I don't know how I feel about this chapter...

Chapter 22: The Mark of Revenge

Mountainstone let his fury distill throughout his system and steady him until he was absolutely calm, but alert to every movement of the world around him. He heard the pawsteps of WindClan warriors, unused to the musky forest, and distantly, he tasted blood that belonged his parents, his parents. They were nearby, but they were still in trouble, and he was going to rip apart the grinning cats in front of him.

"No need to fight," said Owlwhisker, his tail twitching. "You can have what you want if you don't resist."

"What is your goal?" Cinderheart narrowed her eyes and glared between them. "You've bought yourself time – for what?"

"Wouldn't you like to know?" Owlwhisker's eyes glowed. His tail flew up to alert, and the cats in the trees around them tensed suddenly. Mountainstone could feel their paws against the dirt that was already vibrating. Forget doing this peacefully. He didn't care. His hackles raised, Mountainstone took a step forward.

"Bring us to our leader now," he said. Owlwhisker smiled, and it was the very last thing Mountainstone could take, and he lurched. He had Owlwhisker pinned in a second and his jaws around the WindClan deputy's throat, and between the fur and pulsing flesh there, he growled.

Then someone in the trees cried out, and Mountainstone rolled off of Owlwhisker to accept the impact of another WindClan warrior. The battle had begun. Every second Mountainstone spent was another pulsing cell of hatred that he vented out into the air around him. He knocked back troops with a stone-hearted precision, sending cats flying and whimpering into the trees. The WindClan warriors were unused to fighting under the cover of trees, and it was a mistake they were stupid to have overlooked. Mountainstone could hear his Clanmates ripping through their adversaries – Cinderheart and Greyheart fought together where they had been surrounded, while Hazeltail and Toadstep had separated and driven the WindClan cats deeper into the forest. Skysong fell beside Mountainstone suddenly, her blue eyes wild.

"We should go for Lionstar and Icecloud," she said. Mountainstone nodded, surveying the scene. A WindClan she-cat flew at him, jaws open in a snarl, and Mountainstone pivoted to kick backwards and knock her to the ground. He breathed in the scents of the trees, determined to taste more than the mixed scents of the cats fighting nearby. But he could still find his path. Skysong ducked as another cat went flying, and Mountainstone intercepted him. The littermates split. Mountainstone focused on the feeling of the battle and the blood that spilt when he scored his claws down the muzzle of the WindClan tom. He headbutted his foe and heard a satisfying crunch of bones. Hardly daring to think of what that could mean, Mountainstone looked up and saw Toadstep.

"I'm going to find Lionstar and Icecloud," he said. Toadstep was pressing back two dark-pelted she-cats. Mountainstone leaped forward, tackling the nearest one and back-kicking her into a bramble bush. Toadstep flicked blood from his muzzle and nodded.

"There aren't too many of them," he said. "Nine or so. We can take them."

Mountainstone knew this, but he nodded. Toadstep flicked his tail.

"Tell the others!" said Mountainstone, and then he breathed in his mother's scent and dived into the trees, pushing past the unfamiliar undergrowth and sprinting after the smells he knew so well. He recognized two more WindClan cats rise out of the undergrowth. Mountainstone was like a demon. There was fear in their eyes. He realized that they were very young warriors: Lightwing and Hailstorm. Mountainstone yowled so loudly both of them recoiled.

"We can do this the easy way, or I can claw your pelts off," he said. Hailstorm's eyes narrowed, and he growled back. Lightwing looked far more unsure, but she didn't move. Mountainstone could smell his parents nearby, possible through the bushes the two warriors had come from. When Hailstorm flew at him, screeching, Mountainstone was distracted. He let the black cat score a hit on his flank by mistake, and he hissed in pain. That reoriented him, and Mountainstone did not miss another strike again. He rocketed past the pair after dazing them, and into the bushes he swept.

Lionstar was standing already, but Icecloud was on her side. Her pale fur was matted and rinsed in dark blood in some places. Mountainstone's heart snak.

"Mountainstone, I have never been gladder to see you." But Lionstar's eyes were troubled, even as he spoke. Mountainstone rushed to his mother's side. Icecloud opened her eyes. They were glassy, but she smiled upon seeing him.

"Beautiful Mountainstone," said Icecloud. Lionstar helped her to her feet, and Icecloud pressed her nose to Mountainstone's muzzle. He could smell sickness on her. It made his pelt crawl.

"WindClan attacked while we were hunting," said Lionstar dully. "I could have fought them off, but they injured Icecloud and dragged her away. They promised me they'd treat her if I came with them."

"So you did." Mountainstone nodded. "It's alright. Those flea-bags don't stand a chance."

"I thought so." Lionstar's whiskers twitched. "Icecloud's wound is infected."

Mountainstone had thought as much. He nodded, taking his mother's weight on his shoulder and sniffing at the wound along her side.

