((Gucci and O'brian have the same owner so they will be brought in together.....when I finally bring them in XD))

Tiger opened her eyes and glanced down, "Ravenfeather!" she gasped. She Pulled herself upward and on top of her branch. She looked down at Ravenfeather and the wolf with wide eyes, waiting a moment to see what would happen and if she should help.

__

Dawnshadow turned and headed out the back entrance. She dashed as fast as she could at the wolf and leapt onto its back, sinking her claws into its shoulders and biting its ears.

Batear slunk out the front of the badger den and puffed up hissing at the wolf. It seemed confused enough dealing with Chain and Dawnshadow, but she knew it was still dangerous. When it tried to turn its head to grab Dawnshadow, Batear struck out with lightning-fast claws and slashed it across the face, smirking when it yelped. When it went after her, she leapt backwards and slashed at its muzzled again, catching it across the nose and drawing blood.

Chain slashed deep wounds in it's stomach, taking advantage of its occupation dealing with the two she-cats. Blood flowed steadily from the cuts, soaking both the wolf and the silver cat darting between his legs. Finally he just grasped onto one leg, biting down hard until his teeth met something hard; a bone, maybe. The large beast yelped in pain.

~

Ravenfeather was thrown off, skidding across the ground five or six meters before laying still. His ribs were shreiking in protest from their earlier injury, accompanied by a new pain in his tail. He peeled his eyes open slowly, trying not not make any sudden movements. Perhaps the wolf would think he was dead, and leave him alone? But it wasn't so. It lurked over him, snarling and foaming at the mouth.

~

Deathnote's plan hadn't been as bright as he had hoped. The log was old and frail; the charcoal animal was breaking it open slowly, howling and snarling as it did so. He nowhere else to hide, and he couldn't risk having the wolf follow him back towards the others. StarClan only knew if they were fending well against the two already there.

{ We lost out original warrior cat RP, man. ;( }

{ We should make a new one. O3O With like, different cats and stuff. } 

((with totally new charras >:D or a wolf one))

With a yowl, Tiger leapt to the ground. She dashed and struck the wolf across the eyes with unsheathed claws. The wolf howled in pain, leaping backwards and shaking its head fiercly. Tiger grinned for an instant, she had hit him right across his left eye, which was bleeding profusely, "get up Ravenfeather!" she said, not turning her attention from the wolf, "get to the trees while its still distracted.

__

Dawnshadow saw the wolf tearing apart the log where Deathnote was hidden. With a gasp, she let go of the beast she was currently fighting and ran to aid Deathnote, biting the back of the wolf's right hind leg. The wolf growled and swung its head around to see what had caused the pain. He lunged at Dawnshadow, and she leapt away....too slow, its jaws clamped down on her back leg. She hissed in pain and twisted her back to bat at its facewith her paws.

__

"How long can we keep this up?" Batear called to Chain, leaping away from the wolf long enough to catch a few breaths.

{ omg. o3o Wolves. Or maybe panthers or something. Big animals. ;D }

"What about you?" Ravenfeather said weakly, pushing himself to his paws, only to fall again. Apparently he'd broken more ribs. Struggling to stay standing, gritting his teeth against the pain, he stared at her with unhappy eyes. "You can't take this thing on alone!"

__

Deathnote, quick as a bat of a hummingbird's wings, jumped from on top of the log, landing on the wolf's back. Clinging on with sharp claws, he shimmied towards the back of it's neck, sinking his teeth into its ear. With a howl, the great beast let go of Dawnshadow, he thought, and started to try and shake off the young tom.

__

"Not long," Chain said, already out of breath. Even weakened, the wolf was stronger and faster than both of them. He took a moment to stop and breath, only to be cuffed upside the head by the huge canine. Darkness erupted in front of Chain's eyes, but he got back up, vision spinning, and continued to try and fend it off.

((i vote wolves :D))

"No. But I can Outrun it. You can't." Tiger said. The wolf swung its head to look at her, teeth bared viciously, "Take one more step and I'll claw your other eyes too." she said. The wolf made a deep, throaty sound that resembled laughter, then suprised her when he spoke.

"You talk big for small cat." The wolf said, he was obviously not very fluent in their language, "I have no fear for you. It is you who should fear. Me and my brothers are hungry. The up-walkers have taken prey from the wolves. No more deer. Cats make perfect food." he grinned and laughed again, "You make mistake coming here." He lunged forward.

"No," Tiger said defiantly, raking her claws across the wolf's muzzle and dodged nimbly out of the way of his jaws, "its is you who makde the mistake. Leave while we still let you." she threatened.

__

Dawnshadow felt pain jolt through her leg and up her spine. She winced and yanked herself to her feet, holding her injured paw off the ground, "Deathnote! The trees, they cant get us there. We can travel through the trees!" the epiphany had hit her as soon as she got up. If squirrels could navigate the tree-tops, why couldnt cats? Their only problem was getting away from the wolves. She unsheathed her claws and slashed at teh Wolf's unprotected chest, hissing furiously all the while.

