Eclipse

“Blackstar.” She dipped her head low. “I’m sorry for breaking into your camp, but it’s a matter of life and death. WindClan have invaded our territory. They’re all over our forest, and we’re outnumbered. You have to help us or they’ll drive us away.”

Blackstar stepped from the shadows, his eyes wide with worry. “Fetch Russetfur,” he whispered to Tawnypelt.

The ShadowClan she-cat slipped from the den, leaving Hollypaw alone with Blackstar.

“How many WindClan warriors?” he asked.

“It seems like all of them, except the elders and kits.”

“Where are they?”

“Brambleclaw’s fighting a patrol at the abandoned Twoleg nest.” Hollypaw tried to stop her voice from shaking. “Firestar followed some to the border, and Dustpelt went to follow another patrol by the lake.”

A voice sounded at the entrance. “It sounds like a well-planned invasion.” Russetfur slid into the den, Tawnypelt at her side.

Hollypaw turned to face the ShadowClan deputy. “It is. We were totally unprepared.”

Russetfur’s whiskers twitched. “ThunderClan caught off guard, eh?” Was that amusement in her mew?

Hollypaw bristled with rage. “My Clanmates might be dying while you talk!”

Russetfur blinked. “Yes.” She sat down beside her leader.

“This is serious. We can’t let one Clan be driven out.”

Hollypaw stared at Blackstar. Wasn’t he going to say anything?

Russetfur went on. “There have always been four Clans.

Onestar seems to have forgotten that. We will all be more vulnerable if one disappears.” She narrowed her eyes. “But should ShadowClan risk its warriors to fight ThunderClan’s battle?”

Yes! Hollypaw stared at Blackstar. Oh, please say yes!

Blackstar stood up. “We will come.”

Relief flooded Hollypaw.

“Russetfur will organize the patrol.”

Don’t be long! Hollypaw longed to beg him to hurry, but Tawnypelt brushed her lips with the tip of her tail. “I’ll go with Hollypaw now,” she suggested, “and give what help I can till the others arrive.”

Blackstar narrowed his eyes. Did he suspect that Tawnypelt was just worried about her brother, Brambleclaw, and her former Clanmates?

Who cares? Let’s just go!

Blackstar nodded. “Very well.”

Tawnypelt dipped her head and backed out of the den.

“Thank you so much!” Hollypaw burst out before scooting after the she-cat. She almost tripped over the kits tumbling around Tawnypelt’s paws just outside Blackstar’s den.

“Dawnkit, Flamekit, stay out of the way!” Tawnypelt scolded.

A third kit stomped up and down in front of her. “We want to go to the battle!” he squeaked.

“Tigerkit! Have you been eavesdropping again?” Tawnypelt glared at her dark tabby kit, but it was easy to see the fondness in her gaze.

Hollypaw felt a purr rumble in her throat at the sight of their short, fluffy tails.

“Sorry about my kits,” Tawnypelt apologized. “They can’t wait to become warriors.”

“I remember feeling just the same way,” Hollypaw mewed.

Tawnypelt hustled the kits toward a yew bush. A white queen waited at the entrance.

“Look after them, Snowbird,” Tawnypelt meowed as the queen swished them into the den with her tail. “Make sure they don’t leave camp.”

Snowbird nodded. “I know all their tricks,” she promised.

“Bye, Tawnypelt!” Dawnkit’s mew was muff led by Snowbird’s fur.

“I’ll be back before you know it,” Tawnypelt promised. She glanced at Hollypaw and added under her breath, “StarClan willing.”

She darted out of the camp like a shadow. Hollypaw paused, glancing up at the sky. The clouds were thinning, scudding across the moon. “StarClan help us!” she whispered.

Tawnypelt was waiting outside the camp. “Follow me.”

She led Hollypaw through the woods and into a sloping field. A stream cut through it. This was the land ThunderClan had given to ShadowClan moons ago. Twolegs lived here in strange, flapping nests, but only in greenleaf.

“Keep low,” Tawnypelt warned. She ducked and streaked across the grass, leaping the stream where it narrowed near the top of the field. A few Twoleg nests rustled in the breeze, but there was no sign of life apart from a gentle growling from inside.

They were in the ThunderClan forest within heartbeats.

Tawnypelt clearly knew the territory well. She headed straight for the Twoleg path and followed it, her paws almost silent on the stone.

Hollypaw pricked her ears, suddenly terrified. Had she been gone too long? Had WindClan chased off her Clanmates already?

A screech told her that the battle still raged. Tawnypelt began to run, and Hollypaw hared after her. The Twoleg nest loomed ahead of them, yowls splitting the air. Cloudtail’s white pelt was stained and ragged as he struggled with the shadowy shapes of two WindClan warriors. Brackenfur screeched in fury as he threw a tabby tom from his back.

Brambleclaw and Mousewhisker fought side by side, driving a line of WindClan cats back against the stone side of the Twoleg nest. With a battle cry, Tawnypelt flung herself into the fray.

Hollypaw stared. Would this battle never end? Unsheathing her claws, she raced to defend her Clanmates.

Chapter 14