Warriors: The Prophecy of Frost - The Darkest Battle

Chapter 2 - Preparing and Planning

When Hailstar came back from the Moonstone the next day, his eyes were brighter than usual.

He leaped up the Highledge and yowled, "Let all cats who are old enough to catch their own prey to gather at the Highledge for a Clan meeting!"

After the Clan had gathered, Hailstar began to speak. "As most of you know, there is a new threat. We will prepare for battle, which is likely to happen. Who wants be in charge of the battle training for the elders?"

"I will," Webfoot mewed instantly.

Hailstar dipped his head and mewed, "Spikethorn, can you sort out the hunting and border patrols? While you are at it, can you put a cat in charge of battle training for the rest?"

Spikethorn nodded, turning to the others and organising them in their respective patrols.

Hailstar flicked his tail to gesture for Stagwind to follow him into his den.

When both of them had settled comfortably inside the den, Hailstar mewed, "Have you received any signs of this?"

"Sort of," Stagwind looked troubled. "I thought the dreams was warning me about... Longdrop but it keeps coming back, and Longdrop is gone forever. So I assumed that those dreams were warning me about Snarlfang."

"I see," the ThunderClan leader muttered. "Do you need any cat to help you and Sunstream to collect herbs?" he asked in a louder voice.

"No," Stagwind mewed. "But thanks for asking. If there's nothing else, I'm going to collect more marigold and horsetail."

"Okay," Hailstar suddenly felt uncomfortable.

"If you need anything, you should see me," Stagwind meowed, padding out of his den.

~~~~

"Iceleap, can you lead a hunting patrol near Sunningrocks with Poolshine and Goldenfeather? You could also check for anything suspicious," Spikethorn mewed. "Who wants to be in charge of the battle training?"

"I will," Blazestrike mewed, much to Frostblaze's surprise.

"If no cat have any objections," Spikethorn mewed, glancing at the cats around him, "Blazestrike will be in charge of the battle training. I also want a border patrol at the ShadowClan border. Patchheart, could you lead it? Pick any cat you want. The rest of you will be practicing your battling skills."

As Patchheart picked the cats for the border patrol, Blazestrike turned to the rest of the cats. Spikethorn left to talk with Hailstar, so it made fifteen cats, including Blazestrike himself.

Webfoot was coming to join the battle training session as Blazestrike insisted for him to come.

Honeyfrost was unwell, so she went to see Stagwind. However, Emberstorm, her mate, didn't seem so worried. Instead, he looked excited.

Maybe Honeyfrost is expecting kits, Frostblaze thought.

Blazestrike's voice broke her thoughts. "I want two groups, with seven cats in each group. To make the training slightly more interesting, we are going to have a challenge. The first group who gets that small branch first and carry it back here," the tom made a mark on the ground as he spoke, "will win."

"What will be get if my group win?" Lightningcurl asked eagerly. "The first pick of freshkill?"

"If your group win, you simply get the feeling of wining. Plus, the elders and the queens comes first," Blazestrike replied, rolling his eyes.

"Any other questions?" he asked.

The cats shook their heads.

"Then I want Icetail, Lilyflower, Webfoot, Frostblaze, Timberclaw, Grassheart and Lightningcurl in the first group," Blazestrike mewed.

Frostblaze groaned silently. If Lightningcurl gets very annoying, I'm going to get some moss and stuff it in my ears.

"And for the second group, I want Dustfur, Appleshade, Fireclaw, Dewsplash, Stripepad, Berryheart and Emberstorm," Blazestrike finished.

"And remember," he added, "sheathed paws. The first group to take that branch wins. I will be watching in case any of you get too engrossed. The key of this game is to test your fighting skills and strategy. When I say go, both groups may start."

"Go!" Blazestrike yowled.

Frostblaze's group quickly sped behind some bushes to begin their planning.

"What should we do?" Icetail asked.

"While we are planning, the other group may have sent cats to take that branch already!" Lightningcurl interupted.

"Then we plan quickly," Timberclaw sighed.

"We have to check if the other group is going for the branch first," Frostblaze pointed out.

"I'll go," Grassheart mewed.

"I will come with you," Webfoot mewed, "so that I can run back and tell the others if the other group is going for the branch."

"Okay, that's settled. Grassheart and Webfoot will check the surroundings and whether the branch is taken or not," Icetail mewed. "What about the others?"

"Grassheart, Webfoot, both of you should go now," Timberclaw mewed. "Anyways, who here have a plan?"

"Maybe we could drop out of trees amd flatten them!" Lightningcurl mewed.

"Do you expect them to send out all the cats?" Frostblaze asked. "They aren't mousebrains!"

"I have a plan," Icetail mewed.

"What is it?" Lightningcurl asked impatiently.

"We will send two cats to distract them, if not, three. The rest will focus on trying to sneak to where the branch is placed. The cat with the branch then have to sneak back to our starting area. However, if the cat is spotted, all of you must get ready to protect or take the branch," Icetail replied.

"I think that's a good plan," Frostblaze commented.

"Then let's put it into action," Timberclaw mewed.