All around her, ShadowClan cats were fighting for their lives. Yellowfang spotted Foxheart battling two rats at once, killing both of them in a whirl of teeth and claws. Nutwhisker and Rowanberry dragged off a rat that had fastened its teeth in Brightflower’s shoulder; then all three cats turned to help Stonetooth to his paws and fend off the rats that were attacking him. Yellowfang felt the gnawing of sharp teeth in her muscles, and concentrated on blocking it out.
She caught a glimpse of Raggedpelt diving into the snarl of rats swarming over Cedarstar. For a heartbeat he vanished, then fought his way up again, dragging Cedarstar with him, his teeth in the Clan leader’s scruff.
“Clear the hole!” he yowled.
Yellowfang, Archeye, and Mudclaw fought their way through the battling rats to the hole in the fence. Yellowfang felt a savage satisfaction as she sank her claws into rat after rat and hurled them out of the way. Her warrior training flooded back and she focused on nothing but slicing and slashing, feeling warm bodies split beneath her claws.
Fighting together, the three cats managed to clear the hole so that Raggedpelt could pull Cedarstar through. Brightflower followed with a feebly staggering Stonetooth. Shoulder-to-shoulder with her Clanmates, Yellowfang fought the rats off, keeping them away from the hole so that the rest of her Clan could struggle through.
When the last cat was out, Foxheart and Mudclaw pushed the branches of the barrier up against the hole to block the rats inside, though some of them were already starting to squeeze through the mesh into ShadowClan territory.
“Back to the camp!” Raggedpelt screeched.
The cats fled, the stronger warriors helping the ones who were badly injured. Yellowfang spotted Sagewhisker fleeing with them, abandoning the herbs they had brought, and raced to catch up.
Chapter 21
Yellowfang paused for breath, taking a moment to control the pain she felt from her Clanmates. Around her the camp was in chaos; injured warriors lay everywhere in the clearing. Her mouth was flooded with the taste of bitter herbs. She knew she had to eke out the remaining stocks as sparingly as she could, for so little was left.
I wish we hadn’t had to leave so much under that holly bush.
Two warriors in particular worried Yellowfang: Stonetooth, who had been bitten badly on his hind leg, and Hollyflower, who had a bite in her neck. She wanted to consult Sagewhisker, but the medicine cat had vanished with Cedarstar into his den, and hadn’t yet reappeared.
Eventually Sagewhisker emerged from among the oak roots, looking somber, and padded over to Yellowfang. “Cedarstar has lost a life,” she reported quietly. “It was hard, but he’s recovering now.”
Yellowfang’s eyes widened in shock. She had never known the Clan leader to lose a life before. “How many lives does he have left?” she asked.
“One,” Sagewhisker replied, her eyes darkening with worry. “But keep that to yourself. Only medicine cats know how many lives the Clan leader has.”
Yellowfang nodded.
“What about the other cats?” Sagewhisker prompted. “Let me see what you’ve done.”
Yellowfang led her around the clearing, showing her the poultices she had applied, the wounds covered in cobweb, and told her which cats had been given poppy seeds for the pain.
“Very good,” Sagewhisker commented. “When you’ve had more practice you won’t need to use quite so much cobweb, and you can be a bit more generous with the poppy seed for full-grown warriors.”
“We don’t have much left,” Yellowfang reminded her.
“True.” Sagewhisker let out a sigh. “This is one of the worst defeats I can remember. The danger now is infection; rat bites can be very poisonous. We’ll have to keep a close eye on Hollyflower and Stonetooth.”
“I’ll go out later and look for some more burdock root,” Yellowfang promised. “Or if I can’t find any I’ll get wild garlic.”
She padded over to the spot by the tiny stream at the edge of the camp, where she had piled up a heap of moss. Gripping a bundle in her jaws, she dipped it in the water and carried it over to Raggedpelt. The tabby tom was lying near the fresh-kill pile, curled up tightly on himself. He had taken a few deep scratches on his nose, which were going to leave scars. Yellowfang’s belly clenched with pity, and it was a struggle for her to block out his pain.
“Here, I’ve brought you some wet moss,” she mewed.
“I don’t want it,” Raggedpelt mumbled, not looking at her. “Other cats need it more.”
“Other cats have had some,” Yellowfang assured him, laying the moss down beside his nose. “I’m a medicine cat now. You have to listen to me, and you will have a drink.”
Raggedpelt let out a groan, but he extended his tongue and took a couple of laps at the moss. “This is all my fault,” he groaned. “I nearly killed my Clan!”
“No.” Yellowfang crouched down beside him. “The plan was brilliant. It could have worked. There were just too many rats.”
“I should have thought of that!” Raggedpelt snapped.
While Yellowfang was trying to figure out how she could reassure him, Crowtail limped up and halted beside Raggedpelt. “Cedarstar wants to see you,” she announced.
Raggedpelt blinked despairingly up at her. “He’s probably going to order me to leave the Clan,” he muttered, hauling himself to his paws and heading toward the Clan leader’s den.
Yellowfang fought with panic. Cedarstar can’t send Raggedpelt away! Desperate to know what would happen, she followed Raggedpelt, and to her relief he let her come with him. Inside the dark den beneath the oak roots, Cedarstar looked weak, his eyes a little glazed as he struggled to sit up.
Raggedstar hung his head as he entered, his tail drooping. “I’m sorry,” he meowed. “I have failed. Punish me as you wish.”
For a moment Cedarstar was silent. “We lost the battle,” he rasped. “But you did not fail. You saved me from the rats, and you did everything possible to help the rest of your Clanmates.”
“But—” Raggedpelt tried to interrupt.
Cedarstar silenced him with a raised paw. “Hold your head high, Raggedpelt. There is a chance of defeat in every battle. You gave your all, and I ask for nothing more.”
“I ask for more than you do, then!” Raggedpelt flashed out.
“You should be kinder to yourself,” the Clan leader responded. “We can all learn lessons from today. This method of trapping can be used with other prey, one way or another. For now, the Clan must concentrate on healing and regaining our strength.” He dipped his head toward Raggedpelt. “I am honored to call you a Clanmate. And this proves you are more than ready for an apprentice. Cloudkit will be yours, as soon as he’s ready.”
Raggedpelt stared at him. “Th-thank you, Cedarstar!” he stammered.
The Clan leader let out a purr. “Go and rest now.”
Yellowfang was delighted as she followed Raggedpelt away from Cedarstar’s den. But the tabby warrior’s tail still dragged behind him and his shoulders were hunched. Cedarstar’s praise hadn’t comforted him at all.
Catching up to him, Yellowfang whispered, “You should be proud, like Cedarstar said.”
Raggedpelt glared at her. “I will never be proud of defeat!” he hissed.
“Well, you stupid furball, I’m proud of you,” Yellowfang snapped, letting him walk away.
Days passed, but the thaw never came. Snow lay thick on the ground, driving prey deep into their holes, and gray skies threatened more to come.