Helooooooo! Time for a nice couple of chapters of good old battles, I'm going to do about three chapters just full to the brim of fighting because I know you all love a good fight and I want to get the idea across that Darkclan completely disregard the warrior code and kill for fun.

Chapter 20: Battle of killers

Swiftpaw munched half heartedly on a mouse, it was bland and stringy and her appetite had dissolved when Bramblestar called out the patrols. Ravenpaw had just returned from a hunting patrol with Stormpaw, Ivypool, Blackpaw, Toadstep, Berrynose and Tigerheart. Following the orders of having patrols with five or above warriors. Her black furred friend sat beside her watching the sun sink lower. It was late afternoon and it would soon be sunset. Normally the sunset provided Swiftpaw with happiness, but today it seemed like a warning for her doom. Of course she might not die but Darkclan did fight like savages, and she had only just recovered from their last skirmish.

One thought made the odds seem in her favour though, her ability to run faster than lightning. She hadn't told any other cat about her insane discovery, but she had caught Jayfeather looking at her (even with his blind eyes he seemed to see her) with interest and was it, fear?

Ravenpaw snapped her out of her thoughts, she nudged her with her shoulder. "Songpaw's coming, she's the only one not coming with us. Except Amberpaw of course."

Swiftpaw looked up at the sleek brown tabby. Her aqua eyes were filled with fear and some type of anger. "Why can't I come? I want to be there with you guys." She mewed.

Ravenpaw shook her head. "They need some apprentices here, encase we need to send messages."

Songpaw frowned. "it's not that I want to fight, it's more because I'll be worrying about you two all the time!"

Ravenpaw laughed. "This is Swiftpaw you're talking about, meaning the fastest apprentice around the lake? She can outrun anyone she'll be fine!"

Swiftpaw eyed Ravenpaw, but her light ton told her that her friend knew nothing about her actual speed she could run at. Songpaw nodded and then glared at Ravenpaw. "What about you then?"

Ravenpaw shrugged. "I may not be as fast as Swiftpaw but I am fast, and like a squirrel, I can dodge anything."

Songpaw still didn't look convinced, Swiftpaw could see darkness edge her gaze as she looked at Swiftpaw, like there was something she wasn't telling her. "Just avoid that apprentice with the different coloured eyes, one green one amber."

Swiftpaw tilted her head to one side. "why?"

Ravenpaw nodded. "I saw him, he looks creepy, apparently he's an omen."

Songpaw's eyes widened. "why?"

"I heard some shadow clan medicine cat apprentice talking Frostpaw? She said that Minnowtail who's Darkclan's medicine cat says his strange eyes are sign of darkness." Ravenpaw eagerly mewed.

"Well just stay away from him." Songpaw mewed. "And be careful with your neck! You only just got that healed." She growled before trotting over to Stormpaw.

"Well that was odd." Ravenpaw said curiously.

Swiftpaw nodded, knowing there was something that Songpaw wasn't sharing.

...

Ravenpaw pinned her ears back, padding through the thunderclan forest at Sunset, they were nearing the border with each paw step, and with each paw step her anxiety greatened. Wolfpaw padded beside her, his head high and ears straight up, listening for any approaching Darkclan. She was grateful for his strong presence, giving her a shred of courage, he sometimes placed his tail on her back, when she started to freak out a little, they were such close friends that he could easily tell when she was scared.

Stormpaw walked on her other side, sharing a scared glance with her now and then, behind them were Snowpaw and Swiftpaw padding side by side talking quietly. Then there was Blackpaw, Foxpaw and Dewpaw in front of them discussing battle tactics. Ravenpaw saw her mother, proudly holding her head high and confidently striding towards the border, Ravenpaw admired her mother for her courage and bravery in battle, she hoped she had a little of it in her blood too.

