Windclan's Hope

Chapter 8

Squirrelpaw watched as Owlpaw padded up to her sibling. Sproutpaw looked her, eyes wildly looking around camp. Brackentail looked away, ducking into the nursery where Graypounce had taken their kits. Oakwhisker and Hawkgrowl backed up and Volefoot had padded forwards. The clan made a circle around their leader and the two apprentices. She hoped Stempaw could convince Bramblestar to attack Riverclan soon. Squirrelpaw wondered that if Sproutpaw made it out, if she'd join Windclan with them.
Squirrelpaw watched as Owlpaw got into her stance, she looked up at Sproutpaw, fear in her eyes. Just before she leapt, Ravenstar leapt onto Sproutpaw. She hissed and leapt out of the den and over Spotclaw and Volefoot. The two cats hissed but she was already in the middle. Squirrelpaw launched herself onto Ravenstar, biting his shoulder angrily. Volefoot was about to leap in to help but Hawkgrowl stopped him. Just then, Owlpaw and Sproutpaw leapt onto Ravenstar too. Oakwhisker and Spotclaw darted forwards to grab the apprentices.
Squirrelpaw gasped as the breath was knocked out of her, she clawed Ravenstar's chin and leapt onto his throat, latching her teeth onto the scar that some other cat had left there. She tore away, watching as Ravenstar gasped, his eyes widening in fear. Ravenstar fell, slumpt over. She saw Volefoot leaping at her and she ducked. Spotclaw and Oakwhisker leapt forwards too. She heard Bramblestar's battle cry and heard pawsteps rush the camp. She felt the weight of all three cats come off of her, Stempaw, Lilyfrost and Birdnose were battling the three warriors away. Squirrelpaw saw Ivypaw run back to the den with Sproutpaw and Owlpaw at her heels. Squirrelpaw also saw Hawkgrowl follow them. "Redcall! Want to kill an old clanmate?" She purred. Redcall snarled and followed Hawkgrowl into the spare den and out of camp where she'd dug the escape hole. "Follow them!" Lilyfrost instructed. Squirrelpaw nodded, darting to the den and into the water. She saw Branchfur behind Redcall.
Squirrelpaw lifted herself out of the water and followed behind Redcall and Branchfur towards the bridge. Hawkgrowl was almost caught up with Ivypaw and Dovepaw. She felt a breeze and a new feeling in her chest. She saw cats running beside her she'd never seen before. Her ancestors! Squirrelpaw felt herself run faster, her legs taking her faster than ever before. She leapt onto Branchfur. "Catch Hawkgrowl!" She yowled to Redcall. Squirrelpaw ducked under Branchfur's legs, grabbing her paw in her jaws and biting down. Branchfur hissed and swatted her with her other paw. Squirrelpaw felt the strength of another cat and reared up with her paw still in her mouth. She threw Branchfur in the water with a scratch on her flank. Squirrelpaw saw Redcall and Hawkgrowl fighting at the bridge and saw Owlpaw and Spoutpaw helping Dovepaw across, a new wound bleeding from her leg.
Squirrelpaw darted towards the bridge, biting down on Hawkgrowl's cheek. Redcall had stepped in front of Dovepaw who had fallen in pain, anger flared in the older tom's eyes. "Traitor." Redcall spat as Squirrelpaw pinned the Riverclan deputy. Hawkgrowl fought underneath her but the strength of her ancestors were fighting with her. She let Redcall get far enough away with the apprentice's before letting Hawkgrowl up. Spitting in rage he leapt back towards her. Squirrelpaw felt a presence and suddenly, Hawkgrowl was pinned by a white outlined tom. "Never touch my great grandkit ever again." The tom snarled, his lion-colored fur shifting in the breeze. "Lionstride!" Hawkgrowl's eyes widened in fear. "Ill rip your throat next time. You already hurt my daughter, but not Squirrelpaw." Lionstride shoved the tom and watched as he ran. Squirrelpaw looked at Lionstride, seeing his muscles. "I fight with you, Squirrelpaw. I am Bramblestars father, I was chosen to protect you. Now go, Windclan has won but a great loss has been faced." Lionstride faded. Squirrelpaw turned and darted down the moor, slowing as she helped Dovepaw into camp.
Squirrelpaw sat down next to Bramblestar's body. Ivypaw and Turtleheart were speaking to Mumblejaw who was uncontrollable sobbing into Bramblestar's fur. "Bramblestar saved us all from the dark forest cats when they came. Windclan is grateful to have one of the most powerful leaders in the forest, Mumblejaw will be a noble leader after her." Haresprint mewed, his voice rasping. Squirrelpaw laid down next to Lilyfrost and her mate, Birdnose. Birdnose and Lilyfrost laid together, speaking softly. Squirrelpaw only stared at Bramblestar's body, still processing what happened with Lionstride that day.