CHAPTER 3
"Get back to camp and tell Firestar to bring help." Graystripe's hiss sounded in Featherpaw's ear. "Now!"
Featherpaw turned and pelted away into the trees. Graystripe was right: without help, the battle was already lost. Featherpaw felt shame pulse through him; he couldn't help but feel slightly relieved that he would be fetching help instead of fighting.
"Stop him!"
He heard Russetfur's yowl, and the rustle of paws upon leaves.
Featherpaw glanced over his shoulder. Two ShadowClan warriors streaked toward him. Then he saw a flash of gray fur. Graystripe had launched himself onto one of the cats. The ShadowClan warrior yowled and the air exploded as the two Clans charged screeching into battle.
Featherpaw forced himself to run faster till he thought his heart would burst. Paws pounded behind him. Only one set now, thanks to Graystripe. Featherpaw dodged through a thick bramble swath, hoping his small size would let him escape the ShadowClan warrior. But as he slipped out of the other side and glanced backward, he saw a burly tom thrusting his way through the bush with terrifying strength.
Featherpaw hurtled down the steep slope to the training hollow and pelted across it. Just a short way through the trees and then a clear run to the camp entrance. The ShadowClan warrior's paw steps thundered ever closer as Featherpaw caught sight of the thorn barrier ahead.
"Someone help me!" he wailed.
Claws raked his tail. The ShadowClan cat was at his heels. Wild with terror, Featherpaw dug his claws in and propelled himself forward.
A fiery flash of fur streaked from the thorn tunnel and flew past Featherpaw.
"I'll stop him," Squirrelflight yowled, lunging for the ShadowClan warrior.
The tom let out an agonized shriek. Featherpaw slowed, his breath coming in great gulps. He turned and saw Squirrelflight chasing the ShadowClan warrior up the bank, snarling as if all the warriors of StarClan raced beside her.
Featherpaw hurtled into the camp. "ShadowClan have invaded!"
Firestar was in the clearing with Dustpelt. He bounded to Featherpaw's side as soon as he saw him. "Dustpelt told me they've moved the border," he meowed.
"Brambleclaw took our hunting patrol to investigate," Featherpaw puffed. "But we walked into an ambush."
Firestar's eyes widened with alarm. "Are they fighting now?"
Featherpaw nodded, his paws trembling with the thought of Badgerpaw and Sunpaw battling experienced ShadowClan warriors.
"Sandstorm, Spiderleg, Whitewing, Ashfur, Brook!" Firestar called to the warriors who were already pacing around the clearing, lashing their tails. "ShadowClan have crossed the border. Brambleclaw is holding them off, but they need help."
"Should I bring Mousepaw?" Spiderleg asked.
"If he's battle-ready," Firestar answered.
Squirrelflight raced back through the entrance. "There's one less ShadowClan warrior to deal with," she announced. "He'll not want to fight again today."
"Good work. I want you to stay and guard the camp," Firestar told her.
Squirrelflight nodded. "Yes, Firestar."
Millie appeared from behind the warriors' den. "I'm coming with you."
Featherpaw stared at her in astonishment. She was a kittypet!
"Okay," Firestar agreed. "But don't take any risks."
Featherpaw was still trembling with terror and exhaustion. Firestar looked at him. "Are you fit to fight?"
Featherpaw's stomach flopped. He would be fighting after all. He nodded numbly.
"Good," Firestar growled. "Your brother and sister need you." Then he swept out of the camp, his warriors following.
Featherpaw pelted after the patrol. Oh StarClan, oh Silverpelt, he thought. How will we ever fight them off? He could hardly keep his paws from trembling at the thought of battle.
"Always keep an eye out behind you!" Whitewing fell in beside him to give some breathless advice. "ShadowClan fight dirty. You're fast and strong, even though you're small. You'll be nimbler than some of their warriors. Use that to your advantage."
As they neared the border, they heard screeches and yowls.
"This way!" Firestar called. They plunged through the forest until Featherpaw could glimpse teeth and claws flashing in the gaps between the trees ahead.
ShadowClan warriors had surrounded Brambleclaw's patrol, but the ThunderClan cats were standing their ground, lashing out at every cat within reach.
"Attack!" Firestar cried, and the ThunderClan warriors spread out and launched themselves into battle.
