Warrior Cats: Darkness Rising. (2/3)

Chapter 9

Fernleaf sent Lilypetal flying before whipping around and slicing open Silkfeather's nose, feeling warm blood spatter out onto her paws. She ducked when Skyheart swiped at her ears. She flashed out a paw, hooking his paws out from under him and sent him crashing to the ground. She spun around when an agonized shriek sounded from the barrier. Mistcloud got her teeth fastened in Lilyheart's throat, and the Thunderclan warrior gurgled and thrashed, trying in vain to free herself from the vicious Shadowclan cat. Letting out a ferocious roar, Fernleaf charged into Mistcloud, sending her flying into Redfang. The tom spun around from where he had been rearing, slashing at Juniperleaf, and wrapped his paws around Mistcloud before flipping her over onto her belly. He then clamped his jaws shut around her scruff. "Watch out!" Fernleaf screeched when Juniperleaf got to his paws and reared up. But before he could attack Redfang again, the giant ginger tom lashed out with his hind legs and caught Juniperleaf under the chin, sending him flying into the barrier. Fernleaf let out a screech when someone slammed into her side, and before she knew, Leaftail got her pinned down. "After killing my brother, do you think you'll get to live?" She snarled in her face. Fernleaf gazed viciously into her green eyes. "I'll live far longer than you." She hissed before bringing up her hind legs and scrabbling at the soft skin of her belly. Warm blood poured out, soaking Fernleaf to the skin. Lunging up, she fastened her teeth in Leaftail's throat. Then, her eyes went dark again. Her heart thudded in her chest as she chewed through Leaftail's skin. "Fernleaf, no!" She heard Ambermoon yowl at her. With great effort, Fernleaf got her vision again and dislodged her fangs from Leaftail's throat. Leaftail gurgled on the ground in front of her, a crimson pool forming around her body, soaking the grass. She grunted when Heronflight crashed into her. "You've killed one of my littermate, you don't get to kill my sister too. This is where you end, Fernleaf." He yowled before lifting a paw and swiping down at her throat. Fernleaf used an old trick Renegade herself taught her when she regularly visited her group. She ducked down and grabbed Heronflight's paw between her teeth and crunched down. Heronflight let out a screech and Fernleaf jerked back her head, unbalancing him before kicking up with her paws, sending him falling to the ground with a thump beside her. Springing to her paws, she scanned the clearing. Yarrowfern and Stormcloud were fighting viciously while Ivypool and Tigerheart rolled around in a tight ball of writhing fur. Fernleaf's eyes widened when Tigerheart nailed Ivypool down. But before she could do anything, Dovewing crashed into Tigerheart's side, sending him crashing to the ground before striding over to him, eyes blazing with fury. She swiped at his cheek and above the roar of the battle; Fernleaf only barely heard her mew. "Tigerheart, whatever we once had is all gone now." Tigerheart glared up at her before heaving himself to his paws. "It was gone long ago." He growled, jerking his head to where Pigeonwing was getting overpowered by Blueleaf, but beyond them, Bumblestripe's bloody body lay. Dovewing let out a shriek of grief and collapsed to the ground. Fernleaf felt fury building up inside her, but she toned it down. Spinning around, she leaped towards the first Thunderclan cat. Goldenclaw tossed Tigerpaw away before bounding towards where Flashtail writhed on the ground underneath Eagleclaw's heavy weight and dug his claws into the Shadowclan tom's shoulders before flinging him away. "Goldenclaw! I need your help!" She yowled, and the massive tom spun around to face her, eyes lit with the fire of battle. "What is it, young one?" He asked, his deep voice booming. She pointed at where Pigeonwing just got pinned down. Goldenclaw nodded before letting out a battle cry and flinging himself at Blueleaf. Then she bolted towards her mother who was standing over Dovewing while Tigerheart circled them. She glanced at her mother, and Ivypool nodded. Then, the two she-cats, mother and daughter, reared up before lashing out at Tigerheart with a flurry of claws. They matched each other, step for step, blow for blow. Tigerheart tried to dodge aside, but every time he tried to escape their vicious claws, they lunged after him and dragged him back. "Did you kill Bumblestripe?" Ivypool