Sandra sat with her friends watching Oakfur, Smokefoot, and Snowbird enter camp. They had stopped training a little bit ago.
"I can't believe this," Cloudtail muttered. "ShadowClan warriors in our camp."
"Welcome Oakfur," Firestar greeted as he met them, flashing Cloudtail a warning look.
Brambleclaw was right behind his leader. "Smokefoot, Snowbird, it's good to see you."
"There's prey if you're hungry," Lionblaze offered.
"There's not time to worry about prey!" Dovewing exclaimed, running forward. "They're coming!"
"The Dark Forest cats?" Firestar asked.
Dovewing pricked her ears. "They're in the forest!"
Every cat in the camp got up, prepared for battle. Sandra glanced at each one of her friends. "Here we go. Good luck!" She ran up to Firestar.
"Which way are they heading?" Jayfeather asked Dovewing.
Dovewing stayed silent a moment before shaking her head. "I can't tell!"
Brambleclaw scanned the tree line above. Sandra began to pick up the sound of the pawsteps thundering through the forest.
"It's time," Firestar meowed. "I trust you to do whatever you must to save our Clan." His gaze flicked to Smokefoot. "To save all the Clans."
"Sorreltail, Thornclaw, and Spiderleg, go as fast as you can to ShadowClan," Brambleclaw ordered. "Fight as if they're your own Clanmates. Whitewing, Berrynose, and Hazeltail, you must help WindClan." The warriors raced out of camp but Sorreltail hesitated.
"We'll keep Lilykit and Seedkit safe," Firestar promised.
Sorreltail dipped her head and dashed after her patrol.
Brambleclaw flicked his tail toward Foxleap, who was already running for the entrance with Toadstep and Rosepetal on his tail. "We'll get to RiverClan before the Dark Forest warriors," he called over his shoulder.
Cherrypaw and Molepaw ran up to Firestar. "Where should we go first?"
"Molepaw, head for WindClan, and then RiverClan. Cherrypaw, go to ShadowClan. Bring back any news you can. We need to know where the Dark Forest strikes first," Firestar ordered.
Poppyfrost met her kits as they headed for the thorn barrier. "I know you'll be brave. I'm very proud of you. remember that." The two apprentices then headed out of camp.
"I've lined up the herb parcels and put moss to soak in the pool," Briarlight called from the medicine den.
"Push the emergency supplies to the back of the store," Jayfeather ordered, pulling a trendle across the entrance to the den.
Graystripe headed for the elders' den. "Stay inside!" he ordered.
"What about the fighting moves Spiderleg taught us?" Purdy asked.
"Use them if you have to, but don't enter the battle until it finds you," Graystripe answered.
Daisy and Ferncloud paced outside the nursery. "Are Seedkit and Lilykit in your nest, Brightheart?" Daisy called into the den.
"They're all tucked in together," Brightheart answered.
"No cat will reach them," Ferncloud promised with a growl.
Sandra thought with a pang of all the cats who would die during this battle. StarClan will definately be ready to recieve many new warriors today.
"We need to meet our enemy outside the hollow," Firestar decided. He nodded to his deputy. "You stay in camp. Choose your patrol."
Brambleclaw turned to Squirrelflight. "Will you fight beside me?"
Their eyes met for a long moment before Squirrelflight answered. "Always."
Pain clawed Sandra's heart. That should be me and Kyoya, but instead I'm fighting with him.
"Good," Brambleclaw nodded. "Dustpelt, Cinderheart, Leafpool, Graystripe, Sandra and Benkei, you'll help defend the hollow."
"Graystripe comes with me," Firestar put in, with a glance at his oldest friend.
Brambleclaw dipped his head. "Of course."
"Where do I fight?" Lionblaze asked, lashing his tail.
"With me," Firestar answered before facing his Clan. "Fight like rogues if you have to. We're fighting for everything that matters. Whatever happens, no cat will forget that the Clans fought first with their hearts and then with their claws."
"What about the WindClan and RiverClan patrols?" Smokefoot piped up.
"We don't have time to wait for them," Firestar meowed.
"Firestar," Sandstorm hissed as she walked up and stood between Firestar and his Clan. "This is your last life. You can't risk losing it now. Your Clan needs you."
"They need me to fight," Firestar replied.
"But what will they do if you're killed?" Sandstorm pressed.
"They'll fight harder," Firestar answered, his eyes glowing. "My warriors only have one life, and they are willing to give it up for their Clanmates. I'm no different. My place is beside them."
Sandstorm pressed her cheek against Firestar's. "I love you," she breathed.
"I love you too," Firestar murmured. "Stay with Brambleclaw and guard the camp. He then led his patrol out of camp, leaving Brambleclaw with his patrol.
Sandra nodded to Gingka, Kenta, Yu and Tsubasa as they disappeared out of camp. "Good luck!" she called.
