Chapter Two
"What is the meaning of this?" Hawkstar demanded. Icestar, Goldenfur, Mudfoot, Spottedshadow, and Hawkwing had entered WaterClan's camp. Sunheart's and Rippedheart's eyes were wide with shock.
"You stole Raintail and her kits!" growled Mudfoot.
"Silence! I was not asking you!" Hawkstar's fur bristled. She looked nothing more than a ghost in the moonlight.
"Where are Raintail and her kits?" Icestar asked.
"How are we supposed to know? We just got back from the Gathering thank you very much!" Hawkstar answered.
"We scented WaterClan in our nursery," Hawkwing growled.
"That's ridiculous!" Hawkstump meowed.
"We particularly picked out a specific scent; Rippedheart," Spottedshadow growled.
Shock ran out through the group of WaterClan cats. They all faced Rippedheart, whom it seemed also shared the same confusion.
"Is this true?" Hawkstar asked.
"No!" Rippedheart shook her hand.
"It was your SCENT!" Mudfoot almost jumped on her, but Icestar yowled menacingly to him to stay back.
"Icestar, it is obvious she is lying!" growled Icestar's deputy.
"Don't be so mouse-brained!" Hawkstar signaled with her tail, and Loudheart, Clawshadow, Rippedwhisker, and Yellowtail formed a defensive line behind their leader and deputy.
"I do not believe Rippedheart took either Raintail or her kits," Icestar meowed.
"Are you just saying that because you love her?!" the deputy was furious.
Icestar hissed at him in warning. "I am saying that because it is the truth!"
"You might have gotten confused over my scent and Swiftwhisker's," Rippedheart suggested.
Hawkstar nodded. "I agree."
"Don't believe them Icestar!" Mudfoot growled.
Icestar's tail lashed furiously.
"Mudfoot, why is it so hard for you to accept the concept that WaterClan has not taken your kits or mate?" Hawkwing asked his older brother.
Mudfoot looked at him in disbelief.
"Leave, now," Hawkstar ordered. Icestar nodded.
He led his cats to their territory.
"Icestar, wait!" came a voice.
He turned around, and with shock saw Rippedheart coming towards them!
"What is it?" he asked. Mudfoot growled threatingly from behind, but Icestar silenced him with a signal.
"I can help you find Swiftwhisker."
"NatureClan is attacking!"
There were yowls of surprise and anger as NatureClan warriors came thundering in, attacking awake and sleeping cats.
Hawktail and Muttermouth ran to protect Frostface, who was close to her kitting.
Outside, Bramblenose saw in dismay that Spottedstar had brought Rippedtail, Rainstump, Mossshadow, and Blackstone with him to attack. She spotted a reinforcement party hiding beneath some bushes, waiting for the signal.
Bramblenose threw herself down on Blackstone, surprising the black tom. He spun around and with amazing speed, knocked her to her feet.
As she crashed down, Blackstone ripped his claws onto her back. She yowled in fury, and sent her back paws up to scratch his soft belly.
Immediately, he got off, growling. Bramblenose attacked him viciously, and sent him off with 2 bites in his left shoulder and a scratch on his left leg.
She looked around and saw that the NatureClan cats were overpowering them. She rushed forward to help Mossheart, who was being attacked by Rainstump. Together, they chased the deputy out of the camp.
"Where's Mosswhisker?" Bramblenose asked.
"She went to get help from WaterClan."
Bramblenose nodded. She saw Spottedstar had just knocked out the elderly warrior, Muttermouth. Rippedtail was battling with Hawktail, so Spottedstar went in the nursery.
"No!" Bramblenose bounded after him.
Inside, she could hear Frostface begging Spottedstar to stop. She raced in, and saw Spottedstar was moving to swipe his claws across her face. Hurriedly, she knocked him down on his side. She bit into his shoulder, and he cried out for the reinforcement party to come. Spottedwhisker came in the nursery and knocked Bramblenose aside. She growled, and saw Spottedstar had left. She made Spottedwhisker run off with his tail between his legs.
She licked Frostface's head before running out. She saw Rippedtail was knocking down Rippedclaw.
She realized with dismay that unless Mosswhisker returned soon, FireClan would lose once again, to NatureClan.
Just at that moment, Hawkstar and Mosswhisker burst in. Hawkstump, Brownear, Sunheart, Clawshadow, Icetail, and Loudheart followed.
The fresh wave of warriors frightened the remaining NatureClan cats. They fled, but Spottedstar yowled, "If we find crowfood on our territory that FireClan has left, then you will all not live to see the next sunrise!" he threatened.
"Well, that sure was easy," Hawkstar commented. "All we did was run in here."
"FireClan owes you, Hawkstar. Thank you," Mudstar dipped his head.
Hawkstar nodded and left with her cats.
"Oh, have any of you seen Rippedheart? She disappeared last night," Hawkstar asked, turning back around.
"Disappeared? Last night? Rippedheart?" Hawktail asked.
Hawkstar nodded.
"What?! How?" Hawktail prepared to jump out and run to WaterClan's camp, but Mudstar stopped her.
"I'll be going then." Hawkstar turned.
"Thank you once more," Mudstar called after her.
"If I know Hawkstar, she's sure going to ask something in return," Bramblenose commented.
"Like what? We haven't got anything that WaterClan could use right now," growled Mossheart.
"Like Preyhill." Bramblenose spoke of FireClan's little hill by the WaterClan border. The little hill was always full of prey.
