Warriorcats #1: Vengeance

Chapter Twenty-Two

    Hope filled Tallpaw like a rush of water. Out of no where, cats began streaming out of the forest, some from shadows and some from rocks. Although there were only so many cats, it seemed like a whole wave had come to their rescue. Beside Tallpaw, Skypaw leapt to her paws. "Duskgaze!" She meowed, flicking her tail towards the salty grey tom. Cloudstar grinned as he spotted Pebblestar. "I knew you'd help us." He meowed as she approached. The fellow leader laughed. "I've always had your back, Cloudstar." With that, she turned and began leading the attack, shouting strict battle orders and quick pep-talk. The Stormclanners soon began to help drive the rogues closer to the end of the gorge.

     Out of all the havoc, Tallpaw noticed that Mask was no where to be seen. Alarm swept through him. With a pang of sadness, he realized that Birchfeather was missing as well. He must have gone to help his new leader. Tallpaw thought sourly. This whole battle would be for nothing if Mask wasn't stopped. Hesitantly, Tallpaw wormed his way out of the clash of cats. The battle was hard to read, as both sides seemed equally as well-matched as the other. After walking for a while he heard Birchfeather's faint voice. It was hardly audible. Quickly, Tallpaw leapt behind a bush. He was downwind, so the two toms didn't notice his scent. "Mask, they'll get you no matter what. You must surrender or else you will surely be killed. The clans are on high alert! They know exactly who you are." Birchfeather's voice was almost pleading, but it stell held a note of authority and gruff honesty. After a slight pause, Mask sighed icily. "I will not surrender as long as the sky is blue, Birchfeather. You know that." He replied. Birchfeather growled. "Then what will you do? Continue to run like a coward?" He's trying to get Mask to back down! He's on our side!

     That seemed to superbly infuriate the tom. In seconds, Birchfeather was on the ground, blood dripping from his snout. Mask had sent a brutal blow to his head, knocking him face first into the hard ground. He winced in pain. This was not good. In a flash, Tallpaw found himself barreling into the tom. He put all of his force and weight into it, the velocity slamming Mask into the ground. He grunted as a thin snap filled the air. Puzzled, none of the opponents knew who had broken a bone. For a small moment, they both inspected each other, until finally Mask thrust Tallpaw off of him. Birchfeather had regained his footing and was attacking the tom from behind. Mask, agitated by the turn of events, began to fight with the most might he'd ever used. He was so fast, quick, and cunning, Birchfeather was soon back on the ground. With Birchfeather unconcious, Tallpaw found that this battle was the last part of his journey, and it wasn't going too well. He had to make a decision, whether it be to flee and hope Mask would  not return, or fight and exterminate the threat.

     This is it. Tallpaw thought, mustering all of his courage. With a howl, he rushed forwards, tackling the tom and throwing him backwards. His might was so forceful, Mask rolled multiple fox-lengths before catching his paw hold. By now, the fight had escalated to the edge of the gorge. They were on the very top, just mouse-lengths away from the cliff that could be the death of any creature. Mask eyed Tallpaw warily. "You think you've won, eh?" His voice was sharp and exaggerated, thick with a strange accent he hadn't revealed before. "Not today." In a flash, the tom was beside Tallpaw, knocking him sideways. The velocity sent Tallpaw rolling perilously close to the edge. He skidded to a halt just centimeters away, turning to face his opponent. Mask was grinning mischeviously.

     "This is what you get for trusting Starclan." He growled, and pushed Tallpaw backwards. Tallpaw swept his forepaw outwards, managing to catch the tom's shoulder. He dug his claws in as deep as he could, almost hugging the tom as he felt his hind legs slip on the rocks. "Tallpaw!" Birchfeather's voice was high and hardly audible. There was nothing he could do. Together, Mask and Tallpaw hurtled off of the cliff, falling to almost certain doom.

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    Skypaw was so overjoyed about the victory against the Air Sweepers that she didn't even notice Tallpaw's absence. He must have gone to find Birchfeather and Mask... She realized. Worried, she turned to her clanmates. None of the Stormclanners had gotten seriously injured, but a few of the Ashclanners had attained some nasty wounds. Luckily, there was nothing a good night's rest couldn't cure. It had been a while since the Air Sweepers had retreated and Tallpaw and Birchfeather were still no where to be seen.

     Suddenly, Birchfeather's cry split through the air. "Tallpaw!" Skypaw rushed over the edge of the gorge. At first, all she could see were the blurry forms of two cats hurtling to their doom. Then, she realized Tallpaw was one of them. And the other, was Mask. Instantly, the other Stormclanners arrived, followed by a few curious Ashclanners. "Is that Tallpaw and Mask?" Skyotter's tone was full of worry. They'll never survive that fall.

     Skypaw flinched as she heard the hard thuds. The two cats went limp upon impact. Instantly, Skypaw was at Tallpaw's side. He was  unconciouss and heavily bruised. A horrible gash stretched across his forehead from the fall. His breaths were slow and ragged. Skypaw licked his cheek, nuzzling him multiple times. "Tallpaw! Tallpaw, wake up! It's me!" Grief filled her frantic cries as she buried her head in his warm flank. Beside her, SkyOtter watched with pain clear in her gaze. All of the cats bowed their heads. "He's not dead." Out of no where, a rogue appeared. He had stormy grey fur and hard amber eyes. "He will perish if you do not let me help... soon." The cats eyed him warily. How could they trust this stranger?

     Skypaw nodded. "Help. Anything, just let him live!" Her voice was desperate. Cloudstar was about to object, but he couldn't form words. The scene was too painful to watch, much less take part in. Hesitantly, the cats backed away. Skypaw stayed close, her flank pressed against Tallpaw's as the grey tom approached. For a moment, Skypaw thought she saw stars in his flank. She shrugged it off, she was probably too grief-stricken to know a fox from a rabbit. The grey tom swept a paw over the broken body of Tallpaw, and instantly the apprentice's eyes opened. They held a strange new golden tint, which made them even more vibrant than Skypaw remembered. The grey tom was gone. And yet somehow, as if carried along by the wind, she heard the faintest of voices. "Gorsestar thanks you. Windclan thanks you."