Warriors: 9 Lives of TERROR

I bring nightmares to every dream, I squash laughter and instead make screams.

Chapter twenty-nine

Froststar hurried through the forest, every once and awhile pausing to check for suspicious sounds or scents. He stopped, one paw above the ground, ears strained and whiskers quivering. At this, he could not get caught. He didn't want to have to kill any more cats then necessary and make up something about their death. He didn't have a plan for that right now. Froststar sprang forward again, leaping over a bush and into ShadowClan territory. The forest was dark, for there was no moon in the sky. It was a new moon, and Froststar was going to meet Russetclaw.

During the time leading up to the new moon, Froststar had kept the attacks on WindClan constant. Even though it was getting cooler as the season turned into leaf-fall, ThunderClan cats had not gone hungry. Froststar permitted them to hunt on WindClan territory. As the attacks went on, slowly, a few WindClan cats began to join ThunderClan. First Oneflower, and Froststar soon realized she was carrying Seedpod's kits. Then the two siblings, Dirtpaw and Mothpaw, came limping into ThunderClan camp. Soon after came Slightfoot, the young warrior who had been the deputy's apprentice. Then there was a small time gap before Crowflight, Oneflower's brother, came to ThunderClan with a limp rabbit dangling from his jaws.

Froststar hadn't attacked in a little while, because he still trained in the dark forest and needed time to rest. For this moment. I'm impressed, Froststar. ThunderClan is doing well and WindClan is on the very brink of collapse. Froststar didn't reply. There weren't that many WindClan warriors left, because Froststar and his supporters had killed the young warrior Cricketleg, as well as Harepelt and Gorseleaf. The medicine cat apprentice Cloudfrost promptly left WindClan to join RiverClan. Delilahpaw had left with him.

Froststar smelled the badger just as Sageweed told him to stop. Froststar crouched, carefully padding around the newly made set to the entrance. Badger scent wafted out from inside. Froststar wrinkled his nose in disgust. It's asleep, and it hasn't had its kits yet. Froststar heard a rustling in the undergrowth, and quickly leaped behind a tree. Peering out just a little bit, Froststar caught a glimpse of Russetclaw, Marshstar, and Darkcloud.

~~~~~~~

Russetclaw snapped open his eyes at the sound of an owl. Mouse-dung! Did I oversleep? Russetclaw quickly slipped out of the den, peering up at the dark sky. No, I didn't. Thank the dark forest. Russetclaw looked around to make sure no cat was watching him, then quickly trotted up to Marshstar's den. "Marshstar!" he called quietly. "Marshstar!" There was a rustling sound, then a sleepy-eyed Marshstar appeared.

"What is it, Russetclaw?" he asked. Russetclaw beckoned over him with his tail, and sprang over to the medicine cat den which fortunately wasn't that far from Marshstar's den. My den, soon.

"There's suspicious ThunderClan activity, Marshstar," Russetclaw hissed.

"What?" Marshstar was instantly awake. "What do you mean? Are they attacking?"

"I was out for a walk because I couldn't sleep. First, I smelled ThunderClan, then- just let me show you," he said.

"All right," Marshstar said. "Should I wake the Clan?"

"No," Russetclaw answered, shaking his head. "At least not yet."

"We should go now, then," Marshstar said. There was the sound of paw-steps, then the big tom Darkcloud pushed his way out of the medicine cat den.

"Are you going to leave without me?" he asked.

"You're sick," Marshstar told him. "You need to stay here."

"I'm feeling much better," Darkcloud said. "Just let me come. If there's danger, I'll come back and be the one to warn the Clan," he said.

"Fine," Marshstar sighed, just as Russetclaw had hoped. "Russetclaw, lead the way." Russetclaw did what he was told, bounding out of camp. Toad-brained kittypets! They're walking right into me and Froststar's trap!