Warrior Cats: Darkness Rising. (2/3)

Chapter 15

Fernleaf scrambled to her paws and hurried, halting, over to the edge of the hole. She gazed down. Coalfrost and the others ran over and skidded to halt. Hawk lay in an awkward angle and Lady's body was on top of Percy's. The soft mud underneath them was covered with blood. Fernleaf gritted her teeth in sadness when she saw Firetail. Her eyes widened when he just barely moved. She blinked a few times to make sure it wasn't just the pain blinding her. Then, he let out a groan. "Firetail!" Junipercloud screeched. "Shush!" Nightstorm hissed and slapped his tail over her mouth. They all backed frantically away as the earth beneath them began crumbling. "No, no, no, no, no, no." Fernleaf mewed as the earth washed over Firetail, his green eyes stretched wide in horror. Then, he vanished underneath the suffocating mud with a terrified, muffled shriek that was quickly cut off. Fernleaf felt weak with horror, and her legs buckled underneath her. "There's nothing more we can do now." Nightstorm murmured.

Fernleaf sat in the clearing, shoulders hunched as Jayfeather patched her wounds. She winced as he trickled some herb juice into her wound, but the pain was barely enough to take her out of her misery. Bramblestar and Icefeather stood on the highledge. "Silverpaw, come here and tell them." Icefeather called after she'd finished telling them about what had happened. Although, she skipped the part about what the Renegades had told them, that they had already taken care of one of their cats. Silverpaw snapped her head up, eyes wide. Then she got to her paws and scrambled up the tumble of rocks. She cleared her throat. "Well, when they attacked, Fernleaf told me to go back to camp and get help." She began. "Then this she-cat leaped on her, and I told Fernleaf that I wouldn't leave her alone to fight these cats. The golden tom began closing in on me, and Fernleaf told me that I should go or we'd both die." She mewed, her tail trembling and her eyes wide in fear as she went through the memories. Taking a deep breath, she continued. "Then I started running away, but a white she-cat pursued me." She looked at Oakshade and dipped her head. "Thanks to Oakshade who taught me that when pursued, climb a tree and get rid of them that way." She mewed. Oakshade dipped his head before lifting his chin. "Well, at first, she caught up with me and we fought." She mewed and showed her haunches. Bare skin showed and scarlet claw marks had been carved into her. "But then I climbed a tree, and she followed me very fast. But then I leaped off the trunk and headed for the hollow, but I knew that Lady was still following me." She mewed. "But before I could, I met Icefeather's patrol and Lady fled. I told them what had happened and they went to the training hollow." She mewed. "Icefeather ordered me to go to camp and warn everyone." She mewed. "But then I met Junipercloud, and at the exact same time, we heard Fernleaf shriek." She mewed. "Junipercloud told me to go home and get more cats." Flicking her tail she added. "But when I saw the barrier, I met Firetail in the woods." Fernleaf closed her eyes as her apprentice continued. "We heard Fernleaf shriek. He looked at me before going away. Then, I came back to camp and I briefly told Bramblestar what had happened before going to help Fernleaf again." Silverpaw mewed before dipping her head and padding off the rocks. "Silverpaw has shown great courage today, and I'm sure Firetail will watch over our clan from Silverpelt, as he died for his clanmates." Bramblestar mewed. "Thunderclan will honor him for many seasons to come." He added. "Jayfeather, is Junipercloud alright?" He asked the medicine cat. The grey tabby tom snorted. "I don't know what she was thinking, but I hope she hasn't hurt her kits." He grumbled as he shoed her into the nursery. Fernleaf took in a shaking breath before standing up. "Bramblestar, may I speak?" She asked. Bramblestar glanced uncertainly down at her before dipping his head. Fernleaf took a deep breath. "The Renegades told us that they were going to pick us off one by one. They've now taken at least two cats from us. Firetail and Ambermoon. They've killed Oatclaw and Harespring of Windclan, Sneezecloud of Riverclan and Flamepaw of Shadowclan." She mewed. Bramblestar's eyes widened and Icefeather sighed. Terrified yowls broke away from the cats in the clearing. Cherryfall began shooing her kits into the nursery and Littlepaw gave a squeal of terror. I know this may be shocking, but they have to know! "Bramblestar, I think it's time we went to tell the other clans about the Renegades." Fernleaf mewed. Bramblestar looked at Icefeather. "Although, I think it's wiser if we do it at the next gathering." She added hesitantly. Bramblestar dipped his head. "You're right." He murmured before yowling. "No apprentice is to leave this camp without having a warrior. No cat may go out alone. I want at least 6-7 cats on each patrol." He mewed. "Thunderclan will survive!"