Rising Moon
Jedi Goat
Disclaimer: I don't own Warriors.
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Chapter 27
"This way!" Cloudtail bounded behind the nursery. The rest of the patrol, Wolfspirit, Brackenfur and Sorreltail, were close on his tail.
The white tom nudged aside a plant. "Rabbitkit went up here," he mewed. "She left camp."
Behind them, Squirrelflight let out a wail.
Sorreltail padded over to her friend and nosed her ear. "We've got a lot of time before dusk. We'll find her."
"Hang on." Wolfspirit lowered her muzzle and sniffed the tunnel entrance. She turned back, puzzled. "My brother was here – and Moonpaw!"
"Let's go." Cloudtail vanished up the tunnel.
Noses to the ground, Moonpaw and Oakheart followed Rabbitkit's winding trail trough the bushes. The scent of the mysterious tom was here, through he had left no tracks nor any other indications of his presence. Obviously he had been trying to hide. Moonpaw stopped suddenly as their path grew familiar. "You don't think they went into ShadowClan territory?"
"It looks like it," Oakheart stated grimly. "C'mon."
The two cats slipped stealthily down the slope to the stream. Oakheart's gaze lingered on the sheen of ice, suppressing a shudder. Moonpaw realized with a pang that he should be back in camp, warm and safe. Neither of them should be there.
Her eyes traveled over to the old hunchbacked tree, where she had discovered the hidden trap. What if whoever murdered Russetfur's still here – and they have Rabbitkit? She shuddered at the mental images that flew through her head. Moonpaw raised her head. No, she wouldn't let that happen to Rabbitkit. They had to save her!
Face set grimly, she looked out into the menacing dark forest of ShadowClan's territory. Moonpaw had her suspicions, all right. She didn't trust Nightfang one bit.
She turned to Oakheart, brushing her tail against his. "We have to go in there. To find her."
"And rescue her." Oakheart raised his head defiantly. He led the way down to the frozen stream, Moonpaw only a pawstep behind.
The two cats crouched in the snow bank at the water's edge, eyes peering into the unknown. A long moment passed, and Moonpaw scented the air.
"There hasn't been a patrol since early this morning," she reported. "It's all clear."
Oakheart squared his shoulders and stepped out onto the ice. Cautiously, he padded forward, testing the ice's strength before every pawstep. His ears were flattened against his head and he looked slightly nervous, but continued on nevertheless.
Moonpaw waited a moment before placing a paw on the icy surface. She gasped at the chill rushing through her pad and up her leg. She lifted her paw, feeling the release of the cold and sticky ice. Well, better get this over with quickly. Bracing herself, she darted out.
With a yelp, Moonpaw slipped on the ice and flew onto her back. She lay for a moment, trying to regain her breath.
"Moonpaw! Are you all right?" Oakheart was a few tail-lengths in front of her, staring back with wide eyes.
Moonpaw didn't answer until she had regained her footing. "Fine," she gasped, slip-sliding toward him. Oakheart turned back and the two finished crossing.
As the ThunderClan cats slipped into a dark, snow-covered forest, they felt the weight of the solemn atmosphere. Oakheart took the lead, keeping to the shadows as much as possible. Moonpaw found herself instinctively peering up into the tree branches, expecting to see angry warriors dropping down on them.
A sudden scuffling sound made them both jump, but it was only a mouse. Moonpaw let out the breath she had been holding and exchanged a relieved glance with Oakheart. The two cats padded onward.
Though they did not know where ShadowClan camp was, following the strong cat-scents and prints proved easy enough. Moonpaw could smell Rabbitkit's passing; she could even make out tiny pawprints in the snow. She realized that she and Oakheart were leaving tracks and glanced back worriedly. Their trail weaved in and out of the trees, leading back to the border. Gulping nervously, she hoped to StarClan that they would not be discovered.
Oakheart gave an abrupt hiss of warning and they scrambled up the nearest pine tree. The branches rustled as they raced up the trunk, then stilled as Moonpaw and Oakheart crouched on them, hardly daring to breathe. Moonpaw's heart hammered in her chest, and she bet all of ShadowClan could hear it.
"Look," Oakheart hissed, nodding down below. Moonpaw peered over her branch and saw a hollow stretching out below them. It was ShadowClan camp.
Carefully, she inched further out, straining her neck to see better. Shadows flitted around the camp, forming into individual shapes of cats. Moonpaw frowned. There seemed to be many more cats here than she had ever seen in ShadowClan, and they were a lot skinnier, too, their bones sticking out from their long bodies.