"We have to get her home right away," said Mountainstone. He reached out, listening for the sounds of turmoil, but most of that had faded away. If he focused, he could hear Cinderheart coming to the aid of their hurt Clanmates, for Hazeltail had ripped some muscle in her shoulder or something like that. He was glad they had brought her. Mountainstone had forgotten that Cinderheart had once worked in the medicine den with Jayfeather, but her knowledge was certainly coming in handy now. WindClan had fled.

"I'm fine," said Icecloud, but she was radiating heat. Mountainstone helped his mother across the brush and back towards his Clanmates.

"Mountainstone." Lionstar's voice dropped to a low murmur. The leader of ThunderClan looked around, as if afraid they'd be overheard. "I think you should know that what happened to Mouseclaw after the earthquake happened to Icecloud, too."

It took Mountainstone a minute, but when he realized what had happened, his blood ran cold in his veins.

"You can't mean…?" If Icecloud had died, Mountainstone would cleave this world of WindClan. By their paws, his mother had been killed. Only through extreme measures had she been given a second chance. No other warrior would have been lucky like that. WindClan had killed her, for what?

Lionstar nodded gravely as if reading his thoughts.

"We can only assume that this was some sort of distraction," said Lionstar.

"But for what?" Mountainstone and Lionstar guided Icecloud back, their words low. Mountainstone couldn't think clearly. The blood rushing in his head was too heated. Next time he ran into Owlwhisker, he would actually put his teeth through his throat instead of just frightening him.

"That's why we must hurry." Lionstar glanced at his mate. "But I don't want to leave Icecloud while the infection is hurting her."

Greyheart's tabby head appeared through the grass, and the big tom sighed in relief.

"Lionstar!" he said. "Icecloud!"

"Icecloud has an infected wound," said Mountainstone hurriedly, guiding the two into a small section of crisscrossing roots, where he found his Clanmates. Skysong's pelt was matted on her back, and she appeared to be asleep. Greyheart and Cinderheart were here, keeping watch. A quick survey of the air confirmed that Hazeltail and Toadstep were out hunting.

"What's the matter?" Cinderheart rushed to them. "Lionstar, Icecloud. I'm so glad you're alright." Then she sniffed at Icecloud's pelt. Her nose wrinkled in distaste.

"I know you know some herbs," said Lionstar desperately. "Please, Cinderheart."

"Absolutely." Cinderheart didn't even give it a second thought. She turned to Mountainstone. "Do you know what horsetail looks like?"

He nodded, recalling more the orange aura of the plant than its actual properties. Cinderheart listed a few more, and then asked for his assistance. As he rushed out to search, he passed Greyheart.

"Is Skysong alright?" Mountainstone asked, nodding to his sister.

"She got a pretty bad scratch, but Cinderheart gave her a few poppy seeds so she could sleep," said Greyheart. "She'll be fine, but I'll watch her."

"Great." Then Mountainstone headed out into the trees to look for the herbs to help his mother.

He found the search cathartic. By the time he returned, jaws full of herbs that tasted vile on his tongue, he was living in a more pleasant world. Suddenly, it wasn't so important to track down every WindClan warrior and rip their pelts straight off. He would still have revenge, but maybe he could wait. He could at least wait until Lionstar decided on a course of action.

Cinderheart accepted the bundle of herbs, and Mountainstone helped himself to the vole that Hazeltail offered him. Lionstar was pacing, but he wasn't looking at Icecloud anymore. The others greeted him upon his arrival but did little else. Mountainstone walked to Lionstar's side.

"What's the plan?" he said. "WindClan must pay for this."

"We need to get to ThunderClan as soon as possible," said Lionstar. "We'll leave at dawn."

"And if Icecloud can't travel?"

"Cinderheart and Toadstep will stay with her until she is." Lionstar blinked twice. "I don't think WindClan should be allowed to get away with this. But kidnapping us was a distraction so they could drag you out of camp." Lionstar sighed. "Nothing good will come from this."

"Then ThunderClan may be in danger."

"We are only short seven warriors," said Lionstar. "Things will be alright under Doveheart's care. But I will not extend this trip." He shook his head. "Get some rest. We will move quickly. We'll go past the Moontree, as I won't go through WindClan territory."

"Yes, Lionstar." He wasn't happy about this, but he wasn't going to protest. Sighing to himself, Mountainstone stalked across their makeshift camp and lay down at the edge of a large ash tree. Watching the rest of his Clanmates over his paws, he remembered why he needed them. Why he protected them. Why no one could hurt them while he was around.

WindClan would pay. Lionstar might be willing to back down and let them get away with this, but he was a hot-blooded cat. He was the ultimate warrior. And no one hurt his Clanmates and got away with it.

I mean, other than that it's short, I have no real idea what I think of it. But we have Lionstar and Icecloud back, just in time for disaster to have brewed back home. If you couldn't guess already, everybody is all over the place with reactions to these events. Long story short: it's all about to go down.

~Elsi