Chapter Nineteen

ThunderClan yowled in victory as WindClan retreated. Froststar swiftly leaped onto high ledge, and waited until the yowling died down. "We have shown WindClan that ThunderClan doesn't tolerate prey-stealers and fox-hearted liars!" He paused for dramatic effect, letting his clan fill in the silence with their joyful yowls. "If anyone is injured, please go see Wishfeather immediately," he said, then leaped off high ledge and hurried over to the nursery. "Is everyone okay in here?" he asked, stepping inside.

"We're fine! WindClan didn't even reach us," Robinflight replied.

"Dad! Did you fight?" Tigerkit asked, leaping onto his tail.

"Of course he did! He's Clan leader. That's his job," Stormkit said. Tigerkit pounced on Stormkit and they wrestled. The older kit let Tigerkit win. Froststar purred, and shared a loving glance with Mistfeather.

"I can't believe WindClan accused us like that. I thought ShadowClan were the sneaky ones," Roseheart chattered.

"Is that what the other Clans thought of us?" Bloodkit scoffed.

"It's just because our territory is full of shadows," Fiercekit said.

"Shady ShadowClan," Darkkit taunted. Bloodkit curled her muzzle at him.

"Well now its shady WindClan," Leopardkit sniffed.

"Look at our kits talk," Robinflight purred, shaking her head. 

"Hey, when  am I going to become an apprentice?" Bloodkit demanded.

"When are you going to teach us battle moves?" Marshkit chimed in.

"Tomorrow I will teach you battle moves, if we don't get attacked again. When you're six moons you'll become an apprentice. Around the next gathering you should be apprentices," he told Bloodkit and Marshkit.

"What about me?" Fiercekit asked.

"You'll be apprenticed when Nightkit and Stormkit are," he told her. Nightkit and Stormkit exchanged exited looks. "Now I have to go, but I'll visit all of you later."

Two days later...

"Froststar is the winner!" Sageweed declared. Froststar stepped off Tornwhisker, the Dark Forest tom he had pinned to the ground. He quickly scrambled to his paws and backed out of the fight circle to go lick his wounds. "Next! Cedarfur versus Heatherspring," Sageweed announced. All of Froststar's supporters from the other Clans were training in the Dark Forest now. Some of them knew what they were doing, some just thought they were becoming better warriors, while the others knew if they didn't join Froststar they would fall with the rest of their Clan. Sageweed beckoned Froststar and Russetclaw over.

"Deadnose, you're in charge while I'm gone. Seedpod and Leafclaw are fighting next," she said. Deadnose nodded, and darted over to the circle. Froststar and Russetclaw followed Sageweed away from the training cats.

"Listen. A badger is heading toward ShadowClan to make a set by the next new moon. Russetclaw, you will lure Marshstar to it and kill him, and that will be your cover. Froststar, you will be there as backup. Make sure Marshstar sees that you are working together," she said. Sageweed then dismissed Russetclaw and turned to Froststar. "You said you had an idea for WindClan, but you need my help," she said. He nodded.

"I need you to walk me to WindClan territory in my dreams. I will kill prey and leave faint ThunderClan scent all over their territory to provoke another attack. By then, I should be able to tell if my plan with Bloodkit, Marshkit, and Fiercekit will work. If it does, I'll be taking some WindClan kits, too," he said. Sageweed smirked.

"I like that plan, and that I can do. When our attack draws close I will let Seedpod know. It will be a test of his loyalty: you or his Clan. If he doesn't want to die he'll choose you. Another thing, start teaching your Clan Dark Forsst moves. Even though you believe you can overpower any cat, if we want to start taking larger steps your Clan must be invincible," she meowed.

"Yes, I agree," Froststar replied.

"Good. Now go back in that circle and fight some more."

******

Froststar was in the forest, facing some of his warriors. "I've devised a few new moves that should give us an advantage when fighting the other Clans. After I teach you, we'll get some more warriors and you'll teach them," he began. "I will demonstrate this first move now." He beckoned for Pigeonwing, who eagerly stepped forward. Froststar darted around, leaping onto his back. He grabbed his head with his paws, then kicked his hind legs out from under him and making him collapse. Froststar quickly pinned Pigeonwing.

Honeyflower, Mousetuft, Thrushfeather, Firelily, and Fernclaw were already murmuring their approval and turning to try it on each other. "Go ahead and pick a partner. I'm going to go check on our battle practicing group," he said. He had left his older sister Ivyclaw in charge of it that day, so he could watch her and see what she did. If she was disloyal he would have to dispose of her.... quietly. I'm not sure if she's disloyal yet. So far, if she has any concerns she hasn't voiced them to anyone yet.

