Chapter 29

Crowflight watched in horror as Mudclaw flung himself across the clearing, slamming his body into Onewhisker's. The two tumbled through the crowd, a whirlwind of teeth and claws as their Clanmates looked on, paralyzed with shock.

That stunned silence didn't last long – the wind howling at their backs, Falcontail and his group of RiverClan and ShadowClan warriors streamed down the hillside. They leaped the gorse barrier and, paws pounding in the clearing, met the cats of WindClan in battle.

All around him, Crowflight could hear the sounds of his Clanmates wailing and yowling, their battle-cries drowned out by the sound of the wind. Crowflight's immediate thought was for Ashfoot – his mother was still injured, her capacity to defend herself greatly lessened by her lack of mobility. He tried to make his way to her, but he felt a body ram itself into his side, and the prick of claws in his pelt made him yelp.

He scrabbled for an advantage as he and his attacker – a ShadowClan tom he didn't recognize – rolled across the clearing. Finally, he managed to get his hind paws beneath the belly of his opponent and, with a powerful kick, fling them off.

Crowflight got to his paws, only to be met with another cat attempting to slice his face with razor-sharp claws. He ducked and, remembering a move that Stormfur had taught him many moons ago, brought his shoulder forward into his opponent's belly. He heard the sound of air releasing from their lungs and, using his momentum, he wrapped his forelegs around their hind legs and brought them down, where they lay on their side, stunned.

He didn't blame them – the cat he'd downed was a RiverClan warrior, by their thick, glossy pelt, and likely didn't expect a wiry WindClan cat to know one of their techniques.

There was a moment now where he could assess the situation, and his heart dropped: WindClan was hopelessly outnumbered, some of his Clanmates fighting off two or more attackers at once. He spotted Falcontail wrestling with Bramblefur, tearing at the tabby queen's flanks, and felt a flash of rage at the RiverClan tom.

He mentioned he had supporters in the other Clans, Crowflight recalled, claws clenching at his gut. This is far more than I think any of us thought!

Before he could move to assist Bramblefur, Thornpaw came to her mother's aid, dragging Falcontail off of her by the scruff of his neck. The apprentice aimed several quick jabs at Falcontail's eyes, causing the gray tabby tom to retreat back into the throng of fighting cats. Bramblefur was able to get to her paws and join her daughter in the battle, side-by-side.

Falcontail was handled, for now, so Crowflight, heart racing, looked desperately for Ashfoot. Smokewillow was blocking the nursery, swiping at any cat foolish enough to try and step inside, already bleeding in several places. Webfoot and Tornear were back-to-back, defending Thistlepaw, who looked to have taken a deep wound in his side. Weaselpaw was trying to drag his brother away, towards the medicine cat's den, when a ShadowClan cat tried to stop him.

Crowflight moved to help, but Softbreeze was faster. She slammed into the ShadowClan cat with a hiss, tearing at his surprised expression with her claws. Weaselpaw was able to drag Thistlepaw into the shelter of the medicine cat's den, outside of which Poppyfoot was standing guard. The tortoiseshell ushered them in, and when Thistlepaw was settled Weaselpaw came out to help her.

A lump rose in Crowflight's throat. We won't last long!

Finally, he spotted Ashfoot. She was backed into the gorse barrier, her expression pained as she glared at Leafwhisker and a ShadowClan cat.

Crowflight's blood roared in his ears. What to do?

He spotted Duskwhisker, her dark shape approaching the two warriors from behind. He met her eye and saw her nod – a signal.

Crowflight, with a yowl, lunged for Leafwhisker. He and his comrade turned, caught off-guard until they realized they outnumbered their attacker. Their expressions turned amused, battle-hungry – and then Duskwhisker caught the ShadowClan cat from behind, making them yowl in surprise. Crowflight used that moment to slam himself into a confused Leafwhisker.

He rolled around with the tabby RiverClan cat, feeling claws sear into his shoulders, until he was able to launch him away into the thick of the fighting with a shove of his hind legs. Able to move freely again, he moved to help Duskwhisker, only to find that she had her teeth fastened into her opponent's tail. She didn't let go until they squealed.

"Thank you," Ashfoot whispered, once they were gone.

Crowflight pressed his muzzle into his mother's fur and breathed in her scent. Other than her cloying fear-scent, she seemed to be unharmed.

"I've got this," Duskwhisker meowed, stepping up to Ashfoot's side. "Crowflight, you need to go get help!"

Crowflight glanced at his mother. "But-"

"She's right," Ashfoot rasped. Her eyes flashed desperately. "Look at us, we're fighting a whole Clan of warriors!" She steadied herself on her paws, unsheathing her claws. "We can't do this all on our own."

