Four moons later, Graysplash and Birchtooth were fully recovered. Owlstar was still sick, not responding to treatments from catmint. The medicine cats had run out of the precious herb and were treating her with tansy and feverfew. Frostpaw received his warrior name of Frostwind, and Ratpaw, Wildpaw, and Dustpaw had gotten their apprentice names. The Clan was faring well, unless you count the upcoming battle with ShadowClan over borders.
The bossy apprentices, Stonepaw, Boulderpaw, and Forestpaw had snuck out of camp to hunt. They had intentionally crossed the border, catching a squirrel and two mice. They even had the nerve to deny that it was ShadowClan's prey and skirmish with the patrol that caught them. They were the only apprentices to clean the dens for two whole moons as a punishment, but all paws were needed for the battle.
Ratpaw, Dustpaw, and Wildpaw were training with their mentors as the battle approached. Frostwind and Birchtooth were offering training to the warriors and queens and even the elders. ShadowClan was unpredictable.
ShadowClan attacking was scary, especially since Owlstar was still sick and recovering from her rat bites. The whole Clan was ready to defend each other from the cunning, ambitious ShadowClan cats.
Graysplash was showing Blubberfur, Stumpfoot, and Smalltail the forward roll and push. She straightened as she heard hushed meows and paw steps over the wet ground.
"They are here." She warned quietly, angling her ears towards the moor. Falconclaw and Wildpaw took their places outside the elder's den. The elders slunk into the den, grumbling softly. Ratpaw, Dustpaw, Riverstripe, and Foghaze stepped to guard the nursery.
Some other warriors took places in front of the camp entrance. Graysplash was the only cat to guard the leader's den, where Owlstar lay, sick and shaking.
Warriors and apprentices lined themselves thickly around the camp and scattered in various places in the middle of the camp.
The cats were all tense, their fur brushed out to make them look bigger. Their eyes were on the camp walls and entrance. All claws were extended to full length and teeth were bared, waiting for the right time to snarl and bite in defiance. The air was thick with tense vibes.
"Attack!" The cry came from just outside the camp entrance, where the ShadowClan warriors were hiding. ShadowClan cats swarmed out of the moor and into the camp. They were snarling. Almost immediately, the ShadowClan snarls were met with growls from RiverClan cats.
Graysplash saw two ShadowClan cats sneak to the nursery where they were met with a flurry of claws and teeth from Ratpaw, Dustpaw, Riverstripe, and Foghaze.
At the same time, three ShadowClan cats tried to get to the elder's den. One was overtaken by Summerdawn in the middle of camp. The other two were faced with Falconclaw and his highly trained apprentice, Wildpaw.
The rest of the battle was a haze to Graysplash, yowls and snarls of rage mixed with hisses of pain, claws and teeth slashing and biting, cutting through fur and flesh. Blood was beginning to seep through the camp.
Graysplash turned to the sound of meows and tearing flesh. She shot into the den and saw a ShadowClan cat ripping helpless Owlstar's back open, his hind paws holding her down. He must've gotten in by the hidden crack in the stones at the back of the den. Graysplash threw herself at the attacker and pushed him into the stone wall of the den. He was shocked by her sudden appearance and the strength of her shove.
Graysplash showed no mercy to the attacker. She slammed his head into the stone multiple times, and then threw him into the dirt floor. He was too stunned to attack her, but he tried, reaching out a paw and raking his claws down her legs. She tore both his ears, making sure he wouldn't get the last blow, and kicked him out of the den.
