My paws slipped in the snow as I attempted to make my way to the lake. We were out of horsetail, and Jayfeather wanted to get some just in case. He had sent me alone while he stayed with Icestorm, who was recovering from greencough. The catmint we had gotten from Willowshine was already running low, thanks to the epidemic spreading throughout the Clan. It seemed like when one got better, another got sick. It was a never ending chain. We could only hope our supply lasted until the next half-moon, when we could ask for more from the other Clans.
"Where is that horsetail?" I asked myself, scenting the air. Between the snow and lake, it was almost completely covered up. I caught a slight scent of it and followed it. I noticed this was the same place I had seen Jayfeather less then a moon before, stroking a stick with weird scratches. I took a small detour, searching for the stick. Ever since, I had been wondering what was so important about a piece of wood that was probably washed up on shore during a storm.
I found it tangled in some roots, safely tucked in the same place Jayfeather had left it last. I carefully moved it out. As I had noticed before, many scratches were placed on the stick. My paws stopped on a strange set of them. They seemed many moons younger then the others, as if put there just moons ago. Had Jayfeather been the one to place them there? I noticed they were scored through; five long and three short. I sighed and put it back, almost forgetting my mission to find horsetail. I turned my back and followed the horsetail scent again. It led me to a patch of bracken, the ground marshy from the waves that lapped gently at my paws. I pulled off a few stems. I noticed with a jolt that about half the plant was dead, frozen or killed by heavier waves like the night before. It had been windy, and not only had the waves been fierce, but even the rock walls of the camp barely kept the dens from blowing away.
I was a bit disappointed. Jayfeather had said he needed the horsetail more then I needed to be at Goldenkit, Dewkit and Falconkit's apprentice ceremony. Why couldn't I be there for my friends? I turned and began to follow the path back to camp, but a rustle in the bushes alerted me. My fur ruffled in fear and I whirled around. Two, blazing and hungry amber eyes stared at me, a low growl coming from the creature. I recognized the scent at once, having been hidden by the wind, rain, snow and lake-scent. It was a fox! I had been face to face with one before. I had almost died that day. My mother had. Now, I wasn't close to camp, still near the lake. Even a yowl to call a patrol would be useless here. I slowly began to back away. I was no match for a fox! The fox followed my every pawstep, its red fur finally appearing out of the shadows, standing out against the snow. Before I could react, it lunged. I dodged out of the way, but not before it grabbed my injured leg. Painfully, it swung me around. The wind was knocked out of me as I flew against a tree. This time, I managed to stand. It lunged again. Using the tree as a weapon, I swiftly twisted out of te way. The fox hit it with a thud. I leapt on it and began scratching wherever I could. I grabbed its ear and neck with my teeth, pulling hard as it twisted and swiped at me. Finally, it managed to throw me off. I skidded across the ground on my side.
Before I could regain my footing, the fox leaped on me. I wriggled from beneath its paws, which held me poorly despite its size. I shot forward and landed squarely on its back. It had to be stupid, allowing me, a cat with only three useable legs, to get it. A warrior would have easily swiped me away.
This time, I hardly ad any time to deal damage. I was easily thrown yet again. This time, I landed harder, and flew farther. The fox leaped on me again. I could feel my consciousness slipping away. I yowled in pain and fear as the fox leaned down to deal a death bite. The last thing I remember was feeling the weight lift off me. I opened one eye. A patrol had come to my rescue! I could only make out the pelts of Foxcatcher and Cloudtail before I drifted out of the conscious world.