Crowflight's heart thudded in his chest. He knew that his mother was right. This fighting couldn't last, not if WindClan was to make it out without any losses. He gave them both a nod.

"We'll cover you," Duskwhisker promised.

Ashfoot's gaze was determined. "Go!"

Crowflight wasted no time. He whirled around on his paws and made for the hunter's entrance, ignoring the sharp pull of gorse against his fur as he nearly missed the turn and almost ended up tangled in the camp barrier. He could hear one or two cats try to give chase, only for their cries to be cut off by Duskwhisker and Ashfoot.

StarClan, protect them!

Out on the open moor, it seemed like Crowflight was in another world. The whipping, howling storm completely drowned out all but the sharpest of screeches from within the protective hills of WindClan's camp. Snow swirled aggressively all around, a blizzard that blotted out the edges of his vision in an oppressive white fog.

Crowflight swallowed the icy air. The weather didn't - couldn't - matter. He was the only cat sure enough on his paws to go for help – but where to go? RiverClan and ShadowClan couldn't be trusted to fight their own Clanmates, and who knew if they were supporting Mudclaw?

It had to be ThunderClan.

He stretched his legs as far as they could go, schooling his breathing in the way he was taught to do in leafbare to keep the cold from snatching precious air – in through the nose, out through the mouth. Crowflight ran as fast as he could, wishing with all his heart to have the wings of his namesake.

The moorland passed by him in a white blur. He dodged leafless gorse and rattling heather, all of it bent to the earth by the wind that froze his ears and seared his lungs. It felt as if the very world was having a battle of its own, the wind and ice and snow versus the grass and trees and lake water, which had gone from smooth and clear to a churning, ominous gray whirl.

Not even trees could save him from the wind, which cut between the smooth, narrow trunks on the woodland part of WindClan territory as if they weren't even there. Crowflight ran astride the river and leaped onto the tree-bridge that crossed the Divide, barely taking three steps across before he was on the other side.

Now he had to slow his pace, whether he wanted to or not – the snow was piling up thickly on the ground and against the trees, covering up dangerous cliffs and roots that could send Crowflight tumbling off course. He didn't have time for a sprained paw, not when his Clanmates were fighting for their lives.

He was pelting through the trees as fast as he dared, and he was almost at the ThunderClan camp when he spotted two shapes making their way to the camp from the opposite direction.

Stoneheart and Tawnypelt? He thought, recognizing them. What are they doing here?

He had to skid to a stop, lest he ram right into them. Tawnypelt bristled as snow and dirt sprayed into her face. Stoneheart was thankfully spared, capable of stepping around the shower of debris to confront Crowflight directly.

"What's going on?" he asked. "Why are you here?"

Breathless, Crowflight rasped, "Why are you two here?"

Tawnypelt and Stoneheart glanced at one another, as if wondering whether they should answer.

"I don't have time for this!" Crowflight spat. Bristling, he turned about and got his bearings. The camp entrance should be... this way!

He took off at a trot, his limbs searing hot and his pads burning. Stoneheart and Tawnypelt were following him, but he was most certainly not in the right headspace to question why. He needed to get to ThunderClan, as soon as he could...

Crowflight spotted the bracken-and-gorse tunnel, the intertwined branches clogged with snow. All around him was the heavy scent of ThunderClan, suppressed somewhat by the wind. Without standing for any ceremony, he rushed into the gap in the camp wall, sure that he'd left half his pelt on the imposing sticks on his way.

It didn't matter. He was here, he reflected as he burst into the clearing. He was here, and he could get help.

Every cat in the stone hollow was shocked to their whiskers to see him. It seemed like all of ThunderClan was there, huddled up together for warmth, some staring at him with big eyes and their tongues sticking out as their hasty grooming sessions were interrupted by his sudden entrance.

For a moment, all of Crowflight's certainty failed him. Then, he felt Stoneheart at his side. Even without knowing what Crowflight was here to do, the ShadowClan tom gave him a confident nod.

"WindClan needs your help!" Crowflight yowled, staring directly up at Tinystar.

The ThunderClan leader was perched on his stony ledge, wrapped partially in Graystripe's thick tail, which withdrew as Tinystar leaped carefully down the rocky steps.

They met in the center of the clearing, Tinystar's ice-blue eyes serious. "What's happened?"

Crowflight was aware of every cat closing in now, ignoring the blizzard to see what was happening. Mistyfoot caught his eye, though her gaze flashed questioningly to Stoneheart. That was not a question that Crowflight could answer, but there was some hurt in his heart when she looked at her leader and not at him, after.

