SHADECLOUD

            Shadecloud leaped up into the air and crashed into Seedfur, sending him flying sideways. They landed on the ground heavily, and rolled down towards the crowd. Her bones were aching, but she refused to release Seedfur. Seedfur swung a paw at her muzzle and blood dripped from the wound. Shadecloud released her grip on Seedfur and skidded to a halt in front of Thornclaw.

            Forcing herself to her feet, she saw Seedfur rising to his paws to her right. She sprang at him and swiped a paw down his side. He hissed and kicked out with his hind paws. Shadecloud went flying across the clearing and slammed into the ground.

            Her head spun and her entire body felt as if it had been hit by a monster. “Shadecloud, are you okay?” Falcontail asked.

            It took all of Shadecloud’s strength to pull herself to her paws. “Fine,” she coughed.

            She staggered towards Seedfur. Thornclaw was ready to leap at Seedfur, but Blossomfall was restraining him. “This is Shadecloud’s battle,” Blossomfall whispered softly.

            Seedfur leaped at her with his jaws wide open and aiming for her neck. She barely managed to dodge the death blow. She knew she had to finish this. She leaped into the air and landed on Seedfur’s back. She opened her jaws and sank them into his neck.

            Seedfur collapsed to the ground and twitched once before dying. Shadecloud fell to the ground, exhausted and victorious. Jayfeather tended to her wounds with cobwebs after Brackenfur and her father, Thornclaw, dragged her into his den.

            Bramblestar and Lionblaze walked into the den sometime the next day. “How did you know, Shadecloud?” Lionblaze asked.

            “I saw him talking to a gray cat named Thorn,” Shadecloud meowed.

            “Why didn’t you tell me?” Bramblestar asked.

            Shadecloud snorted. “Like that would’ve done a lot of good,” she said.

            He winced at her words. “I'm sorry about that. Thank you, Shadecloud. You saved me and my deputy,” he meowed softly.

            As the two cats walked out of the den, Shadecloud pulled herself to her feet, gingerly placing her sore right forepaw on the ground. She limped to follow them, and Lionheart’s voice whispered in her ears, “The battle has been won.”