The WindClan patrol marched silently across the moorland, their gaze trained on the line downhill where the grass slowly began to change into marshland, the stalks of reeds outlined by the sun. Scorchclaw's fur pricked on the back of his spine as he examined the cats in his patrol behind him. Swiftstar was in front of him, and Russetstripe had been forced to stand at his side. Scorchclaw clenched his teeth – he knew that was the last thing Russetstripe wanted to do, but their father had ordered it.
Swiftstar's ears were perked as the WindClan cats crossed the moor and into the marshland. The peaty mud underneath Scorchclaw dragged at his white paws and nearly sunk him into the ground. Scorchclaw pulled his paws out, hissing in irritation. He didn't like the invasion of RiverClan any more than Russetstripe did – they had just fought with ThunderClan, and Swiftstar had lost a life. Fighting another Clan was too soon.
But Swiftstar had changed. He wanted to take more territory and fight more battles. Even though the hint of leaf-bare was on the horizon, around the time where Swiftstar would be more focused with filling his camp with prey and keeping their borders secure, now he focused more on battle and taking territory. Scorchclaw swallowed the lump in his throat and looked over his shoulder.
Every cat from WindClan was here. The patrol was massive. Only Dovewillow and Songbreeze were guarding camp – this was an all-out attack, one that Swiftstar had wanted for ages. Scorchclaw had warned against keeping only a few cats in camp, afraid of a ThunderClan attack, but Swiftstar had assured him that ThunderClan was still recovering and they didn't need to worry about them for a while. This is the battle Father wants, Scorchclaw thought. If he win this, he'll be happy.
Aspenstep was struggling behind him as stalks of reed scratched at his shoulder. The gray tabby tom let out a yelp, but Sandfall slapped her tail across his mouth before it could ring through RiverClan territory. Scorchclaw shot him a seething glare, hoping the intensity of his amber eyes would stun him into silence, but it didn't work.
"Hells, this is impassable!" Aspenstep growled.
"Stop whining," Swiftstar growled at Aspenstep, turning over his shoulder and lashing his tail furiously. "It might be hard to get through, but we're still going to take their territory anyway, and force them to surrender." The light of battle glittered in Swiftstar's eyes, and even though his pelt was crisscrossed with new battle wounds, he moved swiftly, with no issue.
Brambledusk spoke from the back of the patrol. "How can we force an entire Clan to surrender?" the tom growled.
Scorchclaw twitched an ear at Brambledusk's words. The tabby was still infuriated over the ThunderClan battle – it had been a struggle to get him on this patrol, but his father would not take no for an answer. Will Brambledusk fight? Should we be afraid that he'll turn away?
"Reedstar is weak!" Swiftstar snapped. "Otterstar has made no claims to our territory since he became leader. Reedstar was a threat, but Otterstar is not. We can take him out easily." His Clan leader's words drifted away with the winds on the reeds.
Scorchclaw cleared his throat. "Swiftstar is right, Brambledusk," he meowed, addressing the pale tabby from the front of the patrol. Brambledusk's amber eyes narrowed into slits as Scorchclaw spoke. "The moment we get rid of RiverClan is the moment we can deal with ThunderClan."
"ThunderClan is defeated," Brambledusk growled.
"ThunderClan is not defeated until Rootstar is six fox-lengths into his grave," Swiftstar hissed. "Stop questioning my orders, Brambledusk, unless you want to be the first sacrifice to the RiverClan cats!"
Brambledusk pressed his lips tight, although rage blazed in his amber eyes. However, he kept his silence. Scorchclaw spotted Wildheart's tortoiseshell pelt in the patrol and hung back, trotting over to her. He brushed his muzzle against her cheek. "Are you all right?" he whispered to her.
"Why wouldn't I be?" Wildheart asked, her yellow eyes glowing with confidence. "I'm ready to show these mangy RiverClan cats a lesson."
"I'm glad you're ready," Scorchclaw purred. "To be honest with you, I wasn't quite sure about this. But your determination gives me strength, Wildheart." The ginger-and-white tabby rasped his tongue on Wildheart's cheek.
"Good." Wildheart purred as she wound around Scorchclaw. "I'd hate to think of you getting cold paws."
"Yeah, right." Scorchclaw gave Wildheart one more lick before swerving through the patrol to catch up to Swiftstar. Swiftstar gave him a fleeting glance, and briefly Scorchclaw wondered if Swiftstar had seen his exchange with Wildheart. Is he still on that arranged mate thing? he thought. But Swiftstar made no comment and turned his head around.
