TDAWF Part Eleven

Fernwhisker and the pack of ThunderClan warriors lunged from the bracken and challenged RiverClan with a simultaneous roar. "Just WHAT are you doing here, Reedstar?!" screamed Fernwhisker in the direction of the scrambling pile of dark brown fur.  There was shock in his eyes, and the ThunderClan deputy was pleased.  The rest of RiverClan had risen and made a semicircle around their leader, fur spiked and battle ready.


Reedstar's eyes narrowed as he turned to face the light gray she-cat.  A slight growl rose in his throat. "The real question is.. What are YOU doing here?" he hissed.

Fernwhisker widened her eyes. "What is that supposed to mean? You're on ThunderClan territory for StarClan's sake! You're trespassing."

Reedstar grinned. "Trespassing? Really? This was our land to begin with! You stole it from us. We're taking it back once and for all!" He glanced over the small ThunderClan patrol.  "Mrrow. You think you can take on us with just them?  Where's your mousehearted leader?" he spat.

At that moment, Oakstar's patrol jumped out from behind a copse of trees.  They had circled around to the back of Sunningrocks unnoticed.  Oakstar flew through the air and landed on Reedstar, pinning him to the rock on which he once perched. Shocked expressions were adorned by all the members of RiverClan, especially Reedstar.

Oakstar leaned down and breathed in the RiverClan leader's earfur, "Right here. You are mistaken, Reedstar. This is ThunderClan's land!"

"GRRAHHH!!" Reedstar screamed. He flipped Oakstar off. "Attack!"

RiverClan's warriors did not need another signal.  Each cat locked eyes with an enemy and charged.  Screeches and battle cries could be heard all throughout the forest, echoing off the boulders and dissipating into the leaves. It took all the self control Emberpaw had to stay put.  She thought Oakstar would never give the signal. Just as she was about to break rank Oakstar let out the loudest battle cry Emberpaw had ever heard. That's the cue. The thought just had time to surface in her mind before her cramped legs sprang her forward.  The apprentices flew through the bracken in unison, their mentors right behind.

Emberpaw didn't have time to think about her battle moves.  She only could react by instinct.  A gray Riverclan apprentice lept at her and she dodged, scraping her unsheathed claws on her side.  Emberpaw grimaced as the little she-cat. Silverpaw, squealed in pain.  Blood welled in the lines of torn fur.  The gray apprentice didn't hesitate to turn and jump back at Emberpaw.  They collided in midair and rolled to the right, then to the left, and back again.  Use my claws! Emberpaw screamed in her mind.  She dug her back claws into her enemy's soft belly and pushed.  Silverpaw let out an earpiercing screech and flew back off Emberpaw.  The gray she-cat disappeared into the bracken.

Emberpaw let out a sigh of relief and turned to search out another cat she could take on.  Out of the corner of her eye she saw a whirl of fur flying toward her.  She tried to move but it was too late.  The RiverClan cat barreled into her at full speed, knocking them both off a ledge.  The cat landed on top of Emberpaw in a small hollow in the rocks. She was trapped.