The Warrior Games

Chapter 9

Snowpaw awoke to the sound of birds chirping nearby. The sun was up and the leaves were sparkling with the sunlight. The white she-cat yawned and moved her body over to the side for a moment, before she suddenly felt herself drop. Her instincts were what saved her life. She dug her claws into the bark before she could crash to the ground. At first she was relieved, but then she realised she was hanging from her forepaws like a SkyClan cat, except Snowpaw couldn't jump down or she would break her neck. For a moment, she just hung there. Then she risked letting go with one paw, and quickly putting it higher on top of the branch so she could pull herself up. She scrambled onto the branch, her heart still racing. More carefully, she put one paw in front of the other until she got to the side of the branch that was attatched to the tree, before she dug her claws into the bark and began slowly climbing down.

Once on the forest floor, Snowpaw picked up the scent of a WindClan cat. Suddenly, she remembered what she had heard before she had fallen asleep last night. Where was Runningpaw now? Snowpaw wondered. Only last night, the injured apprentice had been here, helping Mossheart find the BloodClan cats.

Snowpaw shook her head. It didn't matter where Runningpaw was now. She needed to find Brambledust. And she also needed to find something to eat...

It didn't take the white she--cat long to find a good-looking mouse nibbling on a smallish green plant. Snowpaw bent into a crouch, her tail staying on the ground. She tried to breathe lightly so she wouldn't disturb the small creature, who was still unawaringly nibbling on that tiny plant. Snowpaw crept closer and closer to her unsuspecting victim. Her claws slid out, her eyes narrowed.

And then she leapt.

The mouse never knew what hit him. Snowpaw stood up, holding the little creature in her jaws. She was about to bring it somewhere, but then, there was nowhere. There was no fresh-kill pile, there was no camp to return to, there was just the forest, and the cats that wanted her dead.

So, silently, she ate alone.

***

Darktail had taken the lead, and was sniffing out Silverflower. She couldn't outrun him! He was on her trail for sure. Fang and Scorch silently followed, when Darktail heard Fang whisper, "Get down!"

Darktail turned around to see Fang and Scorch crouched down, as if ready to either run or attack.

"What are you two so afraid of?" Darktail rolled his eyes, "Get up now, before I have to drag you-" He was interrupted when he heard a small rustle from behind a huge green plant. Darktail's immediate reaction was to kill - whatever it was, it was no use to them.

The black cat raced toward the plant and let out a vicious battle yowl as he leapt over the plant, claws out. He landed, as he had expected, on a warrior's back. The startled cat let out a hiss and reared up. Darktail lost his grip for a moment, and that was all the other cat needed to flip him over and pin him down.

"Hey! You! What do you want?" Fang had arrived.

"My name's Mossheart. I want to make an alliance." The gray and white cat said.

"Mossheart, eh? From RiverClan, is it?" Scorch asked.

"Yes." Came the reply.

"Tell me, Mossheart. What is it you can help up with?" Fang asked.

"Well, I'm not entirely skilled in the art of fighting...however...I can swim." Mossheart said.

There was a moment of pure silence, before the two BloodClan cats burst out laughing. Darktail managed to kick Mossheart off him and he stood up, joining in with the laughing.

"Swim? Ha ha ha! You mean, swim through the trees?"

" Maybe you can conjure up some water while you're at it!"

"Or maybe she'll grow fins and we can rename her Fishcat!"

The laughing grew louder.

"Hey! I'm sure there's water somewhere around here!" Mossheart meowed.

"Oh yes I have seen water! In puddles! In dew! Ha ha, but if you think there's a river around here, Fishcat, then go ahead and lead us to one!" Scorch laughed.

Mossheart growled under her breath. She knew she couldn't fight these three experienced and cruel warriors. She wouldn't stand a chance.

"So, are we going to kill her then? I wouldn't mind doing it." Darktail smiled. Fang and Scorch looked from him to Mossheart. Then they looked at each other.

"Actually..." Fang said, thoughtfully, "Another cat on our side might be alright."

Scorch nodded in agreement, "She might have some secret weapon we could use..."

Darktail, however, was dumbfounded, "Why? If anything, she's useless! If she can't fight then what's the point?"

Fang and Scorch looked at each other again. Fang looked like the most angry cat he had ever seen, and Scorch just looked plain irratated, flicking his tail in an annoyed way. They both turned to look back at Mossheart,

"You may come with us." Fang said, "But don't even think about laying a claw on Scorch or I. And don't try pulling any of us into a trap. BloodClan cats don't fall for tricks."

Mossheart nodded, "Thank you." She said, gratefully.

As Scorch turned to lead the group away, Fang fell back behind Mossheart to where Darktail was standing.

"You didn't answer my question!" Darktail hissed, "Why are we letting her come with us? What's the point of bringing a useless cat? What help will she be to us?" Darktail was furious, "Why won't you let me have a say in any of this-"

Fang lost her temper. Her claws slid out and she turned on Darktail, striking him across his face so a deep red scar ran from his ear down to his chin on the left side of his face. Darktail hissed but didn't fight back, his cheek was stinging from the blow.

"That's your answer, you mousebrained idiot!" Fang spat, before turning tail to go to the front of the group where Scorch was waiting for her.

Darktail watched them turn and snarled.

He couldn't wait to be rid of the lot of them!