Poolpaw woke up with excitement.
The battle!

She jumped up to her black paws and glanced around the den. Dawn had not yet come, but Duskpaw and Bravepaw were already sitting up and washing.

Featherpaw stretched in her nest, her eyes shining in the gloom. "What is it?"
"Bluefeather wants us in the clearing," Bravepaw mewed.

The wind roared above the camp and as Poolpaw pushed her way out of the den. The trees around the camp strained against the angry air, and clouds swept overhead as dark and threatening as crows.
Bluefeather was waiting outside the den, her fur flattened and her eyes half-closed. "Not good weather for battle."

"Clanmates!" Silverstar's call was sharp. She stood in the center of the clearing with Flowertail at her side and her warriors swarming around her, lashing their tails. The fur along Briarfang's spine stood as sharp as ice. Swiftfur grabbed some snow in her paws and dropped it back down.

Owlpaw was moving from one cat to another, dropping small furies of herbs at the paws of each.
Those must be the strengthening herbs, Poolpaw guessed.

Outside the nursery, Raindapple was sharing tongues with Briarpool. They paused as Blackkit and Thornkit tumbled out  from the den, fluffing up their pelts and trying to look big. Briarpool gave Raindapple a final lick between the ears before scooping both kits, complaining, back into the nursery.

Poolpaw then saw Whiteclaw. Whiteclaw's eyes glittered as hard as crystals as he crossed the clearing. He had his ears flat and his pelt slicked by the wind. He straightened his back and lifted his chin, vowing to be as much as Whiteclaw as she could.

Owlpaw dropped a few herbs at her paws. "You look like a warrior already."
Poolpaw purred at Owlpaw's praise. "I do?"
Icefrost narrowed her eyes. "Don't forget, stay out of the fighting."
Poolpaw turned her head to her mentor. "Can you teach us a battle move, just in case?"
Whiteclaw reached them. "You won't need any. You won't be fighting," he meowed firmly.

Owlpaw pawed some herbs toward her. "Eat these," she ordered. "They'll give you strength."
Poolpaw sniffed at her herbs and wrinkled her nose.
"They're bitter," she warned. "But the taste won't last long."
Poolpaw stuck out her tongue and lapped up the leaves as Featherpaw ate hers. She gagged when the dark, sour flavor hit the back of her throat, then closed her eyes and forced herself to swallow.

Silverstar yowled. "Flowertail has more news."
Raindapple's eyes widened. "Another omen?"

Flowertail nodded. "I examined the sparrow in the medicine clearing and found a shred of catmint underneath it's wing."
"Is she sure it didn't stick to its wing from the floor of her den?" Bluefeather muttered under her breath. "It's not exactly spotless in there."
Poolpaw looked at her curiously. Surely Bluefeather didn't doubt the medicine cat as well?

Flowertail went on. "Yesterday you wanted more guidance from StarClan. Now you have it. Our warrior ancestors are telling us how to fight DawnClan's aggression."
"With a shred of catmint?" Whiteclaw's eyes were round.

"We must take the battle all the way into their camp," Flowertail announced.
"Their camp?" Bluefeather flattened her ears. "Do you know how dangerous that will be?"

"This is StarClan's advice, not mine," Flowertail countered. "The catmint tells me that the only way to defeat DawnClan is to destroy its medicine supply."
Icefrost stepped forward, her pelt bristling. "But that would endanger kits and elders. Every Clan depend on its medicine supply, especially with leaf-bare approaching. If we destroy that, we are attacking innocents as well as others." Outrage filled her mew.
Rainpelt nodded. "What kind of warriors would we be to pull such a fox-hearted trick?"
Flowertail lifted her chin. "We'd be alive."

Silverstar took a heavy step forward. "I agree that it seems harsh, but StarClan has warned us that we face destruction unless we act against DawnClan's aggression before it's too late. If we attack their medicine supply, they'll be weakened for moons. IceClan will be safe."

"But what if DawnClan suffers an outbreak of whitecough?" Owlpaw ventured. "How will Echofall treat the sick? The kits and elders would be defenseless."
Briarfang lashed his tail. "Would you sacrifice our own kits and elders to save theirs?" he demanded. "If we don't attack now, IceClan will be destroyed. Is it not worth risking a few DawnClan lives to save all of ours?"
Silverstar sighed. "Briarfang is right," she meowed. "We must follow StarClan's advice if we are to save ourselves."

"So we're attacking the camp?" Bluefeather growled.
"Our target is the medicine den. No kit or elder is to be harmed," Silverstar narrowed her eyes. "But their medicine supplies must be destroyed."

"Do you think the weather is a sign?" Featherpaw asked Whiteclaw.
"I think we've had enough signs for one day," Whiteclaw muttered.

Raindapple padded forward and looked at her children. "Promise me you'll steer clear of the fighting! There'll be time for being heroes when you're bigger and stronger and better trained." Her eyes blazed, and Featherpaw nodded.
"Poolpaw?"
Poolpaw sighed and dipped her head. "Okaaaay.."