Ravenpaw's mind was buzzing, if her powers would be able to help her? If her Songpaw's vision of Swiftpaw being killed would come true, if the five would find their purpose and come together, and if they would unite to fight Darkclan? Ravenpaw shook her head, only she and Songpaw were the only ones in the five who knew the prophecy. Ravenpaw could sneak into Swiftpaw, Wolfpaw and Stormpaw's minds to see if they knew anything but she felt like she would be betraying her friends in a way if she tired that. Songpaw didn't know that Ravenpaw knew of the five, but by connecting with her mind when she saw the vision Songpaw received due to her powers she found out that Songpaw could see the future and past and knew who the five were. However, Ravenpaw did not dare put Songpaw under the strain of Jayfeather's expectations, making her use her powers regularly and urging her to practise to be more powerful. No matter how much she hated the training it helped, she could now block out the constant blur of noise of all the clan's thoughts, she could also read minds from a further distance and even with less difficulty. She could also now easily feel what emotions cats were feeling too.

Probably the scariest thing was that once Jayfeather got a mouse and made her reach its mind, she could control it. And not with much difficulty. She then tried on Jayfeather without him realising, he gave a poppy seed to Squirrelflight for no reason, then he pushed her out and realised what she had done. Of course she was rewarded by having to gather herbs for him the rest of the day but he was secretly impressed.

"We're here." Growled Squirrelflight.

Ravenpaw gulped and sat down. The group sat in silence waiting for a passing patrol to collect them. By the time the sun was a deep shade of red and orange Dogfang, Frostleaf, Dawneyes and a warrior named Thornclaw approached them. "Thornclaw, long time no see." Growled Brackenfur, who was the former thunderclan warrior's brother. The two toms looked identical both having golden brown tabby coats and amber eyes.

Thornclaw nodded. "Hello brother."

Dogfang stepped forward. "If you're quite finished?" he grumpily growled. Thornclaw dipped his head and stepped back. "We will escort you to Breezestar." He snarled, eyeing the huge group of thunderclan cats.

Ravenpaw wanted to laugh, they said escort yet they were outnumbered by about five to one. However Bramblestar nodded and followed the Darkclan cats through the bushes. The Darkclan forest was much like Thunderclan's since it was once part of Thunderclan's territory, it wasn't long before the trees thinned out and they were directed to a bramble surrounded hollow. Dogfang glared at the strange warriors before leading the way through a gap in the natural barrier. Ravenpaw squeezed through, thorns tugging at her thin pelt.

Once she managed to escape the tight entrance she gaped at the camp, in the centre there was a large rock, with the scent of herbs drifting from a hole, however on top of the rock stood a black cat, no other than Breezestar.

Around the thunderclan warriors stood the Darkclan warriors, glaring at them with bright eyes brimming with hostility. "Darkclan? Is this how we treat our guests?" Breezestar shook his head, his voice like ice.

The Darkclan cats stood back a little and sat down, still keeping their eyes on the thunderclan cats, but looking less dangerous. "Now, Bramblestar large patrol huh?" the dark cat mewed, rising an eyebrow and smiling.

Bramblestar held his head high and didn't reply. "Well then, now it is time to discuss matters. Have you thought about my offer?" Breezestar mewed keeping his voice dangerously civil. "We need more territory, Darkclan is growing and has just as much right as any clan to get bigger in number, and this drought has made our prey suffer, we are starving."

"Well don't gather cats if you're territory is too small, and as for your prey every clan is going hungry Breezestar." Bramblestar retorted.

"Darkclan needs to be strong. Have you decided you're option?" the leader growled.

Bramblestar nodded. "Yes, and I refuse, Thunderclan will keep its territory and no one can tell us otherwise." The thunderclan leader spat.

Breezestar's eyes narrowed and his grin vanished, replaced by an eerie calm. "You're choice, I'm not unreasonable. Go on then, go home."

Bramblestar's amber eyes could have popped out of his head. He's letting us go? Ravenpaw couldn't help but wonder if it was a trap, but to her surprise Breezestar let them leave and soon they were out of Darkclan territory.

"Well that was easy!" Berrynose mewed, seeming surprised but delighted at the same time.

Wolfpaw sniffed the air, sharing the same concern as Ravenpaw, that it was too easy. Bramblestar continued leading the clan through the forest, his head darting in every direction and his hackles raised.

Ravenpaw heard a twig snap, she twisted her head to look to her left, she saw a glimpse of yellow eyes and then they vanished. Ravenpaw was about to let out a warning when BAM! A chorus of yowls deafened her ears as the thunderclan patrol was ambushed. "Did you really think I would let you go?! Ha! You stupid, dumb, mouse brains. I'm not letting you go until you give me what I want!" Breezestar yowled, being cut off when he started laughing hysterically.

