Path Of A Warrior

“We won’t be fighting RiverClan today,” he reminded the apprentice calmly. “Keeping our Clan safe is more important than beating the other Clans.”

Ravenpaw sighed but didn’t answer, and they padded on. Redtail glanced sideways at Tigerclaw. Maybe I should talk to Bluestar about how Tigerclaw’s teaching his apprentice, he thought. In any case, today he would keep a close eye on Ravenpaw. I don’t want Tigerclaw encouraging him to do anything reckless.

The sun was rising well above the horizon as they reached Sunningrocks, warming their pelts and bringing with it fresh breezes and scents of prey. The smooth granite boulders of Sunningrocks were still night-cool under Redtail’s paws, but he knew that they would be warm enough to bask on by midmorning. A mouthwatering scent of mouse rose from the spaces between and below the stones. Redtail could also smell the strong musty scent of RiverClan.

“Spread out and mark the whole territory,” he told the others. “Especially by the river.”

Tigerclaw and Ravenpaw moved off across the rocks, and Redtail began to mark over the scent boundaries RiverClan had left at the edge of Sunningrocks. There was no sound but the whisper of leaves in the forest behind them and the rush of the river at the far edge of the rocks.

Maybe we won’t run into any trouble, Redtail thought, beginning to relax. Tigerclaw and Ravenpaw came back across the rocks toward him.

“It’s well marked,” Tigerclaw observed. “But perhaps—”

He was interrupted by an angry hiss. Five cats appeared over the far edge of the rocks, their fur bristling. Leading them was a large, broad-shouldered reddish-brown tom, who advanced on Redtail, his eyes narrowing.

“Oakheart,” Redtail breathed. He felt the fur on his own back rise as he paced forward to meet the RiverClan deputy.

“What are you doing here?” Oakheart hissed. “This is our territory now.”

Redtail slid out his claws. “Sunningrocks is ours,” he mewed simply. “It’s past time for this to be settled.” His heart was hammering, but he kept his voice calm. “Tell Crookedstar that ThunderClan isn’t backing down. This has gone on long enough.”

He saw two of the RiverClan cats behind Oakheart exchange glances, but Oakheart’s gaze was steady. “RiverClan will not give up this hunting ground.”

“Neither will ThunderClan,” Redtail answered, meeting Oakheart’s eyes. “Tell Crookedstar.”

The RiverClan deputy nodded. Redtail rose out of his crouch, his haunches relaxing. Oakheart would carry the message to his leader. More blood would be shed over Sunningrocks, but not today.

With a sudden, fierce yowl, Tigerclaw lashed a paw out at the smaller black-and-gray warrior nearest him. Surprised, she fell backward and blinked up at him. Blood rose from her scratched chest. Redtail gasped.

I should have known, he thought. Tigerclaw would never let this end peacefully. The RiverClan cats were frozen in shock, but that wouldn’t last. At least he could get Ravenpaw out of this. He glanced back at the skinny black apprentice, who was gaping in surprise.

“Ravenpaw, run!”

Chapter Nine

Ravenpaw glared up at Redtail, his small ears stiff with indignation. “A true warrior never runs away,” he spat. “Tigerclaw was right about you!”

Despite the danger they were in, Redtail felt a pang of irritation. Tigerclaw’s been bad-mouthing me to his apprentice? What kind of Clan loyalty is that?

There was no more time, though. Oakheart was moving forward with a snarl, shouldering Tigerclaw away from the smaller she-cat. His face was dark with fury.

Redtail’s heart beat faster. It was just him, Tigerclaw, and an undersized apprentice against five full-grown RiverClan warriors. He and Tigerclaw were both skilled in battle, but this was a bad situation.

Maybe he could scare them off. “Tell Crookedstar that the next RiverClan warrior we catch on ThunderClan territory will die.” He narrowed his eyes at the bigger tom. “We want this finished.”

Oakheart’s eyes widened a little in surprise, but then he took a step forward, his ears pressed back angrily. “No matter what you threaten, RiverClan has to eat. We won’t give up these hunting grounds. Even if we have to tear ThunderClan apart to keep them.”

The other RiverClan cats began to pace forward behind Oakheart, their tails twitching steadily back and forth. Redtail watched them warily, his muscles tensing.

With a snarl, Tigerclaw lashed out at Oakheart, knocking the RiverClan deputy to the ground. “Flea-bitten water rat!” he snarled. “Keep to your own territory.”