Warriors: Mist's Choice (Complete)

Chapter 23

Mistsong

 Mistsong blinked and backed off, confused. Rogues?

 ''Why would there be rogues here?'' Icecloud asked.

 ''I don't know, but rogues always mean trouble. Most of the time, at least.'' Graystripe's fur bristled.

 ''Should we investigate?'' Bluewing asked.

 Graystripe sniffed the air again, then nodded. ''Yes. It's a fresh scent.''

 Mistsong looked around, scared. We don't have to fight, do we?

 As she followed Graystripe and the others through the forest, she remembered the moment when two dogs attacked her and Bluewing, way back when they were living alone as loners. This time we won't get separated.. right?

 ''Wait.'' Graystripe meowed. ''The scent stops here.''

 ''What?'' Toadstep blinked. ''How?''

 Mistsong approached the gray tom and sniffed the ground. He was right. The scent stopped right in front of a tree.

 ''Well, now what?'' Bluewing asked.

 ''I don't know.'' Graystripe admitted. ''We can't do anything now, because we lost the trail. But we can't leave, either. These rogues might steal prey or herbs.''

 Mistsong sniffed the air, trying to catch the rogue scent again, but all she could smell was prey, the lake, and the leaves.

 Graystripe turned around. ''Everyone, look around and tell us if you catch the rogue scent again. But be cautious. Don't let them find you before you find them.''

 Mistsong turned around and padded around, sniffing the air. She felt scared. What if those rogues attack us and injure us? Or even worse.. kill us?

 She twitched her ears as she heard movement from a bush. She unsheathed her claws and bared her teeth. She was about to call her Clanmates when a squirrel ran out of the bush and began climbing a tree. She sighed, relieved.

 Before she could move, she heard a yowl of shock and pain. She spun around and saw Toadstep get pinned to the ground by two rogues.

 ''Rogues!'' Graystripe growled. ''Attack!''

 As Graystripe, Icecloud, and Bluewing rushed to help their Clanmate, Mistsong just stared at them, frozen from fear. I never had to fight in the Tribe and I rarely fought as a loner! Then, she took a deep breath. Remember what Bluewing taught you!

 She gathered all the courage she had and sprinted toward the rogues. Right before she got to them, three more rogues jumped out of the bushes and ran toward them.

 There's more?!

 Mistsong let out a surprised hiss when she was pinned to the ground by a black rogue. He let out a hiss and slashed his claws across her belly.

 Even though she wanted to try to escape and run away, she began fighting back. She started to hit the rogue's belly with her back paws. I can't just abandon my Clanmates! I'm not a coward!