growled as Fernleaf dragged him back by the haunches and her mother flipped him onto his belly. Tigerheart let out a wordless growl without replying. "The Dark Forest still lies in your heart, then, Tigerheart?" Ivypool mewed, and Fernleaf pricked her ears. What was her mother meowing about? But before she could do anything, Breezepelt slammed into her, sending her flying across the ground. She landed heavily with a grunt, all breath blown out of her, but she quickly scrambled to her paws as Breezepelt charged towards her. She reared up onto her hind paws, and the black Windclan warrior did the same. Fernleaf raked her claws just above the eye of the tom. Blood spattered onto her paws as he yowled in pain, turning them crimson. But, then he lashed out and sliced open Fernleaf's cheek and muzzle. She screeched as burning pain shot through her. Salty tang of the blood filled her nose and she felt warm liquid spread into her mouth. Snarling, Fernleaf lunged for Breezepelt's throat. But he quickly dodged and swiped at her shoulder. Fernleaf fell onto her belly with a grunt. But she quickly rolled over, just in time before heavy weight landed on top of her. She splayed out her legs and gripped Breezepelt's hindquarters and shoulders. Spitting, she rolled over again, dragging him with her. She pinned her down and lifted a paw to swipe down at him. She sliced at his muzzle with a flurry of claws, until Windclan warrior screeched and begged her to stop. Fernleaf sprang off him, but then someone barreled into her. She crashed to the ground, all wind blown from her chest. She screeched in agony as two cats raked their claws over her body. Fernleaf writhed around, desperate to free herself. She lashed out blindly with exhausted paws. Suddenly, a bit of weight vanished. She swung her head around to see Firetail hauling a ginger tom off her. He flung him away, racing after him as the tom tried to escape Firetail's vicious claws. But the other cat, a black she-cat, pinned Fernleaf down, placing her paws on her chest and throat. Fernleaf met the blazing amber eyes of Nightcloud. "Say hello to Starclan for me." She snarled before lifting a paw. But as she sliced down at her throat, Fernleaf pushed up with all the might of Tigerclan and sent the she-cat flying. She sprang to her paws and spun around when enraged battle cries sounded from outside the barrier. Larkstar exploded from the camp entrance. "Windclan, attack!" She yowled. Nightcloud stumbled towards her. "Thunderclan's time is over." She growled in her ears, but her eyes widened when she saw Crowfeather leap over to Breezepelt and hauling him off Poppyfrost. Larkstar bowled into Tigerpaw, sending him flying and Molewhisker sprang to his paws, spun around and raked his claws down Breezeheart's spine, sending blood spraying out. Smokeflight tore off Pinenose's ear while Newtscale threw himself at Burrfur. Burrfur threw him off like a piece of fresh-kill and spun around to face him. But Coalfrost came haring in and slammed into his side, carrying him off his paws. Fernleaf let out a hiss when two sets of claws dug into her body. She snapped her head around to see Clawpaw and Crowpaw. Letting out a yowl, Fernleaf swiped at Crowpaw's head, but the Shadowclan she-cat ducked and bit Fernleaf's tail and yanked backwards. Pain shot through her as Fernleaf got unbalanced and fell onto her side. She rolled over onto her back just when Clawpaw sprang at her. She brought up her hind legs and lashed out with an explosive kick, sending the tom flying. She sprang to her paws and reared up as Crowpaw launched herself at her. But Fernleaf slashed down too late, and Crowpaw slammed into her belly and wrapped her paws around her body as they rolled over in a screeching bundle of fur. Fernleaf raked her claws down his flanks as the Shadowclan apprentice bit at her throat. She shot a sideways glance and saw Timberheart sprinting towards them. He swiped his paws down on Crowpaw's shoulders before flinging her away into the stonewall, and the apprentice fell unconscious. "Thanks!" Fernleaf gasped as she got to her paws. The two siblings spun around when enraged yowls and shrieks exploded from the tunnel entrance. Oakshade bolted inside, a large patrol of Riverclan cats following close behind. Minnowbreeze bowled into a light grey tom that had pinned Icepaw down. Dawnfeather leaped on top of a tabby she-cat that was overpowering Willowfern and gripped his claws into her haunches