Warrior Cats: Into the Unknown.(1/3)

Chapter 17

Fernpaw charged through the undergrowth beside Honeyleaf, Molewhisker, Cloverpaw, Ambermoon and Sorrelstripe. Fernpaw could barely see anything in front of her paws, or where she put them. They were on moonhigh patrol. Fernpaw swerved just in time to avoid tumbling into a holly bush. Worry pricked her like thistles. Half a moon had passed since the gathering and some cats were starting to doubt that Shadowclan would actually attack, and Sparktail's kits were due any day now. Shadowclan scent hit her nose. She scrambled to a halt when Molewhisker suddenly stopped. "Can you smell that?" He whispered. Fernpaw thrust her nose into the air and opened her mouth. Shadowclan's stench hit the roof of her mouth. "They're close." She whispered. "Oh no." Honeyleaf mewed when twigs crackled a few somewhere behind them. "Quick, up a tree!" Ambermoon hissed softly so no one could hear them. Fernpaw gazed wildly around, panicking until Ambermoon harshly shoved her up to an oak. Fernpaw sank her claws into the rough bark before scooting up the trunk with Ambermoon on her tail. Fernpaw stared down as shadows poured out of the undergrowth, eyes flashing in the darkness. These were more Shadowclan cats than Fernpaw had ever seen. "I smell Thunderclan." Rippletail growled to his mate, Rippletail. Fernpaw had to strain her ears to hear what another warrior, Tawnypelt, mewed. "Of course, mousebrain! We're in their territory, and a patrol must've passed by here not long ago." She hissed. "Quiet!" Crowfrost snapped. The black and white tom was leading the patrol. Fernpa looked into the other trees. Molewhisker was crouching on a branch beside Honeyleaf while Sorrelstripe and Cloverpaw stared down at the Shadowclan cats from another tree. Ambermoon waved her tail to get their attention. When the other Thunderclan cats looked up at her, she pointed with her tail in the direction to camp. They were going to run back to camp on the branches. She had practiced branch running a few times with Ambermoon, and she was growing used to it back at the Renegades' camp. A pang of sadness shot through her. She had visited several times since the last gathering, but she and Ambermoon couldn't risk going too often. She felt as if claws had dug into her heart, and her belly clenched. Cats could die because of her and Ambermoon. She shook the thought away as Ambermoon nudged her forward. She raced among the branches, careful where she placed her paws. She kept as quiet as she could, never losing sight of the Shadowclan cats below her. Fernpaw saw the path below her becoming more familiar. They were nearing the camp! Ambermoon then stopped when they had outrun their enemies. She waited for a moment until she leaped off the branch. A she-cat let out a screech when Ambermoon landed on top of her. Lotuspaw collapsed under her weight. Fernpaw's heart pounded in her chest when she sprang off the branch. She splayed her legs as she dropped down from the tree. She landed on top of a larger warrior than she had intended. He had looked so much smaller from the tree. Letting out a fierce battle cry, Molewhisker dropped down from his tree. Honeyleaf sprang after him. Cloverpaw and Sorrelstripe leaped from their trees, and the Thunderclan cats took their enemies by surprise. Fernpaw grabbed the tom's scruff between her teeth and dug her claws into his shoulders as he bucked underneath her. She recognized him as Tigerheart. He let out a yowl before rearing up onto his hind legs. Fernpaw kicked out with her hind legs at his back before leaping off him. Rhea, a Renegades' deputy, had shown her this move. Cloverpaw was locked in a fierce tussle with a white apprentice Fernpaw hadn't seen before. Ambermoon was taking on two warriors at once, swiping furiously at them. Molewhisker had reared up onto his hind legs and was batting at a grey tom named Goosewing. Honeyleaf was battling ferociously with a large ginger tom that Fernpaw hadn't seen before. "No." She whispered when she saw Crowfrost let out a yowl and speeding toward the camp. She raced after them, but her eyes