Scorchclaw could see Russetstripe's tail lashing back-and-forth, and he guessed it wasn't because she was battle ready. It was because she was angry. But if Russetstripe tested Swiftstar's patience one more time, Swiftstar would surely snap. It had been harder convincing Swiftstar to not exile Russetstripe than it would ever be to defeat ThunderClan, RiverClan, and ShadowClan single-pawed. But it worked, Scorchclaw thought with a sigh of relief.
Swiftstar skidded to a halt, tasting the air with his mouth. "RiverClan scents," he said. "Strong, too. They're around here."
"It's been here for a while too," Hawkfeather remarked, padding next to Swiftstar. "Someone's been watching us."
"So why haven't they attacked yet?" Heathercloud asked, confusion in her bright blue eyes.
"Your guess is as good as mine." Hawkfeather shrugged.
"It does mean they'll attack soon, though," Swiftstar pointed out, his gaze focused on the marshland in front of him. "If they had any hope of a surprise attack, it's gone. Let them attack us here. We're ready for them. Let's walk a bit slower so they think that they've caught us by surprise."
Murmurs of approval swept through the crowd, and Swiftstar continued his march, although his speed was considerably slower than how they had glided through the moor towards RiverClan territory. The anticipation of battle rang through Scorchclaw's ears, and he could hear the war drums pound. I hope this battle changes things, Scorchclaw thought. If it doesn't, we're just going to spend the rest of our lives fighting the same battles. I want peace just as much as my Clanmates do.
The stench of RiverClan grew stronger and stronger, and Scorchclaw lifted his head, spotting the flash of brown-and-white fur from a marshy plain just a few fox-lengths away, overhanging the WindClan cats. From the stiffness in Swiftstar's shoulders, Scorchclaw guessed his father had seen it too, but had to feign ignorance. Swiftstar continued to walk, and Scorchclaw was on his heels, wondering when the RiverClan cats would attack.
"RiverClan, attack!" yowled a piercing voice. Scorchclaw looked up, recognizing the thick brown-and-white tabby fur of Otterstar. The RiverClan leader pelted down the plains, with several RiverClan cats streaming behind him. A grin twisted on Swiftstar's face, and he turned to face his patrol.
"Advance!" he yowled. "Crash straight into their lines! Don't let them penetrate our line!" With those orders hanging in the air, Swiftstar turned on his heel, racing towards Otterstar to meet him head-on. Scorchclaw lunged himself into the battalion of RiverClan warriors, whose paws skimmed the marshland as they crashed into the WindClan patrol. Screams and howls broke out in the two patrols, and immediately, the scent of blood and war draped the air.
Scorchclaw leaped onto the first cat he saw, recognizing him as Jaymoon from RiverClan. Scorchclaw's thorn-sharp claws scored down Jaymoon's side, taking out chunks of his thick gray tabby fur. Jaymoon yowled in pain, hooking his claws in Scorchclaw's shoulders and pulling him down to the ground. Scorchclaw grunted with surprise as Jaymoon rolled with him. Just as the two cats were on the ground, Jaymoon grabbed Scorchclaw's cheeks with his claws and clawed his head mercilessly. Scorchclaw's flesh ripped open, and his blood splattered on Jaymoon's broad face.
The WindClan deputy let out a ferocious hiss as he wrestled with Jaymoon, their claws slashing against each other like furious hurricanes of gray and ginger. Jaymoon slashed his claws across Scorchclaw's ears, while Scorchclaw brought his paws down hard on Jaymoon's forehead. The blow sent Jaymoon crashing on the marsh, and Scorchclaw leaped on top of him, pummeling his back with his claws. Just as Jaymoon flipped over easily, Scorchclaw lunged for his tendons, but Jaymoon pushed him back just in time.
Scorchclaw got to his paws, baring his teeth and circling Jaymoon, ready for another attack. But just as Jaymoon unsheathed his claws, Scorchclaw heard a howl echo through the battlefield. He'd know that cry anywhere. Scorchclaw snarled at Jaymoon. "You're not worth my time." Giving him one last claw across the face, Scorchclaw turned on his heel and pushed his way through the fighting cats. Blood roared in his ears as it dripped down from his muzzle, and even though several cats around him were locked in close combat, there was one cat who needed his help. As he followed her scent, thick in the midst of battle, he spotted her tortoiseshell fur wrestling against the massive RiverClan warrior, Shimmerwing.
Just as Shimmerwing's claws gouged Wildheart repeatedly, Scorchclaw threw himself on the tawny RiverClan warrior, but right when he was aiming for her, Shimmerwing kicked out her back legs, sending him flopping to the ground. Wildheart turned on her heel, slashing her claws at Shimmerwing again, but Shimmerwing used her back leg to kick Wildheart away. Scorchclaw scrambled to his paws, arching his back and hissing furiously at Shimmerwing.
