Chapter 6: War
My head swung around at the sound of Firestar's voice. He was standing on top of the Highledge, and his pelt was bristling. The sounds of fighting had ceased to exist, and for that one moment everyone's gaze was locked on the ginger tom.
"How dare you?" Firestar roared, his eyes blazing with green fire. I held my breath as Onestar shook me off and rose to his feet.
"We dare because we are true warriors," he growled. "This battle has been too long coming. Thunderclan must learn that they are not the most important Clan in the forest." The silence was now deafening. The stars glittered on, shining into Firestar's furious gaze. The cold spot in my stomach grew.
"You watch the suffering of others, waiting to be begged for help like you belong to Starclan." Onestar lashed his tail, and I saw the first hint of rage that the Windclan leader had given all night. I realized that Onestar was furious, and I sat while he continued.
"We will not beg. We are warriors! We will fight for the prey and the territorry we need to survive."
Firestar's anger finally exploded into the night. "So you invade our camp?" His hackles went up, and he looked ready to tear out Onestar's throat.
Onestar dipped his head and hissed. "We want to make sure you get the message. You think being a warrior means saving mountain cats and rescuing strays. We think it's about taking care of our Clan."
Firestar's eyes narrowed to slits. He leaped down from the Highledge and walked right up to the Windclan leader. Both Clans drew back, forming a corridor. I took a small step back. Firestar stopped a whisker from Onestar.
"If you want a battle, then you have one."
I looked over at Onestar. The Windclan leader looked almost bored. He flicked his tail and the rest of his Clan followed him out of the thorn tunnel. I felt a tightening in my stomach when I remembered where they were going. The lake shore, the Twoleg nest, and to the tunnel entracne. I swallowed.
I saw Icepaw leap up. Her mouth moved but I heard no words. To my horror, color began draining out of the world. Dustpelt began to slow down, until he was frozen in time, his mouth still open, his face still curoius.
"Now do you understand what I meant?" I whirled around, and jumped when I saw Yellowfang.
"What are you doing here?" I asked, still shaken from the battle. The cold spot in my stomach had grown even colder. Yellowfang circled me again, drawing her lips back in a snarl.
"We did not realize what Windclan would do until they did it. Now, you can help us!" I looked around at the frozen camp, blood still staining many pelts.
"Do you know where the fighting will be the feircest?" I closed my eyes, wondering for a moment. Then a memory flashed in my head. My eyes flew open.
"The lake shore!"
Yellowfang dipped her head. The color began to seep back into the world, and the cats began moving again. Dustpelt's mouth closed.
Foxpaw's hind legs kicked out. "Well, we're not unprepared now."
Firestar spoke. "I want a patrol to follow them," he ordered. "I want to be sure they've left our territory."
Dustpelt leaped up. "I'll go!"
Firestar nodded. "Take Birchfall, Cloudtail..." I saw Lionpaw lean forward in anticipation. "Ashfur and Lionpaw, you go with them."
Lionpaw's eyes flashed with triumph as he bounded down the tumble of rocks that led to the Highledge.
"Is anyone wounded?" Firestar called. Leafpool and Jaypaw were weaving in and out of the clumps of warriors. I smelled the strong scent of herbs.
Jaypaw wound his way over to me.
"Does anything hurt?" he asked me. I tested my limbs. Nothing was sprained or broken.
"Just a few scratches." I licked them fiercely. I had never had an infected cut before, and I didn't want to start now. "It can wait until after the battle."
Jaypaw turned his sightless gaze on me. "You really think there will be a battle, then?"
The spot in my stomach was harder. I focused all of my attention on him, hoping he would sense it. "You really think there won't?"