Winds of Change (Time To Play)

Hiddenpaw groomed herself happily, the snow was falling lightly, covering the dead brown grass and the icy spots that had already almost made her slip and break her neck. Worry flickered in her belly, where was Risepaw? She had been gone since yesterday when Wonderstar announced that she was expecting. It was so unlike Risepaw, to just disappear like that. Suddenly a shriek filled the air, followed by the over-whelming rusty scent of blood that soon filled the clearing. Hiddenpaw's feet felt heavy as rocks, she turned to the camp entrance with a feeling of over-whelming dread at what she might see. First she saw only Pitchedvoice's unmoving shape on the floor of the camp, being surrounded by a pool of blood, but next she noticed the unmistakable jet black pelt of someone that had been long missing.

"Wonderstar, Cloudspinner. Time to play." The cruel and seductive voice of the stunning black she-cat rang through the clearing. The silvery eyes gazed across Hiddenpaw with fiery intent, murder hidden in their depths. The jet black-she cat had cruel yet stunning features, she was both so beautiful to look away and at the same time so chilling that the frozen air of leaf-bare couldn't compare. The she-cat's looks called out everyone of Hiddenpaw's deepest fears, the instincts that told her to run were screaming in her head, but she couldn't look away. Only a voice snapped her out of it.

"Nightfury." Cloudspinner's furious voice echoed in the clearing that was now dead silent. Hiddenpaw could feel the energy in the air sparking. "You decided to show your face here again. Where's your master Ridgestar these days?" Cloudspinner's voice echoed with confidence, as if she didn't see Pitchedvoice dead at her former clan mates feet.

"It's Nightstar now you mangy idiot." Nightstar's voice cracked the air like a whip, sending shivers through Hiddenpaw. She had heard about the she-cat. Nightstar had once been an apprentice of ForestClan, sweet and beautiful as could be. But jealousy of Cloudspinner drover her mad with rage, and she left. It had been moons since anyone had seen her, and this is what she had become. A monster from the dark forest.

A growled escaped from almost all the warriors of ForestClan. Mousejump, Thundertrace and Deepheart all flung themselves at Nightstar with pure rage at the death of their friend. Nightstar's claws flicked out swiftly, in one swift motion she cut a long gash down Mousejump's belly, a wound that would never heal. Then again she slashed at Deepheart, connecting with her face and dragging her claws over Deepheart's eyes. Thundertrace held back for a moment before running at Nightstar, following her sisters. Deepheart moaned on the ground, Mousejump twitched then fell still, and Thundertrace leaped at Nightstar.

A sudden yowl broke out with no warning. IronClan cats poured out of the camp entrance. Thundertrace was lost in the over-flow. ForestClan cats leaped into battle, cats tangled into battle moves, the sounds of shrieks and claws ripping through skin was too much for Hiddenpaw and she simply turned into her misty shape. She looked desperately for the cats she knew and loved.

She saw Rubysoul slipping into the nursery, alone. Hiddenpaw ran over and stood tall in the entrance of the den, protecting her mother desperately. But she still looked for her littermates, Windspaw and Lionpaw were both fighting a jet black she-cat that wasn't nearly as scary as Nightstar. WHERE WAS RISEPAW?! The sounds of battle consumed her, she looked for Cloudspinner. The white she-cat already had a long red gash along her spine, but she was fighting with Nightstar. Wonderstar poked her head out fo the nursery, only then did Hiddenpaw realize that she wasn't invisible anymore.

"Whats going on...?" Her sleepy voice moaned to Hiddenpaw.

"WERE UNDER ATTACK! YOU LAZY FUR BALL!" Hiddenpaw screamed at Wonderstar. Her voice surprised her, but jolted Wonderstar to reality. Wonderstar ran out of the nursery, to the aid of her mate. The calls of battle were all around her, consuming her into one sound of white-noise that pounded on her ears.

Suddenly she was on her side, a sleek grey tabby tom on top of her, growling with anger. He reminded her of Quickpaw...She snapped out of it and slashed at the toms belly, only to be answered by him making a gash down her shoulder. She growled and bit his ear as hard as she could, making quite a bad gash that made the warrior yowl with pain. Her claws here sore already but she kept battering away at the tom that was on top of her. A she-cat's voice yowled at the tom on top of her.

"Darkshiver! We have to find Quickpad!" She howled at the tom that Hiddenpaw guessed was her brother. The tom shook his head and turned back to Hiddenpaw snapping his jaws in her face, that made her shriek. Suddenly all the weight of the tom was off of her, he was just gone...She blinked, blood was filling her gaze, she must have a gash on her forehead...

"HIDDENPAW!" Risepaw's voice screamed from behind the apprentices den. "Whats happening?!" Her eyes were so wide that she could see their whites all around.

"IronClan is attacking! Where have you been?!" Hiddenpaw growled, her sister looked perfect, not a scratch on her!

"Oh my..OH STARCLAN!" Suddenly Risepaw's voice grew desperate, the looked on her face went from shocked to horrified, she looked like she was gonna faint!

"What? Whats wrong?!" Hiddenpaw looked at her sister with worry, what was happening?!

"Quickpad, he knew. He knew..." Risepaw trailed off, had she been with Quickpad?! Hiddenpaw felt curiosity rise in her, as well as rage. Her sister had left camp to be with another cat, a tom! She had stayed with him all night, so that she wouldn't be involved in the battle...

"YOU KNEW. AND YOU DIDN'T WARN US! WHOSE SIDE ARE YOU ON?!" Hiddenpaw screamed at her sister. This could have been stopped, they could have been ready! But her sister hadn't told them!

"No, no, no, no..." Whimpering sounds escaped from Risepaw, her eyes teared up and Hiddenpaw felt her own burning. Risepaw suddenly screamed, but this time with pure rage that shook Hiddenpaw. Risepaw launched herself onto the nearest IronClan cat and started shredding them mercilessly. What had gotten into her sister?! She had no time to think before a tom had tackled her to the ground and she snapped back into battle mode. Hoping that this would just be over.