Chapter 7: The Attack
An old black she-cat was sitting on the border. She looked relatively healthy and strong for such an old elder.
"Cindertail!" She meowed in a voice cracked with age.
"Hollyheart!" Cindertail meowed. The sat on their own side of the border but they rubbed cheeks from where they sat. "I would like you to meet a young one from my Clan."
"You told him about us?" Hollyheart meowed.
"He is a wise young cat and very trustworthy. I know he would never give us away. Come on out young one."
Rougefoot strode out into the open. His dark gray coat looked silver in the setting sunlight.
"He looks like Angelstar!" Hollyheart gasped.
"I know. I think her beautiful spirit entered him and gave him life." Cindertail meowed.
"It sure does seem like it," Hollyheart meowed. "He's such a lovely cat. I am glad to meet you young one."
"I am glad to meet you Hollyheart. You seem like the most wonderful cat anyone could ask for." Rougefoot meowed.
"She is." Cindertail meowed.
"Why thank you Cindertail and young one."
"My name is Rougefoot," he meowed, dipping his head to the black elder.
"Well then Rougefoot. You seem like a genuinely good cat." Hollyheart meowed.
Rougefoot grew hot under his pelt. He dipped his head further. "Thank you."
"Not a problem young one." Hollyheart meowed. "It is what I think of you."
Cindertail and Hollyheart began to talk about the old days, where Angelstar and this 'Geyserstar' were in rule. Dogstar was new to being a leader and Honeystar was experienced only about 4 seasons. Rougefoot never knew Honeystar was that old before. When there was a break in them talking Rougefoot asked kindly, "How many lives does Honeystar still have left?"
Hollyheart answered him. "I have heard from Eagleclaw she still has 2 lives left. She is a great leader for SunClan. It will be hard for everyone to let her go."
"I bet… She must have served long and well." Rougefoot meowed.
"Oh she did young one. She was new to being a leader when I was a kit." Cindertail meowed.
"Wow…" Rougefoot meowed towards the gray elder. 'That was a long time ago.' Rougefoot's head was reeling of how long ago that was. 'At least 40 seasons ago!' He finally concluded.
He heard a slight rustling in the bushes in EarthClan territory… but he felt no wind… 'That's strange…' he thought.
Suddenly Cornfoot appeared out of the bushes and sprang next to Hollyheart. He shielded her in case Rougefoot and Cindertail would attack. He turned on Rougefoot. "What do you want with her!?" He growled. His yellow jaws pulled up in a snarl as he bared his incredibly sharp teeth.
Rougefoot calmly answered back, "We were talking to her."
He turned on Hollyheart. "Traitorous cat! Wait till Fernstar hears this one."
Rougefoot stood up. He was much bigger than Cornfoot, but the yellow tom's defiance kept him going. "You are the traitor. You overpowered one of our queens just for the sake of having kits."
Cornfoot growled at Rougefoot. Cindertail and Hollyheart gasped. He sprang across the border. Cornfoot's weight kept Rougefoot pinned to the ground. "I do what I want!" He hissed. His hind claws raked through Rougefoot's back. Rougefoot screeched in pain. "Help me!"
Cindertail jumped for the muscular tom. He bit down hard on Cornfoot's golden neck fur and wrestled him off of Rougefoot. Rougefoot sprang on Cornfoot along with Hollyheart. All four of them wrestled and tumbled until Cornfoot broke free. There was a deep scratch above his eye. He was panting heavily. "You still wanna go?" He challenged.
Rougefoot's hair was pulled off his shoulders and Cindertail's tail was bleeding. Hollyheart had a long scratch across her hind leg.
"Cindertail, Hollyheart. Stay back." Rougefoot growled.
Cornfoot leaped for Cindertail but Rougefoot head butted his shoulder and knocked him farther into the FireClan forest.
