The noises continued and Lionbaze could just make out the four bulky shapes that were now tail lengths away from the thorn tunnel. Everything in the forest was frozen until Lionblaze started to pelt for the camp, "We have to help!" he yowled behind him, "Three of the patrols still aren't even back!" he howled.
Squirrelflight quickly shook her head to clear it, "Ashfur, come with me so we can get the other patrols. Cinderheart, go with Lionblaze and help defend the camp until we get back." she ordered and before anyone could answer, she raced off into the trees with Ashfur trailing not far behind. Cinderheart dashed off so that she was soon matching Lionblaze's pace.
Lionblaze and Cinderheart reached the camp to see that the badgers had already invaded and more had followed them. The camp was swarming with big and vicious creatures. Lionblaze noticed that the second hunting patrol had returned. Lionblaze saw Bumblepaw being pushed up against the stone wall of the camp by two badgers twice his size. His eyes shone with fear but he swiped furiously at the badgers muzzles. Lionblaze reached him and tackled a huge badger to the ground with his claws digging into its shoulders and he let go just long enough to snarl and see the badger race into the other battles to help his clanmates.
Lionblaze advanced slowly toward the other badger and didn't even raise a paw before that badger joined the other. He went to stand right in front of Bumblepaw and say softly to him, just loud enough to be heard above all of the screeching of battling cats being slashed by vicious badgers, "Bumblepaw," he began, "Go into the forest and find Squirrelflight and Ashfur, they're trying to find both of the hunting patrols, tell them that they only need to find one and help them." But when Bumblepaw didn't so much as make the slightest move, his gaze became serious, "Now! We need ll the paws and claws as we can get! Go!" and Bumblepaw raced swiftly away into the batting cats but weaving carefully between them.
Lionblaze spotted five badgers all facing Mousewhisker, Blossompaw, and Rosepetal while the cats slashed out ferociously and the badgers didn't fall back. Cinderheart was racing toward them and Lionblaze decided to join in the fight. He pelted as fast as he could toward the apprentice and the two young warriors with all of the strength he could manage but was too late. He noticed that one badger had lumbered forward and was already digging its teeth into Blossompaw's neck with such force blood dripped down.