The thundering of paws sounded behind the AutumnClan cats.
"RUN!" Yellowclaw roared at the battle patrol.
Blackpaw slipped as he made his way behind the rest of the cats. His paw slid into a hole, covered in ivy tendrils. Hissing in annoyance, he began tugging his paw out of the hole, but it didn't budge. The WinterClan cats neared.
Giving Twigpaw the kit, he hissed, "Run back! I'm coming!"
Twigpaw grabbed the kit, the two kits yowling in her jaws. She gave Blackpaw a deep look and ran after the rest of the patrol. Blackpaw's mind concentrated on his paw once again, blood roared in his ears.
A tabby she-cat appeared first from the WinterClan patrol,"Here's one!"
Blackpaw's eyes widened in alarm as he saw the hostility in her eyes. Four other cats followed the tabby she-cat.
"You flea-bitten, son of a snake!" the she-cat from the nursery hissed, "You stole my kits!" She threw herself on top of the petrified apprentice. The force from the lunge made Blackpaw's paw slide out of the hole.
"Ryestalk, Minttuft and Mallowear, get the other AutumnClan cats!I got this one!"
The she-cat hissed at her clanmates. They left.
Without waiting a second, Blackpaw launched himself at the queen, screeching. The queen bit the apprentice's scruff and flung him of her. The apprentice staggered to his paws, hate glittering in his eyes. He slashed the queen's muzzle then slid under her and clawed her belly she yowled in rage and agony, "Why you little!" she hissed.
Blackpaw, still under her, pushed her legs from underneath her making her fall. Before she hit the floor, he rolled out of the way and jumped on top of her and clawed her flanks. She struggled to get up, but she was in too much pain. He bit her ear and left her to drown in her blood.
Blackpaw ignored the stinging in his pelt as he ran through the snow, dawn light flickered through the branches. Trying to scent for his clanmates, he turned a corner of bushes. He found them in a battle with Ryestalk, Minttuft and Mallowear. They were losing, but they still had the fresh kill, herbs and kits.
"Give them back!" Ryestalk hissed, slicing Petalpaw's ear.
"Never! AutumnClan warriors! Fall back!" Yellowclaw growled throwing Minttuft off him.
Blackpaw followed his battle scarred clanmates back to their territory in a sprint. The two kits yowled and squirmed in Twigpaw's jaws.
"Let me help." Blackpaw gently picked up a kit from Twigpaw. She sighed in relief. Finally reaching AutumnClan camp, Blackpaw wearily padded into the camp, every step costing him energy. His clanmates crowded around, eager to see how the battle went.
"Did you win?"
"Are those kits?"
"If I were chosen, WinterClan would have been begging for mercy."
"Did you get caught?"
The questions flowed over Blackpaw like a river, he didn't answer any. He let the rest of the battle patrol explain and answer. He went straight towards the apprentice den, his mind spinning with memories of the battle. Then he remembered the kit squealing in his jaws. With a grunt he turned around and padded out of the apprentice den. He headed for the medicine den.
Echosong lazily looked up at him, "Yes?"
Blackpaw dropped the kit next to her, "I think it's hungry."
Echosong got up and checked the kit thoroughly, "No, he's sleepy."
"Ok," Blackpaw nodded and headed out of the den.
Echosong ran and stopped infront of him, blocking his way, "This is your kit! Since there are no queens, he's your responsibility."
Blackpaw growled, but didn't object, he was to tired. He picked up the mewling kit and padded back to the apprentice den. He settled in his nest and put the kit by his belly, trying to keep it warm. He laid his head down as he watched the kit settle.
"Good night little one," he said drowsily, and then he slept.