Redblaze's Regret {COMPLETE}

Chapter 8

 "Let all those old enough to swim gather for a Clan meeting!" Ashstar's voice rang across the camp. A few days had passed since Redblaze helped Silverheart gather marigold. Since then, things had been changing a little. The weather had begun to cool off, leaving no doubt that it was leaf-fall now. Every cat knew that there were precious few warm days left before leaf-bare gripped the forest in its icy claws. As such, prey had become scarcer, and patrols were already bringing back less fresh-kill. And, to top it all off, Nettlestep announced that she was expecting Twigtail's kits.

As Redblaze settled in beside Mudpelt, a breeze blew through the camp, making him shiver. Once the rest of the Clan was gathered, Ashstar called, "As you all know, a few moons ago we attempted to take back Sunningrocks from ThunderClan, and failed."

"And Shadebelly died," Mudpelt growled. Redblaze knew that Mudpelt had had a hard time with his father's death, and he felt like he understood it.

Ashstar continued. "However, I never intended to give up so easily. With leaf-bare on the way, as well as more kits," he eyed Nettlestep, "RiverClan will need all the prey it can get. So today at sunhigh, we will make another attempt to take Sunningrocks! And this time we won't fail!"

The Clan cheered, and Redblaze was a little surprised at such a positive reaction since the last battle had claimed the life of their deputy. But then again, Redblaze thought bitterly, the cat responsible is gone.

"Like last time, we will take two battle patrols," Ashstar said. "The first will consist of myself, Tawnyclaw, Sweetstripe, Pebblenose, Specklepaw, and Redblaze." Excitement seared through Redblaze; during the last battle, he'd had to stay behind to protect the camp. Now he would get to fight!

"And the second patrol, led by Birchclaw, will include Bristlepelt, Maplenose, Twigtail, Mudpelt, Beechpaw, and Cinderfrost," Ashstar finished. "Everyone else will stay behind in camp. I expect minimal injuries, but just in case; Nightwhisper, Silverheart, I want you two fully prepared."

"Yes, Ashstar," Silverheart replied from outside the medicine den, and Nightwhisper gave a firm nod.

"Then you're all dismissed," Ashstar meowed. "We will leave at sunhigh!"

Sunhigh arrived quickly, and before Redblaze knew it he was making his way through the forest with the rest of the first battle patrol, his heart pounding nearly as quickly as his paws. This would be his first real battle, he realized, even though he'd been a warrior for nearly three moons. Waves of excitement and anticipation rippled across his pelt as Ashstar led the patrol towards the river, and Birchclaw followed a few fox-lengths behind with the second patrol.

"This feels just like last time," Mudpelt commented quietly to Redblaze. A strange look flashed in the brown warrior's eyes, and Redblaze wondered if he was thinking about his father.

They arrived at the river and wasted no time crossing. Redblaze waded swiftly through the cold water and sat just behind Ashstar on Sunningrocks and waited for a ThunderClan patrol to show up.

It wasn't long before the bushes rustled and four ThunderClan cats stepped out: Amberclaw, Frostmuzzle, Mintfur, and Darkpaw. They eyed the RiverClan cats coldly, and Amberclaw spoke.

"Don't tell me you've come to try and take Sunningrocks again?" he sneered, and when no cat answered him, he huffed out a laugh. "Last time you tried, Ashstar, you lost your deputy. Which cat are you willing to sacrifice this time?"

"I have no intention of losing any of my warriors," Ashstar said firmly.

Amberclaw shook his head. "You may as well turn around and go home now, before you regret this."

Ashstar stood his ground, and behind him the rest of the patrol rose to their feet.

Seeing that they would not back down, Amberclaw bared his teeth and shouted, "ThunderClan, attack!"

Amberclaw, Frostmuzzle, and Mintfur launched themselves at the RiverClan warriors, and Redblaze saw Darkpaw hurtling into the forest. It wouldn't be long before a backup patrol came. Mintfur landed heavily on Redblaze and snapped her teeth at his head, barely missing his ear. Hissing, she dug her claws into his shoulders and he grunted in pain.

