The Lost Trail: Fury Of The Forest

Chapter 14

So it's sunday, I have 60 reads. I get banned from the computer. I come back on during saturday. I have 116 reads.

I LOVE YOU!

Also, I was reading Crookedstar's Promise again, and I noticed a certain Redclaw of WindClan. I honestly didn't know that this name was in use of Erin Hunter. So please excuse that mistake.

ONE MORE THING BEFORE YOU READ! I'm an inexperienced writer, and I make mistakes. One of those mistakes are that Redclaw had mated with Tallspirit, while his true mate was Robinsong. Pretend that Rowanstorm mated with Tallspirit, okay? Good. AND I meant to put Robinsong on the allegiances, but I'm too lazy to change that....

Chapter 14:

"No, Hawkpaw! You're doing everything wrong!" Redclaw sneered as Hawkpaw attempted to do the Belly Rake move.

"I'm sorry, Redclaw." he shuffled his paws embarassingly. His mentor had been tired and mean since Robinsong's and Redkit's death.

The red tom heaved a deep sigh and flicked his tail lightly. "Hawkpaw, get back to camp. Nothing's working out today."

"Yes, Redclaw," he dipped his head in respect and bounded off.

He poked his head into the nursery, looking for Wildpaw. To his surprise, he saw Snowtiger laying on her side, sharing tongues with Tallspirit. Both of the she-cats had moved into the nursery over the past moon. Snowtiger was expecting Skypelt's kits, and Tallspirit with Rowanstorm.

"Is Wildpaw here?" he asked Jadepaw.

"No, he went out to go hunting. Why?" she replied.

"No reason." He padded out of the tight nursery and sat down on the cold ground. Leaf-fall was here, and leaf-bare was threatening to burst.

He supressed a deep sigh. He wanted his old friend back, joking around in the Sharp Rocks. Nothing would ever be the same, he realized. If only he didn't like Jadepaw! He closed his eyes shut tight, breathing in and out. He quickly blinked them open as a distant battle yowl sounded.

Silvercomet burst through the undergrowth, her eyes wide. Blood streaked down her pelt and face.

"Bears!" She yowled, as if a battle command. Every cat stood still for a moment, then they all charged out, past her.

No words were spoken as they raced through the soft ground, swerving around every pine tree like a blur. Storm clouds began to gather, as if StarClan itself was preparing for battle.

Hawkpaw didn't run too far and a rank stench hit his nose. It was the same as last time, crow-food. Everyone around him slowed down a pace and wrinkled their noses.

"Shouldn't we have made a battle plan before coming?" A frantic mew sounded.

"And we should've talked to Stormstar!" Another one piped up.

"Everyone back to camp!"

So they turned tail and ran as fast as they could, bursting through the camp barrier. A few cats had returned from a hunting patrol, looking at them with wide eyes. Badgerstripe was one of them, and he came up to Bluefeather.

"Where in StarClan were you?" He challenged.

"Chasing down the bears." She replied stiffly.

"Mouse-brain! You should've found me or Stormstar!" And with that, he flicked his tail and stalked into the leader's den.

Badgerstripe came out a few moments later, glaring at Hawkpaw. "Come in, Hawkpaw."

Confused, he toddered over there and under the shelter of the thick pine tree.

"Hawkpaw, you know that you must save us." Stormstar meowed calmly, but even in the dim light Hawkpaw could see panic in his eyes.

He sat there for a moment, dumbfounded. Then an idea struck his head, like StarClan placed it there.

"We have to have some sort of way to confuse the bear," he began, with Badgerstripe glaring at him jealously. "So, we could bring it into a clearing with trees all around it. There we could have battle-ready cats up in the trees. One of the cats leaps down on the ground, so the bear can see him. Then the cat scrambles up the tree as another one leaps down. The bear will get dizzy and confused, as well as frustrated. I know what to do after that."

"What? You'll get us all killed!" Badgerstripe snarled.

Stormstar flicked his tail for silence, and looked at Hawkpaw with wisdom in his eyes now. "I have faith in you, Hawkpaw. But I must do something before we leave." The old tom padded out of the den and scrambled up the Great Tree, onto the Branchtop.

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey, join here beneath the Branchtop for a Clan meeting!"

The cats all gathered around quickly as Hawkpaw and Badgerstripe raced out of the den.

"As you all may know, I am on my last life. I also wish to retire after this battle, if I have not died. But, I have made a mistake," he began. He looked down at Badgerstripe, narrowing his eyes.

"Badgerstripe is not fit to be leader, and I must now appoint a new deputy," he cleared his throat as shocked gasps and murmurs filled the clearing. "I say these words before StarClan, that the spirits of our ancestors may hear and approve my choice. The new deputy with be Redclaw." 

No cheers were spoken as Redclaw walked forward, his eyes wide with shock. "I will do my best." He murmured.

"We also will charge into battle against this beast. But we cannot face it like an ordinary enemy, we must use tactics," he explained Hawkpaw's plan, but he didn't mention his name once. And for that, Hawkpaw was grateful. He didn't want the cats all looking up to him.

"I need Redclaw, Rowanstorm, Skypelt, Badgerstripe, Bluefeather, and Hawkpaw to come with me. The rest of you stay in camp." And with that, they raced out with a flick of the tail.

Hawkpaw didn't know it would all come this fast. He shut his eyes while running and thought of the happiest moments of his life. He remembered all he loved, and held onto those memories. With great bravery, he opened them again.

Before he knew it, they found the perfect clearing. Everyone but Skypelt scrambled up the tree, and they all nodded to him. He was the only one who knew where the bear was, as he was with Silvercomet on a border patrol. He was going to lure the bear towards them.

"May StarClan be with you," Stormstar murmured.

Skypelt slowly nodded his head and boldly turned around. He raced out of the clearing.

It was silent. No one even said a word. Someone coughed slightly, but besides that, you could hear an ear flick.

Noisy pawsteps and frustrated roars sounded closely. He could hear the crack of every stick, the swish of every leaf. It was like waiting for your death.

Then it burst through the undergrowth. Jet-black fur and malicous red eyes. The drool glimmered in the fading sunlight, and the monster stood up on all two legs. Just like that, Bluefeather plopped down. The monster turned and reached a clumsy paw, but missed by a mouse-length as Bluefeather raced up the tree. Rowanstorm came next, then Badgerstripe, Redclaw, and Stormstar.

Hawkpaw froze. He couldn't move. But the branch swayed slightly, forcing him to jump. The bear lunged for him, its eyes glittering for victory. No, he can't! He mustered all of his courage and gripped the trunkk, his claws digging into the soft wood. His powerful shoulders pulled him up and he found a sturdy branch.

They did this a few times, but Hawkpaw didn't know how long they would last. We can't do this forever. I have to stop this madness. Thunder roared overhead, the sun being clouded by the gray sky. Rain started to pour and the wind howled. It started like sleet at first, then turned to a heavy rain.

He closed his eyes, fish swimming around in his stomach. He leaped down when it was his turn, but he didn't go back up.

Instead, he ran. In a circle, around every tree. This confused the beastly monster, and it turned its head back and forth, trying to grab Hawkpaw.

But he was too fast, yet running out of breath. His lungs ached for breath, and so he stopped.