___

Batear leapt up on the wolf's back and bit onto its ears, digging her fron claws into the sides of its face, "THen we need to get rid of dem fas." she said through a mouthfull of wolf fur, "You go' ant ideas?"

{ Wolves ftw. }

{ You make thread. >:O }

{ NVM. I wanna make the thread. D: } 

For Ravenfeather, time slowed down around him. The wolf lunging, Tiger not moving fast enough... Then everything was a blur. Lunging forwards. Claws slashing open it's throat. Then teeth closing around him. Pain. Being shaken back and forth. Flying. Weightlessness. Something slammed into him, then, and darkness started to gather around the edges of the tom's vision. The wolf staggering, falling... Tiger was safe... Honeywhisker was safe... His sister was safe... But the pain was still there. He wasn't dead. Why wasn't he dead? He should have been dead.

___

"Find water," Deathnote panted, eyes narrowed as he darted between the wolf's legs. "Remember the story about Bluestar? About the big dogs back then? Maybe if we can do that, only avoid falling over the edge..." Dodging a blow, he slashed at the wolf's legs. "We'll never make it up a tree in time... Can't climb fast enough..."

___

Eyes clearing, Chain realized he'd only been momentarily stunned. "We need to lead them into a trap. Or tire them out. Something." He struck, quick as a viper, blood splashing him in the face. He rolled to the side, the canine's teeth closing a whisker next to his right ear.

(( moo do eet D:))

Tiger gasped, "I told you to get away!" She yowled, she slashed repeatedly at the wolf's muzzle, angry at both him, and Ravenfeather. Her claws hit their mark, the wolf's other eye. He howled in pain again, shaking his head vigirously. He barked something to the other wolves, and the one that was fighting Dawnshadow and Deathnote quickly forgot the two cats. It whined low in its throat.

Tiger smirked, wolves always followed their Alpha. THe one she was fighting must have been the alpha. Now with him blind, there would be problems. The Third wolf shook off Batear and melted into the forest, barking twice. The Alpha wolf whined in pain, "Cat. You Have blinded me." he bared his teeth, "But your friend is hurt. I lost something. And so did you. Lucky for you, I have no more abilities to fight." With the other wolf leading him, the two vasished from sight as well.

Batear looked around, blinking, "did that really happen? Did they just leave?"

Dawnshadow sighed and sank to the ground, "thank StarClan!"

But Tiger heard none of their words, "Ravenfeather? Can you hear me?" she asked, hovering protectively over him, "Answer me! Please." the last word was barely above a whisper.

A sleek, tawny she-cat appeared beside Ravenfeather, invisible to the others. Her head was bowed, "my son." she whispered, "my last son." She glanced at Tiger, knowing the white she-cat couldnt see her, "you did your best." she murmered.

Chain sank to the ground, not realizing that Ravenfeather was injured. He had his eyes shut, and was laying still as he let his sore muscles relax. Silent, as he usually was after a fight, he listened to the others murmur. He couldn't make out the words; nor did he really feel the need to.

Deathnote padded over to Batear, scanning her carefully. She wasn't harmed as far as he could see, which relieved him. He turned his eyes to Ravenfeather, his relief melting away into the ground. Pity for his sister, and mother, filled him instead.

"I'm not dead," he croaked, forcing air into his burning lungs. Red dots swam in front of his eyes. "Quit acting like I'm dead. I'm not..." He gasped, grimacing against the pain. He'd broken more than ribs this time, he could tell. "This is gonna slow us down for sure, isn't it?" Ravnefeather tried to laugh, but the noise sounded forced, and strangled. He knew what was going to happen now, but he didn't want to die unhappy. He wanted to die laughing, surrounded by cats he had just started to trust. 

Tiger forced a smile, "well I'd say I could carry you, but we all know that wouldn't work." She teased, "maybe we could rest here a while." she suggested, glancing at Deathnote for his approval, even though she knew she would whether he liked it or not.

Cougarstar made herself visible only to Ravenfeather, "My son, it doesn't have to be this way. There is a way for you to live, It has been done once before." she murmered.

Batear sank to the ground, she knew she should be by Ravenfeather, but she just didn't have the energy. After the adrenaline had pas.sed she felt like a tree had fallen on her.

Ravenfeather, not quite understanding what he was seeing, only murmured, "How? I can't leave Honeywhisker, Cloudfeather and Tiger... Batear, Deathnote, Dawnshadow and Chain are counting on me, mother..." He trailed off, eyes starting to shut. He was growing tired, just as the pain lessened and lessened. He only noticed how bad it really was when he saw all the blood around him. The wolf must have torn him apart. "Don't leave me here," he whined, to both is mother and the other five. "I don't want to..."

~

Deathnote was unsure. On one hand, he wanted to stay with Ravenfeather as well; but he also didn't want to linger around, getting the other's hopes up. The black tom was in critical condition; patches of fur were missing, replaced with deep wounds from the creature's teeth. He'd seen cats die from injuries less than this. Ravenfeather made Darkpaw's accident look like a joke. "We all need to rest," he said carefully, trying not to sound heartless. "But we have to get moving in a few days at least. If Ravenfeather isn't better by then... I don't know what we'll do..."

