The Shadow Glare

Chapter 17

Emberpaw slashed at a brown toms nose as he attacked her. I can't believe you think you can get away with this.
She glared at the tom with hate in her orange eyes. You killed my best friend's mother!
Emberpaw unsheathed her claws and sliced a long line from his rump to his shoulder. A long thin line of blood started to trickle from it and he howled in pain. Emberpaw released him so he could run off into the woods.
Emberpaw glanced around, looking for her friends. Where are they? I need to find them so I can help!
Soon she spotted Ashpaw struggling with a large black she-cat, but before she could join him, Windstorm was at his side.

They'll be mates one day. She mused. And I'd be fine with that. Windstorm is an honest she-cat who makes my brother happy. What more could I ask for?
She glanced around again and soon spotted Shadowpaw struggling against three large cats. As she neared, she recognised one of them as Spikepelt from the gathering. Emberpaw raced forwards and slashed at Spikepelt's face. Then she realised the other tom; Darksoul.
"Stop being unjust!" Emberpaw yowled. "Three against one isn't fair, especially when it's three warriors and one apprentice."

While the three cats were distracted, Emberpaw leaped onto Darksoul's back and started to drag her claws along his spine. He yowled in pain as she tore a large clump of fur and drew blood.
As Darksoul ran off, Shadowpaw gasped from beside her. "Thanks." Then they leaped onto Spikepelt and tore at his ears sharply.
Spikepelt let out a hiss of anger. "You think that'll beat me? Because it won't." Then the great tom landed a heavy blow on Shadowpaw's head and she fell to the ground.

"What did you do to my friend?" Emberpaw growled, menace building up inside her. Then she lashed out and dragged her claws across his face. He bit her tail and jerked it hard in the wrong direction and she felt a rush of pain as her tail dislocated. As he ran away, she realised there was still one cat left; a white she-cat she didn't recognise bending over Shadowpaw.

"What are you doing!" Emberpaw yowled. The white she-cat turned and bared her fangs. Emberpaw darted forward and hooked the she-cats claws from under her.
But this cat had much more skill then the other two toms. She clawed at Emberpaw's belly and while she was howling in pain, the white cat slipped away through the bush. Sly thing.

"Shadowpaw, Shadowpaw, are you ok?" Emberpaw gasped as she ran towards her friend.
Shadowpaw lifted her head groggily and fazed around. "Water . . ." She groaned.
In the heat of the battle, it was almost impossible to get Shadowpaw to the medicine den, but they made it.

"Blackwave! Riverpaw! Come quick, Shadowpaw's hurt!" Emberpaw called.
Soon Emberpaw heard rustling and Blackwave and Riverpaw appeared.
While Riverpaw rushed over to her sister, Blackwave meandered over to Emberpaw.
"Aren't you going to help Shadowpaw?" Emberpaw asked.

Blackwave sniffed. "You're hurt too."

Emberpaw sighed. "Yeah, I guess. It's my tail. Can you please hurry up so I can get back into the battle?"
Blackwave padded forward and grabbed her tail. "This will hurt," she warned. "Be ready."
Ember paw gasped as Blackwave wrenched her tail into place. It started to tingle.

"Can I go fight now?" Emberpaw asked. "I can't stay here, my Clanmates need me!"

Blackwave sighed. "Ok, I guess. But be careful. I don't want you to get hurt even more."

Emberpaw dipped her head to Blackwave as she ran out of the den.
As she glanced around the clearing for a cat that needed help, she was suddenly attacked by the large black she-cat that had been attacking Ashpaw earlier. Emberpaw surveyed her enemy; her long black fur was soft, almost too soft. Her eyes were an icy blue that Emberpaw could feel burning into her pelt. Then the black she-cat put her paw over Emberpaw's mouth and put her muzzle to her ear. "You're coming with me." The cat growled.
When the cat released her grip, Emberpaw tried to yowl for help, but the cat swung her nimble paw down on her throat. Emberpaw gurgled.

"I will kill you if you don't come with me, along with all your friends." The she-cat hissed.
Finally, Emberpaw saw no choice but to be dragged out of camp by the cat into the forest.