There was nothing to lose for the girls. They were trying to pedal their way down the pass to where their camp was. They had little in terms of light but they needed to get to where they needed to go.
"Keep up Ravenpaw, you're holding us back!" Rowan shouted to Mio. Mio was trying her best to keep up in the darkness. Miho was remembering what Ritsu had said about coming out into this school during darkness, it was indeed dangerous.
"Sorry, I just can't see that well in the darkness." Mio replied. She didn't know what exactly was going on.
"How are you handling back there Mio?" Miho asked Mio why she was holding the group back.
"I'm a little tired, I'm usually in my bed at this point trying to fall asleep but the way Bluestar has put us on high alert has exhausted me." Mio explained that she would be mostly asleep at this point, but she was awake and there was nothing she could do to stop it.
"Well we should be home and pray that Kay's attack is nothing more than a bluff." Ritsu explained that they will be in bed within the next hour or two. The three girls continued to pedal their way down the slope to see where this was going to go. Miho was still curious about Rowan.
"What did Rowan say when she got out of the cave?" Miho asked the girls if they had any good ideas about what happened to Rowan when she rushed out of there.
"She said that we were still guarding the camp, nothing too crazy." Ritsu explained to Miho. "Why?"
"Did you sense anything strange about her?" Miho asked Ritsu if she had any ideas about Rowan and what would happen to her.
"Well, the only thing that was strange was that damp old cave." Ritsu explained to Miho. Mio interrupted as she had something to say.
"She seemed to be a little anxious." Mio began.
"She wasn't the only one." Ritsu added. This made Mio a little confused.
"What do you mean?" Mio asked curiously.
"The hairs on your neck stand up whenever you see Rowan these days. You nearly jumped out of your skin when she came out of that cave." Ritsu explained that Rowan wasn't the only person feeling anxious. She sensed that Mio was feeling much the same way.
"She just surprised me, that's all." Mio explained to Ritsu that she didn't want to seem to be scared over the fact that she had something to hide. "You have to admit that it wasn't creepy like Mothermouth."
"I suppose so." Ritsu calmly replied. She went ahead as they were still following Rowan back to the camp in the hope that they weren't too late. The five girls continued to pedal along, taking what they believed to be the shortest route back to camp. The crisp nighttime air sweeping over their heads. Ritsu was curious about what Miho had to experience and decided to shift the conversation to her. "So what's it like inside Miho? Did you see the Moonstone?"
"Yeah I… I… I… did. It was amazing. It was better than I imagined it would be." Miho replied to Ritsu's question. They continued to pedal off not wanting to get left behind. The girls reached the junction in preparation of finding their way back to camp. They were preparing to take off when Miho turned her head to spot a total stranger that she wasn't able to see before.
"Who is she?" Miho asked. The girl was unfamiliar to them. Ritsu was quick to jump to Miho's side.
"It's a loner." Ritsu replied. Ayami went forward as the stranger turned her head. She had a rather pleasant smile as she meant no harm.
"This is Barley, she lives in the town." Ayami introduced her to the group.
"My name is Violet. Living around here has its perks, you can see me either at the store or in the library, I haven't seen you in a while Ayami." Violet introduced herself. "How do you seem to be doing tonight? You seem more anxious than usual."
"I'm fine Barley. It's just that I don't want to be away from my friends for too long." Ayami explained. Violet picked up this language and smiled.
"You're tied to your friends like a queen to her kits." Violet nodded with approval. "I just wanted to warn you that I spotted a group of Saunders students this deep in the school ship when I was getting some fresh air earlier. Luckily they didn't notice me but the fastest route back is off limits thinking that they might still be around. You will be much safer cutting through the badger path. Might take a couple minutes longer but the likely possibility of Saunders students finding you isn't as high." Violet explained what exactly was going on and how they were going to deal with this type of problem. Rowan wasn't too sure about what Violet had said.
"We know about the dogs, we saw them earlier." Rowan replied but her words were incorrect as Ayami began speaking.
"Thank you for the warning Barley until next time our paths cross." Ayami told Violet that she was thankful for this information. Ayami departed back to the group.
"Goodbye. Have a safe journey." Violet told the group farewell that she was going to see them whenever they decided to visit her.
"Come, we must continue our journey home." Ayami explained to the group that they needed to continue. Rowan wasn't too pleased about what Ayami had said, trusting Violet.
"You trust the word of that loner?!" Rowan shouted, she didn't like how this was going to turn out to be.
