching in irritation.
"I will not be made to wait on my own territory." Blizzardstar began in his rumbling voice. "Explain yourself."
Cougarstar's eyes widened, highlighting the elaborate war paint she wore around her eyes and forehead. She curled her lip back in a snarl.
"I'm not one of your mouse-brained apprentices." She said. Her voice shook with anger. "I've taken what I want already. This land is ours."
Blizzardstar cocked his head.
"Is it?"
The CedarClan leader waved his tail to the left. In unison, half of his hidden warriors including Dawnheart revealed themselves and stepped up on the rim. Dawnheart couldn't help but feel brave and impressive as he saw the look of surprise pass over Cougarstar's face. It was fleeting, however, and her usual scowl was back in a heartbeat.
"Is that it?" She scoffed. "Are the rest of them still dying from greencough?"
Dawnheart hissed, anger flaring in his chest. Blackmoth stiffened beside him. Kestrelfeather let out a warning yowl from further down the line.
"What makes you think you can attack my warriors, kill my queens, and take my land?" Blizzardstar spat.
Cougarstar's eyes lit up and her face twisted into an ugly sneer.
"You haven't done anything to stop me yet." She said.
Blizzardstar's shoulders tensed. He waved his tail to the right and lifted it just enough that only his warriors could see. Dawnheart stiffened. The other half of the patrol would be on high alert now.
"I was waiting for you to come to me." Blizzardstar said quietly.
Cougarstar cocked her head, her mocking expression fading into one of confusion. Before she could respond, Blizzardstar flicked his tail upward.
Dawnheart sprang. His Clanmates followed with angry screeches. The WillowClan warriors stumbled backward in shock as twice the number they were expecting came crashing down the slope directly at them. Cougarstar was the only one who stood her ground. She met Blizzardstar mid leap and the two leaders tumbled over and over in a screeching mass.
Dawnheart landed lightly in the snow and set his sights on a spotted tabby she-cat. He leapt, catching her off guard. He landed forepaws-down on the she-cat's shoulders. She shrieked with anger and crashed to the ground. Dawnheart jumped up and readied himself for a counter-attack. The WillowClan warrior struggled to her paws and lunged.
Dawnheart dodged to the side and raked the she-cat's flank. He underestimated her speed, however, and she managed to close her jaws around his tail as she flew past. Pain shot up his spine. He shrieked and wrenched his tail out of his enemy's grip. He whirled to face her again.
Another WillowClan warrior had joined the fight. As Dawnheart glanced around he saw even more WillowClan warriors crashing through the undergrowth. They must have been lying in wait close by. The she-cat and the newcomer, a dark tabby tom, advanced on the lone CedarClan warrior.
Dawnheart backed up, dodging blows. He was soon forced to rear on his back legs to block an attack with both fore-legs. The she-cat took the opportunity to dodge behind Dawnheart and leap onto his back. She dug in her claws and bit down on his shoulder.
Dawnheart screeched as fresh pain seared across his shoulders. He wobbled on his hind legs for a moment before throwing all his weight backward. He landed on top of his attacker, shoving her into the snow. The she-cat gasped as the air was driven from her lungs.
Dawnheart wriggled free of her grip and leapt to his paws, ready to face the tabby tom. He was relieved to see that Blackmoth had arrived. The black she-cat wrestled with the slimmer WillowClan cat. Blackmoth's shoulder muscles bulged as she slowly overpowered the tabby tom. Dawnheart slid forward and slashed his claws along the warrior's exposed flank.
The warrior snarled and tried to kick at Dawnheart but the CedarClan warrior was too quick. He spun around to the tom's other side and slashed his opposite flank. The tom struggled to retaliate but Blackmoth held fast. Dawnheart leapt on the tabby's back and battered the enemy warrior's spine with his hind claws.
Blackmoth leaned in close to the warrior's face.
"Do you yield?" She hissed.
Before the tom could answer, Dawnheart was knocked sideways off of his perch. He tumbled over in the snow, dazed. He looked up to see that the spotted she-cat had recovered and had come to her Clanmate's aid. She was slashing at Blackmoth and together the WillowClan cats were driving the black warrior back.
Dawnheart scrambled to his feet and sped forward to help. He used his slimmer frame to his advantage and slipped underneath the tom's belly. Before his enemy could react, Dawnheart lurched upward with his spine. The tom gasped as he was launched off the ground.
Blackmoth took the opening and landed a nasty blow across the WillowClan she-cat's forelegs. The she-cat screamed in pain and backed away. Her Clanmate struggled to his paws and fled. The she-cat gave the CedarClan warriors one last hateful look and limped after him.
Blackmoth turned to Dawnheart, her eyes glowing.
"Just like old times." She purred. Dawnheart flicked his tail across her flank.
"Thanks." He puffed.
"I have a promise to keep." Blackmoth said. Her gaze grew intense. They held eye contact for half a heartbeat before Blackmoth turned away. Without another word she leapt straight into a fight between Falconstorm and two WillowClan toms.
Dawnheart whirled around, confident that his Clanmates could handle themselves. He scanned the crowd of battling cats. As he had been fighting, the battle had moved closer to the river. The surprise attack by Blizzardstar and the late arrival of the WillowClan warriors had allowed CedarClan to force the invaders down the slope.
Dawnheart spotted Hawkpaw fighting alone near the edge of the main fight. Dawnheart sped down the slope and arrived just as Hawkpaw's assailant reared up for a heavy blow. Dawnheart shot forward and slammed into the black WillowClan tom, unbalancing him. Hawkpaw reacted almost instantly and lunged for the black tom's exposed belly.