That's good. We don't want her to spread doubt about my leadership around.

Froststar reached the clearing. It took his warriors two whole days to clear out any weed and unwanted roots to make the clear training space. Larktalon, Pebbleleap, Cherrynose, Silverpaw, and Quickpaw were practicing today. Larktalon was the first one to notice him. "Hi Froststar!" he called, and broke away from Pebbleleap. The others looked over at him. Froststar caught Ivyclaw's eye, but her expression was unreadable.

"Is everything going well?" Froststar asked his sister. She nodded.

"Yes. We're doing a one-on-one fighting activity today. We were just about to switch partners. Cherrynose, it's your turn to fight me," she said, stepping away from Silverpaw.

"Okay. Next time I come back it'll be with the other group so they can teach you the new move," he said. "Tomorrow I'll teach another." Froststar then bounded back to the group of warriors he was training.

"Who is the best at this move?" Froststar asked.

"Pigeonwing is good at throwing his weight on his opponent," Honeyflower said.

"Honeyflower's very fast," Firelily said.

"So are you," she replied sweetly.

"That's fine. Honeyflower and Pigeonwing can go train Ivyclaw's group. The rest of you can come back to camp with me. You earned some fresh-kill." His cats obeyed, Pigeonwing and Honeyflower headed towards Ivyclaw's group and the rest followed Froststar's group back to camp.

"Coldrose, lead a border patrol," Froststar told his deputy.

"Great. Just when I was going to go train Amberpaw," she huffed. Froststar shrugged.

"Bring Amberpaw with you. I'm sure she'd love to go on a patrol." Sure enough, Amberpaw scampered over to them.

"We're going on a patrol? Great! I hope we meet an enemy patrol."

"That's what every apprentice says," Coldrose muttered, rolling her eyes. Froststar shouldered her playfully.

"I'm surprised you haven't gotten used to it yet. Well, I'm going to go visit my kits. I promised to show them a good hunting technique," then he sauntered away.

~~~~~~

Coldrose gathered up Mossypelt, Flowerpaw, and Poppyfeather. The patrol trotted towards the SkyClan border, which was relatively quiet. Coldrose allowed Amberpaw to mark the border before heading towards ShadowClan. That border was quiet as well, though Coldrose smelled fresh ShadowClan scent. Finally, they reached the WindClan border.

Almost immediately, a WindClan patrol jumped out. It was lead by Stonefoot. The other cats were Oneflower, a light brown she-cat with darker brown spots and stripes and green eyes, with her apprentice Dirtpaw, a gray tortoiseshell tom. There was also Crowflight, a black and white tom with his apprentice Mothpaw, a pale orange and white tabby she-cat. The patrol was evenly matched in numbers, though both apprentices were more experienced than Amberpaw. Coldrose unsheathed her claws. But we're ThunderClan. The feared Clan. If they think they can beat us, they have bees in their brains.

Waves of hostilely were coming off of the WindClan cats. "ThunderClan. Come to filth up our territory with your stink?" Stonefoot spat. With a yowl, Poppyfeather and Mossypelt threw themselves at the WindClan cats. Flowerpaw went next, and Amberpaw looked at Coldrose eagerly. Looks like I don't have a choice. Of course they decide to jump right in to battle. She nodded, and threw herself into battle. She spotted Crowflight sneaking up behind Mossypelt who was grappling with Stonefoot. Quick as an adder Coldrose was on him, slicing his nose open with her claws before batting him in the face hard with her other paw. He needed a moment to recover, but Coldrose wasn't about to give him that. She spotted a healing wound from the battle a few days ago on his flank, and pretending to aim for his shoulder. He fell for it, leaning to the other side. At the last second Coldrose twisted and sank her teeth into his wound. He screeched in pain, throwing her off and streaking away.

Coldrose looked for Amberpaw, and saw her pinned under Dirtpaw, struggling to get away. Coldrose was on top of him in one bound, hooking her claws into his pelt, throwing him aside. "Run," she snarled. "Or I'll kill you." The threat felt heavy and unnatural on her tongue, and it left her wondering: If it came to it, would I kill an apprentice? She decided that no, she would not. Not even for Froststar. Dirtpaw's eyes widened and he quickly sprinted away. Mothpaw and Oneflower went next, with only Stonefoot remaining.

"ThunderClan fox dung," he spat, but knew the fight was over. He sprinted after his clan mates. Coldrose sighed, but not loud enough for her patrol to hear.

"Let's go. We have to report this to Froststar."