A New Horizon Book 5: Darkest Dawn {COMPLETE}

Chapter 20

Thunder sounded across the mountains, making Nightheart's fur stand on end. It's happening today. She thought, they hadn't even been trapped in Echoheart's camp for a day and as night arrived, so did the storm. Nightheart took a step closer to the entrance of her and Honeyfrost's tiny cave. She could see Echoheart gathering with her rogues.

"Tonight is our night," Echoheart spoke boldly, she was clearly trying to be a leader but it just didn't seem right. "Dawnstar and Riverstar are sure to be storming our borders at any moment, and I'd like to meet them there. Remember what you're fighting for," Echoheart's voice was twisted in her lies. "You're fighting for a safe place to live, full of prey and without heartless warriors keeping everything for themselves. You're fighting for your right to live."

She's lying through her teeth. Nightheart withheld a growl. She's willing to sacrifice each and everyone of her rogues to get her revenge. "Let's leave!" Echoheart looked over her shoulder. "The prisoners will be staying here until I can get Dawnstar where I want here, then we kill Honeyfrost."

Behind Nightheart, she could hear Honeyfrost shuffling uncomfortably. I won't let that happen. Two rogues stayed behind while Echoheart took her rogues out into the falling rain. Nightheart stepped backwards, trying to figure out what she was going to do. She didn't think she could take two rogues single pawed.

After a few moments, Nightheart heard one of the rogues back."What are you two doing back so soon?" Nightheart's ears twitched in response and she looked out the entrance. Graypelt and Tetra were facing the rogues that guarded them. "Is it already time?"
"That was quick." One of them sneered.

"Yes, Arrow." Tetra nodded. "It's time."

Arrow and the other rouge faced the den. "Come on out flea-pelts." Nightheart looked over her shoulder at Honeyfrost who was mortified. This is Graypelt's plan. She gave Honeyfrost a reassuring nod and walked out of the den. She met gazes with Graypelt and he clearly had a plan. He then turned to Tetra once Honeyfrost and Nightheart were out of the den.

"Now!"

Tetra moved like a bolt of lightning, jumping onto Arrow's back and pinning him to the ground, shredding his pelt as she did so. Nightheart reacted quickly, going for the other rogue, a mottled brown tom she was pretty sure was named Quill. "Traitors!" Arrow spat.

"No," Graypelt mewed sternly. "I was only a traitor to my Clan, and I'm not doing it anymore. Arrow managed to get out from under Tetra's grip and lashed out of the golden-brown she-cat. She jumped back with a hiss and twisted away from Arrow's claws. Nightheart was incredibly impressed. She didn't fight like a rogue, she fought like a warrior.

Tetra shot forward like a serpent, digging her paws into Arrow's shoulder and shoving him hard against the stone surface. She raked his belly several times with the forepaws and let him drop to the ground. She faced Quill who was still under Nightheart's grip. "You want to fight back too?"

"No!" Quill squirmed out from underneath Nightheart, but didn't fight. Instead he ran into the forest. Tetra snorted.

"Come on," Graypelt stepped forward, looking at Honeyfrost and Nightheart. "We need to get you two to your Clans, and we need to avoid Echoheart." Nightheart looked over at Honeyfrost, the cat seemed to be regaining some of her confidence. I just have to get her to Dawnstar, then Echoheart's plan will be ruined. Nightheart, Graypelt, Tetra and Honeyfrost darted into the forest, and it didn't take long for Nightheart to hear the cries of battle.

They found the battle, and it seemed the Clans were winning, but not without wounds. She spotted Rosewind of SunClan with a deep wound across her flank and Tallsong of MoonClaw with several deep claw marks across her chest and shoulders. Nightheart noticed the dead body of one of Echoheart's rogues, a speckled black she-cat. Tetra let out a saddened sigh. "I hate having to see these rogues die." She growled. "So many of them just wanted a home, and Echoheart led them to their deaths." She touched her muzzle to the she-cat's head. "Goodbye, Poppy. I hope you find your home."