Ghosts of the Clans (COMPLETED)

Chapter 22

Birchfall's claws nicked Redwillow's ear, and he felt it tear. "Stop!" Ivypool yowled, causing Birchfall to freeze mid-lunge. "What's wrong?" " I smell blood. We're only training. I don't want any injuries," she snapped in return. Come on, it's just blood!

As Birchfall blinked, puzzled, Redwillow scrambled up from beneath the light brown tabby tom. "It was just a nick," he showed her his ear, where he could feel blood welling. "Just be careful," Ivypool cautioned. Really? In the Dark Forest, and you say 'be careful'?

"Be careful? There's a war coming and it won't be won with sheathed claws. I thought you were helping to train our recruits to fight like real warriors, not soft Clan cats." Hawkfrost curled his lip in a snarl and stared at Ivypool, who had spun around.

"Clan cats aren't soft!" Birchfall bristled, but Redwillow had unsheathed his claws. Hawkfrost was right about that to him, no matter what Birchfall meowed. "Then why do you come here?" Hawkfrost challenged Birchfall.

Seizing the opportunity to showcase his loyalty to the Dark Forest, Redwillow whisked his tail. "Our Clans need us to be the best warriors we can be. You told us, remember?" He was pleased when Hawkfrost nodded slowly. "And you can only learn the skills you need here." He flicked his nose toward Birchfall, narrowing ice-blue eyes at Ivypool. "Attack Redwillow again. This time don't stop at the first scent of blood." Finally!

He saw Ivypool swallow, then growl and barge past Birchfall. "Do it like this," She told him. Before Redwillow had time to prepare, she had hurled herself at Redwillow with a hiss, ducking away from his outstretched claws, and grasped his forepaw between her jaws. Using his own heavier weight to unbalance himself, she snapped her head around and twisted him deftly onto his back. Redwillow landed with a thump, and saw the silver-and-white tabby she-cat glance briefly back at Hawkfrost. Why do you need his approval? You're the mentor, not him!

"Hawkfrost!" Birchfall and Redwillow stared wide-eyed as Applefur, Redwillow's Clanmate, appeared from he mist, her eyes bright and mottled brown pelt pulsing with heat from training. "Blossomfall and Hollowflight want to fight Dark Forest warriors."

I do, too! Redwillow looked at Ivypool, but the she-cat's eyes were fixed on Applefur as her apprentices padded out of the shadows. "We can fight Clan cats anytime," Blossomfall complained, and Hollowflight nodded. "We came here to learn skills we can't learn anywhere else." The RiverClan tom's dark brown pelt was matted with blood. Clumps of fur stuck out along his spine. The sign that you've been actually training, Redwillow thought slightly enviously.

Ivypool glanced at Hawkfrost, avoiding Redwillow's stare yet again. "Are there any Dark Forest warriors nearby?" Yes! Please let there be...

"Of course." Hawkfrost tasted the air, the screech of fighting cats echoing through the mist as usual. It had become so familiar to Redwillow that he only heard it when he listened for it. "Why aren't we training with them tonight?" The silver-and-white tabby she-cat voiced Redwillow's eager thoughts.

Hawkfrost wove between Blossomfall and Applefur, ice-blue eyes gleaming. "I want you to learn how other Clans fight. You may be fighting side by side one day. You need to know your allies' moves so you can match them, claw for claw." How and why? Redwillow leaned forward, but just then a husky growl echoed from the trees as Tigerstar padded from the shadows, his wide dark brown tabby head held high. 

"Four Clans will unite as one when it matters most. This is the law of the Dark Forest. Remember it." Birchfall nodded solemnly beside Redwillow. "Four Clans will unite as one when it matters most," he echoed, and Redwillow's tail twitched in agreement.

"When will that be?" Blossomfall's light blue eyes rounded. "You will know when the time comes." Mapleshade slunk from the trees, her tortoiseshell pelt so transparent that Redwillow could practically see through her. 

"Tigerstar?" Blossomfall turned to the dark warrior next. "Are we training for something special?" And what is it? Redwillow was just as curious, but he kept his mouth shut. "Not yet." Ivypool told them quickly, one eye on Tigerstar. When he nodded, she went on, "But you never know. There will be more cats like Sol ready to lead one Clan against another." They all knew that Sol had invoked a battle between ThunderClan and WindClan a quarter moon earlier.

Applefur stepped forward, tail high. "Next time a rogue tries to drive us apart, I stand beside ThunderClan, not against them!" Redwillow nodded fervently, despite seeing Ivypool shift her paws, glancing swiftly at Birchfall, who was, in fact, her father.

Tigerstar suddenly flicked his tail. "Go back to your nests," he ordered the Clan cats. Hollowflight tipped his head. "But its early." :The senior warriors have a meeting." Tigerstar nodded to Mapleshade and Hawkfrost, who pricked their ears.

"Can I come?" Ivypool asked, and Redwillow flinched at the boldness in her tone. Did ThunderClan cats do everything that recklessly, even crossing Dark Forest warriors' orders? He was almost pleased when Mapleshade narrowed her amber eyes. "No."

"I'm a mentor now," Ivypool pressed. "While you still have the taste of living prey on your tongue, you're not truly one of us," Mapleshade snarled in return. Tigerstar nodded. "Go back to your Clan and rest. You'll need your strength tomorrow night." He stalked into the shadows with Mapleshade closely behind.

Looking forward to some actual sleep, Redwillow closed her eyes, but not before seeing the glint in Ivypool's dark blue eyes. Was she going to continue badgering the senior warriors? You won't succeed...