I'm sorry everyone! I haven't had any time to write, but today I wrote this quick chapter. Because I'm going on vacation there won't be another update for a while! I hope that's not too disappointing. ;)

Swiftlily; you'll see who Maplepaw will begin to have a crush on actually very soon. ;) I agree that MaplexShade would be so cute, though! Okay, I understand! Thanks for your help. :D

Chapter 9

"What?" Stormstar meowed sternly.

"RiverClan . . . they want Sunningrocks back," Snowpaw gasped, surely out of breath.

They all ran back as Stormstar yowled, "Silkpaw, Maplepaw, Flametail, Snowpaw, Darkclaw, Nightstripe, Stonepaw, Sunpelt and I will attack first. The rest of the Clan is on the second patrol. The second patrol will then go when Moonfur says."

The cats that were assigned to go with Stormstar joined him. As Silkpaw left with the group she heard Moonfur speaking behind her.

"We will attack as soon as I yowl. Understand?" he mewed quietly as cats scrambled up the steep ravine. They all gave him a mute nod and then became still as they waited.

Suddenly, Stormstar let out a loud yowl. A heartbeat later the ThunderClanners filed out and began attacking the RiverClan cats.

Silkpaw was met with a young apprentice about her size. With a powerful leap, Silkpaw jumped onto the young tom. Then he threw her off.

Wait a minute—that's Branchpaw! Silkpaw thought as she locked eyes with his. Before she could think, the she-cat ran off. I'm sorry, she apologized in her head. Branchpaw is my friend; I can't fight him.

She spotted Maplepaw fighting a warrior twice her size. Silkpaw ran over to her fellow apprentice and began to fight the warrior alongside Maplepaw. Silkpaw slashed at the she-cat's muzzle while Maplepaw nipped her hind legs.

The she-cat eventually ran away and Silkpaw purred, "Pick on somebody your own size!"

"We make a pretty good team," Maplepaw mewed.

"Attack!" they could hear Moonfur yowl a distance away.

A meow made Silkpaw jump. "Well well well, what do we have here . . . young meat," a voice murmured behind them. A black tom with amber eyes came forward.

"I'm Blackstripe," he introduced, licking his paws. Silkpaw lunged. She landed on his back and was able to rake out clumpfuls of fur before being thrown off. Maplepaw swiped at his muzzle, but he quickly dodged her attack.

She unsheathed her claws as Blackstripe took another step towards Silkpaw. The apprentice was panting. Maplepaw slashed again at his muzzle, causing it to bleed, but earned a strike to her flank. Then Blackstripe dove for Silkpaw.

She had no time to move before he clawed her shoulder, blood slowly welling up in the deep cut.

Silkpaw let out a gasp.

Maplepaw slashed Blackstripe's muzzle and side, anger driving her forward. Blood was dripping from her paws. With a hiss of pain Blackstripe ran back to his camp, leading behind a trail of blood.

"Silkpaw!" Maplepaw cried.

"Retreat, RiverClan! Retreat!" Shadestar yowled, his Clan fleeing from Sunningrocks.

"We will get Sunningrocks - someday," Shadestar growled. In a flash he was flanking his Clanmates in their flight.

"How are the injuries?" Stormstar asked, turning to face ThunderClan.

"Silkpaw's got a deep gash on her shoulder," Flametail meowed.

Apprehension clouded his expression. "Let's head back to camp."

Sorry the chapter is so short! R&R! :D