“Um, yes,” Hollypaw mewed hastily. She turned and slunk away, the tip of her black tail dragging over the ice-white clearing.
“So you think you can beat me, do you?” Berrypaw hissed in Lionpaw’s ear.
“I caught a vole on my first hunting expedition,” Lionpaw reminded him.
“Good,” Berrypaw mewed. “I’d hate to win too easily.”
“You’ll be lucky to win at all!” Lionpaw growled.
“How’s a tiny scrap like you going to catch three bits of prey in one morning?”
Lionpaw wasn’t going to let his denmate get away with that. He crouched into attack position, wriggling his hindquarters. “Say that again!” he challenged.
“You’re hardly bigger than a mouse!” Berrypaw purred.
Lionpaw launched himself at the young tom, and the two apprentices bundled toward the thorn barrier. Berrypaw’s weight took Lionpaw by surprise. He scrabbled to push the larger apprentice off, but Berrypaw heaved him toward the prickly spines of the thornbush. Thinking quickly, Lionpaw let himself go limp, becoming so slippery that it was easy to wriggle out of Berrypaw’s grip. Quick as a flash, he sprang onto Berrypaw’s back and nipped his friend’s scruff with his teeth. Berrypaw tried to shake him off, but even with his claws sheathed, Lionpaw found that he had the strength to hold his grip on Berrypaw’s broad shoulders.
“Lionpaw!”
He looked up to see his sister charging back toward them, and, in that instant, Berrypaw threw him off and pinned him to the ground.
“You’re my first catch of the day,” Berrypaw mewed triumphantly.
“Hollypaw put me off!” Lionpaw complained.
“A good warrior is never distracted,” Ashfur meowed. The pale gray warrior had stopped to watch the two apprentices.
Lionpaw scrambled to his paws, prickling with embarrassment.
Hollypaw was trotting around them in circles. “Leafpool wants me to collect some tansy in case this cold weather brings whitecough,” she panted excitedly. “She says there’s a clump by the old Thunderpath, and she asked if I could join your patrol to fetch some.” She looked around. “Where’s Brambleclaw?”
“Giving orders to Dustpelt,” Ashfur answered.
As he spoke, Brambleclaw bounded over from halfrock. Graystripe was with him.
“Mind if I join you?” the gray warrior asked Ashfur. “I want to get familiar with the territory and see how the prey runs here.”
“That’s fine with me,” Ashfur agreed. He nodded at Hollypaw. “We’ve got an extra apprentice, too.”
Lionpaw hadn’t been out with both Hollypaw and Jaypaw since their attempt to track down the fox cubs. They quickly fell into their familiar grouping: Hollypaw a pawstep ahead, and Lionpaw letting his pelt brush against Jaypaw’s just enough to help him through the trees.
They headed deep into the forest, picking up the clearest route along the old Thunderpath. Lionpaw had been along it before, when Ashfur had shown him around ThunderClan territory. But he had never followed it all the way past the abandoned Twoleg nest.
Hollypaw was scanning the undergrowth on either side of the track.
“It looks a lot like yarrow,” Jaypaw whispered to her. “But it tastes more like grass than mouse bile.”
“I know!” Hollypaw snapped.
Why was Jaypaw helping her? Lionpaw wondered. Hollypaw was the medicine cat apprentice, not him.
She flicked her tail toward a clump of long-stemmed plants with thin, spiky leaves. “That’s it, isn’t it?”
“Have you found some?” Brambleclaw halted in the middle of the path.
The cats waited as Hollypaw bit into a leaf. She narrowed her eyes thoughtfully, then swallowed.
“Not bitter at all,” she reported. “It’s tansy.”
“You’d better collect some and take it back to camp,” Brambleclaw meowed.
Hollypaw’s eyes clouded with disappointment. “Leafpool doesn’t need it right away.”
“It might not be safe for her to go back to camp on her own,” Lionpaw pointed out, guessing his sister wanted a chance to stay out for a while. “Not with the fox cubs about.”
“And don’t forget the competition,” Ashfur meowed. “We don’t want to waste time escorting her back.”
“If you’re sure Leafpool doesn’t need it urgently…?” Brambleclaw prompted Hollypaw.
Her eyes brightened. “It was only for the store.”
“We’ll collect some on our way back, then,” Brambleclaw agreed. He leaped away, heading into the shadowy woods.
