The heart of a Thorn

Chapter 2

(A/N sorry for keeping you waiting! My mother is an evil person + school is an evil place)

"Let all cats old enough to catch their prey gather here beneath the Highrock for a clan meeting." Firestar's yowl awoke Ashheart and she padded outside, followed by Thornclaw. "Windclan has crossed the line. They have killed one of our elders and badly injured our warriors. We will react." He turned to Brambleclaw. "Chose your warriors to take on your patrol. It looks as if all of their warriors are fighting. I need a battle patrol to stay here and guard camp in case they come back." Brambleclaw's amber eyes scanned the clan, looking for the cats he wanted on his patrol. Firestar stared at every cat from the highrock. "Brackenfur, Sandstorm, Whitewing, Ashfur, Hollypaw, Sorreltail, Thornclaw and Spiderleg. You will be on my patrol." Firestar jumped down.

"Cloudtail you will be our third battle patrol, pick your cats." Cloudtail nodded to Firestar and went thorugh the crowds of cats. Thornclaw looked at Ashheart. His tounge rasped over her ear. "You must stay." He murmured. Ashheart frowned and nodded. "I will protect the clan if they come back." Thornclaw nodded and padded away. Frestar's patrol stood in front of him. Then there was a rustle in the bushes and Spotted white cat stepped out of them. Her blue eyes sparkled. "I am Oceanbreeze. I have come far with my mate to find a new home." Firetstar looked at her. "Where have you come from?" Oceanbreeze looked at him.

"A place like this. We lived in clans like this one." Firestar looked at her. You may join Brambleclaw's patrol along with your mate. Brambleclaw! I want you to watch how they fight." Brambleclaw nodded and padded over to his patrol; Squirrelflight, Dustpelt, Berrynose, Hazeltail, Mousewhisker, Poppypaw, and icepaw. Now Oceanbreeze and her mate joined them.

Cloudtail's patrol was listening for orders. His patrol; Birchfall, Graystripe, Honeypaw, Lionpaw and patrol was to unite with Brambleclaw's patrol when the signal was given. Now Firestar led all three patrols along the lake's edge. He turned to the patrols'. "My patrol will go first. When I give the signal, Brambleclaw's patrol will unite with Cloudtail's patrol and then attack." The Patrols stopped at the border. Firestar waved his tail and disappeared into the long grasses of Windclan Territory. Firestar's patrol circled the camp. Brambleclaw's patrol held back. Cloudtail watched the cats. "I smell Thunderclan." It sounded like Whitetail. "Smells fresh." Onestar spoke. Firestar saw them. "Attack!" Firestar's yowl pierced the air and the three patrols streamed into camp. Windclan cats burst out of their dens, hissing angrily. Onestar and Whitetail stopped and ran over. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" Onestar roared. Firestar glared at Onestar.

"you asked for it. That attack on clan was unjust and now we have a score to settle. Your clan has killed one of our elders and injured one of my warriors near death" Firestar growled. Onestar scowled. "If that's how you want it Firestar." Sadness lingered in his eyes. "Its not." His mew was quiet. Onestar glared at him. "Tallstar is dead! The bond between our two clans must end, Firestar!" he spat. Firestar arched his back. "So be it." Firestar waved his tail and the cats in his patrol launched themselves onto the Windclan cats. Firestar slammed into Onestar and started to tussle with him. Screeches ripped through the air and blood splattered the ground. "I can't believe we helped you!" Graystripe hissed to Onestar.

Thornclaw fought, looking for her. The cat that had injured Ashheart to almost the point of death. Then he saw her: Nightcloud. Thornclaw roared in anger and slammed into her, digging his claws into her back. Nightcloud howled in pain. "What do you want!" Her mew was sharp with pain. "You almost killed her." Thornclaw's mew was sharp with anger. Nghtcloud sneered. "Ashheart was weak, she couldn't fight Breezepelt. To scared. To weak. So I fought her." Thornclaw growled and bit her shoulder, the leapt onto another cat, leaving Nightcloud to lie in the dust, her life slowly dripping away.

. . .

Crowfeather made his way through Thunderclan territory. Leafpool stood by the lakes edge, her fur shimmering in the Moonlight. Her tears fell into the water making it ripple. Crowfeather watched as she buried her face into her paws. Crowfeather then padded into view and wound his body around hers, making her jump."Crowfeather." her voice came in a whisper. Crowfeather purred and nuzzled her. "But-" Crowfeather looked into her eyes. Leafpool nodded and smiled.

. . .

Brightheart looked around camp. Ferncloud and Millie stood guard at the entrance to camp. Brightheart looked to the Medicine cat den. Jaypaw bustled around inside, sorting herbs she guessed. Where's Leafpool? Brightheart thought. Ashheart lay on the highrock, listening for intruders. Brightheart felt her pelt prickle as she looked in the nursery. Daisy lay huddled in a corner, shaking. Seeing Daisy, Brightheart remembered how worried she was about Cloudtail. Jaypaw came up behind her. "I need to get into the battle." He mewed. 'I can bring back injured warriors and apprentices'. Brightheart tipped her head to one side. "Be careful." She warned. Jaypaw nodded and set off.

. . .

Firestar looked around. Onestar then leapt on him from behind and ran his claws down Firestar's back. Firestar flipped over and flicked a paw across Onestar's face, leaving a deep gash on his cheek. Oceanbreeze was in combat with Whitetail and she fought side by side with her mate. Shes fighting well he thought. Then Firestar felt Onestar's teeth dig into his neck and he went into dizzying darkness.

Jaypaw padded through Thunderclan territory, going straight to the border. Jaypaw stepped right over it and followed the scent of his clan mates to the camp. He heard brambleclaw's howl of outrage. Then he felt teeth in his scruff and he was lifted off the ground. Jaypaw smelt a familiar smell. It was krestlepaw. Jaypaw hissed and took a swipe at him. Krestlepaw put him down smacked him over the head with an unsheathed paw. Jaypaw growled and bared his teeth over Krestlepaw's paw making him cry out in pain. Jaypaw pelted into Windclan camp and smelt Mousewhisker. He lay in heap by the entrance. He was not moving. Jaypaw shook his head and went through the fighting cats. Whitewing slammed against a den. Jaypaw helped her up and started to lead her to camp. Jaypaw sniffed Whitewing. Bad neck wound.

Firestar paced angrily as Bluestar stood in front of him. "You are losing a life." She mewed. Firestar nodded as the darkness crashed over him. Onestar stood over him, his lip curled back in a snarl. "See what you get when you mess with Windclan, kittypet!" Onestar spat. Firestar flipped over and hissed in outrage, then brought his paw down upon Onestar's face, making blood pour down the side of it. "See what you get when you mess with thunderclan, onewhisker." Firestar growled.

Firestar got off of Onestar and looked around. "Thunderclan." Firestar yowled. "Retreat." He said calmly. "Firestar." Onestar hissed. "This isn't the end." Firestar nodded with a scowl and left.

(Please R&R. and please no flames! keep it to yourself because writing is my life and I won't let some person ruin it for me!)

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