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And now, let's continue the story, shall we?

Chapter 22: Softpaws and Claws

Kitty Softpaws kept glancing behind her as she rode ahead. Every glance back didn't change the view she had seen before. Puss and Peter riding alongside the other Narnians, all hurrying as fast as they could. A huge horde running towards the two riders, hate and anger quite clear on their faces. Kitty turned ahead. A series of rocks and ridges loomed, like several sharp hills and mini-mountains. The perfect place to even the odds. She only hoped that they could make it in time.

Kitty soon turned around a corner, her heart lifting as she saw what lay ahead. Edmund, Humpty, and the whole archery division, dwarves and centaurs alike, stood on top of several rocks, facing her group. A second or two later, Humpty nodded to Edmund, who also nodded and shouted "Now!" Instantly, a large chorus of thwips was heard as a large flock of arrows flew through the air. Kitty was grimly satisfied to hear several cries of agony behind her. The enemy had been reduced again by a surprise attack.

Suddenly, a loud neighing occurred. Looking up at Edmund, Kitty saw his face suddenly change to a look of fear. Turning around, a shocking sight met her. The unicorn had fallen, leaving Puss in Boots and Peter stranded too close to the enemy. Charging at them was the silver chariot, with the two polar bears running towards the human and cat. Before Kitty could move forward to intervene, two large figures rushed past her. It was Oreius and Gristle, the rhino. They were both heading straight for the chariot. Kitty nodded. Cutting the head off the snake was the way to go. She should join in and help.

Before Kitty lunged forward, she noticed something. Puss and Peter were fighting off several enemies that had come charging in. They seemed to be holding their own rather well. Yet, every so often, an arrow would shoot past the two, just barely touching their fur or armor. Kitty frowned. Where were those shots coming from?

Turning around, she soon saw the source of the arrows. A small dwarf was standing on top of a rock, firing arrows straight at the two. It was the same dwarf as the one who had come to the Witch's parley. The one that had announced the Witch's arrival. And with the aim the dwarf was using, it was a wonder that he kept missing. It wouldn't be long before the arrows actually hit their mark.

Kitty knew there was no time to think. She just ran. Up the ridge, over the rocks, straight at the dwarf. He was aiming another arrow straight at Puss. Kitty knew that this time, he would not miss. And there was no way she was going to allow that to happen.

As the dwarf prepared to fire, Kitty threw herself at him, pulling them both off the rock. The dwarf got to his feet, looking at Kitty. With a grim face, he pulled out a dagger. Without a word of her own, Kitty raised her own dagger, extending the claws of her free hand. A few seconds passed, each figure sizing up their opponent, waiting to see who would make the first move.

Kitty thrusted forward with her dagger. The dwarf dodged it, swiping his own dagger at her. With a small mrow of pain, Kitty looked down to see the dwarf had nicked her fur, drawing a little blood. She grimaced. This was no beginner. The dwarf had some experience with a blade. Kitty needed to end the fight now before the dwarf revealed how skilled he truly was.

With that in mind, Kitty leaped forward. Her paws and claws moving in a blur to try and overwhelm the dwarf. To her shock, the dwarf managed to dodge and block every single blow, even managing to make some strikes of his own that were blocked.

Raising his leg, the dwarf kicked Kitty Softpaws a few paces back. She stood up, taking a moment to catch her breath. A small shink sound occurred. Turning, she saw that her claws had retracted once again. Try as she might, Kitty couldn't extend them again.

Turning back, she saw the dwarf had noticed the move. He grinned slightly. "No claws, then? I've heard about you from Maugrim's lieutenant. You might be good with a blade, but you don't have any claws. And without your claws, you're nothing but a helpless kitten." His grin turned more malicious. "How can such a small kitten survive a big fight like this? Maybe you want some milk instead?"

Kitty took a breath. A few days ago, this comment would have bothered her. Now though, she was ready for it. These insults didn't define her. In fact, it seemed to Kitty that Aslan's opinion of her was more important than what others thought. And if there was one thing she had learned about Aslan since trusting in Him, it was that He was well satisfied with her. And that knowledge gave Kitty the strength to repel the comment.

Kitty shrugged her shoulders. "No thanks on the milk. I'm on a diet." She raised her paw with the dagger, taking a small step back. "I'll do you one better though." Releasing her grip, she let the dagger fall to the floor. "I'll give you one swing."

The dwarf gave her a wary eye. "What's the catch?"

"No catch. You get one chance to strike me. Make it count."

The dwarf hesitated, trying to see if there was any trickery involved. Finally, he shrugged his shoulders. "Well, I don't know…" Then, without saying another word, he swiped his dagger at Kitty.

Kitty held her breath. She had thought she calculated the maximum reach of the dagger, but you never knew with cases like this. Thankfully, the dagger barely missed her fur. But the dwarf wasn't done. In one fluid motion, he moved his hand back, going straight for a thrust at Kitty. The arm went straight at her stomach, touching the fur.

But there was no wound. No blood or slashes anywhere. The dwarf furrowed his brow. What had gone wrong?

"Oh, are you looking for this?" Kitty asked. Raising her paw, she held the dwarf's dagger in it.

The dwarf looked down at his hand to see the dagger was gone. Looking up, eyes wide, he only had time to notice Kitty use her foot to kick her own dagger into her other paw before she thrust them both for a killing blow. She leaned over. "I told you you only had one shot." The dwarf fell backward, never to breathe again.

Kitty stood up, taking a breath and shuddering. That was her first one-on-one kill. Up until this point in the battle, most of the hits had been random, trying to stay alive and counter enemy opponents. Kitty had felt no satisfaction at dealing the blow, nor did she think she ever would. She only felt revulsion at the waste of life. Still, she knew that it had been either her or the dwarf. That thought was barely a comfort to her, though. She only hoped the battle would end soon so that there would be no more loss of life.

A large shadow loomed over Kitty. Turning around, dagger raised, she saw a spear of ice barely touch her chest. Kitty only had time to see golden armor and an icy stare before she lost all sense of being. All that remained in Kitty's place was a gray statue, mouth open in a screech.

And so, one critter has fallen on the field of battle. Slightly longer author's note in next chapter. As always, please rate and review.