Lionpaw waited on the Thunderpath for Jaypaw and Brightheart to disappear among the trees with the others before following them in. Even in leaf-bare, the undergrowth here was thick. But without their leafy covering the plants looked like tall, thin skeletons littering the forest floor.
Lionpaw’s breath came in clouds as the patrol padded quietly over the frozen ground. Graystripe turned back to face them. “There’s no scent of fox here,” he meowed. “And not too much cover for prey. This looks like a good spot to start the hunt.”
Ashfur looked from Berrypaw to Lionpaw. “Who wants to go first?”
“There’s a mouse over there,” Jaypaw announced casually. For the first time Lionpaw wondered if his brother felt left out of the hunting contest. But Jaypaw held his chin high and flicked his tail toward the base of an oak tree several fox-lengths away. Ashfur jerked his head around in surprise.
“It’s dug under the frozen leaves into the ground,” Jaypaw told them.
Lionpaw pricked his ears. Sure enough, he could hear the scrabble of tiny paws against cold earth, though very faintly. And there was the musty scent of freshly turned leaf litter in the air.
“Lionpaw,” Brambleclaw hissed quietly. “You have a try.”
One stealthy pawstep at a time, Lionpaw crept toward the scuffling noise. He let each pad sink slowly onto the hard ground, so that his steps made no sound. The scuffling carried on as Lionpaw drew close enough to drop into a hunting crouch. Squatting with his muzzle outstretched, he let his tail rest on the earth behind him. He could smell the mouse now, and saw a slight movement in the leaves.
“Brambleclaw!”
The mouse scuttled out of the leaves and disappeared among the roots of a tree. Hissing with anger, Lionpaw spun around to see who had ruined his catch.
Birchfall exploded from the undergrowth and skidded to a halt. “ShadowClan have moved the border! They’ve put a new line of scent marks inside ThunderClan territory!”
“Where?” Brambleclaw demanded.
“I’ll show you.” Without waiting, Birchfall headed away through the trees.
“Where’s Dustpelt?” Brambleclaw called after him.
“Heading back to camp to warn Firestar,” came the reply.
Brambleclaw turned to Brightheart. “You’d better come with us. I’m not risking leaving you while those fox cubs are still around.”
Brightheart narrowed her eyes. “What about Jaypaw? Will he be able to keep up?”
“Don’t let him out of your sight, and keep as close to us as you can,” Brambleclaw ordered. He glanced at Ashfur. “Stay near them.” Then he nodded to Graystripe. “Come with me.”
Brambleclaw bounded after Birchfall, Graystripe following. Lionpaw pelted after them, the mouse forgotten. Hollypaw raced at his side. He could hear the pawsteps of Ashfur, Brightheart, and Jaypaw pounding behind. Glancing over his shoulder, he saw his brother weaving through the trees as easily as a sighted cat. He must be guided by StarClan! he thought in astonishment. He turned back to look ahead, his pelt bristling as he ran. Had ShadowClan really dared to move the border?
Birchfall led them back along the Thunderpath before veering into the forest and up the slope that led to the ShadowClan border. He skidded to a halt near the top. “Here!” he gasped, flicking his tail to indicate the line of birches that followed the ridge.
Lionpaw sniffed the nearest trunk and wrinkled his nose. It was true. ShadowClan had marked Thu
nderClan trees.
“Isn’t this the original border?” Graystripe asked.
“No!” Brambleclaw hissed. “The border is there.” He pointed his muzzle to the top of the rise where the trees gave way to the grassy clearing.
“Did they think we wouldn’t notice?” Hollypaw spat.
Ashfur raced out of the bracken behind them, followed by Brightheart and Jaypaw.
Jaypaw’s hackles rose. “ShadowClan warriors nearby!” he warned.
As he spoke, three ShadowClan cats stalked over the rise and stood staring down at the ThunderClan patrol.
“Oakfur!” Brambleclaw hissed, staring at the small brown tom who led the trio. Lionpaw recognized the two others from the Gathering—Owlpaw and his mentor, Smokefoot.
“A blind kit noticed us before the ThunderClan deputy knew we were here,” Oakfur sneered. “How humiliating.”
“Is ThunderClan so desperate for warriors that it needs to train even its most worthless kit?” snarled Smokefoot.
Jaypaw rushed forward, spitting. Brightheart grabbed his tail in her teeth and hauled him backward.
