Another one-shot for SolarClan. #2 Challenge!
Challenge: Too Quiet

Hope you enjoy!

Silence is Not Golden

Lavenderwind sat by the entrance to the ShadowClan camp, staring into the dark pine trees that populated most of ShadowClan's territory. Her brother, Cedarfrost, was next to her, eyes narrowed, claws unsheathed. Lavenderwind followed his lead, sinking her thorn sharp claws into the soft pine needles blanketing the whole camp. Both had been made warriors just after sun-down. Lavendarwind reminisced her mother's pride, her father's joy and her mentor's approval.

A gust of wind ruffled her fur, then there was silence. Lavenderwind fluffed up her pelt against the cold. Leaf-fall certainly was not as bad as leaf-bare, but it was chilly, nevertheless. But this silence…it was this silent in leaf-fall. Lavenderwind squinted into the darkness. While Lavenderwind adored the peace and quiet in the apprentice den, silence in the forest was scary. Then it hit her.

The fights on the border.

The exchanged threats.

More border patrols.

Herbs for injuries.

Battle-plans.

RiverClan.

There was a burst of sound that shattered the silence. Cats sprung from the darkness, their glossy pelts shining in the moonlight. Lavenderwind leapt to her feet.

"Wake the Clan!" Lavenderwind yowled at her brother.

Cedarfrost quickly obliged. His piercing yowl was heard above the cries of the attacking cats. Lavenderwind sank her claws into the nearest enemy. She pulled herself underneath the RiverClan cat, scoring her claws down his belly. She shrieked in surprise as another set of claws sank into her shoulders. She looked around wildly, then realized, with a pang, that two cats were onto her. The scars on their face were evidence to the many battles they had fought. How can a new warrior face two experienced warriors? Lavenderwind glanced around the camp, panic building up in her. ShadowClan cats were already in the midst of the battle. She swung around to face her opponents. If she were to die a new warrior, fighting for a Clan, she would gladly do so. She gasped as a heavy paw pinned her down. Lavenderwind gritted her teeth. She rammed her hindleg into the cat's chest, and she felt the pressure release. The moment she scrambled to her feet, however, she was tackled down by another two cats. Lavender hissed in pain as the two cats attacked her belly. She twisted around desperately, bringing down her paws onto her attackers head. She heard a yelp. Lavenderwind tried pushed away, crying out as the cats claws dug into her belly. She saw a flash of greyish-brown fur. Cedarfrost.

He launched himself at her attackers, a hurricane of claws and teeth. The RiverClan cats hardly had the time to yowl in terror before they were smothered by Cedarfrost's bulk. Lavenderwind took the opportunity to survey the battle-field. Her heart dropped. Her leader, Thornstar, was cornered by the RiverClan leader, Mintstar against a wall of brambles. Lavenderwind bounded towards them, throwing herself at Mintstar. The pale tabby yowled in surprise as Lavenderwind pushed her to the ground. Thornstar smiled at Lavenderwind. He ambled over, grin growing wider with every step.

"Mintstar," he meowed silkily. "How nice to see you."

"Silence, Thornstar!" Mintstar cried. "You have no chance."

"Oh, no chance?" Thornstar faked the sadness in his voice. "I am in my own camp, Mintstar. Do you honestly think I will lose? I have a feeling you will lose."

"You are in your camp, but your cats are half asleep." Mintstar retorted. "And weak."

There was a shriek. Lavenderwind stared as a huge RiverClan warrior brought down Birdflame, then thrust into the nursery. Birdflame was a queen, protecting her kits! Did these cats have no honour? This was the tipping point for Thornstar. He threw himself at Mintstar, yowling at Lavenderwind,

"This is not your fight. We are noble warriors, unlike some cats."

Lavenderwind was not told twice. She dashed to the nursery, clawing viciously at the RiverClan tom's hindquarters. Her heart stopped as blood trickled out of the nursery. It was not Birdflame's, neither was it the tom's. There was only one explanation.

"Die, you murderer!" Lavenderwind hissed. The tom smiled.

"Aren't we all?"

He knocked Lavenderwind to the side with a huge swipe. Lavenderwind groaned in pain as her head struck a huge rock. She felt her consciousness fade, and a sticky liquid soak into her fur. She was barely aware of the huge tom towering above, or his claws slicing her neck open. All she was aware of was her mind repeating over and over again, sorry, sorry, sorry.

Lavenderwind felt herself rise. She felt as light as air, as carefree as a bird. She looked at a hazy version of the ShadowClan camp, and her battling Clanmates. As she rose, she saw Mintstar, lying on the ground, blood pooling around her, and Thornstar staring straight up to the stars.

"I have avenged my dead Clanmates," he yowled. "You did not die in vain."

Lavenderwind smiled as RiverClan cats streamed out of the camp. All that was left was ShadowClan cats, battered and bruised. Lavenderwind spotted Birdflame's mate, Breezeclaw, sobbing into his mate's fur. Their two kits, Mallowkit and Ravenkit, were lying next to their dead mother, fur stained with their own blood. Lifeless eyes stared. Cedarfrost was crouched by Lavenderwind's lifeless body. Her mother, Swirlspots, spotted the corpse. Lavenderwind's heart ached as she heard Swirlspot's heart-wrenching wail.

"She was just made a warrior!"

Lavenderwind felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned, and her jaw dropped. Her best friend, Kestralpaw, who was killed in a vicious skirmish with RiverClan, stood there. His eyes shone with kindness. Lavenderwind pressed her cheek to his muzzle.

"Come with me, ShadowClan is safe." Kestralpaw's voice sounded too wise to suit his age.

Lavenderwind looked back one last time.

"I'm safe…don't worry about me." She whispered to her mother, even though she was a long way away. She did not expect Swirlspots to hear anything.

But somehow, she had a feeling that Swirlspots heard.

R&R, I do not own Warriors. Hope you liked it! :)

-Cloud(y)