Tallstar’s Revenge

Shrewpaw and Hareflight wrestled a ShadowClan tom at the entrance to the medicine den. Hareflight grasped him in his claws and dragged him backward. Unbalanced, the ShadowClan warrior kicked out. Quick as a bird, Shrewpaw swooped and sank his teeth into the tom’s hind legs.

“Nice move, Shrewpaw!” Brackenwing called to her kit across the clearing. Without pausing for breath, she ducked and spun around, knocking a ShadowClan she-cat to the ground with a well-aimed blow.

Sparrow crouched at the entrance to the elders’ den, pelt bushed up. Redclaw was braced at his side as two ShadowClan toms stalked toward them.

“You need rogues to defend you?” one of the ShadowClan warriors sneered, showing his teeth.

Sparrow lashed out and knocked him flying. Redclaw lunged and sent the other tom reeling with a blow to his muzzle.

Heart pounding in his ears, Tallpaw crept forward. Circle the clearing and pick off the outsiders. He recognized Frogpaw’s dark gray pelt from the Gathering. Belly flat to the grass, the ShadowClan apprentice was creeping up on Ryestalk as she grappled with Newtpaw. Newtpaw dived beneath Ryestalk and flipped her onto her back, then started battering Ryestalk’s muzzle. Ryestalk thrashed like wounded prey, trying to find her paws, her soft belly exposed. Frogpaw crouched even lower.

He’s going to attack! Tallpaw raced toward him, yowling in fury. The ShadowClan apprentice leaped up, eyes wide. Tallpaw slammed into him. Frogpaw staggered backward, eyes flashing with rage. Hissing, he reared up and sliced Tallpaw’s muzzle. Pain scorched through Tallpaw, but rage kept him on his feet. He narrowed his eyes and lashed out, keeping his hind paws firmly planted on the grass.

Ryestalk rolled past him, her claws dug deep into Newtpaw’s flanks. “Are you okay?” she yowled to Tallpaw.

Tallpaw dodged a blow from Frogpaw and hooked the apprentice’s legs from beneath him with a well-aimed kick. “I’m great!”

As Frogpaw hit the ground, Tallpaw sank his claws into the ShadowClan cat’s shoulders. “Who smells of nettles now?” he growled, pressing Frogpaw’s muzzle into the grass.

Suddenly claws pierced his flanks. Tallpaw yelped as he was dragged backward. He tried to struggle free but his pelt was caught fast.

“You smell worse than nettles!” Ashpaw hissed in his ear. “You smell of sheep dirt!” She flung him to the ground and plunged her paws into his belly.

Gasping, he tried to roll aside, but Frogpaw had leaped up and was pummeling Tallpaw’s muzzle with a flurry of blows. Tallpaw’s thoughts spiraled into panic. He flailed desperately, trying to break free, but Ashpaw and Frogpaw had him pinned to the ground.

Gray fur flashed at the corner of his eye. “When you hear the next yowl, get to your paws and start swinging,” came a gruff voice. Mole!

The rogue grabbed Frogpaw and dragged him backward. Frogpaw screeched with fury. Tallpaw kicked free of Ashpaw and jumped to his paws. While Mole flung Frogpaw onto his back, Tallpaw flew at Ashpaw, claws stretched. Ashpaw’s eyes widened with shock as his claws raked her muzzle.

Tallpaw kept swinging. “The only thing you’ll be smelling for a while is blood!” he screeched. He kicked off with his hind legs and hurled himself at the ShadowClan apprentice. She rolled underneath him and crouched against the grass while he sank his teeth into her shoulder. Screeching with pain, she tore free and raced for the entrance. Newtpaw was ahead of her, her tail bushing as she fled the WindClan camp.

Aspenfall was chasing a tabby tom across the clearing. Redclaw hissed at a white warrior as he fled while Hareflight and Dawnstripe herded a gang of yowling ShadowClan warriors toward the entrance. We’ve driven them out! Tallpaw realized. As he felt a rush of triumph, a screech sounded from the Meeting Hollow. Tallpaw rushed to the edge and looked down.

In the shadow of Tallrock, Heatherstar reared over Stonetooth. She slammed her paws down, sinking her claws deep into his pelt. Blood dripped from above her eye and she blinked it away. “Why did you attack us? Why?” She shook the ShadowClan deputy savagely.

“Why shouldn’t we?” Stonetooth hung limp in her claws, his eyes shining with hate. “We could hunt on these moors just as well as you.”

Heatherstar’s eyes flashed. “The moors are ours and always will be.” She hauled Stonetooth to his paws and flung him toward the edge of the hollow. “Run after your weasel-hearted Clanmates before I rip you to shreds.”

Stonetooth climbed out of the dip, leaving blood in his wake. “We’ve seen your weaknesses, you rabbits!” he snarled. “Next time, we’ll drive you from your dens for good.” Hissing at the watching WindClan warriors, he limped out of the camp.

Heatherstar turned to her medicine cat. “Check the injured, Hawkheart.” She shook her head, sending scarlet droplets onto the churned-up sand. As Hawkheart moved toward her, she stepped back. “I’m fine,” she meowed. “Start with the others.”