Falling With the Rain

~ Determination ~

Third Person Hollypaw's POV

"We must send a patrol to help WindClan," Firestar decided.

Spiderleg blinked. "Have you forgotten the last time we fought dogs?"

"We lost warriors that day," Sandstorm remembered grimly.

"It's up to WindClan to look after themselves," Jaypaw growled. Firestar glanced at Brightheart. She had lost half her face when she'd confronted a pack of vicious dogs many moons ago.

"What do you think?" he asked gently. "We nearly lost everything when the dogs attacked us."

She held her head high, but Hollypaw could see she was trembling. "We can't let the same thing happen to WindClan."

"But if we go, we risk leading them here," Dustpelt pointed out.

"They might find their way here anyway," Firestar meowed.

Brambleclaw nodded. "WindClan territory is too close to our own to ignore this," he agreed.

"Exactly." Firestar gazed at each of his warriors. "You will be risking your lives to save WindClan, but you will also be defending ThunderClan from a deadly enemy."

"We must help them!" Birchfall called.

Spiderleg paced in an agitated circle. "We have to drive the dogs away!"

"Ashfur! Graystripe!" Brambleclaw called. "You've fought dogs before. I'll need your experience. Birchfall and Spiderleg! You come too."

Lionpaw lifted his muzzle. "What about me?"

Brambleclaw glanced at Ashfur. "Is he ready?"

Ashfur gave a quick nod.

"Okay," Brambleclaw meowed. "Millie!" He swung his head toward the kittypet. "You know about dogs from when you lived in the Twolegplace, don't you?"

Millie nodded. "They don't scare me," she meowed. "And I know how easy they are to trick."

"Good." Brambleclaw nodded. "Come with us, then." He turned to his apprentice. "You too, Berrypaw."

Berrypaw unsheathed his claws, his eyes shining.

"Shall I come too?" Whitewing meowed.

"Yes. We'll need you to show us which way Thornclaw and Cloudtail went," the deputy told her.

"What about me?" Hollypaw was staring hopefully up at her father. He shook his head, and she felt the disappointment settling in.

"I need you to stay here and help Brackenfur guard the camp," Brambleclaw explained. "Someone will have to patrol the entrance and make sure no dogs get in if we can't stop them at the border."

Hollypaw flicked her tail. "Yes, Brambleclaw."

The deputy glanced at Firestar. "Will Onestar accept our help?"

"I think so. Onestar's proud, but he's no fool," Firestar meowed.

"Ashfur?" Ferncloud had left the nursery—Rainkit hard on her paws—and was padding toward her brother.

Hollypaw knew that their mother, Brindleface, had been killed by Tigerstar to give the other dog pack a taste for cats' blood. Ferncloud would have only the worst memories of dogs.

"Be careful." The she-cat rubbed her cheek along Ashfur's.

"Don't forget I've outrun a dog pack before," he meowed.

"You had me at your side then," she reminded him.

"And now I have you and your kits to protect." He licked her between the ears. "I won't let you down."