Warriors: Rise of Three

Chapter 3

(a/n): I couldn't think of anything witty, okay? I didn't do anything with Winterpaw last time, but I promise, those at camp will not be bored. The Gathering is also going to be interesting. Thanks to the following to reviewing: Oceanwind, Frostfire or Iceheart, Speaker of the Dragons, awesomeness, Mistystream Sootfur's Loyalty, and Charcolae. Thank you so much. Also, I will try to think of something witty to put at the end! By the way, any ideas on the kitty who will betray the Clan? Before you say, though, read this chapter, because I have a plot twist up my sleeve… So, without further ado, Chapter 3!

So which one's dock again?

Winterpaw sat in the medicine cat den searching the store for anything with a sharp smell. Hopefully it would be dock. Please let it be dock. Aha! Winterpaw counted how much dock sat on the stone and repeated it to herself a few dozen times to remember. Then, determined to remember everything, she checked the store again before meeting with Rosepaw by the nursery to help with the repairs.

"Isn't apprenticeship great, Rosepaw?"

Rosepaw thought, ThunderClan is so big! How in the world will I be able to figure everything out?Dustpelt is a weakling. I dodged him easily! I will be the best warrior the Clan ahs ever seen. Better than old Firestar taking his apprentice only. Btter than wise Bluestar. I have to be. No one will ever respect me otherwise…

"It's cool," Rosepaw shrugged. Something pricked her hind leg, and she jumped around to face what poked her. It was Sootfur holding a bramble branch in his mouth. He dropped it for a second and meowed:

"Sorry, Rosepaw. I- I was only taking this to Ferncloud. She needs more bramble to build up the wall…" Sootfur trailed off and picked up his bramble to take it to Ferncloud. Rosepaw mewed after him quietly.

"It's okay. Nothing's broken…" She smiled weakly. Winterpaw purred and nudged her sister before creeping around the den to get bramble for Ferncloud also.

"What?" Rosepaw asked before running after her sister to help carry some branches for the wall. The Clan was busy at work, so it was surprise when they didn't notice the night shadows of figures lining up at the entrance to camp and around the cliff.

Shadowpaw, Featherpaw, and Leafpool's hearts stopped as Onestar scowled at Firestar maliciously. Firestar hissed as ThunderClan and WindClan yowled at each other, both ready to strike if it wasn't for the truce.

"ThunderClan has done so such thing!"

"Are you calling my warriors liars? They've scented ThunderClan on our side of the border! Apprentices, most likely! ThunderClan ought to train its warriors how to respect boundaries! They're set! No changes! If you think just because we have been allies in the past that you can take our land, I'm here to contradict that thought!" Windclan yowled in approval… all excpet Crowfeather and Featherpaw. Would their meetings with Leafpool be discovered?

"Are you saying that my warriors would steal your land after the Great Journey?"

"StarClan is angry!" meowed a ShadowClan warrior.

Surely enough, thick clouds covered the silver full moon. With one last hiss of hostility, ThunderClan tromped across the log, slowly making their way back to camp.

"We could've beat them at a fight. They only had Onestar, Ashfoot, and a couple warriors there!" Shadowpaw exclaimed.

Firestar's ears pricked, "Why would WindClan bring such few warriors if they'd accuse us when we would have most of our Clan?"

Cold realization sunk into his fur.

"Back to camp! Hurry!"

WindClan warriors and apprentices stormed into ThunderClan camp, their battle cries loud and clear. Ferncloud gasped, snatching up the kits with the help of Sorreltail and ran out the secret crack in the rock Leafpool ran through to see Crowfeather. Meanwhile, Sootfur and Rainwhisker werer cornered by an enraged Nightcloud and Weaselfur. With coordinated accuracy, Sootfur and Rainwhisker dived underneath the WindClan warriors and leapt to their feet, slashing at the opponent's backs. Winterpaw and Rosepaw, both inexperienced in battle, dodged into the elder's den and began guarding Longtail, Goldenflower, and Mousefur, though no WindClan warriors swerved that way. Suddenly, Firestar's cry was heard above all the other yowls, and the cats from the Gathering poured in, leaving WindClan outnumbered. Chasing them off with scars to remember, Firestar stated:

"WindClan has come to take our territory, accusing us of the same. Double the patrols along the border, keep all kits and elders in camp, and watch your back. I believe we have war on our hands."

Leafpool slipped through the crack in the rock and dodged through the underbrush, following WindClan's scent back to the border. She hid in the low branches of a tree, and when Crowfeather dropped back from the Clan, she scurried down to reach him. Her voice was overflowing with anger.

"How dare you! Two of our kits were in ThunderClan camp, and you couldn't have even warned me of the attack? Not even to protect your kin?"

"And betray my Clan in the process!? You would have surely told Firestar about the attack, and where would I be then? A traitor to my Clan even more than I already am? No, I couldn't have. Is Rosepaw and Winterpaw safe? Is Shadowpaw hurt?" Crowfeather's raging voice dropped to a caressing concern as he asked about his kits.

"Why would you acre? You didn't care when the assault was decided! Don't you realize the trespassers were us? Our family?"

"Of course I did! Was I to tell Onestar about the kits though?"

"Goodbye, Crowfeather!"

Leafpool bounded away through the trees, disappearing through the brush in matter of seconds.