"Not allowed in the fighting, eh?" Briarfang padded forward and flicked Poolpaw's ear with his tail-tip. "Next time, perhaps."

Whiteclaw flashed him a sharp look. "This is going to be a dangerous battle," he reminded him.
"We never attacked a Clan's camp before," Raindapple added. "We'll be fighting the whole Clan in a place they know and we don't."
Briarfang grinned. "But we'll have the element of surprise," he meowed. "And we'll fighting at close quarters."
"That's what worries us," Whiteclaw meowed.
"Up close, DawnClan's built will count for nothing. IceClan's strength will have the advantage."
Raindapple lowered her gaze. "I suppose."
"Don't worry," Briarfang meowed. "This is a battle we'll win."

"IceClan warriors! To me!"
Poolpaw's heart lurched in excitement as Silverstar yowled until her voice echoed off the trees. The IceClan leader flicked her tail in signal. "Let's go!"

Excitement crackled like lightning as the raiding party surged toward the tunnel. Poolpaw felt the breeze from their rushing pelts.
"Come on," Icefrost nudged Poolpaw forward.

Poolpaw glanced backward as she raced after her clanmates. There was just enough light to see Blackkit peer from the nursery, then disappear, his eyes flashing in anger as he was dragged back into the safety of the den.
Stormclaw sat beside Swiftwing while Duskpaw and Speckledall paced the white clearing. Ashfall and Crowclaw were climbing into Highrock—ears pricked, pelts ruffled—and Flowertail was disappearing into the shadows beyond the tunnel.

"Flowertail's not coming!" Featherpaw gasped, catching up with Poolpaw.
"I guess she needs to stay in her den, preparing for any wounded cats," Poolpaw guessed.
"But she told us to attack," Featherpaw persisted.
Poolpaw rolled her eyes. She's a medicine cat!

"Hurry!" Icefrost ran at Poolpaw's heels, pushing her pace.

The rest of the patrol was already charging for the bottom of the ravine. Poolpaw felt a prickle of worry. Could she climb the steep slope, with the wind howling around for rocks?

She followed Bravepaw up the first tumble of stone, feeling Icefrost pressed behind her. She wouldn't let her slip. Claws unsheathed, she clambered upward, following the stream of cats that passed like shadows over the stones.

Owlpaw's herbs were working. Her muscles felt strong, and each jump seemed to take her farther than she anticipated.
Her heart was racing with excitement. She could sense the anticipation of her Clanmates. Today a great victory would be won!
Upward she pushed, until with a final bound she leaped to the top of the ravine. Without pausing for breath, she pelted into the snowy woods.

Snowed-tree trunks blurred around her as Poolpaw ran with her Clan, weaving around bushes in the predawn light. Poolpaw could make out the white fur of Snowheart's coat ahead as it flashed among the trees. Icefrost's fur was pale in the half-light, while Briarfang and Bravepaw blended in with the shadows, visible only by their movement.

"Stream ahead," Whiteclaw warned.
The cats slowed, bunching, before leaping the glittering water one at a time and racing away through the snow. Poolpaw tensed as her turn neared. My legs aren't long enough. She teered at the edge while Raindapple leaped across; the pale-white-dappled landed delicately on the far side and turned to look back.

"It's not deep!" She encouraged, her mew almost drowned out by the sound of the wind.
"But it's wet!" Poolpaw wailed.

Featherpaw fidgeted beside her.
Icefrosr nudged Poolpaw from behind, "Go on," she urged. "You'll make it."

Poolpaw focussed on the far bank and took a deep breath. Screwing up her muscles, she leaped. Icefrost gave her a helpful shove with her muzzle, and Poolpaw stretched out on her forepaws, managing the grasp the far bank and scramble up beside Raindapple.

Featherpaw was hunched on the other bank, eyes wide as she prepared to jump.
"You can do it!" Poolpaw called.
"I'm coming!" Featherpaw jumped, but her graceful leap turned into a clumsy flop as her hind paws skidded on soft snow and she splashed belly-first into the stream.
"Mouse dung!" Featherpaw struggled to her paws with the water rushing around her legs, then scrambled out.
Poolpaw ducked as Featherpaw shook the freezing water from her pelt.
"Bad luck." Icefrost landed lightly behind them.

"Hurry!" Raindapple commanded. Their Clanmates had disappeared into the forest.

Only Whiteclaw had waited. He was peering from the bushes ahead. "I was worried about you!" he meowed as they caught up. He saw Featherpaw's wet pelt and stepped and rubbed his head against hers. "Running will warm you up," he told her before speeding off again.

Poolpaw fought to catch her breath as they pelted onward. At least she wasn't soaked to the skin. Poor Featherpaw looked like a drowned rat bounding alongside her. The cold wind was beginning to fluff up her fur.

