Ghosts of the Clans

Chapter 4

"What?" Redpaw was up on his paws in an instant, while Olivepaw's eyes shot open, blinking sleep away. The reek of dog foxes hung in the air, and snarls filled the air.

Whitewater hurtled in. "Two dog foxes! And mates, probably." she explained, nudging them to their paws and herding them into a corner of the apprentices' den. "Stay there. We don't want you to be hurt." she warned. Just before she could dash off, Redpaw whined, "Why us? We can fight! Besides, I bet Shrewpaw and Owlpaw are fighting right now!"

Whitewater fixed him with an orange stare. "They're two moons older than you, and you two can barely fight! Especially you, Redpaw." she reminded, and he stiffened. How dare she? Olivepaw winced at the long-furred white she-cat's words, and pressed her pelt against his.

Once she had left, Redpaw rounded on Olivepaw, his claws working hard against the floor. "I'm going to join the battle to prove Whitewater wrong. I don't care if you aren't going to join, or tell Blackstar about it." With that, the mottled brown-and-ginger tom hurtled away, his pelt spiking.

Redpaw dashed outside, ignoring Olivepaw's wailes to stop. Warriors were everywhere, clawing at two dog foxes. They were huge! With snapping jaws that could break a warrior's spine easily, they were obviously dangerous. And yet he did not even hesitate to plunge into the fight where his father, Pouncetail, was attacking the male fox.

"What-" Pouncetail let out a surprised cry as Redpaw leapt and scored his claws along the fox's flank. The dark brown tabby tom faltered in his attack, and the dog fox shook Redpaw off, advancing on Pouncetail. Luckily, Kinkfur was there, sinking her sharp claws into the fox and dragging it away from him. Oakfur joined in the attack, and Redpaw saw his pelt brush against KInkfur's almost affectionately.

But now wasn't the time to wonder if the pair were mates. Recovering quickly, Redpaw jumped onto the fox's back once more, scrabbling against its spine. It let out loud yaps, and threw him off-again. Evidently, Redpaw had none nothing except to annoy it.

Swiping Ratscar away with a massive paw, it yapped again at Redpaw, slamming one heavy paw onto his stomach. Redpaw was to slow to dodge the blow, and agony flared in every bone. He let out a screech, all four paws battering at the dog fox. But he could feel StarClan drawing closer, all because of one foolish act...

"Get away from my brother!" a wild howl came from nowhere. Olivepaw crashed into the dog fox, growling viciously and knocking it away. Whitewater followed after her, not even pausing to look at Redpaw, and hurled herself onto its belly, leaving long clawmarks. Oakfur and Kinkfur continued their attack, slashing at its throat and shoulders. 

Pain burning in his wound, Redpaw tried to struggle to his paws, but his legs would not support him. He felt himself leaning onto a cat's soft fur, and breathed in the familiar scent of Pouncetail. "Stay with me, my son. I'll bring you to the medicine cat's den," his father murmured, his mew barely audible. Everything was spinning, and he could only feel the steady pump of blood from his belly.

He collapsed, and everything went black.