"Get away from her!" he snarled at the RiverClan warrior.
"Ready for more?" Shimmerwing taunted him.
Arrogant fur-ball! Scorchclaw crashed into Shimmerwing's side, hooking her paws out from under her. Shimmerwing's blue eyes blazed with fury as she flicked her paws against Scorchclaw's chest, her claws ripping across his fur. Sizzling anger pulsed through Scorchclaw's veins and made his battle skills sharper as he recalled Wildheart's fur bleeding, thanks to this RiverClan cat. Using his superior WindClan speed, Scorchclaw lunged under Shimmerwing's stomach and clawed at her underbelly. When Shimmerwing staggered, he leaped over her and sank his teeth into her scruff, pulling her towards him with all her strength. Shimmerwing dropped down on the ground, forcing Scorchclaw's grip to loosen, and then rolled over, crushing him on the marshland.
Scorchclaw grunted, but just as Shimmerwing crushed him with his superior weight, he could get a good look at the battle. Lightningpaw was fighting with his mentor, Sandfall, as they tore at the RiverClan warriors that came their way. Brambledusk sank his teeth into Whitefeather's throat, pinning him down to the soaking marshland. Russetstripe cornered the RiverClan warrior Dapplewing with Heathercloud and Blackdove at her side. Hawkfeather snapped his jaws at Mintfeather, who returned his gesture with a swipe across his chest. Gorseflight and Aspenstep beat back RiverClan warrior after RiverClan warrior. We're winning! Scorchclaw thought jubilantly.
"Otterstar!" cried out a RiverClan warrior. Scorchclaw pushed Shimmerwing off him and searched for the source of the sound, and his jaw dropped as he saw Swiftstar lunging for Otterstar. A golden furred warrior leaped in the way, taking the blow meant for Otterstar. Swiftstar's claws ran down the golden warrior's throat, and the tom fell to the ground, blood gurgling from his throat. Scorchclaw's eyes widened as Swiftstar stepped over the golden tom, heading for Otterstar again.
"Goldenheart!" Otterstar screamed as the tom fell. He glanced back at Swiftstar, who was mouse-lengths away from him. Swiftstar landed on him, but Otterstar was able to wriggle successfully from his grip as he barked, "Retreat!"
"You heard him!" Jaymoon yowled. Scorchclaw spotted him slicing his claws across Hawkfeather's throat and sending him into one of the streams. "Retreat!"
Scorchclaw made a mental note to check on Hawkfeather before turning to address Shimmerwing. "We've defeated you," he growled, his paws urging him to go look for Hawkfeather. "We've advanced this far in our territory, and we're taking it for ourselves."
Shimmerwing snarled at Scorchclaw, and Scorchclaw staggered back as the she-cat lashed her claws against him one more time. She turned around, her paws taking her away from Scorchclaw. Scorchclaw could taste the blood in his mouth as he spat it out. Where is Hawkfeather? he thought miserably, heading back to the last place where Jaymoon had been. He could spot Hawkfeather's limp brown tabby figure on the shore of the stream. But, just as Scorchclaw leaped over the stream and padded over to him, his heart sank as he realized that Hawkfeather's side was no longer rising.
May you rest in StarClan, Scorchclaw thought as he shut Hawkfeather's unseeing eyes. He grabbed Hawkfeather's scruff in his jaws and crossed the stream again, bringing the dead body into the edge of the battlefield when he heard a shocking cry that pierced his ears and shattered his world.
"Swiftstar!" cried out Deerheart. "Swiftstar is dying!"
What?! Scorchclaw dropped Hawkfeather's body immediately and pushed his way through the crowd, racing to where his father was spasming on the ground. He leaned over his father, his heart racing in his chest. He had seen this before… too many times… in the camp when he had fought Troutleap, when he had been attacked by a fox saving Scorchclaw's life, in ThunderClan's camp… and now.
Scorchclaw dug his nose into his father's pelt. He didn't agree with his father on many of his decisions, but he was still his father. Surely this wasn't his last life? Wouldn't he have told Scorchclaw if it was? Scorchclaw was aware of Russetstripe hovering over his shoulder, but he said nothing to her. Instead, anger bubbled in Scorchclaw's veins as he looked up.
"Chase after the RiverClan patrol!" he snapped to the warriors, looking up as he saw the RiverClan cats racing away into the marshland. Shimmerwing was at the rear of it, holding Otterstar over her shoulder. She was the one who did it!