"Tigerclaw, Barley is a friend. I would trust her with my life." Ayami explained to Rowan that she wasn't going to do something like this. She then wanted to say something to Rowan that would be like: Be my guest. "You can go down the main path if you want to face the Saunders students but I am taking Barley's advice and going this way." Ayami explained as she began to pedal off to find the Badger path.
"Fine." Rowan growled, she did not like what Ayami was doing regarding this whole situation. Ritsu, Mio and Miho watched as Rowan followed Ayami.
"Rowan sure is in a mood." Ritsu explained as she began to follow Rowan. Miho and Mio got back on their bikes and followed the group. Finding the Badger path was going to take a bit of backtracking, back to Lookout Pass. Hopefully Violet was right that the Saunders students hadn't discovered this path. A couple minutes after the group entered the Badger path, Violet entered this path as well. She wanted to make sure the group was going to be safe as if she was having second thoughts about sending them in alone.
Miho and the others pedaled their way through. It was getting very late. Ritsu opened her phone to check the time.
"It's almost midnight, you sure we can get back home and get some sleep?" Ritsu asked Miho about what was going on.
"Who knows, this path is a bit slower." Miho answered Ritsu. The bushes rustled; the girls turned their flashlights to see what was going on. "I'm sure that was nothing. We're on alert for tank shells whirling past us."
"Hey, anyone getting glimpses of Red skirts?" Mio asked. She seemed to on the edge about something. Something wasn't right. Miho got out Ayami's flashlight and decided to take a look around. The glimpses of a couple of red skirts were indeed true.
"Red skirts, but why would they be here?" Miho asked as she tossed the flashlight back to Ayami. Ayami caught it before turning the flashlight to see a couple of students appear from the bushes to attack them.
"What was that?" Ritsu asked, she was taken by surprise as more of these students appeared to launch their attack.
"Oh no." Mio muttered. Rowan looked around. She knew exactly who was closing in on them.
"Saunders students!" Rowan shouted. It was an ambush. One of the Saunders students punched Miho in the jaw but Miho picked up her bike and bashed the student down.
"Argh. Their attacks are like fury!" Miho shouted. She turned to see a swarm of them attacking Ritsu.
"Firepaw, Ravenpaw, help!" Ritsu called out, she needed something to get herself free from the students attempting to pin her down. Miho grabbed a thick branch and she went over and bashed a Saunders student in the head. Mio bashed another Saunders student with her bike.
"Yeah take that you filthy crowfood eater!" Mio shouted. Miho picked Ritsu up and pulled her out of the bunch. They regrouped as the Saunders students gathered around ready to fight them more. Ritsu punched another student and kicked the second one out of the way. Miho bashed another one in the skull but the Saunders students kept coming despite knocking them down. Mio shoved another one away as two more came for them. Ritsu bashed one with her bike as Miho smashed her face in with the branch. Ayami was fighting a few nearby as she decided to speak.
"There's no use in fighting, the Saunders students are only going to keep coming." Ayami explained before she bashed another one out of the way. "We have to get out of here. Another Saunders student tried to attack Ritsu but Ritsu swung around and punched the student.
"Get off!" Ritsu shouted before she got on her bike and pedaled away. Miho turned to see Mio getting swarmed.
"Miho help!" Mio called out.
"Oh no! Mio!" Miho shouted. Miho went over before she bashed another Saunders student in the head with her branch. She pulled Mio up as Mio prepared to run for her life. "Come on, we've got to go!" Mio took off as Miho looked at Ayami who was fighting with everything she had.
"You two keep running! I'll hold them back." Ayami explained before punching another Saunders student in the face.
"But Ayami." Miho began.
"Just go, get to safety! I'll catch up when I can." Ayami explained. Miho was left with no other choice but she decided to run. The Saunders students surrounded Ayami leaving the leader with no way out. Ayami began to fight the group but numbers quickly overpowered her. Ayami was laying on the ground when Rowan finished her fight when she was in trouble. "Tigerclaw!" Ayami called for help. Rowan turned her tail and ran, leaving Ayami to deal with the threat alone. "Help!" The sounds of the students fighting as Ayami attempted to fight while pinned down under the weight of so many students. Then gunshots were heard as some of the Saunders students turned to face the threat. Ayami looked up as she felt like she was going to fall unconscious when she saw Violet bash a Saunders student with a baseball bat. Violet had come to their rescue.
"Bluestar, don't worry, I got you." Violet told Ayami as she fell unconscious.
