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Chapter 13
I still stood out there in the middle of the clearing waiting for the sun to rise. I couldn't talk for some many hours in the veil and breaking that would be very devastating. As the sun started to rise, Nightgloom walked out of the warriors den. "Don't worry, you're free to talk. Now you're officially a warrior." With that he walked over to Drakenfur who was talking to him about patrols. I stretched out my legs and walked into the warriors den where Shadowstorm, Barkstripe, Oceanheart, Ivyfoot, and Leaftail were waking up. I assumed the others had been on night patrol that I saw leave. "Does anyone occupy this nest?" I said pointing over to a worn down nest with mostly sticks and very little moss. "Oh.. no it..was.. Umm, Flamefoot's." Ivytail said solemnly. "I know I haven't been around much, patrols, and hunting have been keeping me on my toes! I get sleep when ever I can, that's why I missed your ceremony. '' So you've probably heard that the prey has vanished in the storage and something weird is going on with Drakenfur and Lunafang." Oceanheart spoke up. "A very little bit of Drakenfur and none about Lunafang, the storage thing was bonkers everywhere." she replied stretching. As we caught her up on everything she looked very confused and concerned. "You young ones worry too much! Are you saying Dawnstar made a wrong decision?" Barkstripe spoke up, opening one eye. "Not all leaders make the best choices and I'm not saying she's wrong, but something just dosn't give me the best feeling about her choice." I said. "Willowheart you are for sure Firestar's kin, I do believe you're right about the odd smells, they're too suspicious. Now I must go and get ready for the hunting patrolls and not get caught up in all this mess! See you all, hopefully out hunting." With that Barkstripe got up and slowly walked out of the den slightly limping due to her injury. "We need to stand by each other and not let our guard down, promise me we will all keep watch?" I said looking at them hard. "Promise" they all said together. "We better get going though, otherwise we'll be in trouble with Dawnstar about not getting a head start on hunting without our storage filled.
As I made my way out into the clearing, Drakenfur was stalking over to us with a scowl on his face. "All of you chatty birds better get a move on before I rip your voices right out!" he snarled then shoved past us and headed over to Shrewtistle who just came in with fresh kill. I decided to go out hunting with Oceanheart, and Leaffeather. "We better get a move on before it gets any colder."Leaffeather said as we started tracking through the woods. I heard rustling in the bushes near a slightly foggy dip down in the dirt. I had the perfect cover in the vines, now all I had to do was wait for it to come out. As it moved around I saw the end of a nice big rat lying near the bush just enough to where I could reach. I sheathed my claws out and stalked around the bush. The rat sucddled just a little ways out from the bush giving me the perfect shot. I went light on my feet and layed my tail on the ground just for a split moment and pounced. The rat was gone in one bite. I knew this was one of my best catches yet. As I buried it, there was rustling in the woods coming from the Riverclan border. I got ready to be on guard, getting in a fighting stance. Had they really not had enough? They lost really badly and they were in no shape to come back and fight. As I saw them come down from the foggy hill with their tails down and weary faces. They had cuts all over them and wounds everywhere. "Why have y'all come here?" I said. "Look, apprentice, we have no time for your silly games….."Rivernose said but I cut him off before his last word. "No, I'm a Warrior now. And I ask you again why are you here? What's happened to all of y'all?" I said, giving them a challenging stare. "We must talk with Dawnstar, Willow.." "Willowheart" I said. "Yes Willowheart, We MUST talk with her, We were attacked by strange cats and our storage is empty!" Leopardstripe said. This was serious, our storage was empty when we came back from battling Riverclan and Windclan. "When? And was there a weird smell with it?" I asked. "Yes! Very weird. Their fur was matted and they looked ugly. And well, it happend when we went back from fighting Thunderclan our storage was gone! We were in no state to hunt so we looked and nothing. Of course the next day we just went fishing since the fish don't go out till somewhat deeper in the winter. Two days later, we were attacked and we can't go back without help! Please! Take us to Dawnstar." Jumptail wimperd. She had a gruesome gash on her flank. "Follow me, but one paw out of line and you'll be alone by yourself. Also why didn't you go call for windclan, huh? They fought by you right?" I Said. "You guys left both of us pretty beat up, Windclan is in no state to help us." Leopardstripe said looking down. I dug up my rat and lead them along. This was most of Riverclan I was leading into the heart of Thunderclan.Just then Oceanheart and Leafeather came out of the bushes. "I smell Riverclan!"She snarled looking at me. "I have to take Leapordstripe to Dawnstar, the've been hit by a strange band of cats. Leaffeather, run up ahead and get Moonscare and Daisypaw ready with herbs and get three more guards out here. Oceanheart, Help me bring them to the entrance, only Leapordstripe will talk with Dawnstar." With that they set off doing what they were told.
