"We need to have more training sessions. Blackcloud will train the cats who need more battle training, and I will take those who are capable to hunt and patrol. The kits will go to gather herbs with Silverleaf. We have to be prepared. I wouldn't put it past the rogues that they will leave." Nightstar finished, stepping off the Nightrock.
Nightstar sorted out two patrols from her cats. "Skyflower, Foxclaw and Tigerstripe, you will be on watch patrol. Tell me what's going on. Darkpelt, Russetfang and Breezetail, you'll come with me and we'll hunt." The group of cats split up, and Nightstar led the way deeper into the forest.
The hunting patrol scented the air, and Nightstar could scent a faint bit of mouse. She signaled with her tail to keep quiet, and started creeping around. Soon she spotted a writhling body of a mouse, and sprung.
She landed on the mouse's tail just as it started running, and ended it's life with a swift bite. Thank you, StarClan!
"Good catch. It almost got away!" Russetfang purred. Nightstar scraped a few leaves over her kill. She opened her mouth to say something, but Breezetail silenced her with a flick of his tail. He padded quietly towards a tree a few fox lengths away, and around.
There was a rustle of leaves and a cut-off cry of a bird. Breezetail brought his sparrow and placed it beside Nightstar's mouse. "That's huge! It'll easily feed the kits." Darkpelt mewed happily, glancing at Nightstar, who licked his muzzle afectionately.
* * *
Two sunsets later, Nightstar bounded onto the Nightrock, anxiety fluttering inside her.
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the Nightrock for a Clan meeting!" She assembled the cats and once every cat was seated and looking expectantly at her, Nightstar spoke.
"NightClan! As you are all aware of, the rogues have not left our territor yet. So tonight, when its dark, we will fight. Rest for a while before the fight, and eat something. We need all our strength." Nightstar swept her gaze over her beloved Clan.
"Silverleaf had prepared some strengthening herbs for our fighting warriors. Get some before you leave. Lilycloud and the kits will stay in camp. In case of severe wounds, Silverleaf will be close to the rogues' camp. Keep an eye out for the direction to camp. Make sure no cat but our own finds the camp, or we could be destroyed."
Nightstar wasn't excited at all for this battle. She feared deeply that she would lose her Clan. She was the only one with nine lives, and she would give all of them to drive off the rogues. "We'll meet here at moonhigh."
Nightstar padded into the nursery to find her kits jumping around, squealing. "I will kill you! Get out of our territory, you filthy rogue!" Spottedkit squeaked, pouncing on a moss ball.
"I defeated five rogues!" Daisykit puffed out her chest, only to be knocked down by Mistykit. "No you didn't! I helped you with four!" Nightstar felt proud that her kits were deeply loyal to NightClan, but also afraid for them. They think this is a simple game, where the winners will stay and the losers will leave.
"Kits!" Nightstar beckoned. Her three kittens gathered around her feet. She stifled a purr as her kits attempted to sit as tall as they could, only to topple backwards. "Now, now. Mistykit, Daisykit, Spottedkit. There will be a battle very. very soon. It will be dangerous."
"You will win so the rogues will go away, right?" Daisykit piped up.
Nightstar hestitated, just for a heartbeat. "Yes. Yes, we will." She mewed with a heavy heart. "But you must promise me something. If, only if, the rogues come into camp and find the nursery, you fight. If not, you stay in here and be quiet. Lilycloud will be with you. Promise?"
"Why? Why can't we fight?" Mistykit wailed.
"Because, mouse-brain, they're too big for us!" Spottedkit scolded. Nightstar swallowed back a purr.
"Spottedkit." She chided. "We will do our best. But if the rogues find our camp, we will arrive here as quickly as we can. If they find the nursery, you attack. If not, you sit still and be quiet. You understand? Promise." Nightstar commanded, almost begging. She didn't want to lose her kits. Not yet, she had vowed, until they lived the life of a warrior.
"We promise!" Her kits mewled as one. "Thank you so much, my dears." Nightstar gave each of them a gentle, loving lick.
She curled up, bringing her kits to her stomach on a nest. She wanted to spend the limited time before the battle with her kits. Warmth spreaded through her as her kits settled to sleep.
Nightstar didn't want this moment to end. She dreaded it.
YOU ARE READING
NightClan's Threat
FanficNightClan, a Clan that prefers to live in the dark, was created by rogues who StarClan had spoken to. However just as they became warriors, other cats threaten to take away their newly-found territory and break NightClan up.
