Chapter 3
A/N: Here's Steeltalon's chappie! Yay!
-0-0-0-
BRAMBLECLAW'S POV
Brambleclaw padded up to the ShadowClan border, making sure it had not been moved. He recoiled from the repulsive stench and moved farther up the border. Hazelpaw sprinted up to his shoulder.
"Are we gonna have to fight ShadowClan warriors today?" the gray and white she-cat meowed excitedly.
"I should hope not," Dustpelt grunted. "It's bad enough that Firestar gave them a piece of our land."
Stormfur meowed, "And we had to chase them off ThunderClan land more than once."
Thornclaw added, "And their stench is repulsive enough to scare a rabbit on WindClan territory..."
Brambleclaw purred with amusement. "Alright, settle down," he meowed. "Remember how close we are to enemy land."
The patrol was quiet after that. Brambleclaw led them to the dead tree, then decided to head for the WindClan border. "Keep quiet," Brambleclaw murmured. "We don't know how WindClan will react to us."
Hazelpaw nodded, flattening her ears to stay hidden behind a bramble bush.
Nothing interesting happened for the rest of the patrol. Brambleclaw started to lead them back when Whitewhisker and Birchtail came running up, panting. "ShadowClan!" Whitewhisker gasped. "They're attacking our camp!"
Brambleclaw bristled. "Come on," he meowed, sprinting through the forest.
FIRESTAR'S POV
Firestar raked his claws down Oakfur's shoulder. The brown tom snarled and retaliated by biting down hard on Firestar's foreleg. Firestar snarled, sinking his teeth into Oakfur's scruff and yanking the ShadowClan tom off his leg.
"Firestar!"
Firestar gasped. Sandstorm! The pale ginger warrior was doing battle with Blackstar. And Sandstorm was losing.
Yowling fury, Firestar leaped onto Blackstar's back. The ShadowClan leader gasped with surprise as Firestar's teeth met in his scruff. Firestar shook Blackstar slightly, just enough to daze the white tom. Suddenly, Blackstar shook him off and Firestar fell to the ground.
Blackstar seemed to sense a fresh wave of reinforcements and turned his head. Brambleclaw, Stormfur, Thornclaw, Dustpelt, Whitewhisker, Birchtail and Hazelpaw raced forward and fell onto the invading warriors.
Brambleclaw ran toward Blackstar, who snarled and met him. Firestar lay on his side, gasping. His green eyes widened when he saw how well matched his deputy and Blackstar were matched. They met each other blow for blow, dodging, ducking, claws and teeth flashing.
Firestar sighed as his world went black.
BRAMBLECLAW'S POV
Brambleclaw saw his leader's head fall and snarled furiously. He was going to take a life or two from Blackstar while the battle still raged. The dark tabby bowled his opponent over, fastening teeth and claws in Blackstar's throat. The ShadowClan leader fell limp and the battle seemed to stop. Cats from both Clans were staring at Blackstar, waiting to see if the white cat was dead.
Blackstar gasped and struggled to his paws. Blood flowed from his scratches, but the throat injury had been healed. Brambleclaw tensed, but Blackstar made no move to attack. Instead, he lifted his head and gave the yowl to retreat.
Brambleclaw turned to Firestar, who was still unconcious. He picked up the flame-colored leader and carried him to the den on the Highledge. Firestar needed to rest.