She glimpsed a flash of stormy-black fur weaving in between the towering trunks.
"Stop!" she yowled angrily.
The intruder ignored her and burst out of the shelter of the forest, coming upon a huge wooden nest. He leapt, landing on top of a stone wall surrounding the Twoleghouse.
Nutflower dug her claws into the grass to bring herself to a halt, eyes huge with fear.
Suddenly, a loud bang filled the two cats' ears. The tom, who had been washing his black ears calmly, sprang to his feet and disappeared around a corner of the Twoleg den.
Nutflower snapped out of her terrified state and sprang after him, skidding after the trespasser.
She caught his tail in her sharp teeth, biting down hard until she heard a yowl of pain. The cat whipped to face Nutflower, a fierce look in his yellow eyes.
He yanked his stormy tail out of her grasp, and Nutflower swiped at his ears, claws unsheathed and deadly.
The tom ducked, but one of his ears tore and blood spattered over both of them.
Nutflower was already beginning another offensive, leaping onto his sleek back to drive his muzzle into the dirt.
He collapsed, breathing heavily.
Nutflower cautiously tested him, shifting her weight onto the ground.
But he did not stand up. She tilted her multicoloured head, staring at the tired-out rogue. He had done almost nothing!
The tom rolled away from Nutflower rapidly, scrambling to his feet. Nutflower started in surprise.
He may be a fighter worth only a mouse-tail, but he's fast! She thought, as she backed up a step.
But, instead of fighting the she-cat, the tom resumed his washing, looking expectantly around the corner, where Nutflower couldn't see.
Twoleg scent!
A huge form towered over Nutflower, waving its paws angrily.
The tom walked smugly over to the Twoleg, and the Twoleg picked him up!
Nutflower's heart beat faster, and she felt a growing dread rise within her.
She was trapped between the stone wall, the nest, and the Twoleg!
A low hiss caught Nutflower's attention.
"Over here!"
She glanced in the direction of the voice, shrinking against the stone wall, and saw a dark gray tabby head peeking out from under a pine tree.
With a swipe at the Twoleg, Nutflower gladly dashed to the bushy tree, where she was met by a muscular slate-gray cat.
She noticed with surprise that he, like Ravenwing, had a white star upon his chest.
"Come on!" he hissed again, and they raced back into the reassuring canopy of branches that formed the forest.
"You'll have to forgive Lightning."
They were sitting in a little cleared patch of grass, watching two deer graze nearby.
Nutflower's rescuer continued, "He does not think before he acts, and when he does, that defeats his only advantage: his speed."
Nutflower had a hundred questions buzzing around. "Who exactly are you, anyways?"
The handsome tom's face saddened. "You would not want to know."
"Yes, I do!"
"All right," his expression turned into a horrible smile, causing Nutflower to recoil fearfully.
"I am Stormyheart."
"Palerose, lead a patrol towards the Twoleghouse. I'll head towards the no-cat's land. Nightsky, I want you to stay here and guard the camp," Whitestar yowled out orders calmly, despite the worry in his eyes.
Palerose dipped her head in acknowledgement, then darted off to gather a patrol. Nightsky stayed behind, taking a few pawsteps towards his leader. "Whitestar, is it Stormyheart?"
"We can only hope that Nutflower is safe now," he replied heavily.
The deputy agreed silently, leaving Whitestar alone with his thoughts.
"Ravenwing?"
The glossy black tom looked upwards at Palerose from where he lay in the warriors' den, eyes filled with sorrow.
"Would you come on the patrol to find Nutflower? I know that - you are close to her."
He dragged himself to his paws. "All right."
Ravenwing followed Palerose out of the small den, wondering what could lie in store for them.
"You killed my mother!" Nutflower screeched furiously, fur bristling.
"Did I? I have killed many cats."
Nutflower hissed and spat, fully prepared to rip him open from throat to tail.
The patrol waited in anticipation, standing silently as Palerose scented the tall grass deer-trail.
"This way!"
They were off, pelting through the forest they knew so well.
Stormyheart regarded the she-cat calmly. "I expect a search patrol to be coming for you any moment now, so I am afraid I must be off. But first things first - what should I do with you?"
Nutflower hated the way he spoke of her, like she was a mere problem, at his complete disposal.
:Ah, I have an idea. Would you be inclined to join my forces?"
"Never!" With that forceful reply, Nutflower leaped powerfully into the air, jaws open and ready to tear.
But Stormyheart was quick; he darted underneath her stomach and caused the she-cat to land heavily on her stomach. He proceeded to walk up her back, stopping to plant a gray paw on her neck.
Nutflower inhaled sharply, then held her breath.
Ravenwing's heart pounded heavily in his ears. The cats were running as one now, joined by their shared objective.
"Stop!"
At Palerose's command, the patrol slid to a gradual stop.
"Rogues," Palerose hissed, tail twitching in anticipation.
"It would be for the best," Stormyheart's tone of voice was now poisonous, full of malcontent. "For you and your friends."
Nutflower tried to gasp at the threat, but Stormyheart increased the pressure on her throat.
"Do you choose death," the gray cat continued, "or life?"
The paw lifted. Nutflower battled with her emotions, barely keeping herself in line. This cat was unnatural. Why he was even keeping her alive, Nutflower was not sure.
"You must-" Nutflower began to speak, but Stormyheart scored a painful line across her calico head with unsheathed claws.
"Let me talk!"
Stormyheart regarded her with pity and amusement. "What could you have to say? Do you not value your life?"
Nutflower braced herself as she once more drew breath to speak, but no pain came.
Instead, Stormyheart interrupted her again.
"The obvious choice is clear. Now you may talk," he allowed.
"I will join only if you promise to leave my Clan alone!" Nutflower did not expect it to work; after all, she was just one cat! But she would gladly sacrifice herself for the goodwill of her Clan.
The cats spread out into a circular formation, all backs to the center.
"Where are they coming from?" Dovefeather's brother Sharpclaw hissed under his breath.
"There!" Firestripe motioned towards the direction they had just come from.
Ravenwing shook his head in confusion. There was a steady unknown scent coming from their camp, but he was picking up a different scent as well...
From above?
"Deal!" Stormyheart stepped off Nutflower entirely.
Nutflower sprang to her feet, hissing, "But you won't really honour this agreement, will you?"
Stormyheart whipped around from where he'd been walking away towards the Twoleghouse.
The horrible smile came again.
"No."
A huge black cat sprang out from behind a tree and grabbed hold of Nutflower's scruff and dragged her effortlessly away.
"Now," Stormyheart said to himself, "We will see whose will is stronger!"
Palerose yowled a war cry, and suddenly the forest was alive with cats.