Red Snow

CHAPTER 7

     Snowshade slid out his claws and waited for his leader to give the signal. He stood eye to eye with Snakewhisker, his fur standing up on his neck. He felt confident that his cats could defeat the patrol, but a thought struck him. "Wait!" He called, shocking the others around him.

     Flintstar, who was about to give the signal, swung his head towards Snowshade. "What?" He growled, keeping an eye on the confused ShadowClan cats.

     The white tom dipped his head to his leader. "Flintstar, I had a proposition in mind. We need more cats for our Clan, why not make a deal with these mange-pelts?"

     Flintstar nodded in understanding. "Yes, that works." He turned back to the ShadowClan cats who were standing awkwardly. "Snakewhisker, BloodClan has an offer for you and your patrol."

     Drawing in a deep breath, Snowshade watched Snakewhisker intently. "If you win, we will leave you in peace. If we win, your patrol joins BloodClan."

     "Are you mouse-brained?" Snakewhisker screeched. "We would never make a deal like that."

     "Yeah, flea-pelts!" Aspenfall hissed.

     The arguing came to a stop when Toadclaw padded from behind Snakewhisker. "Silence, ShadowClan! I think you're forgetting that I am the deputy. Flintstar, you can forget that deal. We will not join BloodClan."

     Snowshade scoffed, "cowards," and was pleased when there were murmurs of agreement behind him. A snowflake landed on his muzzle and he shook it off, but more snow starting falling. If they are going to fight, they better do it now.

     "ShadowClan cats are no cowards! You have a deal Flintstar. If we win, and we will, you will leave us in peace for the next moon." Toadclaw snarled, showing stained, yellow teeth.

     Flintstar flicked his tail in satisfaction. "And when we win, your whole patrol will be crossing the border into BloodClan territory."

     Before any other words could be exchanged, Snakewhisker leapt on Snowshade and held onto his back. Snowshade rolled over and crushed the smaller tom under him, but he wriggled out aggressively. The white tom fixed his eyes on the ShadowClan warriors paws, but did a massive leap onto his shoulder, and nicked his ear. Snakewhisker let out a howl of pain, and slashed Snowshade across his muzzle. The blood dripped onto the snow, staining in red. "Just give up!" Snakewhisker hissed as he jumped on Snowshade and pinned him down.

     "Never!" Snowshade lashed his paw and kicked his back haunches, sending Snakewhisker tumbling down the slope. When he finally stood up, Snowshade was ready. He lunged toward the brown tom and aimed straight for the throat. "BloodClan warriors kill their enemies." He recalled what Flintstar had once told him. Now wasn't any different. If he killed Snakewhisker, the rest of the ShadowClan cats might retreat. The tom was still dizzy from his tumble, and Snowshade used that as his advantage as he ripped his throat. The warrior fell dead at his paws, as blood dropped down from his mouth. As he picked up the limp body and carried it back to where the fighting was, he saw that ShadowClan was winning. Sorrelflare had Spicepaw pinned down, Yarrowfur was teasing Foxtail by nipping at his leg and swiftly darting back when the ginger tom tried to swipe.

     "Stop!" He yowled.

     Toadclaw glared at him and let Flintstar go. He looked like he was going to attack him instead, but then noticed the bloody, matted body at his paws. "Snakewhisker? You killed him!"

     Snowshade puffed out his chest. "Do you surrender?"

     "Never!" Toadclaw hissed with one last glance at his Clanmate's body. "Snakewhisker must be avenged!" He yowled and lunged toward Snowshade, but Flintstar darted in between and flicked Toadclaw away with a massive paw.