𝗪𝗔𝗥𝗥𝗜𝗢𝗥𝗦ᶠᵃⁿᶠⁱᶜᵗⁱᵒⁿ 一 𝔅𝔩𝔞𝔷𝔦𝔫𝔤 𝔓𝔞𝔰𝔱 [𝟑]

❆☾𑁍𓆱ᥴhᥲρtᥱr 𝟺𝟼𓆱𑁍☽❆

The rain was pattering down on the canopies in the form of heavy, cold drops when several howls roused Larkwing from her sleep.

"We've seen them! They're on their way here!"

With a tingle, Larkwing's fur bristled. The time has come. The Shadowless are about to attack.

Beside her, Lakepelt stirred and pulled himself to his paws. His light blue eyes glowed like two thin rings. "It's new moon," he realised, "and they're actually coming on time."

"At least they weren't here earlier," Larkwing added.

She slipped out of her den. Within a few heartbeats, she was dripping wet. The rain was so strong that she could barely see far enough. In addition, there was a wind that swirled the drops around, and thin veils of mist.

This is the worst possible night for a battle, she thought, shivering. It was bad enough that no moon was shining tonight. But the weather was also throwing a huge spanner in the works. That was why she refrained from checking the air for the approaching Shadowless, even though her nose itched to do just that. Under these circumstances, not even Amberhaze could make out a scent.

Suddenly, something cold and wet brushed against her flank. With a high, startled mew, she hopped to the side. "You dung-covered piece of crowfood!" she gasped, arching her back. "You're all wet!"

Provokingly, Lakepelt stalked around her and whipped a load of drops into her face with his bushy tail. "Unfortunately, I'm not waterproof. But you're already wet anyway. You can't get any wetter."

"Can you be anything other than mean?" Larkwing retorted snappishly.

A paw hit her on the head. "No, actually, I can't."

Oh, just wait! Larkwing threw herself forwards in a flash and rammed Lakepelt over. Despite his huge size, he was surprisingly easy to bring down, but she wasn't fooled by this and pressed his head down with her front paws, just as she had learnt from him.

Lakepelt snapped at her in vain. "Have I told you that you're really heavy? How much do you even eat?" he complained.

With feigned indignation, Larkwing gasped. "Certainly less than you! You're already stuffing yourself with everything you can eat."

"Have you ever considered that it's because I'm larger than you?"

"Have you ever considered that you're just a glutton?" Larkwing replied and sat up.

Lakepelt shook out his black tabby and white fur. "First you say I'm mean, but you're not much nicer yourself."

And who started it? But before Larkwing could say anything, Redleaf beat her to it. "Seriously, are you kits?" the orange tabby and white tom rebuked them while coming over, his ears flattened. "You'd better get ready for when the Shadowless are about to come."