Warriors: Back to the Wild Book#3

Chapter 19

Mousepelt shivered as she backed away from the golden she-cat bleeding before her. Amberheart's blood was wet on the brown she-cats paws. She couldn't believe what she had done to the kit she grew up with in Twoleg Place. She never wanted to hurt anyone. Not one cat.

"Amberheart!" Mousepelt looked up to see Foxtail and Flowerstem run down a tunnel and to Amberheart. The golden ThunderClan warrior was gasping and shuddering in pain as Flowerstem looked over her worryingly.

Foxtail was pressing his face to his mate's flank, mumbling for her to be safe. He then shot his green eyes to Mousepelt. The tunnel cat lowered her ears, knowing the tom before her was giving her the look of hatred and death.

"What have you done!?" he snarled, unsheathing his claws and lashing his tail. "She was your friend and you killed her!"

"She's not dying!" Mousepelt cried out, mostly to herself. "She can't be! I didn't mean to! I swear! I'd never kill... I just... Oh!" Mousepelt spun around and bolted off from the three ThunderClan cats. She ignored Amberheart's gasping cries.

The sun almost blinded her as she ran out the tunnel. The smell of ShadowClan and RiverClan flooding her mouth. Dark Forest cats had been through here as well. Blood was spilled. The war! The one Amberheart was talking about! Mousepelt was the reason this happened and she had to stop it before someone got killed.

Mousepelt was about to run off to her old home of ShadowClan so she could talk to Stonestar and stop any blood from spilling, but familiar scents were coming to her. She lowered her ears as the bushes ruffled and an old cream colored she-cat and a black tom jumped out.

"Mousepelt!" Ravenclaw cried out, running over to press his nose to the she-cats cheek.
Mousepelt immediately pushed herself away from her beloved Clanmate. She couldn't get close to him, especially now. Right after she stopped the war she'd leave the lake for good.

"Ravenclaw, Navi," Mousepelt looked to the black warrior to her mother, "I need to see Stonestar! The Dark Forest cats are coming to have a-"

"A war, we know." Navi interrupted.

"We came to get you," Ravenclaw meowed, "we're going to take you somewhere safe until the war's ended!"

"No!" Mousepelt stepped back. "I can't leave! I have to help stop the war! I have to speak to Stonestar!"

"You're a little late," Navi swished her tail, "the Dark Forest cats came and told him to meet them at the island. All of the Clans are going to the island now."

"No!" Mousepelt screeched as she began to head for the island.

"Mousepelt, no!" Ravenclaw begged, jumping over to stand in her way. "You could get killed! You have to stay somewhere safe! Amberheart can kill Silversol!"

"No, she can't!" Mousepelt wailed.

"Why not?" Ravenclaw pressed.

"I attacked her!" Mousepelt responded. "She could be dying right now and I just left her! I have to find Silversol and end this! I have to end this all!" She licked Ravenclaw's cheek. "Understand, Ravenclaw, I love you more than anything and you'll become a great father one day, but look to see me no more!"

With not another word, Mousepelt shoved past Ravenclaw and off to the island. Her heart racing along with her paws.

Please, StarClan, don't let me be too late! Mousepelt prayed.

The island came into view and Mousepelt saw cats gathering into the clearing. The sound of a war yowl reached her ears. The war was starting. Mousepelt pushed on, bounded up the fallen tree bridge, and ran on to a hill so she could see where Silversol was from up top. She reached the top and looked down.

Her heart clogged her throat as she looked down at cats fighting. Blood was spilled and apprentices were fighting warrior moves. Mousepelt shook, feeling sick to her stomach. If she and Amberheart had never come here things might have been different. But, they chose the wild. Now cats were going to die in unbeatable war. And it was all Mousepelt's fault.