Warriors: Dawn Of The Forest

Chapter Four

The world was silent as snow. Nothing more than a late-night breeze stirred in ForestClan territory. Two of the newest warriors, Dawnfrost and Cindersplash stood watch.
If one didn't know they were real cats, they would think they were statues.
Dawnfrost's ear twitched as a branch cracked in the distance, the sound echoing in the rather silent night.
Cindersplash prodded him, motioning to movement within the gorse tunnel at the entrance to camp.

Dawnfrost let a low growl rumble deep within his throat, tail lashing.
Cindersplash sprinted off to get Berryfawn, Snowfur, and Fernstar.
Dawnfrost opened his jaws to let the night air hit his scent glands, cringing at the reek of WolfClan.
Berrystar and twenty of her other warriors stalked their way through the spiny branches that made up to gorse tunnel.
Dawnfrost drew his lips back in a snarl, letting loose a thunderous warning yowl.
Fernstar, Berryfawn, Snowfur, and several others bolted up and out of their dens at Dawnfrost's warning call.
"Berrystar." Fernstar growled, stepping forward and motioning with her tail to tell the other warriors to form a semicircle around her.
Berrystar grinned, revealing pearly white fangs that glinted in the night.
On a silent signal, the WolfClan and ForestClan warriors crashed together in a screeching tussle.
Berrystar slashed at Berryfawn's flank, the medicine cat having no choice but to fight. His warrior roots enabled him to use some SandClan tricks against the leader, but Berrystar slammed a heavy paw down onto his head, stars flashing across his vision.
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Dawnfrost wrestled with a hefty tabby she-cat, the black striped tom digging his claws deep into the other cat's shoulders and holding on.
Berrystar suddenly ripped him from the tabby, throwing him to the ground with a painful thump.
Dawnfrost spat, lunging and ripping at the larger cat's belly. Berrystar sent a retaliation blow that Dawnfrost barely dodged.
The cat that was once his sister slashed across his shoulders, leaving a large gash that wept blood.
With utter rage and betrayal mingling in his eyes, Dawnfrost sprang at Berrystar with a bellow, biting deep into her ear.
The she-cat screeched, ripping her head from his jaws violently, sending crimson drops scattering.
Berrystar lashed out with long claws, slaving clear over Dawnfrost's eye.
As he slumped to the ground, he could see Snowfur.
The deputy was cornered by Eaglewing.
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Fernstar battled bravely against two WolfClan warriors, dodging effectively.
The surprise battle raged all around her, the screeches of cats echoing through the once-silent night.
Fernstar shoved away a black tom, slamming a large paw onto a tortishell's neck, sending the other cat sprawling.
Fernstar looked around for Snowfur, or Berryfawn, or somecat that she knew.
With a jolt of horror, she realized the cat on the ground ahead of her was Berryfawn, and a few tail-lengths away was Dawnfrost.
An agonized wail escaped her, cut short by a heavy weight settling onto her back. Berrystar.
With frantic movements of her head, Fernstar attempted to bite some part of Berrystar.
Suddenly, she remembered the trick she had used on Dawnfrost.
Fernstar rolled onto her back, Berrystar darted away.
"Wait 'til my deputy shows up. He'll shred you." Berrystar hissed, crouching low to the ground and lashing her tail.
Fernstar felt a jolt of fear, fur bristling along her spine.
With no warning, Berrystar leaped up, and quite literally slammed Fernstar's head into the ground, a loud pop echoing as searing pain lanced through Fernstar's body.
Fernstar growled and slashed at Berrystar's flank as she raced away, presumably to attack others.
Fernstar moaned pitifully, and dragged herself across the camp floor to safe inside her den, where she could hopefully pop her dislocated jaw back into place.
What did she mean, her Deputy?
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Snowfur watched Eaglewing growl in front of him.
"WolfClan scum. You led them here! I bet you even gave them intel!"
The massive tom snarled, the long fur on his paws and legs billowing as he raised his forepaw up, letting his claws shimmer in the moonlight.
"I never did anything!" Snowfur lashed his tail. "I'm loyal to ForestClan and no other!" He insisted.
Eaglewing pressed his face inches to Snowfur's own. Eaglewing smiled evilly.
"Traitor." Eaglewing hissed, and slammed his claws down across Snowfur's shoulder.
The deputy yowled, and shoved back, pishing and clawing with all his strength, but the massive tom wouldn't budge.
"Y-you're the traitor." Snowfur gasped out, blood dribbling from his lips.
Eaglewing bellowed in rage, slashing Snowfur one final time, then raced off.
Almost immediately, Berrystar yowled above the clamor of the fighting cats.
"WolfClan, retreat!"
At once all the WolfClan warriors tore themselves away from their opponents and disappeared unto the forest, almost as quickly as they had come.
Yellowstem hared to Snowfur, the black and brown tabby with the bright yellow eyes lifting him up by the scruff.
"Are you okay, Snowfur?!" Yellowstem's desperate call sounded muffled, almost as if he was underwater.
Snowfur was vaguely aware of Watersplash, the medicine cat apprentice, pressing cobwebs and marigold and horsetail deep into his wounds, and racing between all of the other injured cats.
He felt anger bubble up inside of him.
How dare Eaglewing, call him a traitor?!
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The next morning, everycat was still sore and tired from the late-night battle.
Rumors and whispers passed through the camp about WolfClan's supposed 'Deputy', many of which furthered the fear of the unnamed cat.
As far as Fernstar knew, the Deputy of WolfClan seemed to be from the days of Wolfstar's Rebellion, probably just a kit back then. The camp was buzzing with activity, cats streaming in and out of the medicine den, presumably for more treatment. It was mostly quiet. That is, until a queen raced out.
"My kit is missing!"