Sorry for the long delay! I actually lost the whole chapter briefly. SAVE YOUR WORK PEOPLE! I also had an internet-free week at camp that added time to the long wait. I hope you like it, it's about 15 pages long on word. completion of this fic I will be going back to the early non-betaed chapters and editing them. I will also be doing the same thing for both my warriors one-shots, Talk to Hazeltail, and 10 Ways to Annoy Twilight Characters. If you would are interested in the job of editing my editing of these fics, please either tell me in your review or contact me by PM. I WILL NOT BE CHANGING THE PLOT OF THESE STORIES IN ANY WAY! I AM ONLY EDITING THE GRAMMAR!
Please take note that you are reading the edited version of chapter 9, I added a bit and (hopefully) made it flow better. It will most likely edited again upon Ferny's return.
Anyway, without further a due, the FINAL CHAPTER of Four Clans, One Loyalty.
Special thanks goes out to Littlewhisker for being such a huge help and stepping in at the last minute to beta this and the epilogue. Have fun on your vacation Ferny!
Disclaimer: I don't own warriors. I own the characters and the plot.
Chapter 9: Captive
Rainpaw's POV
Rainpaw was standing in that meadow again, Fernheart stood in front of her, her eyes fixed on something in the distance only she could see.
"Rainpaw," said Fernheart, "You are in danger; you must leave before darkness comes, or prophecies will go unfulfilled."
She turned to walk away.
"Wait!" called Rainpaw, "Come back!"
The meadow faded away before Rainpaw could do anything more.
--
The silver-blue she-cat opened her eyes with much difficulty; the sleeping herbs had not yet fully stopped working. She tried to take a few steps, but
her legs just did not want to move and she slumped back down beside Leafpaw, who lay unmoving except for the slight rise and fall of her chest. Rainpaw noticed she was bleeding. Though most of her wounds weren't deep Rainpaw was still worried. She set to work on washing her sister's wounds, all the while feeling the hatred gathering for the cats that had given them to her and her sister.
When she had finished, Rainpaw began to take in her surroundings. The sisters were in some sort of tunnel; Rainpaw could feel air coming from the other side. It smelled awful; it couldn't just be from the strong reek of ShadowClan that was coming from the entrance closed to Rainpaw.
Suddenly the awful reek grew stronger and the tunnel walls shook. Rainpaw began to wonder if she was beneath the Thunderpath. She had never smelled monster, but she had been told it smelled awful.
Leafpaw's eyes opened, the monster's rumbling must have woken her. She tried to sit up as Rainpaw had done, but did not succeed.
The sleeping-herbs were almost worn off now, and Rainpaw had regained a little of her strength.
"Are you okay, Leafpaw?" asked Rainpaw.
"Yea," replied Leafpaw, "I think we're beneath the Thunderpath on the border between ThunderClan and ShadowClan, though I think the cats outside are ShadowClan."
Leafpaw had always been able to smell better than other cats, Rainpaw had never understood why and often wondered about it. While some of the Clan apprentices and Owlkit had teased Leafpaw for her gift, Rainpaw had always admired her sister.
"Can you hear what they're saying?" asked Rainpaw.
"They're not talking," replied Leafpaw, "But you're right, it might help us figure out what's going on. Do you think it has something to do with Darkstar?"
"So he is calling himself Darkstar," said Rainpaw, "If that's so then ShadowClan is under his control, so wouldn't he have ordered this?"
"It does seem logical," said Leafpaw.
They sat in silence. Rainpaw recalled her dreams again and Leafpaw went back to scenting the air. She had been told that Darkstar was dangerous, that she and her sisters were the things that were going to stop him from doing whatever he was going to do, that she was in danger, and that today something was going to happen that would change her life. Rainpaw guessed that the battle had been what had changed her life; it had brought her here, and from here StarClan knows. Rainpaw wondered what was going to happen. The apprentice had never felt so confused in her short life. Rainpaw knew that Darkstar was somehow involved. It now looked like he already knew that she and her sisters were supposed to stop him. The question was now, what did he plan to do with them? Rainpaw knew, whatever it was, it wasn't going to be pretty.
"Leafpaw," said Rainpaw, "Do you know if Darkstar knows about, well, you know."
