Disclaimer: I do not own Warriors. Sitting in a honeymoon.
Wow, I really needed to update this. Sorry for the wait!
This chapter is a bit gruesome at the later part. So, now you're warned. So, now read.
Chapter 12: Panic at the Shadow Den
Yellowpelt, Spikefur, and Stripedtail all sat in a corner in the warriors' den, Spikefur occasionally talking about his successful hunting that afternoon. Yellowpaw, as she usually did for her brother, nodded and appeared to be fully interested in his chattering. She usually did listen to him fully, but sometimes put on an interested face if she had anything else on her mind. Stripedtail usually just enjoyed spending time with Spikepaw, no matter what he was talking about.
Today, though, Stripedtail had her mind on something else. When Spikepaw had come back with the news of cats he discovered in Shadow Den, the leader discussed it privately with the deputy and a couple of other high status warriors. But it did not seem urgent that they have the former FlowerClan cats leave; in fact, it seemed as if Thinstar wanted them to stay as long as possible before the next Gathering, when she would have to tell the other clans of the FlowerClan rogues' newfound whereabouts. Tonight, Stripedtail's mind was focused on what these new rogues would do for a home when FlowerClan probably chased them out of Shadow Den.
"Stripedtail! Stripedtail!" Yellowpaw's frantic voice pulled the brown tabby away from her thoughts. "The patrol's back! Something's wrong! Come!"
Stripedtail's eyes widened. She couldn't think the clan needed another emergency right now! But Stripedtail went to investigate with Yellowpaw and bounded out of the den.
Rainclaw, Tawnythorn, and Redpelt stood in the middle of the clearing, by the fresh-kill stump. Tawnythorn and Redpelt were breathing hard but had no injuries.
Rainclaw was speaking. "It's true! We're not making this up! They were attacking and their whole clan was there! We need to go back and fight!" Rainclaw's voice was unusually high for a tom's. It was also almost always happy, but now a loud combination of worry and determination masked any trace of happiness. "We're not lying!"
"Rainclaw, calm down! I know you're not lying!" Thinstar quickly replied. She didn't even bother to get on top of Deadtree to address the TreeClan cats. "We are going to protect those rogues! Darkbranch, Yellowpelt, Stripedtail, Rainclaw, Tawnythorn and Redpelt are coming with me to Shadow Den! Largefoot, stay here and take over! Send out a patrol to make sure no FlowerClan cats get into camp!"
"Wait? What's' going on?!" Stripedtail demanded. She whipped around frantically. Yellowpelt had already left her side and was walking quickly towards the group led by Thinstar.
Darkbranch addressed Stripedtail quickly. "FlowerClan is attacking Shadow Den! We have to go help." Stripedtail followed Darkbranch and the leaving patrol.
They dashed through the thorny bushes and by the ditch, half-filled with snow and half-filled with the usual tan dirt. Stripedtail passed these parts of the woods what must have been more than dozens of times, but now that there was so much trouble in the forest between clans and even cats within their own clans being unfairly punished to the point of exile, even the thorny bushes seemed to want to fight, ready to reach out with thorny claws and grab a passing cat.
In a quick moment, the cats had reached Middlebrook. They went down and reached Shadow Den. Without wasting any time, the cats filed in, one by one, through the small cracks leading into the cave. Stripedtail was the last one in. As she watched the other cats slip through, she realized that the TreeClan cats were already at a disadvantage: no trees. They could fight on their own, of course, but this was a major setback, especially in a such a sudden emergency where they didn't know the amount of cats or exactly who they were and needed their special technique to aid them.
Finally, Stripedtail dove in, her heart beating fast. She heard yowls of anger and pain. It was dark inside, but Stripedtail's amber eyes adjusted to it almost immediately. Tawnythorn was trying to get a good claw rake on a dark gray tabby tom. Redpelt was pinned under a light gray she-cat and Rainclaw was about to free her. Thinstar grappled with a black she-cat whose yellow eyes blazed with fury.
Stripedtail whipped her head around in search of her best friend. Where was Yellowpaw?! But suddenly, Stripedtail spotted her, fighting the claws of the large Thinstar leader, Cricketstar. Yellowpaw already had a nasty cut on her right shoulder but appeared to be giving Cricketstar some wounds of his own. Stripedtail dove in to help her friend. Right before she joined the fury of claws and teeth, she saw Rattail lying on the ground beside them.
Yellowpaw finally got a good grip with her claws on Cricketstar's shoulder. Stripedtail took the opportunity to jump forward and sink her teeth in his neck. She could taste his blood in her mouth as she held on. Stripedtail could hear his screech as he tried to struggle free. After a minute, he went limp and Stripedtail let go.
