The Last Hope

Half-blind with pain, she glimpsed Cloudtail beside her. The white warrior bushed out his fur and curled his lip at Darkstripe. Darkstripe’s pelt didn’t even ripple. Smooth as a snake, he darted at Cloudtail, slithering beneath him and raking the warrior’s belly. Blood sprayed the forest floor.

“Get off him!” Dovewing staggered to her paws and hurled herself at Darkstripe, throwing her paws around his shoulders and clinging on desperately. As he tried to shake her off, she hooked a hind paw beneath his and toppled him. Together they rolled down the slope till brambles snagged them.

Teeth ripped into her shoulder. Shocked, she let go and dragged herself free, digging her claws into the earth to stop herself from falling. Darkstripe slashed her cheek with a blow that sent her reeling. She staggered, looking for Cloudtail. She would never be able to beat this warrior single-pawed.

“Bad luck, mouse-heart.” Darkstripe glanced up the slope. With a gasp, Dovewing saw Cloudtail shrieking with fury as a tabby held him fast, churning his hind paws against his spine. “Sparrowfeather’s finishing him off.” Darkstripe curled his lip. “Which means I get to kill you all by myself.”

Warriors don’t kill! Rage roared through Dovewing. Fight like rogues! Firestar’s order rang in her head and she launched herself at Darkstripe. Snapping her jaws, she sunk her teeth into his foreleg. He yowled and tried to shake her off but she crunched harder, feeling bone. Guard your throat! She remembered Ivypool’s training as teeth clamped her neck. Frantic with terror, she flipped her hind legs around and managed to gouge Darkstripe’s belly. He let go with a snarl and Dovewing ducked away, brambles scraping her ears.

A yowl split her ear fur and she turned just in time to catch a mighty swipe from Sparrowfeather. Reeling, she fell and landed hard. Paws thumped into her flank as Sparrowfeather leaped on top of her. Digging his claws deep into her pelt, he held her down and raked her with his hind paws. Dovewing struggled for breath, the wind knocked from her. Terror flooded her as she tried to fight her way free. The Dark Forest tom raked harder and a yowl of agony rose in her throat.

“Come on, Sparrowfeather! Darkstripe!” A new voice sounded on the slope beside them. A Dark Forest warrior was charging past. “Those two are beaten. Leave them to bleed to death. We’re attacking the camp.”

Dovewing felt Sparrowfeather’s claws rip free as he let go and raced after his Clanmates.

“Cloudtail?” Dovewing struggled to her paws, fighting for breath.

Cloudtail lay a few tail-lengths up the slope, his pelt slick with blood. She raced to him and crouched down, wincing with pain. “Cloudtail!”

He lifted his head, eyes dull.

“They’re attacking the camp!”

Cloudtail hauled himself to his paws. “Come on!” he croaked. “We’ve got to stop them.” He plunged down the slope, his front leg buckling beneath him.

“Are you okay?” Dovewing caught up to him in a couple of strides. Her pelt was fiery with pain.

“I have to be!” Cloudtail straightened up and pushed on.

Outside camp, Squirrelflight and Sandstorm were side by side, matching their blows as a patrol of Dark Forest warriors snapped at them like foxes. Sparrowfeather and Darkstripe barged through and joined the attack.

“We need backup!” Squirrelflight yowled.

Brambleclaw, Leafpool, Cinderheart, and Dustpelt raced from the entrance, but more ragged pelts swarmed from the trees and began to drive the Clan cats back against the thorn barrier. The ferns shivered on the far slope and Firestar and Lionblaze crashed out. Paw steps skidded behind Dovewing and she turned to see Snowbird and Graystripe race past her and leap into battle. Shaking the blood from his eyes, Cloudtail followed them.

Dovewing plunged in after him. She spotted Darkstripe’s pelt and slashed at it. Fight like a rogue. She dropped the skillful swipes she’d been taught as an apprentice and instead dug her claws into whatever flesh she could reach. She spun around, raking warrior after warrior, pelts blurring before her eyes.

“Watch out!” Squirrelflight yelped beside her. Dovewing had accidentally scraped her Clanmate’s flank.

“Sorry.” Quickly, she turned back, aiming for a darker pelt, relieved as she sunk her teeth into foul-smelling flesh.

“They’re in the camp!” Lionblaze’s yowl split the air.

Dark pelts were streaming through the thorns, turning the narrow entrance into a ragged hole. Lionblaze flashed in after them.

“Cinderheart! Dustpelt! Graystripe! Go with Lionblaze and drive them out!” Firestar sent a Dark Forest warrior flying with a backward kick. “We’ll hold the rest off here.”