A Spark in the Night, part one: The Spark Ignites

Chapter thirteen

Softcloud managed to pull herself awake, only to realize Leafclaw and Grasswhisker were dragging her by her scruff. Before she could react, they pushed her into a stream and began holding her under. What's going on? Are they trying to- They're trying to drown me! But, they think I'm asleep, so if I try to escape now, they'll be unprepared. But I only have one shot. Softcloud's lungs were screaming for air, (she must've exhaled right before being pushed underwater,) so she decided to take the risk. She was lucky, because there was a current. Any movement could be assumed to be said current.

Making up her mind, she dug her claws into the streambed and pulled herself out of their grip. As soon as she was far enough away, she burst out of the water and drew in as much air as possible. She heard their angry yowls. I have to get out fast! Softcloud struggled out of the water and turned around to face the toms, who'd caught up by then. "Why are you trying so hard to kill me? Last time I asked, you told me I made the Clan look bad, but that isn't true. I've survived all your attacks, and fought off a huge rogue single-pawed during my assessment!" She demanded. That rogue was scrawny anyway, but they don't know that.

Leafclaw examined the claws on one forepaw. "Yes, you are a fine warrior now, but you know what we're prepared to do, so you have to die." He meowed almost casually.

Softcloud glared at them. "I won't die in your paws. And I won't attack a clanmate, either. No matter how much you deserve it." she snapped, before heading into the camp.

"Strikestone, Foxpaw, come here."

They looked up at her and trotted in her direction. "Why are you wet?" Foxpaw asked, at the same time Strikestone asked, "What did Grasswhisker and Leafclaw do?"

Softcloud beckoned with her tail. "Not here. We'll talk somewhere else."

"Okay," began Softcloud, sitting down in soft grass. "So, I went to sleep, after my vigil. And then," I can't tell them how I really knew to wake up. "I felt like I was being dragged, so I woke up, and guess who it was." Softcloud could tell they both knew. "So, before I could do anything, they threw me into a river-"

Strikestone interrupted her. "Run!" Softcloud looked up and saw a huge NightClan patrol invading the land around the Heather Field.

Softcloud burst into camp, Foxpaw and Strikestone at her tail. "NightClan has taken territory!"

Blumist jumped to her paws. "Freklespots! Stickleaf! Featherleap! Orangepaw! Yarrowleaf! Mistywing! Go with them! I'll be following you, I need to tell Emberstar."

The chosen cats ran up to Softcloud and the others and they made their way towards the Heather Field.

"MistClan!" yowled Bluemist. "Attack!!"

The MistClan patrol swarmed onto the stretch of land. They were slightly outnumbered, but the NightClan cats were all apprentices, except for two warriors. Really mouse-brained move on Gosrestar's part. The NightClan cats leapt to their paws. She heard some cat yowling, "Rainpaw! Wake up!"

A gray tom jumped to his paws. "What- why am I? Hey- there are MistClan cats here? I thought you said-"

"NightClan! Attack!" Yowls erupted all around Softcloud. She noticed two apprentices, a tom and a she-cat charging towards her, screeching. Softcloud fought off the tom, but while she was doing so, the she-cat landed some well-aimed blows. She turned to the new, and young-looking apprentice and raked her claws across the young cat's muzzle, careful not to hurt her too much, but enough to scare her out of fighting. She watched the apprentice flee. Coward.

As Softcloud was looking for anywhere she could be of use, she felt claws rake across her back. She dodged another blow, and leapt on top of the tom who had attacked her. One of the warriors. As he was struggling to knock her off, she landed a few really good blows. He rolled over, and she fell off, but quickly leapt to her paws and churned his exposed belly. This is a useful move! He yowled in agony, before pulling free and turning around to fight Orangepaw, who was only seven moons old. Another coward! She couldn't let Orangepaw fight him alone, so she leaped to fight on his side. Softcloud jumped on top of him while Orangepaw landed blows. She jumped off and the NightClan warrior ran away.

Softcloud noticed Strikestone struggling to fight off the two warriors, and an apprentice, Vinepaw. No, Strikestone! I can't lose him! She ran towards them, and leapt onto Vinepaw, crushing him. She got off and he staggered away, confused, but not seriously injured. "Tail to tail." She meowed urgently to Strikestone, who obeyed and they managed to land great blows, blocking most of the coming ones. "NightClan!" She heard a yowl. "Retreat!!"

The NightClan cats turn tail and run, the one Softcloud was fighting growled at her and stalked away.