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Ivypaw took a deep breath, the rancid smell of the Dark Forest making her nose wrinkle and fur stand on end. She opened her mouth, trying to scent Hawkfrost amongst the decay, but all was met with rotten bark and mushrooms.
She sank her claws into the mud, cloying and sticking on her paws.
A soft step sounded behind her, making Ivypaw jump, and turn around, her neck fur bristling.
Mapleshade, a ginger and white she-cat, eyes cruel and dark from her time in the Place of No Stars.
Her breath was fouler than the trees around them, and Ivypaw wanted nothing more than to wake up. She could feel Mapleshade traipse around her, the tail on her spine that caused her to flex her claws, and brace to run.
She felt it, the shift in the Earth, the moment before Mapleshade pounced. It was an all too frequent greeting to her nights, Mapleshade’s presence and attack. It made her fur bush up, and a shiver run down her spine.
Just before Mapleshade landed, Ivypaw lashed out, sharp claws making blood spray from the older she-cats muzzle, before she bunched her hind legs, and fled through the forest. She kept her ears pricked for sound of fights, or anything that suggested other cats, only stopping at the slick black liquid that they called a “River”.
She halted at the bank, claws barely stopping her from tumbling in, with no Hollowpaw to save her, not this time.
Ivypaw could feel Mapleshade behind her, but before the she-cat could make it into the clearing, Darkstripe slunk in, Hawkfrost at his heels.
She lifted her head, and bounded over him, ignoring Darkstripe’s scorn.
At least Mapleshade wouldn’t disturb them. Not while Hawkfrost was here.