Serpentclan's Secrets (OLD)

Chapter 2 - Territory Patrols + Fox Den Raid

Honeyflick and the cats in the patrol wandered around, leaving scent marks around the clan's territory. They would be reaching the Wellicaw River soon, and they'd need to keep a close eye for twolegs and rogue cats. One of the members of the patrol seemed unfocused and somewhat mad, and Honeyflick glanced at Lightrunner.

"Lightrunner? Something wrong?"
"Yes! There is something wrong! I have to go on a patrol, get my paws dirty in the mud as we walk, and need to waste my energy doing this nonsense! I just want to sit in the sun all day and be at peace instead of searching for a fox who's likely went far from our land already!"
"Oh. Sorry, but it's Ivyeyes' orders. We need to do this patrol just to make sure that it has indeed left."
"I know that! But why me, doing this stupid task? They should all know by now that I hate this kind of thing!"

Honeyflick let out a sigh. She couldn't reason with this angry she-cat, so she beckoned with her tail for the others to follow her. As they all reached the river, Firerunner parted his jaws to taste the air. There was something odd about the scent as he told the rest of the group, and he whispered.

"Guys, do you smell what I smell?"

The fur on Honeyflick's spine rose. Firerunner's words made her anxious, and her nose twitched. The familiar scent of the predator that had entered their camp was in the air. Stormcloud spoke confidently.

"If you smell fox, then yep, I smell it too."

Honeyflick's eyes flicked around and she eventually spotted a hole next to a tree, and a fluffy orange tail disappearing into it.

"Everyone, we've found the fox's den. Over there. We need to tell the rest of the clan and get backup so we can either chase it out or kill it."

Firerunner, Stormcloud and Frostwillow all nodded, while Lightrunner did too, but less sincerely. Honeyflick ignored this as she continued speaking.

"Frostwillow, can you head back to tell the clan about it? We need as much help as we can before we strike."

The brown tabby quickly nodded again, before darting back into the forest where the group came from. Stormcloud and Firerunner had their claws unsheathed, seeming ready to attack the fox when it was time. Lightrunner still seemed like she didn't want to do this. Honeyflick adjusted her posture.

-

After some long minutes of waiting, Frostwillow came back to the patrol with 3 other cats behind him. Snakefang, Hawkscrabble and Windchaser.

"Right. Hawkscrabble, Frostwillow and Lightrunner. You three stay back in case it tries to run from us. I count on you to stop it in its tracks and either bring it back to us or stall it to let us come back. The rest of you, come with me."

Honeyflick led the remaining cats to the fox's den. Snakefang grabbed a long stick and gave it to Honeyflick, which she threw into the fox's den and hit the beast on the side with it. It let out a frustrated sound, before leaping out of the den. Stormcloud rammed into its side and bit down hard into the flesh, making it spin around trying to get her off. Windchaser grabbed its forearm and ducked under it, successfully tripping it over. It let out another loud sound of rage before kicking at the cat at full force. Windchaser was hit on the chin, getting tossed into the air. Honeyflick gasped as her clanmate hit the ground, almost unconscious, and she let out a screech.

"Frostwillow! Get Windchaser to safety!"

Frostwillow moved from his position in rear guard and sprinted over to the now unconscious she-cat and hauled her up, fleeing the battle. Snakefang slashed the fox's exposed belly viciously, as the predator let out ferocious barks of pain and anger. Honeyflick and the other fighters piled onto it, biting and clawing through its skin continuously, and sound erupted from the battle area. Stormcloud sunk her teeth into the fox's throat and dug hard through skin; and as blood pooled out, the beast was officially dead. Firerunner had a long scar across his face, Stormcloud had a few bites and cuts along her torso and Honeyflick had a vicious bite on her back. The rest of the cats had light wounds. Quickly Snakefang, Hawkscrabble and Firerunner buried the fox's body so that no other predators would come to eat the corpse. Honeyflick led the patrol back to camp, worried for the unconscious warrior back at camp.

-

Jadebreath's eyes narrowed at the leaving cats. He held back a laugh at the warriors; they hadn't noticed him in their own territory that they were meant to defend. Clearly they were as oblivious as he thought they were.

"Come on, Skyshatter. That was all the information we needed for today."
"What information did we exactly learn..?"
"That the clans are oblivious to intruders if they have another problem to deal with, of course."

Jadebreath grinned evilly, leading the other rogue over the twoleg bridge back to their camp over the river. Serpentclan would surely be expecting another attack soon, this time by the cats they chased from their land 15 moons ago. They would see exactly how much stronger they had become in this time, and it was a lot more than was safe.