BETWEEN

chapter eighteen

Lynxpaw winced as she recalled the looks on her Clanmates faces. Their faces wavered and twitched out of utter shock and turmoil flashed in their eyes like the haunting eyes of an approaching monster. Mousestar's voice, soothed and soft despite her obvious troubles and rage, managed to calm the delivery of the news, but Lynxpaw could only remember the horror and realization that flickered in their gazes.

The looks on HeathClan cats faces when they realized their Clanmates were being stripped away from them. The panic shadowed over Cherrytuft's face and the sorrow attached to Robinwing's.

There was more realization littered across the cats of RidgeClan though. A spark of hope and relief existed for one of them amongst them all: Hawkpaw. With the news delivered and the truth behind Cottonstar surfaced, every cat looked to him with a frown of pity. RidgeClan members came to a realization that Hawkpaw was entirely innocent, every doubt clouding their brain now vanishing. But with that, came an even bitter realization.

Cottonstar's possessor murdered Marshleap to cause turmoil within them. Tear them apart. A way to gain followers by splitting half of the Clan onto his side and make the other side appear as murderous supporters.

It shocked Lynxpaw how every cat had little to no hesitation to agree to Mousestar's proposition of battle. Most of the HeathClan cats seemed vengeful, claws digging into the soil beneath them as they were informed of their Clanmates' possession. It rattled Lynxpaw though, for she could only imagine what the battle scene would actually bring over them. Overwhelming feelings of regret and sorrow would overtake those of vengeance, and no HeathClanner would even dare to try and spill the blood of their own Clanmates.

Mousestar was obviously pleased by their agreement. She proposed that they launched a direct attack in two sunfalls, and then they would attack at the last sunfall in the midst of the night. No cat budged to make an opposition, and even Leafdance slowly nodded along in agreement with the mollies words.

Now, Lynxpaw watched as the camp buzzed with activity. Their final sunfall was happening, and Mousestar and Leafdance began towards the center of camp. A lump of nervousness formed in Lynxpaw's throat and she swallowed hard. In a matter of a few tail flicks, Mousestar and Leafdance would call for every cat recruited to battle to venture off with them.

Lynxpaw shivered. And who knows how many may come back.

"Lynxpaw? You seem nervous." The molly grew tense at the familiar, comforting voice of Robinwing. She tilted her head to watch as the tom stepped up to her side. "Are you alright?"

Lynxpaw nodded, forcing a reassuring smile. "It's just my first battle. That's all."

Since many HeathClanners still had healing, major wounds, most of the battle patrol had to consist of RidgeClanners. In the end though, the flock of Clanless cats still had little claws to aid the battle and give them an advantage, which allowed Mousestar to conclude that the medicine cats and younger apprentices join as well. Dappledpaw, Kestrelpaw, Robinwing, and Lynxpaw were brought in, and the thought of being engaged in battle rattled her.

Nightfrost had refused to join the battle, since he opposed getting involved in violence himself. It puzzled most of the other cats, but Lynxpaw knew her mentor and how he despised being involved in violence, even for the better good. Perhaps it was the bitterness of his own father, but no cat dared to object to his words. Meanwhile, Robinwing refused for Fernpaw to get involved because unlike Lynxpaw, he had absolutely no idea how to behave in combat.

It's okay Lynxpaw, you know enough to keep yourself alive, the molly told herself. You may be a medicine cat, but your friends need you right now more than ever. Just... Pray to the stars that this is the only battle you have to fight.