Wildheart nodded, taking off towards the marshland, hot on the heels of the RiverClan cats. Deerheart, Aspenstep, Waspberry, Songbreeze, Thrushwing, and Lilystream were after them. As their paws thudded against the marshland and sent up mud in their wake, Scorchclaw glanced back to his father's body. Sunleaf walked over, her ginger pelt tattered with wounds and slick with blood.
"Was that his last life?" Scorchclaw asked his mother.
Sunleaf shook her head. "No." Her voice dropped to a whisper as she leaned into Scorchclaw, sorrow glittering in her green eyes. "But he is on his last life, now."
"You mean…" Scorchclaw's voice trailed off with horror.
"When he loses this life, he will be dead for good," Sunleaf confessed, her voice breaking as she licked her mate's fur. "That is what the price for being a leader is."
Scorchclaw shut his eyes as he shook his father's pelt, willing for him to wake up. Just like that day with the fox. Please, wake up, Father. I can't lead the Clan yet. Not without you. And I don't want you to go. His mother's comforting scent drifted around him as the two cats curled against Swiftstar's body, waiting for him to wake up, watching with bated breaths. Scorchclaw could feel Russetstripe's presence behind him, but she made no move to join them sitting next to Swiftstar. I don't care, Scorchclaw thought dryly.
It seemed like a year when Swiftstar's eyes slowly began to flicker open. His amber eyes were cloudy as his pupils focused on Scorchclaw. The WindClan leader grunted with pain as he tried to drag himself to his paws.
"You must rest," Sunleaf pleaded with Swiftstar.
"I can't," Swiftstar said, his voice weak as he broke into a coughing fit. "RiverClan is not defeated yet."
"But they are!" Scorchclaw protested. "Please, can we go home? You need to see Violetheart."
"We must follow RiverClan and take their camp," Swiftstar rasped, finally pulling himself to his paws. "I will rest after." He tensed his muscles, and even though his body was trembling with the strength it must have taken for him to rise, he looked at Scorchclaw. "Where is the Clan?"
"Father, please—" Scorchclaw backed up as Swiftstar's fur bristled.
"I will rest later," Swiftstar snapped, even as blood trickled from the fatal wound in his throat. "Now show me where the Clan went." His voice did not carry the same trace of venom it usually did when he snapped his orders. Scorchclaw swallowed, but there was no disobeying his father. He nodded briefly to Swiftstar before following the scent of the WindClan patrol when they had pursued the RiverClan cats.
Scorchclaw led his father through the marshland, leaping over the streams and forcing himself to cross the shallow but wider ones. He could hear his father grunt as he moved quickly, but he never asked to slow down, and Scorchclaw feared that if he did, he would get a mouthful from his father. Scorchclaw winced as sharp reeds pricked his short fur and he stepped on sedges. This is horrible, Scorchclaw thought miserably, but he could at least still keep track of his Clanmates' scents.
Just as it got stronger, Scorchclaw could spot their pelts hanging fox-lengths away from two massive streams where the water gurgled and bubbled. Scorchclaw bounded over to Wildheart, who shifted her paws nervously as her yellow eyes focused on the wide streams.
"What's going on?" Scorchclaw asked. "Where are the RiverClan cats?"
"It looks like a trap," Wildheart told Scorchclaw.
"A trap?" Swiftstar's voice was gruff as his amber eyes examined the stream. "What do you mean?"
The lack of the moon in the indigo sky casted little shadows, but Scorchclaw could see that there were little to no defenses surrounding the island. Several silhouettes of cats stood stark against the dark sky, and he could hear loud splashing and hisses in the distance. The stench of RiverClan was overpowering to the point where it made Scorchclaw's head spin – even moreso than when they were fighting. Several bramble bushes lined the streams, and several stones landed in front of the WindClan patrol.
"How come the camp's defenses are open?" Swiftstar asked, his amber eyes dark with suspicion.
"There are so many shadows," Scorchclaw remarked, staring at the silhouettes. "There are dozens of cats in there. You're right, Wildheart. It's a trap. There are more RiverClan cats in there."
"Probably two patrols worth of them," Deerheart agreed.
"There are sounds coming from the river," Brambledusk pointed out. "Cats are there."
"We can't risk anymore injuries," Wildheart sighed.
"Someone is throwing stones," Aspenstep said, angling his ears towards the spot where the pebbles clattered in front of the WindClan cats.
"They pulled the dens in the streams, too," Russetstripe remarked.
"They probably have the rest of the Clan ready for us," Scorchclaw concluded. "Let's pull back and rest for the night." They don't even know Hawkfeather is dead.
