XCrookshanks: Dustclaw, you better accept this.
Dustclaw: *sneers* Why should I?
XCrookshanks: You know, I might just turn the POV over to Bluefur and make you die if you keep up this attitude.
Dustclaw: You wouldn't!
XCrookshanks: Oh, believe me, I would. Do you want to bet?
Dustclaw: No, that was sarcasm. Do you know the meaning of the word?
XCrookshanks: Yeah, right. Your lying through your teeth.
Fireheart: Alright, you guys break it up! How can she finish her story without you going off on her every time she goes for a disclaimer?
Dustclaw: *rolls eyes and stalks off*
XCrookshanks: Good riddance. Thanks Fireheart. Would you mind...?
Fireheart: Not at all. She doesn't own Warriors, butnew characters are hers to keep. *grins wickedly* Including Dustclaw.
XCrookshanks: Thanks, hope you guys like this chapter!
The next moon passed in a blur for Dustclaw. Hunting patrols, border skirmishes, and Gatherings were the only exciting things, and even those were starting to lose their excitement. What Dustclaw wanted was another battle. When he had explained this to Ravenstar, she had listened patiently, but said that with leaf-bare coming on, no Clan could afford any serious injuries.
One day, however, when the sun was just peaking over the horizon, a panic stricken yowl sounded from outside the camp boundaries. The Clan stumbled from their nests wearily, exchanging confused glances until Sparrowflight, a light tabby queen from MeadowClan, burst through the thorn tunnel, her eyes stretched wide. She had many serious wounds, and blood stained her pelt so she was barely recognizable. A nasty gash in her throat was spurting crimson blood. "Foxes…attacking…please…help us…" She broke off, a gurgle sounding from her throat. Her legs trembled, her eyes rolled back in her head and she collapsed to the ground, dead. FireClan stared in shock as she stopped moving.
Suddenly Ravenstar darted forward and stood next to Sparrowflights body. "You heard her!" she yowled. "We must help MeadowClan!" Yowls of agreement greeted her words. She glanced at Thunderheart, her deputy, and said, "Can you keep an eye on camp? I would like to lead this patrol myself." The powerful tom nodded and started herding the queens and elders to their dens.
"Rowanheart, can you take up Sparrowflights body and bring it to MeadowClan's camp?" The dark ginger tom nodded. "Everyone else, follow me!" Ravenstar turned and vanished through the thorn tunnel, as all the warriors and apprentices followed excitedly.
Dustclaw could barely contain his excitement. He knew it was wrong to like fighting, but as he dashed through the forest with his clanmates, he couldn't help the thrill that passed through him. Suddenly fur brushed his side. Turning, he saw Bluefur dashing close alongside him, her stride matching his. She winked at him and pulled ahead. Heat spread under Dustclaws fur.
At that moment, Ravenstar pulled to halt on a rise above MeadowClan's territory. They could clearly see the battle; flashes of the foxes' red fur mingled with that of the cats, and yowls of agony rang across to the FireClan cats. Shaking her head in sympathy, Ravenstar continued down the steep slope, straight for the clash.
The short dash to the camp seemed to take a moon, and Dustclaw was starting to get edgy. What would they find? Would the foxes have already won? Would dead cats lay scattered across the clearing? Shaking the images from his mind, he realized they had arrived.
His heart dropped in his chest as he saw how hopelessly outnumbered MeadowClan was. Not only were the foxes bigger and stronger than cats, but they it seemed there was two foxes for every one cat. And everyone was fighting. Warriors, apprentices, elders, even the older kits were trying frantically to overcome their enemies. Without pausing, Ravenstar and Fireclan poured into the camp and fell upon their enemies.
Dustclaw sprang at a large brawny fox that had cornered a dark tabby she-kit that looked no older than three moons. The vile creature started as he landed on its back, clawing clumps of fur from its back.
The kit, who looked ready to collapse, stood there in horror. Dustclaw glanced up long enough to yowl at it, "Go find your medicine cat!" The kit swiftly obeyed, dashing off towards the shallow end of the fight and Dustclaw sank his teeth into the fox's ear, causing it to yelp in pain and snap at him. Dodging its teeth, Dustclaw was thrown off its back and crashed into a rock wall.
