Chapter 16

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"Death to the Clans!" the Dark Forest cats chanted repeatedly. Minnowtail shuddered. The dreaded time for the recruits was here. They had to attack their own Clanmates. Well, most of the recruits, that is. Breezepelt, Hollowflight and Redwillow looked positively excited while the rest look torn. Ivypool wasn't even here!

"Is Ivypool coming?" she overheard Mapleshade question Birchfall and Blossomfall. Blossomfall bristled. "Of course!" But part of her defensive answer came from fear, Minnowtail realised. Fear for the silver-and-white tabby she-cat.

Darkstripe grunted. "I never trusted Ivypool. Sly as a Twoleg dog, doing everything Tigerstar wishes."

Watching them confer together, Minnowtail considered her choices once again. To fight for the Dark Forest and watch helplessly as her Clanmates were slaughtered, or to fight for the Clans and get herself slaughtered. After all, Brokenstar had promised that if she broke her vow, her life would be taken away.

With a heavy heart, Minnowtail made the decision.

"Dark Forest, attack!" Houndleap yowled, charging into the nearest warrior- Pebblefoot. Taking in a deep, shuddering breath, Minnowtail turned to Icewing. "I'm not fighting for the Dark Forest." she declared solemnly. The white she-cat nodded in agreement, baring her fangs. "I'll kill them."

While the snowy-white she-cat dashed off to fight beside her Clanmates, Minnowtail saw Hollowflight hesitating, his claws flashing in and out as he stared at Pouncetail. The ginger-and-white tom stared at the dark brown tom, his sky-blue eyes blazing. "You wouldn't hurt your Clanmates, would you?" At last, Hollowflight dipped his head. "No, I won't."

"Traitor!" a ginger she-cat, Scorchfang, hurled herself at Hollowflight. The dark brown tabby tom pushed her away with a fierce swipe, then raked her shoulders. Together, him and Pouncetail worked together, slashing at Scorchfang.

"Watch out!" another Dark Forest cat, Stripewhisker, was hurtling towards the duelling cats. He shoved Pouncetail off Scorchfang and together, the two of them reared and bore down on the RiverClan cats.

Minnowtail leapt forward, but was knocked back by a slash to her muzzle. She regained her paws, her hackles rising. In front of her stood Raggedfur, his dark brown tabby fur only slightly ruffled. He licked his white paw and drawled, "Traitor. You deserve to be punished."

Minnowtail bared her teeth and tried to barge past him, but Raggedfur leapt onto her and held her down, raking her spine with his hind claws. She squirmed, but the tom wouldn't let go, until she rolled, crushing him.

Raising one paw, Minnowtail was about to bring it down when he suddenly jerked and knocked her off. The two cats tussled together, and finally, she bore down on the dark brown tabby tom, sinking her fangs into his throat.

Her dark gray-and-white fur stained with blood, Minnowtail looked around for Pouncetail and Hollowflight. Then, she saw it. The body of the dark brown tom, lifeless. Willowshine guiding Pouncetail, who was barely conscious,  to the medicine cat den.

There was a hiss behind her, and she turned to see Petalfur cowering under Frecklewish. The small gray-and-white she-cat had one eye badly swollen, and was too slow to keep up with the speckled golden she-cat's swift attacks.

Letting power flow to her muscles, Minnowtail leaped and pulled Frecklewish away from her Clanmate, slashing at her opponent's belly. Frecklewish turned on her, spitting. "You betrayed us!" "So what if I did? I have loyalty!" Minnowtail retorted, swiping at the speckled golden she-cat's cheek.

She dodged and lunged at Minnowtail, so fast that she knew that she would not be able to stop it. But Frecklewish was suddenly jerked backward, howling in agony. Petalfur, despite her injured and weak state, was holding on to Frecklewish's hind leg, so hard that Minnowtail heard the crack of bone breaking.

Working together, the two RiverClan she-cats ducked, swiped and bit as one, driving Frecklewish out of the camp. With a final defiant glare from her dark amber eyes, she turned and fled. Petalfur promptly collapsed, her paws trembling with the strain.

"I'll carry her. You go fight," Mallownose appeared, is cheek bloody and having a torn ear. He grabbed his Clanmate's scruff and hauled her away, leaving Minnowtail.

"I see a traitor!" a snarl sounded behind her. She turned and saw Stripewhisker, Stumpytail and Spottedmask, three Dark Forest warriors. They advanced towards her, trapping her. Stumpytail lashed out with one paw and caught Minnowtail's ear, while Spottedmask leapt and pinned her down.

Stripewhisker paced around her, slashing her cheeks until she yowled with pain. Blood streamed from her face and her belly was throbbing. Agony flared through her and she kicked out, clawing at Stumpytail. Spottedmask sank her teeth into her throat and pushed her backwards, while Stripewhisker swiped at her.

When she could barely even stand, Stumpytail growled, "Let's leave her here to die." The three Dark Forest warriors headed off, cackling as they attacked Troutstream and Mossyfoot.

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