Miho and the others were busy fighting as Violet arrived carrying Ayami. She laid Ayami down as they needed to beat this threat forever.
"They're still coming, you three hold them off." Violet explained. Miho grabbed the branch before bashing the Saunders student in the head.
"Stupid Saunders students!" Miho shouted. Mio threw another punch as Violet bashed another one with the baseball bat. The Saunders students turned and ran, battered, beaten and defeated.
"They're retreating!" Ritsu called out with this victory. Miho turned to see that this victory was a hard pill to swallow. Ayami was laying there not moving.
"Oh no. Ayami. Are you okay?" Miho cried out. She went over as she kneeled down to help Ayami. Rowan turned to Violet. She was pissed about what happened. Rowan tackled Violet to the ground. She wanted answers.
"Barley! You sent us into a trap!" Rowan shouted at Violet thinking she needed her explanation.
"I… I didn't know that the Saunders students were here. I'm sorry!" Violet apologized with the expression that she didn't mean it.
"Why did you send us this way?" Rowan asked Violet if she had any answers.
"I thought the Saunders patrol was still on the main path." Violet tried her best to answer.
"There was no Saunders patrol on this path when we came through there that afternoon." Rowan growled as she was going to take her fury out on Violet.
"I saw them at sunset. Long after you came through there. Honest!" Violet told Rowan.
"Rowan." Miho interrupted. "Ayami's injured, is there anything we can do?" Miho asked, thinking there was nothing they could do for her. Rowan turned her head and she began to calmly speak.
"She's in the paws of Starclan now." Rowan politely explained to Miho. Mio walked over thinking there was something they could do.
"Is she dead?" Mio asked the group about their leader.
"I don't know, we must wait and see." Rowan told them thinking there must be something they could do. Miho walked over as she placed a hand on Ayami.
"Starclan please, send her back to us." Miho prayed for the heavens to give their leader back. Suddenly Ayami began to cough as she regained conscious. The girls were relieved that Ayami was still alive. Ayami got up battered and beaten up. "Ayami?"
"It's all right, I'm still here." Ayami explained to the group that she was still alive. "If a cat such as myself were to lose a life, it wouldn't be my last."
"Thanks." Miho replied. Rowan and the others needed to gather themselves together for the trip back.
"Barley, you've done enough damage for one day, leave." Rowan growled at Violet.
"Very well, I wish you all a quick recovery." Violet told them before she hopped onto her bike and pedaled away.
"You know, if it wasn't for Barley, those Saunders students would have taken all my lives away." Ayami explained as she dusted herself off. "I'll manage to limp myself back to camp. No need to help me, Tigerclaw." Ayami explained as she began to pedal away. Rowan looked disappointed. If Ayami did die, she would have looked pleased. Miho knew that Rowan had some kind of darkness in her heart. Maybe the conversation she had earlier and how the power of the Moonstone was the one thing that was keeping her away, did Rowan have a dark secret that none of them knew about? Miho knew that answer would have to wait.
The five girls arrived back at camp as the hollering combined with shots of flares, paintballs and the firing of tanks were heard.
"Did you hear that?" Mio asked. Ayami's eyes had widened, her nightmare she received from the Moonstone was true.
"Quick! It's what Starclan has warned me about! Our camp is under attack!" Ayami shouted. Miho's predictions of Saunders launching a night time attack was true. The attack they fought off earlier was a patrol.
"Remember your training and try not to die." Rowan explained to the group. The five girls rushed into the camp as the Saunders students were in a very close brawl with the others. The T-26 fired its cannon, knocking out a disabled Sherman. The area where the first years were was the big weak spot in the lines as an attack here would be devastating.
"Oh no the first years!" Kiara shouted. The first years were firing away wildly at anything that moves. Another student rushed over as she was going to defend it.
"Don't worry Frostfur, I'll guard this part of the line." Rika told her that she was going to bolster up this part of the line.
"Thank you Rosetail." Kiara told Rika that she was thankful. The BT-7 cannon fired at the Motorcycle crew to take them out. Kiara turned to see her friend fighting off a Saunders student.
"Frostfur help." Lexie called out. Kiara went over before kicking her off of Lexie. Kiara turned her head to see Lindsay hiss and claw at another student as she was attempting to fight her off. The student backed off as she had this to say.
"Does your school have anyone else other than feral girls and volunteers to fight your battles?" She asked, her cheerleading uniform had been ripped apart due to Lindsay's fighting.
