Willowmist flicked her tail, scenting the air. "BirchClan has been trespassing again!" she hissed to Poppyleaf and Palepaw.Poppyleaf let out a small snarl of frustration. "This has gone far enough!"
Palepaw's ear twitched. "Do you think they're threatening us?"
"Of course they are," Poppyleaf replied. "Why else would they be refusing to mark their borders and coming onto our territory?"
Willowmist hung her head. "We have to put a stop to this."
Palepaw nodded. "We should report back to Tawnystar—um, I mean, Flamestripe."
Willowmist sighed. "I can't wait till her kits are apprentices," she growled. "Flamestripe isn't the best leader."
"Their ceremony won't be for four moons," Palepaw mumbled.
Willowmist shook the thought off. "We have more important things to think about."
Poppyleaf nodded. "You're right. Come on! Let's get back to camp."
Palepaw skipped up to her, and Willowmist followed more slowly, warily eyeing the ignored border. What if they really are threatening us, like Poppyleaf says? Will there be a battle? And if there is, will MudClan and CaveClan attack too?
***
It had been a quarter-moon since Willowmist's warrior ceremony.
She bit into her squirrel. It was a chilly leaf-fall day, and Stonestep, Snowfoot, and Fernstem were guarding the thorn barrier. Extra precautions were being taken, now that there was a chance of an invasion. Flamestripe had sent out more border patrols than usual, but that just made less cats in the camp if there was an attack. Willowmist shivered. Flamestripe obviously hadn't thought much through.
Brackenberry sat down beside Willowmist. "Are you okay? You look scared."
"I'm fine," Willowmist sighed. "Just thinking about all the weird things that have been going on."
Brackenberry gave her a sympathetic glance. "I know things have been tough since the other Clans have started acting strangely. But at least FishClan and CinderClan aren't threatening us."
Willowmist nodded quietly. "W-what if there's an attack? The kits and queens and elders—"
But Willowmist wasn't able to finish her sentence. Because right at that moment, there was a scream at the thorn barrier.
Willowmist scrambled up to the noise. To her utter horror, CaveClan cats were pouring through the camp, hissing and spitting. MudClan lumbered in after them, BirchClan close behind.
Clawstar, Squirrelstar, and Toadstar stepped out from among the crowd. "Isn't this a pleasant surprise?" Toadstar drawled. The CaveClan leader let out a menacing hiss.
Clawstar, the MudClan leader, snickered. "Noticed our scent in your borders? This battle was just begging to start."
Flamestripe slipped out of his den, snarling. "And what is your reason for starting a battle?"
"IceClan has thought themselves superior for long enough. That ends now, when we beat you in the battle of a lifetime," Squirrelstar hissed.
Willowmist's eyes widened. "Squirrelstar is usually so peaceful," she whispered. "What happened?"
"Clawstar and Toadstar must have tricked her into making an alliance with them," Brackenberry whispered back. "Those fox-hearts!"
"CaveClan, attack!" Toadstar shrieked.
YOU ARE READING
Willowstar's Love
Hayran KurguWillowkit's parents died in a rouge attack long ago. Since then, she has been best friends with three mis-fitted brothers, and her foster sisters never let her forget that she's friends with toms. But she stays strong. The tensions are high in this...