Chapter 29
Oks o first of all, I apologize for my absence. I was busy, but my school is out tomorrow and I'll be able post all the time! This chapter will be full of action, maybe some feels, but mostly (hopefully) a good one! Thanks to Keeper for helping me with this idea. And if you don't already know, Keeper is my writing partner! She beta's, helps me write, and etc. Captain Bat and Fox are also a big help and so many more Ashes that I could on and on thanking. Thanks girls for being such good friends and helping me all the time! Love you girls and Ashes!
All the new warriors were standing guard in front of the tunnel after their ceremony, keen as a snake. Cheekily, Pouncer threw a pebble at Daisyrain, who glared but giggled. He mouther good luck, and padded into the warrior's den. Crawling over Mudraven, he settled next to Grayfur. As sleep over came the gray tom, movement flickered in the corner of his vision. What was that?
Pouncer found himself in a bloody battle, cats from Memoryclan and Sanguis battling with tooth and claw. Cinderblaze held a scared black tom in her jaws, but was suddenly sent sprawling from a blow by Canine. "Don't touch her!" Pouncer roared, leaping into action, only to land on all four paws. What? Why can't anyone see me? Why can't I attack! Suddenly a dark ginger she-cat with white paws, muzzle, belly, and tail tip nosed him.
"Who are you?" he demanded. She cuffed his ears playfully.
"You'll know soon. Be prepared Pouncer, help is coming. When the last drop of blood falls from the wound, we will survive. One cat in particular will draw more blood to you. Stay strong," she whispered. Her blue and silver eyes were wide with grief.
Suddenly her from was starting to fade. "Wait!" He cried. "Stay! What's going to happen?! Is Sanguis going attack?!" Only a trace of the she-cat was left.
"Stay strong Pouncer…"
"WAIT!" Suddenly the nightmare was over, and the gray tom was sprawled across his nest. Grayfur was laughing, but Berryfoot had a glare sharp enough to draw a wound.
"Since half of you are already up, come to the entrance so I can organize patrols," Wolftail said poking his head in the den. Berryfoot hissed in annoyance but left the den, followed by Skyflower, Stormwind, Petalheart, Bumblecloud, and Leopardheart." Pouncer let out a hiss as warriors got called for patrols. I didn't get called! Wait is that Briarstar? Where's she going? She wasn't called for a patrol…
Pouncer decided to follow the light brown she-cat, doubt wiggling in his belly like a worm. She left the tunnel exit and padded down the path to the willows…where Clawstrike was buried. She's still mourning. Poor dear. Briarstar walked to the mound of earth where her dead mate was buried, and crashed to the ground in a heap of sobs.
"Why did you leave me Clawstrike?" she wailed. Slowly, Pouncer walked up behind her and set his tail on her shoulders. She looked up at him with sad brown eyes, pleading for an answer.
"It was his time," he stated quietly. "Starclan was pleading for a noble warrior, such as Clawstrike. You'll see him again one day."
Briarstar nodded shakily. She's not blaming me for his death? Sensing his trouble, she smiled a little. "I know what you're thinking: and I did blame you. But you need to forgive and forget in order to move on," she said dryly. "Hopefully Starclan will ease my suffering by letting me join him sooner rather than later." She doesn't mean that!
"I'm sorry," he whispered before running back to camp. Suddenly, a black shape tackled him. "Nightfall?" what are you doing?" he hissed. Her blue eyes were wild with fear.
"Forgive me," she whimpered.
"For what? Love, what's wrong? You can tell me anything!" She started pawing the ground impatiently.
"Run! Run to your camp and alert them! Sanguis is coming," she yowled urgently. Fear hit Pouncer like a blow to the flank.
"H-How do you know…"
"No time to explain! Go!"
"What about you?!"
"I'll be fine! Run now!" She pressed her nose against his, gave him a shove in the tunnel's direction, and started to run away. "I love you!" she called over her shoulder. Pouncer was frozen with fear, until reality snapped, and he raced back to the tunnel.
"SANGUIS IS COMING!" He yowled as he burst through the tunnel. Zeldastar immediately raced to his side, eyes wild.
"Wolftail tell everyone and assemble patrols! We must not loose this fight!" The tortoiseshell shrieked. The gray tabby dipped his head and ran off. "Pouncer! Get ready to fight, we will not loose," she hissed. Pouncer nodded and ran into the medicine den.
"Get your herbs ready!" Foxflame and Moonfire were already there, protecting kits and helping the medicine cats.
"We'll be fine! Go fight and don't let them enter the camp!" Whiskershadow yowled over the commotion. Pouncer nodded and ran back to the warriors. Some were bouncing with the excitement of a fight, others were doubtful.
"We will fight! Until the sun dies, we will fight!" Zeldastar yowled, bring up triumphant cheers. We haven't won yet! Battle ready, Pouncer bunched his muscles, waiting for the patrol to give order. Wolftail flicked his tail and three of the five patrols raced out of the tunnel. Zeldastar leading her patrol started to search the undergrowth, wild glints in their eyes.
"Surrender your hiding Sanguis! We're ready to rip your pelts!" Their leader snarled. Terror and many, many Sanguis cats started to emerge, smug grins on their faces.
"You found us kitty! Awe, what shall we do? Hmm, I know! Shred them," he smirked, twitching his whiskers. Suddenly he yowled so loud birds stared to fly, sending Sanguis cats onto Memoryclan warriors. "KILL THEM!" He screeched, battling with Briarstar.
Pouncer started to rush at Canine, using his smaller size to attack the giant tom from under. He tore at soft belly fur, scarlet drops scattered the grass. Canine let out a roar and grabbed Pouncer, flinging him near Terror and Briarstar.
Dazed, Pouncer tried to stand, but strong paws held his down. He looked up to see Terror's bloodthirsty red eyes staring into his soul. "Ready to die kitty," he sneered.
"Never!" Pouncer spat, kicking Terror's flank. The gray tom grunted and yowled again. This time instead of cats, strange shadows started to seep through the forest, soulless eyes scanning the cats.
"Kill them! Kill them all!" Terror snapped at the shadow. It suddenly grabbed Pouncer, long fox-length claws stabbing his pelt. "Bye bye!" Terror smirked as the shadow gripped and tossed Pouncer to the other side of the dirt. Eyes closing slowly, Pouncer felt blood pooling around him from some injury.
Suddenly the demon leading the killing spree let out a metallic blood-rippling scream. Briarstar was bleeding next to Pouncer, eyes glazed. Trying to regain strength, he stumbled over to her. "Wake up Briarstar, it's not your time yet!" His wails were barely heard over the chaos of the battle.
"Clawstrike?" the she-cat whimpered. Pouncer felt his eyes getting misty. It's her time…
"Rest peacefully," he choked out. "We'll remember you forever." He closed her eyes and watched as the old leader let out a dying breath. "Goodbye…"
All around him, cats were fleeing. "RUN! MEMORYCLAN RUN!" He heard Zeldastar's voice, shrill and defeated. Pouncer saw Skyflower running and decided to follow her. Strange creatures and Sanguis cats were yowling with triumph, some still killing his clan-mates.
Suddenly his legs gave way and he crashed into the bloody grass in a heap of legs. He felt a strong pair of jaws lift him up, and the ground started to look smaller. He caught a glimpse of midnight blue eyes before closing his amber eyes.
DUN DUN DUN