As we walked into camp, the medicine camp was organizing them around the entrance giving them cobwebs and other herbs. Three warriors, Barkstripe, Moosefur, and Nightgloom along with Ivytail were walking around laying down sunflower seeds for the cats who weren't tended to yet. " Leapordstripe, Follow me, I'll take you two to Dawnstar." I said walking them into camp. We walked up to her den as she stepped out to face us. "Leapordstripe? Why might you be here? And so quickly after the war? Has a squirrel dropped its acorns on your head and made you crazy? You just attacked us and now you're crawling for help?" she said coldly. "I want no war but a talk." She nodded and welcomed him into her den. Before she went in herself she said to me, "Take control of the patrols and tell Drakenfur to come to me." She walked in through the reeds and began softly talking. I took my place on the high rock and summoned the clan. "Cats old enough to catch their own prey, gather below the high rock." I said as they gathered underneath. "Drakenfur, Dawnstar need you in her den and she left me in charge so listen up.'' I said. Drakenfur came up and snarled in my ear, almost shoving me off. "We need a sun down patrol,... umm how about, Puddleitch, Shrewtistle, Leaftail, and Nightgloom. Also I think it would be best if we sent a small patrol near the old twoleg shack." Questioning looks shot through the clan as the four cats that had been called stood up. "I'll lead it myself, with Oceanheart, Leaftail,Ivystorm, and Shadowstorm." I said jumping down. No other cat came up and questioned the order I made, instead they just went off to their dens or back to their duties.
As I started to walk out with my patrol Oeanheart rushed up beside me. "Why are we doing this? We could be killed or in trouble!" She said quietly but worriedly. "I'm doing this becasue Lunafang isn't here. As soon as Drakenfur went into Dawnstar's den she rushed off. If I had a guess she might be there." I said as we walked out. "Don't worry we're all warriors and besides, we're much bigger than those scrawny cats we saw last time and we're stronger. Plus we've been through two battles and have had lots of training.'' I said reassuringly. " And besides, we have been trained by some of the best warriors in our camp!" I really tried to keep their hopes up, and mine.
We followed the trail of Lunafang all the way to a slope that led up to where the old shack sat by. I reeked of that odd filthy smell me, Oceanheart, and Shadowstorm had picked up in different places. "You know, I wonder if they have been behind everything but trying to cover their scent with the other clans!" Shadowstorm whispered. "That would explain the odd smell that was mixed with the other clans. But why would they do that?" Oceanheart wimperd. "To blame someone else for murder and crime. I mean, they sure did not cover their smell when our storage was raided. And you really think the Riverclan leader would go out of his way to talk to us if they really hadn't been in trouble?" "If I had to guess, Shadowstorm and Oeanheart, that's exactly what they're doing." I said in a low grim whisper. "Let's just watch and see what happens." Ivytail said, with Leaftail right beside her. Just then Lunafang came out into the small clearing on the top of the slope. The big black cat who called himself Russle stepped out, with Hiss and Poisonseed beside him and two others who were not mentioned. They were strong, healthy and very much well and able to fight. They were no longer skinny or worn. Their coats shone like the sun on water, their fur rippled showing their muscles underneath. They looked as if they had been fed the whole clan's food supply! I looked back over to Lunafang who had just dropped a Big rat in front of them. "Ahhh, Poison, you've finally brought back a good piece of meat haven't you?" Russell said. "Hey look! If it weren't for the clan I'm stuck in for now, you would have more but it's that dumb warrior code I HAVE to uphold. Now shut up you old grouch! I'm deputy here and if Dragon finds out about this.." She was cut off by a loud hiss. "If He finds out about this you'll be hunted down and killed. You will no longer have power and you will no