"Head over there!" Spiderleg called to Featherpaw. He flicked his tail to the edge of the fighting. "Look for your littermates first and do what you can to help them!"
Featherpaw raced forward, scanning the fray for Badgerpaw and Sunpaw. He spotted Stormfur and Sorreltail fighting side by side with Brightheart, fending off four ShadowClan warriors. Badgerpaw crouched behind them, paw raised and jaws parted in a furious hiss. As a ShadowClan warrior broke through the ThunderClan defensive line, she struck with ferocity and slashed at his ears.
Featherpaw's heart thudded as he searched for Sunpaw's ginger pelt. Had he been wounded? Relief glimmered for a moment when Featherpaw saw his brother fighting beside Graystripe. The gray warrior, ears flattened, his lips drawn back into a vicious snarl, raked for the flank of a dark ginger ShadowClan warrior as it lunged for Sunpaw.
Russetfur! Featherpaw recognized the ShadowClan deputy.
Sunpaw ducked under Graystripe and shot out from beneath him, nipping the ShadowClan deputy on her hind legs with such ferocity that the warrior whipped around, claws flashing, and lunged at Sunpaw. But Sunpaw was ready. Sunpaw swerved out of the way and then rushed forward, tumbling into Russetfur's flank.
The ShadowClan deputy was knocked right into Graystripe's waiting claws. The gray warrior slashed Russetfur's flank. Russetfur howled. Sunpaw leaped up and grabbed either side of her face, then leaned in and chomped down on Russetfur's ear.
Russetfur shrieked until Sunpaw let go, then turned tail and fled into the battle.
Featherpaw looked around at the thick of battle, trying to decide where in StarClan to begin. Maybe someone my own size? He peered around, but Owlpaw was nowhere to be seen - perhaps the apprentice had already been fought off?
As Featherpaw stood indecisive, a warrior sprung out of the fray and lunged for him. Featherpaw yowled with surprise as the ShadowClan warrior leapt at him, claws outstretched. With barely a heartbeat's time, the white molly had Featherpaw pinned.
"Help!" he shrieked.
"Featherpaw!"
Featherpaw could faintly hear Badgerpaw's voice calling his name, but he was too focused on the hot breath of the ShadowClan warrior flooding his face.
"Go home, kittypet," the ShadowClan molly taunted in a snarl. "Go home to your Twolegs."
"I - I'm a warrior," Featherpaw squeaked.
"I - I'm a warrior," the molly sneered. She tightened sank her claws into his fur, and Featherpaw whimpered. He struggled against the ShadowClan warrior's grip. "You don't belong in this forest if you can't defend it!"
"Leave my brother alone!"
A bundle of tabby fur careened into the ShadowClan molly, dislodging her and knocking her sideways. Featherpaw scrambled to his paws as the molly turned and hissed. But Badgerpaw raised a paw and returned the hiss.
"Get out of our forest!" she spat.
"Make me," the ShadowClan warrior growled, and lunged.
Badgerpaw leapt out of the way. Featherpaw followed suit. Then, as the molly landed where the two apprentices had been, Badgerpaw turned and scratched her flank. Featherpaw, a moment late, did the same.
The ShadowClan warrior turned her gaze on Featherpaw and struck like a snake. Featherpaw ducked, then shot underneath her to give her a nip on the underbelly. But the molly had anticipated this, and dropped all her weight onto the ThunderClan apprentice. Featherpaw shrieked as he was crushed under the ShadowClan warrior's fur.
Badgerpaw caterwauled and chomped down on the ShadowClan molly's tail. The ShadowClan cat howled, leaping to her paws, and backed up. Featherpaw took the opportunity to slash at her nose.
"Drive the rest into the brambles!"
Badgerpaw and Featherpaw looked up at Graystripe's order.
"What?" Spiderleg yowled.
"That'll only make it harder to fight them!" Birchfall shouted.
"Harder for ShadowClan!" Badgerpaw gasped.
Firestar called to his warriors. "They're not used to fighting in undergrowth! Do as Graystripe says!"
"Everyone, spread out behind me!" Brambleclaw ordered. He spun around so that his back was to the ShadowClan border.
The ThunderClan cats drew away from their enemy long enough to reposition themselves around their deputy. Confused, the ShadowClan warriors stared at them. Suddenly they were trapped on the wrong side of their border. Then Brambleclaw charged forward, his warriors flanking him on either side, and they began to press the ShadowClan warriors deeper into ThunderClan territory, where a tangle of brambles covered the forest floor.
