[center][b][i][color=9370D8][h2] Maplestream: WillowClan Territory [/h2][/color][/i][/b][/center]

[center] Maplestream shivered against the damp spray from the rushing rapid as it misted against her pelt. It was cold enough already without being damp to make it worse. Fernstar had asked her to help strip the dens of old bedding and dispose of it into the rapids like usual. She would gather more moss and bracken on her way back for the warrior's and apprentice's den. She would have rather been out hunting but she was in such a deep sleep that she had missed the morning call. She sighed and realized it was her own fault; it wouldn't happen again. As she noded her way past the tall grass that bordered the banks of the rapid, she disturbed a mouse from it's digging in the dirt and it darted away, too fast for Mapleshade to catch it. Not to mention she didn't want to risk falling into the rapids. [color=9370D8][i] No cat would survive that. . . [/i][/color] As she pushed the last of the old moss and fern leaves over the edge, she turned and made her way towards the trunk of an oak tree where she could see moss growing thick on one side. She stood on her hind paws and began shredding the trunk with her claws ans the moss fell in bunches at her feet. It was soft and dry and hope bounced in her heart as she thought what it would be like sleeping in fresh warm bedding tonight. She began clumping the moss into a large pile and filled her jaws with as much as she could carry in one trip. As she padded closer to camp, her ears pricked and her pelt bristled as she heard what sounded like hissing in the distance. Tucking the moss close to the roots of a nearby tree, she sprinted in the direction of the commotion. [/center]

[center] Exploding through the undergrowth, Maplestream's eyes widened in horror as she saw Stormheart, Hawkpaw and Brambletail circling around a fox, avoiding it's snapping jaws and getting frenzied blows in where they could. Two warriors and an apprentice wasn't enough to drive a fox from the territory. Should she try to help on her own, or race back to camp to get help from the others? Thoughts racing, she had an idea. Darting as fast as she could towards the fox, she gathered all the strength she could from her hindquarters and leaped onto the fox's shoulders digging all four paws in as hard as she could and sunk her teeth into the fox's ear, shaking her head back and forth vigorously. The fox spun in circles desperately trying to throw her off, but Maplestream was ready and jumped away landing beside Stormheart. Darting beneath the fox's belly, she raked her claws along it's underside to distract it and make it turn it's back towards the rest of the patrol. Yowling above the fox's growl she flashed her gaze towards her Clanmates. [color=9370D8][b]"KEEP FIGHTING! But while you're at it, yowl as loud as your lungs will let you! We have to be loud enough to attract the attention of the hunting patrol! With four more cats to help us, the fox won't stand a chance!"[/b][/color] Baring her teeth and swiping at the fox's muzzle, she hoped Duskwing and the rest of the hunting patrol would hear their cries for help. [/center]