“A blind kit saved by a one-eyed warrior,” mocked Oakfur. “ThunderClan isn’t what it used to be. Filled with kittypets and cripples and worn-out deputies.” He glared at Graystripe.
“You’ve moved the border,” Brambleclaw growled.
“We’ve taken what should be ours, and we will take more,” Smokefoot told him.
“ThunderClan is hardly a real Clan anymore—it’s half kittypet,” Oakfur put in. “I’m sure StarClan agrees that only true warriors are entitled to hunt on Clan territory.”
“ThunderClan has nothing but true warriors!” Brambleclaw yowled. He flattened his ears and stepped over the new marker line until he was only a tail-length away from Oakfur. “If you want our territory, you’ll have to fight for every step.”
Lionpaw’s fur stood on end. His first real battle! He sank his claws into the earth, imagining it was ShadowClan fur.
“Are you sure we won’t win?” Oakfur’s eyes glittered as more ShadowClan warriors began to appear over the rise, lining up like starlings on a branch. Lionpaw’s heart flipped over. It looked as though every ShadowClan warrior had come to fight. Their muscles bulged under their pelts, their claws glinting as they flexed them against the hard ground.
Lionpaw felt fur brush his flank. Hollypaw and Jaypaw had joined him.
“We fight as one,” Hollypaw vowed.
Lionpaw suddenly pictured the three of them—three half-grown apprentices, one of them blind, facing what looked like the whole of ShadowClan.
StarClan, help us!
CHAPTER 15
“Get back to camp and tell Firestar to bring help.” Graystripe’s hiss sounded in Lionpaw’s ear. “Now!”
Lionpaw turned and pelted away into the trees. He hated leaving Jaypaw and Hollypaw, but without help the battle was already lost.
“Stop him!”
He heard Russetfur’s yowl, and the rustle of paws upon leaves.
Lionpaw glanced over his shoulder. Two ShadowClan warriors streaked toward him. Then he saw a flash of gray fur. Graystripe had launched himself onto one of the cats. The ShadowClan warrior yowled and the air exploded as the two Clans charged screeching into battle.
Lionpaw forced himself to run faster till he thought his heart would burst. Paws pounded behind him. Only one set now, thanks to Graystripe. Lionpaw dodged through a thick bramble swath, hoping that his small size would let him escape the ShadowClan warrior. But as he slipped out of the other side and glanced backward, he saw a burly tom thrusting his way through the bush with terrifying strength.
Lionpaw hurtled down the steep slope to the training hollow and pelted across it. Just a short way through the trees and then a clear run to the camp entrance. The ShadowClan warrior’s pawsteps thundered ever closer as Lionpaw caught sight of the thorn barrier ahead.
“Help!” he wailed.
Claws raked his tail. The ShadowClan cat was at his heels. Wild with terror, Lionpaw dug his claws in and propelled himself forward.
A fiery flash of fur streaked from the thorn tunnel and flew past Lionpaw.
“I’ll stop him,” Squirrelflight yowled, lunging for the ShadowClan warrior.
The tom let out an agonized shriek. Lionpaw slowed, his breath coming in great gulps. He turned and saw Squirrelflight chasing the ShadowClan warrior up the bank, snarling as if all the warriors of StarClan raced beside her.
Lionpaw hurtled into the camp. “ShadowClan have invaded!”
Firestar was in the clearing with Dustpelt. He bounded to Lionpaw’s side as soon as he saw him. “Dustpelt told me they’ve moved the border,” he meowed.
“Brambleclaw took our hunting patrol to investigate,” Lionpaw puffed. “But we walked into an ambush.”
Firestar’s eyes widened with alarm. “Are they fighting now?”
Lionpaw nodded, his paws trembling as he thought of Jaypaw and Hollypaw battling experienced ShadowClan warriors.
“Sandstorm, Spiderleg, Whitewing, Stormfur, Brook!” Firestar called to the warriors who were already pacing around the edge of the clearing, lashing their tails. “ShadowClan have crossed the border. Brambleclaw is holding them off, but they need help.”
“Should I bring Mousepaw?” Spiderleg asked.
“If he’s battle-ready,” Firestar answered.
Squirrelflight raced back through the entrance. “There’s one less ShadowClan warrior to deal with,” she announced. “He’ll not want to fight again today.”
