Alone #3: Broken Amber

Chapter 4

It had been one moon since the fight that had almost ruined Amberclaw's relationship with every other cat in the patrol. Dawnmist had demanded that they learn to fight together, and slowly, her wish had come true. Amberclaw was now trained in many different techniques, which would be useful once she went home.

Dawnmist was certain that they would come back, and Amberclaw now knew that she was right. For they had come.

"You little idiots," Ruthless sneered. "You lowered your defense so easily," she growled.

A strong fire burned in Amberclaw and she began to struggle more ferociously against Falcon, who was pinning her down.

Falcon yowled in anger as long scratches appeared on his flank from her claws. Purring in satisfaction, Amberclaw leapt up, shook out her fur, and faced him defiantly.

"Come here, little kitty," Ruthless taunted Dawnmist while Falcon and Amberclaw snarled at each other.

Amberclaw locked eyes with Ebonywind while keeping Falcon in her view. Her sister's eyes seemed to say: we'll all fight to the death together.

Amberclaw nodded, which seemed to be the signal. Ebonywind fought off Splash, Blackshine dodged Scar's snapping jaws, Dawnmist hissed at Ruthless, scratching her on the nose, Ravenflight let out a purr as Bloodmoon and Nightfire banged their heads together, and Rustfern bravely defended himself against Crowspirit.

"You idiots!" Ruthless' yowl rose above the shrieks of battle. "You've basically planned your death!"

Amberclaw ignored her, the thrill of the battle racing through her blood as she used her lighter weight to her advantage, nimbly ducking and weaving around Falcon, who was slower than her considerably. The tom growled in frustration as Amberclaw kept missing his claws.

Amberclaw felt lighter than air as she flipped through the air, becoming more and more reckless in her blows. She went for his ears, drawing blood. He lashed his tail as Amberclaw dug her claws into his back, clinging there. Falcon didn't seem to be able to wound her, even after she was flattened underneath him.

Spitting out dirt and twigs, Amberclaw bit down on his fur and tugged a chunk out, giving into some aggressive nature of hers. She clawed at his fur until there was a whole spot of pale pink on his back. Falcon screamed in pain and lumbered off as fast as he could. Amberclaw didn't bother chasing him. There were other opponents to fight.

"Amberclaw! Are you okay?"

After defeating Crowspirit with Rustfern, Amberclaw had fought in a daze until she barely remembered anything. She whipped around to spot Ruthless, but they were all gone.

"Where are they?" she mumbled. "Lemme fight them."

"You're covered in blood!" Ebonywind exclaimed. "Let Ravenflight inspect you!"

"I'm fine," Amberclaw grunted, pushing her sisters away.

"She's right," Ravenflight agreed. "Most of the blood is Falcon's. I saw him running away."

"That was good," Dawnmist wheezed. The battle had opened up her old wound again. "We fought together."

"I'm not tired, let me go fight some more," Amberclaw insisted.

"Definitely not," Ravenflight snapped. "You might not be injured but I think your ego needs some deflating."

"But I'm the best fighter here!" Amberclaw ignored the bit about her ego. "I'm not injured at all! Everyone else is!"

The others just merely rolled their eyes.

"My point proven," Ravenflight muttered.

Over the next few days, Amberclaw hunted most of their food, as Blackshine and Ebonywind, their main hunters, were both injured. Ravenflight had ordered them to rest.

Pride filled Amberclaw as she dropped a rabbit in front of Dawnmist and Blackshine, a squirrel for Ebonywind and Ravenflight and a fish each for her and Rustfern. Her hunting skills had improved greatly, not that the others mentioned it at all. They went on about her ego, but Amberclaw had thought, I'm not arrogant.

Due to this, the other cats had started to ignore her, especially when she boasted.

"Did you see that squirrel I caught? It was so fat!"

"Did you like my mouse? I bet it was the best mouse you've ever tasted!"

"Look at this, guys, there's so much prey! We won't need to hunt for days! And guess who has been hunting it all?"

"Look, Ravenflight and Ebonywind, I've brought you this blackbird to share. I hunted it myself!"

"Rustfern, I got you a salmon; I know you like them. I hunted it!"

"Do you guys remember the battle? I beat them all!"

"Do you remember how I didn't get a single wound? Ha! They'd be foolish to attack again."

"Did you see how I beat Falcon without anyone else? I must be some type of gift from StarClan!"

"I sent Falcon running and injured! And I didn't even get a wound!"

"He lost almost all his fur, the fish-brain!"

"I'm the best!"

"I am the best!"

"I am the best!"

"I am the best!"

"ENOUGH!" Ravenflight roared, cutting out Amberclaw's thoughts of victory. "You need to shut up about this, or we will leave you behind. Everyone is ready to travel, and you need to seriously control your ego."

"It's not egoistical if it's true," Amberclaw smirked.

"Everyone, let's go," Ravenflight ignored Amberclaw, turning to the other cats. "We'll be going without Amberclaw."

"Aw, c'mon, it was just a joke," Amberclaw hurried to catch up.

"No, stay behind," Ebonywind hissed. "Big mouth."

Rustfern didn't even stick up for her.

Amberclaw pushed her head into her fur sadly. A thought occurred to her and she bounded up to Ravenflight. "Look, give me one more chance," she begged.

"No." Ravenflight's voice was cold.

"Dawnmist?" she pleaded.

"I'm sorry, Amberclaw, but it's for the good of the group," Dawnmist sighed, turning her head away.

"I'll change!" Amberclaw tried one more time.

Ravenflight eyed her suspiciously. "Who are you and what have you done to Amberclaw?"

Ebonywind sniffed before walking faster haughtily.

"Please! I'll change!" Amberclaw whimpered. "I don't want to be alone. I've always been alone."

Ravenflight's expression softened and she dipped her head. "Alright, we'll give you one last chance."

Amberclaw pushed on with the group, pleased to be back with them. She gazed up to the mountains and decided that she would change.

I will change.