Chapter Four

"Do you think FireClan will give Preyhill up?" Hawkstump asked his leader.

"Most likely not. But we will fight, and WaterClan will win," Hawkstar replied.

Rippedheart and Silverpaw came out.

"Mommy, can Rippedheart and I go hunting?" Silverpaw asked.

Hawkstar went over to her and licked the top of her head gently. "Of course," she murmured. As the two trotted off, Hawkstar went back to her deputy and lay down next to him. They shared tongues and fell asleep together in Hawkstar's den.

The night of the Gathering had finally arrived. Hawkstar chose Yellowtail, Fireface, Sunheart, Clawshadow, Rippedwhisker, Icetail, and Loudheart. Hawkstump and the others stayed behind to guard the camp.

"So we will finally get an answer tonight," Sunheart murmured to himself. Privately and personally, he knew FireClan would never give up Preyhill.

Hawkstar and her cats were the first ones at Fourrocks. She and Yellowtail sat side-by-side and meowed to each other.

Pretty soon, Icestar, Mudfoot, Leafeyes, Goldenfur, Whiteheart, Hawkheart, and Hawkwing arrived. Goldenfur rushed over to her brother, and Icestar followed. Hawkstar's keen hearing picked up the words, "Rippedheart" and "not here."

Then Spottedstar, Rainstump, Mudstripe, Blackstone, Pepperpaw, Rippedtail, and Cliffshadow streamed in from the hill.

Hawkstar jumped on the rock that represented WaterClan. Here's how it's arranged:

FireClan NatureClan WaterClan WindClan

Mudstar Spottedstar Hawkstar Icestar

Icestar and Spottedstar also jumped on their rocks.

After a few moments, FireClan came. Mudstar was in the lead, and behind him came Bramblenose, Muttermouth, Hawkwhisker, Mudtail, Mossheart and Greentree with Rockpaw. Mudstar jumped to his place, and Spottedstar called for the Gathering to begin. He nodded for Icestar to begin.

"Leaf-bare is approaching, but my Clan is strong. Not long ago, we chased a fox out of our territory." He stepped back as Mudstar stood up.

"FireClan has scented fox in our territory, but we think it is gone now. The scent was fairly stale," he reported.

Spottedstar saw his turn and spoke, "NatureClan is very well. Nothing to report, except a hawk has attacked but Cliffshadow killed it.

Cliffshadow, a huge black and brown tom, lifted his chin proudly.

"He will have a souvenir of the battle forever: a scratched ear," Spottedstar mewed.

Hawkstar had her chance to speak.

"About half a moon ago, WaterClan assisted FireClan when NatureClan had attacked." She ignored Spottedstar's glare. "Mudstar, I want your answer."

"Never," Mudstar meowed coolly.

Hawkstar's eyes narrowed to tiny slits. She bared her fangs and snarled, "I see you have not thought about your decision, Mudstar. Very well, you made a rash mistake and you will pay for it. This Gathering is now over!"

Many cats flinched under her dangerous threat even if they weren't in FireClan. The WaterClan warriors formed a protective circle around their leader and left Fourrocks.

NatureClan and WindClan also left, but after FireClan's hurried exit.

Mudstar voiced his thoughts to his deputy as they raced back home.

"I hope Hawkstar did not send warriors to attack our cats!"

"I don't think she would. I mean, yes, she's ambitious, but she only wants what's best for her Clan."

"Enough about Hawkstar, lets talk about you." Mudstar's eyes had a mischievous glint.

"W-what are you talking about?" stammered Bramblenose.

"I saw how you and Rippedwhisker looked at each other." Mudstar spoke of the white with brown splotches WaterClan warrior. If cats could blush, Bramblenose did.

"I don't want my deputy/best fighter to fall for an enemy warrior," Mudstar went on. They almost reached their camp.

"Yes, Mudstar. I'll think carefully about what you said."

"Good." The FireClan leader bounded in the camp and jumped on the Highrock.

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join here beneath the Highrock for a Clan meeting!"