longer want to go to sleep, because I will be watching you.." Russell said. "Fine Russell, but remember, I'm still an authority!" Lunafang spat. "Hiss, Coal, Take this back to Boneclan and give the scrawny pieces to our captives. We might as well to feed them a little something if we really have to." She said, with that The big black tom I assumed was Coal, and Hiss, the yellow and brown she-cat hurried off toward Shadowclan. "Now Lunafang, you have proven yourself well by leading us to Riverclan and taking their storage. But did you even assume they would just fill it up again with fish?!" He said. "No." Lunafang said, looking down. "Now we have exposed ourselves to that Riverclan. We need to stay low. Until we finish scraping the last bits from Shadowclan, then we'll make our mark." he said. "Yes Russell." She said. We were lucky the mushrooms and rosemary hid our scent from them, they were no one to mess with at this time. "How could she have done this!" Shadowstorm whispered. "Leaving her clan and family for this rotten life! I otta claw his eyes out and throw him in the river!" he hissed underneath his breath. "Willowheart, it's not just Thunderclan and Riverclan they've done this to, I have a feeling they did it to Windclan. But not Sadowclan, because they weren't in the fight, meaning they were guarding there storage all night and day." Leaftail whispers. Just then, Drakenfur lepd out of th shrubs and stalked up to Russle. " Dragon, welcome. What delayed you?" Russell said. "Riverclan is very weak and there now joined up with Thunderclan. It Won't be long till Windclan joins them." he said. "Poison, you must stay with Boneclan and never return to Thunderclan. It's too risky for you to be an inside cat, but you can play to their strengths by helping them on the outside." Drakenfur snarled. "Yes, I will. The next thing we need to do is attack. If we make them weaker it will be easier, right?" she said. "Yes but meet me here in three days with the army Russell. Leave two guards with the Skyclan prisoners and have the rest come. We will fight them till we have what we deserve. Power, and Respect." Drakenfur said. "I'll take her and you hurry back." Russle said. With that Drakenfur started back down the slope towards home. "We have to leave quick! Before he realized we were gone!" I said as we stumbled frantically down the slope. My heart was pounding knowing all this and knowing we had to run to save our lives.
By the time we reached the clan, there was a tissy. "Where's Lunafang?" Shrewtissle said as she walked into the nursery. "Have you seen Oceanheart, Willowheart, Ivystorm, Leaftail, and Shadowstorm since they left?" Barkstripe asked, Nightgloom. "We're here." I said as we walked in. Everyone turned around to see us step inside. "Where have y'all been?! It's super late. "Like I said we went on patrol, everything was clear." I said. I knew everything wasn't clear but the whole clan was weak and hungry, causing more panic would do no good. "Have you seen Lunafang?" Shrewtistle asked. Just then Drakenfur walked in. "Drakenfur can explain that, can't you?" I said challenging Drakenfur. His look was as if something had attacked him from behind, but that looked faded. Now it was as if I was always going to be watched by him. "Well, Drakenfur, where is she!?" This time Dawnstar's voice broke out. "I took The Riverclan cats back to their rightful place. As I came back, I saw her running away from camp. I couldn't catch up with her at all and I lost her scent." he said. "She may never come back." He said. " LIAR!" Shadowstorm said, jumping in front of him. "YOU KNOW WHAT YOU DID TO HER!" He hissed. "Why would I do such a thing?" he said cowardly but more than fake. I couldn't help it and knew the other couldn't too. We all jumped in front of him. "YOU DIRTY LITTLE RAT!" Oceanheart hissed. "TRATOR!" Leaftail growled. "YOU OLD FLEABAG!" Ivytail snarled. "WHAT A USELESS PIECE OF JUNK YOU ARE DRAKENFUR! LYING TO YOUR CLAN! YOU KNOW YOU DID IT!" I hissed. "Prove it!" He said challengingly. We all backed down with our bristle hairs going down and our claws unsheathed. "Willowheart! NEVER insult a Deputy. All of you straight to your dens. NOW!" Dawnstar hissed.