"Fight hard so those Dark Forest warriors will think twice about coming back!" Benkei added.
"They won't know what hit them!" Gingka promised, leading the other three out. Once they were gone, Sandra sent a silent prayer up to StarClan. Please let them all be safe! Her sadness then returned. Kyoya...
"You miss him, don't you?" Sandstorm asked, coming up.
Sandra nodded. "I don't know what to do."
"Kyoya won't listen to anybody but surely he'll fight on the right side?" Benkei suggested.
"We can't know that for sure, Benkei. Some cats just stay there because Brokenstar has threatened to kill any cat that betrays him. He already killed Beetlewhisker," Sandra explained.
"How do you know all this?" Sandstorm asked.
"I've talked to Ivypool," Sandra lied. She felt bad about that but she had to. She can't know that I know everything. Only Firestar, Jayfeather, Lionblaze, Dovewing and Hollyleaf know that.
"Sandstorm! They're trying to get in camp!" Squirrelflight called as she dashed out the entrance. Sandstorm ran after her daughter.
"Be ready," Sandra meowed to Benkei.
"But what about Kyoya? And Masemune?" Benkei asked.
"We can't do anything for them now. They have to help themselves," Sandra answered grimly.
"We need backup!" Squirrelflight's yowl reached everyone's ears.
Brambleclaw dashed toward the entrance. "Leafpool, Cinderheart and Dustpelt, let's go! Sandra and Benkei, stay and defend the camp!" The cats he named were right on his tail as he dashed out the entrance.
"Here they come," Sandra growled, darkly, getting into a battle crouch. Benkei did the same beside her. Within seconds Dark Forest warriors began to push through into camp. Sandra leaped onto the nearest Dark Forest cat, sinking her teeth deep in his shoulder.
"They're in camp!" Lionblaze yowled outside the hollow.
Sandra broke away from the tom and charged at him again. Fight like rogues! She pretended to lung straight for the tom's throat which made him lurch back. Before he realized what was happening, Sandra had tackled him to the ground. She began raking her claws down his side. The tom struggled beneath her but couldn't break free.
"Ah!" Sandra yowled as she was knocked off the tom. She looked to see another Dark Forest warrior standing beside the tom. In a flash he was on top of Sandra, teeth bared. Sandra struggled to free herself but the Dark Forest warrior wouldn't let go. He lunged for her throat and Sandra braced herself for the attack.
Suddenly the tom's weight was lifted off Sandra. She looked to see Lionblaze grappling with the tom. He didn't have any trouble driving him out of camp.
"Thanks Lionblaze," Sandra panted, getting to her paws and scanning the clearing.
A yowl came from the entrance and Sandra thought it was more Dark Forest warriors coming through but instead she saw Owlwhisker, Whitetail and Boulderfur launching themselves into battle beside the ThunderClan warriors. Sandra spotted Benkei grappling with two Dark Forest warriors at once. Sandra leaped over to his side and matched him blow for blow as they drove the Dark Forest warriros away. Benkei flashed her a grateful look before they turned to look for another opponent, but Pebblefoot and Sandstorm were already chasing the last Dark Forest warriors away from camp.
Cloudtail, Pebblefoot and Dustpelt came in and headed toward the medicine den. Brambleclaw ran out to report to Firestar. Sandra ran after him. She joined the cats outside camp, looking to see if anyone was badly injured, but nothing seemed as bad as the other three.
Suddenly, a young ShadowClan cat appeared on the slope.
"Stoatpaw?" Brambleclaw padded forward. "How's ShadowClan?"
"Blackstar's losing a life!" Stoatpaw exclaimed, racing down to them, eyes wide. "We've been overrun! We need help!" Smokefoot darted over to his Clanmate while Oakfur and Snowbird watched with paniced eyes.
"Have you seen Cherrypaw?" Poppyfrost asked.
Stoatpaw blinked. "Isn't she here?"
Poppyfrost stiffened.
"Perhaps she's gone to WindClan to find Molepaw," Leafpool suggested. "Or she might be lying low until it's safe to travel."
"How near in the next patrol?" Firestar asked, looking at Dovewing.
"They haven't broken through yet," Dovewing replied.
"Lionblaze, go to ShadowClan. You too, Graystripe. We can manage here without you," Firestar ordered.
"May I go too?" Sandra asked. "I have some friends over there I'm worried about."
Firestar dipped his head. "Of course Sandra. Be careful." Sandra nodded and joined Lionblaze and Graystripe.
"Smokefoot! Take your patrol home. Your Clanmates need you more than we do," Firestar called to the ShadowClan warrior.
Smokefoot nodded as Brambleclaw weaved around Lionblaze. "Save them, Lionblaze," he meowed. "I know you can." The two gazed at each other for a moment before Lionblaze dashed off into the forest with Graystripe, Sandra and the ShadowClan patrol on his heels. Stoatpaw trailed behind on tired legs.