"You, me, and Snowpaw being destined to stop him? Yea. Logic says he does."
Leafpaw was very logical, she could solve any mystery life could throw at her. She was the problem solver of the litter.
"Rainpaw," said Leafpaw, suddenly as if she would explode if she didn't start talking right this instant, "If he knows, wouldn't Snowpaw have been kidnapped too?"
Rainpaw felt her heart ache. Even though she had only been separated from Snowpaw for a short time, she missed her sister deeply. She hoped she hadn't been caught.
"Hold on," said Leafpaw as she closed her eyes.
"But-" snapped Rainpaw, her mind suddenly full of questions.
"Shush!" snapped Leafpaw.
Rainpaw decided not to interrupt whatever it was that her sister was doing, she felt no need to test her sister's patience. Rainpaw began to wonder what was going on, it looked like Leafpaw was trying to hear something. Strange, Rainpaw couldn't hear anything besides the awful noise of the passing monsters, no cat should be able to hear anything that well. Then again, this was Leafpaw, and Leafpaw's senses have never been what one would call normal for a cat.
"Rainpaw…," Leafpaw began slowly, "You know how we promised to tell each other everything?"
"Yea…," said Rainpaw, sensing that her sister was about to tell her something very important.
"You know how I have really good senses?" said Leafpaw.
"You mean how you can scent and hear better than other cats?" said Rainpaw, sensing an incoming confession.
"Yes…," said Rainpaw, in a curious tone.
"Well, IcansortofhearthingsfarawaylikepreyandothercatsandIcanalsosensewhatothercatsaredoingandseeing," jabbered Leafpaw, looking at the ground.
"What?" said Rainpaw, "I can't understand you."
Leafpaw took a deep breath, "I meant that I can hear and smell better than other cats, I can smell things like prey and cats from far away."
"Is that all?" wondered Rainpaw aloud.
"No," said Leafpaw, "I can also sometimes sense what cats are doing and were they are. Once I saw you having a dream, you were shaking and mewing very loud, it was terrifying to watch. Once I was also able to sense were the camp was, you know, when Stormheart left me on the moor?"
Despite the feeling of utter shock that now gripped Rainpaw, she couldn't stop herself from wondering. Did Leafpaw know where Snowpaw was?
"Can you sense her anywhere?" asked Rainpaw.
"Snowpaw, you mean," replied Leafpaw.
Rainpaw nodded, too relieved to speak.
Leafpaw closed her eyes and concentrated. She sat very still, as if she was made of ice, and one little twitch would make her shatter.
Eventually she opened her eyes. "I can't sense her anywhere near here," said Leafpaw, "I don't think she was captured."
"I hope your right, Leafpaw," said Rainpaw.
"Me too," said Leafpaw.
There was more silence. Each sister pondered over all the new information they had taken in.
"We really need to figure out what they plan to do with us," said Rainpaw, breaking the silence, "can you hear them talking yet?"
Leafpaw pricked her ears and began to listen.
Leafpaw's POV
Leafpaw closed her eyes, and she slowly began to hear wind whooshing and could sense the outside from the walls that entrapped her. She heard murmured voices and she went deeper and deeper. Soon those murmured voices became louder and louder, then a wave of scents hit her.
The scents of blood and marshes hit her hard; she could almost picture the guards. There were two, definitely two. For the scents were only enough for two. One voice was tough and thick, the deepness of it told her it was a tom. The other was lighter, with a springy feel to it. It had to belong to a she-cat. Their voices became clearer and clearer. Leafpaw could finally hear her.
"...arkstar want to do with these two kits?" one tom with a deep voice asked.
"Don't you know why Darkstar captured them for!" the she-cat said, with a lighter voice.
"No," the tom said in an ashamed voice.
"He's gonna get rid of them. Pretty soon as far as I've heard. Maybe even today," the she-cat replied.
"Why?" the tom asked.
"Darkstar told me that these two are of mixed blood. Filthy! I can't believe that WindClan even had that these cats there. Mixed bloods are always not loyal!" the she-cat hissed with disgust.
"Disgusting! I wonder what other Clan these cats come from. Definitely not ours, no one from our clan would do that," the tom said with the same tone.
