Venom's P.O.V.

Midnight's patrol was taking forever to come back. I started to worry that WindClan had started a fight, taking this nice day as an advantage. I paced around the camp, thinking through the idea of attacking early. They already didn't trust us, so who cares, right? But was it worth it, was the real question. We weren't exactly the healthiest yet. But maybe the sun was a sign that it was time to attack... I shook my wad to clear my thoughts; Leaf would know what to do.

I padded across the camp and peeked into the medicine den. Strike was there and Leaf was snoozing away. I sighed and padded in. I realized that Strike hadn't grown since the last moon, which was weird. Maybe he was going to be like Mini and Fawn. "Do you think we should attack WindClan before the weather goes bad again?" I asked, looking at him serious when he turned around. He narrowed his eyes and we stood in silence for a few heartbeats.

"What do you mean?" He prompted, finally, "You're going to take advantage of the weather to attack an enemy? Maybe we should just try to make peace, they don't seem all that bad," he shrugged and turned away, sorting out herbs. My eyes turned to slits and I almost ripped his ears off. "What? Not all that bad?" I echoed, feeling my fur fluff up on my shoulders and haunches. "They have taken our territory and refused to give it back because of what 'StarClan' said! They have stolen our prey, taken more territory later on and then attacked our ancestors because we 'stole their prey'. It was ours to begin with!" I growled, refusing to let my claws slide out. Strike just sighed and looked away, "I'm just saying, Venom, they feel threatened. They won't stop until we stop." I let out a mrrow of amusement and looked away, "Too funny Strike. You can't actually believe that, can you? This is mouse-brained. We are attacking tonight before the weather gets bad." I announced, putting my paw down harshly and stalking out of the den.

I realized, then, that everyone was listening to us, ears pricked in curiosity and some frozen to the spot. I flicked my ear. Heading toward my den, I hopped up and stood on it. Without having to announce them to come, the warriors sat down in front of the den - silent.

"Tonight, we will attack WindClan. They think they can threaten us, well no more! We will sneak into their camp and attack their queens and leader. They will be frozen in terror and lie bloody and in mercy at our paws." I announced, watching the faces of many below me change into uncertainty and excitement. "WindClan will no longer think we are weak! We will not retreat until we have the blood of our enemies soaking our territory. We attack at midnight, so be ready. Midnight, take every apprentice for battle training and if anyone complains or fails, make them run 10 laps around the training center. Kink, Thorn, take all the warriors and make them fight until they drop in the maze of boulders." I explained and Midnight, Kink and Thorn nodded. Thorn seemed tired and off course. "Thorn! Snap out of it! Mystery died of an unknown cause and you must get over it! A war is coming and you must be prepared or they will not hesitate to kill you! I got over my kit and mates death, now it's your turn." He looked up and nodded, his eyes becoming serious and more on track.

"Midnight, take the apprentices. Thorn, Kink, when half of the warriors are done doing at least half of the things you tell them to do, make them hunt. We need fresh-kill for us to be fit." I ordered and the three warriors nodded, taking the cats below in groups and going out the camp entrance with low murmurs. I caught Strike in the corner of my eye as he went back into his den. I laid down, letting the sun warm up my back. It felt good to relax and forget the world, for just a few heartbeats.

I felt my head start to call off the edge and I quickly jolted my head up, looking over to see Leaf and Strike leaving. "Where are you two going?" I called to them. They stopped and turned around. "We're going to find herbs for the battle. Even with this weather there isn't going to be much." I nodded and stood up, stretching.

The two medicine cats left and I padded into the nursery - time to see my three beautiful kits.

*****

Blossom's P.O.V.

Padding quietly behind the group, we stopped at the boulders. It was always Kink who was leader of battle training; she should've been the deputy for the amount of time she's been training. She leaped up carefully onto a boulder and Thorn hopped up too. "We are going to play a game." Kink began. I looked over to see Moon squeezing in between Dodger and me. I held back a purr of excitement; he was such a cutie!

I payed attention to Kink and Thorn again, focusing on what they said. "Half of you will be WindClan warriors and half will be Rotting Skulls warriors. Thorn will lead the WindClan warriors in and I will lead the Rotting Skulls warriors in. Further instructions will be told by your leader." Kink announced.

"Shadow, Soot, Wolf, Shell, Lily, you're with me," Thorn meowed and they followed him to the other side. He stopped and drew a line half way and kept going. Kink gestured with her head and stalked away. My group and I followed her closely until she stopped and turned around. "Alright, here's the plan. The line Thorn drew was the territory line. We must sneak in and attack them quietly, any mistakes will make you run 10 laps around a boulder and then get back into the fight. No claws but use normal amount of strength on them as if they were enemies," she explained quietly. We nodded in understanding and she kept going. "Alright, Fox, Dodger, Fawn, follow me. Blossom, lead them on the right side and go around. Bella and Moon, follow her and we'll start the battle." We nodded and silently stalked away. I kept my tail low but off the ground and I kept my back straight, easing into the small run across the gaps of boulders.