"Then I'll escort him back to your camp," Chain piped up. "And catch up with you after. I've caught onto the scent of Clan cats now; I'll follow our tracks back and get him home safely. Then, following my own tracks back, I'll find you again." Although he was still laying down, eyes closed, his voice sounded strong and confident. "It's the least I can do."

Tiger puffed up her fur, "If he goes back, I go back too." She said defaintly.

"No." Dawnshadow shook her head, "you are the one who seems to know which way to go. We need to follow you. I will Help Chain ger Ravenfeather back. I'm sure my sister will be glad to see me." she said, "and besides," Dawnshadow forced herself to her paws, "I'll just slow you down as well."

~

Cougarstar rasped her tounge over her son's ear, "I could give you my spirit. It will renew your strength, and even help to heal your more fatal wounds. It is something the Moutain Tribe cats have in their ledgends, and you have their blood in your veins." she said, "but I would never be able to visit you again. Not even in you're dreams. It is something I am willing to do if you let me."

"No," Ravenfeather mewed, eyes wide like a lost kit. "You can't do that. I can't let you do that. What about Cloudfeather?" There was a long pause, which included both Chain and Deathnote staring at him in confusion. "Where's my dad? Where's Owlkit?" He wasn't aware of the others, his eyes were on his mother. "Tell them I'm sorry-" 

~

Deathnote looked at Dawnshadow in confusion. "What do you mean? How'll you slow us down?" He frowned, flicking his ears, only barely hearing what Chain had to say. He also stood up, shaking out his fur.

~  

"I think," Chain said carefully, wording what he was saying so he wouldn't upset Tiger. "Ravenfeather is so close to death that he is seeing a cat from the other realm. You call them Starclan, correct?" 

Dawnshadow turned to look at her back leg, the one the wolf had gotten a hold of, "I don't think its broken, but I will be limping for a while." she said with an apologetic half-smile.

___

Cougarfeather's eyes were soft, "Ravenfeather, I'm already dead, shouldn't you get to live? I already made peace wtih one of my kits in StarClan, Cloudfeather has begun to accept my death, that leaves you. You are a young warrior, you should have many moons yet to live. I lived a full life, nine of them." She rested her tail on his shoulders, "and you have jsut this one."

__

Batear nodded to Chain, "yes, StarClan are our ancestors, those who have lived before us, and those who we knew who have died. Their spirits can talk to us, usually in dreams."

Deathnote looked guilty. "Oh. Yeah, right. Um, okay." He honestly had forgotten about Dwanshadow's injuries; he'd been too busy confronting Ravenfeather's near-death, and making sure that Batear was okay.

~

Ravenfeather frowned, eyelids drooping lower. "A-alright," he said, tiredly. "Just because I can't leave. Not yet." He whimpered, "But it hurts so bad..." Just breathing was starting hurt him as well. Life seeped out of him, weakening him as he spoke. "Tell Oakfeather I said..." He drifted off, eyes closing completely. His breathing slowed, and his heartbeat wavered, but he was still alive as far as Chain could tell.

~

Chain nodded sypathetically. "Then whoever it is must be here to bring him back to Starclan with them, then." 

Ravenfeather, though barely awake, slipped into oblivion. He felt the pain melt away, his muscle and flesh sew back together, but he wasn't quite aware of it. Colorful flashes of color, a butterfly, a mockingbird and Honeywhisker danced across his mind as he started to dream. Tiger was there as well, accompanied by his sister, mother, brother and father. His tail tip twitched slightly in his sleep. Something in the back of his mind knew that this good deed was not going to go unpunished.

~

Chain only shook his head sadly, pushing himself heavily to his paws. "He's in critical condition still, then. He's got more than just physical wounds to heal." Then he padded off, going to curl up in the badger den that only made him feel slightly uneasy.

~

Deathnote frowned, bending his neck to bite down on Ravenfeather's neck. Rain made the tom hard to hold onto. "We've got to get him inside," he muttered through a mouthful of fur, "We don't need him sick as well."  

Tiger looked at his wounds with awe, was it jsut her or did they heal a little? She shook her head and decided to help Deathnote carry Ravenfeather to the badger den.

Dawnshadow limped to the badger den and shivered lightly once inside. She shook her coat liek a dog, then began to lick the water out of her fur. She glanced wtih envy at the Short-haired batear and cursed her thick fur, it soaked up water like moss. Then with a pang of sadness, she remembered, she was leaving their small group. How long until Deathnote, Batear, and Tiger returned? It had only been two days, but she already felt bonded the small band of cats, like they were their own small CLan.

Chain let his eyelids slide shut again, vivd dreams replacing the rain-soaked, bloody nightmare they'd all just experienced. Although asleep, he couldn't get Ravenfeather's yowl out of his head. What was it he'd said? Something like, "For Poppyseed!" Who was Poppyseed? Was she someone the tom knew?

~

Deathnote set Ravenfeather down gently on the old moss, eyes unreadable. Without saying much else, he curled up in a corner away from the others, fur still plastered to his muscular body. Fatigue dragged his eyelids shut.