Rising from the Ashes

Chapter 11

"What's going on?"

Hareflight's border patrol had just gotten back to find the Clan restless.

"Hawkstar's called a Clan meeting. Birchleg was attacked by a couple WillowClan warriors," Stonesplash informed them.

Wildbloom gasped. "Is Birchleg alright?"

"He has a few nasty gashes and was unconscious while Bramblestripe and I carried him back. Honeypool is seeing to him now."

"Is everyone else alright?" Hareflight asked, eyes dark with concern. Bramblestripe couldn't help but notice that the brown warrior's gaze caught and held Brightwhisker's.

Brightwhisker blinked in reassurance and Hareflight visibly relaxed.

Stonesplash nodded. "The WillowClan warriors took off when I showed up."

Hareflight's patrol joined the rest of the Clan.

Hawkstar stood atop the Meeting Stone and raised his tail for silence. "For those that haven't heard already, Birchleg was attacked by a couple of WillowClan warriors. Thanks to Stonesplash and Bramblestripe, he made it back to camp. Honeypool has checked him over and he's going to be just fine."

"What are we going to do?" Swanflight asked.

"Are we going to attack WillowClan?" Fernshade asked.

"GrassClan is nowhere near battle ready."

"So, we're just going to let WillowClan get away with attacking one of our warriors?" Shadowheart demanded.

"No. This may have been an isolated attack. I will take a patrol with me to confront Stormstar and see what she has to say," Hawkstar explained. His gaze traveled slowly over his gathered Clan. "There will be no fighting."

"So, who gets to be on the patrol?" Wildbloom asked.

"You, Thistletail, and Duskflower."

Bramblestripe wasn't surprised that no WillowClan volunteers were a part of the patrol. That might hurt more than help.

"Hawkstar, I'd like to be a part of the patrol. I know the warriors that attacked Birchleg. They won't be able to deny anything," Stonesplash explained.

Hawkstar hesitated. "I don't know, Stonesplash. WillowClan has made their hostility towards their former Clanmates clear. Our patrol is already at risk without provoking them further."

"How about I go instead? While I didn't see what happened, I am familiar with the WillowClan warriors involved in the attack," Bramblestripe offered.

"You're right, Hawkstar. Having Bramblestripe go in my place would be better for all involved," Stonesplash agreed.

"Then, Thistletail, you'll stay here," Hawkstar conceded.

The GrassClan deputy nodded from where he had been sitting beside the Meeting Stone.

"When do we leave?" Duskflower asked.

"Now." Hawkstar stepped off the Meeting Stone, the warriors chosen for his patrol gathering behind him.

They left camp towards the now familiar river trail. Hawkstar led the way over the stepping stones where they were almost immediately confronted by a WillowClan patrol.

Dawnflame, the WillowClan deputy, was flanked by three other cats. "What brings you to our territory?"

"I'm here to talk to Stormstar," Hawkstar announced.

With a flick of her tail, Dawnflame's patrol surrounded them.

They were escorted towards a massive willow tree that Bramblestripe knew concealed the WillowClan camp. They halted just outside the willow's sweeping branches.

Dawnflame murmured to one of her warriors before disappearing through the branches. It wasn't long before the gray and ginger she-cat returned with Stormstar.

Stormstar looked at the GrassClan patrol with a sneer. "What do you want?"

"Can't you guess?" Hawkstar asked. "One of my warriors was attacked by two of yours today."

"Oh?" Stormstar didn't sound surprised. "Whatever for?"

"Without cause from what my warriors tell me!"

"Well, my warriors tell me they were only defending their prey."

Hawkstar took a step forward, the fur along his shoulders bristling. "Against a single warrior? How noble of them."

Stormstar's eyes flashed. "If you're only going to insult my warriors, we're done here."

"No, take this as a warning, Stormstar. The river does not belong to your Clan alone. I will not tolerate another incident like this."

"You dare to threaten me in my own territory?" Stormstar hissed.

"I'll do more than that if you refuse to listen to reason," Hawkstar warned. "GrassClan, we're leaving."

Without waiting for a reply, Hawkstar turned and strode away, his patrol falling in behind him.

The WillowClan cats snarled and growled after them as they left.

Bramblestripe had been uncertain of Hawkstar's strategybut was impressed with how he had handled the confrontation. He cared fiercelyfor his Clan, even though most of them weren't originally GrassClan. He hadresponded to a threat against his Clan immediately and communicated that to hisClan and the threat. Despite how much GrassClan had struggled and almost notsurvived, Hawkstar refused to be beaten.