Featherpaw and Badgerpaw fought side-by-side against Ivypaw, ducking and lashing out as they slowly advanced. Ivypaw spat and hissed, but began to trip over the undergrowth as she backed into ThunderClan territory.
Ivypaw wasn't the only ShadowClan cat struggling; ThunderClan was slowly overtaking the trespassers. Sandstorm's tail lashed triumphantly as a ShadowClan warrior cowered beneath her blows. Beside her, Whitewing nipped at a mottled apprentice as he tried to battle past her out of the clinging thorns. Brook and Stormfur worked together, jabbing at Smokefoot with merciless claws as he struggled father into the brambles to escape them.
Russetfur stared in dismay at her warriors thrashing helplessly in the undergrowth. "Retreat!" she yowled.
The ShadowClan cats scrambled out of the brambles, leaving clumps of fur behind as they pelted past the ThunderClan warriors and fled back into their own territory.
Featherpaw scanned the battered ThunderClan cats. "Sunpaw?" he called hesitantly.
"I'm over here!" Sunpaw squirmed backward out of the undergrowth, his bushy tail pricked with thorns.
"Is everyone okay?" Firestar staggered out, his muzzle crimson with blood.
"Sandstorm's twisted her paw." Brambleclaw stood beside the ginger-colored warrior as she licked at a forepaw.
"It's just a sprain," she reassured.
"Ashfur?" Firestar looked at the gray warrior. "That looks like a bad cut on your shoulder."
"It'll heal," Ashfur replied.
"I've lost a chunk of fur from my tail," Spiderleg spat. "But it was worth it if ShadowClan thinks twice before trying to steal our territory again."
"We need to make sure they're all gone," Firestar meowed.
"I'll check," Brook offered.
"Are you injured?"
"Just a torn ear."
"Then take Spiderleg with you and search beyond the brambles," Firestar ordered. "Make sure no cat went father into our territory."
Spiderleg and Brook hared away through the trees.
Sorreltail flicked Featherpaw's shoulder with her tail. "Thank StarClan you got help so quickly."
"You held out well till we came," Firestar praised Brambleclaw.
"Sunpaw fought like a warrior!" Birchfall commented.
"We couldn't let ShadowClan drive us from our own territory!" Graystripe growled.
Brambleclaw gazed across the clearing where the ShadowClan cats had fled. "We're going to have to do something about ShadowClan before the next Gathering," he vowed.
"Let's start by remarking the correct boundary," Firestar ordered. "Brambleclaw, you stay here with Stormfur and Birchfall and mark every tree twice along the border." Brambleclaw nodded. "I'll take the rest back to camp."
Featherpaw turned and followed his Clanmates. Sandstorm was limping, and Ashfur kept stopping to lick at the blood welling from the wound on his shoulder. Millie's pelt was missing clumps of fur along her flank, but she was buzzing with the excitement that came from winning a battle, her ears pricked and her tail twitching.
Sunpaw caught up with Badgerpaw and Featherpaw. "Did you see me jump on Oakfur?" he meowed proudly.
"I wish I had!" Badgerpaw purred. "I was too busy seeing to that tabby warrior." Her eyes glowed. "I used a move Poolpaw taught me the other day. It was brilliant doing it for real!"
"What about you, Featherpaw?" Sunpaw demanded eagerly. "Who did you take on?"
"Oh, uh -" Featherpaw stammered. His ears flattened and he didn't meet Sunpaw's eyes. "N-no one, really."
"Nonsense!" Badgerpaw purred. "We both saw Ivypaw off, and not to mention Snowbird!"
"Yeah…yeah," Featherpaw agreed halfheartedly. He let his littermates' excited mews drift away as he focused on putting one paw in front of the other, just desperate to get home.
He could feel his scratched beginning to sting. His muscles ached from the battle, and when they reached the camp he padded to the halfback and collapsed beside it. Sunpaw climbed onto the smooth, low rock and hung his head over the side, while Badgerpaw flopped down beside them.
"I still can't believe we fought real warriors," she breathed.
Cinderpelt emerged from her den with herbs and cobwebs hanging from her jaws. She went straight for Ashfur and began to apply sticky white webs to his shoulder.
