Chapter 18

Dog Attack

The wind blew harshly as Swishpaw woke up to a familiar sound. One that was haunted to the Clan that was terrible and dreadful. Swishpaw smelled the air and let out a shriek waking up the apprentices.

"Dogs! Dogs are invading the camp! Run!"

Blossompaw was up in an instant. She had gotten used to Clan life in RainClan and she was enjoying it much more. The snow had mostly melted and Spottedpath had decided that they would be leaving soon.

"Dogs?" Blossompaw stumbled out of her nest shaking Dovepaw and Shrewpaw. Then she flounced out of it and headed towards outside the den and Swishpaw heard her yowl loud enough to wake up the whole camp as a dog charged onto her.

"Help!" Swishpaw yelled running into the warriors den yowling. "Dogs are attacking camp! Quick!"

"Heh?" Honeyheart stumbled out of the warriors den and yawned. "Dogs? You must be mouse-brained, Swishpaw. I can't believe you woke me up just to tell me that. There's no dog scent in the- ah!"

Swishpaw gasped as Honeyheart was trampled over by a dog. It have clambered into the warriors den and the oldest warrior Redfoot shot up. He charged forward at the dog and bit it on the tail. The dog wailed on its life and headed out of the den towards the nursery...

"Sandcloud! Spottedpath!" Stormtail had jolted up and was rushing for the nursery. "Hold on! Keep low and you won't get hurt."

There was silence and Swishpaw hurried outside when the warriors chased after him charging for a dog. Windstorm poked his head out of his den with Rockpaw and Swishpaw saw him urge him inside to make some herbs for the cats if they got hurt.

"Get off my mother!" shrieked Swishpaw digging his claws into a dogs neck. "Get off her now you fox dung! Now!"

The dog reered onto Swishpaw and Swishpaw fought and kicked as he felt a gash form on top of his eyes and he just avoided a swat at his eye and going blind. He turned and saw his mother lying still blood gushing out of her. Swishpaw blinked in terror when he saw her dead.

"No..." whispered Clearpaw padding up to her as a dog saw her and chased after her. "I knew that this would happen. I don't know how but StarClan gave me a feeling. How? How could they make this happen to our mother?"

"Swishpaw!" Swishpaw rounded around and saw Dovepaw trying to fight a dog with Shrewpaw. She was panting hard as the dog got her in her formerly injured leg. She fell to the ground and moaned. Shrewpaw was now fighting with his life for his sister.

"Dovepaw! Shrewpaw!" Swishpaw rushed forward and threw his claws at the dogs back and pounced on its tail. "Get away you beetle-brained dog. Never come back and your... your pack killed my mother and now I'm going to kill you."

"And I'm going to help." Swishpaw was surprised to see Littleclaw. Littleclaw's tail was swishing fervently as he dug his claws into his head and bit into his throat. The dog was big and huge and even though most Twoleg's brought small dogs this one was huge compared to Littleclaw and Swishpaw gasped as she was whipped in the face and he crashed to the ground.

"Oh no!" gasped Dovepaw and she seemed to get her strength back. "Let me fight this dog. He's getting weaker but I can see that he'll live if we dont' finish him off now."

Shakily, Dovepaw stumbled to her feet and helped Swishpaw and Shrewpaw whip at him. Swishpaw wondered where Blossompaw and Clearpaw were and then saw them fighting together by a smaller dog and it looked almost finished and Swishpaw relaxed when it fell dead and saw Blossompaw charge to help Tidefur with another dog and Clearpaw went to help Dirtfur with another. Most of the Clan seemed settled as Swishpaw dug into the dog's throat and he felt the bitter tang of blood and then it fell silent. It was dead.

"That was great!" cried Shrewpaw giddily as he saw most of the dogs dead.

"That one looks like the leader," whispered Swishpaw to Shrewpaw and Dovepaw. "I bet that if we kill him the rest of the dogs will flee in terror. I think that they all follow him so they trust him the most. If the other dogs die they don't care as much but if he dies they'll have no one to follow."

"You're amazing, Swishpaw!" Dovepaw exclaimed. "That one is definately the biggest. Let's get him."

Swishpaw gasped as he saw the biggest dog whip at Darkstar harshly and a killing blow it was. Swishpaw saw him fall silent and he gasped realizing that he only had four lives left. Or was it three? Swishpaw never kept track, but the day that Darkstar lost his last life would be the worst day ever.

"I hate you, you fox dung dog. You must have-" Swishpaw cut himself short when he realized that this dog would never be able to understand him. He wished that it could but it would probably be worse if that happened.

The dog barked something and Swishpaw knew that it was a curse and he growled angrily as he saw Darkstar stir. He didn't seem so strong, but when he saw Swishpaw he purred and tried to stand up. He took his paws and with his last morsel of strength, helped Swishpaw kill the dog. He dug his claws into his throat and but his teeth in his head and he saw the dog spinning in circles angrily. Stormtail approached and dug his claws into his tail and pinned him down. Swishpaw blinked as a chunk of fur peeled off and the dog screamed loudly.

"Never come back!" yowled Stormtail as his final call to the dog as he helped Darkstar dig his teeth into his head and his claws into his throat and the dog fell silent. Swishpaw gasped with happiness when he saw the other dogs yowl to each other and then file away.

"You saved us..." Tumbleclaw and Rushingbreeze came forward licking Stormtail happily. "Now we're free of the dogs. It was true that they would only follow their leader and if they didn't have him they'd be lost for hope."

"Except I lost a life," whispered Darkstar in the faint morning sunlight. "I'm losing them so quick and I really haven't been leader for long."

"That doesn't matter." Tumbleclaw spoke with his voice firm. "When you are here and happy, I feel glad."

"We don't have to worry anymore," Rushingbreeze added and Swishpaw had never felt more happy at night even though Willowtail was dead.

Hope you enjoyed the chapter. I hated Willowtail so I had to kill her. :) Sorry if you liked her even though I HATED her.

~CherrystarofDarkPalace