From where he was standing Hawkwing couldn’t see Curlypaw, but he guessed she could hear what Dodge and Leafstar were saying.
She must be so scared! he thought. She’s such a young apprentice—hardly more than a kit. Oh, StarClan, help us!
“Please…” The plaintive mew came from Birdwing, Curlypaw’s mother. Her eyes were full of fear and grief, and Hawkwing guessed she hardly knew what she was asking for.
Whatever Leafstar decided, all their lives were in danger.
Glancing around, Hawkwing realized that all the cats sitting around on the crumbling walls of the camp were suddenly more alert. Their eyes gleamed in the fitful light, and many of them had risen to their paws, the fur on their shoulders rising. Here and there he caught the glitter of extended claws.
They’re only waiting for Dodge’s order before they tear us apart!
In contrast, the cluster of SkyClan cats were hopelessly outnumbered, and not in any fit state to fight. Bellaleaf and Fidgetpaw had fresh wounds, while other cats, like Cherrytail, were still weakened from injuries they took in the gorge battle against Darktail.
If we fight Dodge’s cats, we’re bound to lose. But if we fight against Stick, we lose the honor of our Clan, and some of us will still die. What are we going to do?
Then to Hawkwing’s surprise, the tabby tom Harley—who had escorted them from Stick’s camp—sprang up onto a pile of tumbled stones near the edge of the pit.
“Dodge, this is wrong,” he protested. “I gave these cats my word that they would be unharmed until the meeting was over.”
“It is over,” Dodge growled. “But I’ll give their so-called leader one more chance. What is it to be?” he asked Leafstar. “Fight for us, or against us? There’s no other choice.”
Dead silence fell over the whole camp. Dodge’s cats waited with scarcely concealed excitement, while the cats of SkyClan were silent with horror. Beside Hawkwing, Pebbleshine stood rigid, her eyes closed.
I wish I could tear that cat apart! Hawkwing glared at Dodge, trying to pour all the hatred he felt into his gaze. He helped Darktail, and now he’s taken Curlypaw. But they would never let me get at him.
“You’re just a coward,” Hawkwing snapped. “You keep your claws sheathed until you think you have the upper paw. But a real leader of cats steps up and leads even in the face of uncertainty.
That is real bravery!”
Dodge cocked his head, eyes narrowing in a contemptuous sneer. “Your ‘bravery’ won’t save you in a real fight…” Dodge flexed his claws, hissing: “And we can prove that to you right now!”
Chapter 23
Hawkwing gave an amused mrrow, enjoying the way Dodge’s eyes flared in fury. “Cat for cat, we’re much better fighters than any of you. I’ll bet there’s not a single cat in your group that could stand a chance against one of our warriors.”
Dodge let out an incredulous snort, while at the same time Leafstar exclaimed, “Hawkwing, don’t be reckless!”
“It’s not reckless,” Hawkwing retorted steadily. He turned back to Dodge. “You and me. If we fight and I win, then you let us go unharmed—including Curlypaw down there.”
“And if I win?” Dodge rumbled, looking amused.
“Then the SkyClan cats will fight for you, as you wish. You will have backup in your attack on Stick. But either way, you will release Curlypaw.”
“Doesn’t sound like much of a deal,” Dodge meowed. “I’ve already got what I want.”
“But have you?” Leafstar asked him. “If we decide to fight against you, then some of us will die. But so will some of your cats. M aybe even you.”
“Unless you really are too much of a coward?” Hawkwing sneered.
A flame of fury lit in Dodge’s yellow eyes. His tabby fur bristled until he looked almost twice his size. He slid out his claws.
“Stop calling me a coward!” he snarled, and leaped straight for Hawkwing. “I accept your pathetic challenge!”
Caught off guard by the unexpected onrush, Hawkwing was bowled off his paws. Dodge’s weight was pinning him down; he was half smothered by tabby fur. Dodge’s eyes gleamed close to his own.
“Are you ready to die, mouse-breath?” Dodge hissed.
“Not yet!”
With a massive effort Hawkwing brought up his hind paws and thrust Dodge upward, enough for him to roll free and spring to his paws. In a brief glance he saw his Clanmates standing around them in a wide circle, ready to intercept any of Dodge’s cats who might try to interfere.
As Dodge rushed at him again, Hawkwing stepped neatly aside and raked a pawful of claws across Dodge’s good ear and the side of his head. Dodge let out a screech, more of fury than pain. He spun around faster than Hawkwing would have thought possible and reared up on his hind paws. Hawkwing tried to dive in and slash at his belly, but Dodge dropped down on top of him, claws digging deep into his shoulders. For a moment Hawkwing staggered as a red wave of pain surged through him. He knew that if he fell to the ground now, the fight would be over.
Letting himself go limp, he slid downward, bracing his legs underneath him. As Dodge let out a triumphant yowl, Hawkwing powered upward again, heaving Dodge’s massive weight off him.
Briefly unbalanced, Dodge spat a curse, and Hawkwing leaped at the muscular tom in a storm of teeth and claws. The two cats wrestled in a screeching knot of fur, their legs and tails tangled together.
Head spinning, Hawkwing fought free and sprang back, taking in huge gulps of air. Dodge faced him, lips drawn back in a snarl.
Blood was trickling from his shoulder and a clump of fur was missing from his chest; Hawkwing didn’t even remember striking the blows.
A confused roaring sound was coming from all around him, and as his head cleared Hawkwing realized that his Clanmates were chanting his name. “Hawkwing! Hawkwing!” He caught a glimpse of Pebbleshine, her eyes glowing with pride.
The support from his Clan poured new energy into Hawkwing.
He sprang at Dodge, darting past him while he slashed his claws down Dodge’s side. Dodge followed him up with lumbering paw steps.
He’s slowing down! Hawkwing thought with a spark of hope.
He’s a big cat, but big cats like him don’t have much energy. He’s tiring. Maybe I can win this battle!
But Dodge wasn’t finished yet. He hurled himself at Hawkwing, carrying him off his paws again and using his greater weight to hold him down. Blinded by his fur, Hawkwing felt teeth meet in his shoulder. With Dodge pressing down on him, he could hardly breathe. He struggled to free himself, but he could feel his strength beginning to ebb away.
But in the darkness of Hawkwing’s mind a vision appeared. He remembered the last time a strong cat had him pinned to the ground; remembered Sharpclaw in combat, unaware of the rogue cat, Rain, sneaking up on him…
The memory fell away, and Hawkwing thought of Darktail triumphant in the gorge, while SkyClan scattered. Dodge could have warned us, and then none of us would have trusted Darktail.
But he didn’t… I will not die at the claws of this vile cat!
Hawkwing gathered all his remaining strength. Freeing a paw, he lashed out at random. He felt his claws slice through fur and flesh, and warmth gushed over his paw. The grip of Dodge’s teeth slackened and his body convulsed; one flailing paw caught