Chapter 14
Guys gore warning in this chapter!!
The Windclan cats were gathered in the center of camp at dawn, awaiting orders from Hawkstar. The leader cleared his throat "I want Antfoot, Blazefire, Badgerstep, Sparrowflight, Thorntail, and Gingerpaw to come with me to advance on the rogues. The rest of you will stay behind. Hareleap, you will be in charge while we're gone." Hareleap nodded to his leader. Before Sparrowflight could leave to join the patrol, he was stopped by Batfeather. "Sparrowflight, be careful." She whispered. Sparrowflight looked at her reassuringly "I'll be fine. It's probably just a couple rogues." He meowed, although he wasn't sure. Batfeather nodded and stepped back. Sparrowflight walked over to join the patrol. Hawkstar looked at him and nodded "Sparrowflight, you will lead us, since you and Gingerpaw were the first ones to find the rogue scent." Sparrowflight's eyes widened a little, as he did not expect to be leading, but he dipped his head "I will, Hawkstar." Hawkstar nodded "Good. Once we find the scents, we will follow the trail across the thunderpath. Blazefire will lead us then." Sparrowflight glanced over at Blazefire. He got to lead, and he looked pretty smug about it. Sparrowflight shook his head. Why was Hawkstar letting us lead? Does he want to test us?
Once the group left the camp, Sparrowflight took the lead, observing the slopes of the moorland to pinpoint where he found the scents. He had allowed Gingerpaw to walk closely behind him, since it would be a good experience for her, and the fact that she was the cat who first found the scents. He hoped she would be okay. If the rogue situation turned hostile, he didn't know how she would cope with it. He had taught her the basic battle moves, but would that be enough? Sparrowflight pushed the thought away as they reached the spot where they originally scented the rogues. Not only was the scent there, and fresh, but there was also a scent of rabbit blood. A low growl rose in Sparrowflight's throat. "They were here. And they stole prey." Hawkstar shook his head "Then we will have to follow them. Blazefire, take the lead." Blazefire nodded and walked ahead. Sparrowflight couldn't tell if he was smirking because he was excited to lead, or eager for battle.
Sparrowflight had dropped back to walk with Gingerpaw and Antfoot. Antfoot was giving advice on what to do if there was a fight. "You should stay with either me or Sparrowflight. Remember, rogues don't have a warrior code like us, so they may fight dirty." Gingerpaw nodded "Okay Dad. I'll stay with you." She then glanced at Sparrowflight "Is that okay?" She asked. Sparrowflight nodded with a small smile "It's fine by me."
Once they reached the thunderpath, Blazefire looked back to Hawkstar, waiting for instruction. Hawkstar stepped to the front of the group. "We will cross the thunderpath together on my signal. The rogues can't be much further after that." Sparrowflight nodded and looked at Gingerpaw, who looked fearful as the monsters raced by. "It's alright." Sparrowflight meowed, resting his tail on her shoulder. "Just be fast, like you are on the moor." Gingerpaw nodded and glanced up at Sparrowflight, looking a little less scared. Once a huge monster passed by, Hawkstar yowled "Now!" Sparrowflight hurtled onto the rough, black thunderpath and ran. He had never crossed a thunderpath before, but he wasn't going to let that stop him. He leaped safely to the other side, panting to catch his breath. He looked over at Gingerpaw and she looked over at Sparrowflight and smiled "That wasn't so bad!" Sparrowflight smiled "I told you-" Sparrowflight was interrupted by a loud hiss and the scent of the rogues flooded his nostrils. He stood up and got into a defensive crouch. Gingerpaw had already gone to stand by her father. The smell was their, but there were no rogues to be seen. Hawkstar had noticed this too. "Windclan, form a defensive circle!" The group immediately obeyed, forming a circle, each of them facing outwards. They stood in defensive crouches, waiting. Nothing happened. Where are they? They all stood and waited, the only sound being their own breathing. Suddenly Thorntail was crushed under the body of a rogue. The golden warrior was pinned down almost instantly before he could realize what was happening. Then, another one fell onto Badgerstep. Then Hawkstar. One landed on top of Gingerpaw, but Antfoot knocked the rogue off. Sparrowflight looked up to see where they were coming from "They're in the trees!" He yowled. Then, four more rogues leaped down, one of them coming towards Sparrowflight. Sparrowflight was able to nimbly avoid the rogue, but he swiped at Sparrowflight, landing a hard blow on his