Bramblestar’s Storm

In spite of the defiance in her voice, her statement sounded feeble. Why should they do what we say, unless we back it up with our claws? Bramblestar thought.

“Oh, sure.” Webster was scornful. “We’ll do exactly what you tell us—not!”

Bramblestar felt exposed on the fence-top, his legs wobbling as he unsheathed his claws. Webster flicked his tail-tip contemptuously and took a threatening stride forward so that he was almost nose-to-nose with Bramblestar. Though Bramblestar was aware that behind him Jessy was bristling, ready for a fight, he knew that he couldn’t take on cats like this, so far above the forest floor.

Is Webster really going to pounce while we’re on top of the fence? Bramblestar wondered. Sure, kittypets have good balance, but not that good!

“Get ready to jump down,” he muttered to Jessy. “Take the fight to the ground.”

“Oh, yes,” a new voice purred from behind him, beyond Jessy. “What a good idea.”

Bramblestar glanced over his shoulder to see three kittypets crowding up to Jessy on top of the fence. All three of them had bristling fur and bright, bold eyes.

“That’s Victor,” Jessy murmured, pointing with her tail at the pale brown tabby who was in the lead. “The ginger she-cat behind him is Scarlet, and the silver tabby is O’Hara. Ziggy and Riga will be somewhere close by; you can be sure of that.”

O’Hara waved his tail at Bramblestar. “So pleased to meet you,” he purred.

As if his words were a signal, all four kittypets charged at Bramblestar and Jessy.

“Jump!” Bramblestar yowled.

Together he and Jessy sprang down from the fence on the forest side. Screeching furiously, the kittypets launched themselves after them. Bramblestar was knocked off his paws as O’Hara landed on top of him. He rolled over and sprang up again, raking his claws along the silver tabby’s side.

Jessy was bravely tussling with Webster, but for all her courage she was much lighter than Webster and she was getting the worst of it. Webster was obviously an experienced fighter, gripping Jessy in his claws so she couldn’t maneuver to strike. O’Hara had backed off, and Bramblestar was about to leap to help Jessy when two bodies slammed into him from behind. He let out a yowl as he felt claws digging into his shoulders. Twisting around, he found himself facing Victor and Scarlet, their eyes gleaming and their shoulder fur bristling as they tried to thrust him to the ground.

Remembering his battle training, Bramblestar let himself go limp, sinking to the ground with the two kittypets on top of him.

“Coward!” Scarlet jeered. “I thought you wild cats could fight.”

Not wasting breath on a reply, Bramblestar exploded upward, balancing on his hind paws while he struck out at his enemies with both forepaws. His claws scored down Victor’s muzzle; the kittypet let out a yelp of pain and scrambled back out of range. But although Bramblestar’s second blow caught Scarlet across her ear, she barely paused, shaking her head to clear it, then leaped at Bramblestar again. Victor recovered himself and joined her, bearing Bramblestar to the ground. As his paws gave way he caught a glimpse of a slender black cat dashing up to join the fray, with a ginger-and-white kittypet hard on his paws.

Oh, no! That must be Ziggy and Riga! Jessy and I are crow-food! “ThunderClan, attack!” he screeched.

Bramblestar struggled under the weight of Scarlet and Victor. He was beginning to think his Clanmates hadn’t heard him when he heard yowls of defiance, so loud that they swamped the screeches of the battle, and the sound of cats crashing through the undergrowth.

Thank StarClan! My warriors are here!

A heartbeat later the weight of the kittypets vanished and Bramblestar caught a glimpse of Cinderheart chasing Victor into the bushes. Ivypool darted in to slash at Scarlet from one side, while Snowpaw copied her on the other side, leaving Scarlet not knowing where to defend herself.

You’ve taught your apprentice well, Ivypool, Bramblestar thought.

Cloudtail had torn Webster away from Jessy and was driving him back with repeated blows to his ears. Jessy staggered to her paws, battered and bleeding, but still looking around for the next attack. Bramblestar headed toward her, but was blocked by the ginger-and-white kittypet, who hurtled toward him with growls of anger and aimed a blow at him with claws extended. Bramblestar ducked under the blow and thrust himself at the kittypet’s chest, driving him to the ground, then leaped on top of him, battering at his belly with all four paws. The kittypet wriggled free and fled.