Ghosts of the Clans (COMPLETED)

Chapter 17

"In a battle, you won't be fighting one-on-one. Cats will come at you from all directions, and you have to be ready. Now, I want all of you to attack me at once," Hawkfrost instructed, his ice-blue eyes shining in the pallid light.

"All of us?" Breezepelt sounded disbelieving, and Redwillow shot a glare at the black tom. Mouse-brain! What do you think Hawkfrost's in the Dark Forest for? "That's what I said. I'll take you on by myself later, if you want." Hawkfrost's voice had an edge. "No, that's fine, Hawkfrost," Breezepelt answered hastily, drawing back a step. That's what you deserve!

"Okay. Attack- now!" Without hesitation, Redwillow leaped, sensing Icewing and Ratscar to the same beside him. He landed in front of Hawkfrost, and began swiping, but felt himself being knocked away. Icewing stumbled beside him, her sky-blue eyes wide, while Sunstrike, Breezepelt and Tigerheart worked together to knock Hawkfrost over. 

The dark brown tabby tom's head disappeared under the heap of warriors, but soon enough, he recovered his paws, snapping at Tigerheart's paw and hauling it away. Redwillow thrust himself forward again, rolling low with claws outstretched, but before he could deal a single blow he felt claws raking down his side.

Stumbling backwards, he saw cats rear back one by one, and reluctantly followed, admitting defeat. Soon, Hawkfrost stood alone once again, ruffled and panting but with not a single injury. That was awesome! I want to be just like that one day... free of the warrior code to do whatever I want.

"Now, who can tell me what you've learned today?" the dark brown tabby warrior went on when he had caught his breath. "Stay away from your claws," Tigerheart muttered, licking his bleeding paw. If Redwillow had been closer, he would have clouted the young tom over the ear. But yet a murmur of amusement rose from the other cats, rousing his irritation.

"Anything useful?" Hawkfrost prompted, with a hint of scorn in his voice. Icewing raised her tail. "You were fighting with all four paws," she mewed, earning an approving nod from Hawkfrost. "Good, Icewing. That's exactly what I was doing." "But how?" Hollowpaw demanded, thrashing his tail.

"Watch and I'll show you. I'll do it slowly." Hawkfrost balanced on his hind paws and reached out with his forepaws, claws extended. Then in a swift movement he raked them downward, a blow that would catch any cat trying to creep up low. So that was how I'd been clawed! Redwillow realised.

The moment Hawkfrost's forepaws touched the ground, he struck out with his hind paws, making it nearly impossible to try to attack from behind. "Like that. Now you try," he repeated the move once more, faster this time, then gestured for them to begin. 

Shredtail, a ragged, dark brown tabby tom, turned glittering yellow eyes on Redwillow and Ratscar. "Let me watch you two try." Ratscar looked uncomfortable, and practically tripped over his own paws doing the move. "I feel better actually doing it in real life," he complained, to which Shredtail rolled his eyes. "Let me see you try, Redwillow."

Though not perfect, Redwillow still did it better than Ratscar, and Shredtail gave him a nod. Redwillow flicked his tail and teased his Clanmate, "I'm better at you, huh?" Ratscar simply let out a good-humoured growl.

About to continue practicing, a flash of pale fur caught the three cats' eye. Ivypool was padding up to Hawkfrost, talking to the dark brown tabby tom almost coolly. Then, Hawkfrost raised his voice. "Cats of the Dark Forest!"

They gathered around him, eyes bright with eagerness, including Redwillow. Hawkfrost surveyed them approvingly. "Well done. Now you need a chance to practice your new skill in battle. Ivypool is ready to help you. Strike!"

He leaped out of the circle, and the cats charged forward. Breezepelt leaped onto Ivypool and tried the balance-and-slash, but the silver-and-white tabby she-cat sprang backward and the WindClan warrior missed, losing his balance and staggering. Ivypool snarled something that Redwillow couldn't make out, but he raked his claws down her back, feeling a prick of satisfaction.

Tigerheart then lunged forward, landing directly on top of Ivypool and growling. She lashed out with her hind paws, battering at Tigerheart's belly, and he rolled away, catching her blow over the ear. Harespring reared up and swiped at her shoulders, while Redwillow fixed his teeth onto her tail, so that she could barely move.

Without warning, a shadow fell across the battling cats, and the screeching was cut off. Beetlewhisker jumped off from Ivypool's back, his chest heaving. Redwillow looked up to see Brokenstar standing at the edge of the clearing, with another cat behind him. "Don't let me interrupt," he rumbled.

Hawkfrost took a pace toward the bigger tom, his head dipped in respect. "Welcome, Brokenstar. Can we do anything for you?" "The question should be, what can I do for you?" Brokenstar replied, pacing forward into the centre of the clearing. "This is Blossomfall of ThunderClan." he introduced the cat behind him, who glanced around nervously.

Some cats murmured greetings, and Hawkfrost drawled, "Are you going to show us what this new cat is made of, Brokenstar?" In answer, the former ShadowClan leader beckoned Ratscar. "Fight," he rasped.

Ratscar had a torn ear, but didn't hesitate. Redwillow watched with a pang of envy as the two cats tussled. I wish Brokenstar had chosen me!

Blossomfall hadn't even unsheathed her claws; as a result, Ratscar was literally tearing her into pieces. To Redwillow's surprise, Ivypool darted int the fight, rolling Ratscar off Blossomfall.

"Stop!" All three cats froze as the dark brown tabby tom paced inside to join them. Looming over Ivypool, he fixed her with a baleful amber gaze. "What do you think you're doing? What gives you the right to interfere?" 

Ivypool lifted her chin. "We're loyal to one another, right? Should we stand by like cowards and let one another be defeated in battle?" "You saved your Clanmate," Brokenstar pointed out, his eyes narrowed. "Here, they are all my Clanmates," Ivypool retorted. "I don't see why an apprentice should be lost on her first visit. Spoken like a true warrior.

Brokenstar held her gaze for a moment more, then stepped aside. Redwillow felt his renewed sense of respect for Ivypool deepen. This was a warrior he could finally look up to. Ivypool also turned away, bounding toward Antpelt, and the two exchanged words before Hawkfrost called her away. Minnowtail and Redwillow also moved off to have a separate practice bout.

The dark gray-and-white RiverClan warrior leaped, but Redwillow slid to the side, avoiding a direct blow. However, she lashed out with a paw, catching him on the ear. Letting out a hiss, Redwillow rolled sideways, kicking out strongly with his hind legs and catching her on the stomach. Winded, Minnowtail stumbled, and Redwillow flew at her, digging his claws into her shoulders.

She battered at him with all four paws, and wincing, Redwillow's grip loosened and she slipped out, slippery as a snake, and began slashing at him with her forepaws. Redwillow reared to match her height, and they battled for a while like dancing rabbits. A paw swiped his nose and he growled, flinging a strong blow of his own to hit her neck, tearing off a clump of fur. She staggered, unbalanced, and Redwillow dived, but Minnowtail had leaped over him and was swiping at his hindquarters, her teeth fixed into his tail.

Whipping around, Redwillow scored his claws across her cheek, and just then, Hawkfrost called every cat to a halt.

"You've all done well. Especially you, Blossomfall. That leap-and-twist is coming along nicely. I think you're going to fit in here really well," Hawkfrost praised them, ice-blue eyes gleaming.

Redwillow felt a surge of pride. Yes, we're all going to fit in!