Fire and Ice

Chapter 30

Tigerclaw turned to address his warriors in a fierce hiss that carried through the wind. "Whitestorm, wait until you hear my battle cry! Onewhisker, you lead us through the camp entrance; we'll take care of the rest."

Onewhisker instantly raced down the slope toward the snow-covered bushes. Tigerclaw thundered after him, Darkstripe at his heels. Skyfall was right behind the gray tabby, through the narrow tunnel that led into the heart of WindClan. The gorse was as dense and sharp as she remembered. Whitestorm's party remained at the top of the slope, a fresh wave ready to attack after the initial barrage.

Skyfall skidded to a halt as she took in the sight around her. The first time she'd ever set foot in WindClan camp, it was deserted and the ground was soaked in fried blood. Now the clearing was swarming with screeching, writhing, fighting cats that turned the white snow red. Onewhisker was right—the WindClan cats were hopelessly outnumbered. Extra ShadowClan and RiverClan cats circled the edge of the clearing, but WindClan could spare no more claws. Every cat was fighting; apprentices and elders, warriors and queens.

Skyfall spotted Morningflower wrestling with a ShadowClan warrior. The queen looked exhausted and terrified, but she still twisted nimbly around her opponent to scratch at her attacker. But he was larger and stronger, easily knocking her to the ground with one swipe.

With a snarl, Skyfall lunged and landed squarely on the larger warrior's shoulders. She clung on while the surprised warrior twisted and tried to shake her loose. Morningflower ripped at his pelt with her claws as Skyfall dragged him to the ground. The ShadowClan tom screeched and tore himself free. He ran to the prickly wall and pushed himself through. Morningflower offered her a grateful nod before turning back to the battle.

Skyfall looked around. The extra ShadowClan and RiverClan warriors had now joined the fight. ThunderClan's arrival had evened the numbers for a while, but now the second patrol was needed. Skyfall heard Tigerclaw's battle cry ring out into the night and a moment later Whitestorm exploded into the clearing, followed by Graystripe, Willowpelt, and the rest of the warriors.

Skyfall gripped a RiverClan warrior, knocking him unsteady with one paw and holding him down with the other. She rolled the tom over and raked his belly with her hind claws. The RiverClan warrior kicked her off and leaped away, crashing into a WindClan warrior. Skyfall recognized Onewhisker as he turned and reared back to begin attacking the RiverClan tom as soon as he took in the enemy warrior. Skyfall saw the fire in his eyes. She knew she could leave him to finish it.

A familiar hiss made Skyfall turn. Graystripe was wrestling with a gray ShadowClan cat. It was Wetfoot, a warrior who had helped in the fight to exile Brokenstar and his followers. The two warriors were well matched in terms of strength. Graystripe threw Wetfoot across the clearing and whipped around, searching for another cat to attack. Skyfall saw a RiverClan cat creeping up behind Graystripe. Skyfall could hear the blood roaring in her ears over the sound of battle. Would Graystripe be able to attack Silverstream's Clan mate?

Graystripe leaped, but instead of landing on the RiverClan cat, he soared over them and onto another ShadowClan warrior.

Skyfall heard Tigerclaw call her name. She twisted her head to see the deputy at the other end of the clearing. The fighting was thickest there, with members of every Clan battling together.

As she charged toward her deputy, teeth gripped her hind paw, pulling her down. It was Leopardfur.

"You!" hissed the RiverClan deputy. Their last meeting was the fight at the gorge, where Whiteclaw had died.

Skyfall threw her off and rolled to get to her feet, but it was too late. Leopardfur didn't waste a second in the small moment her soft belly fur was exposed. She reared up and came down on Skyfall with all her weight. Skyfall gasped as the wind was knocked out of her before thorn-sharp claws dug into her belly. She screamed in agony. As black splotches covered her vision, she could see Tigerclaw watching her with cold, expressionless eyes.