Chapter 17: The Battle

Shatterbreeze felt sharp claws jolt her out of her blissful dream. A rough voice growled at her. "Get up, fur-face. You have training. Don't be late, or Chill will give you a 'reminder'."

Shatter grumbled, getting to her paws for a quick stretch and a yawn before stumbling out the door. Wolfclaw was waiting with Colddusk and Chill by the entrance.

"About time." Chill growled irritably before swiping a clawed paw at Shatterbreeze. His reinforced claws ran over her muzzle and one even hooked inside, scrapping the roof of her mouth. Her head snapped up from the force, but she didn't cry out. The metallic taste of blood dripped onto her taste buds. "Don't be late next time!" he snapped before stalking toward the Blood Ring. Wolfclaw followed smirking, and Colddusk gave her a sympathetic look before heading out.

"Yes, Chill." She murmured, spitting out the blood before following the others.

The two mentors talked while she and Wolfclaw padded behind.

"Bet you learned your lesson, didn't ya?"

"Yeah, but you're going to learn yours when you're face-down in the Ring today, dog-breath."

Wolfclaw let out a small growl. Chill whipped his head around, giving the apprentice an icy glare. Wolfclaw shrank back, trying to make him small until Chill continued walking and talking.

"Who put thorns in his nest?" frowned Shatterbreeze.

"Thundies. More border skirmishes. Apparently, they're arranging a meeting with our side and Shadowclan and Windclan. Riverclan will be with them. I hope it leads to a fight so I can sink my claws in some Thundie fur."

"We'll have them running with their tails between their legs!" smiled Shatterbreeze.

They pressed themselves through the thorn tunnel that opened up to the area. It was only two more moons before Darkshard would hold the battles. Two more moons until blood would be spilt, strength will be shown, and honor would be won. Two more moons until Star and Stoneclaw would fight again, for real. Looking at the middle of the area, she could still see faded blood-stained dust. Her spine tingled as she remembered what happened when Stoneclaw said "You're on."

Star grinned, delighted. Both toms padded to the middle of the Blood Ring. Star sharpened his claws on a nearby stone, the shrill cry making her ears flinch against the harsh sound. Stoneclaw rolled his shoulders, ready to pounce. Shatterbreeze couldn't watch this.

"STOP!" She yowled, just as both toms crashed into each other. Like a violent storm, they tore and snapped at each other, not hearing the she-cat's pleas. A screech of pain sounded off every now and again. They tumbled over one and other, painting the ground with splotches of blood. Finally, Stoneclaw threw Star off, and they each got up on shaky paws. Star's head had a deep gash and his legs were graced with thin red lines that turned his leg a mottled dark red and black. Stoneclaw's chest was torn up badly and his back was in shreds. Clumps of fur were scattered around the two panting toms.

Stoneclaw snarled, quivering with rage and adrenaline. "That's it! It ends here!" He sprang, and crashed into a black figure. His claws swept over the attacker's belly. A high pitch yowl echoed, and he stopped.

Shatterbreeze lay motionless on the ground where she collapsed in a red puddle. Stoneclaw froze, horrified at his red claws. Star hissed. "Shatterbreeze!" He ran to her side, nuzzling her gently. He growled at Stoneclaw. "Well don't just stand there and let her bleed to death! Go fetch Luna!" Stoneclaw gasped, then mumbled, eyes down and ears back in defeat. "Shatterbreeze…I'm so sorry-"

"Just go!" Star hissed. Stoneclaw took a step back, glancing at the still she with sorrowful eyes. The tom ran out of the clearing as fast as his paws would carry him. A single drop of water splashed on the ground.

An 'oof' had sounded out moments afterwards, and Lunaclaw had run out to the clearing with Stoneclaw on her paws. She sent the two back to camp to get help.

Shatterbreeze had passed out, and when she woke, Lunaclaw had taken her pain and told her what had happened, for she had seen the whole thing. She said something about the Dark Forest, and Star, and Stoneclaw, but she wasn't really paying attention at the time.

She shook her head, clearing the memories. Wolfclaw smiled, getting low to the ground, waiting for Chill's signal.

Chill flicked his tail, and the two started to slowly circle each other. Shatterbreeze charged Wolfclaw, but he tripped her with his tail. She got a face full of dust, and then rough jaws grabbed her scruff. Her body jolted side to side as the larger tom shook her. He tossed her aside, and she felt like her eyes were spinning in her skull. With a quick shake of her head to get her focus back, she sprang up. She charged head on, then swiftly leaped sideways, ducking under Wolfclaw's swipe. As soon as Shatterbreeze stood up, she spun and leapt over him. As he turns, she rams into his right side with all her strength. As he stumbles over to the left, she jumps over and rams the other side. He falls to the ground, his sides heaving as he struggles to fill his lungs with air again. She lands one final blow by leaping onto the cat's back and grabbing his scruff with her teeth and using her free paws to batter the cat's head. Her claws tear up his ears and sides of his head as they trickle with blood. He yowls and falls over, unconscious from the head trauma.

She looks over at the two warriors. Opposite to what she thought, Colddusk looks stunned, and Chill has a slight smile on his face. "Well done, Shatterbreeze." Chill says. "You're on the Thundie patrol now."

She nods, leaving the frozen Colddusk and hurt Wolfclaw as she follows Chill. They meet Silver, Lynxbreeze, Kestrelbreeze, and Greytail, and then headed off toward their border where Thunderclan had been a nuisance lately.

They rubbed new scent markers along trees, bushes, and rocks. Suddenly, Greytail flicked his tail, sniffing.

"What is it?" Kestrelbreeze inquired.

"Thunderclan!" Silver hissed.

As if on cue, they poured out of the bushes, heading toward the patrol with sharp claws and bared fangs.