Three sunrises later, Ashstar gave RiverClan an announcement that both shocked and excited them. It came just a day after a patrol had a run-in with a ThunderClan hunting patrol dangerously close to the border. Ashstar stood tall and proud on the meeting rock and yowled, "It is time we take back Sunningrocks!"
He was met with silence at first as everyone took in the news, then an outburst of cheering. No one objected to the idea; Ashflower had just had her kits, two toms and a she-kit, and the Clan was strong and growing. Everyone was tired of the other Clans thinking RiverClan was weak, and Minnowpaw too was more than ready to prove them wrong. She'd been training tirelessly with Tawnyclaw, at last feeling like she was catching up to her denmates.
Once the cacophony of cheering had died down, Ashstar went on. "ThunderClan stole Sunningrocks back while I was still RiverClan's deputy, and since receiving my nine lives I have yet to put things right. I cannot hope to serve my Clan to the fullest if I can't even grant them their own territory to hunt on. ThunderClan has had control of Sunningrocks for far too long; it's time to take back what is rightfully ours!"
His speech further fueled the Clan, giving them new vigor and life that they hadn't felt in moons. Minnowpaw was a little surprised by Ashstar's words; she'd only ever seen the peaceful, diplomatic side of her leader. This was completely new, but it made her even more in awe of him.
"Who will be on the attack patrol?" Twigtail called over the Clan, his words silencing them.
"Normally, I would say that we shouldn't outright expect a battle," Ashstar began, "but StarClan knows ThunderClan won't give up so easily. So we'll take two patrols; I will lead the first to declare our right to the rocks, and a second will back us up."
"Will every cat be fighting, then?" Birchclaw asked.
Ashstar shook his head. "No. Although I doubt any cats from ThunderClan would circle around and attack the camp, I would still like a small patrol to stay and defend the elders and the nursery. My patrol will consist of myself, Twigtail, Nettlestep, Tawnyclaw, Cinderpaw, and Minnowpaw."
Minnowpaw nearly jumped for joy when Ashstar said her name. She'd be part of it, and on the first patrol at that! Ashstar went on, saying, "Shadebelly will lead the backup patrol. I want him to take Birchclaw, Mudpelt, Maplenose, Pebblenose, Bristlepelt, and Poppypaw. That means Sorrelstream, Sweetstripe, Cloudsplash, Flamepelt, and Redpaw will remain behind to defend the camp." Redpaw looked a little crestfallen, but Flamepelt nudged him gently and murmured something, and he perked back up a bit.
"When will we leave?" Tawnyclaw asked from beside Minnowpaw. He looked as if he'd jump into battle with ThunderClan now. Minnowpaw wondered if he was looking forward to sinking his claws into Copperfoot.
"We will set foot on the rocks at sunhigh tomorrow," Ashstar mewed firmly. It was nearly sunset now. "I expect all of you to eat and rest before then, and if you feel the need to prepare at all, do it. That's all." He jumped down from the rock and disappeared into his den, beckoning Shadebelly to follow him.
"Do you think you're ready?" Tawnyclaw asked Minnowpaw, but not in a concerned way.
A fire was spreading quickly throughout Minnowpaw's body as the anticipation of the next day overcame her. She was more than ready, she knew. "Yes," she said firmly to her mentor, and his whiskers twitched.
He meowed, "I'd like to get in a quick training session before the nightfall. Then make sure you eat some fresh-kill and get plenty of sleep, okay?"
Nodding, Minnowpaw followed Tawnyclaw out of camp for one last battle practice.
The next day came quickly, and Minnowpaw woke early to find that everyone else was waking as well. The camp was bustling as an early hunting patrol brought a load of fresh-kill for the battle patrols, and Silverheart had Redpaw and Poppypaw dashing around, laying out piles of herbs for wounded cats. Cherryheart was scolding her kits as they ran around the camp excitedly, begging to go into battle.
"You aren't even apprentices yet!" Cherryheart told them, dragging them back towards the nursery. "Now stay out of everybody's way!"
Before Minnowpaw knew it, sunhigh was approaching, and the blistering heat of the sun didn't spare a hair on her pelt. It was going to be an uncomfortable battle, but a worthwhile one. As the two battle patrols began to organize, Minnowpaw took a moment to duck into the nursery. Ashflower was laying in her nest with her three kits suckling.
"Are you ready?" the silver queen murmured to Minnowpaw, careful not to wake the kits.
"Absolutely," Minnowpaw replied. Her claws itched with excitement, and she broke out into a purr as she looked at the three little bundles curled up to Ashflower's belly. She'd helped name them; Ripplekit was a striking silver tabby like his mother, and his pelt was flecked with white. The other tom, Sootkit, was patchy gray and black. And the little she-kit, tortoiseshell with an orange patch on her chest, Minnowpaw had named Amberkit. She was overflowing with love for these three kits, her little brothers and sister. And now, she was going to fight for them.
