Chapter 8: Power, Unlimited Power

I swung my head toward the voice. Dustpelt was glaring away at Sorreltail and Honeyfern. They were racing away through the ferns at the edge of our territory. Beechfur and Reedwhisker ran after them. Squirrelflight fled the battlefeild with her mother, Sandstorm. All around me and Dustpelt, our valiant attack was breaking up. We were outnumbered. As the Thunderclan patrol fled, I boweled over Antpelt with a swipe of my front paw.

"Jaggedscar, we have to get out of here," Dustpelt gasped for breath. He was bleeding from a deep gash on his shoulder. My wounds, though not serious, stung like fury. As I looked at the battered tom, I knew what I had to do.

"Go with the others," I said. Though my voice was trembling, I went on. "I'll-I'll cover your retreat."

"That's insane!" Dustpelt gasped.

I bowed my head as Windclan and Riverclan fell upon us. "I know what I have to do."

I whirled around before Dustpelt could reply and shot foward. As Emberfoot rose to meet me, I brought a paw down on his head. The shock waves flew up my forleg. I gritted my teeth and pressed on. I slashed without knowing who I was slashing at. Willowclaw screeched in pain as I kicked at her stomach. Rainstorm hissed at me as he slashed at me with his claws. I tried to get up, but failed. As warriors from both Clans gathered around me, the color once again bled out of the world. The warriors seemed to slow down. I wondered if I was doomed, if Yellowfang would come, this time to take me to Starclan. However, no other cat came prowling out of the shadows.

I tested my limbs as another blow fell on me, much slower than normal. I realized that I was moving at normal speed, despite the other's slowness. I slashed my claws through Antpelt's fur with all my strength. Immediatly blood flew from the wound, slowly splashing on the ground. The flesh flew open, and I saw Antpelt's jaws begin to strecth open in a screech of pain.

Seeing my chance, I fled from the battlefield. As I ran, I saw color flood my vision once again. I looked back for a heartbeat. I saw the Windclan warriors shaking their heads in confusion, and Antpelt's wound gushed blood onto the lakeshore. I turned and kept running. I saw Dustpelt's fur flash between the trees. Soon I had caught up to him.

"What the-" Dustpelt gasped.

"I managed to escape," I gasped. I didn't say anything about the strange occurence. No one would find out about that.

"What about the Windclan and Riverclan warriors?" Dustpelt questioned.

"They're not going anywhere soon," I replied. We walked up to the shore to look. The enemy warriors were begining to regroup, and Riverclan was swimming up the lake towards the old Twoleg nest.

"Oh." I meowed. Dustpelt shook his head.

"Jaggedscar, get to the Twoleg nest," Dustpelt ordered. "Tell them that Riverclan has joined the battle."

"Okay," I said. I dashed from the shore. I ran through the trees, leaping over rocks and fallen trees. As I moved, I spotted a sleek pelt through the trees.

"Riverclan!" I snarled. They had beaten me to the prize of the old Twoleg nest.