Whitestorm decided to take his patrol to Sunning Rocks to check the Riverclan border. The group of cats ran at a swift pace to the border and got there quickly. The cats spread out around the rocks to check for signs of invasion as their clan's relationship with Riverclan had been on edge since an argument between the two clans at the last gathering. Riverclan had insisted that Darkstripe couldn't be trusted as deputy and their leader, Crookedstar, had agreed with his clan.
Sunning Rocks was given the all clear so the cats stalked along the border, renewing their sent markers as they went. "I can scent Riverclan!" Runningwind announced.
"Well we are on their border." sneered Dustpelt and the other cats gave him a disapproving look. "Clearly, mouse-brain, Runningwind can scent more than just the usual border stench." Graystripe remarked, defending the senior warrior.
Suddenly, three Riverclan cats leaped at the patrol out of nowhere. Whitestorm, Dustpelt and Mousefur were bowled over as two more cats emerged and took on Graystripe and Runningwind. "Fireheart!" Whitestorm yowled, "Run back to camp and get back up!"
Fireheart ran as fast as Runningwind, his head filled with thoughts of his clan mates, locked in battle. He flew through the bramble tunnel and burst into the camp, gasping for air. "Tigerstar!" he yowled as loud as his lungs would allow. The huge tabby leader ran out of his den with a surprised but confident look on his stripy face. "Our patrol has been attacked by Riverclan warriors and we desperately need back up!" Fireheart announced.
Tigerstar launched into control, ordering the elders, queens and kits to stay in their dens. "Fireheart, take Longtail and Sandstorm. Take Brightpaw and Swiftpaw as well. Swiftpaw is true to his name so use him if you need to send for more back up. Now go!" he ordered.
Fireheart lead the backup team into the battle. Some Riverclan cats lay still on the ground but the rest carried on fighting relentlessly. Fireheart spotted a familiar stripy grey body lying under some bracken in a pool of crimson blood. Fireheart scrambled over to his friend "Graystripe?" he mewled like a kit. There was no response.
Brimming full of fresh fury, Fireheart leapt into battle. He jumped onto the back of a giant black tom who was pinning Mousefur down. Fireheart scraped his claws down the tom's back and bit into his shoulder before his opponent turned on him and tried to pin him down like he had Mousefur. Fireheart screeched in agony as the cat bit down on his ear and scrabbled desperately at its belly with his claws, creating a deep gash. The black tom was thrown off of him as Sandstorm leapt at it from behind. Fireheart managed a pained "Thanks." Before biting into the foreleg of a dark brown tom that had sunk its teeth into Dustpelt's shoulder. The tom roared with rage before collapsing onto the ground, unable to use its injured leg.
Fireheart looked around him. The battle was won. The blood from his ear was dripping into his emerald eyes, blinding him. He limped over to Graystripe. "Graystripe?" he mewled again. This time Graystripe let out a faint mew and a grunt of pain. From the other side of the clearing Swiftpaw let out a blood curdling yowl…