and shoulders so when he rolled down again, he took the she-cat with him. Frecklefrost swatted away Nightcloud who was giving Redpaw and Spiderpaw harsh blows on their muzzles. Reedstar himself crashed into a dark grey tom that was trying to pin Flamingheart down. Other Riverclan cats streamed into the camp after them. Fernleaf felt a rush of hope flaring inside her. Honeyleaf batted Tigerpaw away as he tried to enter the nursery. Fernleaf shot out and hooked a Windclan cat's paws from under him as he tried to drive Oakshade to the barrier. Oakshade pushed at his chest and nailed him down. A tortoiseshell she-cat leaped onto his back and tried to carry him off the Windclan cat. Although her wounds were screaming at her to stop, Fernleaf leaped on top of her and did the same trick as Dawnfeather did. She gripped her haunches and shoulders with thorn-sharp claws and carried her off Oakshade. The she-cat wriggled away from her then hared away to the barrier entrance. Oakshade swiped at the cat's muzzle and ears until the Windclan tom screeched in pain. He leaped off him and the tom bolted out of the barrier. Lilyheart and Snowbush were chasing two apprentices to the tunnel. Berrynose and Birchfall were steadily driving two Shadowclan toms towards the barrier. Mousewhisker and Junipercloud were driving two she-cats backwards, striking at them if they tried to escape. Fernleaf reared up and swiped at Wingshade, and suddenly she felt fur brush against her spine. She risked a quick glance over her shoulder to see Cloverpool, Oakshade and Timberheart all rearing up against her, slicing with claws as sharp as blackthorns at their opponents. Fernleaf ducked as Skyheart sliced at her ears, but to her dismay, he sliced it open. Blood trickled out and blinded her. She let out a grunt as the Windclan tom sliced at her face, tearing open her skin. She shook the blood away and let out an outraged screech before flashing out a paw, blocking Skyheart's paw as he swiped at he and pushed at his chest with her other paw, unbalancing him. Milkflower crashed into him as he fell and Runningfire kicked Blueleaf away before chasing her to the barrier. Timberheart sliced at Grassheart's nose while Oakshade swiped upwards and sending Swanpaw flying backwards. Cloverpool bolted to where Swiftstrike was clawing at Starlingpaw. Fernleaf pelted into Crowfrost and carried him off his paws. She flipped him over as he lay stunned on the ground and planted her paw on his scruff and back. "Why did you attack us?" She growled. Crowfrost wriggled underneath her grip. "Why?" She screeched. "Thunderclan is betraying the warrior code, inviting in a bunch of filthy rogues." He snarled. Fernleaf eyes widened, and suddenly, the darkness inside her exploded. Lunging down she grabbed Crowfrost's scruff before flinging him up with all her might. She raked her claws down his spine before kicking him away. She hared after him as he tried to escape her sharp claws, but before he could, she leaped onto his back. Stretching out her front paws, she planted them over his eyes and gripped his haunches with her hind claws. Sinking her front claws into the soft skin around his eyes, she began dragging them towards her, with her claws still fastened his skin. The fury inside her blocked all the yowls of screeches of the Starclan cats as they begged her to stop, that she could fight the darkness. But she was blinded. Crowfrost collapsed and she kicked out with her hind legs before spinning around. Breezepelt was dragging Lionblaze back by his haunches as the golden tom tried to get to his kit that was screeching for help as Blueleaf sliced mercilessly at Silverpaw. Bolting towards them, she got her vision back. She bowled into Blueleaf, sending her crashing to the ground a fox-length away. She spun around to face Silverpaw. "Are you alright?" She asked her apprentice. Silverpaw only groaned. Gritting her teeth, Fernleaf grabbed her scruff before dragging her away to the medicine den. Lilyheart lay there while Alderleaf tried frantically to stop her bleeding. Jayfeather hurried out of the cleft with a bunch of leaves in his jaws. Fernelaf dragged Silverpaw further in. "You'll be alright." She mewed before whipping around and racing outside again. She saw Crowfeather flinging Breezepelt away and nudging Lionblaze to his paws. "Are you alright?" He asked. Lionblaze nodded weakly. Breezepelt spun to face his father and brother. "Why are you helping him? He's from