The ferocious battle cry punctuated the dark indigo sky and rang through Bramblepaw's ears as he lifted his head drowsily. The hate and venom that pierced the clearing made the pale tabby tom scramble to his paws, and just as he blinked the sleep out of his eyes, he caught Adderpaw's striped tail lashing in front of him.
"What's going on, Adderpaw?" Bramblepaw gasped as the tabby crouched down, wiggling his haunches with his amber eyes narrowed into slits.
"Can't you tell?" Adderpaw demanded, irritation flashing in his yellow eyes. "RiverClan is here! You've been snoozing away!"
Bramblepaw frowned and peeked out of the rabbit burrow that the apprentices slept in. He craned his head, a gasp escaping his mouth when he saw the lines of warriors that were swarming into their camp, lust for blood burning in their eyes as they launched themselves on the closest warrior they could get. Adderpaw lunged out of the den.
"What are you waiting for?" the tabby snapped, shooting a look over his shoulder. "We need to fight!"
"Y-yes," Bramblepaw stammered, shaking himself out of his daze. He couldn't understand why RiverClan was here. Hadn't Swiftstar beaten them time and time again? Why did they insist on coming back? The questions were buzzing in his mind, but he knew he had no time to answer them. He scrambled out into the moorland hollow and found himself straight in the middle of the fight.
Reedstar from RiverClan's pale brown pelt melted against the hues of the moorland, but it was stark against Swiftstar's ginger-and-white tabby fur as the two leaders whirled together in a storm of claws and teeth. Swiftstar snapped his jaws near Reedstar's ears, but Reedstar slipped underneath the big tabby and appeared on his other side, slashing his claws at his tail.
"Rabbitfur!" Adderpaw cried out. Bramblepaw swung his gaze to stare at the gray-and-white tom, pinned down by Troutleap of RiverClan. "Bramblepaw, let's go!" The tabby sprinted through the clearing towards the gray tom, and Bramblepaw was fast on his heels, feeling as if he was running faster than his own WindClan ancestors.
With a massive leap, Adderpaw landed on top of Troutleap's back, slashing the RiverClan warrior viciously with his sharp talons. Anger blazed in the tabby's eyes, and Troutleap lost his grip on Rabbitfur, stumbling away and landing on the moorland ground with a huff. Adderpaw slammed his leg into his stomach, and the RiverClan warrior groaned in pain.
"Are you okay?" Adderpaw demanded, racing over to Rabbitfur. Bramblepaw followed Adderpaw, staring at the blood-soaked figure of Rabbitfur. Adderpaw sank his teeth into the wounded cat's scruff and pulled him up. Rabbitfur coughed up scarlet, pain glazing in his bright blue eyes, and he laid, hunched over.
"This is all because of Swiftstar," Rabbitfur choked out. "He's the one who starts these damned fights, and every time he does, RiverClan retaliates!" Fury burned in the tom's gaze, and although he tried to scramble to his paws, a grunt of pain escaped him and he staggered back. Adderpaw's eyes were round with shock as he stared at the warrior.
"Rabbitfur," Adderpaw murmured.
In the chaos and fury of the battle, as cat fought against cat, blood splattered on the camp walls, flesh ripped, Rabbitfur leaned into Adderpaw's ears and whispered, "Your father… could you kill him?"
What? Bramblepaw gawked at Rabbitfur, but the tom didn't even react to Bramblepaw's burning gaze. Instead, he held Adderpaw's stare, and none of them moved. It was as if the battlefield had completely disappeared, and it was just them. He… he can't be serious… can he…?
Adderpaw opened his mouth, seemingly ready to reply, when a flash of fur darted through the clearing and landed squarely on his back. Bramblepaw looked up to see Snowpaw of RiverClan, pinning Adderpaw down and slashing his shoulder blades with her own claws. Bramblepaw crouched down, steadying his balance, and reared up, grabbing Snowpaw by the back of her scruff with his claws and dragging her down.
Snowpaw hissed in fury and shook her pelt, and Bramblepaw's claws slipped from her thick fur. Bramblepaw crouched back, lashing his tail, his fur bristling and his back arched. Snowpaw stepped closer, her pure white claws stained with blood. There was a momentary pause in their battle, and for a minute, everything was silent. The only thing Bramblepaw could hear was Rabbitfur's request to Adderpaw.
Kill Swiftstar? Bramblepaw thought, hearing his own heart pound in his chest. That's insane! Why would Rabbitfur want to do that? He's one of Swiftstar's most senior warriors! And try to get Adderpaw to do it?
"Don't know what to do next, rabbit-brain?" Snowpaw hissed, knocking Bramblepaw out of his thoughts. He looked up, seeing the white she-cat aiming for him, but Bramblepaw stepped out of the way easily and clawed her neck as she fell.