His head ringing, he stood shakily trying to clear his vision when sharp teeth grabbed his scruff, hauling him to his paws. He looked up and saw Bluefur standing over him, a worried look in her eyes. When he stood and thanked her, she dashed off and vanished into the fray.
Time seemed to slow. Dustclaw saw cats fall, blood spatter the ground, fur fly, and claws swipe. As he prepared himself to throw himself at a couple of foxes that had cornered a young MeadowClan queen, a loud, sharp and angry bark echoed across the clearing. The battle ceased; even the foxes lifted their heads in shock.
Whipping around, Dustclaw was astonished to see a large badger, probably female, push her way through the cats, who took up defensive postures. Ignoring them, the badger glared at the foxes through beady black eyes. She emitted a series of short yips and barks. After a moment's hesitation, the foxes responded. The watching cats stared in awe, still wary, as a few more like exchanges followed. Then, after the badger made a particularly harsh bark, the foxes turned and slunk away, disappearing through the fern wall.
The badger then turned to the rest of the cats. Dustclaw didn't think anything else could surprise him until the badger spoke again. "Greetings, I am Midnight."
Dustclaw saw most everyone tense as she spoke those words. Amusement glittered in Midnight's eyes. "I see. All badgers not hate cats," she continued. Not a cat moved.
After a moment, Sunstar, MeadowClan's leader, stepped forward. "What did you tell those foxes?"
"I told them cats not worth attacking. They go find other prey." Midnight swung her head around to face Ravenstar, who recoiled. "Are you leader too?"
Ravenstar nodded hesitantly. "Yes, I'm leader of FireClan. Why are you here?"
"I see in stars that more Clans needed help. I came to help."
"Wait, what do you mean, more Clans? Are there others?" Dustclaw stepped forward. If there were more Clans, maybe they weren't the only cats suffering. Not all other cats could be kittypets could they?
"No, you are only one of many. I come from ocean, I help cats in trouble." Midnight gazed around with her small black eyes.
When the watching cats started to realize she wasn't a threat, they cautiously went up to her with countless questions and comments.
"What is the ocean?"
"Where do the other Clans live?"
"How can you speak cat and fox language?"
"Are you the only badger that can talk to us?"
"Could you teach me to speak fox?"
"Thanks for chasing the foxes off!"
Midnight answered every question patiently without getting short tempered. Dustclaw hung back, still wary. She could easily be lying. Then he wondered if she was when she could speak other animals' language. Suddenly he realized Bluefur was sitting next to him, watching the others with glittering eyes.
"It's strange, huh?" She commented.
"What is?" Dustclaw cocked his head.
"That she can speak cat. And fox." She turned her head to face him and blinked slowly. "Don't you wish you could understand other animals?"
Dustclaw nodded and turned his eyes to the ground, embarrassed. Bluefur purred in amusement and he glanced at her. "What?"
"Nothing," she mewed, "it's just funny how you get when you're embarrassed. You kind of hunch up and you shiver. It's cute." She rubbed her head against his cheek for a moment before padding away, her tail waving.
Dustclaw sat there, stunned. What had just happened? He didn't realize he was being called until Rowanheart nearly pushed him over. "Come on we're leaving, or didn't you notice?" He growled before stalking towards Ravenstar, who was gathering the others. Dustclaw watched him, baffled. Had that much time passed already?
As he stood to follow, he heard Midnight called him back. Perplexed, he went to her. "You have a strong soul, young one," she said calmly. "I cannot see your destiny clearly. I have been awaiting this day." She paused, gazing at the darkening sky. "You are The One. And you have an important journey to make. A Clan has disappeared. A very important Clan. You must find them and take them home." She paused, her nose twitching. She turned to leave.
After a moment, Dusty shook himself and started after her. "Wait! What Clan are you talking about? I don't understand!"
She turned and said one word before vanishing through the ferns; "ThunderClan."
XCrookshanks: Yes, I know, awful ending. What better way to keep the suspense up? Sorry this chapter is so short, writers block hit me hard.
Fireheart: Yes, so please review and help her out withthe next few chapters, alright you readers who readbut don't review?
XCrookshanks: Fireheart, you're so kind. What would I do without you?
Fireheart: I'm not sure. Maybe abandon your fanfic?
XCrookshanks: Oh, haha, well, like he said, please review! I need suggestions for the next chapters!