widened when she saw Squirrelflight explode out of the entrance, and after her swarmed a large patrol of Thunderclan warriors with outstretched claws and teeth bared that flashed in the moonlight. Yes! Letting out a fierce battle cry, Squirrelflight launched herself into battle. A few of Shadowclan's warriors let out frightened and surprised screeches. Snowbush charged into Crowfrost, carrying him off his paws before leaping at him again. Lilyheart crashed into a dark gray tom sending him flying into another Shadowclan cat. Fernsong had already pinned Stonetooth down and was batting at his face. "Protect the camp! Don't let them in!" Squirrelflight was yowling, but at least half of Shadowclan's patrol had already broken through their defenses and were pouring into camp. Fernpaw bolted after them and exploded through the entrance. Bramblestar was rolling around in a knot of flailing paws and tails with Mistcloud. Willowpaw was battling with a she-cat twice her size. Timberpaw, Cloverpaw and Oakpaw launched themselves at Wasptail and the yellow tabby disappeared under a sea of apprentices. Hollytuft was pummeling Tawnypelt, but the she-cat was swatting bravely back. Rippletail had pinned Rainsong down. Letting out a ferocious battle cry, Fernpaw charged toward them. She barreled into the white tom, carrying him off Rainsong so the ginger and white she-cat sprang back to her paws and leaped at a cream she-cat that had cornered Brightheart to the stonewall. Fernpaw spun around and lashed out with her hind legs when Rippletail was about to attack her. She let out a triumphant yowl when her paw hit him under the chin. The white tom stumbled backward and Fernpaw scooted underneath his belly, clawing at his hind legs and Rippletail collapsed. Bramblestar let out a yowl and Bumblestripe, Ivypool and Flamingheart threw themselves off the highledge and into the midst of the battle. Icefeather's white pelt was already slick with blood as she sent a large tom flying away with a heavy blow to his cheek. Spinning around she brought her paws down onto Lilypetal. Poppyfrost was dragging Grassheart off Greystripe by the haunches while Cloudtail was chasing an apprentice back to the barrier. Pigeonpaw was struggling to fend off Needleclaw who was trying to reach Jayfeather who was nudging Briarlight into the medicine den. Lionblaze and Swiftpaw were batting away any cat that was trying to scramble up the tumble of rocks. Suddenly, a loud, painful cry sounded from behind Fernpaw. She whipped around to see her denmate standing over the limp body of Tawnypelt. Blood gushed out of a large wound in her throat. Fernpaw stared, horrified, as Frogleap turned around and barreled into Goldengrass. Shaking her head, she turned around again only to see Heronflight bolting toward her. Instinctively, Fernpaw whipped around and braced her shoulders as Heronflight hissed at her and dropped into a crouch four fox-lengths away. Letting out a fierce shriek, Fernpaw raced toward him and Heronflight sprinted toward her. The crashed into each other, but Heronflight's greater size and weight sent Fernpaw flying backwards. Pain shot through her when she landed and she struggled to her paws when she saw Heronflight rushing toward her. He pushed her back down when she was about to stand up. Claws dug into her shoulder and Fernpaw writhed underneath him. Fear filled up inside of Fernpaw when the dark ginger tom whispered. "Goodbye." Then, a shadow loomed up behind Heronflight. Stormcloud's eyes blazed when he raised a paw and swiped at Heronflight's cheek with such force that it sent him crashing down a tail-length away. Stormcloud quickly nudged her back to her paws. "Are you alright?" He asked as she shook her fur. She nodded weakly. "Watch out!" She then yowled when Mouseclaw bolting toward them. Stormcloud ad Fernpaw leaped away but she flashed out a paw when he raced past them, and the massive tom crashed to the ground with a loud thump. Fernpaw leaped at him and tipped him over. She then planted her paws on his throat and chest. Suddenly, something inside of her sparked. Her heart felt wild and her