Warrior Cats; Smokeskull's Revenge [ 1 ]

Chapter 23

When she came back, Smokepaw saw that Halfwind had already collected all of her freshly caught prey. The scent made her face fur bristle with hunger.
"Let's get back to camp." Her mentor suggested, wrapping the small fish in the rhubarb leaves.
Smokepaw nodded her agreement and picked it up, along with a heavy rabbit that hung off her back limply. Halfwind helped put it there, even though Smokepaw insisted her do it on her own.
The two headed back for camp, meeting Snowstream and Sandpaw along the way. The cream apprentice and her mentor has to gallop to stay in step with them.
All that Smokepaw wanted to do now was sleep. She felt like she was going to collapse and sleep for a moon. But as the others did, she stayed in between Sandpaw and Halfwind.
They all came back into MapleClan camp together, walking in on the others sharing tongues.
They must have already had their share of the fresh kill pile. Smokepaw blinked the tiredness out of her eyes and acted like she was wide awake.
"Would you like to share this rabbit with me, Sandpaw?" Smokepaw asked, launching the hare onto the dirt beside her.
The cream-coloured cat purred, "I'd love to."
Smokepaw dipped her head and hauled the rabbit over to the apprentices' den. Her paws began to ache with the pressure of the long day they had. She watched as Sandpaw pranced at her side as she dropped into a slouch. By her paws, the rabbit's fresh smell made her bite her way into it.
Still purring, Sandpaw did the same. Her peach ears ducked down beside Smokepaw's as they ate side by side and the moon shone brightly over their heads.

The forest was dimmed by the clouds that covered the moon. Billows of fog flooded the air as Smokepaw trailed into the quiet meadow. She had never been here before.
"Halt!" growled a cat from behind her.
Another appeared in from of her, it's eyes glowing like green fireflies in the fog. "Let's chase her out!"
"Pull her whiskers out!" hissed another, coming up by her side and batting her hips.
Smokepaw pulled back, drawing her lips back in a snarl in her defence. Her fur stood on end as she backed into another cat that attacked her at first sight.
The cat's claws shredded her flank, baring its teeth and heading in for a shot at her front paws. Another feline reared up and hit Smokepaw in the nose, causing blood to shed.
The three yowled as Smokepaw snarled and batted them all away, hissing and clawing. Her tail lashed back and forth angrily as she backed away slowly from the stalking cats as they grew closer to her.
Then, the first feline leaped forward, heading for a grab at Smokepaw's face when another cat jumped out of the fog and hit it with both of her rears. This cat's fur was silky and smooth, her eyes glittered a shattering, emerald green. She faced Smokepaw with a smile then disappeared.
To her surprize, all the other cats had began to race away, howling in distress. None of them dared to stop and look back.
One blink and Smokepaw was awoken in her nest. She then realized she hadn't have got her warrior name yet because she must have fallen asleep.
Her head raised from the soft moss underpaw. As the smell of the MapleClan forest sunk into her fur, Smokepaw sat up and looked around. Sandpaw was not beside her. Shaking her head, Smokepaw lifted up and poked her head out of the apprentices' den.
Sandpaw was at the other side of the clearing by the warriors' den, speaking with Snowstream. Her tail was lashing back and forth excitedly. Smokepaw assumed her mentor told her they'd be warriors soon.
She padded over to them and sat down by Sandpaw.
"Did you hear that?" The cream apprentice mewed, amazement gleaming in her eyes.
Smokepaw smiled, "No, but I can probably guess." She gazed into her Clanmate's eyes and purred, "Are we going to be warriors now?"
"Soon." Halfwind corrected, stepping out of behind Snowsteam's waving tail.
Sandpaw nodded and perked her ears up. She sniffled unexpectedly. "Can anyone else smell that?" She mewed, screwing up her face.
The warrior and deputy looked at eachother and smelled the air, wincing at the unfamiliar scent that wafted their noses. Snowstream's tail lashed back and forth as she stepped forward, fixing her eyes on the air.
Smokepaw did the same. She instantly dug her claws into the dirt and smelled again. Her fur bristled when she recognized the scent; Adderstrike.
The rogue must be looking for her! Smokepaw flinched. What if he is planning to do the same thing that he did to Willowpaw? She shivered and pinched her eyes together, pulling down and shaking her head.
"What is it, Smokepaw?" Sandpaw dipped her head to meet with her level.
But Smokepaw turned away. She sighed, then looked up. "I recognize he's scent." She closed her eyes before being able to contemplate their expressions. Almost shivering again, Smokepaw stayed strong, although she knew Adderstrike was stronger and probably in more power than she is.
"Who's scent?" Halfwind stomped her paw in front of Smokepaw, deliberately reminding her of Lionstripe.
Smokepaw winced, tensing her muscles. "Do you think I brought him here?" She challenged, "Are you doubting my loyalty only because there is a rogue in the area?"
Before she could draw her lips back, Halfwind answered, "Is there a harm in my questioning?" She gave a defiant glare before sliding herself back and looking at the sky once again, ignoring her apprentice.
With a huff of satisfaction, Smokepaw praised her winning. "It's Adderstrike's scent." She mewed, shaking now at the smell of the close warrior. It felt as if he was breathing down her neck.
"Is there a problem with that?"
The deep growl made Smokepaw jump and pelt behind and around her mentor to her side. Sandpaw's eyes struck with horror and she ran behind Snowstream instantly.
A huge dark brown tabby had crawled out from the ferns. Now, he towered over them. His foul breath filled the camp, as well as his undisguised scent. He flexed his long claws at Smokepaw's paws and smirked, baring his teeth in a snarl.
"Get out!" Halfwind hissed, stepping forward but only matching half the warrior's size.
"Kill him!" yowled Snowstream.
Smokepaw's eyes widened as warriors poured out of all the dens and hurled themselves at Adderstrike.
The tabby's massive paws threw them all away, as well as his long, lashing, decapitating tail. He shouldered his way through the crowd of CloudClanners with no doubts.
Without thinking, Smokepaw raced after him. But, not to fight. It would be impossible to beat him at her size! Her paws carried her up to his side. Cats all around backed up with traitorous loyalty in their eyes. Smokepaw knew they were doubting her now.
"Hey!" She yowled up at the invading rogue. Her claws dug into his thick-furred paw and managed to draw blood. "If you're anything like the bad-cat you think you are, come face me!"
Adderstrike turned his head and peered down at the apprentice. She was hardly half his size.
Smokepaw's heart lurched. StarClan, help me!