Warriors: Sharptalon's Mist

Chapter 25

Sharptalon rushed forward, his paws splashing in Ambertuft's blood. He felt sick staring down at her split throat where blood spilled out viciously. 

"No, no.....!" Sharptalon cried. He'd lost his mother, now his former mentor was dead. Heavy paws crashed on his shoulders, unbalancing him. Snowbreeze had jumped over him and was crashing through the undergrowth. Sleekwhisker, Minnow, Shimmer, and Thistle raced after him. 

"Stupid rogues!" Bramblehawk limped forward. His left ear had a split down the middle that was streaming blood. A gash was in his shoulder that stained his dark brown tabby fur. Scratches was across his right cheek and muzzle. He looked down at Ambertuft, his eyes widening in horror.

Brackenclaw and Needlepaw rushed forward. Brackenclaw's pelt was splashed with blood and Needlepaw's ear was torn, along with a large gash in her flank. She gasped with horror, staring down at her dead mother. "Ambertuft!" She cried.

Sharptalon felt his heart break as Needlepaw crouched in the pool of blood and buried her nose in her mother's fur. 

"No.. they... they couldn't have killed her!" Bramblehawk gasped. 

Brackenclaw blinked at them. "Listen, I know you're grieving, but we have to go. The rogues could be attacking the camp right now. Our Clanmates need our help," she panted.

"We can't. I'm staying with my mother!" Needlepaw hissed.

"I knew your mother, Needlepaw. She was my mentor. She wouldn't of just wanted you to stand here and grieve all day, she would've wanted you to chase those rogues and make sure they pay for hurting her Clanmates," Sharptalon insisted. He rested his tail on the small she-cat's shoulder. "I'll make sure they pay for what they did."

Needlepaw looked up. "I.... I think you're right." She stood up, sinking her claws into the grass. "I can't wait to sink my claws into the one that did this."

Sharptalon felt a strange feeling surge through him. She's perfect for training in the Dark Forest. Should I show Brokenstar? He padded into the undergrowth. "There's no time for a burial. Let's go."

Suddenly, grass rustled behind the battered patrol. Sharptalon turned, ShadowClan scent touching his nose. 

A patrol consisting of Juniperclaw, Applefur, Beenose, and Stonewing came from the undergrowth. The tall pines of their forest stretched behind them. Their eyes widened in surprise. 

Juniperclaw rushed forward, bristling. "What happened?" 

"What attacked you?" Beenose asked, her whiskers twitching in alarm.

"Rogues," Sharptalon breathed, lashing his tail. "They ambushed us and killed Ambertuft! Then they left. We think they're heading for our camp," he panted.

Juniperclaw looked down at Ambertuft's dead body, unsheathing his claws. "The rogues did this? Was Sleekwhisker with them?" 

"She was," Brackenclaw answered.

"And she gave me something to remember," Bramblehawk hissed, flicking his badly torn ear.

Juniperclaw glanced at them. "We were patrolling the border and heard fighting, so we thought we'd check it out," he meowed. "Sorry for being on your territory."

"No, no, that's ok. But I think... we may need your help," Needlepaw suddenly meowed.

"What?" Brackenclaw gasped. 

Applefur blinked in surprise. 

"As much as I don't want you dragged into this battle, I..." Needlepaw trailed off. "I just... we just need your help. We need as much claws as we can get."

Sharptalon was surprised. He liked her fighting spirit. "You don't have to help."

Juniperclaw flattened his ears. "No. We'll help. I'm tired of these rogues killing us. We need to fight back," he growled.

"Are you crazy? We don't know if we can trust them!" Stonewing hissed.

"I'm leader of this patrol. Go back to ShadowClan and tell Tigerstar where we are," Juniperclaw meowed. 

Beenose stepped forward, Applefur at her side. "We'll help too," they meowed.

Sharptalon flicked his tail. "Then come on. Our camp might be under attack." 

The sound of screeching cats echoed around the camp. Sharptalon tore through the bramble barrier, his heart pounding in his ears. He may of been battered: scratches on his shoulders and cheek; but he knew he'd fight hard to protect his Clan. 

Sharptalon couldn't wait for the blood of the rogues to stain his paws. He rushed forward, seeing Darktail fighting with Squirrelstar in the center of camp. He wanted to help her, but knew he should help someone else. 

A panicked screech sounded from the nursery. Sharptalon bolted for it as fast as he could, his heart pounding. He reached it and spotted a dusty brown rogue fighting with Leafpool.

Phoenixwing was stretched out in the corner of the den, Stormgaze with her. Coriander was with them, Wingkit, Auburnkit, and Peachkit hiding under her stomach. Was Phoenixwing kitting already? 

Sharptalon rushed forward, grabbing the brown rogue by the scruff. Its eyes widened in surprise as it was lifted.

"Get out of here!" Sharptalon growled, slamming the tom down. His claws caught the rogue's shoulders.

The rogue curled his lip. "This isn't the last of us," he hissed. 

A small black and white male rogue rushed up to the den. "Viper! Let's go!" He hissed.

Viper slithered from Sharptalon's grip and followed the other rogue. They seemed pretty young.

"Sharptalon! Thank StarClan you're here!" Stormgaze gasped. She rushed forward, her round belly swinging. "Please fetch a medicine cat! Phoenixwing is giving birth!" 

"Since when?" Sharptalon asked. He rested his chin on his mate's head for a quick second before pulling away. 

"Before the rogues came. Basically right after you left," Stormgaze meowed. Her eyes widened. "You're hurt! What happened? I didn't see that rogue attack you!"

"It's nothing," Sharptalon sighed.

Leafpool turned away from Phoenixwing, her eyes slits. "Sharptalon! Get a medicine cat for StarClan's sake!" She hissed. A bloody scratch was on her muzzle. "I can't do all this by myself."

Sharptalon turned all round and rushed from the den, turning towards the medicine den. He parted through the swinging dusty brambles and saw all three medicine cats. 

"Sharptalon! What's going on out there?" Mothstripe padded from the dark corner of the medicine den.

"The rogues are attacking. I think all of them could be here," Sharptalon panted. "Please come quick. Phoenixwing is giving birth."