Bramblepaw threw his head over his clearing, and his jaw dropped when he saw Scorchpaw being cornered by Goosepaw and Graypaw of RiverClan. The two apprentices loomed over the ginger-and-white tom, as if they had found a tasty piece of fresh-kill. Bramblepaw shot a glance at Adderpaw, who had finally regained his footing after being knocked out by Snowpaw.
"Adderpaw, your brother!" Bramblepaw cried out.
"What?" Adderpaw followed Bramblepaw's gaze, and his green eyes narrowed. He raced through the clearing, landing on top of Goosepaw's back and slashing his claws across his neck. Bramblepaw followed him, launching himself at Graypaw and rolling with her onto the moorland grass. Graypaw snarled furiously, but Bramblepaw caught her in a deadlock grip that she could not escape from.
Adderpaw had his jaws tightened across Goosepaw's throat, and the gray tom flailed in the WindClan apprentice's grip. Bramblepaw let go of Graypaw, sending her flying across the clearing with a fierce kick to her stomach. He bounded over to Scorchpaw, who was staring at Adderpaw with his amber eyes round.
"Good thing we got to you in time," Bramblepaw told him.
"Yeah," Scorchpaw breathed out, staring at Adderpaw as he held Goosepaw tighter and tighter. "Is he going to kill him?" the apprentice finally asked.
Bramblepaw stared at Adderpaw. "Adderpaw, let him go!" he yowled. "He's beaten!" His heart started to wring in his chest as he saw Goosepaw's movements begin to cease. But the wild light in Adderpaw's eyes refused to die out, and despite Bramblepaw's interference, the tabby tightened his hold on Goosepaw.
"Enough!" snarled a deep voice that made the fur on Bramblepaw's spine prick. Adderpaw let go of Goosepaw, his eyes wide with shock, and Goosepaw took the moment to drag himself away, creating a trail of blood behind him. The spotted gray tom cast one more look in his shoulder, fear blazing in his eyes as he caught Adderpaw's glare.
The cats immediately ceased fighting, but the metallic scent of blood was still rampant in the air as Troutleap made his way to the center of camp. The tortoiseshell tom's pelt was streaked with blood, and even though several wounds crisscrossed his fur, still he stood, his amber eyes blazing. Swiftstar crossed the clearing, blood splotching his white underbelly.
"Have you surrendered?" Swiftstar sneered at Troutleap.
"The farthest from," Troutleap hissed.
Swiftstar narrowed his eyes. "What?"
"I have things I love," Troutleap snarled, unsheathing his claws once more. "I have a daughter that I would fight all the gods for, two sons that I would never trade for the world, a beautiful mate, and I have my Clanmates that I would give my life for. I will not stand by and let you take another life that I have sworn to protect. Let us end this right here, Swiftstar. Fight me. Alone. The victor goes home. The loser doesn't."
Swiftstar stared at the WindClan warrior, and then he let out a rowdy laugh. "Ha! You foolish cat. Did you really just threaten me to a duel? Do you want to die?"
"I did," Troutleap hissed, "and I won't die. Not while I still have my family."
"Very well." Swiftstar lashed his tail. "Then you and I will fight. I can't promise you'll get out of here alive, though."
"And I can't say the same to you, Viper of WindClan," Troutleap snarled, circling the WindClan warrior, his paws imprinting bloody marks in the grass. Bramblepaw inhaled sharply. He wasn't sure if what he was watching was the epitome of selfless bravery… or utter stupidity.
Troutleap lunged at Swiftstar, but the ginger-and-white tom darted out of the way immediately. Despite not being Clanborn, he clearly had the speed of a WindClan cat. Troutleap skidded to a halt, landing on his paws. He narrowed his eyes. Just then, Swiftstar leaped towards him, and Troutleap ducked immediately, leaving Swiftstar's claws to rake nothing but thin air. Fury blazed in Swiftstar's eyes, and when he landed on his paws, he turned on his heel, ready to strike again.
But Troutleap was ready and waiting. Just as Swiftstar lashed a paw out to claw his face, Troutleap sank his teeth in Swiftstar's paws and pulled him so tightly that Swiftstar yowled out in pain. A crack echoed through the wind, and Bramblepaw winced, knowing something had definitely been dislocated. Swiftstar heaved, blood dripping from his paw, and when he tried to rest it on the ground, he winced visibly. Oh, no… was that all it took?
"The Viper of WindClan isn't so invincible now, is he?" Troutleap hissed. "You are nothing but a ruthless savage." With a howl, Troutleap thrust his head towards Swiftstar's neck, and in mere seconds, his teeth met his throat. Swiftstar let out a bloodcurdling cry, but Troutleap took no notice of it. Wrath burned in his green eyes as he clamped his teeth down on Swiftstar's neck.
"Stop him!" cried a voice in the WindClan crowd. "He's killing Swiftstar!"
At that cry, warriors from WindClan swarmed over and attempted to attack Troutleap, but when Reedstar let out a howl, RiverClan's warriors intercepted them. Troutleap jumped away from Swiftstar, and the ginger-and-white tabby hit the ground with a loud thud. Reedstar's amber eyes narrowed into slits.
