Seppuku

Chapter 9

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the Grandwillow for a clan meeting!" Miststar called out from the top of the tree. Cats started coming out of their dens, and looking up from their duties. Twistedpaw and Badgerstripe stayed where they were, as their view was pretty good already.

Nettlepaw came out of the medicine cat den and sat beside Badgerstripe on his other side. Twistedpaw ignored her, looking up at their leader instead.

"It seems as if CreekClan has decided to cause trouble for us as well." Miststar started, lashing her tail in anger. "They're trying to take our land, and have attacked two of our cats."

Miststar waited for the protesting meows of the clan to die down before continuing. "After sunhigh I'll be taking a group of volunteers to go speak with Fallenstar. If that doesn't work, we'll fight. We will not let other clans walk all over us!" She proclaimed, and there were many yowls of approval.

Miststar jumped down from the Grandwillow, and Badgerstripe spoke up, Twistedpaw could tell he was speaking more to himself. "I'm going." He muttered.

"Me too!" Twistedpaw said, standing.

"Oh no you won't." Tawnybreeze spoke from behind him. "This is your first time out of my den since you were injured, for StarClan's sake. You're staying here."

"But I'm better now!" Twistedpaw complained, turning to face her. "I'm fine now, really!"

"You're not the one to decide that."

Twistedpaw's tail drooped in defeat. He felt a paw on his shoulder, and turned his head to see Badgerstripe. "It's okay Twisted', I'll tell you all about it!"

"You better." Twistedpaw purred.

~

Badgerstripe felt uneasy as he crossed the CreekClan border. In front of him, Miststar and Duskpelt walked, next to him was Nutclaw, and behind him was Hazelstripe. It didn't feel safe only taking five cats, but Miststar assured them it would make them seem less threatening, and another patrol would secretly follow behind them. It didn't make him less nervous.

"Who goes there?!" Badgerstripe jumped at the unfamiliar voice, and looked up to see a black and white tom, a ginger tabby she-cat, and a brown tabby tom. All reeked of CreekClan.

"I'm Miststar of PineClan, and I request to see Fallenstar." Miststar stated with authority.

"Fine." The ginger she-cat said with a lash of her tail. "Follow us."

They then began walking, and the PineClan patrol followed. Badgerstripe felt worse and worse about the situation every step they took. What if they ambush us? What if the other patrol gets caught? What if they keep us prisoner like GrassClan did to me?

Badgerstripe would prefer anything over the latter- GrassClan had treated him horribly, and he never wanted to go through that again.

Eventually, they came to a thick bramble tunnel that must've led to the CreekClan camp. Badgerstripe hoped it was dryer in there, as the mucky, wet ground infested with puddles that took up most of CreekClan's territory had been driving him crazy. He hated wet paws.

One by one, they padded inside, Badgerstripe going in last. Thorns grabbed at his fur as he walked through the tunnel, and the camp gave off a strong feel of unwelcoming.

The ground was just as terrible, and a small stream ran through the middle of the camp. The only cat Badgerstripe recognized was Fallenstar, who was sitting in the main clearing. The group of cats walked towards him, and he looked up to meet Miststar's cold gaze.

"Oh Miststar, what a pleasant surprise." Fallenstar forced a purr, but Miststar wasn't buying it.

"I heard your cats were trespassing on our territory, and attacking my cats." She growled.

"Well, you see, you have more territory than us, so it really shouldn't be a problem." Fallenstar replied nonchalantly.

Miststar lashed her tail. "We may have more territory, but you have streams full of fish and frogs- much more food than us. You don't need our land."

"I suggest you leave now, before anything... unfortunate, happens." Fallenstar growled. "You are outnumbered, you know."

"Oh I know, I also know that I will not put up with this." Miststar looked back at her cats, each giving a knowing look in return. "We will not leave until you agree to leave my clan alone."

"If you're going to be that way..." Fallenstar paused, and the CreekClan warriors in the camp stood at attention.

"CreekClan, attack!"