"ShadowClan is attacking at the border!" Willowpaw yelled. Mewls of terror came from the nursery. Ferntail, a queen, came out of the den with a light grey she-kit with black spots clutched between her teeth. She was wrapping her tail around a dark gray tom, which was her kit. "Are my kits safe?" She meowed worriedly. Willowpaw was about to say 'no', but then Batwing leaped onto her from the thorn tunnel. Batwing pushed her down, obviously succeeding because she was much heavier than Willowpaw. She held her down with her muscular paws and opened her mouth to reveal sharp, white fangs. Batwing leaned in to bite Willowpaw's neck when Icecloud leaped from under the Highrock where she was sitting with her brother, Foxleap, who was deputy. The white she-cat rammed into the ShadowClan warrior's side and knocked her clear off her paws. Icecloud slashed her claws over Batwing's face, leaving a clawmark on her muzzle. Batwing's nose was bleeding badly because of the cut. Icecloud went limp for a moment and the dark brown she-cat darted straight to the entrance. Batwing had gone. "Perfect, she's probably getting resistance." Icecloud growled sarcastically. Skystar poked her head out of her den atop the highledge, blinking sleepily. "What in StarClan was THAT?" Skystar asked as she leaped down the rocks that led to the Highledge. Willowpaw explained everything to her leader quickly. She was about to tell her about Batwing, but a terrified shriek coming from the nursery interrupted her. Oceanpaw was trying to scratch Featherkit. "Mouse-brain. We can notice she's doing that." Willowpaw observed. Ferntail immediately leaped out of the nursery and jumped on Oceanpaw's back. She pinned her down in a matter of seconds, and ripped and the blue-gray she-cat's belly fur with her claws. Ferntail then bit the ShadowClan apprentice's tail and growled loudly. "You won't get away with this!" Oceanpaw hissed as she limped to the thorn tunnel. "No, you won't get away with this." A voice meowed. A dark gray tom with thick black stripes, Blackstripe, padded across to the exit. He stood blocking the way. "If you mess with my kits, you're not going to see the light of day again." He threatened. Willowpaw immediately felt a wave of affection for her kin. Blackstripe was her father's brother. The large tom still stood his ground by the entrance, his light blue eyes glaring coldly into Oceanpaw's eyes. "Don't ever come back her, or you'll face the consequences." Blackstripe said coolly. Willowpaw could sense his fury, but was surprised at how calm he was. Blackstripe moved out of the way, his shoulders still tense. Oceanpaw ran out of the entrance as fast like her fur was on fire. "Alright," Skystar yowled loud enough for any cat to hear. She had leaped back on the Highledge. "Foxleap, take a patrol of five cats to the border. I'll lead another after you leave so we can use the element of surprise. I'll take Spottedwing, Fawnbreeze, Twistedtail, Snowstorm, and Blueheart." Foxleap nodded. The named cats gathered around Skystar as Foxleap chose his patrol. "Blackstripe, Vinetail, Berryeye, Stormstrike, and Lightningclaw." He beckoned for them to come with his tail. Jayfeather poked his head out of the medicine cat's den. "What's going on?" He asked, puzzled. "No time to explain." Willowpaw meowed. "ShadowClan's attacking." Jayfeather perked his ears. "Not attacking the camp?" "No, we're safe here. No need to worry. But I hope Pinefall and Swiftfoot can hold off those bloodthirsy traitors!" Willowpaw growled. Twigpaw nodded seriously but his eyes revealed that he was panicking. Foxleap meowed something to Twigpaw as he left with the patrol. Twigpaw shook his head and Foxleap nodded, then ran through the thorn tunnel. "Willowpaw! Twigpaw!" A voice hissed impatiently from behind them. Willowpaw turned to see Jayfeather beckoning them to the medicine cat's den. "Go out there. Now. Bring back your mentors as soon as you find them. I'll heal their wounds when you bring them. If you don't, they'll die." He ordered. Willowpaw exchanged a weary glance with Twigpaw, then nodded and slipped through the thorn tunnel. They ran as fast as they could to the border, crushing leaves under their paws. When they got to the dead tree, Foxleap's patrol had already flung themselves into battle. Foxleap and Scorchfur were locked in battle, tumbling through the grass, screeching in fury. Blackstripe had Tigerheart pinned down on the ground, one strong paw pushing down on his chest. His claws were unsheathed, digging into his fur. Lightningclaw leaped at Crowfrost with his claws unsheathed. The golden tom slid under the ShadowClan deputy and jumped onto his back. Lightningclaw dug his long, sharp claws into Crowfrost's fur and gave him a nip to the ear, tearing his skin. Crowfrost easily shook him off and pinned the ThunderClan warrior down. The bulky black-and-white tom bared his fangs and leaned into Lightningclaw's neck. He bit down hard, CONTINUED IN NOTES
leaving the golden tom bleeding badly. Crowfrost yowled in triumph at the sight of the injured cat. Suddenly a muscular light brown cat with bright yellow eyes rammed into Crowfrost's side. "Berryeye!" Lightningclaw wheezed, surprised. Willowpaw ran over to Lightningclaw while Berryeye was ripping at Crowfrost's belly fur with his strong claws. Berryeye was furious with the ShadowClan deputy; He'd clawed of most of Crowfrost's belly fur and he was bleeding badly. Crowfrost screeched in pain and determinedly squeezed from the ginger warrior's grasp and ran across the border like a mouse being chased by a cat. Willowpaw helped Lightningclaw onto his paws. "Thank you. Your mentors are over there." He meowed, indicating to a large bush with his tail. Willowpaw helped him over to the bush with Twigpaw following closely behind. The squeezed under the bush and saw Pinefall and Swiftfoot trembling, barely able to stay on their paws. "Come on! You have to go back to camp." Twigpaw explained. Swiftfoot leaned on Pinefall to stay balanced and they walked out of the bush. They all padded back to the hollow. All five slipped through the thorn tunnel and headed to the medicine cat's den. Lightningclaw collapsed onto a moss nest; His neck was covered in blood, dripping onto the cold stone floor. Jayfeather whipped around almost immediately after hearing them come in. "Great StarClan!" He worried after smelling Lightningclaw's blood. "What happened?" Willowpaw explained everything quickly. "Well, go tell Skystar to send her patrol!" Jayfeather meowed! Willowpaw nodded and ran out of the cave. She leaped onto the rock where Skystar was sitting. "Skystar, you need to send out your patrol! Foxleap needs help!" She exclaimed. Skystar looked at her, wide-eyed. Then she nodded, and yowled for them to leave. Willowpaw watched the cats slip through the thorn tunnel. Willowpaw padded to a patch of shade and laid down. She heard pawsteps, and turned to look at the thorn tunnel. "What's going on?" A voice said. Willowpaw turned to see Thornfang and Nightpaw standing at the entrance, with fresh-kill hanging limply from their jaws.
