Shredtail turned on Blackstar. “You killed my loyal warrior!”
Blackstar met his gaze, unflinching. “I killed one traitor, and now I’m ready to kill another.”
Shredtail’s eyes lit. “You think you can kill me?”
“No!” Lionblaze sprang between them. “Fight me!” He narrowed his eyes at Shredtail. “Or are you afraid?”
“Nothing scares me.” With a hiss, Shredtail leaped at him.
Lionblaze felt the thud of muscle against his chest, surprised for a moment by Shredtail’s strength. He dug his hind claws hard into the needle-strewn earth and reared up, ready to swipe Shredtail’s muzzle. But Shredtail backed away and crouched down, his eyes gleaming as if he knew every move that Lionblaze would make.
Lionblaze paused. Shredtail thinks he can win. Doubt pricked his belly. He batted it away and attacked. Hurling himself at Shredtail, he twisted and hooked a paw around Shredtail’s forelegs.
Shredtail hopped backward. “You won’t beat me fighting like a kit.” He lunged for Lionblaze’s throat. Lionblaze dodged just in time, flinching at the snap of empty jaws beside his ear. He stood up on his back legs, ready to slam Shredtail with his forepaws, but Shredtail spun away too quickly and thrust his hind paws into Lionblaze’s belly so hard it sent him stumbling backward.
Shredtail lashed his tail. “When are you going to start fighting like a real warrior?”
“Now!” As Lionblaze leaped forward, claws grabbed him from behind, fastening around his throat. He tried to struggle free, body thrashing, fighting for breath, scrabbling to find a grip on the slippery needles.
“Shall I let my Clanmates finish you off?” Shredtail gloated. Then he glanced past Lionblaze’s shoulder and his gaze suddenly glittered with fear.
The paws gripping Lionblaze’s throat dropped away. He smelled the scent of badger’s breath as Midnight moved behind him. “Destiny is the choice of every cat,” she rasped in his ear. “But some cats have destiny chosen for them.” She turned and lumbered away.
I am going to kill this cat. Lionblaze saw what would happen next as clear as a star-specked sky. I may not be able to match your fox-hearted tactics, Shredtail, but I can fight like the best warrior that ever lived.
Shredtail lifted a paw and flexed his claws. “It’s a shame your badger friend won’t fight for you.” He drew back his lips to reveal teeth already stained with blood.
Energy surged beneath Lionblaze’s pelt. Exploding from the ground, he sunk his teeth deep into Shredtail’s throat while pine needles showered around them. The softness of flesh in his mouth and the taste of blood made him gag, but he held on, tearing deeper and deeper until, gurgling and thrashing, Shredtail collapsed. Lionblaze clamped his jaws harder and the Dark Warrior fell limp.
Letting go, Lionblaze staggered back and watched Shredtail’s body fade. Growing paler against the forest floor, it disappeared. He looked up, suddenly aware of the other cats watching, feeling his face wet with Shredtail’s blood. The Dark Forest warriors began to back away, then turned and pelted back toward the camp.
“Lionblaze?” Blackstar stepped forward. “I’m proud to fight beside you.” He nodded toward the battle. “Now shall we get rid of these other fox-hearts?”
“Lionblaze?”
Graystripe’s mew took him by surprise. He turned and saw the gray warrior pushing through the bracken with the dark brown ancient on his tail.
“Half Moon says we should go home.” Graystripe glanced over his shoulder toward the ShadowClan camp. “They don’t need our help anymore.”
Blackstar nodded. “Thanks to you. Go on, fight with your Clanmates now.”
Lionblaze dipped his head to the ShadowClan leader. “Okay.” He flicked his tail. “Let’s go.”
Chapter 25
Ivypool crouched inside the dirtplace tunnel. She could hear Firestar in the clearing, ordering patrols. Yowls echoed above the hollow. The Dark Forest had reached the woods.
Ivypool bristled with frustration. Dovepaw had prodded her awake too soon. I was trying to reach Blossomfall and Birchfall before the battle started! Now it was too late. I’ve got to find them. She pricked her ears.
“Stay with Brambleclaw and guard the camp.” Firestar gave a final order, then thundered out of camp.
Ivypool waited. Where would Brokenstar send ThunderClan recruits? Not to their own Clan, surely? They’d be more eager to fight other Clans. Ivypool crept deeper into the brambles and skirted the dirtplace, pushing through ferns until she was clear of the camp. The forest smelled dank as darkness swallowed it. Wind roared in the treetops.
“Ivypool?” Brambleclaw’s mew took her by surprise. “Shouldn’t you be on Firestar’s patrol?”
She whipped around to see the ThunderClan deputy standing underneath a rowan tree. Brambleclaw knew she’d trained in the Dark Forest. What if he thought she was betraying her Clan? “I—I have to find Blossomfall and Birchfall and Mousewhisker.”
He padded closer. “Do you know where they are?”
“No! I wish I did. I want to stop them before…”
“Before they betray their Clan?” Brambleclaw narrowed his eyes.
“They wouldn’t!” she gasped. “I know they wouldn’t! But they’ll be scared. Brokenstar has threatened to kill them if they don’t fight alongside him.”
Brambleclaw touched his muzzle to her head. “Go find them, Ivypool.”
“Really?” She blinked. “It’s okay?”
“I’m depending on you.”
“Thank you!” Bursting with relief, Ivypool spun around and pounded toward WindClan territory. Screeches rang from the moorland and echoed across the water, but there was no sign of pelts. She pushed harder, paws skidding on the slippery grass as she neared the stream that marked the border.
“Ivypool.” A growl took her by surprise. Amber eyes flashed in the darkness beyond the ditch.
Ivypool halted, unsheathing her claws. “Who is it?”
Tigerheart slid out of the bracken.
Ivypool narrowed her eyes. “Where are you heading?” She leaped the stream, keeping her distance from the dark warrior. “You know the battle’s begun, don’t you?”
Tigerheart glanced over his shoulder. “Hawkfrost told me to meet him here.”
Ivypool shifted her paws. “Are you in his patrol?”
“Are you?” His gaze sparked with suspicion.
“I—I don’t know yet. I haven’t gotten my orders.” Her mind whirled. Which side was Tigerheart on?
“Hawkfrost will tell you what to do when he gets here.”
But I have to find my Clanmates! Ivypool began to push through the bracken.
“Where are you going?” Tigerheart challenged.
“I don’t have time to wait!” Ivypool kept going. “The battle’s begun!”
“But you don’t know who to fight!”
Frustration raged through her. “Of course I know who to fight!” She turned on Tigerheart. “I’ll fight any Dark Forest warrior I meet.” She glared at him. “And any Clan cat who fights with them!”
“But I thought the Dark Forest warriors were your Clanmates now.” Tigerheart took a step closer. There was menace in his mew. “Isn’t this what you’ve been training for?”