Amberfang's Destiny

Chapter 10

I stumbled on a lose patch of dirt and tripped on tree roots as I raced across the forest floor. My eyes and face stung from being hit in the face by fern fronds.

CrowClan was invading. My three cat patrol was split up. Me, Amberpaw, a puny apprentice that had barely a moon of training, running through the forest at break-neck speed, desperately trying to make it back to camp to fetch reinforcements before the rest of my patrol, two she-cat warriors that went by the names of FoxSky and GoldenSong, lost the fight or even worse, their lives.

I saw the tree line begin to thin out as I approached the camp, a ravine like dip in the ground surrounded by trees. I hurled myself down the tiny rock slide and burst through the protective barrier of thorns and gorse with a yowl.

The clearing was bustling with the usual sun-high activity. Apprentices practicing battle moves in front of their den, warriors chatting,eating, and getting prepared for extra hunting patrols, the elders sharing tongues in the bright sunlight, and the queens watching their kits play a game in the clearing.

The happy attitude died down immediately as I collapsed beside the entrance, extremely tired after my no-so-happy morning 50 meter dash across the ruff forest terrain we lived in. LifeStar sprung up from his spot underneath the LifeRock and raced over.

"Amberpaw! What happened?!"He asked as he approached.

"CrowClan....battle...at SunRock.....outnumbered.....need help..."I gasped out, shaking with terror.

"CreamHeart, Moosehoof, Jinxclaw, Cardinaltail, Stormgaze, Appledawn,Speckleddust, Flamepaw, Bluepaw, Darkpaw, Tigerpaw, and Amberpaw!"Lifestar yowled before spinning around and dashing through the entrance. I rose to my paws and ran after him, the rest of the battle patrol following.

When we broke through the tree line at SunRock, I knew that if I hadn't run as fast as I had, GoldenSong and Foxsky would be dead. The two she-cat were being overwhelmed by their attackers.

Lifestar let out a warning yowl before crashing into CrowStar. The black tom let out a yowl of shock as he was bowled over. Within heartbeats, the entire shore was filled with battling cats.

I desperately tried to remember the battle moves CreamHeart had taught me. A dark grey tom had lashed out at me and I scrambled off the rock to avoid it.

"Look what we have here. A runt barley out of the nursery. Pity. I was hoping Lifeclan would bring me real warriors to fight."He snarled.

Before I could react, Flamepaw came out of nowhere and sent the tom flying across the rock. He turned and let out a yowl of rage.

"YOU'LL PAY FOR THAT!"He yowled, leaping out at us. Before I knew it, we were fighting, me and Flamepaw, side by side. Together, we sent the tom stumbling towards the river. Back into CrowClan territory.

It all happened in an instant. One moment we were fighting him, the next, he had whipped around and attack the nearest Lifeclan cat. AppleDusk.

The two cats rolled out of our line of sight and before we could do anything to help her, we were attacked by two CrowClan apprentices.

"CROWCLAN RETREAT!"CrowStar yowled, limping quickly toward the river. The CrowClan cats dashed away from their opponents and raced into the river. The dark grey tom raced past us. Covered in blood. There were no new wounds on him that I could see me and Flamepaw had made. Then, with horror twisting in the depths of my belly, I realized the blood wasn't his. It was his opponent's. AppleDusk.

I shakily looked toward where the two had disappeared. Flamepaw was already running toward the limp lump of pale tabby fur.

The once lively she-cat was lying in a pool of her own blood. As lifeless as a piece of prey. Wounds covered her body and her eyes, once full of life, were clouded and staring into nothingness.

"No not AppleDusk. Why her?"A horrified voice sounded from behind me. Stormgaze.

I faintly remembered that the two cats had been siblings from different litters.

AppleDusk, the happiest she-cat in the clan, was lying dead in a pool of her own blood.

AN:How are you feels right now. Dead. Good.