a rival clan." And then he mewed with a smug look on his face. "But then, you would do anything in your pathetic power to save the Thunderclan cats because of Leafpool." He hissed before launching himself at his father. But Lionblaze shouldered Crowfeather away and flung himself at Breezepelt. The two toms rolled over in a knot of writhing fur. Lionblaze raked his claws over Breezepelt's eyes but the black tom kicked out with his hind legs, blowing all breath out of his brother. Fernleaf's eyes widened with horror when Breezepelt nailed Lionblaze to the ground and dug his teeth into his throat. He gurgled and thrashed around. "No!" Crowfeather screeched and barreled into Breezepelt. He clawed at him with a flurry of claws and drove him back to the barrier. Cinderheart hared towards Lionblaze and crouched beside him. "Go fetch Jayfeather!" She screeched at Fernleaf. She stumbled backwards before pelting towards the medicine den. "Jayfeather!" She yowled, but the scent of death hit her nose. Alderleaf sat beside Lilyheart, shoulders hunched. Fernleaf's heart skipped a beat. Shaking her head she turned to Jayfeather who was patching cobwebs onto Silverpaw. "Jayfeather, it's Lionblaze!" She mewed urgently. Jayfeather immediately spun around and pelted out of the den and skidded to halt beside his brother. The golden tom was struggling to breathe. Jayfeather hissed something under his breath. "Fernleaf, put your paw here." He mewed and pointed with his tail at Lionblaze's wound. Fernleaf's eyes widened. "Do it!" Jayfeather snapped and she quickly put her paw into the wound, and Jayfeather spun and raced back to his den. Blood flushed out of Lionblaze's wounds, soaking her paw. Her heart thudded in her chest as she looked up. The fighting had stopped, and every cat was panting, while some lay unconscious. Lilypetal and Sparrowtail were dragging Rowanstar away through the entrance while Tigerheart carried Crowpaw on his back after them. Juniperleaf and Yarrowfern helped each other drag Crowfrost out, and Fernleaf's heart twisted when she remembered what she'd done. She felt someone nudge her and stepped aside as Jayfeather dropped his herbs beside his brother. Fernleaf watched Spiderpaw and Redpaw stumble up to their mother, their eyes wide with fear, both for their father and because of the battle. Poor mites. They've only been apprentices for a few days. She thought. Sadness broke her heart when she saw Pigeonwing and Willowfern stumble up to their mother who crouched beside Bumblestripe. Cloverpool pressed up to Swiftstrike as the stood beside Dovewing. Fernleaf saw Brackenfur stumble towards the medicine den, and she realized that he had lost so much. What would he do when he knew about Lilyheart? He had already lost four kits, his mate and his sister. Fernleaf padded towards Bramblestar and Icefeather as they spoke to Larkstar and Reedstar. "All of Thunderclan thanks you." Bramblestar was mewing. The two other leaders dipped their heads. "No clan is to be driven out, Bramblestar." Reedstar mewed and Larkstar added. "I don't understand what Rowanstar was thinking." She murmured, half to herself. "Why did they attack you?" Reedstar asked. Bramblestar looked at Icefeather but she just shook her head. Then Fernleaf stepped in. "Crowfrost said that they were here to get rid of the former rogues, and he accused us of breaking the warrior code." She mewed. Reedstar exchanged a worried glance with Larkstar. They also think we're breaking the warrior code! Fernleaf lifted her chin and spoke boldly. "Every cat here is loyal. Do you dare accuse them of not being worthy?" Bramblestar glanced at her, surprised. Reedstar slowly shook his head, but Larkstar said nothing. "We thank you for helping us, but now it is time for everyone to return to their own camps." Bramblestar mewed. Fernleaf turned and trotted to Coalfrost, Sootfall, Firetail and Junipercloud. "Are you alright?" She asked them. Firetail's shoulder was bleeding heavily, Sootfall had a swollen eye and Coalfrost had deep scratches down his flanks. But Junipercloud had a nasty bite in her throat. "I think so." Firetail murmured and Coalfrost added. "This battle was vicious, but I remember battles between the Renegades and the Strikes, and this battle was nothing close to it." Sootfall flicked his tail. "When the Renegades and Strikes join forces and attack the clans around the lake, we will need all the strength of Starclan to defeat them." He murmured.