Stormleaf_Arts

(Here ya go! I hope you like it!)

The mood in the camp was tense, on edge, and mostly fearful. Cats rushed around the camp purposefully, their claws moving out and in, worrying the grass around them. The cold leafbare worsened the mood of the clan, and the incoming snow did little to help it.

Oh, and the impending battle didn't help either.

Acornstar sighed as she watched her clanmates gather under her, ready for her to lead them into battle without a second thought. She wondered if this battle against the frightful DawnClan was worth it. "Okay. I want Beesting, Sunfeather, Lightfur, Canarysong, Hawksnarl, Vixenpaw, and Harepel-"

"Wait!"

Acornstar closed her eyes, heart thudding painfully in her chest. She knew the voice without having to look. Her medicine cat always had her back, but seemed to desert it in times of battle. He was wise, but not in the ways of leading the clan. He would never understand; never understand that battle was sometimes necessary. Especially when something so dire was on the line.

Preysqueak's small voice rose above all others, his gray pelt small and intimidated under the determined stares of the warriors. His timid and younger fellow medince cat, Ryestalk, stood by nervously. "Wait," he said again, losing some of his confidence. "We don't have to fight! I have an idea! A risky one, but if we pull it off, conflict, death, and pain would be avoided! Please, listen to me!" The last part was directed towards Acornstar, who was clenching her jaw. Preysqueak had a convincing tongue, but now was not the time to propose a stall for war.

"Preysqueak!" She snapped, temper flaring and her hair rising. "Let me do my job and I'll let you do yours. War is inevitable, you must understand." She stood tall, inclining his head as she fixed her icy blue gaze at her medicine cat. "Our deputy's life is on the line. There is no way to talk Dawnclan out of this. Step down." She glared sternly at him, willing the stubborn tom to quiet so she could lead the commands.

"Trade!" Preysqueak gasped quickly, like someone was grabbing his throat. "Make a trade!" His gray tail was flickering back and forth, ears laid down pleadingly.

Acornstar noticed her medicine cat's stance, and it piqued her interest. He never bowed down to anyone, that cowardly tom. No matter what. "Trade? Trade what?" She questioned quickly. Pumasnarl could be dead. She didn't have time for this!

"Trade someone. A member for a member." Preysqueak explained, ripping the dead grass below him to shreds. "Trade someone of equal status. Like me."