"We have avenged the death of Rushcloud!" Reedstar howled. "And we have showed you the might of RiverClan. Cross us one more time, and it will not just be Swiftstar who dies. RiverClan, let's go!" With that, the pale tabby turned on his heel, his tail lashing as he crossed the hollow. Troutleap cast a glance over his shoulder at Swiftstar's limp body.
Bramblepaw found himself barely breathing as the RiverClan warriors walked out of the camp. The WindClan warriors watched, but made no move to pursue them. Exhaustion glazed their eyes, and Bramblepaw didn't think he could move another step. The blood streaming from his wounds created a pool of crimson liquid beneath him, but all Bramblepaw could focus on was Swiftstar's limp body, lying in the clearing.
Sunleaf trotted over to her mate's body, grief misting her green eyes as she nuzzled Swiftstar's pelt. But the tom was unmoving, and Sunleaf collapsed, a sob escaping her. Petalspring watched from the clearing, and padded towards her former mate's limp body. Sunleaf said nothing as Petalspring licked Swiftstar's cheek. Scorchpaw raced over to his father, digging his head into his shoulder. Russetkit didn't move from where she sat, huddled at the edge of camp where Blackpaw stood, protecting her from the sights around her.
"Swiftstar?" whispered Hawkfeather. The usually powerful, no-nonsense warrior had a voice that was akin to a small kit's. Deerheart and Sandfall stayed huddled together, and Grayflight's jaw fell open. Blackpaw and Wildpaw stayed hidden behind Gorsepaw, who was stepping in front of the two she-cats protectively. But there was one cat Bramblepaw hadn't seen, and it was the cat who should've reacted the most. Bramblepaw glanced over to see Adderpaw, who was staring at his father's body with flat eyes.
Bramblepaw put one paw in front of the other, wanting to speak to Adderpaw, but at the hardened look in the apprentice's eyes, Bramblepaw stopped. The ginger-and-white tabby hung his head, and for a moment, Bramblepaw saw the hint of grief in his eyes. But when the tom raised his head once more, he whispered under his breath, "So, it seems as if the viper is not as strong as the prey thinks he is."
Adderpaw? Bramblepaw stared at the tabby, shocked at the venom laced in his voice. Bramblepaw stepped back, not sure what to do. Did he go and comfort Adderpaw? Did he confront him about his statement? Or…
Bramblepaw couldn't help but search for Rabbitfur in the crowd. When he caught a glimpse of the gray-and-white tom, leaning against the warriors' den, breathing heavily, there was the same look of callousness, of nonchalance in his eyes as he stared at Swiftstar's unmoving body.
What do they plan to do with Swiftstar? Bramblepaw asked himself, a chill running through his body. The pale brown tabby forced his gaze towards Swiftstar's body, and he realized that his side was rising now. The WindClan leader weakly lifted his trembling head, and he slowly opened his glazed yellow eyes.
"Sunleaf," Swiftstar whispered as the ginger she-cat pushed her face in front of his. Sunleaf purred loudly, nuzzling her mate's blood-streaked cheek. Swiftstar tried to pull himself to his paws, but Sunleaf stopped him.
"You lost a lot of blood," she whispered. "You need to rest."
"No," Swiftstar protested. "I don't. Let me up."
Sunleaf's green eyes wavered, but she did not dare say no to the WindClan leader, and Swiftstar got to his paws. His green eyes examined the clearing, and the silence was so palpable that Bramblepaw swore he could hear the heartbeats of other cats. Ragged breaths escaped him as Swiftstar's gaze fixated on him. Does he know about Adderpaw?
"This was a heinous crime," Swiftstar began. His voice was rough with pain, but his amber eyes were blazing with fire. "RiverClan are a bunch of rogues that refuse to stick to the warrior code. No other Clan would invade the camp in the dead of night with lust for death. We will get our revenge on RiverClan, I swear this to you in my bones and soul. I will not let this stain WindClan's honor."
Bramblepaw wasn't sure how to react to Swiftstar's statement. He could still taste the blood in the air, and as he raked his gaze across the clearing, he realized just how hard RiverClan had fought. There was not one cat that was not wounded, and Bramblepaw winced as he saw Deerheart barely able to stand. Aspenstep held her up, worry in his eyes. Even the brand-new apprentices hadn't gotten out unscathed. A large, sickly red gash crossed Blackpaw's shoulder, and Wildpaw was limping as she padded over to her mother, Larchcloud.
"This will never happen again." Swiftstar curled his lip, showing his blood-stained teeth. "RiverClan will pay for this battle with their lives. Every single one of them. I will show them that WindClan is the superior Clan, and they will regret every moment they fought me."
The cruelty in Swiftstar's voice made Bramblepaw shiver, and he couldn't help but look at Adderpaw and Rabbitfur. The two toms scowled at Swiftstar, and then exchanged a knowing glance. Bramblepaw's breath caught in his chest.
What are they going to do?