head. Sparrowflight was about to swipe back when the rogue kicked snow into his eyes, temporarily blinding him. Sparrowflight hissed as the rogue leaped at him and pinned him down. Antfoot was right! These rogues fight dirty! The rogue then prepared to sink his teeth into Sparrowflight's throat, but he rolled out of the way just in time, getting out from under the rogue. He then leaped at the rogue, placing a paw on the back of his neck to hold him down. Sparrowflight was about to bite into his shoulder when he was knocked off by another rogue. The two rogues both approached Sparrowflight, hissing with glares full of malice. Sparrowflight backpedaled until he backed into a tree. The rogues had him cornered! Sparrowflight took a deep breath, remembering a move that Stormheart taught him. He waited for the rogues to leap and he jumped high into the air, twisting so that he landed behind them while they leapt straight into the tree. One of the rogues was knocked out from this and the other turned tail and ran. Sparrowflight smirked with satisfaction, but before he had time to gloat, he was attacked by two more rogues. Claws dug into his shoulders, making his yowl in pain. He was pinned down, the rogues shoving his face into the snow. I can't breathe! Sparrowflight thought, struggling while the rogues shoved his face into the snow. Sparrowflight gasped for air, as he felt himself go light headed. He had lost the strength to fight back. He was fading. He was about to pass out when his head was lifted at the last moment. His eyes fluttered open, as he was still held down and couldn't move. "Watch!" A rogue hissed in his ear. "Watch as your pitiful friends are slaughtered!" What Sparrowflight saw was a blood bath. The rogues heavily outnumbered the Windclan cats. Badgerstep and Blazefire were fighting off five rogues, each of them taking heavy damage. He then noticed Thorntail, laying on the ground, the once white snow that surrounded him had turned red with his own blood. He lay there, motionless and lifeless. He was dead. Sparrowflight then saw Gingerpaw getting beaten by a rogue. She tried fighting back, but was pinned down. Sparrowflight's eyes widened. They were going to kill her! But Antfoot had knocked the rogue off of his daughter. Sparrowflight thought that was the end of it, but while Antfoot faced Gingerpaw's attacker, two rogues pinned Antfoot from behind and the three rogues all jumped on top of the deputy. He didn't stand a chance. The three rogues all tore at Antfoot's throat, blood splattering everywhere. "Gi-Ginge..." Antfoot's last words trailed off as his breathing stopped. Gingerpaw watched, her eyes wide with horror before they blazed with fury. "Noooo!" She yowled, leaping at one of the rogues. She took him down, but the other two prepared to leap. Sparrowflight then pushed up with all his might, taking the rogues by surprise and knocking them off. He then leaped at the two rogues, knocking them out of the air. Gingerpaw looked at him in surprise. "Run!" Sparrowflight told her. She nodded and began running alongside him. "Windclan retreat!" Hawkstar yowled, as the cats that they still had left followed them. Sparrowflight ran until he saw that Gingerpaw was tackled by a rogue. Sparrowflight ran back and clawed at the rogues face, knocking him away. "Go!" He yowled to Gingerpaw, pushing her ahead while they ran to catch up to the group. They sprinted onto the thunderpath while the rest of the group was already across. Sparrowflight looked over as a huge monster raced towards them. Sparrowflight pushed Gingerpaw ahead to try and get her across, but the monster swerved in front of Sparrowflight and clipped Gingerpaw's back leg and her small body flew into the air and landed, hitting her head on the hard thunderpath. "Nooo!" Sparrowflight yowled, staring down at his apprentice. Blood trickled out of her mouth and Sparrowflight didn't want to admit it, but he knew she was dead. He gently picked her up and brought her to the other side of the thunderpath. His Clanmates stared with wide eyes. Sparrowflight then put her down gently. Her eyes were closed and her skin cold. A single tear rolled down Sparrowflight's cheek. After a long moment of silence, Hawkstar finally spoke "We need to bring her back to camp. Someone help Sparrowflight carry her. Badgerstep stepped over to help him, but Sparrowflight moved away. "I'll carry her." He meowed, hoisting her up onto his back. Badgerstep nodded and stepped back. Sparrowflight began walking back, staying in the back of the group holding the body of his former apprentice.
Guys I know this chapter was long and gory. If you can't handle that then I'm sorry.
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