"Mudclaw has attacked the Clan," Crowflight panted, pushing it all aside. He would find a way to apologize to Mistyfoot later. "He's brought in cats from RiverClan and ShadowClan to stop Onewhisker from becoming leader."

Tinystar's expression grew serious, and his Clan immediately erupted into worried mews.

"We're outnumbered, Tinystar," Crowflight begged. He dipped his head to ThunderClan's leader, painfully aware of every eye on him but not allowing himself to care. "If you don't help us, Mudclaw will kill Onewhisker, and..."

"We shouldn't involve ourselves in this," hissed Dustpelt immediately. He was bristling against the cold. "Not in the middle of leafbare!"

"This sounds like a WindClan thing," agreed Swiftfoot, his voice gruff. "Their problem, not ours."

Behind Crowflight, Stoneheart cleared her throat. "If it's just a WindClan problem, then why did Tawnypelt and I follow scent trails of cats from our Clans going to interfere in it?" His tone was even, confident. "I'm quite sure that neither of us are WindClan..."

More thoughtful mews. Crowflight didn't dare move his muzzle, worried he might see cats agreeing with Dustpelt and Swiftfoot.

"Tinystar, please; remember my vision!"

Crowflight felt his heart start. He lifted his head at the sound of Shadepool's voice, catching a glimpse of the tortoiseshell she-cat as she wove through the crowd to her father's side.

Her eyes were burning intensely as she looked at Tinystar. "At the Moonpool, I saw a vision of the moorland being torn asunder," she meowed on, the fur along her spine trembling. "Why would a ThunderClan cat see such a thing if we weren't meant to be involved?"

Tinystar glanced at his daughter, and then past her, to where Brackenfur sat at the edge of the crowd. The older medicine cat's expression was troubled, his injured leg stuck out awkwardly as if it pained him.

Is he going to deny Shadepool's vision? Crowflight trembled, remembering the risk of Shadepool's plan, and how Brackenfur often doubted her. If she was caught in her white lie, in front of her father and her whole Clan, then...

Brackenfur's expression softened, and he nodded. "StarClan has asked us to help," he agreed. "Shadepool is right. We have a responsibility here."

Tinystar gave a nod in return. "Very well. ThunderClan! Prepare for battle!"

Howls of excitement rose from the ThunderClan cats. Eyes shone, claws flexed, and as Crowflight locked eyes with Shadepool, he felt hope soar in his chest.

Thank you, he thought. For risking so much for me...

"Mistyfoot, Nightfrost," Tinystar ordered over the din of his warriors, "You know the way best. I want you each to create separate battle patrols. Head for WindClan territory immediately. Where is the fighting thickest, Crowflight?"

Crowflight was shocked to be addressed. "Th-The camp, Tinystar," he responded. He thought of Ashfoot and Thistlepaw and Robinwing. "There are vulnerable and wounded there."

"Take your patrols along different angles, then," Tinystar decided. He turned to Mistyfoot and Nightfrost, who stood side-by-side. "We'll flush them out of the camp and give them nowhere else to go but the moorland. Fighting in the open will give the WindClan cats the upper paw, and we can use the storm to our advantage. Understood?"

"Definitely," Mistyfoot agreed soberly.

Nightfrost nodded. "It'll be easy!"

"Dustpelt!" Tinystar meowed sharply. "You, Sootfur, and Swiftfoot will remain here to guard the camp. Between yourselves and the queens, the camp will be well protected in case an enemy warrior gets an idea in their head to come here."

Dustpelt dipped his head. "They'll certainly be surprised." The brown tom touched noses with Cinderpelt, wishing her well as she went to go stand beside Nightfrost.

"What about you two?" Tinystar asked, looking at Stoneheart and Tawnypelt. "Can your Clans help us? Do your leaders know of what's happening? Will you two fight your own Clanmates?"

"There isn't time for us to get help, even if Russetstar might be inclined," Stoneheart admitted. His claws flexed in the snow. "I don't think Russetstar knows what's going on. I've no problem teaching my Clanmates a lesson or two for her, Tinystar."

"Leopardstar told me nothing of this, but she won't be convinced to help – not easily," Tawnypelt added. "Not if Falcontail is involved like I think he is. Me dragging him back into camp by his whiskers, though..."

Tinystar seemed satisfied with their answers. Crowflight didn't really have time to reflect on whether or not Russetstar or Leopardstar were really so uninvolved - Tinystar flicked his tail at them, and at Crowflight.

