Chapter 32
"Batpaw," Springstar addressed without looking at him, "Get back to camp, and get help."
Leader laughed. "You really think he can get there in time."
"He couldn't." Once again a cat jumped into their little clearing, having gone unseen before. But it was Autumnpelt this time. "If we were at camp, which we're clearly not."
"But, how . . ." Springstar trailed off. Leader seemed as surprised as her, probably the only thing that had stopped him from attacking.
Wisdompaw padded over to Autumnpelt. "I wasn't sure what she wanted, but she seemed so urgent I figured I better follow her." Autumnpelt explained.
Autumnpelt doesn't realize Wisdompaw can talk yet? Springstar wondered. She shot Wisdompaw a questioning look. Wisdompaw just winked.
Leader cleared his throat. "You will still fail!" He hissed. "We have had years to make our group, you've only had one of those, if that. Now attack!" He ordered. His cats started charging forward. Well, not 52. 52 actually bristled a little, looking towards Leader.
"Leafclan!" Springstar shouted. "Attack, but not to kill." She turned towards Leader. "This monster won't last long without its head."
Leader started backing away, grinning at her, as he disappeared into the now battling cats. Springstar wasn't going to let him get away that easily though. She chased after him. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Batpaw dashing around already trying to heal wounded cats. Her eyes widened for a moment when a rogue came up behind him and raised a claw, ready to attack. But 52 intervened. Springstar smiled. He was a good cat, 52 and Batpaw.
Then Red leapt out of the battling cats and pounced on Springstar, bringing her to the ground. "I owe you some pain!" Red growled, sinking her claws steadily deeper into Springstar's chest. She started pulling her paws in opposite directions. She was going to rip Springstar's chest open! Springstar rolled over, knocking Red off balance. Then she kicked the rogue away.
When Springstar got up Autumnpelt had shown up, pressing her claws against the top of Red's head. She nodded to her sister. "I've got this Springstar, you go after Leader."
Springstar nodded. She turned around and dashed away as Red knocked Autumnpelt off her feet. Springstar wasn't too concerned, Autumnpelt was a good fighter, better than she was herself.
Springstar found Leader lying on top of a fallen log. "If you were trying to hide, your scent's a dead giveaway." Springstar pointed out.
Leader gave an amused laugh. "Oh don't worry, I was fully planning to kill you myself. But since you ordered your cats not to, the longer before we fight the more of them die." He hopped down from the log. "You've ruined my system. You killed my friend in Dark Forest, stole so many kits, and made an offer better than my own. It'll be an honor to take how many lives you have left."
"6." She told him through her teeth.
Leader just smirked and then leapt at her. Springstar jumped to the side and kicked out at his side, but he grabbed one of her feet in his jaw and dragged her to the side. Springstar slid across the ground. Leader slammed his claws towards her neck. Springstar rolled under him and all he hit was the ground. While he was busy with that, Springstar clawed at his stomach. Leader dropped down on top of her. Springstar gasped and bit into his neck. Leader let out a surprised yowl and moved away.
Springstar got up and turned towards him. He panted. "Clever, straight for the kill." He told her.
But that means you'll be expecting it again. Springstar thought. She shuffled her feet into attack position, practically inviting Leader to attack again.
Leader growled. "I'm not going to fall for that kitty-pet." He snarled, circling around her.
Springstar risked a glance towards her clan. The apprentices had formed a team to fight the younger rogues. Autumnpelt had grabbed Red's tail and yanked back, only for Red to kick her eyes. And Winterfur, Batpaw, and even 52 were healing the wounded warriors. Unfortunately, they had their paws full with how many cats were wounded.
I can't just wait for him to attack. Springstar thought. She charged at Leader. Leader dodged by rolling over, and kicked Springstar away. Then he charged towards her. Springstar knocked Leader's feet out from under him and he fell down with her. She swung her claw against the dirt, making it fly towards Leader's eyes. Leader yowled and backed away, eyes closed. Springstar leapt up and bit into his neck. He tried to escape, bucking and tearing his neck away again. But when he tried that Springstar just bit tighter, so breaking away would kill him. He tried anyway, and he died.
Red gasped, having seen it. Autumnpelt used the opportunity to kill her too. With both of them gone the rogues shuffled their feet and looked around uncertainly. Springstar stepped forward. "The battle is over." She announced. No one argued. She turned and addressed just the rogues. "We have no grudge with you. You're free to leave. Or you could come back with us."
"Which?" One of them asked.
"What do you mean?" Springstar asked.
"Do we leave, or come with you? We can't do both." She stated.
"You get to choose." Springstar explained. None of them seemed to know what to do with that answer.
Springstar just started back toward camp. Frogcroak gave a whimper, picked up Bellpaw's body, and followed. As did the other cats of Leafclan. 52 came with them. After a pause, the cat that had asked 'which' followed them, and a few other rogues.
(Wow, an actually long chapter. There wasn't enough left to make another chapter though. In fact, the only chapter left is the epilogue.)
