Fighting World Chapter 4

"Rosepetal, you go look for prey. I'll take Honeypaw and Featherpaw, and Poppyfrost and Cherryblossom, go to the lake to look for prey."

Squirrelflight was leading a patrol. Rosepetal was disappointed Cherryblossom didn't get to hunt with her. She enjoyed the ginger she-cat's company.

The dark cream cat padded off towards the ShadowClan border. Warm newleaf air blew over her fur, and she sighed. Leaf-bare had been hard. They were lucky not to have lost any cats.

Rosepetal heard a squirrel brush against a poppy stem. Instinctively, she dropped into a crouch and stalked forward. She was still as she pounced. The squirrel squealed and struggled in her claws. She leaned down and quickly gave it a killing bite.

A purr of satisfaction rumbled in Rosepetal's throat.

But suddenly a disgusting stench filled her nose and made her stop dead.

Badger!

The warrior's blue eyes widened with alarm. She knew she had to get out, but where? Panic filled her as the huge, lumbering creature came towards her.

Rosepetal dropped the squirrel and backed off. The badger followed her, staring with beady eyes.

Stop following me! Rosepetal desperately thought.

Suddenly that badger lunged. Rosepetal nimbly dodged out of the way and clung on to the creature's ear. Blood welled around the ear as she sank her claws in deeper.

The huge blunt claws came flying towards the ThunderClan warrior. Her eyes widened as the claw tore through her shoulder. She slammed onto the ground.

StarClan! she wailed inside. If you want me, take me now!

The pain in her shoulder was excruciating. Rosepetal staggered up and tried padding towards a tree, but the badger was faster. It grabbed her in it's jaws and threw her onto an old hollow log. Though dazed, Rosepetal staggered inside the log. She looked down on her shoulder. It was drenched in blood.

She sighed in pain. The badger's claws came towards her from the other side of the log. This is it, she thought, My time with ThunderClan is over.

Suddenly there was a battle cry. Squirrelflight!

There were sounds of ripping and she sensed the badger lumber away.

"Rosepetal?" Cherryblossom called. "Where are you?"

"Rosepetal!" Honeypaw wailed.

Rosepetal felt too weak to say anything. She groaned.

"Rosepetal!" Poppyfrost's face suddenly appeared. "Are you okay?"

And that was all she remembered before she fell unconscious.