Falling With the Rain

~ Stars, Thunder, Wind, Shadow and River ~

One done, tons more to go. I looked around for my next opponent. Thankfully, I didn't wait long because some ShadowClan mouse-brain shot out towards me. She actually pounced a bit too far, because all I did was crouch to the ground and shoot out my back paw to hit her stomach as she flew over me.

However, I must've hit pretty weakly because the ShadowClan she-cat landed with just a stumble. She turned around swiftly and shot out a fore-paw. I wasn't prepared for her to attack right away, because her claws only narrowly missed my left eye.

Letting out a huff of relief, I thanked Starclan like I never had before. I didn't want to lose my eye. Hissing in retaliation, I turned around swiftly like a leaf falling from the branch and shot out my back paws as my rear-end neared her head. Thankfully, I was close enough, and my paws smacked her right on her smug grin. Finishing my spin, I hooked my front paw upwards from the ground, sending dust right into my opponent's eyes.

The ShadowClan cat spat out some dust and sand, but couldn't quite manage to shake it out of her eyes. I took that chance and shot through the gap between her two front paws. The moment I saw her stomach, I clawed at the exposed skin– lightly, I don't plan on killing just any cat– and battered my paws. The she-cat, obviously in pain, reared onto her hind legs so she could squish me with her front paws. Mouse-brain, that was a mistake. I used all my energy and pushed her chest with my back paws as she started to come down on me. That must've been a powerful push, because the she-cat fell backwards onto her back.

I took that pause in the battle to jump back onto my paws. I bunched myself up, ready to pounce when my opponent was up again. However, I didn't pounce because the ShadowClan she-cat got on her paws and went sailing back out the tunnel.

Looking around, I found no other cats from the other clans. Only shocked ThunderClan cats looking at me. Oh and an appalled Tigerclaw, he was probably remembering when I had beat him in training. A smug expression started to creep onto my face as I sat down and cleaned behind my ears.

"You brought this on us!" It was Darkstripe who spoke, angrily confronting Bluestar.

"You made us keep Brokentail here, and now we've been torn to pieces defending him. How long before one of us is killed for his sake?"

Bluestar looked troubled. "I never thought it would be easy, Darkstripe. But we must do what we believe is right."

Darkstripe spat at her. "For Brokentail? For a couple of mouse tails I'd kill him myself!"

Several of the other warriors mewed their agreement.

"Darkstripe." Tigerclaw meowed suddenly as he shoved his way through the cats gathered by Bluestar. "This is your leader you're talking to. Show some respect."

For a moment Darkstripe glared at the pair, then bowed his head.

"Fireheart, go and fetch Yellowfang," meowed Bluestar.

As Yellowfang and Cinderpaw looked every cat over, Graystripe came trotting in. He had a content look and prey in his jaws. When he saw the camp and the rest of us, his eyes widened in surprise.

"Where have you been?" Tigerclaw demanded.

Graystripe looked bewildered. He dropped the fresh-kill and replied, "Hunting. What on earth happened here?"

"What does it look like?" snarled Tigerclaw. "WindClan and ShadowClan invaded, trying to get at Brokentail. We needed every warrior, but it seems that you weren't here. Where were you?"

"Well, how was I to know what was happening?" Graystripe protested to the dark tabby. "Or do I have to ask your permission before I set paw out of camp?"