A/N: Well, as for the chapter/sequel question: I don't think the ending that I've planned out (it may change; it depends) needs a sequel to it. Anyhow, this chapter is a lot longer than the previous ones; enjoy, and thank you for reviewing!
Chapter 13 – Truce
"Now try to knock me off my paws," Duskshadow commanded the puny gray tabby apprentice. "Remember what we've been learning, Sootpaw." The small she-cat nodded and rushed.
Duskshadow had taught them three different ways to get an enemy off its feet; now it was up to him to determine which one Sootpaw would use. The first method was obvious: charge at the enemy and topple him over. Of course, even Sootpaw wasn't mousebrained enough to try that on a warrior three times her size—so perhaps she would leap to the side at the last moment, or—
Sootpaw was a gray blur as she pulled to the side at the last moment before colliding with Duskshadow, and before he knew it, the small gray tabby had rammed into his shoulder. She was too small to get an enemy warrior off his paws, but distracted as he was, she was able to make him slip and tumble into an embarrassing heap of fur.
"Good job," he laughed as he returned to his feet. "All the rogues are bigger than you, but when they're off their feet they're just as small as Sootpaw here." She didn't take it as an offense, but instead looked away shyly. "That's all for today, so have fun. Hunt, eat, or sleep—just remember not to leave your guard down."
Next is RiverClan, Ravenwing thought grimly. She just hoped it wouldn't be harder to convince Silverstar, leader of RiverClan, than it was for Owlstar.
She crossed the Thunderpath, silent and unused since greenleaf had ended. She was now in RiverClan territory—now all she had to do was hope a patrol caught her. It would be easier to be spotted here and brought to the camp, instead of being found deep into RiverClan land; they may think her a spy. I'm a medicine cat, she kept repeating to herself. They can't stop me.
There was a yowl from the side. Four cats—two warriors and two apprentices—had surrounded her. "What are you doing here, ThunderClan foxdung?" challenged a bold apprentice, his fur standing on end. The warriors didn't even rebuke the apprentice for speaking so rudely before finding out what she wanted.
"I have an urgent message for Silverstar," she mewed as calmly as she could, although she couldn't resist bristling slightly. "It involves all four Clans around the lake. You have my word as a medicine cat that I did not come here to spy."
One warrior blinked, and straightened. "I am sorry," he apologized, though his voice was still hard. "With leaf-bare coming on, we are not as well fed as we have been. We'll show you the way to our camp." He flicked his tail at the apprentice, who was still glaring at Ravenwing with narrowed eyes, and showed her the way while one warrior followed behind to make sure she wouldn't run.
The camp was filled with lean RiverClan cats. All the warriors' ribs were etched starkly upon their pelts, and the hungry cats didn't fit in at all with the stereotypes that ThunderClan apprentices always joked about—that RiverClan was the well-fed and therefore slowest Clan. In other words, they're just like us. All that's different is the way we fight, the way we hunt. If that's so, why do we always have such conflicts? All in all, she hoped Silverstar wasn't too narrow-minded to ignore Dawnstar's threat.
The beautiful silver-gray she-cat was waiting in her den of mud and reeds. "Ravenwing," acknowledged Silverstar with a nod, "ThunderClan's medicine cat. My warriors tell me that you have come with urgent news. What is it, so that you must travel all the way over here?"
StarClan, give me strength. Ravenwing took a deep breath, and began her story.
"So, Dawnstar thinks she can take over the Clans with a flea-ridden group of rogues." Silverstar's sparkling blue eyes seemed to laugh at her. "You have seen our warriors, how even we of RiverClan are suffering this leaf-bare—but I think our numbers can withstand a stampede of unruly savages."
Ravenwing had her answer planned out already. "With all due respect, Silverstar, I don't think you should count your warriors before they've been apprenticed. Think the long-term, if your starving warriors somehow manage to be defeated by ThunderClan's rogues. We all know rogues don't give a mouse-tail for the warrior's code—I don't think they even understand the meaning of Clan boundaries. Imagine hordes of rogues crossing boundaries, into RiverClan, stealing what little prey you have left. If Dawnstar can use them to defeat the other Clans, then she can surely use them to gather prey for ThunderClan alone.
