Warrior Cats; Smokeskull's Revenge [ 1 ]

Chapter 18

Smokepaw backed up to beside Willowpaw who was shaking so hard that when Smokepaw pushed against her, she could feel the vibration. "It's okay Willowpaw, no cat is going to hurt you, or they die by the paws of me." growled Smokepaw. Her hiss echoed lightly in the nearby trees.
The patrol team stilled along their borders until the end. "The forest ends here." Lionstripe dipped his head and felt proud of himself for finishing patrol duty.
"And so will your life." A voice came from behind, in the trees. In the middle of CloudClan territory and PondClan territory.
The whole patrol team spun around and shrank low, hissing harshly at the intruder. "Who are you?" Sunpool sat patiently as the rest of them growled loudly. Sunpool shot them a glance and flicked her tail to stop them from growling, but stay unsheathed.
Smokepaw stayed beside her sister. "No cat will hurt you." She repeats from before. Her tail hung low behind her. Her chest was touching the floor and she bared her fangs evily.
"I am a rogue." The Tom-cat smirked, baring his fangs back at the new apprentice. "I smell kits." His nose points to the air before turning to look at Willowpaw, the smallest one of them all. "Ah, your Clan mates can't do anything until I attack. It's against your precious Warrior Code." The Tom's eyes shrink into small slits as he licks his lips.
Smokepaw hissed again. "Stay away from her or I'll make you crowfood!" She yowls furiously and pushes up against her sister in protection.
The rogue tabby growled in return, but he had a tone of laughter. "Get out of my way, apprentice. This kit is my fresh kill today." He laughs roughly.
"Stay out of our territory," Hollywish distracts him and pitches in. "Adderstrike." She adds, desperately trying to get his eyes off the new apprentices.
The Tom growled again. "How do you know my name, Hollywish?"
The black cat sits calmly exactly like Sunpool, the deputy. "Because I smelt your scent long before you came along." Now her fur bristles angrily. Her face was bent and teeth were bared sharply.
Surprisingly, the Tom didn't take his eyes off the small apprentices. He licked his lips again and snapped his jaws to warn Smokepaw of how dangerous he is. To his surprise, she didn't move a bit. Her growl got more intense with every step towards them.
"I don't care about the Warrior Code, I will not let you hurt my sister!" Smokepaw snaps at him. Her fur was standing up so much she looked like a warrior.
He narrowed his eyes on the apprentice and picked up his paw. Swiftly, he swatted her with unsheathed claws. He's whiskers twitched in amusement as she fell into a nearby ditch.
Sunpool bounced up to her paws and yowled, meaning the fight has begun. "Let go of that apprentice!" She yowls, running at him before anything else.
Without giving her a chance to pounce, his claws pressed against the medicine cat apprentice's throat. "Don't touch me, and she doesn't die." He whispers, almost soundless.
Sunpool stopped in her tracks. But her worry for the apprentice beneath his claws was not as bad as Smokepaw's worry for her sister.
The grey apprentice suddenly leaps out of the gorge and she starts charging at the big Tom. Her eyes were slits and she was raging at him. "Let go of her, you beast!" Smokepaw meows harshly as she jumps. Not giving him time to fight back, the apprentice lands on the rogues back, raking her sharp claws down his spine. Her jaws snap together on his ankle and she shakes furiously.
Now, the rogue was mad. His claws came off the small ginger apprentice and clawed at Smokepaw. A scar ran across her eye horizontally.
It bled for a small moment and the rogue licks his ankle with both eyes glued to the small grey cat. Both their eyes slits watched every moved the other made.
Smokepaw growled again, "Do not hurt her, or that ankle bite will get worse. It'll be you who is that pain." She threatens him with unsheathed claws.
"Hurt who?" Adderstrike moved towards Willowpaw, mocking Smokepaw's fury. "This little kit?" He sniffed Willowpaw again. The strong scent of herbs went into his nostrils. "Ew! You smell like mouse droppings!" Adderstrike growled and turned away. His tail flicks angrily. "Oh well, I'll kill you for fun." Her claws return to her throat and Smokepaw gave a harsh hiss before crouching again.
Willowkit mewed in horror. Her last breath squeaked out of her as the rogue slit his claw through her throat.
Adderstrike laughed evily and leapt over them, back into PondClan territory. His blood stained claws make dents in the sandy floor and splash puddles on grass petals.
Smokepaw squealed madly and rushes over to her sisters side. "Why didn't you do anything?!" She hissed at the warriors with tears in her eyes. "You stupid cats don't do anything around here!" Smokepaw mewed sadly. Tears rolling down her cheeks repeatedly and uncontrollably.
Hollywish, Lionstripe and Sunpool sit with their heads down. They bow in sorrow as dark clouds roll over the sky. Loud crashes of thunder rumble over their heads.
The apprentice cries out dreadfully with her nose stuck into her dead sister's neck. Her sobbing wails echo through the wet forest as multiple splashes of rain drops down on her and the forest. Smokepaw's body went limp as she lays beside Willowpaw. She breathes in heavy heaves of sorrow.
Lionstripe's brows fall back. "I'm so sorry, Smokepaw." He shakes his head. "This shouldn't have happened." The great warrior shakes his head and lets out a mournful yowl into the sky.
The cats from the patrol could hear other CloudClan cats meowing out loud from behind, further into their territory. Skystar finally appeared from the trees. Pine needles brushed her white fur as she came out. She sat down next to Smokepaw and Willowpaw. Her neck bent to Smokepaw's level. Skystar's nose rubbed the back of the grey apprentice's ear.
Smokepaw looks up at the leader with tears in her eyes. "Why has StarClan let this happen? Why me?" She sniffles. Her green eyes go wide with sadness.
Instead of replying, the leader touched the apprentices nose respectfully. For she did not know why this happened.
"StarClan is different sometimes. During your moons, StarClan will give and take." Skystar took a deep breathe in, choosing her words carefully. "You must learn this through focus training." She whispers into the grey cat's ear.
Smokepaw looked at her leader in disgrace. "I promised no cat would hurt her, she's dead, and it's all my fault!"