Chapter 5

It had been a few days since Thrushfeather had joined AcornClan, and she had been working very hard.

Dawnblossom knew it was to prove herself loyal and worthy, and she felt a little sad for the former FrostClan she cat. She wondered how it would feel if Beechwhisper became evil and abandoned her.

She snapped back into the present and pressed against Beechwhisper. They were lying near the freshkill pile, it was sundown. Beechwhisper and Dawnblossom were sharing a squirrel, Oakstorm and Tulipflower with them.

"We have to get rid of the snakes," Oakstorm meowed. "I miss my father so much."

Dawnblossom remembered that Fernmist was Oakstorm and Duststar's father. "But how?" She asked.

Duststar seemed to have overheard them, and he sat down with the group. "We will find a way. This is unusual behavior for garter snakes, though."

"When will we attack?" Beechwhisper asked.

Duststar thought for a minute. "I will discuss it with the medicine cats and Jayfang, but I am hoping tomorrow or the next day. I want these snakes gone before they cross into SunnyClan territory."

Dawnblossom dipped her head awkwardly, hoping he was right.

…

"Let all the cats of AcornClan join here beneath the bramble rock for a Clan meeting!"

Dawnblossom was woken at sunrise to the voice of Duststar calling out. She got out of her nest, and prodded the other warriors awake. "Duststar's calling," she meowed.

In a few moments, the Clan was awake, and beneath the bramble rock. Duststar continued, "today we will drive out the snakes! I talked with Jayfang and the medicine cats, and we agree that the snakes must leave soon. At sun high, we will leave. Be prepared!" AcornClan yowled agreement.

"For Fernmist!" Redstorm and Oakstorm yowled.

"For Fernmist!" The Clan echoed.

Dawnblossom got to her paws, excitement flowing through her from her nose to her tail tip.

"What will the plan be?" Tulipflower asked.

"Jayfang and I will lead two patrols, one at the back near the camp, and one at the border. My patrol will be at the border, and Jayfang's near camp. The cats on my patrol will be Cedarleaf, Grayheart, Silverheart, Tulipflower, Oakstorm, Thornfur, Duskfoot, and Thrushfeather. We will be attacking the snakes head on. If the snakes come further into our territory, towards camp, then Dawnblossom, Cloudysnow, Speckleclaw, Beechwhisper, Birchskip, Redstorm, and Lightleaf will drive them away. The rest of you will stay in camp in case of emergency. The medicine cats will be here to help." Duststar replied.

"And we're going at sun high?" Lightleaf asked.

"Yes," Duststar confirmed.

It was sunup by now, and the sun was almost at it's highest point. Dawnblossom shook out her fur, letting the wind blow to cool her from the new leaf sun.

Beechwhisper stood up next to her, prodding her shoulder with his paw. "We should do some practice! Before the battle of course."

Dawnblossom purred. "Yes! We should invite some others to practice with us."

Duststar seemed to have heard them, and called, "no time for that! It's time to go. Sunhigh!"

"For Fernmist!" Redstorm yowled.

"For Fernmist!" The rest of the clan echoed.

The patrols left the camp, Dawnblossom following Jayfang's patrol. They continued into the forest, when Jayfang held up his tail. "Stop. Duststar is going to take his patrol to the snake rocks. If the snakes come to us, we will attack."

They waited, Dawnblossom kept her small ears pricked. She searched the forest for any sign of Duststar or snakes.

It was a little past sunhigh, and still no snakes. Dawnblossom was growing tired on her paws, and she lie down, until Jayfang said, "keep standing. I can hear something."

Dawnblossom focused hard, and heard Thornfur's voice. She was running at the head of the patrol. Dawnblossom wasn't surprised, the large warrior had strong legs.

"Snakes!" Thornfur yowled.

Dawnblossom got into a fighting stance, and ran at the snakes chasing Duststar's patrol. She nodded her head at Redstorm, and at the same time they swiped at the snakes mouths, suffocating one. Beechwhisper joined them, and pounced on a snake's tail, pinning it down so it couldn't possibly leave it's spot. Then, Redstorm bit the neck, while Dawnblossom gripped the head together so it couldn't bite any of the cats.

"Keep it up! I can see more snakes coming." Duststar yowled.

Dawnblossom panicked as snakes moved further and further towards AcornClan's camp.

"Help!" Redstorm and Lightleaf called. Dawnblossom turned and saw they were being cornered by the snakes against a tall cliff of rocks.

"No!" Oakstorm called. Duststar and Oakstorm rushed to help their mother and Lightleaf, while Dawnblossom ran with them.

"You're fast!" Oakstorm gasped.

"Thanks," Dawnblossom wheezed as she pinned down the snakes' tails, but it was too late. They had already bitten Lightleaf and Redstorm.

…