Chapter 4
"Yellowfang!" a gasp from Smallear alerted the whole Clan to the presence of the prisoner. Smudgepaw heard Halftail explaining to several other cats that this mangy creature was the ShadowClan medicine cat. Bluestar strode majestically out of her den and padded straight over to Smudgepaw and Firepaw.
"You have brought us an important cat, you two." She meowed. And with that, she leaped on to Highrock and yowled her summons. Smudgepaw sat patiently as Bluestar told the Clan all about Yellowfang and that she had decided to keep her as a prisoner.
Smudgepaw strode out of the apprentices' den and glanced over to where Yellowfang ha sheltered for the night. He noticed that the queens were taking care of the old gray cat, and he had noticed other things about her too. For one, Yellowfang did not like kits, he had pondered on this for quite some time and he had not yet discovered a reason why. For another, the she-cat hated being looked after. She seemed very independent and despised being in another cat's care. Smudgepaw pulled his thoughts away from the bad-tempered rogue, and focused on the Gathering that had been last night. He remembered Brokenstar announcing that a dangerous cat was out and about, and how Bluestar had refused to believe that it was Yellowfang. He also remembered Brokenstar demanding hunting rights for his Clan, and now ThunderClan was nervously keeping watch for an attack.
"See you later, Smudgepaw!" Smudgepaw whirled around to see Graypaw, Firepaw and Ravenpaw bounding out of the gorse tunnel with Bluestar and Tigerclaw. Of course, Smudgepaw recalled bitterly, they're going to the Moonstone, and Bluestar wouldn't let me come, I have just as much experience as those stupid furballs. Smudgepaw thought, referring to his three best friends. He stood, scowling and watching with jealousy as the three apprentices padded smugly out of camp.
Smudgepaw spent the day wandering through the forest, grumbling angrily about Bluestar's choice of escort to the Moonstone. Occasionally he came round long enough to catch a mouse. Smudgepaw padded blindly through Tallpines and came out at his old Twoleg garden fence. He gazed up at it for several heartbeats and finally leaped up onto it. He had never been good at balancing but he managed to cling to the narrow fence and glance into his garden. He saw a small fluffy gray kitten immersed in a conversation with a tabby she-cat. He watched as a Twoleg stepped out of the nest and called out to the gray kitten. The little cat mewed a quick goodbye to the tabby and scrambled into the Twoleg nest.
Smudgepaw hopped down from the fence; he had to collect his catch and get back to the ThunderClan camp. He pushed his way into the gorse tunnel and dropped three mice and a vole on to the fresh-kill pile. Smudgepaw selected a thrush for himself and settled by the stump to eat it. He was glad that Sandpaw and Dustpaw weren't there to cold-shoulder him, but he felt lonely anyway. The black and white tom turned to go into the apprentices' den when Yellowfang leaped up with a yowl and stared at the gorse tunnel. Her screech caught the attention of all the other cats, and Lionheart had only just poked his head out of the warriors' den when a whole pack of cats bounded into the clearing. Smudgepaw recognized the scent of ShadowClan and he remembered some of the warriors' names. He saw Brokenstar, Blackfoot, Clawface, Boulder, and many others. Smudgepaw looked at the hostile faces of the ShadowClan cats and he knew they were not there just to deliver a friendly message.
Smudgepaw hurled himself into the fray and gripped the back of an enormous black tom. Smudgepaw clawed him again and again, but the huge cat refused to weaken. The black tom writhed beneath his claws and Smudgepaw felt himself being hurled away. He hit the dusty ground and before he could gather himself together again, the tom was on top of him. Smudgepaw knew that he could never beat such an opponent so he wriggled away from the cat before he suffered real injuries. He turned around in time to see Bluestar, Tigerclaw, Firepaw, Graypaw and Ravenpaw bound through the gorse tunnel and hurl themselves into battle.
Bleeding heavily from several wounds, Smudgepaw staggered over to Spottedleaf's den, he stumbled through the ferns to see the tortioseshell medicine cat pressing cobwebs on a rip in Runningwind's flank. The brown warrior shook her off and bounded back to the clearing. Spottedleaf took one look at Smudgpaw's ragged pelt and whisked off into her den, only to return with a wad of cobwebs a few heartbeats later. Smudgepaw sat patiently as she rapidly checked his wounds. After what seemed like an age, she gave him the all clear and he padded as quickly as he could back into the center of camp.
The clearing was exactly as it was when Smudgepaw had left it. A whirlwind of fur and claws flashed past him, and Smudgepaw saw Tigerclaw grappling furiously with Brokenstar. The huge tabby scored his claws down Brokenstar's face and Runningwind, restored to strength by Spottedleaf, leaped on the ShadowClan leader from behind. Tigerclaw turned to Smudgepaw.
"Move, kittypet, make yourself useful unless you want this Clan to be turned to crowfood." Smudgepaw spun around, looking for a cat that needed help. A sharp, loud squeal near the nursery caught his attention and he sped through the thick mass of cats in time to see Blackfoot herding several ThunderClan kits toward the gorse tunnel.
"The kits! Someone save the-" The desperate mew of Firepaw reached Smudgepaw's ears and the black-and-white cat turned to see Firepaw staring at the kits, when his yowl was cut short by a cat landing on the ginger tom's back and tearing out clumps of fur. Smudgepaw raced up to Blackfoot, when Yellowfang came out of nowhere. She thrust herself between the deputy and his way out and snarled and inaudible insult into the white cat's face. Smudgepaw automatically bounded up to the kits and picked up the smallest in his mouth. The rest he herded back to the nursery and gently nudged them inside.
He spun around and nearly tripped over Yellowfang who was fighting Blackfoot with all the ability of StarClan. Blackfoot raised his claws to tear them into Yellowfang's flesh, when a cry of retreat sounded from Brokenstar, and ShadowClan surged out of camp.