Warriors: War of the Clans - Darkness

Chapter 4

Fox waited in the clearing, the full moon up ahead, shining down on his and Scarlet's red fur. His paws were trembling, and he forcefully dug his claws into the dirt to stop them. Shadows stretched all across the clearing, and in front of him was the six bundles of traveling herbs.

A rustling in the bushes turned his gaze away from the sky. The bushes rustled again, and out stepped Lion, alone. She glanced around.

"Nobody else yet?" She whispered. They probably didn't have to whisper, but it felt safer whispering than talking in normal voices. Scarlet shook her head. Lion sighed, padding over to sit next to her. Soon, the bushes moved again, revealing another golden she, like Lion, except she had black spots. The she crossed the clearing carefully.

"Lion! Is Hyena here yet?" She whispered, golden eyes flashing in the moonlight.

"No. But this is Fox and Scarlet. Fox, Scarlet, this is Cheetah. My sister," She added. Cheetah meowed a greeting to the younger cats, and sat down next to her sister. As soon as she sat down, the bushes rustled again, revealing a strong, young brown tom. His legs were black, as well as a stripe down his back. His golden eyes revealed nothing as he padded over to Lion.

"Good. This isn't one of your jokes after all." His gaze flashed over Scarlet and Fox, and Fox realized this must be Hyena.

Cheetah purred, pressing up against Hyena. "Great to see you, brother!"

He smiled, nuzzling her. "You too."

Fox noticed a white face with a black stripe down it, with wide pale blue eyes filled with

uncertainty pop out of a bush. Magpie pushed his way into the clearing, eying the other cats.

Lion leaped to her paws. "Good, we're all here. Everyone, take a bundle." The cats

reached forward and took one of the bundles. Scarlet disappeared into the den, coming out with six fat pieces of fresh­kill, the last of the pile. "Eat the fresh­kill first, then the herbs." The five other cats obeyed and started tearing into their prey. Lion leaned down and dignantly did the same. Fox found it hard to enjoy his squirrel as the anxiety of what they were about to do set in.Once he finished the squirrel, he moved onto the herbs, wincing at the bitter taste, but swallowing them all. He silently sat up, and slowly the others joined him. Lion swept her gaze around the cats. "Lets go."

She silently stalked into the bushes, followed by Magpie and Cheetah, then Hyena. Fox padded behind Hyena, while Scarlet took the rear. The six cats silently stalked through the trees, eyes and ears open and alert for any sign of danger.

They jumped at every rustle of the bushes, and once Magpie stepped on a twig, snapping it, making all the cats hiss and jump. Magpie flattened his ears and continued, his fur fluffed up, a little more careful now.

After a while, the cats stopped being so jumpy. They dismissed the rustling of the bushes as prey.

Only when they saw the scrap of black fur did they realize they were in trouble. Lion raised her tail to stop the group. "Who is there?" She called. The only answer was a screech from many cats, as a patrol of Dreaded Night cats, Strawberry, Cage, Jay, a dark tabby she­cat he didn't know, a cream she­cat and worst of all, Fang.

Fang yowled a battle cry and leaped straight for Lion, who dodged out of the way. He didn't see any more of the fight, as the dark tabby she leaped in front of him, snarling.

He slashed his claws forward, desperate to help Lion. He saw a scrap of golden fur in the corner of his vision. Lion! He thought.

It was actually Cheetah who bowled the tabby she over. The she glared up at Cheetah in hatred.