Warriors The Storm #3 The Cure

Chapter 5

Stormfire followed Sakura and her companions. She saw Fallowflower and began to realise how much this journey had changed her.
Fallowflower is more open, I'm more hostile. I guess we've all changed.

Sakura stopped suddenly looking sly. "You cats can hunt can't you? Go catch something. This Twoleg Den is empty,"

Feeling suspicious Stormfire exchanged a glance with Mousewing and saw her suspicions reflected in his eyes.

"This is a trap isn't it," Fallowflower snarled.

Sakura looked at her with mocking innocence. "I would never do that!"

Cloudpelt snorted. Hazelberry hesitated. "Well I am hungry..."

"Off you go then," Sakura purred.

The five clan cats entered the Twoleg Den from a hole in the sign. A draft was blowing away from behind the cats. Stormfire was aware they were upwind. Suddenly two beady eyes looked up at the cats. Another pair of eyes appeared followed by more and more.

In the darkness which Stormfire had hunted in so many times she could make out rats.

"Rats!" Mousewing hissed echoing her thoughts.

At that one word the rats leapt onto the cats. One fastened its teeth into Stormfire's shoulder. Another leapt onto her leg and a third bit her paw. Stormfire lashed out attacking viciously with no mercy. She killed them quickly but for every rat she killed another was always there to take its place.

Clawing, biting, slashing. Those were the only things Stormfire could manage.
Don't fall. If you fall they'll kill you.

Stormfire fought furiously but it was too hard and she found herself being dragged down. Terror surged through her.
No!

Suddenly the rats began squealing and retreating. A bark sounded and dogs filled the room. They were all black, one had a white line down its face and muzzle. It stepped forward snarling with hatred at the cats.
How can we fight these dogs? We just fought rats!

Suddenly Stormfire heard a squeak of defiance as a single rat attacked the dogs. It was followed by more rats. The five clan cats didn't hesitate to leave the Twoleg Den all limping, all with injuries.

Outside the den Sakura was waiting. The look on her face told Stormfire that Sakura had known what was in the den.

"You piece of Fox-Dung," Fallowflower snarled.

"Your in no condition to fight me you filthy gullible clan cats," Sakura purred mockingly.

Stormfire watched as Fallowflower sank her claws deep into Sakura's shoulder. Sakura shrieked thrashing and throwing Fallowflower off. The furious Riverclan warrior flinched obviously she had landed on her injured flank.

Stormfire unsheathed her claws. Mousewing did too along with Cloudpelt and surprisingly Hazelberry. Sakura had the sense to back off, the black cat bolted without any hesitation.

Stormfire sighed. Suddenly Fallowflower collapsed. Stormfire sat beside her.