WARRIORS-Fate of the Clans-Book One-The Beginning

• Chapter Eight •

Pitter, patter. Pitter, patter. Pitter, patter.

   Lichennose blinked open his eyes in the warriors' den, glancing outside. The camp was dull with a slight drizzle. He was fairly surprised - he hadn't seen rain in anything but a downpour in a few moons.

   The pale warrior glanced at his brother's nest. It was empty. He went on the dawn patrol, he recalled, ear twitching. Lichennose stiffly got to his paws, parting his jaws in a long yawn and stretching each leg individually. Afterward, he headed outside, tail whisking behind him.

   Lichennose's striped pelt prickled a little at the drizzle. He looked up. The sky was shockingly bright despite the rain. The tom lowered his gaze and glanced around camp. His Clanmates were doing their daily duties. Must be past sunrise. Why hasn't the dawn patrol come back yet?

   Suddenly, a yowl broke through the air, and a dark figure came rushing into camp. Lichennose jumped, and as the rest of the Clan began to gather, recognized the cat as Flypaw. He went on the dawn patrol too! Where are the others?

Berrystar shouldered past his Clanmates to face the apprentice, "Flypaw, why have you returned alone?" His tail tip flicked.

"We need backup! ShadowClan attacked!" Flypaw's eyes were stretched wide as moons. Again? Dear StarClan, what is it that ShadowClan want from us?

Lichennose spotted a flash of red, and realized that Flypaw was bleeding from a gash on his shoulder. Willowwhisker hurried up, began to usher him to the medicine cat's den, and murmured, "Berrystar, you must send others to help."

Lichennose immediately jumped up, "May I please go?" Bramblefoot needs my help! Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Quailflight staring at him, wide-eyed. Berrystar fixed him with a hard stare, "Alright. Bring Bumblebee and Asterfoot with you."

The pale tabby twitched his tail tip, the other two gathering at his side. Lichennose cast a gaze at Quailflight, as if he were promising her that he'd return un-scathed. But that wasn't something he could promise.

   With the drizzle beginning to cease, the three cats set out. They hurried through the forest, until the sounds of yowling broke the air. Bumblebee hissed, "ShadowClan's always causing trouble these days."

   As the cats arrived in the clearing, Lichennose was shocked to see that they were outnumbered. Did they bring their whole Clan to attack? Bumblebee suddenly tackled a dark tabby, both she-cats collapsing in a snarling ball of fur and claws. Asterfoot disappeared in the array of pelts.

   Lichennose darted past a pale cream she-cat, searching for Bramblefoot in the growling crowd. But before he could spot his brother, he felt a heavy weight on his shoulders, and was struck down by a huge, fluffy dark gray tom.

   Lichennose was caught off-guard, but lashed out at the stranger's belly with his hind legs, hoping to rip into his flesh. The ShadowClan cat snarled, eyes narrowing. Lichennose sliced at the tom's muzzle, appearing surprised when he toppled over and collapsed onto the ground. I threw him off?

   Not taking time to ponder how the huge cat had lost his footing so easily, the pale tabby leapt over the ShadowClan warrior and past Bumblebee wrestling with a tawny-colored tom with long claws. Gaze searching the fray, he finally spotted Bramblefoot, grappling with a red-brown she-cat who was too young to be a full warrior. Lichennose paused, ducking down to stay safe, and watched in terror as Mudfoot shoved the apprentice aside and faced him with narrowed eyes.

   Bramblefoot leapt to his paws and hissed, aggression flashing in his eyes. "You... You hurt my brother!" He declared, tackling her to the ground and slashing at her eyes. Lichennose suddenly darted forward, knocking Mudfoot to the ground and growling in rage.