Windclan's Hope

Chapter 20

Squirrelfoot leapt into the air towards Ivypaw. Ivypaw darted behind her and was too quick, as she landed Ivypaw rolled her over and pinned her. "Good! That was good." Turtleheart mewed, she had stopped from gathering herbs. "Hey, Ivypaw. Three sunsets is the half moon meeting, I think you should get your full name." Squirrelfoot saw Ivypaw's face light up, a purr rumbled in her throat. "Come on, you've learned what an apprentice should before their first battle." She smiled and padded back. "Mouse!" Ivypaw turned to the side and leapt, rising with a mouse in her jaws. "Good catch!" Squirrelfoot flicked her tail and padded back into camp. She looked up, seeing stuff falling from the sky. "Snow!" Turtleheart purred. "Did it snow when we were kits?" She asked. "I think so, but im not sure i remember." The medicine cat replied. "Here, ill take that mouse and bring you two back something bigger." She offered. Ivypaw dropped the mouse and followed Turtleheart into the medicine den.
Dropping the blackbird she plucked it and took the feathers to the nursery. She put the feathers in Lilyfrost's nest then Doveface's nest. "Doveface, you should eat." She turned to the skinny queen who was grooming Willowkit. "Im okay." She replied softly. Lilyfrost stood. "Stay with these three, I'll get her a mouse and some herbs." Squirrelfoot nodded and laid down around the kits who were sleeping peacefully.
She padded out of camp beside Seedstalk, Birdnose and Talonheart. "You two hunt well together so go ahead. Come back soon, this snow is piling heavily." Seedstalk mewed. Squirrelfoot and Talonheart bounded around some bushes to a recently unhunted spot on the moor. "I smell only a rabbit." She reported. "I'll run it towards you around that rock." Talonheart whispered, rounding the rock. Before long, the rabbit was under her paws. "Great!" She purred. "I'll bury it." She began to paw the piling snow. "Not in the snow, it'll be cold. Carry it, I'll catch a mouse and we can head back." Talonheart smiled. "Okay."
After he caught the mouse they headed back to camp. Only a mouse and a rabbit in their jaws. Seedstalk and Birdnose carried a blackbird only. "The snow is scaring all the prey and Leafbare has only just begun!" Birdnose fluffed his fur. "This is going to be a long leafbare." Squirrelfoot put her prey down. "I want to see the snow from Outlook rock, come on!" She beckoned Talonheart back to the moor.
She sat on the rock next to Talonheart, their pelts fluffed and pushed together. An odd smell wafted up the rock. "Ratfur." She whispered. "Rabbitstrike and Birchwing." Talongheart added. Pinning her ears Squirrelfoot and the tom stood. "Ratfur is below the rock, we cant turn." She whispered. "Ill take Ratfur, you take them two. I know you can take them." He mewed. "What abou-" She hissed as Ratfur leapt up the rock. Without hesitation Talonheart tackled him, forcing him back down. Ratfur landed on his back harshly on the ground below. She heard his yowl and leapt forwards. She twisted, landing on her front paws and kicking Birchwing in the chin with her hind legs. In the same motion she turned again and shoved Rabbitstrike down the rock. Birchwing had stumbled onto his paws again and leapt forwards again. From the corner of her eye she saw Cloudpaw, Eaglepaw and Leafpaw running towards them from their lone hunting trip. Their eyes were blazing with rage. Revenge for Whitepaw. She thought with a grin. She tackled Rabbitstrike and shoved him towards the apprentices, watching as his pelt drowned beneath theirs. She growled, stalking towards Birchwing. The tan tom backed up. "Leaving your mate and kit after she struggled after two of your kits died? How heartless can you be?" She spat. She halted as she heard Talonheart's shriek. "Go, help him." Birchwing sighed. "Your right, Ratfur is horrible to us. We are practically starving. Attack the caves in the gorge walls." He said and pelted off.
Squirrelfoot rounded the rock and saw Talonheart laying on his side, struggling to get to his paws. Ratfur shook his head and snarled. "An audience to watch him be killed!" Squirrelfoot again felt the strength of Lionstride. She leapt forwards, tackling the tom by claws in his eyes. Ratfur shrieked and fell, rolling down the small slope. Squirrelfoot landed on the tom, raking his belly with sharp claws. Ratfur hissed in anger, swiping claws across her face. She turned her head at the right time, only catching her cheek. Rage flared in her belly and adrenaline pulsed in her ears. From the corner of her eye white flashed and Cloudpaw leapt onto Ratfur, biting his ear and clawing his cheek. "Leafpaw, Eaglepaw help Talonheart!" She yowled and grabbed Ratfur with her claws. Summoning the strength she flung him across the moor, watching him land with a thud. The tom snarled and ran off. She turned immediately, rushing to Talonheart. "He needs a medicine cat." Leafpaw mewed. "Eaglepaw, you are the fastest. Get to camp and tell Ivypaw or Turtleheart, whoever you find first. Get them here faster than you've ever run." She ordered. Eaglepaw nodded and pelted down the moor, his long legs barely touching the ground.
She stood over Ivypaw, watching anxiously as the she cat worked. Littlewhisker, Volenose, Stemstar and Whiteclaw stood guard. "Stemstar, I know where they are hiding. Birchwing basically begged me for help." She mewed. "Where?" Stemstar asked. "If the medicine cats agree I'll launch an attack immediately. Especially if Birchwing is against Ratfur now." He mewed. "It depends on this one's condition. I think we should wait until he is better. Some cat wont be fighting her best." Ivypaw teased. "Ill kill Ratfur myself." She vowed. Stemstar nodded. "I think that is fair. Ill speak to Turtleheart. If she agrees I'll let the clan know that Ratfur is to be killed by Squirrelfoot. Even in exile he has come into our land." Stemstar decided. Squirrelfoot flicked her tail. "Littlewhisker and Volenose, carry him home." Ivypaw mewed. "After that, Volenose may go home. I bet she misses her kits." Stemstar said. "Littlewhisker and the rest of the clan are deeply thankful. In fact, go home now. I'll carry him home." Stemstar said. Volenose touched noses with Littlewhisker before hurrying off.
At camp the clan began getting ready for battle. They were attacking at moonhigh. Squirrelfoot had been pushed from the medicine den by Turtleheart, saying they needed space. She sighed, sitting close by as Stemstar called the patrols. "The first patrol will be the smallest to drive them out. I will lead Birdnose, Seedstalk and Littlewhisker. Once they are out Whiteclaw will lead Brairfang and Lakespirit. All apprentices remain in camp, if anything happens there Eaglepaw will come for us. Squirrelfoot will be up top of the gorge. Any cat who gets ahold of Ratfur will push him to her. When the killing blow is given they will surrender." Stemstar announced. "Windclan, Windclan!" Littlewhisker started the chant, the rest of the clan joining in. Squirrelfoot remained silent, staring ahead angrily.