The yellow tom spun across the ground and hit a tree, sending dead pine needles onto his head. He got back up and shook himself off. He lunged for Rougefoot again, but this time he made impact. He knocked Rougefoot backwards. His hind claws now raked at Rougefoot's dark gray belly fur. Blood welled up between Cornfoot's claws as he grasped Rougefoot's neck. The world was spinning and Rougefoot only had enough strength for one more move. He rocked backwards and kicked his back legs into Cornfoot's stomach. All he saw was the tom go flying before he spun into unconsciousness. He woke up a few moments later. He was torn and bleeding on the pine needles. Cornfoot was standing in victory near him. Rougefoot stood up weakly. He could barely get his footing.
"Now it is time to finish you once and for all." Cornfoot growled. He latched his teeth once more into Rougefoot's throat.
"What is going on here!?" Another voice called. A light brown tabby she-cat stepped out of the bushes on the EarthClan side of the border. Moonstep, Hollyheart, who had apparently gone to fetch the tabby, Bouncepaw, and Dapplestream stood on their side of the border, looking across in disgust.
Bouncepaw looked up at the tabby cat with wide eyes. "Mother can we help that poor cat?"
"I think his own Clan can help him but we can for now. Dapplestream go across the border with Bouncepaw and lead him here."
"Yes Fernstar," Dapplestream meowed. She bowed her head and walked across the border with Bouncepaw, who apparently was Fernstar's daughter.
They took up either side of Rougefoot and led him towards the border. Cindertail walked behind him, who was leading Cornfoot. Both toms were badly bleeding.
Rougefoot collapsed in front of Fernstar but still managed to look up. "Yes?" He meowed weakly.
"What happened here?" Fernstar meowed.
"C… Cornfoot walked in on Cindertail and Hollyheart talking. He called Hollyheart a traitorous cat. They… They were on their own sides of the border and it wasn't like they were doing anything bad. I called Cornfoot the traitor because he overpowered my uncle's mate to have kits… She… She's back at camp if you want to ask her… Cornfoot ran across the border and… and attacked me telling me he could do what he wanted. Cindertail wrestled him off and we fought… I kicked him into a tree when he charged Cindertail. He… he pushed me over and raked my belly. I kicked him off and then fell unconscious. I woke up and he grasped my neck trying to finish me off and that's when you came…"
"Was that the way of it?" Fernstar asked Hollyheart and Cindertail. She knew better then to ask Cornfoot, who would lie.
"Yes it was Fernstar." They said in unison.
Fernstar looked at Cornfoot. She narrowed her eyes. "I will decide what to do with you when we get home." She looked at Rougefoot. "May I come to your camp to speak to this queen?"
"Most certainly Fernstar." Rougefoot meowed. He heaved himself up and slowly limbered back to camp. Fernstar followed without a word. They finally reached the FireClan camp, where Cindertail collapsed, panting heavily.
"Shortleg!" Rougefoot meowed loudly.
Shortleg dashed out of his den, sniffing all along Cindertail. "What happened to you guys!?"
"I'll explain later. Take care of Cindertail for now."
Shortleg dipped his head in understanding and led the panting Cindertail towards his den.
Rougefoot lifted his nose to a clump of brambles. "There's the nursery. Crowflight is inside."
"Thank you but will you come with me?" Fernstar meowed.
"Most certainly." Rougefoot meowed.
He led Fernstar over to the nursery. Crowflight was in her nest with two tiny kits huddled near her belly. Flamestone sat behind her, grooming her ear.
"Rougefoot?" Crowflight meowed. "And… Fernstar?"
"Yes." Fernstar meowed. "May I ask you a few things?"
"Certainly." Crowflight meowed.
Fernstar observed the kits, then Crowflight, then Flamestone. "That would not be the father…" Fernstar meowed quietly.
"It isn't." Flamestone meowed. "It's Cornfoot! He overpowered my mate on the border!" His eyes flashed.
One of the kits looked just like Cornfoot. "Is that true?" Fernstar asked Crowflight.
"Yes… As Flamestone said he overpowered me on the border… I was hunting and he just came out of the bushes…"
Fernstar dipped her head in understanding. "He will be punished. He attacked Rougefoot here in his own territory."
"I hope he will be gone once and for all." Flamestone growled.
"Well thank you for your time," Fernstar meowed. "I'll be going back to my own territory now." She pushed her way out of the nursery and was gone.