mind went dark. She dug her claws into his throat, reaching through his thick fur. She scrabbled at the soft skin of his belly, opening a large gash. He gurgled and thrashed when she raked her front paw down, slicing open his throat. She let out a shriek and whipped around when someone crashed into her. "What are you doing?" A tortoiseshell screeched at her. It was Leaftail, Mouseclaw's sister. Letting out a shriek, she launched herself at Fernpaw. But Fernpaw had backed up to the stonewall, and simply turned away and Leaftail crashed into the hard, gray stone, and she dropped, unconscious, to the ground. Scanning the camp with her eyes, she saw Brackenfur nip at Dawnpelt's throat. Timberpaw had pinned down a small tom while Cloverpaw and Oakpaw helped each other drive Breezepaw back to the barrier. Squirrelflight was sparring with Crowfrost while Dappledwillow rolled past, locked in a fierce tussle with Juniperleaf. Bramblestar lashed out with his hind legs, sending a large tom flying backwards. Lilyheart was nipping at Lilypetal's hind legs while the Shadowclan she-cat batted at Willowpaw. Flamingheart had reared up to meet Sparrowtail blow by blow. Fernpaw sprinted toward them when she saw Sparrowtail overpowering her clanmate. Clamping her jaws shut around his tail, she yanked him backwards so the Shadowclan tom lost his balance and Flamingheart swiped at his face with a flurry of claws. Fernpaw then whipped around and leaped at the nearest Shadowclan cat. Sinking her claws into his shoulders she raked them down his flank. The cat let out an agonized shriek and threw her off with ease. Fernpaw shook her front paws to dislodge the fur that had gotten caught between her claws. Paws thumping towards her behind her, she spun around and saw Beeflight sprinting to her. Fernpaw reared up onto her hind paws and when Beeflight was close enough, she whipped around and when her front paws met the ground she lashed out with her hind legs. Claws unsheathed, she raked them up from her throat to her chin, spraying blood onto the grass. Beeflight let out a gasp of pain and stumbled away. Fernpaw felt triumph rising up inside her when she saw her running to the barrier. Molewhisker and Spikefur were spitting furiously at each other until the Thunderclan tom threw himself at the dark brown cat. But to Fernpaw's dismay, as Molewhisker barreled into his chest, Spikefur rolled over and then nailed Molewhisker to the ground. As Spikefur is about to nip at his throat, Squirrelflight suddenly appears and bowls into him. Spikefur let out an angry yowl and the two cats swiped at each other. Whitewing rolled past, tearing tufts of fur out of another white she-cat's pelt. Brightheart batted at Slatefur with a flurry of claws while Berrynose sent Dawnpelt flying into Rippletail. Bumblestripe sliced open Sparrowtail's nose and blood spattered onto his gray paws. Ambermoon reared up and fell onto her back, crushing Mistcloud underneath her. Cloverpaw squealed in terror when Tigerheart swiped at her and cornered her up to the stone wall. Stonetooth bounded over to him and together, the two toms began batting at Fernpaw's sister. Letting out a growl, she pelted towards them. She sprang into the air a fox-length away from them. She landed heavily on Tigerheart's back and he let out a grunt as his legs buckled underneath him and he collapsed. Letting out a furious screech, Cloverpaw launched herself at Stonetooth while Fernpaw felt burning rage inside her. She scrabbled at Tigerheart's back with her hind paws, feeling warm blood spattering out onto her paws. Tigerheart let out a yowl and staggered to his paws before rolling over. Fernpaw felt herself being crushed underneath his weight. Letting out a hiss she grabbed his haunches with her paws and dragged them up towards his shoulders, tearing open his skin. Tigerheart let out a screech and sprang away from her and pelting away. She staggered to her paws, panting. She looked around and saw Lotuspaw and Oakpaw locked in a fierce tussle. She was about to leap to his aid, but then suddenly someone yowled a horrified yowl. "Squirrelflight, no!"