Ivorypaw felt his stomach turn with excitement as the stone path snaked downward into a huge hollow. Blackclaw's head was low as he onlooked the crowd of cats. Ivorypaw could see his claws unsheathing and sheathing from his big black claws as they reflected white against the moon. The brown tabby tom looked ahead through the soft glow to see Weasalstar up ahead. His leader still bore a few claw marks from Ivorypaw's last test. I hope none of the other clans ask about that...
Ivorypaw missed the silent flick of a tail from Weasalstar, and was left the only one standing as the others dropped into a crouch. As dark eyes glared at him, he quickly crouched too. "What are we waiting for?" Blackclaw's head snapped to look at his Apprentice, nostils flaring. Ivorypaw didn't need to be told anything to know his mentor was telling him to shut up. In the hollow, the other clans mumbled to one another unknowingly. They glanced toward the shadows every so often. Ivorypaw looked up at the moon drifitng in the sky. Twilightclan was late. Why would Weasalstar purposefully arrive late? Why were they hiding like this?
The Twilightclan Warriors flexed their claws, teeth flashing in the half light as they eyed the cats below. Strange scents drifted to Ivorypaw, most prudent was a damp scent of wilow. Blackclaw leaned in close to Ivoryaw's ear. "Only attack the cats with willow scent. They're Caveclan." Ivorypaw's emerald eyes widened. Attack?! There was no time to think. Another silent order from Weasalstar and the shadow cats leaped out of the undergrowth and down into the crowd below.
Ivorypaw found his paws pulsing forward on the flattened grass. Confusion made his head buzz as screeching and yowling erupted, Twilightclan cats ripping and tearing into the fur of unsuspecting Caveclan cats. He didn't know what to do. Weasalstar hadn't said anything about an attack; gatherings were a time of truce! This was wrong, so wrong. The brown tabby apprentice felt something grab his scruff and pull him aside violently. "What's wrong with you!? Your running around in circles like a black bird with no head!" Blackclaw's his filled his ears.
"Why are we attacking these cats at a Gathering!?"
"Caveclan has been stealing prey from us for moons now! We warned them..and warned them but they wouldn't listen!" Blackclaw's fangs flashed as he spoke. "So now they're being taught a lesson." As he saw Ivorypaw hesitate, he gripped him at the shoulders with piercing claws and shook him slightly. "Do this for your clan Ivorypaw! Your an elite!" Ivorypaw looked into the batttle fray, realizing for the first time only those who were elite were chosen to go to this Gathering.
Blackclaw and Ivorypaw raced back into battle. At that moment a black she-cat the Apprentice, knocking him to the ground with a thud. Her blue eyes bored into his as he fought to catch his breath. "Twiligtclan cats! Such fox-hearts! Starclan will punish you!" Ivorypaw bared his teeth, regaining his breath and focusing. He gripped her shoulders with powerful paws and dug his claws in.
"Your the fox-hearts! Stealing our prey!" The Caveclan Apprentice screeched, clawing the tom's belly fiercely. Ivorypaw yowled in pain, using her weight against her as he puled her shoulders to the side. The black she-cat fell with a thud and they both wrestled fiercely, paws flailing as they tried to get a good blow in. This is my first battle! Ivorypaw realized that it was also his first Gathering. Again, guilt crept over him. Starclan would be mad. He had no time to glance at the moon and see the clouds drifting over it. The black she-cat hissed as claws met her ear and Ivorypaw nipped her shoulder hard while she fretted over the blood spilling from her torn ear.
"Caveclan! Retreat!" The blood in Ivorypaw's ears were pulsing so loudly he hardly heard the muffled call. The black she-cat ripped away from her opponent, giving him one last glare with her ice blue eyes before racing after her retreating clan. Ivorypaw steadied his paws, panting as the blood dripped off his fur and onto the slick grass. He realized for the first time it was very dark; the sky was cast over with clouds, no moon in sight. The other clans seemed to have been watching from the treeline the whole time, for Ivorypaw could catch sight of their glowing eyes in the darkness. Good thing they didn't join Caveclan in defense.
Weaselstar leaped onto a large fallen tree, blood sleaked across his dark brown fur. His eyes were completely dark in the night blackness. "Stay out of our territory!! All of you pety clans!!" Ivorypaw felt a fire ignite inside him. He could see the fear flash in the eyes of the fleeing clans. He could see the pride in the faces of the night cats. He could feel the power of Twilightclan. Ivorypaw yowled to the sky, not caring about the thunder that had begun to crack. Blackclaw joined him and others followed. Twilightclan is the best!
Ivorypaw limped through the soft undergrowth of Twilightclan territory. The fire of battle had drained from the young tom's body, and now his wounds stung with an intensity that made it hard to even move. The cats hadn't stopped chatting about the victory though. Blackclaw bragged to Rosenight about a Warrior he had tore into and she chidded back to him about a tom she left running tail between legs. Ivorypaw looked through the group, all of them Warriors, and wished his sister had been here. She isn't elite though...
"What happened?? Why are you hurt?" Fallenshadow and Nightpelt mewled in unison, fretting over their son with concern reflecting in their eyes. Ivorypaw was too weak to push them away, so he let them lick over his wounds and pour out questions of the Gathering. Whisperpaw hung back, eyeying her brother bitterly. He was remined about how he had ignored her earlier, when she had needed it most. I had too! I wish she would understand...
"Cats of Twilightclan!" Weaselstar had jumped onto Twilight Rock, his dark figure barely visible in the darkness. "Caveclan will cross our borders no longer! We gave them something to remember us by!" Nightpelt's fur bristled as her amber eyes burnt into her leader.
"At a Gathering?" Weasalstar met the she-cat's eyes evenly.
"What better time? Caveclan was unsuspecting and we made a show for the other clans too." His tone was serious and severe; Nightpelt knew not to answer. The whole clan knew. As a silent agreement fell, Mitetail padded stiffly out of his den to heal the wounded. Fallenshadow gently guided his son to the Medicine Cat. As Ivorypaw was healed, he looked around at the cats around him. Their eyes reflected apprehension as they looked up at the cloud covered sky. Ivorypaw followed their gaze, a guilt filling his chest. Starclan will punish you for this! The black she-cat's words rang in his ears ominously.
No comments:
Post a Comment