"This is for you," she murmured to them, nuzzling them gently with her nose. "I'm going to help you grow up in the strongest Clan in the forest."
Ashflower's gaze was full of love and pride. "Go now," she said gently. "Be brave and strong, and be careful."
Ducking out of the nursery, Minnowpaw whispered, "I will."
As she joined Ashstar's patrol at the camp entrance, Minnowpaw was approached by Flamepelt and Redpaw. "I wish I was going with you," Redpaw said a little grumpily. "But I guess I'm happy to protect the camp. There will always be more battles, right?"
Minnowpaw was surprised by how much the young tom had grown and matured over the moons. He was already as big as Minnowpaw, and he seemed almost wise at times. She purred at his words, then came face-to-face with Flamepelt.
"Be careful," he cautioned, his green eyes warm.
Minnowpaw pressed her nose to his. "Don't worry about me," she said. Just then, Ashstar called for the patrols to leave, and Minnowpaw walked out of camp with them.
The first patrol marched silently through the reeds, heading straight for the river. The sound of birds and the scent of prey were all around, but every cat was focused on the upcoming battle. Minnowpaw's pelt was prickling as the sound of bubbling water reached her ears, and she was vaguely aware of the second patrol several fox-lengths behind her. Ashstar had ordered them to stay hidden in the forest on RiverClan's side of the river, and only come out when they heard the battle begin. As the first patrol exited the cover of the trees, the second stopped and crouched low in the leafy undergrowth, waiting.
When everyone was gathered on the riverbank, Ashstar flicked his tail in a silent command and waded into the river. Everyone else followed, and Minnowpaw barely felt the chill of the water as she strode across. By now, all her fear surrounding the water was gone, and for a short while, her accident was just a distant memory that may as well have been a dream.
At last, Minnowpaw stepped onto the rocks on the other side of the river, the warm stone blissful underpaw. Ashstar sat, his tail curling neatly over his paws, and the rest of the patrol did the same. "Now we wait for a ThunderClan patrol," he mewed softly to them.
They waited for what felt like ages. The blazing sun bore down on Minnowpaw's pelt and dried all the water on it. Where was the patrol? Surely ThunderClan was vigilant of this area even though they'd had no threat from RiverClan in moons. Just when Minnowpaw thought nothing would ever happen, the bushes on the other side of the rocks rustled and four ThunderClan cats stepped out of the forest.
In the lead was Mosswhisker, one of ThunderClan's senior warriors. His apprentice Larkpaw was next to him, and he muttered a quick few words to her and she bounded away, running back through the forest. The other two cats Minnowpaw recognized from Gatherings; they were Graytail and Skystream. "Well, well, what have we here?" Mosswhisker sneered. "A RiverClan patrol is trespassing, with their leader at its head?" He flexed his claws on the rocks, fur beginning to bush out.
Ashstar stood, and the rest of the patrol followed. In a clear voice, Ashstar stated, "We have come to reclaim Sunningrocks. Back down now and no blood will have to be shed."
Skystream hissed. "Arrogant furballs!"
Mosswhisker flicked his tail to silence his Clanmate. To the RiverClan patrols, he meowed, "You are a bunch of fools if you think ThunderClan will just give up Sunningrocks. No, you will have to fight for them. But you would need the power of StarClan to take them from us."
He was stalling, Minnowpaw knew. He'd sent Larkpaw back to get reinforcements, and now ThunderClan stood three-to-six with RiverClan. But he didn't look afraid of the enemy warriors; no, he looked completely confident. If he really believed RiverClan was weak, he was a mouse-brain. They'd show him!
Ashstar lifted his head high. "RiverClan is not as weak as you may think," he said evenly. "We are more than ready to take back our rightful territory."
"Enough!" Mosswhisker spat, clearly growing annoyed. "Attack!" he yowled to his two Clanmates, and the three cats launched themselves at the patrol.
Mosswhisker was immediately grappling with Ashstar, the two toms hissing and spitting as they rolled over the ground in a mad fury. Tawnyclaw had Skystream pinned down, but the wiry young she-cat was able to wriggle free and swipe at him with her claws. Twigtail and Nettlestep were both fighting Graytail, but the large tom was big enough to hold his own against them. Before Minnowpaw could think of where to go, she was bowled over by a large body, squashed against the rocks. Her attacker spat viciously as it bit into her ear, and she yowled.
