Chapter 19

Viperpaw and Hawkstrike returned to the ThunderClan camp with the news of the dead cat they had found. Lionstar immediately called for a meeting, and all the cats gathered to hear the news.

"We must be careful," Lionstar warned. "The rouges seem to be planning something bigger, and we need to be prepared."

"The cats who attacked us the other day were just a small group," Hawkstrike added. "But they were well-organized and well-trained. We need to train harder and be more vigilant than ever before."

The clan nodded in agreement, and Lionstar dismissed the meeting. As Viperpaw walked to her den, she couldn't shake the feeling of unease. She knew that the rouges were out there, somewhere, waiting for their next move.

That night, as the camp settled into sleep, Viperpaw lay awake, her mind racing. She couldn't help but think about Ice and the way she had looked at them with such hatred.

Suddenly, there was a commotion outside. Viperpaw leaped to her paws and raced out of the den, her heart pounding in her chest.

She saw Lionstar and Hawkstrike already there, facing a group of rouges. Viperpaw joined them, her claws unsheathed.

The battle was fierce, and Viperpaw found herself fighting side by side with Blade, the loner she had met earlier. He moved with a grace and precision that was awe-inspiring, and Viperpaw found herself feeling grateful for his help.

The battle seemed to go on forever, but finally, the rouges began to retreat. Lionstar gave the order to fall back, and Viperpaw watched as the ThunderClan cats disappeared into the safety of the camp.

Viperpaw felt exhausted, but also exhilarated. She knew that this was only the beginning of the war that was coming, but she also knew that she was ready to face it, no matter what.

As she curled up in her den, she felt a sense of pride and belonging that she had never felt before. She was a warrior now, and she knew that she had what it took to fight for her clan.