"Luckily Darkstar plans to get rid of such filth from all the Clans. I'm glad we
have Darkstar, not that weak leader. What's his name? Ah! Eaglestar! Yes, I'd love the rip his throat," the she-cat said.
Leafpaw let out a low hiss.
She continued, "Well, Darkstar wants the Clans to be pure, he gave Eaglestar a chance to get rid of these, and being the weak leader that he is, refused. Darkstar then took them by force, except he couldn't get one kit, but he got the other two."
"Well, good thing Darkstar's killing them because we don't need these not loyal mixed-bloods betraying the Clans," the tom chuckled. "Did you hear the other rumor?"
"What other rumor?" asked the she-cat.
"Sootpelt mentioned that he thinks the cats have some sort of weird powers. Heard Darkstar mutter something to himself one day. Wonder if it's true?"
"All the more reason to get rid of 'em I'd say. They could be dangerous."
Leafpaw leaned back, her eyes filled with shock.
"What, what!" Rainpaw wondered.
"Rainpaw, they're...they're...gonna...," Leafpaw muttered.
"Spit it out," Rainpaw shouted.
"Darkstar is gonna kill us," Leafpaw stated.
"What!!" Rainpaw screeched.
"Sshh," Leafpaw, "You don't want them to hear us, do you!?"
"Sorry," Rainpaw said sheepishly.
"That's not it, there's the reason why," Leafpaw whispered.
"Why?" Rainpaw was curious.
"You know how I said how my power to scent," Leafpaw said.
"Yea," Rainpaw nodded her head.
"I think Darkstar knows about my powers. He thinks you and Snowpaw have some too," said Leafpaw, sensing the fear scent fill her nose and mouth.
"One of my dreams did mention some sort of powers. The powers of the Sense, Sight, Mind, and heart I think. And something about 'the fourth power of the Scarlet Stone," said Rainpaw, recalling her meetings with Fernheart.
"Wonder if that's why Darkstar is after us after all. Maybe we have those powers or something," Leafpaw said.
"O-our powers. Can he even get them?" Rainpaw was in shock.
"Well, he wants to kill us either way. They're gonna be after Snowpaw...and I think he's gonna try to kill all the mixed blood cats in the four Clans," Leafpaw said in a choked voice.
"No," Rainpaw whispered.
"But," Leafpaw eyes filled with confidence, "He can't do that if he doesn't have us. And if we can get out, we can tell Eaglestar what Darkstar planned. But we need evidence... We need to get closer to Darkstar."
"We can't get anywhere near Darkstar," Rainpaw said, "We're going to have to escape before they come to get us. But how are we going to do that? We have no idea when they are going to do that, or if they are still some warriors guarding WindClan, and there are guards right outside!"
"What if I distract them, and you run?" Leafpaw suggested desperately.
Leafpaw considered her own idea for a moment, but her own logic told her that her idea wouldn't work.
Rainpaw's voice broke her out of her thoughts. "You can't fight off all of them! You'll be killed!"
"Well, what else are we supposed to do?" yelled Leafpaw.
"I don't know! You're the smart one! THINK OF SOMETHING!" snapped Rainpaw.
"WHY DON'T YOU INSTEAD OF SITTING ON YOUR LAZY BUTT!!" retorted Leafpaw.
"ARGH!!" yelled Rainpaw, "I'M NOT SMART LIKE YOU! I'M NOT STRONG LIKE SNOWPAW EITHER! RUB IT IN WHY DON'T YOU! ALL I HAVE IS STUPID DREAMS THAT LEAD US IN CIRCLES!"
Leafpaw was going to say something else, but she held back. She and Rainpaw never argued. She felt a wave of pity for her sister. Out of all of them Rainpaw had the most to prove to the Clan. She was often over shadowed by Leafpaw and Snowpaw, though she rarely admitted it. Rainpaw most likely felt jealous of her sisters. Though Rainpaw had a lot of talent in the area of Medicine, her Clan had pretty much failed to acknowledge it.
Rainpaw sat fuming. She glared at Leafpaw, not speaking.
"Rainpaw…," whispered Leafpaw, "I'm sorry…"
Rainpaw sighed. "I'm sorry I lost my temper with you. I just want to get out of here. We've got to think of something!"
"Or we'll never get out!" cried Leafpaw in despair.
