above: redgaze. lol, him and dustysky look nothing alike.

chapter 7

. . .

Instinctivley I lashed out with unsheathed claws, my paw meeting flesh and fur. Whoever dared to sneak up on me flinched back and into the light of the half moon.

"Badger!" I yowled, loud enough for everyone on this side of the forest to hear me.

The badger snarled once more, displaying large yellow teeth against it's striped head. I threw myself onto its back, digging in with my claws and scraping out fur.

My Clanmates staggered out of the makeshift den. Beetleclaw's eyes widened as he noticed me on top of the badger, and with a deep growl, leaped forward. In a couple of seconds, cats were fighting for their lives. We swarmed the badger, sliding on it's smooth fur as we tried to get a firm hold. Redgaze balanced on the badger's muzzle, slicing at its nose, Thunderfish, Goldenfern and Troutprickle were on the ground, sinking their teeth into his rump and flanks, while Beetleclaw and I swarmed him from the top.

The badger roared in exasperation and reared. I lost my grip and tumbled down from its back. Beetleclaw leaped down beside me, and my Clanmates looped around to join us. Together we advanced, slowly, our fur rippling behind us and our lips exposing teeth, and the badger fled. I dropped down, my forelegs collapsing, and lay there, panting. Something red dripped into my eyes and I shut them with a moan as I fell into unconciousness.

"Are you okay?"  Goldenfern leaned over me, clearing my eyes. 

"Let me see my reflection!" I demanded, getting up and limping to a small pool of water.

My old scar had opened up, and I had cuts on my flank and chest. I was not a pretty sight. Goldenfern watched me with a raised eyebrow. "You're not too bad, stop making it a big deal!" she meowed impatiently. "Get back here so I can finish tending to your wound."

Was I really making a anthill into a mountain? I didn't think so. My pelt was stinging everywhere, and I felt an urge to cry.

Troutprickle watched me skeptically, and I felt overwhelmed. Yes, I was acting like a kit, but I just finished my apprenticeship! How was I supposed to lead?

"Okay." I walked back to her and sat down, shutting my eyes once more. Will the mission be postpones because of me?

It was the next day and I was feeling much better. With a flick of my tail I signaled that we were leaving. Thunderfish and I led the rest out of camp, walking side by side in silence. I focused on the green nature and the animals around us as we approached the fence.

"Ready, everyone?" Thunderfish asked, smooth copper fur bristling as he crouched beside the fence. His ear was swiveled to the direction of the waterfall, but no one mentioned Twigflame.

Everyone nodded and took their places. "Remember, stay in the shadows and clump together," Thunderfish reminded us and carefully leaped up on the fence.

I propelled myself a bit clumsier, wind whipping through my fur as I lashed my tail to keep my balance on the fence. Once I regained my balance I stood erectly, watching my Clanmates scramble up to stand beside us.

My eyes wandered to the Twolegplace. It was a huge - and nice -place. Tall nests rose into the sky, colored pearly white. It made my eyes water just looking at them. I looked away to see Troutprickle grab onto the fence and haul himself up, looking at Thunderfish expectantly.

"All right. Let's go." Thunderfish jumped down, hugging the fence like we had done yesterday on the other side. The waterfall noise was abruptly loud in my ears as we walked silently, our eyes shining in the shadows.

"Who goes there?"

A voice rang out of the dim and we froze, clumping together uncertaintly.

A small cat stepped forward, yellow eyes shining oddly against the darkness.

"I said, who goes there?" their voice was a rumble and I stood, tail lashing. "We're passing through."

"That's what they all say," came the growl.

"We're not looking for a fight!" Stormywind backed me up.

The cat shifted and a shaft of light lit up their features. A elegant point, dark face, paws, and tail and the rest a light cream. If I wasn't into toms I would probably be blushing.

"That's what they all say." The point repeated, her yellow-brown eyes narrowing down to look at us. 

"You're outnumbered," Thunderfish pointed out calmly. "If you could just leave so that we could-"

The point shook her small head. "You think you're so tough, Thunderfish. You're not, really, you're naïve."

I exchanged looks with Stormywind. How did this molly know his name?

Thunderfish looked uncomfortable. "Just step asid-"

He was cut off as cats appeared out of the shadows, as smooth as they could ever be.

One of them slunk to my side and I gasped for breath as he shoved me to the ground, putting something over my nose and mouth. My patrolmates were also tied down, only Thunderfish walked torwards the molly as if in a daze.

"Just letting you know, it was hopeless to begin with. Now, it's all in our favour," the molly meowed delicately, her voice holding a mysterious tone.

"Wh-" Thunderfish began.

I was starting to get lightheaded as I kept my mouth shut, not breathing.

I couldn't take it anymore and I gasped for air against the thing covering my face.

Big mistake.

"Fox-dung!" I hissed under my breath as I fell unconcious.

Dun dun dunnnn! Welp. Did I say I wasn't going to do a cliffhanger? Well heck. Deal with it ^^

-silverstorm <3 love yall