Warrior cats: Rainstar's Choice

Chapter Two

For a long time, The only sound in the small den were the three kits' shallow breathing. Rainkit could feel his body trembling and his claws digging into the dirt below him, his back pressed into the wood of the nursery wall. What was that? What if we're being invaded! What if a fox broke into camp! Rainkit squinted his eyes shut as the most horrifying thought of all popped uninvidendly into his head. What if the shadow cats come for us?

"Hey," Rainkit felt his heart skip a beat at the sudden gentle voice, glancing up to find Snakekit gazing at him with gentle concern. "Don't worry brother! I'm sure whatever it is dad can handle it!"

Rainkit licked his lips, he's right! Dads the strongest leader of all the four clans! I'm sure he can take on anything... Rainkit's brief moment of relief was shattered as a portion of his nightmare flashed across his vision. Ratstar thrashing and wailing as the shadow cat clawed viciously at his chest and throat, thick foam dripping from the leader's mouth and coming to land on the camp ground, mixing with the blood puddle already there.

"Rainkit! Rainkit!"

Rainkit struggled to get his paws to stop shaking as he glanced at his brother. Who was flicking his muzzle repeatedly with his white tail tip. Snakekit relaxed slightly upon seeing the strange mist clear from his littermates eyes.

"Relax, Rainkit!" This time it wasn't Snakekit who spoke, but Flickerkit. Who moved over a little so that he could bump his head against Rainkit's chin. "Snakekit's right! Whatever's out there I'm sure the warriors of Forestclan will put it in its place real quick." The little kit licked his lips, sitting back on his haunches and flexing his claws. "And if it does happen to make it in here, I'll protect you two."

Rainkit smiled at the same time Snakekit scoffed. But before wither kit could respond to there friends boosting, a sharp angry yowl echoed through the den.

"Ratstar! The monster place has never belonged to you, it has always been Grassclan territory!"

Snakekit and Flickerkit exchanged a surprised look, and Rainkit's ears flattened. Grassclan was Forestclan's biggest rival, they shared a border with them, and the pesky berry eaters were always stirring up some kind of trouble, at least according to Bonefur anyhow.

Rainkit blinked as he felt warm breath heat his ear.

"Let's sneak closer and see if we can get a better look!" Flickerkit whispered starting to crawl toward the exit, and Snakekit was quick to follow. But Rainkit hung back for a heartbeat however, shifting his paws hesitantly. Dad told us to stay put...

"Come on mousebrain!" Snakekit hissed, drawing his littermate from his thoughts. Rainkit hesitated a moment longer, before sighing and sneaking over to Squeeze between the two other kits. Pushing his head out into the new leaf air, barely stifling a gasp as his eyes adjusted to the sunlight, and he was able to see the clearing quite well. And there, smack in the middle of camp, was a huge golden tom. His tail lashing back and forth as he stared up at fang rock, where Ratstar sat looking down at the forgein tom with undisguised disgust,

"Not very wise of you, Sunstar." The black cat purred calmly, drawing a single paw over his ear. "Coming here alone, and making such wild claims."

The cat bristled, and Rainkit shuddered as he noticed the strangers' long claws sink into the ground.

"Wild accusations?!" The golden tom roared, his eyes flashing. "You've been invading Grassclan territory, and I've been more than patient with you! Last leaf bare I allowed you to hunt there so that your clan wouldn't starve! And how do you repay me?" The cat took a step toward the huge pointed rock, his body shaking with rage. "By trying to take one of my clan's best food sources!"

I thought the monster place was part of our territory... Rainkit shook his head and glanced over at his brother, frowning when he noticed the look of pure excitement in Snakekit's eyes.

"Before it was yours it was ours," Ratstar meowed firmly, causeing Rainkit to quickly like back toward the clearing. "If I've been told correctly, many moons ago a Forestclan leader allowed your clan to hunt there. Back when it was useless and preyless," the leader climbed to his paws, narrowing his eyes down at the Grassclan leader. "Now, it's prey filled and no longer a waste. So, we're just taking back what is rightfully ours."

The golden tom let out a loud hiss, his neck fur flying up.

"What you speak off happened many, many, moons ago! And the leader of Forestclan clan you speak off was Quickstar, the very first leader of your clan. And he didn't just let Grassclan hunt there, it was payment for them having saved his clan from a pack of dogs!"

Ratstar shrugged, drawing his tongue over his muzzle. Rainkit felt a sharp prick of admiration for his father swell up in him, wow! How does he stay so calm?

"Thank you, for the history lesson." The Forestclan leader mewed, "however, whatever happened in the past means very little to me, all I know is that now, that land is ares."

Sunstar growled, turning tail and starting toward the exit in the brush. Pausing only to cast over his shoulder.

"I was hoping to make you see sense, but seeing as you seem quite incapable of doing so, let me just warn you. The next time your cats set paw over the boarder, May their blood be on your paws."

Rainkit felt his blood chill.