When she pulled back, she realized that his fighting claws had done more to her than she realized in the heat of the moment. Her front legs and chest were battered with small cuts all over. None were serious or deep, but now that the adrenaline rush was gone, they were very painful.
Stripedtail gazed at the scene around her. Two FlowerClan apprentices and one warrior ran screeching out of the den. Cricketstar continued to lay still, a puddle of blood around his neck. Two Shadow Den rogues were in the middle of the den, looking in a daze as their injuries dripped blood. Thinstar murmured something to Redpelt and Tawnythorn, and they promptly turned and ran with all the speed they could muster out of the den. Rainclaw was leading to Rockpelt to sit down, who was bleeding profusely from his side.
Yellowpaw had just nudged Rattail awake. He awoke with a jolt, and jumped up despite his nose bleeding and the claw marks on his back being red with leaking blood. He dashed over to another figure lying on the ground; a brown she-cat.
Rattail nudged her. "Earthbrook! Please speak to me!" He frantically whispered into her ear.
The petite she-cat stirred. She opened her eyes and looked at her brother with the same green eyes he had. She panted and was bleeding even heavier than Rattail was from her chest. "Rattail… I am…"
"Save your energy!" He murmured. Then the tom turned in a panic to Yellowpaw. "She needs help! Cobwebs! Do we have cobwebs?!"
Yellowpaw whipped around and got some from a small crack. "Yes, the ones I gave you the other day. Use them quickly!" Rattail grabbed them and pressed them up against Earthbrook's wound.
"Help is on the way," Thinstar said to Rattail. "We sent out for our medicine cat and his apprentice. They should be arriving very soon."
"Protect these pathetic traitors all you want!" A pained voice came from behind them. Cricketstar stood unsteadily, blood dripping from his mouth. "Your little warriors made me lose a life tonight. But I won't stop doing what I think is right for the forest!" With support from the black she-cat, the two were the last FlowerClan cats to leave the makeshift den.
An instant after they left, Crazyeyes and Frecklepaw bounded into the den, their mouths full with supplies. Tawnythorn, Redpelt, Badgerpaw, and Dappledpaw all followed also with herbs, cobwebs, and anything else that could be used to help.
Crazyeyes investigated the scene within a minute. He began giving orders. "Redpelt, Tawnythorn, cobwebs for the two rogues in the center! Dappledpaw, Badgerpaw, you two also give cobwebs to any TreeClan cats that need it!" Crazyeyes started over to Earthbrook and Rattail. "Frecklepaw, have her eat some poppy seeds." Crazyeyes nudged Rattail away and used new cobwebs to try to stop the bleeding of Earthbrook's injury. "Yellowpaw, can you help Rattail get some cobwebs on-" Crazyeyes stopped suddenly when he turned and saw that Yellowpaw was injured as well. "No, you're cut, too! Who isn't-"
"I'm not seriously injured!" Stripedtail quickly answered.
"Nor am I," Thinstar put forth. "I have small cuts on my abdomen, but I am ready to help where it is needed."
Crazyeyes nodded. "Thinstar, you can help Rattail. Rockpelt is being accounted for… and Stripedtail, you help Yellowpaw."
"Are we taking back injured cats that are able to travel to our camp?" Tawnythorn asked, turning away from a dark brown tom with very light blue eyes.
"Yes, back to our camp. Immediately into my den. There will be supplies in there if you need some."
"But we don't know what herbs do what!" Badgerpaw quickly protested.
Frecklepaw turned from Earthbrook. "Poppy seeds are for pain and shock. Cobwebs stop bleeding. I'm not sure if we have much of anything else, ask Cedarpoppy. She was formerly the medicine cat." Badgerpaw and Tawnythorn nodded, leading the two toms out.
Darkbranch emerged from behind. He was carrying an unconscious Midnightpaw by the scruff. "Midnightpaw was in the back! She doesn't appear to be too injured, I think she just got knocked out." He paused. "I'm taking her back to camp."
"Go ahead," Thinstar nodded to Darkbranch.
Yellowpaw padded away from Stripedtail and over to Rattail. She said nothing, just sitting next to him and nuzzling his shoulder to comfort him. He looked off into the distance.
The wait won't be as long for the next chapter. The pace will also be a lot slower.
It would be most appreciated if you would review this story. The reviews, my soul feeds on them! I need them to supply the life, supply the energy, supply the very blood that flows through my veins! Okay, not really...
BUT reviewing is really good.
Oh, and just to let you know, the temptation to name this chapter "Panic! at the Shadow Den" was awful. But, the exclamation point didn't make the cut. Like a bad auditioner for American Idol. Oh my, it's already started! Whatever, the only ones I care about are Lakisha, Sir Baldy Bald, and the young guy anyways. (I can't remember the names for the guys...)