Waterclans Prophecy - Book 1: The Dream

Chapter 5 Hawkwing

Hawkwing's emerald eyes met Sandfang's as battle raged around them. "I have a score to settle with you." Hawkwing growled. This sandy piece of fox dung won't get away so easily this time! No one messes with my clan and gets away with it! No one.

"What, you want your leaders kit back? A pathetic piece of lizard dung like you doesn't stand a chance!" Sandfang sneered. "I beat you and your amazing leader in one night and still had enough time to deliver a kit to my clan. Pebblefang is probably one of the best warriors Sandclan has ever seen! Look at how good he is at tearing apart your puny little-"

With a screech Hawkwing lunged at the sand colored she-cat. Caught off guard Sandfang stumble to the side from the force of the attack but from the looks of it she was unharmed. Hawkwing hissed with anger and lunged again, this time claws unsheathed. Sandfang was ready this time though. Using her smaller size to her advantage she rolled under Hawkwing's extended claws and belly. This would have worked on a cat that hadn't fought with a smaller cat before, but Hawkwing had trained with Icewing so much she knew the trick as well as she knew her territory.

Sandfang stopped rolling directly under Hawkwing's now exposed soft underbelly, unsheathed her claws and prepared to give the brown she-cat a fatal wound. At the last second Hawkwing stepped on the paw that was speeding toward her flesh and pinned it to the ground. Using her other forepaw she pinned the sand furred she-cat's other paw, making it so Sandfang couldn't move at all. "You think you can steal a kit and get away with it?" Hawkwing growled, baring thorn sharp teeth at the pinned she-cat. "I'll show you what happens to cats that mess with Waterclan!" Hawkwing dug her claws into the Sandclan warriors flesh until Sandfang shrieked in pain. "Feel that? That's what it feels like to loose someone you love!" Hawkwing had lost all senses in rage. All she knew was that this at was the one that stole someone very close to her. This cat took part in the murder of her best friends brother.

Before she knew it Hawkwing was pinned between Foxfang and Cloudclaw while Sandfang limped away slowly. Cloudclaw kept her pinned, claws sinking into the brown she-cat's shoulders while Foxfang raked her claws down the Waterclan deputy's sides. Hawkwing let out a pained yowl and felt her vision darken. It's all over. She thought sadly. I'm sorry, Brightstar.

Somewhere above her Hawkwing heard a battle cry and felt the weight come off from on top of her. Brambleberry had hauled Cloudclaw off her and used his superior weight to pin Foxfang. "Hawkwing wake up!" The dark tabby yowled. Hawkwing felt dizzy and unfocused but she forced herself to stand. As her vision began to clear Hawkwing got a better view of the clearing that used to be a neat, well organized camp.

Brightstar had returned and was in a bloody battle with Cloudclaw, while cursing at the white tom for killing her brother. Icewing and Birdsong were trying to get Mousepaw up the tree in the center of camp. What happened to Mousepaw? Hawkwing wondered. She was the least injured of all the apprentices when I sent her to get Brightstar. Did a Killclan warrior try to stop her? Looking back at the tree Hawkwing saw that all the elders, queens and kits had made it up. Thank Starclan. She thought. Across the clearing Riverheart was running over to Rainwind who was pinned by Pebblefang.

Hawkwing was about to run over when she felt claws sink into her tail and whipped around just in time to see claws slashing across her cheek. Bloodstar, the Killclan leader was looming over her, pelt bloody and scarred, claws unsheathed and dripping with blood. Hawkwing knew she was weak and that this was a battle she wouldn't win. Starclan help me! As if answering her prayers Frogleap ran up to her side, pelt streaked with blood but the light of battle was in his eyes and his body was flowing with energy. Together they lunged, swiped, bit, and clawed the Sandclan leader, pushing him back until his back paws were in the lake.

"No where to run." Frogleap hissed.

"Surrender now, or drown." Hawkwing growled threateningly.

Hawkwing risked a glance behind her back at camp and saw that it was flooded with Waterclan and Sandclan warriors. Darkheart was locked in battle with Icewing. Brambleberry was teamed with Blazecloud fighting Cloudclaw and Foxfang. Bramblepaw was fighting Clawpaw and Lizzardpaw at once, Hawkwing was about to yowl for someone to help her but then Leopardpaw sprang on top of Lizzardpaw and used his superior weight to pin the apprentice, just like Brambleberry had with Foxfang. Lillyfoot and Dawnfur were at the base of the tree fending off three Sandclan warriors. On highbranch Birdsong was treating Mousepaw. Rainwind was tussling with Sandfang, both of them looked beat and bloody. Brightstar was standing in between Riverheart and Pebblefang. Hawkwing could see anger and denial in Pebblefang's eyes and shock and confusion in Riverheart's.

Before Hawkwing could do anything she jumped at the sound of Bloodstar's yowl, she'd forgotten the tom was there. "Retreat Sandclan! Retreat!" Then turning to Hawkwing. "Don't think you've won because you haven't. Next time we won't leave so quickly. This time was just a warning!" With that the Sandclan warriors half swam, half flailed through the lake back to shore, helping the most injured cats through the water first before disappearing through the trees and bushes in the direction of their border.

Hawkwing stood in the broken clearing with her clan mates catching her breath. Brambleberry walked up to her side as she stumbled, catching the tired deputy and supported her as the slowly made their way over to Birdsong. Normally Hawkwing would flinch away from Brambleberry's touch, but right now she just wanted to close her eyes and let blackness engulf her vision.