"Surely there's too much risk?" she finally pleaded. "I told you, these 'unruly savages' are being trained by Dawnstar herself. We of ThunderClan are too few to stop them, but with all the other Clans' help—"
Silverstar raised a paw to signal Ravenwing to stop. "I understand," she reassured. "I agree that the last thing RiverClan needs is a Clan of rogues that will probably do exactly as you predict. Very well—RiverClan will join your battle."
Relief washed over her. "Thank you," she murmured, dipping her head and turning to exit the den. RiverClan's hungry warriors stared at her in curiosity, but she ignored them as she set off in the direction of the last Clan that needed to be informed: WindClan.
It was the best time of her life, as she used her pent-up energy to bound across the hills and moor of WindClan territory. It reminded her of her old ambitions as an apprentice—not as a medicine cat apprentice, cooped up in camp to take care of the elders and the injured, but as a true warrior apprentice, with plenty of opportunities to run free.
There were no patrols in sight, and the WindClan scent was stale. What could have happened to WindClan for them to not regularly send out patrols? She tracked the strongest scents to try and find out where their camp was. It wasn't too hard for her to finally find out where the camp was, and when she emerged, a sharp scent hit her nostrils.
The camp was nearly empty, and the cats that were outside the dens were lying on their sides with glazed eyes. They would cough from time to time, and the WindClan cats seemed even worse-fed than RiverClan.
She was noticed several heartbeats later. The WindClan medicine cat, Breezewhisker, was padding towards her with dejected amber eyes. "I'm sorry you've had to visit at such a bad time," he murmured. "As you can see, we've been stricken by early whitecough, and I can't find any catnip to treat it." On our territory, he meant, though Ravenwing knew she could use this.
"Good news then, Breezewhisker. ThunderClan has plenty of catnip to spare—I could fetch it in a few moments—but first, I must speak with Thistlestar."
Breezewhisker's eyes were filled with curiosity, but he dipped his head and led her to the WindClan leader's den. The air of the den was saturated with sickness, and Ravenwing's nose recoiled at the stench. Thistlestar was a few moons younger than Foxstar, but at his age whitecough was hard to overcome. But as sick as he was, his eyes were bright as he rasped, "What brings you here to WindClan at a time like this, Ravenwing?"
The tale was told yet again. "We need help from all the Clans," she finished. "ShadowClan and RiverClan have already agreed to lend their warriors not just to ThunderClan's cause, but to the cause of all four Clans." The WindClan leader was about to protest, but she talked over him loudly. "I know what you will say. WindClan is stricken by disease, and your medicine cat cannot find the herbs to cure it. What if ThunderClan were to give you the herbs to heal? What if I guaranteed a temporary truce between our Clans, after the rogues are driven from our camp, to give you time to grow stronger? Would you at least send your strongest cats to us? We need every warrior and even apprentices as well."
Thistlestar gazed at her with hopeful eyes. "Are you sure you can guarantee that your leader after Dawnstar is killed or driven off will accept this truce? You are but a medicine cat." And half-blind, weak, and mousebrained as well, Ravenwing silently added to his sentence.
This time she added something other than what she had told the leaders of RiverClan and ShadowClan. "The cat who sent me to the three Clans is an honorable warrior, who would never dare to break his word," she mewed softly. "He was mentored by Stormclaw, was made a warrior moons before the regular time for valor and skill, and is willing to fight his kin to save ThunderClan. Though you've heard from Gatherings that he has lost the use of his leg, he still has enough influence to sway any leader's opinion."
The WindClan leader rose from his nest with strength that seemingly came from nowhere. "As warriors we must adapt to any environment, as has the warrior you spoke of. Very well—as soon as our best warriors have recovered, we shall come to your aid."