Chapter 17- Troutleap

How could Dustypaw be so stupid? Questions like this had been going through his mind for a while. He had slowly been going back to camp since Dustypaw stormed off. He saw the brown cat race past him hurriedly a few moments ago. He hadn't even spared him a sideways glance. Be that way then. He had almost gotten to camp when he saw the air rippling the way it rippled when Snakepaw was there. "Snakepaw, what are you doing here?"

"The Dark Forest is attacking! They're going to attack the barn right now!" Troutleap got up on his feet and ran with all of his power to the barn.

He passed a patrol coming back with big fish in their jaws. Among the patrol was Sageclaw, Blackice and their apprentices, Icepaw and Snowpaw. "Where are you going, Troutleap?" Sageclaw was walking hurriedly up to him.

Troutleap took a glance at the outline of the barn that was just coming into view. "You all come with me. There is an attack on the barn and I think Dustypaw is in trouble."

Icepaw blinked her big blue eyes. "Why would someone be attacking the barn and why would Dustypaw be in trouble if it is over there?"

Sageclaw looked at his apprentice then back at Troutleap. "Who is attacking and why would they attack a bunch of kittypets?"

Troutleap sighed and glanced back hurriedly. "It's the Dark Forest. They're back and attacking again like they did moons ago. They're attacking the barn because my father is a barn cat and both my siblings –Leapkit and Palekit, now Cast and Bell- live there."

Blackice nodded and looked at Icepaw and Snowpaw. "Who's up for a bit of battle practice?"

Snowpaw shrunk back looking a bit timid. "Why would we have to fight? It's a bunch of kittypets still and I like Dustypaw and all but he has a brown pelt."

Troutleap looked at Snowpaw in the eyes. It wasn't her fault she thought like this, it was the way she was raised. "Snowpaw, was it Dustypaw's fault he was born with a brown pelt?" She shook her head. "What if Icepaw was a kittypet and you were a warrior? She would still be your sister. Wouldn't you want to save her?" Snowpaw nodded and her eyes widened with realization.

"Let's go!" She was up on her paws now, running ahead with Icepaw. Troutleap passed the she-cats and went to the barn.

Hailey was crouched protectively over Farryn and Farley, both who were trying to fight. A black and white tom was attacking the queen. "Snowpaw, Icepaw, help the queen." The little she-cats nodded and ran over to Hailey and attacked.

Ian was fighting two gray tabby twins by himself. They were getting blows across his muzzle, belly, back, all over. "Blackice, help the tom with the gray tabby cats." Blackice nodded and launched himself into battle.

"What about me, Troutleap?" Sageclaw asked. His claws were out and ready to go.

Cast and Bell were fighting a group of black cats, each one bigger than the next. "Go help Cast and Bell." Sageclaw nodded and launched himself onto the back of one of the black cats.

Troutleap looked around and saw a beautiful silver she-cat pinning Dustypaw down. She was hissing things to him. "Wow, you're even uglier than my daughter. She had brown fur too, but she at least had some white on her. She also had my eyes, adding to her limited beauty. I hated her. I hated my other daughter too. She tried to protect her darling sister. She had so much, beautiful silver fur, beautiful eyes, everything. Oh well. I'll take care of you now like I should've taken care of them!"

She started to aim blows at his throat but he kept batting her away with his front paws. Still, he wasn't going to get out of this alive when he was on his own. Troutleap jumped on the she-cat and pinned her down. She narrowed her eyes. "You, a silver pelt with eyes to match are going to kill me."

Troutleap shook his head. "I'm not going to kill you, but Dustypaw is." Dustypaw was getting up and shaking the dust out of his fur. "Dustypaw, come finish her off."

Dustypaw stalked up to the she-cat and narrowed his eyes. "With pleasure." He pinned down the she-cat the same way Troutleap had her pinned and bit her throat. The cat faded away into the shadows.

Troutleap looked at Dustypaw. His brown fur was matted with blood and his ear was split heavily. He looked around at the other cats. Snowpaw and Icepaw had driven off the white tom and were settling Hailey down. None of them appeared hurt, luckily. Farryn and Farley were looking up at the apprentices with big eyes. They looked like they wanted to ask every question in the world.

Ian and Blackice were finishing driving off the gray tabby twins. The toms were panting and looking at each other like Clanmates who respected each other would. They both had some minor scratches that would need tending too but for now they were fine.

Finally Troutleap looked over at Sageclaw, Cast and Bell. They all had heavy wounds, were panting heavily but they were all standing tall and none of the black cats were there anymore.

Hailey, followed by Snowpaw, Icepaw and her kits were padding up to Troutleap and Dustypaw. "Troutleap, thank you so much. I'm sure we would all be dead if it wasn't for you." Troutleap nodded his head and looked out of the corner of his eye. He saw Snowpaw and Icepaw chatting Dustypaw's ear off, showering him with praise and apologizing to him for every remark they made about his pelt. "Listen, Troutleap, I… I want your Clan, RiverClan, to train Farryn and Farley. I want to know they are safe. They haven't stopped talking about your kits either, although I don't know how they would have met them." She smiled at her kits. "Would you please, Troutleap. I know they can come and visit me when they are on patrol and I know they really want to be like you and Dustypaw."

The little she-cats were jumping around his feet. "Please, Troutleap. Please, please, please, please!"

Hailey smiled. "They're your sisters. They have your blood. I think they would be strong enough to handle it."

Troutleap looked at the kits. "Alright then, Hailey. Dawnstream, my mate, will raise them." He looked down at the little she-cats who were jumping around excitedly. "They're going to need Clan names though. Any ideas?"

Hailey shook her head. "Not a clue."

Troutleap looked at them and purred at the names that he thought of. "Farryn, from this day until you are and apprentice you shall be known as Aspenkit."

"Aspenkit! Farley, look at me! I'm Aspenkit!" The little brown she-cat was jumping up and down at her new name.

"What about me, Troutleap? What about me?" Farley was shaking like a leap with anticipation.

"Farley, from this day until you become an apprentice you shall be known as Wildkit."

Dustypaw escaped Snowpaw and Icepaw and padded up to Troutleap looking grave. "Troutleap, the reason we knew about this battle was because we, Snakepaw and I, found Treadpaw murdering… murdering Moonshine. I'm sorry." Dustypaw looked at his paws.

Troutleap took a step back. "Moonshine? You mean Moonshine is dead?" Dustypaw nodded then looked up at Sageclaw who was limping toward him. "Take these two kits to Dawnstream. Tell her they are joining RiverClan. Tell her they are my half sisters."

"What about you?"

He looked up from looking at his paws. His eyes were narrowed and there was blood in his voice. "I have a score to settle with the Dark Forest. Now take everyone back to camp, except Dustypaw. I need him with me for this."

Sageclaw nodded. "Good luck."

Sorry for the wait, but I've been busy… Well the story comes closer to the end. There is going to be a sequel and a prequel but I don't know when I will write them. I am not going to update next weekend either, I am going to be in Nebraska for contest. Acting that is. If you are a Hunger Games or Harry Potter fan check out the links to YouTube on my profile. We (my acting troupe and I) just made a new video!

Songstar of MaskedClan