Suddenly part of the top of the den fell out, and two young she-kits landed with a thud next to Rainpaw, who was badly startled. One of the cats was a golden tabby with green eyes. The other was grey and white with light blue eyes.
"Yes, you will," said the grey and white cat, "I'm Mist and this is Sun, we're going to get you out of here."
Rainpaw's POV:
"What?" said Rainpaw, clearly shocked.
"I said we're going to get you out of here," replied Mist, sounding impatient.
Rainpaw took a good look at the cats that had just declared themselves her liberators. They were puny, they hardly looked old enough to leave their mother, let alone save them from Darkstar. They stank of the Thunderpath and of crowfood, so Rainpaw guessed they were rogues.
"But you're just kits!" said Leafpaw, "There's no way you could fight them!"
"Mist never said anything about fighting," said the cat named Sun, "Dark-what's-his-face killed our mother because she wouldn't leave her nest, in this cavern thing, we're not going to let the same thing happen to you two that happened to her."
"I'm so sorry," said Rainpaw, feeling once again the pain she always felt when she thought about never having a proper mother, except this time it was for another cat, she still felt jealousy for her sisters as well. They were two extremes, and Rainpaw was stuck in the middle. She began to feel slightly jealous of the strange kits too. They had SOME memories of their mother alive! "At least you have some memories of her."
Rainpaw regretted the words as soon as they were out of her mouth. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean-"
"No, it's okay," said Mist. "What happened to yours?"
"She died giving birth to us," answered Leafpaw.
"I'm sorry," said Sun solemnly.
"It's fine," said Rainpaw, now lost in her own memories of the Fernheart she knew from her dreams, wondering what her life would have been like if Fernheart had lived. Would she and Leafpaw be here right now? Would she still have to face a cold and unknown destiny? Rainpaw shook these thoughts away, knowing that she had more important things to worry about. If they didn't get out of here soon, they would be killed.
"Do you have any sort of plan?" asked Rainpaw.
"Umm…," said Sun and Mist together.
"You don't have a plan? Right?" said Leafpaw, her voice filled with shock that these two cats could come in ready for this huge rescue mission and not have a plan.
"Not really…," said Sun, looking at her paws.
At this Leafpaw about exploded. Rainpaw rolled her eyes and set off trying to calm her sister.
After her sister had finished lecturing the kits about the importance about thinking about your actions, Rainpaw finally got her to calm down.
"Do you think we could get back though that whole you came in from?" Rainpaw asked Sun and her sister.
Mist thought for a moment. "The drain? No it's too far up, and it's on the Thunderpath."
"We could watch for monsters getting in, but we wouldn't be able to see them getting out," added Sun.
"You could have been killed!" exclaimed Leafpaw.
Sun shrugged.
Rainpaw rolled her eyes. The pair reminded her of a certain WindClan apprentice…
"Well, since you two are stuck here now, we may as well try to work out a plan together," Rainpaw suggested.
"Okay," said Mist and Sun together.
"Well, I think distracting them might work, since there are more of us," said Rainpaw.
"No, it won't," argued Leafpaw. "We don't know how many guards are out there, it would be foolish to try."
"Are there any other ways out of the tunnel?" Rainpaw asked.
"It ends up in ThunderClan territory, I think," said Leafpaw.
"I know, I know!" squeaked Mist, "We could run into uhh… ThunderClan territory!"
"There'll be guards on the other side Mist," Leafpaw pointed out.
"We can't attack them, but maybe we can confuse them!" said Sun.
"How?" said Leafpaw and Rainpaw together, their patience running thin.
"OhwecouldsneakuponthemandmakethemgoforusnotyouIthinkthat'sagoodplanIalwayshavegoodplansIthinkwershoudltryit. Doyoulikevoles? Ilikevoles. I'mhungery-," Mist jabbered, so quickly that not even Sun could understand her.
"What did she say?" asked Leafpaw.
"I don't know," replied Sun, "I'm hungry, are you hungry?"
Rainpaw groaned. Annoying kits! That was the last thing she needed! She hoped they could think of a plan soon…
Leafpaw's POV
And then it hit her. They couldn't distract them, but they could confuse them. They could also distract them!