He thrust himself upwards, knocking the gray she-cat off of him. She landed neatly and threw herself at him again, but this time he was ready. Rearing up on his hind paws, he met the enemy warrior face-to-face, and they slashed at each other. Mintfur drew her claws across Redblaze's cheek and he managed to land a blow to her throat, deep enough to draw blood but not fatal. Mintfur dropped back to the ground and bit at Redblaze's exposed belly and, thinking quickly, he dropped on top of her and sank his teeth into her scruff. He bit down hard, and she squealed in pain, wriggling. He let her go and she fled into the forest.

Panting, Redblaze looked around and saw that ThunderClan's reinforcements had arrived and met both RiverClan patrols in battle. Birchclaw scuffled with Graytail, and Beechpaw was holding his own against Stormspots. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Copperfoot viciously attacking Tawnyclaw, pure hatred in his eyes. Tawnyclaw matched him swipe for swipe, as if he was fighting for more than just territory. For a moment Redblaze remembered what Amberclaw said about Minnowpaw at the border, and wondered if Tawnyclaw was finding some sort of revenge in fighting the ThunderClan deputy.

Redblaze didn't have much time to think, as a moment later he was knocked to the side by a large body. He hit the rocks hard and gasped as Oakfoot landed on top of him. "Distracted?" he hissed, scoring his claws down Redblaze's flank. Blood welled from the wound. "Are all RiverClan warriors so mouse-brained?" he taunted.

Growling, Redblaze kicked up with his hind legs at Oakfoot's belly, claws out, and shoved the ginger tom off of him. Without hesitating, he flew at Oakfoot, sinking his teeth into his shoulder as his claws scratched at his chest. Oakfoot hissed in pain and rage and bit into Redblaze's ear. Redblaze reared up and dropped down as hard as he could, slamming his paws into Oakfoot's head. The move stunned the enemy warrior and Redblaze gave him another bite on his shoulder that he was sure to remember. Oakfoot turned and fled.

Redblaze looked around again for any cat that might need his help. Blacknose was locked in a heated tussle with Sweetstripe, but the wiry she-cat was weaving around the young warrior faster than he could think, swiping her claws at his flanks and hindquarters. Farther away, Frostmuzzle and Cinderfrost yowled and screeched in a flurry of teeth and claws. Redblaze saw Mudpelt pinned beneath Amberclaw and shot over, bowling the ThunderClan warrior off of his Clanmate. Wordlessly, Mudpelt joined Redblaze's side and the two toms attacked Amberclaw together, one going high and the other going low, until Amberclaw gave up and fled.

"ThunderClan, retreat!" Amberclaw called behind him. "Get back to camp!"

As the fighting stopped, Copperfoot approached Amberclaw, dripping with blood from his many wounds. "You don't get to make that call!" he snarled. "I'm Clan deputy!"

Amberclaw met Copperfoot's eye. "Look around," he retorted. "Does it look like we're winning?"

Redblaze eyed the wounded cats; the most heavily wounded RiverClan warrior was Tawnyclaw, but everyone else seemed fine. Redblaze's own wounds stung like fire but they weren't too deep. ThunderClan, however, had fared far worse. Copperfoot himself looked like more blood than fur, Graytail was carrying a hind leg and bleeding profusely from his shoulder, and one of Frostmuzzle's eyes was swollen shut and bleeding. Redblaze felt a sudden surge of pride for Cinderfrost.

Copperfoot seemed to notice it, too, for he growled, "Fine. ThunderClan, retreat." His warriors fled from Sunningrocks back towards their camp. Turning to Ashstar, Copperfoot said, "Have your precious rocks for now. But don't get too comfortable," he threatened. "You haven't seen the last of me." With that, he turned away and disappeared into the trees.

The battle was won.