Oakheart wrinkled his nose. "Smell that? Carrion."
He was right; a high pile of prey bones served as a border, cutting off the camp from the outside world. In the center of the hollow, a lone stump stood. Around this point warriors, with dirty, unkept pelts crouched and ate, while others clung to the edges of the clearing, eyes wide as they watched. As Moonpaw observed, a tom tore the meat off a mouse and tossed the remains onto the pile. Moonpaw growled in annoyance; when the clans were struggling through leaf-bare, how dare they waste food like that!
Oakheart flicked her shoulder. "Look!" he hissed. Moonpaw sunk her claws into the branch, freezing as a patrol passed by below. One tom marched ahead of the others, his head held high. His fur stood out against the snow like the shadow of night.
Nightfang, Moonpaw realized, as he stalked through camp, cats drawing back from his presence. He leaped upon the stump with a yowl.
"Cats of ShadowClan!"
At the command, the cats slipped out of the corners of the camp, crouching beneath him. Even Moonpaw could scent the fear in the air.
"Bring out the prisoners!" barked Nightfang.
"Where's Blackstar?" whispered Oakheart. "He should - Rabbitkit!" His fur bristled as a skinny gray tom dragged the tabby into the clearing by her scruff. Rabbitkit gave a little yelp as she hit the ground; she shook her head and struggled to her paws.
A second cat chased a frightened she-cat onto the scene. Her tortoiseshell pelt was matted with dirt and blood. She stumbled but refused to kneel in front of Nightfang, instead standing protectively over Rabbitkit.
"Blackstar," Nightfang growled. "Their charges?"
A thin tom Moonpaw would have never noticed as the ShadowClan leader raised his head and regarded the two cats bleakly. "Tawnypelt is accused of betrayal and association with the enemy."
"And what are the consequences?" Nightfang sneered.
Blackstar twitched, and then lowered his head in defeat. "Death."
"Exactly," Nightfang echoed smoothly. The crowed hissed in agreement, a single caterwaul rising above the other voices.
A light brown she-cat padded forward. "You can't do this!" she yowled. "Tawnypelt is a good warrior. And this kit belongs to ThunderClan!"
"Appleheart," growled Nightfang, "stay out of this."
"No." The she-cat stood defiantly between him and Tawnypelt. "ShadowClan used to be honorable and great, not a haven for outcasts and fiends like you."
The surrounding cats began hissing angrily. "She speaks against us!" one cat spat.
"Silence!" snapped Nightfang. He leaped down from his post, stalking around Rabbitkit, Tawnypelt and Appleheart. The kit drew back, terrified, but Appleheart stood her ground with her fur fluffed out. Growling, Tawnypelt crouched over Rabbitkit.
"Tawnypelt and you have openly defied me," the black tom announced. He flicked his ears back menacingly. "Perhaps you should both be sentenced to death."
"Yes! Yes! Yes!" called the clan.
"This would never happen in the true ShadowClan!" Appleheart shouted, sounding desperate.
"This is ShadowClan," retorted Nightfang. "Now hand over the kit."
"No. She is my brother's kin and I will defend her with my life," announced Tawnypelt.
Nightfang's eyes narrowed to slits. "Then prepare to die." With a yowl he flashed his claws forward.
"No!" Oakheart shouted, bounding down from the tree. Moonpaw darted after him. She heard a yowl of pain, but it was not Tawnypelt who had cried out; at the last moment, Blackstar had leaped in front of his warrior. Now the big tom staggered back, blood dripping from his side.
However, Moonpaw had bigger problems on her paws: now the clan turned to face her and Oakheart. A sea of cats unsheathed claws and spat angry cries.
"We have to get to Rabbitkit," Oakheart said, determined. He launched himself into the fray, snarling. Moonpaw gathered her courage, her heart beating quicker in fear. She saw the ShadowClan cats moving toward her, crouched low. She hissed warningly, raising a paw.
"Get lost, kitty," one cat told her.
"Why don't you?" Snow crunched behind her and Moonpaw's ears flicked back. ThunderClan!
The cat who had spoken padded to her side and Moonpaw saw it was Cloudtail. His pelt bristled, making him look twice his size. On her other side, Moonpaw recognized Sorreltail, Wolfspirit and Brackenfur, all battle-ready.
Some of the ShadowClan warriors hesitated, observing the new fighters. But then one jumped at Cloudtail with a screech; Cloudtail batted him aside and the patrol surged forward. Moonpaw flew after them, dodging through the battle.
To be continued...
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