The two kits were small enough to slip past the guards on the ThunderClan side. The guards would chase them, thinking they were Rainpaw and Leafpaw. Sun and Mist were rogues, they must know good hiding places in the two-leg place, they could lose the guards that way. Meanwhile, Leafpaw and Rainpaw could make a run for ThunderClan territory, where the ShadowClan cats would not be able to chase them! Yes! They were getting out!
She hastily explained her plan to the other cats. Her eyes were shining; she had done it!
Sun and Mist gave a quick nod. Rainpaw seemed to be considering it, but not quite sure.
"Leafpaw, are you sure they'll fall for it? Even if they do, will Mist and Sun be able to outrun them?"
"Of course we will!" coursed Mist and Sun.
Before Rainpaw could say anything else, Mist and Sun shot out the ThunderClan side of the tunnel.
"GET THEM!"
Rainpaw's POV
"NO!" yowled Rainpaw.
"We have to go! RUN!" said Leafpaw, pushing Rainpaw out the tunnel entrance.
Rainpaw gave a small nod as she raced out of the tunnel. Fear gripped her as she ran, Leafpaw at her heels. What if they caught Mist and Sun? Surely they would realize they were chasing the wrong cats…
They would then find Rainpaw and Leafpaw. Rainpaw didn't want to join StarClan yet. She had total faith in them, but still, she was in no hurry to die.
A scent hit Rainpaw. ThunderClan scent. They had crossed the scent marks! A sigh of relief escaped her. They couldn't follow her now!
Oh how wrong she was.
"YOU MOUSEBRAINS!!" yelled a voice, "YOU'RE FOLLOWING THE WRONG CATS! THE PRISONERS ARE GETTING AWAY!"
Suddenly there were six ShadowClan warriors heading their direction.
"WE'LL HAVE TO SPLIT UP!" yelled Leafpaw, taking off in another direction.
"NO!" yowled Rainpaw after her sister, "DON'T GO!"
Leafpaw didn't hear her; she was already gone. In her place were three very angry looking ShadowClan warriors.
"Well, well, look what we have here, mixed blood scum who thinks she can outsmart superior warriors," taunted one.
Rainpaw let out a whimper. How she wished Leafpaw were with her, she would know what to do!
Her eyes fell to a puddle of water. Staring back at her was not her reflection, but the face of Fernheart.
"Run," was all she said.
She ran. Faster than she had ever run in her life.
"GET HER!" yowled the ShadowClan warrior that had first spoken.
Rainpaw ran deeper and deeper into ThunderClan territory, the trees overhead making her more uncomfortable by the second.
They were gaining on her. Rainpaw forced her body to move faster. She had no idea where she was heading. The only thing on her mind was to get as far away from them as possible.
They were closer… closer… closer… Rainpaw couldn't go any faster. Her sides heaved, her body wanted so badly to stop running, but her will would not allow it.
They were closer…
Closer…
And suddenly there was no distance between Rainpaw and the youngest warrior of the group.
The young warrior launched himself at Rainpaw, tackling her to the ground.
"I've got her!" he yelled.
Leafpaw's POV.
"WE'LL HAVE TO SPLIT UP!" yelled Leafpaw, taking off in the direction she thought was opposite of Rainpaw.
Leafpaw pushed her paws farther and farther. So hard, she swore they were aching with pain. But she pushed the pain away in her mind. She thought she had heard a yowl from behind her. Leafpaw pushed back the feelings of regret for Rainpaw. But she knew she had to separate, in hopes of both sisters losing the ShadowClan warriors after them.
Leafpaw kept on going faster and faster. She had hopes that all six ShadowClan Cats were after her. Though she had little experience fighting, she had a better chance than Rainpaw, who had no warrior training at all.
If they went after her, then Rainpaw would be safe. She listened for the sound of paw steps behind her. Three sets of paws pounded the ground behind her. She growled as she knew three other cats now followed Rainpaw. Hopefully Rainpaw would be able to outrun them.
Leafpaw then tried sensing behind her, and also farther ahead. She tried to multitasking both running and sensing Rainpaw; she was almost there. She could hear the crunching of leaves on the forest floor. Then she saw the panic look of Rainpaw staring into the space in front of her. Three burly ShadowClan cats were a few steps behind Rainpaw, getting closer and closer. Run, she wanted to yowl at Rainpaw, Go faster, faster. Leafpaw knew that Rainpaw was running as fast as she could by the heaving breaths Rainpaw took. Then it happened. A small tom jumped and pulled Rainpaw down.
