The ThunderClan cats were already there- in the clearing, strutting as if it was already their own. Arrogant fox-hearts! Redwillow seethed under his breath. Did they not think that ShadowClan would defend their own territory?
"Hold the line!" He heard Firestar bark at Blossomfall, who was shuffling from paw to paw. Blackstar chose the moment to stride out, his pelt glossy and chest puffed out. "You gave us this clearing as a gift, Firestar. What kind of a warrior would do that? Remember that this is your choice." He snarled at the flame-coloured tabby tom
"I gave you a choice to return it peacefully. It's not too long to change your mind, Blackstar; no blood will be spilled." Firestar lifted his chin defiantly, staring back at the ShadowClan leader. Undaunted, Blackstar told him, "All blood spilled here today will be on your conscience." He flicked his tail, and the battle started.
Redwillow burst from the undergrowth with Olivenose, swiping at Hazeltail with both paws. The gray-and-white she-cat stumbled backwards. Catching Crowfrost's eye, Redwillow understood the mission and began pushing Hazeltail backwards, to her own territory. Her jaws snapped at his ear and closed around it, but he growled and pushed her back with a kick of his hind legs. Winded, she fell to the ground, and Redwillow pounced on her, only to find that she was gone.
He looked around for his opponent, but she had disappeared into the throng. Both Blackstar and Firestar were lost in the mass of fighting cats, and he saw Dawnpelt pinning Dovepaw, a ThunderClan apprentice down, raking her flanks mercilessly while the pale gray she-cat struggled underneath her.
A grunt of pain sounded behind him, and he saw Smokefoot and Spiderleg tussling. The black ShadowClan tom was strong, but Spiderleg had extremely long legs, giving him an advantage. Leaping forward, Redwillow fastened his teeth into Spiderleg's shoulder and hauled him off, with a couple of blows to his cheeks. Smokefoot blinked at him gratefully before continuing the attack while the younger black tom was confused.
"They broke rank!" a screech from a ShadowClan cat was heard. It sounded like Ratscar, and soon the pounding of paws as ShadowClan gave chase. Redwillow followed, his pelt bristling. Were they about to invade further into ShadowClan territory?
Then he halted, staring around in confusion. Only Thornclaw and Lionblaze stood in the trees, both looking equally bold. Blackstar, his face twisted with rage, hissed. "None of you ThunderClan cats respect borders?" Looking around, he continued, "Where are the rest of you?"
They said nothing, but Thornclaw flicked his tail, and ThunderClan cats began raining from the trees. A body thumped into Redwillow's back and he fell, surprised and winded. Claws raked his spine and he smelt the scents of Foxleap and Sorreltail.
Screeching, he struggled, paws flailing and striking wildly, until he finally managed to slither ungracefully out of Foxleap's grasp. Whirling around, he slashed at Sorreltail's muzzle, then lunged forward and sank his claws into the russet tom's chest. Foxleap gasped with pain, and Sorreltail sank her teeth into Redwillow's tail, dragging him off her Clanmate.
Hissing in defiance at the two ThunderClan cats, Redwillow saw Snowbird and Rosepetal facing each other, fur bushed up. Ivypaw slashed at Starlingpaw, and he admired her accuracy, feeling a twinge of alarm. He backed away into the throng when he saw Olivenose shrieking as she was pummelled by Brackenfur and Dustpelt, two much more experienced warriors. He had to help his sister.
Not caring about his attackers, he dived in, sinking his fangs into Brackenfur's shoulder and ripping him off, hearing a click as the golden brown tabby collapsed, one paw held at an awkward angle. His leg looked dislocated, and Dustpelt hurried over to him, with one final blow at Olivenose which she ducked, but barely.
"Are you okay?" Redwillow gaped at seeing his heavily wounded sister. One eye was sealed shut, and blood trickled from her neck. She was also limping heavily, and had lost fur from her back and hindquarters, having a long gash on her belly as well. "I'm fine, Redwillow." she winced as a new wave of agony hit her, but Redwillow didn't protest. She knew herself best.
Leafpool skidded in front of them, claws out and amber eyes wide. Redwillow's lip curled in glee. She's a medicine cat, not a warrior! Charging forward, he dealt a heavy blow to her flank, which she failed to block. One paw raised, he was about to give her more serious injuries when Cloudtail appeared, his long white pelt streaked with blood. He snarled upon seeing Redwillow and knocked him away. Olivenose staggered up and in spite of her injured state, began swiping at the white tom.
A screech was heard from the battling cats, and Redwillow whipped around to see Russetfur and Firestar, locked in combat. The ShadowClan deputy's jaws were buried deep in the flame-coloured tom's neck, and however hard he struggled, he couldn't free himself.
No! I promised Tigerstar that I would be the one to kill him! Redwillow thought frantically, sprinting towards the two of them. Then, he saw Lionblaze, thrusting his way through the crowd and knocking away whichever cat challenged him with hefty swipes of his paw. He's blocking my way.
Redwillow leaped, slashing toward the golden tom's broad shoulders, but found himself, to his annoyance, knocked away as well. By the time he got his breath back, he let out a yowl.
Lionblaze had pulled Russetfur off, but now she lay on the ground, unmoving, her dark green eyes wide and blank. Blackstar, duelling with Brambleclaw, jerks his head toward her, his amber eyes huge with shock.
"ShadowClan! The battle is over- Russetfur is dead."
YOU ARE READING
Ghosts of the Clans
FanficEver wondered why some Clan cats chose to train in the Dark Forest? Well, this book will show you! All credits to Erin hunter, and hope you like the make-believe stories! These are stories from Antpelt, Minnowtail and Redwillow, to share about their...