Chapter 6: The Preparations

Darkshard had sent out Chill, Ripple, and Bracken for a border and hunting patrol. It was a pleasantly cool, starry night. The kits were tussling in the clearing. She saw the flash of tiny claws unsheathed, but said nothing. A small yelp sounded, and Ridgepad skidding toward the rock where Darkshard, Lunaclaw, Eclipse, and Silver sat. Darkshard picked up her kit, setting her on her paws. Ridgepad winced, her shoulder bleeding from two tiny scratches. Lunaclaw, with a worried look on her face, started to get to her paws, but Darkshard stops her. She bent down, whispering in the kit's ear. "Be strong, my kit. Don't let a little scratch stop you. Scratch them back. Show you can be victorious."

A small smirk crept onto the kits lips as she unsheathed her tiny claws, throwing herself at her attacker, Mistpad. Mistpad screeched and the two went tumbling around. Dewpad sat near the kit den, watching curiously. Lynxpad and Wolfpad battle Blazepad and Kestrelpad. Lynxpad and Wolfpad were a fierce team, switching roles of defense and offence, one always strikes and one defends the striker. Darkshard was impressed. Shatterpad and Stonepad work together, fighting off Swiftpad and Ravenpad. Shatterpad slashed at Swiftpad and Ravenpad lunged at Stonepad, her claws catching his muzzle. He countered with a swipe at her side.

Silver and Cinder were attending to the Unchoosens, allowing them to come out at watch the kits. If they spoke, they were 'escorted' back into the den. Only Leaffur objected and was back in the den. It was a peaceful night, with the sounds of playful kits and crickets chirp to fill the air.

Suddenly, the patrol came racing back into the camp. The kits stopped battling, taking in the patrols large cuts over their bodies. They scrambled behind Silver, Cinder, and the Unchoosens, peeking out from around them to watch.

Darkshard stood, eyes narrowed. "What happen? Squirrels attacked?"

Chill bared his teeth. "A group of flea-bitten, fox-heart Thunderclanners attacked us on OUR side of the border. Not all she-cats became queens, as there was Foxtail, Amberclaw, Eclipseclaw, Honeyheart, and that Willowfur there." Lunaclaw got to her paws to heal them, but was again stopped by Darkshard. "It'll be more convincing if they look and act hurt." she whispered.

"That means Lightfoot and Spottedbelly are queens." meowed Cinder.

Ripple nodded, finishing Chill's story. "Ivorytail, Redfur, Sharptooth, Darkfoot, Smoketooth, Adderfang, and Cloverleap were also there. Even with our strength, we were horribly outnumbered. They took ten prey." He dipped his head, ears flattened and eyes averted. "We're sorry we failed you."

Darkshard growled. "No. It's that mouse brained Thunderclan. We need to gain allies if we are to get rid of them once and for all. Chill, go and find Echostar and Bracken, find Gorsestar. Move quickly, but far from our border. Thunderclan wouldn't dare step a paw deep into our territory."

She turned to Silver, Cinder, Eclipse, and the Unchoosens. "Unchoosens, keep the kits in your den for now. If Thunderclan attacks the camp, they may go after the kits. Protect them." She saw the faces of protective mother cats flash across their faces. She grinned.

Darkshard continued. "Cinder will be in the den with you. Silver, Eclipse, be ready to defend the camp with Ripple, who will protect Lunaclaw. We can't have anything happen to our little moon cat." Lunaclaw smiled.

Darkshard bounded up to Bloodrock. "Will we let Thunderclan's pitiful attacks stop us?"

The angry cry of cats sounded. "No!"

"Will we sit around, waiting for them to attack again?"

"No!"

"After tonight, will Thunderclan ever forget how powerful Bloodclan really is?"

"NO!"

Darkshard smiled. "Good! Now go!"

Bracken and Chill raced out of the camp. Unchoosens ushered the kits into the den. Silver, Cinder, Ripple and Lunaclaw strategized in hushed whispers. Lunaclaw's moons were already becoming lighter as the pain faded. Darkshard watched the white cat with silver moons leap down into the Unchoosen den, followed by the others. Good, the better to protect our moon cat with. Now let's see how tough Thunderclan really is.

Bracken came across the Thunderpath, the scent of Windclan filling his opened jaws. He stepped over the border when he met a patrol. A cat hissed at him, its brown and white-spotted fur bristling. "What are you doing here, Bloodclan? Don't you know you're in our territory?"

"Fawnstep, can't you see this cat is hurt, or is the moon not bright enough for you?" a black she-cat meowed softly.

Fawnstep settled down. "Yeah, yeah, I know, Spiderpelt. Who are you, and why are you here? Do you need us to fetch Specklerain for you?"

Bracken shook his head, heaving his sides for effect. "I am Bracken, warrior of Bloodclan. Bloodclan was attacked by Thunderclan. On our own territory, and they took our prey as well."

Gasps sounded out. A grey tom tilted his head. "If your camp is being attacked, why are you here?"

Bracken shook his head. "No, not our camp, but we fear it may be at a later date. We ask for an alliance. May I speak to Gorsestar?"

The grey tom nodded, turning to a tan tom. "Yellowfoot, race ahead and tell Gorsestar of Bracken's arrival, and ask Specklerain to get herbs as well." Yellowfoot dipped his head and dashed away.

Spiderpelt grinned. "Come on. I'm sure Gorsestar will be happy to see you." She turned, and the others followed. Bracken smiled, limping along toward the Windclan camp.

Chill padded cautiously into Shadowclan territory. Blood still flowed in a small trickle from his side wound, making a small trail of red spots. He shook mud and water off his paws as he mis-stepped into the swamp.

He was suddenly knocked off his paws, and an angry snarl filled his ears. "You lost, little kitty?"

Chill fought the urge to cry out as his hurt side felt the cat's claws. He also fought to snarl and challenge the brown tom cat. Keeping his voice calm, he replied "No. I need to talk to Echostar. It's of the most importance."

"Let him go, Hawkeye." A familiar sounding she-cat said. Hawkeye stepped off of him, still baring his fangs. Chill picked himself out of the mud. Hawkeye's claws opened his wound more, leaving a tiny streak of red mud in his imprint on the ground. He looked at Tawnydrop with gratitude.

"You said you needed to speak to Echostar?" Tawnydrop meowed.

Two other cats, a brown-grey tom and grey-blue she-cat, glanced as his bleeding side. A grey apprentice with bright green eyes looked at Tawnydrop. "Do you want me to get Darkwing? His side looks pretty hurt, real bad and-"

"Yes, Lizardpaw. Larkstripe, take him back to camp to tell Echostar and Darkwing." The brown-grey tom nodded and the apprentice and mentor raced off.

The grey-blue she-cat spoke, glancing at Hawkeye. "Sorry about my mate. He's all claws and no common sense." Hawkeye growled playfully, and the she-cat chuckled. "I'm Rainwhisper."

Chill nodded. "Nice to meet all of you." He winced as his side stung with the mud that covered it. Tawnydrop flicked her tail. "Come on, Chill. You can catch me up on what happened on the way. Deputy to Deputy." She smiled. The four cats padded slowly though the swamp toward camp.