At last they spotted their Clanmates ahead. They had slowed and were trekking in a single file. The snowy trees had thinned out and beyond them Poolpaw saw a smooth, wide path snaking through the woods, glimmering with shining shadows. On the other side, Poolpaw could see grass and green trees and bushes.
The DawnClan border!

They caught up and tagged at the end of the patrol. The river was huge, as wide as IceClan camp, stretching endlessly in each direction. So much water, rolling and tumbling, almost black as it swirled between the banks.

This should be ours! She thought fiercely.
You're not fighting for Icerocks, she told herself. You're fighting for medicine supplies.

Poolpaw's heart quickened. "Will any DawnClan patrol see us?" Her gaze deepened into the trees, expecting a patrol to come out and attack.
"Too early." Icefrost sounded confident, but she didn't look at her and wondered if she was just trying to calm her.

Poolpaw took a deep breath and took a step into the water, soon relaxed by how cold it was. She started paddling carefully towards the other side and reached it.

DawnClan territory..
She thought as she followed her clanmates into the woods. She was surprised how she didn't see a drop of snow. The grass under her paws made her paws feel uncomfortable, there was no softness in the grass at all! It was straw-like, emerald-green, wavy, and worst of all, warm.
Her breath caught in her throat as the storm howled around them.

They padded onward, trees stretching across the territory.
Ahead, they could see a circle of brambles and a few paw-steps near it was a gorse tunnel similar to the tunnel to IceClan's camp.
"DawnClan's camp," Icefrost breathed into her ear.

Silverstar was heading toward them. "You see that rock over there?" The IceClan leader meowed, nodding toward a boulder nearby, nearly as big as Highrock. "That's where you'll wait." Her gaze flicked from Poolpaw to Featherpaw. "Do you undersrand?"
They both nodded.

"Swiftfur will wait with you." Silverstar glanced back over her shoulder. "I'll send a runner if we get into trouble. Follow their orders exactly and without question."

Blood roared in Poolpaw's ears, blocking the howling of the wind.
This was it.
The battle was about to begin.

She followed Swiftfur, her paws leading her to the boulder Silverstar had indicated. It was smooth at one end as though it had been rubbed away at the end.

When Featherpaw reached the boulder as well, she looked at Featherpaw. "Do you think she'll send for us?"
Featherpaw shrugged.

She then realized something. We didn't wish good luck to Whiteclaw and Raindapple. She hadn't even looked at them! Poolpaw darted from behind the rock, desperate to her parent's eyes once more, to know that everything would be fine, but the cats had disappeared.

"Get back here!" Swiftfur's mew was fierce, and Poolpaw felt a tug on her tail.
"But I just wanted to say—!" Poolpaw tried to defend herself.
"This is a battle," Swiftfur growled. "You follow orders."
Poolpaw stared at her black paws.
Swiftfur sighed, her tone softening as she spoke again. "It's for your own safety and the safety of your Clan."

They waited wordlessly as the air grew lighter. A bird flew past the trees and struggled against the wind. The DawnClan cats would be rising now, stirring from their dens, unaware of the fury about to be unleashed on them.
DawnClan must be beaten if IceClan was to survive. This was a battle that had to be fought.

The thought roused her spirits, and she lifted her chin. Remembering that time when she was with Flowertail and learned how to gather moss, she took a few swipes in the air, imagining she was fighting a DawnClan warrior.
Featherpaw broke into a purr. "You look like you're gathering cobweb!"
"See if you can do better!" Poolpaw challenged.

"Hush!" Swiftfur commanded. The black-and-white warrior was straining hard to listen above the wind. The rain fell harder on Poolpaw's soft pelt.

A screech of warning suddenly ripped the air, and the forest seemed to explode with furious yowls and screams that rose above the wind. Poolpaw's eyes widened as shock pulsed through her. She suddenly didn't want to be in the battle anymore..
She recognized the aggressive screech of Briarfang and the agonized wail of Ravenbird.

Reality hit her like a savage gust of wind.
Down there in the camp, blood was flowing. Warriors fought warriors with claws unsheathed and teeth bared. Poolpaw stared at Featherpaw.
Her littermate's fur was on end, her ears stretched to hear every sound. "Was that Bluefeather?" She breathed as a furious howl carried over the wind.
Another hideous screech came in reply.
Poolpaw began to shake. It sounded like Icefrost. Was she attacking or trying to defend herself?
Screech after screech rent the stormy air until Poolpaw felt sick from the sound.

"Can't we do anything?" She pleaded with Swiftfur.
"We must wait," Swiftfur answered darkly.

The warrior jerked her head as paws pounded toward them. Poolpaw spun, expecting to see a DawnClan patrol skid around the corner. She readied herself to face them, hackles raised.
But it was Snowheart.

"Come, quickly!" she hissed.
"Bravepaw's been wounded!"