Chapter 2 - Battle At Sunningrocks

ThunderClan Leader: Downystar- a handsome black-and-white tom Deputy: Gorsepelt- wise black tom; sturdy and thicksetMedicine Cat: Dapplenight- A small tortoiseshell she-cat with hot amber eyesHailfur- A pale gray tom with blue eyesWarriors:Lunarmoon- A dark, hazy brown she-cat with a large disc of pale yellow on her face, amber eyesOwlfeather-An ivory tom with glassy blue eyesSmokeypelt- A large, smokey black tom with fierce storm-gray eyesEbonpaw- A small black tom with golden eyesCrimsongale-a deep orange tom with piercing aqua eyes; only has one ear and one eye due to battle; senior warriorAbyssaldream- A gray she-cat with yellow eyesWolfheart-A large blue and gray tom with a large patch of calico on his right forepaw; half of his left ear is torn off and his right eye is permanently squinted because of the loss of an eyeTornadowind- A blue and gray tom with storm gray eyesDreamwave- A small, gray tortoiseshell she-cat, an odd colour, mixture of gray and white splotches with storm gray eyes
Manglepelt-a gray and blue mottled furred she-cat; her body is permanently cracked to one side; senior warriorQueens: Truesoul-A medium length blue and gray she-cat with yellow eyes; going to birthElders-Tenorvoice- A large and sturdy white tom with equally white eyesCrippledjaw-a white, strained she-cat whose back has a cripple, only Crippledjaw also suffers from a permanently dislocated jaw





ShadowClan Leader: Boldstar- An elderly she-cat; completely black pelt with one white, splotchy stripe going down her back Deputy: Dangletail- a large gray pelted tom with blue eyesMedicine Cat: Stormsky- A dark, almost black tom with hazel brown eyesWarriors- Frisklegs- a black tom with white ears and white on the tail; senior warrior Pouncepelt- a sleek, brown tom with large hind legs; senior warriorEmbercloud- a tom with a black pelt, and his right foreleg engulfed in a fiery-looking auburn sock, he has golden eyes Shellheart- A pale gray she-cat with blue eyesLilypad- A gorgeous yellow tabby she-cat with white socks, golden eyesRussetfur-A tawny coloured she-cat with yellow eyesQueens:Everwind- A dark brown she-cat with a tan hue on her face. Amber eyes; going to birthElders: 




WindClan- Leader: Blinkstar-a shy and generous white she-cat with two black pawsCliffpaw-A small golden tom with green eyes
Deputy: Claytoe-a sturdy black tom with one white paw
Medicine Cat: Fuzzpelt- a golden she-catBristlepaw-A medium sized she-cat with beige fur, emerald eyesWarriors: Spiraltail- A small, tabby she-cat; the last out of three other brothers and sisters, she has golden eyesRipclaw- a large tortoiseshell tom; senior warriorDeerpaw-A small copper tom with deep, blue eyesQueens: Elders: 



RiverClan- Leader: Foreststar-A wise orange tom with white eyesDeputy: Demonwing-a gorgeous silver tom with darker speckles and amber eyesMedicine Cat: Rabbitleaf- a quick-witted, old golden furred cat, forest green eyesWarriors: Glasseyes-A small and adventurous she-cat; black and brownCattail- wise and young she-cat tortoiseshell with a dark brown colour on the end of her tailRedspeck- a roan tom; senior warrior Caimanclaw-a young but determined black warrior; senior warriorQueens: Elders:



Chapter 2: Battle At Sunningrocks



A cold shift of wind ruffled through the dens of the many sleeping cats, their light breathing creating a lull in the entire clearing. In the center of that camp sat a tall, magnificent black and white tom. His emerald eyes looked to the skies with a hungry, searching look in them. His right ear flicked absently as he acknowledged a small tortoiseshell she-cat approach him. If it had been any other warrior, he would have sent them back to their dens, but this one he trusted. The Medicine Cat, Dapplenight, was his deputys child, as was Truesoul and Wolfheart. The three were a highly trusted bunch of siblings, and they had been honoured again and again for countless feats. Dapplenight was the most calm and reserved of the three, though. And so, that was why he trusted her as his Medicine Cat to help with all problems.

The wind blows cold tonight. She spoke the words quiet but clear, sitting beside him and following his gaze to Silverpelt. The greeting she issued was a new, but formal passage from Medicine Cat to Leader. The proper reply was in Downystars response, Ah, but Silverpelt shines bright.

Nodding in agreement, Dapplenight watched the skies for signs from StarClan, but none came. She sighed bitterly, casting her eyes upon the ground in frustration that was beyond her normal, silent and revering attitude, StarClan has abandoned my trail; I stalk the world alone in my path as Medicine Cat.

