"I smell Thunderclan," Wasptail growled getting to her paws as we appeared.
"It couldn't have anything to do with you being on our territory, stealing our prey could it?" I snarled. "Your Clan killed my mother over a rabbit that crossed over from your territory, but here you are stealing our prey," My fur began to bristle with rage, I took a threatening step forward, but Bramblestar shoved me back.
"Enough, Foxspirit." He growled. I fell silent. He turned back to Crowfrost. "What are you doing on our territory?"
Crowfrost tilted his head to the side, confusion flashing in his gaze. "What do you mean?" another growl rose in my throat. Why was the Shadowclan deputy playing mouse-brained?
The undergrowth shivered as our second patrol arrived. I spotted Sweetfoot's tabby pelt along with Sparkheart, Hollytuft and Lionblaze. Foxpaw hurried to Bramblestar's side, his flanks heaving from his run. Bramblestar signaled them to wait. Sweetfoot slipped next to me, her pelt brushing mine. Unease mixed with the confusion in Crowfrost's eyes. "Rowanstar told us you gave us this stretch of woodland," the black and white deputy mewed.
"What?" the patrol exclaimed together. What was Rowanstar thinking?
"That is our prey," Logfur snarled stepping forward.
"Then come and take it!" Wasptail challenged, her eyes blazing.
Before we could stop him, Logfur lunged at the yellow tabby she-cat knocking her off her paws. A heartbeat of silence passed then the woodland exploded. I saw Lionsun charge forward, battle shining in her gaze. Spiritpaw braced herself for impact. The young Shadowclan warrior slammed into her, but wasn't ready for Spiritpaw to go limp. That was the last I saw as Dawnpelt slammed into me, knocking the air from my lungs. Yowling with rage, I scrabbled at her belly with my hind paws. A white-hot flame seemed to sear through my body as Dawnpelt sunk her teeth into my shoulder.
"Get off of him!" Sweetfoot snarled pulling the cream-furred she-cat off me. I scrabbled to my paws, panting.
"Thanks," I breathed. I scanned the clearing, searching for any of my clanmates that were in trouble. I spotted a flame colored tom raking his claws along the spine of a smaller cat beneath him. I spotted a red tabby pelt. Foxpaw! I surged forward as I drew closer I recognized Flamepaw, Dawnpelt's kit. He wasn't much older than Foxpaw, so I sheathed a paw and slammed it against the side of Flamepaw's head, sending him reeling backward. I helped my son to his paws. He's too young to be here, I thought anxiously. Foxpaw was apprenticed barely a moon ago.
"All kits must grow up sometime, Foxspirit." I heard Mist's voice whisper in my ear. My mother was right.
"CROWFROST!" Dawnpelt's horror filled screech cut through the air. I spun around to find the cream-furred she-cat crouching next to the Shadowclan deputy. Crowfrost wasn't moving and blood pooled beneath him. Time seemed to stand still as I noticed another blood-streaked body lay crumpled next to him. It was Bramblestar.
A deafening crack echoed through the trees, the still battling cats froze finally realizing that something had happened. Rain began to pelt down on the forest as I limped forward to my leader's side. I waited for him to wake, the eyes of both Shadowclan and Thunderclan warriors stared at Bramblestar. The only sound was that of falling rain. I felt a soft pelt brush against mine, Tawnypelt's scent wreathed around me. "He is gone, Foxspirit." She sighed.
Grief fell into my belly like a heavy stone. Bramblestar was dead. I lifted my head and let out a long wail of grief. "This battle should never have happened." I hear Spiritpaw mew. I blinked the rain from my eyes and looked at those gathered around me. Grief shadowed the gaze of every warrior present.
"Take the prey and get out," I told Dawnpelt numbly. "This is obviously a sign from Starclan that the battle is over. I am sorry about the death of Crowfrost, he was a noble warrior." Flicking my tail dismissively, I turned to lift my leader onto my shoulders. Sweetfoot and Sparkheart pressed on either side of me helping to bear the body of our fallen leader home.
