Warning for a bit of blood in this one.
Hawkeyes heard a familiar yowl and turned to see a RockClan cat leap onto Littlepaw. He raced over and knocked into the warrior's side. Winded, she lay on the dirt for a few heartbeats.
"Get out of here!" Hawkeyes hissed to his apprentice. He watched as Littlepaw and his friend, Lakepaw bolted for the clearing. A screech from the Boulders caught his attention. Birchstar was attacking Greystar, and Birdstar leaped onto her back. She rolled and shook the smaller cat off. Grasping Greystar by the scruff in her jaws, she hurled him over the edge. Hawkeyes gasped in horror as his leader tumbled down and landed with a sickening thud. Before the black and white warrior had time to do anything, another RockClan cat leaped onto his shoulders, hissing and clawing. Hawkeyes rolled onto his back, pinning the smaller cat down against the ground. A tortoiseshell she-cat jumped onto his exposed belly. After struggling a little, Hawkeyes fell limp. The cat he trapped under him scrambled away. The warrior on his belly relaxed slightly and sheathed her claws, which was enough for Hawkeyes to leap up and pin her down. She let out a hiss of surprise as Hawkeyes raked his claws down her underbelly.
Panting, Icywind ran after the last elders. She turned around in time to see a RockClan cat lunge at her. Hissing, she curled her lip back in a snarl and tried to fight the attacker off. His jaws closed around her leg, sending blood spraying out. Suddenly, Lemmingpelt dove from nowhere at the RockClan cat.
"Go!" she hissed, springing into battle with Icywind's assailant. Just as Icywind was about to turn and flee, she caught the gaze of another cat. He was tall, tawny brown with darker points, and had piercing blue eyes. Reedwhisper.
Hawkeyes tore away from his attackers and ran over to where Greystar lay, bleeding in the dust beside the Shiningpool.
"Greystar!" he meowed, stomach turning at the sight of his leader laying broken on the ground. A stream of dark crimson flowed from his head. StarClan help me, Hawkeyes prayed silently.
"Wait!" The young tom turned at the voice behind him. Icywind was limping up to him on three paws.
"What happened to you?" he asked, dodging an attacking warrior.
"Never mind that," Icywind limped up and grasped Greystar's scruff in her jaws. She motioned for Hawkeyes to go in front of her. They crept around the edge of the clearing, praying that no cat would notice. By the time the two caught up with a group of elders huddled in a bush, the night sky was jet black. Hawkeyes' heart pounded in his ears, almost drowning out the vicious sounds of battle.
"Great StarClan! What happened?" Snowmuzzle gasped.
"I'll explain later," Hawkeyes hissed, out of breath. Greystar opened his eyes and blinked.
"Greystar, are you feeling alright?"
"Icywind," he rasped. "Listen. You too, Hawkeyes," Greystar staggered to his feet, motioning for the two to follow him. Hawkeyes and Icywind looked at each other.
"Greystar, you really shouldn't be-"
"Icywind, it's okay. Listen to me. I need you two to stop the fighting."
"Greystar...I- no cat would listen to us."
The leader's eyes began to cloud over.
"If you don't StarClan will-" the grey tabby's eyes rolled back into his head and he collapsed into the dust.
"Should we go?" Icywind whispered, her watery blue eyes wide with fear.
"We have to," Hawkeyes turned back to the clearing.
"Wait," Icywind panted. "I'll ask one of the elders to get cobwebs for Greystar."
Hawkeyes flicked his ears in acknowledgement. Icywind limped to the the bush where the elders and several apprentices now huddled. Hawkeyes kneaded his paws into the ground nervously; when Icywind reached him again, she faltered and caught her breath.
"Are you sure you can do this?"
Icywind nodded.
"Let's go," she limped over to the outskirt of the bramble clearing, avoiding the worst fighting. Hawkeyes looked around for Mapleshade. His fur rose when he saw her pinned under a huge black tomcat. The cat's teeth were dangerously close to her throat. Without hesitating, Hawkeyes sprinted over and barreled into the tomcat. The giant, muscular tom fell down with a huff. Hawkeyes spat at him and turned to his friend.
"Thanks," Mapleshade gasped. Hawkeyes raced back to Icywind, finding himself face to face with the towering Boulders, gleaming with an unearthly light. Breathing a silent prayer to StarClan, he pushed off and lunged at the huge rocks. The landing took his breath. Turning around to face Icywind, the bleeding black and white warrior rehearsed what he would say in his head. Icywind hesitated, sizing up the massive stones. She launched off the ground and landed neatly beside Hawkeyes. Panting, the pair scrambled up to the tallest one. Hawkeyes paused to catch some air again. When he looked down, his heart caught in his throat and his head began to spin. A dark fog loomed at the corners of his vision. If I faint, I'm going to fall down and die, he thought with a shudder and forced himself to focus. The clearing below was soaked in blood. A few cats staggered out towards the elders' bush. Taking a deep breath, Hawkeyes let out a deafening yowl that echoed around him. Most of the cats below stopped fighting to look up at him.
"What are you doing?" Icywind spoke shakily to the cats. "Did you forget about the truce?"
"Look at the clouds. StarClan are angry with us," Hawkeyes caught Mapleshade's eye.
"We have broken a sacred oath," Icywind's voice still shook.
"They're right," a tabby FireClan warrior spoke up. "What were we thinking, flying into battle like that?"
Birdstar walked to the front of the crowd. "I believe it is time for this Gathering to end, before any more blood is spilled."
Wolffrost nodded.
"You are correct, Birdstar. IceClan, come with me."
Birdstar dipped his head.
"FireClan are leaving now as well. Good night, and may StarClan light your path," his eyes locked with Birch's. She knew the farewell wasn't sincere.
"Just you wait until there is no truce," the battle-scarred calico vowed, her voice cold. "Your StarClan won't be able to help you then."