Warriors: Fear and Hope

They trekked through the dark Everfree when Wildwhisker looked around. She yowled. “Rabbit!” she crouched and pounced into the forest.

                Dashfang was about to soar to her, but Crystalfoot stopped her.

                Soon Wildwhisker came back with a large, juicy rabbit, and licked her paws. “Better than Lakeclan eh?” she said and she smiled.

                Dashfang purred in agreement and stared down at the fat, giant rabbit the she-cat dropped. She licked her claws and smiled at her friend. “Ya’ hungry Dashfang?” she asked kindly, and she pushed the plump rabbit in front of her.

                The four warriors ate the rabbit gratefully. When Dashfang ate all her share, she sat up, and licked her paw. She did feel nice and rejuvenated after her rabbit meal, but she still got very cold. She put her wings down to keep her warm. What would happen if Dashfang and Applefur went back the way they came? Through the Everfree, and was it faster to go through Lakeclan territory than to go through there? Well this is an important mission agreed by all the clans. It’s not like they are stealing prey was it?

                Dashfang smiled and looked at her friends. “Don’t you think it would be faster to go through past the lake?” she asked.

                Applefur coughed and frowned at her friend. “That would be going through Lakeclan territory though!” she yowled.

                “We could travel next to the ravine. Lakeclan never goes there.” She suggests licking her paw.

                Applefur stood, but flinched. “Even my paws hurt.” She whispered and she sighed. “OK fine, we can take a short-cut.” She said.

                “Our leader told us to only bring you to Fourtrees.” Said the tired deputy.

Dashfang nodded and she looked over Applefur. "You do not need to come if you can not." she mewed.

"We'll only be there for a while."

"No, no we can't let you go alone. We can come. Lunastar will understand." she mewed hopping to her feet.

"I cannot promise that we won't run into any kitty." she mewed convincingly. Soon, the cats were convinced.

"Well, I guess if we go that way, Lakeclan will know that we are home." mewed Crystalfoot.

Wildwhisker licked off her lips to get the fresh-kill scent off it and mentioned, "We'll be home before moon-rise!"

Crystalfoot shook her head and mewed sternly, "You just want to make sure you have a good nest."

"Are we going through Lakeclan territory or not?" asked Dashfang annoyed.

Crystalfoot nodded. "We are going through Lakeclan and we will come back at moon-rise." she mewed and she smiled at Dashfang and Applefur. She turned and looked toward the gorge. They were finally in Lakeclan territory.Over the thunder and rain, Dashfang could hear the roaring river running into the cold lake.

They followed the rush and they soon got to the ravine. Dashfang looked over the edge, and her wings shook with fear. Some of the ground under her paw. She stepped back and she ran to Applefur. Applefur laughed and punched her friend lightly. They caught up to their guide.

Crystalfoot hissed, her tail dropped, and her ears fell to her head. Dashfang only heard the rushing of the river. She turned her head to see Wildwhisker doing the same. Dashfang felt uneasy about the two warriors. They saw lightning flash, and heard thunder roar.

The rain ran in their fur and they heard a twig snap. A warning yowl drove through Dashfangs ears and she got down. They all turned to see a Lakeclan patrol chasing after them. The ravine was too close and it was too dangerous to step back.

A blue Lakeclan warrior hopped on Dashfang. She rolled quickly away from the ravine, kicking rapidly. The Lakeclan  cat bit into her shoulder, and Dashfang felt a rush of pain. She finally kicked the warrior off, but she wouldn't stop. She hissed and  raked the Lightningclan cat. "This will be the last time you ever set a paw in Lakeclan." she hisses.

Dashfang knew that Applefur and her guides were struggling to win. He could hear them yowling with pain. They were exhausted. She then heard something from the forest. It was full of fear- soon Setclaw bounded out with the night patrol behind her. Cloudstorm, Bluepelt, and Lightningpaw were following her.

Yowling and spitting the Lightningclan cats jumped into battle. The blue she jumped off of Dashfang. She started to fight Setclaw. She watched Setclaw pinning a tom to the ground. Dashfang quickly grabbed the blue warrior and threw her to the ground. The black deputy was fighting with Crystalfoot. Crystalfoot was no match for the young she. Dashfang was about to leap onto the black cat, but Setclaw beat her to it. She bit Ravenfur's shoulder and she hauled the mighty deputy off Crystalfoot. She heard a high-pitched squeal behind her. She saw Lightningpaw fightnig with a large, jet black cat.They were rolling on top of each other and tussling. They were right about to roll off the edge of the ravine! If Lightningpaw and the cat rolled one more time, they would fall to their doom.

Dashfang flew to them and swiped the warrior off the poor apprentice. Lightningpaw flew closer to the edge and flew into the air. He slammed right in front of Dashfang and he yowled, "I can win my own fights without your help!"

Dashfang tried to explain when a terrible howl made them jump. Applefur was leaning over the edge of the ravine, her hind legs dangling.Behind her, Dashfang stared at her holding for her life and a white paw. Applefur tried to hang onto the cat, but it fell with a terrifying yowl. Applefur  screamed after it and she looked at the cats paw went down the stream.

The cats stopped fighting when Applefur screeched a terrifying screech. Dashfang froze with exhaustion and fear. The Lakeclan ran over to the ravine. Dashfang looked at the head of the warrior sinking under the water of the rushing river.

Dashfang felt a cold shiver of fear rushed through her body: she thought about the Breezeclan medicine cats words "This day shall bring many unnecessary deaths."