Ravenpaw looked around, Bramblestar was wrestling with Dogfang, dodging as the large tabby dived for his neck. Cloudtail rolled along the forest floor wrestling with Hollowflight, Snowpaw took on the large Blackspots and swiped at his ears. All of the patrol was busy wrestling with one cat or more.

Ravenpaw heard a familiar yowl and turned to see Ivypool being stalked by two Darkclan cats, Ravenpaw nudged Wolfpaw and the two apprentices launched into the air and landed on the warrior's backs, tearing out fur and digging in their claws drawing blood. Wolfpaw crushed his opponent with his weight, being bigger than Ravenpaw, but Ravenpaw clung on and bit hard down on the cat's ear, making blood squirt everywhere. Ivypool ducked under the attacker and wrenched his leg out from underneath him, Ravenpaw jumped off and landed neatly turning to hiss at her opponent. The warrior's eyes widened and Ravenpaw sliced his nose open with one claw, sending him running and leaving a blood trail.

Ivypool nodded her approval before launching into a skirmish. Ravenpaw glanced around seeing who she could help. Then she spotted Stormpaw and Swiftpaw fighting side by side, facing Redpaw and Swallowpaw. Ravenpaw thought they could handle themselves until a light brown tom the size of an apprentice slunk up behind them and knocked Stormpaw over with one paw. Ravenpaw filled with rage and sprinted over to the fighting apprentices, dodging random fighting warriors. She bunched up her muscles and leapt a fox length and over Redpaw to land facing him standing in front of Stormpaw protecting him. Redpaw looked surprised for a moment his yellow eyes filled with confusion. Ravenpaw decided that now was the time to see how useful her power was. She reached out her mind slightly, focusing on Redpaw until she could hear his thoughts. Hmm.. where did she come from? Oh well, I'll just send a blow to her face and she'll be flying.. Ravenpaw ducked the same time that Redpaw slashed a paw, but he only caught air. what?! How could she have anticipated that? Ravenpaw felt a grin form on her face and she jabbed the tendon of Redpaw's leg just like her mother had taught her. The red coloured apprentice fell to the floor, his leg now bleeding. That's a move the dark forest showed me! Ravenpaw heard Redpaw mew. Before Ravenpaw could be pleased with herself she was knocked to the ground.

Ravenpaw spat out a slight bit of blood, and looked up at her attacker's face. She recognised Ratscar immediately. Deciding her powers made her less aware of her surroundings she shut off her mind and tried to trust her battle skills. Ratscar spat on her as he laughed, making her skin crawl. Ravenpaw pushed all her power to her legs and with a huge breath, kicked the large warrior off her, sending him tumbling over her head.

Ravenpaw leapt up, breathing heavily. Ratscar narrowed his eyes. "hmm.. a good one eh? I like it when they know how to fight."

Ratscar slashed her flank with harsh claws, Ravenpaw ducked and rolled under the Darkclan warrior, grabbing his tail in the process and biting down hard. Ratscar let out a yowl and grabbed her scruff and threw her into a tree. Ravenpaw blinked open her eyes, feeling winded. She stretched out her claws and as Ratscar approached she slashed her claws across his face. Blood dripped down onto Ratscar's face and he gave her a blow that sent her head reeling.

Suddenly there were three Ratscar's swirling around in Ravenpaw's vision, I don't need this now! Ravenpaw thought in despair. She felt Ratscar's claws caught onto her pelt and he knocked her onto her back onto the floor looking up at him with wide green eyes. Ravenpaw let out a yowl of pain as he pressed his claws into her neck.

I always make your lives a misery by giving you cliff hangers :D it's my job

So what have we learnt? Darkclan is merciless and want to kill everyone, Ravenpaw could use her power in battle but is vulnerable to attack in the process, and Swiftpaw knows that Songpaw is keeping a secret, though only we know it's about her death.

QUESTION TIME!: (You can answer them in reviews.)

What do you think Wolfpaw's power is?

How can I improve?

Are you liking the story?

Is there anything you don't like?

Who is your favourite character?

Till next time! :D

Neon xxx