You know you are not alone, Dapplenight- her leader began, but she cut him off with a hastily placed wording, You do not understand, Downystar. Though I am indeed surrounded by many cats in our Clan, I am alone. You should know this, as respectable leader for nearly fifteen moons.

With a submissive nod, he went silent. Quietly picking itself through the snow that still enveloped the ground was a pale gray tom. His ice blue eyes glinted uncertainly, and he hesitated near the edge of the warriors den he had to pass from his Medicine Cats den to the middle of the clearing. Sensing him before the paw steps even sounded, Downystar spoke calmly without even turning to look at him, Come along, Hailfur. Medicine Cats are always welcome.

The pale gray tom raced across the white powder, hastily seating himself beside his mentor, Dapplenight, and murmured self-consciously, I know& But& Its just so& Different. I mean my brothers and sister all just act normal defending the Clan while I& I am out of place. I cant tussle or play fight with them. I cant go to a training practice in Sandy Hollow nor go on patrol through Tallpines. Im stuck with things I dont understand. StarClan speaks not to me.

His eyes wavered, their cloudy blue gaze dropping to his toes as though his outburst shamed him. With a flick of her tail, his mentor replied sternly but kindly, Now, now, Hailfur, think not like that. I know the duties and practices of Medicine Cats may seem daunting, unpredictable and for many, boring, but we have the most important job of the Clan. Healing and speaking words of wisdom. Medicine Cats are looked to more than even leaders for words of encouragement or assurance. You will be a great Medicine Cat for ThunderClan one day.

The tom sighed, dipping his head in passive agreement, looking to the skies. He and his siblings were now eleven moons old. Two of them had passed into warriorship a moon before now, one remaining stubbornly behind. Hailfur worried for his runty, first born brother Ebonpaw. The black apprentice had been goading others lately and very fierce and rude. He even made it futile to try and make him to train and hunt. A thing I would give anything to do is just thrown away by my mouse-brained idiot of a brother. He thought haughtily.

Before any more thoughts could be reached into the three cats minds, a furious yowl sounded through the forest, and a sudden echo of angry, battle-hungry cats came after. Invaded! Were being attacked! The leader stood up and shot through the Clan camp, warning cats with frustrated and anxious shouts and hisses.

Once everyone stood out, dazed, nervous and angry at whoever dared raid their territory, Downystar yowled clearly, I must take a battle party. It is clear that the voice came from Foreststar that young fool. RiverClan are trying to take Sunningrocks, and I will not have it. Those whom I will bring shall be Gorsepelt, Crimsongale, Owlfeather, Wolfheart, Smokeypelt, and Ebonpaw.

Furious shouts of dismay and anger lashed at his decisions; Tornadowind was in upset because he was left behind though he was a new warrior, Lunarmoon and Dreamwave were jealous for they were never taken to battle and several others shouted out.

The leader silenced them and growled assertively, You shall all protect the camp should RiverClan win. I leave Manglepelt in charge being a senior warrior. He blue and gray she-cat dipped her head and the battle party rushed off in excitement.

Wolfheart, now a veteran warrior, felt only sheer determination and exhilaration as he thought of tearing through the inexperienced RiverClan leaders orange pelt. His claws grabbed at the snow underneath his feet in anticipation.

As soon as they reached Sunningrocks, hisses and yowls of loathing and aggravation sounded about, and he was hit in the side heavily by a powerful roan tom. Unfortunately for him, Wolfheart was double his size and the blue and gray cat shoved him off. Wolfheart recognized the senior warrior as Redspeck, and it made him all the angrier. Surely the tom wouldnt have wanted to fight, but much like him, they had to at times for they could not disobey orders.

The other tom was surprisingly swift and ran around to Wolfhearts back, leaping upon him. Wolfheart was ready, and flipped over so he did a massive shoulder roll. He made a satisfactory grunt as he heard the breath heave out of the attackers mouth. But the tom sprang back and latched his left front paw claws into the hind left leg of the blue and gray tom. Yowling in agony, Wolfheart reached back and cracked his head right into Redspecks angled nose. Blood spattered everywhere as he heard a bone crack. Redspecks jaw was broken, and in a wailing fleet of paws, he disappeared into the river, heading for camp.

All around him was a flurry of claws, fur and hisses, each cat locked in combat over the rocks that were hidden underneath a layer of snow. Odd time to be fighting for it. He thought, though it lasted not much longer. He spotted Crimsongale grappling with an equally large gray tom whose pelt was flecked with darker spots of gray. Demonwing! he snarled, and leapt into the fray. Just in time he sliced his claws into the middle of the RiverClan deputys back, when he had Crimsongale pinned to the ground after an enormous struggle over power. Blood sprayed from the back and the tom shrieked in agony, but Wolfheart continued to nip his haunches and attack him wherever.