The tom screeched as Hawkpaw attacked. The black warrior twisted midair and pulled out of Hawkpaw's reach. When the WillowClan warrior landed and stared down his enemies Dawnheart felt a jolt of recognition. The tom seemed to have the same realization. His yellow eyes stretched wide and his mouth curled in a terrible snarl.
"You." Yarrowfang spat. He lunged. Dawnheart dodged to the side and rolled in the snow. Hawkpaw hooked his claws in Yarrowfang's pelt as the black warrior struggled to retain his balance. With a mighty heave, Hawkpaw dragged Yarrowfang down to the ground. The tabby apprentice planted his large paws on the WillowClan warrior's shoulders and pressed down.
"Do you yield?" Hawkpaw grunted.
Yarrowfang spat in response. He scrabbled forward, his crazed eyes fixed on Dawnheart. The WillowClan cat made an effort to lunge forward. He hardly flinched as Hawkpaw began raking his spine with exposed claws. Blood began welling in the deep gouges Hawkpaw's claws left.
"Do you yield?" Hawkpaw repeated.
Dawnheart stared down, frozen. Yarrowfang stared back, his eyes bloodshot, as he continued to struggle against Hawkpaw's weight.
"Enough!" Dawnheart yowled. Hawkpaw immediately jumped off Yarrowfang's back. The apprentice's paws stained the snow red.
Yarrowfang laid still for a terrifying moment. Then he heaved himself to his paws and turned away from the battle. His tail hung low in the snow and blood dripped down his legs, matting his fur. Dawnheart watched him go, shaken.
"Thank you." Hawkpaw said, his voice shaking. He glanced down at his bloodied paws. He nodded at his Clanmate before leaping away. Dawnheart watched him go, still rattled by Yarrowfang. He gave himself a shake and looked around for his next fight. A sudden yowl caught his attention.
"Dawnheart, here!"
Dawnheart turned to see Kestrelfeather being chased by two more WillowClan warriors. Dawnheart leapt into action and ran to his Clanmate's aid.
The pursuers were forcing Kestrelfeather down the bank and close to the river. He would be cornered soon.
Dawnheart spotted a boulder jutting out over the bank and veered over to it. He scrambled up the cold gray surface and, without a second thought, launched himself over the edge. He hung in the frigid night air for a heartbeat before he came crashing down directly on top of one of the WillowClan warriors.
The tom's screech turned to a muffled grunt as he was slammed to the ground. Dawnheart dug his claws into his quarry's black shoulder fur and pitched his weight forward. He used the momentum of his leap to roll forwards head over tail, dragging the warrior with him. They tumbled a tail-length or so before coming to a halt on the pebbly riverside. They struggled for a moment before Dawnheart managed to regain his advantage. He planted firm paws on the enemy warrior's chest and looked up to see if Kestrelfeather was alright.
The other WillowClan warrior had whirled to help her Clanmate but slipped on the icy stones. Kestrelfeather saw the opening and dashed forwards, swiping at the she-cat and driving her back up the bank.
Dawnheart's catch wriggled under his brown paws. He looked down, ready to deliver a blow that would send this foe running, but for the second time he found himself looking into a familiar face. A cold claw of ice pierced his heart.
"Wingshadow?" Dawnheart panted. The black tom looked terrible. His yellow eyes were dim with exhaustion and his muzzle was crusted with dried snot. His chest rose faintly under the CedarClan warrior's weight but Dawnheart could still hear a familiar wheeze.
He looked up at Dawnheart with wide-eyed horror. "I'm sorry." The black warrior choked out. "I didn't mean for her to die!"
A loud buzzing filled Dawnheart's ears as he stared down at the cat responsible for Spottedfur's death. Wingshadow was at his mercy. Nothing but Dawnheart's own desperate conscience separated his claws from Wingshadow's blood.
Dawnheart's breath came heavily. Grief and anger raged inside of him, forming a tight knot that burned with every breath. His vision went blurry. His claws dug into Wingshadow's pelt. The black tom flinched and drew in a rattling gasp.
Dawnheart blinked. He thought of his sick Clanmates. He couldn't harm a cat in this condition. It wasn't honorable. Dawnheart closed his eyes as a wave of grief crashed over him, extinguishing his rage. Spottedfur would want him to make the right choice. She had raised him better than this.
Dawnheart looked down at Wingshadow's fatigued and terrified face and stepped back, releasing him.
Wingshadow scrambled to his paws and stared at Dawnheart. The CedarClan warrior gestured with his tail towards the river.
"Go." He hissed.
Without a word, Wingshadow turned tail and raced away. Dawnheart watched him go. His breath caught on sharp sorrow. He clamped his jaws shut, fighting the urge to yowl to the stars.
He forced himself to look towards the battle again. Now that he was looking for it, he could see that most if not all of the WillowClan cats shared Wingshadow's sickly air. Everywhere CedarClan cats were driving back the wheezing, struggling crowd of enemy warriors.
A sudden weight slammed into Dawnheart from behind. His breath was driven from his lungs as he was smashed to the frozen ground. He coughed and struggled, but his assailant was too heavy.
Teeth pierced Dawnheart's scruff and he was dragged backwards. He screeched and swiped his paws through the air around his head but his claws only snagged at fur. Adrenaline shot like fire through Dawnheart's veins. He scrabbled at the ground with his hind legs and twisted wildly against his attacker's grip, but he couldn't break free.
The unknown cat heaved with remarkable strength and tossed Dawnheart to the side. Dawnheart landed awkwardly and rolled across the frozen bank. Grit and ice dragged at his pelt and paws. He finally found a paw-hold and staggered to his feet, dazed but ready to fight back. He had to defend himself, he-
Slatefang?
The gray and black tabby loomed over his Clanmate. Slatefang's pale green eyes were alight with fury.
"Traitor!"