"NOOOO!!" howled Leafpaw, her voice reaching the highest it can go.
Birds fluttered, and then something took Leafpaw back. She opened her eyes and saw that a flock of birds covered the cats. She stared into one of the bluebirds' eyes; the black abyss and she fell into it. She saw blood, a lot of blood, and the stench of marshes intermixing with the scent of blood. The
black feathers of a bird flew into the air. A mother. A black bird flew protectively where her children lay, newly born. A quick bite, and a life diminished. As the marsh scent left, the cold swept upon these baby birds. Chirps flooded the air, and slowly only two of the five lives were left. The scene faded away, replaced with anger and with an urge of bloodshed.
Leafpaw zoned back in as she head screeches and yowls of pain. She stared at the scene of the black birds attacking. Slowly a tom that was the guard she'd seen earlier, fall from exhaustion. Leafpaw thought of going back to Rainpaw, but she knew the two cats that were slicing the birds with their claws would chase after her once more. Then that would bring danger to Rainpaw once more. Suddenly all was quiet. No more slicing, no more yowls, no more birdcalls. She looked and saw the flock of birds leaving with wounds, and with fewer wounds, the cats stood there. Anger showed in their faces.
Leafpaw ran with energy she never knew she had. She saw something glint out of the corner of her eye. Water. The one thing that was said that RiverClan could do that other cats couldn't. She knew that this was the borderline between the ThunderClan and RiverClan. She glanced behind her and the cats were closing in on her. What kind of luck does she have when no ThunderClan patrols were there; hopefully Rainpaw had better luck.
She gave one big jump and felt her body fall into the water. The ice-cold water clung to her fur, trying to pull her in, deeper and deeper. Her paw pushed the water in more and more, just to keep her head afloat.
What was she doing? WindClan cats don't swim! Then again, her mother was half RiverClan.
She saw the land in front her of growing closer. Only a bit more. She felt something grab her scruff and pull her up, away from the cold water.
"It's okay, the cats who are following you are gone, my warriors chased them off, they swim much faster than you, little one," said the cat in an almost motherly tone.
Leafpaw gave a weak nod. She recognized the cat as Minnowstar of RiverClan.
"I need you to follow me," said Minnowstar.
Leafpaw obeyed, not being able to think of anything else.
Rainpaw's POV
"NO!" thought Rainpaw, feeling the warrior's weight crash down on her, "They got me!"
The other ShadowClan warriors were closing in, forming a tight circle around Rainpaw and her capture.
"Thought you could get away, didn't you?" snarled the warrior.
Rainpaw searched her brain for any possible escape plan.
There was another sound besides that of the ShadowClan warrior's jeering.
Paw steps. And close.
"THUNDERCLAN!" yowled a different warrior.
Four ThunderClan cats emerged from the bushed. The one in the lead was Heatherfur, the ThunderClan deputy. Rainpaw also recognized Honeypaw from the gathering. The other two cats were a ginger tom and a tabby she-cat.
"Well, Kestrelclaw, I assume you have a very good reason trespassing on ThunderClan land," said Heatherfur, a scowl on her face.
"Heatherfur," muttered Kestrelclaw, "Foxdung."
"Deputy a mere day and already you lead a war party onto our lands!" screeched the tabby she-cat. She turned to Heatherfur. "We should attack them now! Why are we standing here doing nothing?"
"Peace, Mistystream," said Heatherfur, "Let them explain."
"Start explaining," snapped the tom.
"We don't have to justify ourselves to the likes of you," retorted Kestrelclaw.
"Yes, that's exactly what you have to do, trespasser!" spat Mistystream.
"Leave now or we will fight you!" growled the tom, flexing his claws.
Rainpaw saw her chance, if they fought, she would have a chance of getting away. The ThunderClan cats didn't seem to notice her, maybe she could slip past them and find Leafpaw…
"Honeypaw!" snapped Heatherfur, "Go back to camp, and get help! Hurry!"
"But-" argued Honeypaw.