Turning on him, the gray tom hurled his entire body weight upon the tom that was a third larger than himself. Wolfheart parried the attack by sliding to the right, dodging it, and batting the tom over the head with his long claws unsheathed. Demonwing stumbled forwards and landed hard on a flat-topped rock. He did not get up again.

Crimsongale nodded appreciatively towards him and they both stopped dead as they saw both leaders mauling one another, hurrying to gain the upper hand in the fight. Downystar made it to the top of Foreststar, leaving the younger toms belly unprotected. Unfortunately, the tom flung Downystar off with a quick thrust of his back legs and hurtled towards the fallen ThunderClan leader. Before either could move, Gorsepelt leapt forth and grabbed Foreststars scruff between his teeth none too gently.

Hissing and spitting in ill-concealed rage, the orange tom whirled around and whacked the ThunderClan deputy across the face with claws unsheathed, sending Gorsepelt flying into a nearby rock. He staggered in pain, and then collapsed, breathing heavily. Growling in anger he hadnt felt since facing Eaglestar that fateful day as an apprentice, Wolfheart snarled to Crimsongale, Take Gorsepelt back to camp. Let me finish this.

Nodding, Crimsongale raced to Gorsepelts side and urged him up and forwards, out of battle. As Wolfheart pelted towards the leader that held a claw raised above his head, ready to deal the death blow for Downystar, who cowered beneath him, he noticed that only two enemy cats other than Foreststar remained: Cattail and Caimanclaw. For Cattail he felt pure hatred and disgust; she had once been in ThunderClan, WindClan and now RiverClan, fighting for them all the same. Yet now she fought the Clan once devoted to her. He growled but did not change course, for her battle with Owlfeather was careening towards the nearby river. Owlfeather would deal with her. He landed upon his target with a menacing growl, and Foreststar let out a shocked yowl of fear and apprehension, dropping his claw so it sliced Downystar on the tail, missing where it was previously aimed. As Wolfhearts weight brought the puny leader down, he spat and lunged at Wolfheart, catching him on the front right shoulder. Yelping out in pain, Wolfheart swatted him over the head in retaliation, clipping him over the ear and sending him sprawling. Humiliated, the orange tom attacked hopelessly again, and again he was sent flying by a devastating blow from the much larger warrior. Finally, when the leader was pinned down, Wolfheart snagged the toms ear painfully slow and tore a long, W-shaped nick in it. Remember me by that, and never try to get Sunningrocks again. He whispered in the toms ear. At last, he stood up from the tom, which was screeching in agony, and watched as Foreststar practically soared over the rocks and into the river, paddling speedily for his Clan territory. Seeing their leader flee, Cattail and Caimanclaw raced away, not noticing the motionless gray warrior lying upon the ground. Walking towards Wolfheart with awe and admiration in his eyes, Downystar meowed in a calm but shaky meow so all cats could hear, You& You saved my life. He nearly killed me, but you& You came.

With an embarrassed flick of his ears, Wolfheart covered up for himself, Well, of course I came. You told me to.

But Owlfeather walked forth, and normally being the spiteful brother of his equally rude sibling, Smokeypelt, Wolfheart was surprised to hear his words, I saw you save Crimsongale too. He was pinned flat by Demonwing, but you tore him off and& he gestured with his tail towards the body laying bloody on the ground, wounds still freshly oozing.

Nodding appreciatively, Downystar added with a finishing touch to ensure Wolfheart was to be highly praised, And he chased away a veteran member of RiverClan-Redspeck. All cats blinked their agreement. Wolfheart turned towards Demonwings body, which lay motionless in the gravel. He blinked away a tear. You know, he was not a bad tom. He was only obeying his leaders orders.

Murmurs of agreement swept through the party, as they all looked sadly upon his still frame. We should give him to RiverClan somehow.

A glitter of an idea appeared in Ebonpaws golden eye. The Medicine Cats! They have nothing against us and ours against them. Get Dapplenight to meet with Rabbitleaf to get the body.

Wolfheart nodded approval, as did Downystar, and they all returned to camp, sighing. Where is Gorsepelt? he meowed at one point, and Wolfheart old him about the tragedy. The pace picked up as the leader became silent and steady in his lope.

The snow around them turned red from their cuts, welts, bites and bruises as they sped down the ravine. As they crashed into the gorse tunnel, the cats erupted into a rage of meows, wailing and hisses. They wondered what had happened and were eager to see one another again. Downystar went right to where his deputy lay, in front of Highrock, still as ever. The tom breathed ever so slightly, and as Dapplenight and Hailfur crouched over him, he knew they were doing their best. Yet he had to see for himself. Wolfheart walked up and matched him step for step, until they both halted at the deputys black furred side. Your father was as good a deputy as ever there could be, Downystar murmured, glancing briefly at the blue and gray tom. Just like you are as a warrior. The compliment was not heeded as the single blue eye gazed gloomily down at his fallen father.

Would Gorsepelt get better? Only time will tell.

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