"You're going to regret saying that!" Lindsay shouted before she tackled the student to the ground. Chelsea hissed as she was fighting Naomi as the latter wasn't doing a good job of it. She didn't want to fight at all. Chelsea was able to overpower her quickly. Ritsu ran over to see Alisa attacking Chika.
"Chika!" Ritsu called out. Chika threw Alisa off of her, catching her breath for a moment.
"Graypaw you're back, do you remember your training?" Chika asked Ritsu if she knew anything about fighting. Alisa tackled Ritsu before Ritsu used her shoes to rake Alisa's uniform, tearing a good chunk of it off. Alisa hissed as she felt her uniform tear. "Well done Graypaw." Chika told Ritsu before she tackled Alisa down.
Miho was busy fighting another Saunders student as she was trying her best to drive them off. Miho had herself pinned with another student. The student attempted to punch her but Miho's head turned to the side and she bit into the student's arm. She kicked the student off of her as the student looked at her arm where the bike mark was.
"You're going to pay for this!" She shouted. She attempted to tackle Miho but in the darkness, she wasn't able to judge the distance which led to Miho dodging the attack, Miho then took the girl into her clutches and scratched her neck, the student felt a slicing pain as she noticed that Miho had drawn blood. "Get off me!" She shouted before she ran away.
"And don't come back!" Miho shouted. She turned to see Ayami hissing and biting another Saunder student in her attempt to drive them off. "Wow, even when hurt, Ayami is a powerful fighter." Miho turned her head to see Alisa very close to where the first years were. "What's Alisa doing so close to the first years?" Alisa hissed as Rika whirled around to see who it was that was attacking her.
"Get away from them; I won't let you harm them!" Rika shouted. Alisa tackled Rika and she slashed at the girl's throat, taking her out easily. Alisa just laughed as she proceeded to stomp on her.
"Shut you emaciated bag of bones!" Alisa shouted as she turned her eyes to the first years that were huddled away trying to provide support. Miho knew that she didn't want that to happen.
"No! Not Rika! Get away from the first years!" Miho shouted, she ran over to attack her. Another student showed up to get to Miho.
"Stop right there!" She shouted. She tackled Miho down as Miho punched her in the face, attempting to throw her off. She went to Miho again but Miho raked the girl with her shoes, attempting to throw her off. "Get off of me!" She shouted. She got up and ran. Miho viewed the first years as Alisa was going to knock them all out. Suddenly someone appeared to take Alisa on.
"You fox hearted brute! Leave those kits alone!" Tomori shouted. Tomori tackled Alisa down before she grabbed the girl by the hair and pulled on Alisa's hair hard. Alisa hissed as Tomori ripped a few strands of Alisa's hair out. Alisa got up and ran in pain. Tomori turned to Miho who was battered in battle. "Don't worry Miho, Alisa is gone. I chased her off, the first years are safe. I will protect them."
"Thanks Tomori. The school won't forget your bravery." Miho expressed how thankful she was for this action. Tomori smiled and decided to stay on guard.
The night attack would last until the morning as the last of the Saunders students ran from the camp.
"Get out and stay out!" Brook shouted.
"And don't come back!" Chelsea shouted. The students had calmed down as the whole brawl lasted all night.
"They're finally gone." Satsuki explained with a huff to her voice, she was exhausted.
"That fighting was brutal. The rumors about the training that Kay put those students through for this type of fighting must be true." Makalia explained why this fight lasted as long as it did.
"Is everyone all right?" Annabelle asked while she was clutching her twitching arm.
"Are the first years safe?" Lindsay asked curiously. "I think that Miho said someone was near the first years."
"Rika went down fighting trying to protect them. But thanks to Tomori who fought her off, the first years are safe." Kiara expressed that she went in there and did what's best.
"It was no ordinary student either. It was Alisa who Tomori fought off." Miho explained who that person was.
"The vice commander of Saunders, wow Tomori you're so brave." Lindsay expressed that she was grateful for what had happened. Miho nodded as Tanya and the other first years walked up to Miho with news.
"All the tanks had been damaged. Azusa had knocked out three tanks and several other vehicles. She leaped into the fight once her own tank went down." Tanya expressed how fearless these girls were. Rabbit team were beaten to a pulp in the vicious fight. Azusa had several cuts and bruises from the fight. Her right eye twitched as someone had punched her in that spot.
"Rika went down protecting the first years and we tried everything we could to stop Saunders. The tanks were the only line of defense we had and the fact that Saunders threw everything into the attack showed us how determined they were. We managed to protect ourselves. But this has come at a price, many of us have been injured." Azusa explained that the fighting was brutal but they managed to triumph in this battle.
