Chapter 18

Lightningstar and her patrol, made of Zipfoot, Feathertuft, and Wolfpaw, walked towards the Wildclan border purpously. After the border change Lightningstar was on her guard.

They reached the border, and that's when Ripstar himself leapt over the border, crushing Zipfoot. Zipfoot let out a strangled cry. Lightningstar hissed, her back arching. "Get off him!" She bit into Ripstar's neck. She knew she wouldn't kill him by doing that, but it could get him off.

Sure enough, Ripstar shifted off Zipfoot, but he seemed very purpousful about it, and smacked Lightningstar away once he was off. "You moved the border." Ripstar growled. "I believe that gives me the right to attack."

Wolfpaw tried not gasp when he realized the border had been changed by himself.

Lightningstar meanwhile, got up, sniffing at the border change. "Only one cat changed it." She shot back. "You're quarrel's only with one cat."

Ripstar shrugged and started towards Zipfoot again. Zipfoot leapt back. At the same time Lightningstar leapt in between them and clawed at Ripstar's face. Ripstar turned to her, glaring at her darkly through one eye. The other eye had blood dripping out of it.

"And that cat, is me." Lightningstar elaborated.

"Lightningstar, no." Zipfoot whispered.

Neither of the leaders paid attention to him. Ripstar smirked. "My pleasure." He lunged at her again. But thanks to only having one good eye, Lightningstar managed to get away. She kicked at his face, aiming for his good side. It hit and he grunted. But he also grabbed one of her hind feet. Yanking her back by it he swung her away.

Lightningstar dug her claws into the ground to stop her slide. She got up and turned to face Ripstar. A paw slammed into her jaw, causing her head to snap back. She hit the ground and dashed under Ripstar, clawing at his stomach. She got a bit of it, but then he dropped on top of her, knocking the air out of her.

Ripstar rolled off, giving her a kick as he went. Then he whirled around. Lightningstar tried to move out of the way, she wasn't fast enough. Ripstar bit into her neck. Lightningstar swung her claws out. One of them scrapped across Ripstar's chest. He growled, he probably would've yowled if his mouth wasn't full. He bit down harder, killing Lightningstar.

He dropped her and looked at the rest of the patrol. Zipfoot took another step back. Ripstar laughed. "You can relax, Lightningstar I should only deal with one cat, and I'll honor that." He look grew deadly serious. "Now, never try to move the border again." He turned around and walked back into Wildclan territory.

Feathertuft walked up to their leader hesitantly. "Lightningstar?"

For a while, she didn't move. Then there was a gasp. Lightningstar opened her eyes. "I'm fine." She managed to gasp. "I'm alright."

Feathertuft and Zipfoot both gave looks of relief. Wolfpaw meanwhile, looked away guiltily. Clearly he wasn't very loyal to his clan. Heck, he was more loyal to Wildclan. If only there was some way. . .

Oh.


Blueblaze stood at the edge of Moonclan territory. He didn't like this. The last he heard of this border, there had been a fox here. Of course, the fox was dead now, and considering this part of the territory wasn't bordered with anything else he supposed there wasn't really anything to worry about.

Then the cat he'd been waiting for walked out. Blueblaze tried not to act surprised. He'd known Bluepaw was an apprentice, but she seemed more like a kit, even with that smug look on her face. "Hello Blueblaze." She greeted smoothly.

Blueblaze gave her a dark look. "Alright, you wanted me, you got me. Now what do you want?"

"I heard you used to be Moonclan's deputy."

Blueblaze growled. "I think everyone's heard that."

Bluepaw started chuckling. Blueblaze leapt up, ready to attack. "Sorry, sorry." Bluepaw quickly apologized. "Just sounds a lot like something else I heard today."

Blueblaze slowly sat back down.

"Listen, I think Moonstar made a mistake replacing you."

Blueblaze scoffed. "Well, so do I."

Bluepaw shook her head. "No, more than that. She's not the only cat to have made a mistake. I think there needs to be some changes around here."

"Again, so do I. But-"

"But nothing." Bluepaw interrupted. "We're not the only cats who think this. A friend and I, and don't ask who my friend is, they'd like to stay anonymous for now." She instructed before he could ask exactly what she'd told him not to. "Anyway, this friend and I are planning to group together all the cats upset with how things are now and start an uprising of sorts. I want to know, would you be interested in joining?"

Blueblaze shook his head. "This is a bad idea."

He wasn't really answering the question, but Bluepaw took it as that. "Then you don't have to be a part of it." She said. "Just don't tell anyone about this conversation."

She turned around and started away. Blueblaze grimaced, regretting his decision even before she left. Oh come on Blueblaze, Blueblaze told himself. You can deny it all you want, but you know you want to do this.

"Hey Bluepaw!" He called out, lifting his head again. She turned towards him. "I'm in."

(Two Blue's in one place. No! Oh boy, and Bluestar might come into the mix from up in Starclan at some point. . .)