The rest of the cats assembled below him, and looked up expectantly.

"Hawkstar has hinted that she will attack," he reported. "We must be prepared. Frost face and her kits must always have a protector."

"I will!" Muttermouth called.

"Of course. You're the father, so naturally you will be their protector. I want all the hunting parties to also check our border with WaterClan every now and then. Double the patrols, Bramblenose." Mudstar jumped off and with Greentree and Rockpaw, padded to the medicine cat clearing.

Bramblenose organized an evening patrol led by Mosswhisker, and a dawn patrol led by herself. The rest of the cats fell asleep.

3 days had passed by since the Gathering. Hawkstar had still not attacked.

When Hawkwhisker, Mudtail, and Mossheart left for an entire border check, Bramblenose ordered Moonclaw, Lightpaw, and Rippedclaw to go get some fresh-kill, but hurry back quickly ever in case.

About 4 minutes later, Bramblenose suddenly felt a hard, sheathed paw hit the back of her head. Yowling, she saw Hawkstar attacking her.

The rest of the cats heard her, and came to fight.

Hawkstar had brang Hawkstump, Yellowtail, Brownear, Sunheart, Clawshadow, Icetail, Rippedheart, Loudheart, Rippedwhisker, and Snowpool to attack.

With dismay, she realized that she, Mudstar, Hawktail, Mosswhisker, and Muttermouth were outnumbered.

Hawkstar jumped on her so quickly; Bramblenose thought the wind allowed Hawkstar to fly.

Hawkstar ripped her claws into Bramblenose's back, and she shrieked in pain. Snarling, she batted Hawkstar's ear with her claw. Hawkstar didn't show any pain, just bit down very hard on her shoulder.

Bramblenose couldn't understand why she couldn't fling Hawkstar off her. She shrieked in pain as Hawkstar once again bit down.

Then she felt nothing. She opened her tightly shut eyes and saw that Moonclaw, Lightpaw, and Rippedclaw had returned!

"Thank StarClan!"

"What is going on?" Moonclaw asked when Hawkstar went to face Mudstar.

"WaterClan is attacking now for Preyhill," Bramblenose answered hurriedly. She bounded off to the nursery, where Muttermouth was fiercely fighting against Brownear.

She knocked Brownear aside and attacked her, not letting her enter the nursery. She acknowledged Muttermouth's thanks with a tail flick. She drove Brownear away to Yellowtail, who was fighting against Moonclaw. Clawshadow was attacking Lightpaw, injuring the apprentice severely. Bramblenose rushed forward to help, and Clawshadow fled to Hawkstar.

Bramblenose realized that none of the WaterClan cats had left, though some were severely injured. She saw the border patrol had returned, but the WaterClan cats were still winning. Hawkstar and Hawkstump were not letting any cats leave.

Icetail and Loudheart were in Greentree's den. The medicine cat fought fiercely with Rockpaw next to here, but they were weakened.

Bramblenose ran forward to help them, but Hawkstar's injury made her feel a sharp pain. She slowed down, wincing as the pain overtook her. She felt claws pinning her down, and saw Snowpool was over her.

"I wouldn't move if I were you," the white she-at growled.

Bramblenose looked around and saw that the other WaterClan warriors were also pinning down her Clanmates.

Hawkstar was holding Mudstar down. The silver tabby looked down victoriously at the defeated leader.

"WaterClan will take Preyhill as our territory. Think about taking it back and I will kill you 9 times next time." She let him go, and signaled to her cats.

Bramblenose breathed again when she felt Snowpool's weight off her.

Weakly, Greentree and Rockpaw got up. They quickly took care of the cats were injured most of all.

Muttermouth had very shallow breathing, so they worked on him first. Frostface had scratches and a few clumps of fur out. She rushed to soothe her kits, who were wailing inside the safe nursery.

Bramblenose couldn't believe what she saw: every cat had injuries and were very weak. Her Clan leader had stopped breathing.

Bramblenose padded over slowly, and realized that her leader had lost a life.