“Good work. I want you to stay and guard the camp,” Firestar told her.
Squirrelflight nodded. “Yes, Firestar.”
Millie appeared from behind the warriors’ den. “I’m coming with you.”
Lionpaw stared at her in astonishment. She was a kittypet!
“Okay,” Firestar agreed. “But don’t take any risks.”
Lionpaw was still trembling with terror and exhaustion. Firestar looked at him. “Are you fit to fight?”
Lionpaw nodded.
“Good,” Firestar growled. “Your brother and sister need you.” Then he swept out of the camp, his warriors following.
Lionpaw pelted after the patrol. How dare ShadowClan invade our territory? He would fight tooth and claw to drive those fox-hearted warriors out. His paws stopped shaking and began to itch for battle.
“Always keep an eye out behind you!” Whitewing fell in beside him to give him some breathless advice. “ShadowClan fight dirty. You’re fast and strong, even though you’re small. You’ll be nimbler than some of their warriors. Use that to your advantage.”
As they neared the border, he heard screeches and yowls.
“This way!” Firestar called. They plunged through the forest until Lionpaw could glimpse teeth and claws flashing in the gaps between the trees ahead.
ShadowClan warriors had surrounded Brambleclaw’s patrol, but the ThunderClan cats were standing their ground, lashing out at every cat within reach.
“Attack!” Firestar cried, and the ThunderClan warriors spread out and launched themselves into the battle.
“Head over there!” Spiderleg called to Lionpaw. He flicked his tail to the edge of the fighting. “Look for Jaypaw first and do what you can to defend him.”
Lionpaw raced forward, scanning the fray for Hollypaw and Jaypaw. He spotted Ashfur and Birchfall fighting side by side with Brightheart, fending off four ShadowClan warriors. Jaypaw crouched behind them, pelt bristling with rage, slashing and jabbing at any ShadowClan warrior who made it through their defensive line. He didn’t seem to need any help.
Lionpaw’s heart thudded as he searched for Hollypaw’s black pelt. Had she been wounded? Relief glimmered for a moment when he saw her fighting beside Graystripe. The gray warrior, ears flattened, his lips drawn back into a vicious snarl, raked the flank of a dark ginger ShadowClan warrior as it lunged for Hollypaw.
Russetfur! Lionpaw recognized the ShadowClan deputy.
Holly
paw ducked under Graystripe and shot out from beneath him, nipping the ShadowClan deputy on her hind leg with such ferocity that the warrior whipped around, claws flashing, and lunged at Hollypaw. Lionpaw pelted to his sister’s defense, hurling himself at Russetfur and slashing her nose. The ShadowClan deputy howled in pain as crimson blood welled beneath her eyes.
“Nice work!” Graystripe called.
As he spoke, two ShadowClan cats slammed into him, knocking him to the ground. The larger of the pair, a black tom, pressed him to the ground, while the smaller white she-cat reared on her hind legs, flexing her long claws, ready to crash down on Graystripe’s head.
Orange fur blazed past Lionpaw as Firestar flew at the white warrior. He threw the ShadowClan warrior backward and slashed her cheek with a well-aimed blow.
Lionpaw leaped onto the black tom who was pinning Graystripe to the ground. He dug in his claws and bit hard into the tom’s shoulder. The warrior let go of Graystripe and reared backward. At once Hollypaw darted behind him and knocked the tom’s paws out from under him. Lionpaw leaped off as the warrior crashed down.
“Great move!” Lionpaw called to Hollypaw.
“He’s not finished yet,” she warned.
The black tom was already on his paws, hissing ferociously, but Lionpaw and Hollypaw faced him side by side, and, jabbing and slashing with their forepaws, they drove him back toward the border until he was panting and streaked with blood.
Suddenly Lionpaw spotted Oakfur slinking through the bracken toward Firestar, a fox-length away. The ThunderClan leader still had the white warrior pinned to the ground, unaware of Oakfur’s stealthy approach. Before Lionpaw could warn him, Oakfur had leaped onto Firestar’s back and grabbed the ThunderClan leader’s neck in his jaws.
The white warrior struggled from Firestar’s grip and nipped at his front paws until the ThunderClan leader fell to the ground. He vanished beneath the two snarling ShadowClan warriors.
“Can you manage by yourself?” Lionpaw screeched to Hollypaw.