"I hope she doesn't come over here," Sunpaw meowed. "I want to keep this scar!" He lifted his right forepaw to reveal a long scratch underneath.
"That could get infected!" Featherpaw gasped.
"Not if I keep it clean!" Sunpaw purred sneakily.
"Lucky," Badgerpaw sighed. "I just got a few thorn scratches!"
"You've got some fur missing, too, Featherpaw," Sunpaw meowed, nodding to his brother.
Featherpaw looked down at his chest and felt his heart squeeze. Right where Snowbird had sank her claws into him, the fur was stripped away. His whiskers drooped.
He got to his paws. "I'm going to get some sleep," he meowed quietly.
"Sleep!" Sunpaw echoed. "I'm way too excited for that."
"Me too," Badgerpaw agreed.
"Well…good night," Featherpaw mumbled, then turned tail and shuffled into the apprentices' den.
He flopped down into his nest and closed his eyes, not even bothering to rearrange himself to get more comfortable.
With barely any effort, he slipped into a dark sleep.
And then he awoke.
He strode through an unfamiliar forest. Through the gaps in the trees he could see a wall of mist blocking his way. He padded forward, and as the mist began to swirl around his paws he noticed that the undergrowth was becoming thinner. The trees around him grew stiff and lifeless, their branches too high for a cat to reach.
"Featherpaw?"
His pelt stood on end, and he scanned the murky forest up ahead. Gradually he made out a figure that seemed familiar. The brand shoulders and wide muzzle reminded him of his father, Brambleclaw.
"Featherpaw!" the voice called again.
A second figure loomed from the shadows and stood beside the first. Outlined against the fog, they shared the same strong shoulders and broad muzzle.
"Yes?" Featherpaw mewed, his voice sounding tiny among the trees.
The two cats approached him and stopped, their tabby pelts as dark as the shadows beyond the trees.
"Welcome. Do not be afraid. We are kin," the larger cat meowed. "I am Tigerstar, your father's father, and this is his brother, Hawkfrost."
Featherpaw stared at the cats in astonishment. He had heard nursery stories about Tigerstar and the terrible things he had done. Why had these two cats come to Featherpaw, of all cats?
"It is good to meet you at last," Tigerstar meowed, his eyes glittering.
"Brambleclaw is blessed to have three fine kits," Hawkfrost added.
"We watched you in battle earlier," Tigerstar purred. "I am glad to see you have inherited your father's skill."
Hawkfrost glanced at his father. "And yours, Tigerstar," he meowed.
Featherpaw shuffled his paws. Why were they complimenting him when they must know he couldn't fight as well as he should?
As though reading his thoughts, Tigerstar went on, "We can teach you how to improve your skills if you like," he offered, his voice smooth as honey.
Featherpaw searched the massive tom's gaze. Doubt made his fur prickle. "I - I'm not sure I'm such a good warrior," he confessed.
"How can any kin of mine say such a thing?" Tigerstar snorted. "It is bad enough that I have to watch Mothwing wasting her talents as a medicine cat." His whiskers twitched.
"Why don't you let us teach you some fighting moves?" Hawkfrost urged. "Once you see how easy they are for you, you'll realize that you were born to lead your Clanmates in battle."
Featherpaw looked up at Hawkfrost. He hesitated. "You…you think so?" he asked.
"Of course," Tigerstar purred in reply. "Featherpaw, you are my kin. You are meant for greatness."
"But you -" Featherpaw couldn't help himself but blurt out the words. "I - I mean…" He looked away anxiously.
Tigerstar hummed thoughtfully. "Featherpaw," he rumbled, "it is true that my deeds in life have become that of legend."
That's one word for it, Featherpaw thought.
"Know this, young Featherpaw: my path now is to make right. I seek to train you to become the warrior I should have been." Tigerstar's tail swished against the earth. "You are more than capable. You just need…a push in the right direction."
Featherpaw's ears flicked. His whiskers quivered. All he wanted was to be a cat that ThunderClan could be proud of…
"We can help you on your way to greatness," Tigerstar promised. "Train with us, Featherpaw."
Featherpaw looked up at his grandfather, who stood tall and proud - so unlike Featherpaw, who was crouched with a twitchy tail. He hesitated, but as he met Tigerstar's eyes, he could not refuse. Featherpaw nodded. "Teach me."
NOTES
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