With a snarl, he flung himself at Squirrelflight. She reared and met his attack with a vicious swipe that raked his muzzle and sent blood spraying onto the rock. He spun toward her and hooked his claws into her shoulders, dragging her onto the stone. Leaping on top of her, he slashed her cheek with his foreclaws. She pushed up with her hind legs, flinging him away, and lunged at him with a yowl of fury as he rolled across the rock.
Rootspring leaped to the top of the waterfall and heaved himself over the edge. Squirrelflight was on Ashfur, churning his belly with her hind paws. The dark warrior gripped her neck between his claws and rolled her onto hers pine. She screeched with pain as she tried to twist free. Blood smeared the stone where she writhed. Showing his teeth, Ashfur dug his claws harder around her throat until Squirrelflight’s shriek became a strangled yelp.

Darkness Within, Chapter 25