"You three are with me. We will enter the camp directly, and catch these rebels off-guard," He ordered. "When we've got their attention, I'll give the signal for Mistyfoot and Nightfrost to move in and push them out into the storm."

Crowflight nodded in understanding. He realized then that Mistyfoot and Nightfrost had mobilized their chosen warriors – Mistyfoot had taken Mousefur, Cloudtail, Graystripe, Sorreltail, Whitewing, and Spiderpaw, while Nightfrost had Brightheart, Ashfur, Rainwhisker, Cinderpelt, Snowstep, and Sun by his side.

"Let's go, then," Tinystar ordered. "For WindClan!"

"For WindClan!"

Tinystar lowered his muzzle, meeting Crowflight's eye. "Lead the way."

Crowflight nodded, heart lifted high. He led his small patrol out of ThunderClan's camp, feeling energized as Stoneheart, Tawnypelt, and Tinystar ran by his side through the snowy, windy forest. Not a few paces behind, he heard the thundering of pawsteps, the rumble of Mistyfoot and Nightfrost's patrols breaking through the howling wind as they followed.

Tinystar knew the best route to the Divide, so Crowflight let him dictate their path for the moment. Snow had by now covered the tree-bridge, so the crossing was taken almost frustratingly slowly – thankfully, however, Tinystar did not wait beyond their small patrol. Letting Crowflight fully take the lead, he urged them forward.

Heart pounding in his ears, Crowflight spread his legs and raced through the woods and out onto the moor. Tinystar and Stoneheart kept up well, with Tawnypelt lagging behind only by a few strides. There wasn't time to compensate for her lack of skill in traversing the hills, and Crowflight guessed she wouldn't welcome it.

Glancing over his shoulder, he spotted the other two patrols – they were splitting off in a different direction, though, looking to approach the camp from behind. As they disappeared behind the hills and into the blizzard, Crowflight saw one cat keeping their distance, and even though she was barely a shadow against the white, he recognized Shadepool by the curve of her ears.

She snuck along!

He ought to worry, he knew, but there was just too much else to think about, and if he were honest, which he decided to be, he was happy that she had come. For the first time since the end of the Great Journey, the chosen cats were all together, working towards the same goal. That alone was enough to reignite hope in Crowflight's heart.

He led his patrol towards the camp's main entrance, his hope for a moment drowned out by crippling fear – it seemed like the battle had ended. Then, over the wind, he heard another cat screech in pain, and it sounded like Softbreeze. Despite the horror of it all, he was glad they weren't too late.

Crowflight pushed in through the gorse and burst into the camp, letting out a fearsome yowl as Tinystar, Stoneheart, and Tawnypelt fanned out behind him.

As Tinystar had predicted, both the attackers and the WindClan defenders were confused. The battle paused, just for a moment, cats mid-snarl as they looked up to see what was happening.

Crowflight searched the crowd, seizing the moment to check on his Clanmates – Duskwhisker and Ashfoot were both alright, still huddled up near the gorse barrier at the far end of camp. It didn't seem like anyone else was badly hurt, but every cat was bloodied, and Crowflight knew that not a single cat here hadn't met the claws of another.

"Tinystar!" Onewhisker breathed, struggling out from under the grip of Mudclaw. "Thank StarClan you're-ah-!"

Mudclaw had slapped him on the cheek with a heavy paw. The dark tabby tom turned to glare at the newcomers, his eyes narrowed into blazing slits.

"Tinystar," he hissed. "Come to defend your future acquisition?"

Tinystar bristled along his spine, his icy eyes as cold as the storm. "I've come to defend a friend."

"A pitiful lie," Mudclaw sneered.

Tinystar raised his muzzle and let out a thin screech.

Suddenly, Mistyfoot and Nightfrost streamed down the hill, framed by the thin branches of the rowan. They both paused on the Tallstone, letting their patrols come down around them like a tide as they leaped into the WindClan camp, claws flashing. When the rebels began to turn and flee, Mistyfoot and Nightfrost both leaped down from the Tallstone to join the chase.

At the sight of his forces fleeing, Mudclaw hissed. He thrust Onewhisker away from him as if he were a piece of crow-food and followed his allies, nearly bowling Tawnypelt over as he pushed himself past her.

"Drive them out!" roared Onewhisker. He got to his paws, shaking out his muzzle and scattering droplets of blood across the clearing.

"It's not over yet," Stoneheart whispered into Crowflight's ear. "Ready?"

Crowflight felt the press of his friend's pelt against his. Mistyfoot and Nightfrost slowed their pace, stopping beside them. Crowflight took in their expressions and smiled, twitching his whiskers.

"As I'll ever be," he replied.