"Do not argue with your deputy!" snapped the tom.
"Yes, Birdfeather," sighed Honeypaw, tail dropping. He took off running a second later, causing Kestrelclaw to let out a hiss of annoyance.
Heatherfur gave Birdfeather a slight nod before yowling, "THUNDERCLAN! ATTACK!"
The whole patrol of ThunderClan cats sprang forward. The ShadowClan cats countered the attack, now facing no alternative other than to retread, and lose their captive on enemy territory. The numbers were even without Honeypaw, if he arrived soon the battle was won for the ThunderClan cats.
Rainpaw saw her chance, in the confusion of the battle she could run without the ShadowClan cats noticing. There was just one problem with her plan; she was still pinned to the ground by the ShadowClan warrior, who was not budging despite Rainpaw's struggles.
The warrior who had pinned Rainpaw seemed to be arguing with himself mentally. On one paw, he had caught Rainpaw, on the other, a ThunderClan cat was leaping towards him, claws unsheathed.
The ThunderClan warrior, Mistystream, flung herself at the warrior pinning Rainpaw.
"Get lost Marshfoot," screeched Mistystream as she dug her claws into his flank, beating all attempts her opponent made to shake her off. Scarlet blood rose from the wounds Mistystream had just created, making Rainpaw flinch; she hated blood, or more specifically fighting in general.
Seeing her chance, Rainpaw stood up. She broke into a full run without hesitating, wanting to put as much distance between her and the scene unfolding behind her as possible.
Rainpaw could feel her heart pounding, she had never been so terrified in her life. She wasn't brave like Snowpaw, and she knew it. All Rainpaw wanted at the moment was to be back in WindClan with her sisters and Windfur learning the names of herbs and the skills necessary to be a Medicine Cat. Rainpaw wanted to save lives, not run for her own.
Luck however wasn't on Rainpaw's side. Behind her, the ShadowClan warrior, who Rainpaw know knew as Marshfoot, gave a mighty shake,
sending Mistystream flying into Heatherfur, who was locked in combat with Kestrelclaw.
Rainpaw was frozen with fear, which wasn't exactly smart of her as Marshfoot was now racing towards her.
Not being able to think of anything better to do, Rainpaw let out a blood-curdling scream.
Lucky for her, it wasn't necessary. Mistystream had already picked herself up and begun racing after Marshfoot and Rainpaw.
The ThunderClan she-cat once again launched herself at Marshfoot, who was just inches away from the fleeing apprentice, who then tripped on a root.
Rainpaw cursed ThunderClan's forest home silently as Mistystream shoved the ShadowClan warrior away.
"You, under that bush," said Mistystream, pointing to a bush with her tail, "Don't ask questions, don't run, just do it."
Rainpaw scrambled under the bush that Mistystream had indicated, not wanting to test the warrior's order. She hoped Honeypaw got back soon, they couldn't be far from ThunderClan's camp; she had led the ShadowClan cats pretty deep into their territory. She wondered if she could get away without the battling cats noticing, it was a possibility, but Rainpaw had to admit, she had no idea how far it was back to the WindClan camp, and had no desire to end up lost.
Rainpaw peered out threw the bush's leaves. She could see the battle unfolding from her hiding place, as much as she hated fighting, she had to know what was going on around her.
Heatherfur and Kestrelclaw were locked in battle. Though Kestrelclaw was much larger than Heatherfur, the ThunderClan deputy was fast and easily avoided him, causing the larger cat to miss and land in the dirt.
Suddenly, the battle cry of four more ThunderClan warriors pierced the air. A patrol made up of Smallstar, Honeypaw, and two more warriors Rainpaw didn't know raced onto the battle field.
The ShadowClan warriors wouldn't back off, they knew what they had to lose, but ThunderClan now outnumbered them by many, and they retreated. There were cries of triumph and victory from the ThunderClan side.
Suddenly, a head peeked into Rainpaw's hiding place.
"Well, well, what do we have here?" purred Smallstar.
Haha! A cliffy! Stay tuned for the epilogue!
I'm serious.
Following the epilogue will be the credits chapter, where I thank people etc. I am also including a sneak preview of the prequel in a separate chapter that will only be up for a short time.
Don't go anywhere!
Patronus OUT!!