Leafshade's Revenge

Chapter One

Chapter One

Leafpaw bounced excitedly, her tail lashing. She was aware that she was hitting her siblings beside her, but she couldn't contain her joy. Finally, finally she was an apprentice. Sure, she'd only been an apprentice for a few minutes, but right now it was the best day ever. She bounced, glancing at Tigerpaw and Splotchpaw beside her.

"Calm down," Tigerpaw told her, his tail running along her spine and tucking fur back into place. His gaze was calm, and he sat beside her, giving his chest fur a few good licks. His fur was a dark brown, with darker brown stripes traveling up his legs but no farther. He was medium-furred, and his eyes were amber and bright.

Splotchpaw was white and dark brown, with pale brown eyes and short fur, like her, except she had a long fluffy tail. "Wonder why we all look so different," Splotchpaw murmured. "Well, not me and Tigerpaw. We sort of look similar. But you're a tortoiseshell." He studied Leafpaw for a moment, sniffing, and then continued. "Well, that doesn't matter now; our mentors our coming." He straightened up, his tail curling around his paws.

Her mentor—Swallowfur, a brown tom with darker specks—walked beside Mintfern, a long-furred gray she-cat, and Mothlight, a golden-furred she-cat with yellow eyes. He whisked his tail and flicked his ears. "We're going to show you the territories," he told them, his voice brisk. "Alright. Come on." He turned around and the warriors and three apprentices follow him, quiet for a moment.

The sky was pale with morning light, the sun creeping its way into the sky, and small white clouds drifted into view. The dirt beneath her feet grew softer as they traveled further into the forest, and soil pressed into the curves of her paws. She let her jaws part as she tasted the air. Scents of mice, vole, cats, trees, and herbs overwhelmed her nostrils.

She blinked, padding slowly after Swallowfur. Her tail twined with Tigerpaw's, and she pricked her ears at the sound of a twig snapping. "Was that you?" she whispered, shooting a glance at Tigerpaw, and then at Splotchpaw, who both shook their heads, looking confused.

Leafpaw tried to listen harder. Maybe someone's following us, she thought worriedly. What if they attack? I don't know how to fight. She shook the thought from her mind and carried on. Mintfern and Mothlight didn't look worried; and neither did Swallowfur. That meant it was okay. I think, a voice whispered in her mind eerily.

Suddenly footsteps grew louder, and she found cats—about four—creeping up around them. They were far from the border, she was sure. They had only walked a little way...which meant if anything happened they could run back to camp quickly.

A black tom with broad shoulders stood tall, his tail flicking back and forth. "Bringing kits on a border patrol?" he taunted them, his eyes gleaming dangerously.

Tigerpaw lifted his chin. "We're not kits. We're apprentices." He flinched as Mothlight swiped her tail over his mouth, telling him to be quiet. Her gaze was unreadable, and she stared directly into one of the cats' eyes, worry not present in her face.

Mintfern spoke darkly. "You are not welcome here," she told the intruders, her voice ringing with warning. "You know that. Go back to the BreezeClan border." She lifted her tail, letting her claws slide out.

"Make us," another cat meowed loudly, his claws unsheathed.

"And how are they going to make us?" the first dark tabby growled. "They brought a bunch of kits on a border patrol." Leafpaw saw Tigerpaw tense, but he had the sense to stay quiet this time. She planted her paws firmly on the ground, waiting.

"If you want a fight, you'll have one," Swallowfur promised, his voice itching with anger.

"Any last words?" the dark tabby hissed, his eyes sparkling.

"Actually, yes," Swallowfur said through gritted teeth. "Tigerpaw—Splotchpaw—Leafpaw—run!" He leapt at the tom, and Leafpaw spun around, letting her legs carry her forward. She was aware of the battling cats behind her, and Tigerpaw stayed close to her side

"Where's Splotchpaw?" she gasped, heaving as she sprinted.

"I think," Tigerpaw choked out, "he's behind us. Splotchpaw?" he cried, still not looking back.

A small cry was heard in the distance behind them.

She skidded to a stop. "Tigerpaw..." she looked at him seriously. "That was Splotchpaw." Leafpaw shook her head. "Tigerpaw, run to camp and get help. I have to get Splotchpaw." Without waiting for a response, she whipped around and retraced her steps, itching to get her claws into whatever warrior thought they could mess with her brother. By the time she reached them, Splotchpaw was struggling on the ground, beneath a she-cat's weight.

Leafpaw lunged at the cat, taking her off balance. Seemingly finished with Splotchpaw, she leapt at Leafpaw, her claws unsheathed. She let out a strangled cry as the cat's claws raked down her side. She kicked furiously, hoping her claws would land somewhere.

"Leafpaw..." Splotchpaw gasped. "Go!"

"I'm not leaving you! Not now, not ever!" Leafpaw screeched back, pain shooting through her body as the she-cat scratched and bit and tore. Then she heard the sound of more cats. Please let them be BirchClan cats, she thought desperately.

"You leave my kits alone!" she heard a yowl; Darkfang. He leapt to the she-cat, fully knocking her down and attacking her with force. Leafpaw staggered to her feet limping over to Splotchpaw, who lay almost completely still on the ground. His fur was clotted with blood, and his breaths were shallow.

"Help—Dovewish!" she cried, seeing the medicine cat carrying a bundle of herbs. "Help him! Please!" She nosed his side, her eyes locked on Dovewish as the she-cat licked herbs into his deep wounds. Her movements were smooth and quick.

She watched angrily as the BreezeClan cats zoomed off, now outnumbered four to seven. She seethed with fury, her claws sliding in and out. Splotchpaw whimpered beside her. "If I—"

"Shut...your...mouth," Leafpaw hissed, interrupting him. "Save him," she growled to Dovewish. The she-cat didn't look up from her work; she barely seemed to notice Leafpaw's voice at all. Whatever, she thought. At least she's helping him.