#peppsta ask

Dreamstar (Dream)

Boarstar (Techno)

Phil (Philza)

Pandastripe (Sapnap)

Stonebreeze (George)

Antfrost (Ant)

Silverswipe (Punz)

Flamepool (Ponk)

Snowstream (Tubbo)

Yellowtail (Tommy)

Unnamed Kittypet mentioned? (Karl) ;)

-

Dreamstar realized too late that they were outnumbered and outmatched.

Foxes, a whole den of them, burrowed in the heart of their territory and driving away the already scare prey. Leaf-bare was a terrible time for the Clans and a family of foxes did not make things better.

Hunger had weakened a good number of the warriors and a recent bout of white cough in the nursery and elders den hadn't helped either. Dreamstar could not allow the foxes to stay and he knew they needed to drive them away.

He'd gathered what warriors he could, which ended up being his deputy, Pandastripe, Silverswipe, Antfrost, and Stonebreeze and he lead them from the camp early in the morning in hopes of catching the foxes off guard.

Everything was going well, they arrived at the den just as the sun peaked over the horizon. They set up their trap and sprung it when the first fox emerged from the den. What they didn't expect was the foxes to keep emerging. A mother and several juveniles, all old enough to hold their own again a cat.

Dreamstar realized, at that point, that the foxes were just as hungry as they were and they would not turn tail and run easily. He also realized that they were outnumbered and as the foxes growled and snapped and advanced on the warrior line he knew they wouldn't be getting out of this fight without harm.

It was too late to withdrawal though as the first of the foxes darted toward them.

"Warriors! Attack!"

Angry yowls and yips mingled together as the cats and foxes clashed.

Dreamstar faced the biggest one with a hiss and a rake of claws down the long gray grizzled muzzle and quickly leapt away to avoid the snap of salivating jaws.

He could hear his warriors in the background. Pandastripe's grunts and growls as the warrior fought viciously against his opponents. He caught flashing glimpses of silver and gray and knew that Silverswipe was outwitting the fox he was tangling with. A quick glance told him that Stonebreeze and Antfrost were fighting side by side against a pair of identical looking fox cubs.

They were holding their own for now but, Dreamstar dodged another lunge from the mother fox and raked his claws down her side with smug satisfaction, he knew they wouldn't be able to keep this up for long. They didn't have the stamina that they would have if this were any other season.

"Dreamstar! Look out!" A yowl of warning reached his ear just in time and Dreamstar was able to roll out of the way as the fifth fox cub made a dash for his hind quarters. He kicked out, catching the cub across the nose with his back claws. The cub yipped in pain and ducked away but the distraction costed him. Dreamstar felt the mother foxes teeth close around the scruff of his neck and before he could attempt to twist away he was being shook viciously and then he was flying through the air where he landed with a hard thud.

He gasped as the breath was knocked out of him. He could hear the yells from his warriors but it was muffled so much that he couldn't make out their words. He knew they were frantic though and he tried to will himself to his feet but his body would not move.

He felt more than heard the mother fox closing in, breath coming in pants of glee at the promise of fresh prey for her and her cubs.

She towered over his recovering form as he heaved for breath and he watched her rear her head back and prepare to deliver the killing blow. He closes his eyes and hoped that his death would distract the foxes long enough for his warriors to escape safely.

He waited for the blow to land but it did not come. There was a thundering of paws and a bellowing yowl so loud Dreamstar would swear it was a roar.

His eyes flew open just in time to see a familiar dark shape erupt from the undergrowth and barrel into the mother fox. Other shapes followed the first, a dark grey, a snow white, and a light orange. Sounds of renewed fighting filled the air and by the time Dreamstar struggled to get his paws under him, the foxes were retreating, tails between there legs and his warriors along with Boarstar, Phil, Snowstream, and Yellowtail stood victorious.

It was Boarstar that turn to him first, his manic grin of a fight well won quickly being replaced with a look of concern.

"Dreamstar!" The large dark leader sprinted across the space and all but molded himself to his side and Dreamstar didn't have it in him to be annoyed at or even worried about the very opened display of concern and contact. Every single atom in his body hurt and he wanted nothing more that to curl in his nest back in his den and sleep for days.

His warriors as well as Boarstar's gathered around him and Dreamstar gave them all a once over satisfied to see only a couple of scratches here and there. Nothing major. "I'm fine," he said aloud, trying to convince both his warriors and Boarstar that he was fine.

"And I'm a fish." Pandastripe muttered while Stonebreeze gave him a hard look that said he totally didn't believe him. Even Boarstar grunted in disbelief but he held his tongue. Pandastripe continued, "Come on, let's get you back to camp so Flamewhisker can get a look at you."

Dreamstar watched as Pandastripe attempted to take Boarstar's place at his side but the other cat would not budge. He sighed at the stubbornness and thanked StarClan that his deputy was just dense enough that he didn't immediately take a guess as to why. One glance at Phil and Dreamstar could see silent laughter in the older cats eyes. Snowstream and Yellowtail were snickering and trying to hide it until Phil turned to fix them with a look that sobered them up.

"Let's all go back to camp," Dreamstar said, stopping whatever words his deputy was going to say, "We'll all get checked over. It is the least we can do for you and your warriors Boarstar, after all you did come to our aid."

"Still wondering how they knew." Silverswipe muttered, eyes narrowed.

"That's easy mate," Phil spoke up from where he'd sat down, "We were on patrol in our territory when this kittypet came yowling about hearing some cats fighting and he thought they needed help."

"A kittypet?" Silverswipe echoed in disbelief, "why would a kittypet be this deep in Clan territory?"

"Does it matter?" Pandastripe interrupted, turning to fix his gaze on Silverswipe. "The important thing was they came and helped us and now we have a territory free of foxes and our leader didn't lose his life." The deputy moved himself to Dreamstar's otherside and Dreamstar couldn't help but noticed his fur was puffed up, from what he didn't know and made a note to ask later when the two did not have an audience.

"Pandastripe is right," Dreamstar said, a finality to his voice that would silence his warriors, "It does not matter how the help came but rather it did and right on time. I am not quite ready to hunt with StarClan just yet," his whiskers twitched in humor, "Now let's return to camp and once we're all checked over, then we may resume this discussion."