the new marker line until he was only a tail-length away from Oakfur.
“If you want our territory, you’ll have to fight for every step.”
Lionpaw’s fur stood on end. His first real battle! He sank his claws into the earth, imagining it was ShadowClan fur.
“Are you
Lionpaw felt fur brush his flank. Hollypaw and Jaypaw had joined him.
“We fight as one,” Hollypaw vowed.
Lionpaw suddenly pictured the three of them—three half-grown apprentices, one of them blind, facing what looked like the whole of ShadowClan.
Chapter 15
Lionpaw turned and pelted away into the trees. He hated leaving Jaypaw and Hollypaw, but without help the battle was already lost.
“Stop him!”
He heard Russetfur’s yowl, and the rustle of paws upon leaves.
Lionpaw glanced over his shoulder. Two ShadowClan warriors streaked toward him. Then he saw a flash of gray fur.
Graystripe had launched himself onto one of the cats. The ShadowClan warrior yowled and the air exploded as the two Clans charged screeching into battle.
Lionpaw forced himself to run faster till he thought his heart would burst. Paws pounded behind him. Only one set now, thanks to Graystripe. Lionpaw dodged through a thick bramble swath, hoping that his small size would let him escape the ShadowClan warrior. But as he slipped out of the other side and glanced backward, he saw a burly tom thrusting his way through the bush with terrifying strength.
Lionpaw hurtled down the steep slope to the training hollow and pelted across it. Just a short way through the trees and then a clear run to the camp entrance. The ShadowClan warrior’s pawsteps thundered ever closer as Lionpaw caught sight of the thorn barrier ahead.
“Help!” he wailed.
Claws raked his tail. The ShadowClan cat was at his heels.
Wild with terror, Lionpaw dug his claws in and propelled himself forward.
A fiery flash of fur streaked from the thorn tunnel and flew past Lionpaw.
“I’ll stop him,” Squirrelflight yowled, lunging for the ShadowClan warrior.
The tom let out an agonized shriek. Lionpaw slowed, his breath coming in great gulps. He turned and saw Squirrelflight chasing the ShadowClan warrior up the bank, snarling as if all the warriors of StarClan raced beside her.
Lionpaw hurtled into the camp. “ShadowClan have invaded!”
Firestar was in the clearing with Dustpelt. He bounded to Lionpaw’s side as soon as he saw him. “Dustpelt told me they’ve moved the border,” he meowed.
“Brambleclaw took our hunting patrol to investigate,”
Lionpaw puffed. “But we walked into an ambush.”
Firestar’s eyes widened with alarm. “Are they fighting now?”
Lionpaw nodded, his paws trembling as he thought of Jaypaw and Hollypaw battling experienced ShadowClan warriors.
“Sandstorm, Spiderleg, Whitewing, Stormfur, Brook!”
Firestar called to the warriors who were already pacing around the edge of the clearing, lashing their tails. “ShadowClan have crossed the border. Brambleclaw is holding them off, but they need help.”
“Should I bring Mousepaw?” Spiderleg asked.
“If he’s battle-ready,” Firestar answered.
Squirrelflight raced back through the entrance. “There’s one less ShadowClan warrior to deal with,” she announced.
“He’ll not want to fight again today.”
“Good work. I want you to stay and guard the camp,” Firestar told her.
Squirrelflight nodded. “Yes, Firestar.”
Millie appeared from behind the warriors’ den. “I’m coming with you.”
Lionpaw stared at her in astonishment. She was a kittypet!
“Okay,” Firestar agreed. “But don’t take any risks.”
Lionpaw was still trembling with terror and exhaustion.
Firestar looked at him. “Are you fit to fight?”
Lionpaw nodded.
“Good,” Firestar growled. “Your brother and sister need you.” Then he swept out of the camp, his warriors following.
Lionpaw pelted after the patrol.
“Always keep an eye out behind you!” Whitewing fell in beside him to give him some breathless advice. “ShadowClan
fight dirty. You’re fast and strong, even though you’re small.
You’ll be nimbler than some of their warriors. Use that to your advantage.”
As they neared the border, he heard screeches and yowls.
“This way!” Firestar called. They plunged through the forest until Lionpaw could glimpse teeth and claws flashing in the gaps between the trees ahead.
ShadowClan warriors had surrounded Brambleclaw’s patrol, but the ThunderClan cats were standing their ground, lashing out at every cat within reach.
“Attack!” Firestar cried, and the ThunderClan warriors spread out and launched themselves into the battle.
“Head over there!” Spiderleg called to Lionpaw. He flicked his tail to the edge of the fighting. “Look for Jaypaw first and do what you can to defend him.”
Lionpaw raced forward, scanning the fray for Hollypaw and Jaypaw. He spotted Ashfur and Birchfall fighting side by side with Brightheart, fending off four ShadowClan warriors.
Jaypaw crouched behind them, pelt bristling with rage, slashing and jabbing at any ShadowClan warrior who made it through their defensive line. He didn’t seem to need any help.
Lionpaw’s heart thudded as he searched for Hollypaw’s black pelt. Had she been wounded? Relief glimmered for a moment when he saw her fighting beside Graystripe. The gray warrior, ears flattened, his lips drawn back into a vicious snarl, raked the flank of a dark ginger ShadowClan warrior as it lunged for Hollypaw.
Hollypaw ducked under Graystripe and shot out from beneath him, nipping the ShadowClan deputy on her hind leg with such ferocity that the warrior whipped around, claws flashing, and lunged at Hollypaw. Lionpaw pelted to his sister’s defense, hurling himself at Russetfur and slashing her nose. The ShadowClan deputy howled in pain as crimson blood welled beneath her eyes.
