Chapter 7
Rockstorm looked up in alarm as mews of shock rippled through
the cluster of cats, to see Whisperfoot, a tortoiseshell she-cat of GrassClan,
standing at the edge of the clearing, sides heaving. She glanced wearily up
at Redstar and her few warriors.
"A group of RustClan cats have invaded our camp! We must return
as soon as possible!" Without stopping to catch her breath, she turned back
and raced away from the island, with Stripestar and his warriors at her tail.
This seemed to explain the ever-thickening cloud cover; how could
Redstar butcher the warrior code so? She sent her warriors on a combat
mission before arriving at the Gathering with her same cool and collected
attitude. And now she was walking away.
As the rest of the clearing was frozen in shock -- except for Redstar,
who had a cool, unreadable expression on her face as she led her warriors
away -- Stonestar seemed to think for a moment. Then, he spoke.
"Rockstorm, Rainfall, Nightwind, and Runningpaw, follow me. We
will aid our GrassClan neighbors. Woodpelt, I want you to take the rest of
the warriors and the elders back to our camp."
Rockstorm was looking forward to sinking his teeth into a RustClan
cats leg -- except for the taste, of course! He followed at a sprint as his four
Clanmates ran to keep GrassClan in sight.
Soon he heard the bloodcurdling sounds of battle, and quickened his
pace. Stripestar flashed a grateful glance at WoodClan, and then disappeared
into the ground!
"This way," Stonestar meowed. "Their camp is in a cave; its entrance
is here." He led the patrol to the tunnel that Stripestar had entered. Rockstorm
could smell blood and fear, the tunnel's reeking stench gagging him.
Ahead of him, the whole of GrassClan's warriors were engaged in battle,
defending the lives of their kits, their queens, their elders... themselves. He
launched himself upon the back of a warrior queen named Redwire, satisfied
by her hiss of astonishment. She collapsed under his greater weight, and he
bit down hard on her ear. She squealed in pain as his hind-claws raked her
back. He pounded hard on her forehead with sheathed claws, stunning her,
and got off, giving her a chance to flee. The dazed calico she-cat got away
with one last warning nip to her haunches.
He looked around, but since the cats from the Gathering had arrived,
the battle had taken a turn. There were no more intruders.
The GrassClan deputy, Fleetfoot, padded up to the WoodClan patrol.
"Thank you so much; your warriors really saved our pelts. If it weren't for
you, someone may have been seriously injured."
"GrassClan will remember this for many moons," Stripestar added.
"Thank you."
"It was our pleasure; RustClan has been far too assertive these past
few moons. We needed to put them back in their place," Stonestar growled.
"Though it is time for us to return home. WoodClan, follow me!"
As Rockstorm reached the top of the ridge near GrassClan's camp,
he took satisfaction in seeing the faint outlines of RustClan warriors splashing
through the stream into their own territory.