Colorful Doom

Chapter 11

Nightfeather watched in dismay as Mistflower was pushed to the ground by Addertooth.

"Why did you retreat!?" He snarled, unsheating his claws.

Pebblepelt pulled Addertooth off thw stunned she-cat, gaze grim. "Relax. Fighting isn't going to improve the situation."

"My kits! How will they live!?" Lily cried, curling her tail around their hunched forms.

Mistflower cleared her throat. "We need to keep moving. Let's try to at least get farther into the territory.  Shadestar should be close."

Nightfeather closed her eyes, trying to bite back a screech of frustration. The camp. Their camp. The camp she had grown up in. Where would they live? Would Rosestar continue to attack them? And what if a cat got injured? Foxfang had carried a few herbs for her, but they were hardly enough for a whole Clan. She opened her eyes as she felt a tail trace over her back. Sparrowwing was standing next to her, gaze glazed over from exhaustion.

"The spy." Was all he said.

Nightfeather nodded in acknowledgement. There was no way Rosestar could have known that Shadestar and Blazefur would have been absent from camp. Someone told her. The black she-cat's eyes widened as she realized during all this, one cat was absent from the mix.

"Thistle," she murmured to Sparrowwing. His eyes widened in understanding.

The bushes in front of the ShadowClan cats rustled, and Mistflower raised her tail. The warriors immediately formed a tight circle around Lily, Birdsong, Marshfur, and Leaftail. Mistflower stood in front of the protective circle, eyes narrowed and muscles bunched.

Rosestar padded into the clearing, eyes flashing with something Nightfeather couldn't quite place. Behind her stood Thistle.

"As Thistle has informed me, you have his mate in your midst. Give us her, and we will leave your territory." Rosestar meowed, tone lazy. "Your territory is small and lacking of prey. You can keep it."

Gasps ran through the cats. Nightfeather trained her eyes on the rogue she had called her friend. She glanced back at Lily, who was shaking. "N-no, p-p-please! Don't l-let m-m-me go with him!"

Mistflower turned to the frightened she-cat. "What do you mean, Lily?" She asked gently, using her tail to stroke her.

"T-t-these aren't his k-k-kits! He always hurts me! He scarred me, and said if I didn't act like his m-m-mate, than h-he would k-k-k-kill me!" She whimpered, letting out a heaving gasp.

Nightfeather blinked and turned back to Thistle, who had a smug look on his face. "You monster," she hissed.

Mistflower turned back to Rosestar, gaze cool. "You will not take Lily."

Yowls of encouragement rose from the ShadowClan cats. Nightfeather felt her heart rise a bit. Her Clan was caring.  They wouldn't let this happen.

Thitsle cocked his head to one side. "Oh, but don't you want to come back to your mate?" He bared thorn-sharp fangs. "We can play."

Lily let out a screech and pulled her kits closer. Nightfeather could smell her fear, and her heart wilted for the young queen.

Pebblepelt stepped forward. "You will not allow you to harm Lily any longer." He growled.

Rosestar yawned dramatically.  "Very well, you fools. Have fun living like a pack of rogues. If you are found on our territory again, you will be murdered in the most brutal way possible." She turned around and padded away, Thitsle following close behind.