Warriors AU: Into the Wild

Chapter 4

Shocked yowls rose from the Clan cats and echoed through the forest.

Patchpaw staggered slightly. Her right foreleg glistened, wet with blood that flowed from the deep gash on her shoulder. "We m-met five Riverclan warriors beside the stream, not far from the Sunningrocks," she went on shakily. "Bluefur was among them."

"Bluefur!" Silverpaw gasped beside Sandpaw. "He is the deputy of Riverclan. He's one of the greatest warriors in the forest. Lucky Patchpaw! Wish it could have been me. I'd have really—" Silverpaw was silenced by a fierce glance from the old pale tabby tom who had first sensed Patchpaw's return.

Sandpaw turned his attention back to Patchpaw.

"Redtail warned Bluefur to keep his hunting parties out of Thunderclan territory. She said the next Riverclan warrior to be caught in Thunderclan territory would be killed, but Blue... Bluefur would not back down. He said his Cl-Clan had to be fed, whatever we threatened." Patchpaw paused to wheeze for breath. Her wound was still bleeding heavily, and she stood awkwardly to keep the weight off her shoulder.

"That's when the Riverclan cats attacked. It was hard to see what was happening. The fighting was vicious. I saw Bluefur had Redtail pinned to the ground, but then Redtail..." Suddenly Patchpaw's eyes rolled in her head and she lurched sideways. Half scrambling, half falling, she slithered off the Highrock and collapsed on the ground below.

A black-and-white queen bounded toward her and crouched at her side. She licked her cheek briefly and called out, "Spottedleaf!"

Out of the fern-shaded corner trotted the handsome tortoiseshell Sandpaw had noticed sitting beside Silverpaw earlier. He hurried over to Patchpaw and mewed for the queen to stand back. Then he used his small pink nose to roll the apprentice over so that he could take a good look at the wound. He glanced up and meowed, "It's all right, Patchpelt, her wounds aren't fatal. But I'll need to fetch some cobwebs to stop the bleeding."

As Spottedleaf sprinted back to his den, the hushed silence in the clearing was broken by a mournful howl. All eyes turned to the direction it had come from.

A massive pale ginger tabby staggered through the gorse tunnel. Between his sharp teeth the warrior held not prey, but the lifeless body of another cat. He dragged the tattered creature into the center of the clearing.

Sandpaw craned his neck and glimpsed a flash of bright ginger tail hanging limply in the dust.

Shock rippled through the Clan like a chill breeze. Beside Sandpaw, Silverpaw dropped into a crouch as grief swept over him. "Redtail!"

"How did this happen, Goldenflower?" demanded Oakstar from her position on the Highrock.

Goldenflower let the scruff of Redtail's neck fall from his mouth. He looked steadily back at Oakstar. "She died with honor, struck down by Bluefur. I couldn't save her, but I managed to take Bluefur's life while he was still gloating over his victory." Goldenflower's voice was strong and deep. "Redtail's death was not in vain, for I doubt we'll see Riverclan hunters in our territory again."

Sandpaw glanced at Silverpaw. The apprentice's eyes were dark with sadness.

After a moment's pause, several of the cats moved forward to lick Redtail's bedraggled fur. As they groomed they purred hushed phrases to the dead warrior.

Sandpaw whispered into Silverpaw's ear, "What are they doing?"

Silverpaw didn't take his eyes off the dead cat as he replied. "Her spirit may have left to join Starclan, but the Clan will share tongues with Redtail one last time."

"Starclan?" Sandpaw echoed.

"It's the tribe of heavenly warriors that watches over all Clan cats. You can see them in Silverpelt."