Furiously, Minnowpaw threw her body up and dislodged the cat on top of her. Spinning around, she saw Mintfur, a pale gray ThunderClan warrior, facing her. Minnowpaw leaped at Mintfur, claws outstretched, and scratched at her chest. ThunderClan reinforcements had come so quickly! Yowling, Mintfur nipped at Minnowpaw's face and shoulders. Yowls and screeches sounded around them as the ThunderClan backup patrol engaged in battle with RiverClan. Ashstar called a command and Shadebelly's patrol rushed out of the reeds, flying across the river and joining in the fight.
Mintfur flipped herself up, attempting to latch herself onto Minnowpaw's back. Thinking quickly, Minnowpaw turned over and met Mintfur's belly with her claws. Surprise washed over the she-cat's face, replaced with pain as her belly was ripped open. Minnowpaw kicked out and sent Mintfur flying. The injured warrior retreated into the trees.
Not able to catch a breath, Minnowpaw was knocked over again by Amberclaw, a burly ThunderClan tom. He pinned her to her back, reaching for her throat with his teeth. Minnowpaw kicked at him and bit his shoulder hard, tasting his blood in her mouth as he howled and loosened his grip. Regaining her footing, Minnowpaw slashed mercilessly at him with her claws, tearing away tufts of his reddish-brown fur. His eyes gleamed with rage and he fought back hard, diving for her legs. Minnowpaw jumped up, sending Amberclaw tumbling face-first into the stones. She landed on his back and dug in her claws, biting the back of his neck at the same time. He stopped struggling, and Minnowpaw got off of him. He too ran away.
The fighting was still going on around her. Poppypaw and Cinderpaw were fighting side-by-side against Dapplenose, and Mudpelt was spitting viciously as he fought Swiftsky. Minnowpaw couldn't see most of her Clanmates amidst the battle, and it was hard to tell who was winning. It seemed that RiverClan was stronger than ThunderClan thought, but her enemies were fighting like LionClan as well.
A loud screech split the air and Minnowpaw looked around to see Tawnyclaw, blood dripping from his pelt, being pinned to the ground by Copperfoot. For a moment, she saw red as she let out a battle cry and launched herself at the ThunderClan deputy. She collided sharply with him and he rolled off of her mentor. Minnowpaw swiped and slashed at his muzzle as he kicked and fought beneath her.
"You!" he spat, scratching her chest with sharp claws. Minnowpaw barely felt it. "Maybe I should finish you off this time!"
Hissing, Minnowpaw raked her claws across his face, catching his eye. Blood dripped heavily from the wound, and his eye was now shut and swelling. "Never!" she hissed in return. Copperfoot sprang up and met Minnowpaw face-to-face, and the two locked together in a tussle of teeth and claws.
As they grappled, Minnowpaw caught glimpses of her other Clanmates; Maplenose was nipping at Oakfoot, who was joined by Stormspots. Blackpaw and Foxpaw fought together against Bristlepelt. Out of the corner of her eye, Minnowpaw saw a flash of gray and white paws and felt a body crash against her, knocking her off balance. Scrambling back up, she met the unsure gaze of Rainpaw. He looked strangely scared, and it caught Minnowpaw off guard.
"Mouse-brain!" Copperfoot hissed, but not to her. He was talking to Rainpaw! Swiping at his apprentice, he hissed, "She's mine!" Terrified, Rainpaw raced away.
A new kind of rage bubbled up inside Minnowpaw. "You talk to your own apprentice like that?" she spat, leaping at the arrogant ThunderClan warrior again. She bit at his ears as his claws collided with her shoulder. Pain ripped through her pelt as her fur and skin were torn, and she felt hot blood welling out of the wound. Yowling with rage, she kicked strongly at his underbelly, feeling a surge of pride at the feeling of her claws ripping through his fur. Blood dripped onto the stones.
Grunting in pain, Copperfoot growled, "I'll make you wish you'd never met me!" He thrust up strongly, his shoulders colliding with Minnowpaw's chest, and she flew through the air a surprising distance, only to land on the ground with a thud that knocked the wind out of her. She gasped for breath, glad that nothing felt broken. She was sore and covered with blood, yet looking around she still couldn't see the standings of the battle. It seemed that neither Clan would give up soon.
A small trickle of fear ran through her when she saw Copperfoot still standing; the ginger warrior hadn't found another opponent. Instead, his icy, blood-thirsty gaze was fixed on Minnowpaw from several fox-lengths away. Come and fight me! His eyes seemed to say. Hissing, Minnowpaw raced back towards him and leaped.
At the same time, Shadebelly ran across her path from the right, barreling towards Stormspots, who was looming over Maplenose with his teeth on her throat. Minnowpaw opened her mouth to call an alarm, but she wasn't quick enough. She slammed straight into Shadebelly and knocked the gray warrior to the ground. His eyes lit up with shock. Then his head hit the stones with a sickening thud, and he did not move again.