#barkbriar

Opalstone was moderately wounded by Flowerscar, Flowerscar was lightly wounded by Opalstone.

Dieselpaw was wounded by Barkbriar, Barkbriar was moderately wounded by Dieselpaw.

Dieselpaw was moderately wounded by Flowerscar, Flowerscar was moderately wounded by Dieselpaw.

Larkshine was lightly wounded by Larch, Thrushskip was killed by Larch, Larch was heavily wounded by Larkshine and Thrushskip.

Riverblaze was lightly wounded by Pitchpaw, Walnutpaw was moderately wounded by Pitchpaw, Pitchpaw was heavily wounded by Riverblaze and Walnutpaw.

Wrencharm was lightly wounded by Archie, Irispaw avoided injury, Archie was moderately wounded by Wrencharm and Irispaw.

Falconblaze was heavily wounded by Autumnpaw, Autumnpaw was lightly wounded by Falconblaze.

Leafrush was lightly wounded by Briar, Dawnclaw was lightly wounded by Briar, Briar was heavily wounded by Leafrush and Dawnclaw.

Topazpaw was heavily wounded by Marshpaw, Marshpaw was heavily wounded by Topazpaw.

Meadowstalker avoided injury, Brookpaw was heavily wounded by Meadowstalker.

And that sound is none other than invading Infernoclan cats.

Relief flashes through her as she recalls her efforts to gather as many healing herbs as possible in the past few days, but quickly vanishes as a white tom hurls himself through the brush and directly at the distracted medicine cat. With quick reflexes, she scrambled out of the way, struggling to keep her footing.

“Opalstone!” She gasped, tail lashing despite her surprised tone. “What do you think you’re doing, attacking a medicine cat?” She hissed.

Barkbriar, sleeping nearby, awoke immediately -- his nest rustling as he shot out of it. He was at his mentor’s side in moments, fur bristling as he confronted the former Tideclan warrior.

“We’re here on Snowstar’s orders, nothing more.” Opalstone growled with a flick of his long, thick tail. A second cat stepped from the undergrowth, a stocky, thick-furred, mostly white and grey tabby tom, with small ears and dark hazel eyes. “Dieselpaw, take care of that one, will you?” The white tom motioned with his ears toward Barkbriar, then launched himself at Flowerscar again with a screech.

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When the fighting in the Medicine Cat’s den ceased, all of them were exhausted. Barkbriar huddled next to the herb store, blood caked in his fur, while he actively hissed and spit at the two Infernoclan cats threateningly. Dieselpaw eyed the apprentice, but stay put in his place on the ground, breathing heavily. Flowerscar and Opalstone stood in the middle of the den, glaring at each other as blood dripped from their wounds and onto the grassy floor.

“Didn’t think we would be much of a fight, did you?” The medicine cat scoffed.