Gaining Height - WARRIOR CATS

Chapter 38

Chapter 38

"No!"

A screech tore itself from Hawkpaw as she stared frantically around at all the cats beside her. Their pelts were bristling, with eyes narrowed to slits. Some looked panic-stricken. As much as all the cats tried to hide it, none of them had expected this to happen, for Dawnclaw to rally her forces and arrive so soon.

Something was different though.

This time, Dawnclaw didn't have any allies besides Frostwing, Nightfrost and Coalfang. Every cat else had abandoned her; they were on Hawkpaw's side. Still, Dawnclaw gazed fondly at all the former Ferals with a certain confident swagger that made Hawkpaw's fur stand on end.

"What do you want?" she snarled, her loud voice carrying all the way to Dawnclaw.

Dawnclaw's eyes flashed. Hawkpaw lifted her chin, staring defiantly at Dawnclaw. After everything the pale ginger she-cat had done, she had likely expected Hawkpaw to be broken and insecure. But Hawkpaw wasn't. She had friends, allies, and a world that mattered to her. Dawnclaw had none of that.

"Yeah!" Icicle retorted, unsheathing her claws. "We defeated you!"

You don't really believe that, right? Hawkpaw exchanged a stricken glance with Mountain; they had both grown up with Adder and Swipe. While Icicle might be able to block it out, neither of them could sit back and do nothing.

Then, Dawnclaw's lips seemed to twist into a smile. Even from where Hawkpaw stood, about ten tailengths away, she could tell that Dawnclaw believed she was about to win something.

"Oh dear," Dawnclaw smirked as she stared at Adder. "Do you know these cats? It's terribly unfortunate that I'm about to kill them...That is, if you don't give me what I want."

"And that is?" To Hawkpaw's surprise, it was Smokepaw, Dawnclaw's former apprentice who spoke up, voice carrying layers of bitterness and disgust. "We all know you won't give up until every cat bows to you."

"'Bows?'" Coalfang snarked in disgust from where he sat, one paw held to Duskfang's throat. "You had your chance to prove your allegiance to Great Master, Feral. Not all cats will bow; the strong and the clanborn will dominate!"

Smokepaw didn't even wince as she held her brother's gaze. She's so strong, Hawkpaw thought proudly of her friend. Then, she jerked her gaze back to Dawnclaw. The wind seemed to howl loudly, and she had to yowl at the top of her voice to be heard.

"You deserve nothing, Dawnclaw. But what is it that we can give you, to spare the lives you are about to destroy?"

"Don't give her the pleasure of having something above you," Icicle muttered under her breath, but her eyes seemed to glint with unease.

Wint buffeted around Dawnclaw, making her fur fluff up until she seemed double her size to Hawkpaw, even though the cream tabby had lost her wings. She glared straight into the heart of Dawnclaw's fiery eyes, not giving her any amount of weakness.

"It's quite simple what I want," Dawnclaw smiled. "Just a few of my favourite Ferals. Then I'll be on my way, and you can let these..." she glared at Adder, "these cats can go free. They're all soppy and useless anyway."

"Hawkpaw, let me do this for you," Hawkpaw turned to see Adderpaw looking up at her with wide eyes. "Please, you've done so much for me, an-"

Hawkpaw cut her off. "No," she meowed firmly. "What about your father, Moonflight?"

Adderpaw, not seeming to realise that Hawkpaw meant she didn't want her to die, replied fervently. "Oh, right! Moonflight, Roseflight, Snowlight and Fadedpaw all had to stay behind to help the clans find food, medicine, and warmth, and of course they needed to help find a safe place for the Ferals who had snapped. They wished they could have come, though!"