Warriors: Book One: The End of the Forest

Chapter Eight

Swiftpaw blinked her eyes open and sat up, "Huh? Moonpaw? What is it?" she mewed sleepily. Swiftpaw meet her friend's terrified gaze and stood up, "Is something wrong?" she mewed in alarm. Gingerpaw tore up behind Moonpaw, "We have to get out of the camp, wolves are attacking it! They haven't gotten past Creamflower and Shadow, but Frost can't get the kits out on her own!" he gasped. Swiftpaw glanced around and spotted Snowpaw curled in her nest, "Moonpaw! Wake Snowpaw then the three of you go help Creamflower hold off the wolves. Tinypaw and I well help get the Ruby, Cherry and the kits out of the camp." she mewed. Moonpaw nodded and shook Snowpaw awake before hurtling over to the fight. Swiftpaw streaked over to the den the kits shared with Ruby and Cherry. She found Cherry crouched in front of the den, fur fluffed out and teeth bared, "Swiftpaw! Thank Lifestar you're here!" she mewed, "Can you help get the kits out of the camp?" Swiftpaw nodded, "Where is Tinypaw?" she gasped. Cherry pointed into the den, "Inside." Swiftpaw nodded and pushed into the bush. Frost was curled around the kits, licking them gently in an attempt to quite their pathetic mewling. Swiftpaw got a good look at them as her eyes adjusted to the gloom, a gray and tan tabby tom and to white and black she-cats. She nuzzled the tom, "We are going to get you and your sisters out of here." she purred. He blinked his green eyes at her and pressed against her chest, rubbing his head against her chin and purring weakly. She picked him up and signaled to Frost and Tinypaw to pick up the other two kits. She scooped Cherry and Ruby close to her and nudged them out into the clearing. She glanced over to the fight and saw that the other cats were faced with a long line of wolves. She pressed into the shadows, "Oh great StarClan!" she mumbled, "Even the smallest of them is twice the size of the biggest warrior I've ever seen!" the kit wiggled and let out a small squeak as the thorns of the camp wall poked him. She shot across the clearing and nudged Creamflower, "Run!" she hissed around the kit. She nodded, "Retreat! We have to get everyone out alive!" she yowled.  Shadow pushed Moonpaw and Snowpaw towards Swiftpaw and hurtled towards the entrance. Creamflower shot after him, hurtling through the entrance and into the trees. Gingerpaw leaped towards Swiftpaw and picked up Ruby. Moonpaw scooped up Cherry and nodded. Swiftpaw whisked her tail and shot towards the camp entrance with her littermates and Moonpaw. She pushed out into the trees and saw Creamflower, Shadow and Frost waiting for them, "Come on! This way! Wolves won't follow us over Carrion River." Creamflower hissed before shooting off. Swiftpaw tore after her, tucking her chin to her chest so the kit wouldn't get as thrown around. She pulled up as a wolf landed in front of her with a snarled. She fluffed out her fur and swiped at it. It dodged and lunged for her. Shadow slashed its face and pushed between them, "Run!" he growled. Swiftpaw nodded and skidded around the wolf, Shadow tearing after her. Creamflower pulled up at the river edge and the other cats lined up beside, "Tinypaw, Swiftpaw, Snowpaw, Gingerpaw, Moonpaw, Shadow, Frost, Cherry, Ruby and all three kits. That's everyone." she mewed. Creamflower took the Tom kit from Swiftpaw and Shadow took the she-cat from Tinypaw. Gingerpaw wadded out first, carefully testing the current. Swiftpaw padded out, "Come one! The wolves are catching up!" she called. Creamflower trotted out slowly, Ruby clinging to her back. Frost nudged Cherry onto her shoulders and bounded out with Moonpaw and Snowpaw behind her. Swiftpaw paddled over to Tinypaw and kicked out towards the other side. She glanced back and saw the wolves gathering on the bank, scratching the ground and pacing in frustration. She sighed and swam out further, struggling to keep her head up as the current got stronger. Gingerpaw swam up to her, "Just don't stop moving your paws if your break the rhythm you'll sink." he gasped, coughing out water as it flooded his mouth. Swiftpaw nodded and kicked out again, reaching her paws for the slope of the bank. She touched the ground and hauled herself into the shallows and sat down, watching the other cats drag their selfs out. She glanced up as rain started to fall, "Great! We need to find shelter for the kits." she mewed. Creamfower opened her mouth but closed it and pricked her ears, "what is that noise... it sounds, familiar." Shadow sat up and listened to, "We need to move, now!" he hissed. Moonpaw shot him a look, "Why? It's just a little- look out!' she broke off in a yowl. Swiftpaw snapped around and gasped as she saw a wall of water sweeping steadily towards them. She glanced over to the other bank and saw the wolves fleeing into the forest a heartbeat before the water hit her and flung her off her paws.