Rising Moon

Jedi Goat

Disclaimer: I don't own Warriors.

Author's Note: Thank you for all the reviews! Wow, this story is officially my most-reviewed fanfiction :) Thanks go to WildTotodile, Likemeg0130 and Rabbitstorm. Rabbitstorm, you guessed right!

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Chapter 11

"No!" Moonpaw jumped at the creature that had felled Brambleclaw. She clung on to its thick fur, biting its ear.

The creature snarled and shook its head. Moonpaw bit on harder as she swung through the air. Her muffled scream echoed in her ears.

Help! she wailed desperately. Someone help me!

A creature whisked by in pursuit of Cloudtail. The white tom's thick coat was fluffed up, and blood stained his long tail. The creature snarled, turned and caught sight of her, latched onto its clanmate's ear.

With a yowl the creature leaped, jaws reaching for her. Moonpaw released her grip and slid down the first creature's back.

"Aaaah!" she yelped as she overbalanced, toppled off and landed on the ground. As two creatures whipped around to face her, Moonpaw knew she was doomed. She couldn't fight off two of these beasts!

There was a sudden yowl, and a group of cats plowed into the clearing. Moonpaw's eyes widened in shock. She kept her gaze on her oppressors, not about to give them an opening. At the same time, though, she noticed the new cats rushing into the battle. A flash of red passed nearby and Moonpaw recognized Firestar.

Oakpaw suddenly appeared at her side, pelt bristling. "Back off!" he spat at the creatures, swiping at one's muzzle. It bared its teeth and lunged forward.

Oakpaw reacted instantly, slicing at the creature's unprotected neck. As the creature twisted around, trying reach him, Moonpaw flew at its face. She was a whirlwind of claws, slashing wildly.

The creature howled in pain and Moonpaw dropped back down to the ground, exhausted. Then she scampered out of the way as the creature's black bulk came crashing down. It thrashed, gasped for air, and finally lay still.

Oakpaw hauled himself out from under the creature, soaked in its blood.

Moonpaw dipped her head to him, breathing hard. "Thanks – you saved my life."

Oakpaw didn't reply, instead beginning to lick her injured shoulder. Moonpaw closed her eyes, feeling his tongue rasp gently over the wound. Fatigue washed over her, now that the battle was over. She could hear the defeated howls of the creatures as they darted away into the forest.

Opening her eyes, she could see four of the creatures lying dead in the clearing. Three bushy tails were now disappearing into the trees. The ThunderClan cats remained, some slumped on the ground. Moonpaw felt a wave of terror. How many lives did the creatures claim?!

Turning her head, she noticed a familiar brown tabby making her way around the cats.

"I'd better go help Leafpool," she sighed, heaving herself to her paws.

"I'll help," offered Oakpaw, leaping up beside her.

Moonpaw nodded. "Thanks."

Together, the two apprentices padded toward the nearest warrior, who happened to be Brackenfur. The golden tom lay unmoving on the ground, three long scratches down his back. Moonpaw felt her heart lurch, but Brackenfur raised his head as they approached.

Moonpaw turned to Oakpaw. "We'll need cobwebs. Find someone who's uninjured and go get some."

The tom nodded and raced over to Sandstorm.

Meanwhile, Moonpaw licked clean the wounds as well as she could, grimacing at the sharp tang of blood. Then she ushered Brackenfur over to where the other injured cats were waiting in the center of the clearing.

Leafpool padded up, curling her tail around Moonpaw.

"You fought well, you know."

The apprentice looked down at her paws. "Maybe. I sent Oakpaw to get cobwebs."

"Good," purred Leafpool.

Firestar approached them. "Any casualties?"

"One." Grimly, Leafpool turned to look at the tom lying beneath a tree. "Berryfoot."

Moonpaw recoiled in shock. "He's dead?" she whispered, feeling faint. He died to save me

Leafpool touched her ear comfortingly, continuing to Firestar, "Brambleclaw's seriously injured. I'll need herbs to treat him."

Firestar nodded. "I could send a warrior to find some."

Leafpool agreed, "Yes, thank you. Oakpaw and Sandstorm can go after they return with cobwebs."

"Leafpool." The fiery tom lowered his voice, so Moonpaw and any other onlooking ctas couldn't hear. "I do not wish to worry the clan. But I lost my fourth life in the battle."

Leafpool blinked worriedly up at her father, about to reply.

At that moment, Oakpaw burst into the clearing. "Found some!" he yowled triumphantly, one paw ensconced in a sticky web.

Leafpool quickly took the cobwebs from him, dividing them up for the cats.

"There's more," Oakpaw explained. "Sandstorm's waiting back there."

"Moonpaw, can you go with him?"

Moonpaw nodded and bounded out of the clearing with him. Oakpaw slowed to match her limping pace, and they soon arrived in a small clearing crossed by a babbling brook. Sandstorm waited by the overlooking cattails. Millions of cobwebs glistened from their long stalks.

"Wow! Good work finding this place," Moonpaw exclaimed, twining a stray cobweb around her paw.

"Oakpaw found it," Sandstorm mewed, taking her own share of the webs.

"I had your help," he muttered embarrassedly.

Sandstorm cast him an amused glance, then turned and padded away. "Come on. Let's get back to the others."

A few moments later, they returned to the clearing to report to Leafpool.

"Thanks," the medicine cat said. "Moonpaw, help me with the injured. Oakpaw, Sandstorm, could you guys head out and find me some marigold leaves for Brambleclaw?"

The two nodded and disappeared into the forest.

For a few moments, the clearing was silent as Moonpaw and Leafpool worked on their patients. Leafpool had the healed cats stand guard around the clearing, while she watched over Brambleclaw, and Moonpaw finished with the others.

Then the bushes rustled, and two cats appeared. They carried with them a scent of the wild and mountains, unlike any clan scent.

Moonpaw raised her head to stare at the newcomers suspiciously. As she observed, Firestar raced over to the two cats. "Stormfur! Brook!"

"Great StarClan! What happened here?" the gray tom, Stormfur, demanded with wide eyes.

"Something is hunting our clan," Firestar informed them gravely. "A pack of wolves."

Moonpaw shuddered. Now those fearsome creatures had a name.

"We had the same problem in the Tribe," Brook, the tabby she-cat, murmured. She shook her head in dismay. "The wolves have been in our territory for four seasons of frozen-water now. When Stormfur and I left the clans, we lived as loners, but…we still heard news. The wolves had killed several cats. Our old friends. What a pity none of them got Preybone."

"Preybone?" Firestar inquired.

Stormfur cleared his throat uncomfortably. "Maybe I should explain. The reason we left the Tribe in the first place was Stoneteller's death. The cat who took over as healer, Bone of Caught-Prey, had a…different way of leading the Tribe."

"He sent us away," Brook added softly. "Because Stormfur wasn't a pure Tribe cat."

"Then you're welcome to stay with ThunderClan," offered Firestar. He glanced around the clearing. For a moment his green gaze settled on Moonpaw, and she busied herself with healing, face turned away so he wouldn't see it was burning with embarrassment. Did he see me eavesdropping?

Firestar turned back to the new cats. "We've already dealt with half of the pack, I think. StarClan willing, the rest will be soon to follow."

Stormfur nodded. "We'll accept your offer. Thank you, Firestar."

To be continued...

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