Strength Of A Leopard (BOOK THREE) [ON HOLD]

Chapter Six

Leopardpaw stared in horror as Stoneclaw leaped forward and picked up Brackenkit. Coldwind led the pair of mates out of the nursery, where around five or six dogs were chasing frantic cats around camp.

Leopardpaw found himself dashing towards the moon cats' den. Tearing through the entrance, he saw Stormpaw inside, her stomach pressed flat to the ground. "Come on, we need to get on a highledge! We'll die if we don't." He told her, grabbing her by the scruff and tugging her to her feet.

"Rainstorm went to fight the dogs!" She gasped. "He's going to die. What do I do, Leopardpaw?! I don't have the proper training to become a moon cat yet!"

"He is stronger than the rest of us." Leopardpaw pointed out. "Come on, or you'll die too!"

She hesitantly followed him out of the den. Outside, few cats still remained on the ground. The clan had found a ledge big enough to hold them all, and high enough that the dogs couldn't reach.

"We have to run." He told Stormpaw. "Three, two.. One, go!"

The two cats dashed out side by side. A dog saw them and turned, jaws gaping, to chase them. But it was too slow, and by the time it reached them they were already on the ledge, out of it's reach.

"Who is still down on the ground?" Owlflight asked.

"Rainstorm." Stormpaw cried.

"Stripedstar! Where is she?" Flamefur sounded frantic.

"And Foxpaw! My dear, Foxpaw!" Dawntail cried.

"Flamepool." Sandtail added.

"Look, there!" Frostpaw said. Every cat turned their gaze towards where she was pointing. Leopardpaw gasped at the sight, pressing closer to Stormpaw.

Foxpaw was cornered by one of the massive black dogs, the young apprentice nearly a third of the dogs size. His ears were flat, teeth bared, but it did no good. He's going to die, Leopardpaw realised.

But, before the dog could lunge at him, Stripedstar appeared from beneath a rock. The elderly leader tore across the cave and leaped at the dog, digging her claws into it's shoulders. The dog let out a startled yelp, giving Foxpaw enough time to escape.

He scrambled towards the ledge, leaping up beside Leopardpaw in the blink of an eye. Stripedstar, on the other paw, was still clinging to the dog. It turned, clamping it's massive jaws around the leader, and tore her off of him. It shook it's head roughly back and forth, shaking blood from Stripedstar's wounds.

Then it turned, Stripedstar still in his mouth, and left the cave. The other dogs followed it, as if they were following their leader. They are, Leopardpaw realised. That's their leader.

They didn't even stop to sniff the two corpses that lay in the center of the cave. One of them was Flamepool, the other a silver she-cat that Leopardpaw barely recognized. Not Rainstorm. He thought, trembling. Where is he?

Then he spotted StarClan's messenger dragging himself towards the dead cats. Owlflight leaped off the ledge to join him, and the two bent over the silver one, examining her closely.

"Rosepaw!" Owlflight called, "Are you there?"

Rosepaw leaped off the ledge and hurdled herself towards the two cats. She collapsed by Owlflight's side, letting out a low, chilling wail. It's Frostytail, Leopardpaw suddenly recognized the corpse. Rosepaw's
mentor.

"She's breathing!" Rainstorm announced. "Rosepaw, you'll have to take over the medicine cat duties until she is better."

Rosepaw dipped her head. "Yes, Rainstorm."

Rainstorm stood up the best he could with his injuries. "I, Rainstorm, moon cat of LightClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. She has trained hard to understand the ways of the medicine cat, and with your help she will serve her clan for many moons. Rosepaw, do you promise to uphold the ways of a medicine cat, to stand apart from the rivalry between clan and clan and protect all cats equally, even at the cost of your life?"

Rosepaw shuffled her paws. She was probably thinking the same thing Leopardpaw was; is this the right time to have a ceremony? "I do." She said at last.

Rainstorm stared at her for a moment. "Then by the powers of StarClan I give you your true name as a medicine cat. Rosepaw, from this moment on you will be known as Roseleaf. StarClan honors your dedication and honesty."

"Roseleaf!" Ashfire changed. "Roseleaf, Roseleaf!"

The rest of the clan joined in more hesitantly. Finally, Roseleaf turned to Owlflight, who was still nuzzling Frostytail's pelt. "That's enough. Owlflight, what should we do?"

Owlflight looked up hesitantly. Will he make a good leader for our clan? Leopardpaw wondered. What will he do about the dogs, since they know where our camp is?