"How'd so many rocks fall here?" Moon whispered. I turned to meet his eyes and replied, "A rock fall back when my father wasn't alive, nor his father, when the first leader came across the mountain on a stormy night, lightening struck the rocks above and caused them to fall everywhere. The Gathering Pool was made by that and so was the maze of boulders." I finished and he nodded, didn't reply though.

I stalked forward and kept my ears down, looking over the boulder I was shielded by. I flicked my tail and the two warriors stalked away. I felt adrenaline surge through my body as I got closer and closer to the "enemies" and got back the front. I nearly gasped when I peeked beside the boulder, Thorn's group of fake WindClan cats standing making a plan. I watched until all were watching him and flicked my tail hurriedly at Bella and Moon and they silently raced to the next boulder. I dashed after them, making no noise surprisingly. I sighed in relief and stalked around the back of them.

"Go! Go! Hurry before they come after us," Thorn growled and took the lead, Shell, Wolf and Shadow departing. I stalked in after Shell, Wolf and Shadow and Moon and Bella followed. I dipped my head and the lunged at the three warriors, Moon at Shell and Bella at Shadow. Wolf turned around, gasping and I lunged at him before he realized there were more of us.

Grunts and hisses filled the air and more farther away began. I forced my claws to sheathe and I hit Wolf as hard as I could with my paws. I pinned him down easily and aimed at his face with all my strength. He hissed and hit my head, forcing it to the left. Wolf bucked me off and I rolled into a boulder. I was dazed and before he could jump at me again, Moon went under him and flipped him, dragging him back with his tail. I dipped my head and ran at Shell. I pinned the she-cat down too easily and she batted at my head.

She was too weak for a battle. Barely any fresh-kill in her stomach and she had kits which meant she didn't fight to often like the others. I picked her up and forced her to stand. "You need more arm strength, you should run 10 laps!" She hesitated then obeyed; running to the nearest big boulder and began circling it as fast as she could.

I felt weight push down on my shoulders and I squealed in fright. I squirmed until I was face to face with the cat who jumped on me. Wolf and I tumbled around until I was pinning him down, batting at his face with sheathed paws. He kicked at my stomach and bucked me off. I kicked my legs straight out and landed on the side of a boulder, landing awkwardly. My back paw hit the rock and I rolled in the dust, landing on my stomach.

"Ugh... stupid boulder..." I groaned, trying to stand. My back leg was throbbing in pain and my chest felt scratched up. "Are you okay?" Moon asked, sniffing my back leg. I nodded and Wolf twitched an ear. "I'm fine, I can still fight." I finally replied. Kink and Thorn rushed over to see what happened and I sat down. "Wolf bucked me off of him and when I came down my back leg landed on the boulder while I landed on the ground," I quickly explained. Kink nodded as I spoke then turned to Wolf when I finished. "Have to say, takes a lot to push a cat into the air and have them land awkwardly. Show me how you did it." She looked over her shoulder and dipped her head. "Check your leg out, it could be something serious and we don't know," she meowed and I obeyed, feeling relief flood me. I really didn't want to fight Wolf again.

I padded into camp - hind leg lifted up - and went into the medicine den. Leaf was showing Strike how to make something and when she finished, he repeated it. They looked at my direction when I poked my head in. "Yes?" Leaf meowed, sitting down and licking her paw, drawing it over her ear. "I was fighting Wolf am he bucked me off and I landed on a boulder awkwardly." I explained, showing them my leg. I sat realized that my foot was a little off. Pain was still throbbing it but not as much as you'd think if it were a sprain - that is, if it is a sprain.

Leaf sniffed my law and examined it. She was in deep thought. She whispered something to Strike and he nodded, grabbing something and began chewing it. They started to wrap my paw in some leaves until it was so tight I thought they had made a rock on my paw and left it there, but that isn't possible. "You most likely will not be able to go into battle tonight. Your paw is bruised badly on the the side and from the landing, I'm surprised it isn't broken. The bruising makes it feel as if it's sprained and for a few days you shouldn't walk on it, which means no fighting or hunting." Leaf explained. I dipped my head in thanks and limped out, going toward the warriors den.

Rage bubbled up inside of me as I squeezed into the warrior den and ink my nest. I was furious I couldn't fight at the battle. 'Can't fight? Try me. I'm going to fight whether she likes it or not.'