"Yes, I think you're right," Mudstar agreed. "We will not allow WaterClan to have Preyhill! Especially when we are weak and hungry!"
"Spoken like a true leader," Greentree the medicine cat meowed. "But WaterClan will not give up without a fight."
"Neither will we. Now Greentree, please tend to the injured." Mudstar limped to his den, breathing heavily. Greentree went to make sure Frostface was okay, and then followed her leader, Rockpaw scurrying behind her.
Bramblenose sat down and licked her wounds, waiting for her turn.
Rippedheart had picked up Swiftwhisker's scent and was leading the WindClan cats. They crossed numerous Thunderpaths until they found a large den.
Inside, Raintail's three kits were meowing pitifully. Their mother was knocked out cold next to them. Mudfoot rushed to Raintail. Simultaneously, Rippedheart rushed forward and licked the kits and started nursing them.
"About time," came a lazy meow from the entrance.
The looked around, and with shock saw Swiftwhisker with 8 other cats blocking the entrance.
"Swiftwhisker!" Icestar growled. He protectively went in front of Rippedheart and the kits to protect them.
"Aww, hello Icestar. Long time no see. Anyways, any last words?" the cats started getting near.
"Yea. Can't wait to let your dead body get run over by monsters," Mudfoot growled.
Swiftwhisker let out a snort. "Attack!" she yowled.
Cat fought against cat. Many yowls of pain were heard, and some rogue cats had already run away in the first five minutes.
Spottedshadow and Hawkwing were fighting against a huge black and white tom. Goldenfur attacked another tabby she-cat, while Mudfoot fought off two rogues at once. Icestar battled with Swiftwhisker while Rippedheart nursed and soothed the kits. Raintail did not wake up yet.
Eventually, it was only Swiftwhisker left. She, too, turned tail and fled.
"Ha! You mangy little furball! Don't think you'll ever win against me! Do you understand? Huh? Do ya? Do ya? You mouse-brained piece of fox-dung, ungrateful little –"
"Mudfoot?" came a weak voice.
"Raintail!" Mudfoot spun around and bounded over. He licked his mate furiously, also pressing his muzzle against her happily.
"Are the kits alright?" she asked.
"Yes, they're fine. They're asleep now." Rippedheart came over and touched noses with the calico queen.
"Thank you so much. How can I repay you?" Raintail asked.
"By getting better."
5 minutes later, the cats were leaving the den and were getting ready for the journey home.
At the WindClan and WaterClan border, Icestar touched noses with Rippedheart. This time, she didn't object. She swam across the river and entered her camp.
"Rippedheart!" came a frantic meow. She blinked and saw her son padding towards her.
"Sunheart!" they touched noses and pressed their flanks together.
"Rippedheart!" Hawkstar ran towards them, followed by Hawkstump. Soon, the rest of the Clan knew Rippedheart was back.
"Where have you been?" Hawkstar demanded.
Rippedheart explained everything.
"What? You helped another Clan fetch back their queen?" Hawkstar wasn't happy.
"I had to," Rippedheart meowed.
"No, you didn't have to. Why did you meddle with another Clan's problem? You broke the warrior code, and as for that you will be joining the apprentices until the Gathering." Hawkstar's tone was cold as she walked away.
Yellowtail and Sunheart exchanged looks of surprise. Rippedheart clearly was surprised too.
"I want my deputy in my den!" yelled Hawkstar. Hawkstump quickly bounded away.
Silverpaw, Hawkstar's and Hawkstump's only kit right now, padded over.
"Don't worry Rippedheart. Redpaw and I don't bite," she joked.
Rippedheart smiled gently and padded toward the apprentice's den with Silverpaw and Sunheart following.
Hawkstump emerged from Hawkstar's den and called to the other cats. Yellowtail, Brownear, Loudheart, himself, and Hawkstar were going to FireClan's camp.
At the FireClan camp, Mudstar came back from hunting. He had 2 voles and a rabbit clamped in his mouth. Bramblenose padded silently behind him, with a squirrel, vole, and a chaffinch. They dropped their kill off and ate.
A border patrol that consisted of Muttermouth, Moonclaw, and Mudtail returned.
"Anything?" Mudstar asked.
"WaterClan is coming!" reported Muttermouth.
"What? Why?" Mudstar demanded. The cats shrugged.
Mudstar got up and called to his Clan.
"WaterClan is coming!" he yelled. "Mosswhisker, I want you to protect Frostface. Rockpaw and Light paw you too. I want the rest of you to protect the camp!"
Mudstar placed himself where he could clearly see WaterClan coming. The warriors formed a defensive line behind their leader.
Hawkstar came with her warriors behind her.
"What do you want Hawkstar?" Mudstar asked.
"Payment for rescuing/helping you," she replied simply. She sat down and wrapped her tail neatly around her paws.
"And what would that be?"
"Preyhill," Hawkstar answered calmly.
"No. FireClan refuses to give WaterClan Preyhill."
Hawkstump and Loudheart bristled.
Hawkstar glared at Mudstar.
"I wouldn't be answering so quickly and confidently if I were you," she meowed in a cold tone. "You might have war with WaterClan, and how many times have we lost since I became leader? 0."
"She's right," Muttermouth muttered quietly. Mudstar flashed his tail at him warningly.
"I would rethink my decision if I were you," she continued. "I'll give you until the next full moon. At the Gathering, you will give me your answer." She flicked her tail, and the cats around her stood up and began to leave. She left too, but looked back around.
"Remember Mudstar; this isn't a wise time for FireClan to be at war. Especially with WaterClan."