War - Battles of the Wild - The Darkened Moon

CHAPTER SEVEN: LUNA

The Warriors of the clan stood before Griffara. It was a war rally, and we were going to launch a counterattack on Leap Clan, when they were probably still recovering from their failed attempt at overtaking our camp.

Honestly, I don't think it was very smart of our enemies to attack during a branding ceremony, because everyone in the clan is gathered there. It wasn't a good idea, even if they did have the element of surprise. This kind of stuff makes me thankful for our reasonable Griffa.

"We will attack at nightfall, crossing their borders at the first stars. Try to be as quiet as possible, and take out the guards before they can alert anyone," said the griffon, "If everything works as planned, there will be one less clan in the forest. I'll only take half of our numbers though, to protect the camp."

Griffara then divided the Warriors into two groups. She left Frozenfire and most of the others in the Order to control the camp. The only Order members she brought were Quickdart and Atlas.

Luckily, I was chosen to come with Griffa in the attack party, and Alena was with me as well. But I've noticed something about her. She seemed kind of, well, suspicious. Like she didn't fully trust me.

Pushing those thoughts out of my mind, I thought about the battle to come. Usually, attacks on other clan camps didn't work out, but I had a feeling this one would be different. Now all we had to do was wait for nightfall.

Griffara led us through the underbrush. The moon shone in the sky, just peeking over the mountain tops, and painting the trees pale silver. Bushes rustled softly as we brushed past them.

Most weren't wearing any armour but a few wore leather, because metal would reflect the light and give away our position, and was pretty loud.

Griffa raised a wing, and everyone stopped. Her ears swivled, and she turned around to face us.

"Once we pass this border, there is no going back," she announced in a low voice, a soft wind ruffling her feathers, "Be as quiet as possible. Show no mercy. Have no regret."

With that, she turned to the mountains and continued.

About twenty minutes into our travels, I noticed something. Everything was quiet... like the whole forest was holding its breath. At first I just passed off the thought. It was night time. Everything was asleep... But that isn't true. Even at night, there are nocturnal animals.

My heart started thumping faster, like I had just sprinted a mile, and I stopped dead in my tracks. This had happened before. One time, prior to Griffara becoming Leader, we were trying to launch a stealth attack on Stealth Clan. Yeah, a bad idea, I know. We really should have known better than to use their power against them.

But right before they came out of the underbrush and dropped from the trees, everything was completely silent...

Just like now.

I started to pick up my pace to tell Griffa, earning a questioning glance from Alena, who had been walking beside me. On my way I passed Maya, and ignored her puzzled expression.

Coming up to Griffara, I finally saw what I had been fearing. The quickest glint of eyes, but it was there. The hunters were being hunted.

"There," I whispered to Griffa, staring at the spot where I had last seen the eyes.

The Warriors behind me had heard, and now whispered among each other, gesturing into the forest.

Griffara nodded, stopping in place, with everyone else following her lead.

With a yowl that tore through the silence of the night, Leap Clan exploded from the forest, Switch and Blade at the front of it.

Jumping high into the air, our enemies crashed among us, crushing spines and knocking Warriors off their feet.

Sharp claws dug into my back, and I rolled onto the ground, making my attacker drop away.

Growling, I advanced on the orange tabby cat. But instead of fleeing, he grinned and licked the blood from his paws. A second cat appeared beside him, looking annoyed.

"Let's just get this over with," she mumbled, flicking her white tail.

Now I was angry.

I launched at the orange cat, snapping at his face. But he just leapt over my head, and onto the back of my neck, while the white cat leapt for my blind side.

Pain exploded on my scarred muzzle as the she-cat dragged her claws along it, bandages coming loose. I snapped at her tail, but I couldn't see where I was aiming, and got a mouthful of fur. The orange cat, sunk his claws into the base of my skull, and I bucked wildly, and he started to laugh. I snarled and twisted around trying to reach him, but he hung on like a burr.

Just then, Alena arrived and grabbed the cat in her jaws. He managed to claw at her eyes, and she was forced to let him go. He ran off, but not without sending a flurry of insults at the Great Dane German Shepherd mix. The white cat followed him, her tail flicking in annoyance.

My face was burning with pain, and I could barely see through the tears in my eyes. I stumbled away from the raging battle, and crouched in a thick patch of bushes, hoping nobody found me.

Luckily, everyone was too occupied with the fight to look in the bushes, but a snarling, bloody dog passed frighteningly close.

From my spot, it didn't look like we were doing too well. They had so much more Warriors on the field... I think we were going to have to run.

After what seemed like an eternity of pain and fear, I heard Griffa call for retreat, and she led her clan away, the wounded being helped along by those less injured. The dead being dragged back to camp for a proper burial by the living.

I stepped out of my hiding spot, and Alena was immediately there to support me.

"Are you okay?" she said with worry, her eyes darting to my reopened injury.

"I'll live," I replied grumpily, "thanks for helping me..."

I suddenly felt very embarrassed. Beaten by a couple of cats, all because of this stupid wound!

A Leap Clan dog leapt forward, snapping at my tail. A quick snarl from Alena sent him running, but we still hurried away. Away from the jeering voices of our enemies. Away from the death and bloodshed. Away from defeat.