Chapter 5
"Amberstar! Amberstar!"
Moonpaw looked up from the scrawny vole she was sharing with Archpaw as Stonecrack and Beastfur ran into the camp.
"ThunderClan has been stealing prey! We found feathers and bird blood just inside the border and ThunderClan scent was all over it!" Beastfur growled.
Stormcloud jumped to his paws. "Amberstar this is outrageous. I trust Sunstar- He would not do something like this. It must be Firestorm."
Amberstar paced back and forth, ignoring the yowls of anger from her Clanmates.
"We will send a party of ShadowClan cats to the ThunderClan camp-"
Fallowgrass and Overstep nodded.
"-But not to attack. We will try to reason with Sunstar, and ask why he did this."
Amberstar held her head proudly as she regarded her Clanmates. "Stormcloud, you must lead this patrol. Choose the cats wisely."
Stormcloud's eyes were frightened and Moonpaw was confused. Stormcloud was the best warrior in ShadowClan-someone she admired greatly. Why was he frightened.
"Ridgepath, Thornpaw, Flufftail, Brightwhisker, Gingerfur, Moonpaw, Badgerfang, Archpaw, Peatfur, Shadeclaw-" Stormcloud broke off as he looked around. "Where is Shadeclaw?"
Gingerfur shrugged.
"Alright then if he's not here we'll go without him." the ShadowClan deputy said resignedly. Moonpaw felt a stab of worry. Where was her great mentor?
"We need to talk with Sunstar."
The scowling black ThunderClan tom named Zipleg shot him a suspicious glance. "Sunstar is dead. Firestar leads us now."
Moonpaw gasped.
No!
Stormcloud's face contorted in pain and sadness before he said "Then we must talk to Firestar."
"Fine," the other ThunderClan warrior said. Brightleaf? Something like that. "We'll take you. But send half your cats back."
Stormcloud growled but told Gingerfur, Brightwhisker and Flufftail to head back before following Brightleaf and Zipleg to the ThunderClan camp.
Inside a closed-off hollow with a brambly entrance, Moonpaw saw the yellow body of Sunstar, surrounded by mourning cats.
A silvery mau she-cat glanced up with a yowl when she saw Moonpaw and her Clanmates.
"Firestar-!"
Instantly the powerful ginger tom was there.
"Hold it Firestar," Stormcloud said calmly. "We just want to talk."
Firestar sneered. "Why should ThunderClan lower itself to the level of you other weaklings? Go on, talk. I have nothing better to do."
Peatfur stepped forwards.
"Firestar today we found evidence of a kill on ShadowClan territory with the scent of ThunderClan on it. We-"
Moonpaw's father broke off as Firestar laughed.
"Yes, we killed your prey."
The ShadowClan party was astounded.
Firestar continued, sneering. "What are you going to do about it?"
Peatfur snarled. "This."
He leaped for Firestar but Zipleap jumped in front of the ThunderClan leader and raked his claws across Peatfur's throat.
Moonpaw watched in horror as her father stumbled, blinked, then collapsed to the ground.
"Attack!" Stormcloud screamed.
A tiny kit no bigger then 3 moons rushed Moonpaw, almost knocking her over.
"What are you doing here?" she hissed at it. "Get back to the nursery!"
The kit glared at her and scratched her shoulder with its tiny claws. "I'm Creampaw!"
Moonpaw was shocked. An apprentice already?
She gave the tiny she-cat a cuff that sent her sprawling.
Moonpaw rushed to the aid of Archpaw, who was grappling with Thistlepaw, the arrogant tom she saw at the Gathering.
The scarred tom hissed at her and leapt.
Moonpaw countered his blow and raked her claws across his face, just missing the eye.
Thistlepaw howled and bounded away.
"Thanks," Archpaw said, terrified.
Moonpaw glanced around and to her immense confusion saw the silvery mau and Stormcloud facing each other, but not fighting.
"Rainfur-" the ShadowClan deputy started.
"I'm sorry!" Rainfur said. "Sunstar was my father, Stormcloud!"
Stormcloud mewed "I know, Rainfur. We need to talk- the same place as we used to, tomorrow."
Rainfur nodded and Stormcloud yowled "ShadowClan retreat!"
Moonpaw looked at the heart of the clearing to see Peatfur's motionless body.
She struggled to lift her father on her shoulders and Badgerfang helped her.
"We need to get him to Tinyfeather," she said as she and her Clanmates ran back to ShadowClan territory.
"Moonpaw-" Badgerfang started, pain in his eyes. "There's nothing we can do. Peatfur has passed on, and hunts with StarClan now."
No! she wanted to cry but knew in her heart that the young warrior was right.
Oh, StarClan, this battle went horribly wrong!