"I agree with you, Scorchclaw," Swiftstar meowed. "Back to the battlefield, everyone! We will rest there, and take control of RiverClan in the morning." The ginger-and-white tabby turned on his heel. Scorchclaw watched him go, surprised. He wanted to continue the battle? Well, yeah, his goal was to take most of RiverClan territory in the first place. It wouldn't surprise me.
Scorchclaw let out a sigh as he followed his Clanmates through the maze of streams and bog, until they reached the part of the marshland where the reeds were flattened and the ground wasn't nearly as wet as the other parts of RiverClan territory. They would be sleeping under the stars tonight, in remote territory. No, this is our territory now, he thought to himself. He cast a gaze full of despair towards Hawkfeather's body, and the torment pierced his heart even further as he watched Blackdove pad towards her father's body. Cloverwhisker, her mother and Hawkfeather's mate, joined her. The two cats pressed their noses into Hawkfeather's pelt and sat down next to him, shutting their eyes.
Oh, gods, Scorchclaw thought. He walked over to Blackdove, her sleek black fur battered with wounds, one of her ears newly torn and dripping with blood, and touched his nose to her shoulder in silent comfort. Blackdove blinked twice at him, her green eyes misted as she silently accepted his consolation.
"I'm sorry for your loss," Scorchclaw murmured, licking Blackdove's ear. "He was a good warrior."
"I know he was," Blackdove whispered. "I'm going to miss him." She turned her head to gaze at her father's limp body, her face gaunt and her eyes harrowing. Scorchclaw didn't know what else to say to her, so he gave her one last lick and turned away, heading back towards his father. His father was curled up in a ball, his breath coming in steady waves as his sides rose and fell. Scorchclaw watched him, thankful that he was breathing. The fear he experienced every time his father had lost a life was something unlike anything else he could ever describe, and he was glad he didn't have to see it again.
I'm exhausted. For the first time since the battle started, Scorchclaw was finally aware of the pain ebbing in his body from the multiple battle wounds he had endured from both Jaymoon and Shimmerwing. They're good fighters, he thought wryly, glancing at his pelt that was nearly torn to shreds. Several gashes littered his side, and he could feel blood falling from the wounds on his forehead. His battered and tired body finally gave out as he fell to the ground, shutting his eyes and letting sleep take him.
It was moonhigh when a pair of claws punctured Scorchclaw's shoulders and his wounds started to burn with the heat of a dozen fires. W-wha…? Before Scorchclaw could register what was happening, a howl rang through the night.
"It's a night raid!" Aspenstep's yowl was shrill and full of fear. Scorchclaw finally scrambled to his paws and looked around wildly, seeing multiple RiverClan warriors unleash chaos in the dead of night on the sleeping WindClan cats. Scorchclaw spotted Shimmerwing's tawny fur as her claws slit open Brambledusk's chest. Dapplewing's tortoiseshell fur was a whirlwind in the crowd as she leaped from cat to cat, blood following her in her wake. The RiverClan warriors Runningflame and Rippleheart showed no mercy as they tore through the sleeping cats.
Scorchclaw scrambled to his paws, trying to gain his holdings, but the attack was so sudden that he didn't even have time to shake the exhaustion from his body. Pained howls rang through the clearing and blood splattered the battlefield, turning the dried blood vivid crimson. The WindClan cats struggled to fight, but just like Scorchclaw, they were dazed and confused, having been woken so suddenly and not expecting a fight from cats they assumed defeated.
The WindClan deputy swiped desperately at a flash of long fur, but his claws slid harmlessly against his opponent's pelt, and they moved away from him in seconds. Hells! Scorchclaw finally blinked away the sleep from his eyes and got to his paws, surprise and shock making his claws unsheathe, but even as he tried to find some cat to attack, the lack of the moon in the sky made it hard to pinpoint one of the fast-moving RiverClan warriors.
"Retreat!" Swiftstar called out from the middle of the cats. Scorchclaw sucked in a breath at the trace of fear in his father's amber eyes. "We've taken as much territory as we can. We'll try for their camp next year. Retreat!" And, with that, Swiftstar shook off blood from his wounds and pelted away. The WindClan warriors were hot on his heels.
Scorchclaw followed his leader, and just as they continued to run, he looked over his shoulder at the five cats who had attacked so boldly in the night. Their eyes glimmered with triumph and victory, and Scorchclaw couldn't help but think that these RiverClan cats were something to fear. Otterstar isn't among them, but… Scorchclaw met the gaze of the cat in the middle, Dapplewing, who lashed her tail with a massive, self-serving grin on her face. He curled his lip at her and turned away, chasing after his Clan and running into the safety of the moor.