"Wow I never knew you girls were into this type of stuff. Ayami would be proud of you." Miho explained to Azusa. Ayami walked over as her face was down, she had the look of somber written all over it. "What's wrong?"
"Redtail and Lionheart were injured in battle, Spottedleaf is with them. The casualties we took from this fight are bad." Ayami explained. Ritsu started to get worried.
"No, not Lionheart, I still have my training to complete!" Ritsu cried out. She raced over to Stephanie who was treating a long row of injured students with some help. "Tell me she's going to be okay."
"Chika is going to be okay. She lived up to her name and fought with bravery." Stephanie explained that Chika was going to be okay. Chika looked up to Ritsu as she had something to say.
"You did great tonight. A good rest will suit you. Hopefully when I recover, I will be able to finish your training assuming you don't finish it yourself." Chika explained. "You will make a fine warrior one day. Keep going for yourself." Chika explained. She grabbed Ritsu's hand and shook it. Miho walked over to see that the group of students that had been injured were still there.
As the morning wore on, Ayami knew there was still one more thing she needed to do before calling it a night or rather day. She decided to gather the students for a meeting to discuss what was going to be going forward.
"My fellow warriors, we have some news about what is going to happen. With my deputy Redtail being too injured to perform her duties at her normal capacity and Lionheart, her successor being injured as well. This leaves us without a deputy to hold the clan together as the chain of command has been destroyed in this fight. Rika was among the injured in the fighting but she is expected to make a recovery. Without any strong people left, Tigerclaw will be the new deputy until Redtail recovers." Ayami expressed this to the group. This decision had left a mixed reaction among the group. Some students like Chelsea and Satsuki welcomed the decision that strength wasn't entirely gone. Mio cowered down. She knew something was wrong with Ayami making this decision. Mio turned her head and walked off. She had something to hide. "Anyways, we might have to put some stricter rules in place as I sense that we're no longer safe. I don't want be to interact with anyone unless these two conditions are met: I either request to see you or you must ask the deputy first before you can see me. That is all. Get some sleep. We threw ourselves against Saunders hard and we will have the chance to regroup and prepare." Ayami got off to head off to sleep. It had been a long day and the night attack had drained them even more. Miho walked over to Mio who looked rather uncomfortable.
"Hey Mio, what's wrong?" Miho asked. "Is there something going on with Rowan?"
"Yes, Ayami made the wrong decision by making her deputy. Rowan wanted this position for a long while. Hikari was the only person to keep her in check but with neither Hikari or Chika to do their duties due to the fight, Rowan has some unquestionable powers now." Mio explained. She turned and walked away. Miho was distraught, Mio wasn't giving her anything else at the moment. It was okay at the moment, she was indeed very tired. Miho went up to Anglerfish team as they were all battered by the fighting.
"That was pretty intense." Saori began as she had an ice pack on her arm, Yukari's face had two black and blues, Hana had a bloody nose and Mako was battered by the fighting.
"Yeah. I got the worst of it." Mako replied before she yawned.
"No kidding, I almost broke my arm from this. It's clear that Kay isn't messing around." Saori added.
"Also, Ayami made Rowan the new deputy, how did you girls react?" Miho asked.
"We don't have hopes for this, it appears that Rowan is overstepping her boundaries and Ayami is caving in due to the attack on the camp. We might have to make our own decisions without her approval if we are to keep Rowan in check." Yukari explained. This wasn't something she was truly confident in.
"I think we're starting to miss home. We just want to enjoy summer vacation while we can, we're missing out on this." Hana explained to Miho. She didn't want to stay that much longer in this school. Miho knew she needed to do this for Azusa but Ooarai's morale was starting to waver. Much of her team was starting to feel homesick. Miho knew that she needed to end Saunders so they could return to Ooarai.
"We have to do this." Miho told the group. "We need to keep going. We can only go home once the enemy has been beaten." Miho told the students that with Saunders still a threat, this war wasn't over.
Miho knew that this war was going to enter into a new phase.
[A/N]: Miho's thoughts were true; Saunders did launch a night attack which ended up damaging all of the vehicles and injuring a good number of the defenders. Miho is ready to bring the fight to Saunders as her teammates are starting to become homesick and wish for the return to Ooarai. However, they need to rest and rebuild first before they decide to retaliate. Next chapter will deal with some of the downtime before the coalition has enough strength to launch their next attack. See you until then. Goodbye.