The reddish tabby nodded, knowing her daughter had already chosen the path of life. That's all she could've hoped for. "When it is your time, We'll be waiting in Starclan. With a warm welcome." She kissed the top of Buckpaw's head (and with the power of starclan healed most of her wounds - cause ya know). "I love you three, so very much. Berrypaw, watch out for your sister's alright? Bearpaw, touch as a badger, a fine warrior. My sweet Buckpaw, ever the surviver- just like your father." Robinflame said, glancing at her smallest daughter. "Ready to go?" And with that she returned.

Berrypaw helped Buckpaw to her paws, watching as their mother disappeared. He knew it wouldn't be the last time they saw her, but he was determined to grow old and become a great warrior! "Come on guys, let's go show our mum what we're made of."

Buckpaw groaned, turning her gaze on her mother. Whether she was ignoring the herbs on purpose or just didn’t see them was blatantly unclear. Her eyes were hazed with pain as she started to sob. They were light and uneven, breaking and coming together again. She flexed her claws.

“I don’t want to die, I want to grow up and become a strong warrior just like you...” she murmured to her mother between sobs. “I want to have kits and-and fight for my clan and... and I want to make you proud! I want to become big and strong and amazing like you! I want to be there for my siblings and, I... I want to live.”

Raccoonpaw smiled at her sister, leaning against her and purring. ‘She’s growing so much..’ she thought to herself before her gaze trailed back to Dottie.

“Yeah, sure. It would be great if you came along.“ it took all her willpower not to scowl. She loved Peachpaw and would do what she could to see her smile. If this cat made her happy, she would suck it up.

Peachpaw's response was immediate. The chance to start over, with two of the cats she claimed as her most trusted allies, seemed like the opportunity of a lifetime. "Yes," she chirped definitively, "Let's leave, like, right now. Please. That sounds great," she said, awash with relief. She didn't sense her sister's hesitation until she turned, and her smile faltered. For once, Peachpaw was the one to lend a reassuring paw, letting Raccoonpaw lean on her.

Beepaw watched on, "There's- there's no impatience in StarClan," she said with a dip of her head, trying to comfort her dying sibling. "You don't need to rush to us just because you think we miss you. Time flows differently- we miss you, but we know that we'll get you one day, and that day is always coming. You should stay here, Buckpaw- as long as you can."

Haypaw smiled, "Feels like the world is losing its tether on me," Haypaw said, feeling a frown tug at her freckled face. She looked down at her paws, up at Pippa, and down at her paws again. She'd never gotten the chance to grow up- and she never would, would she?

The cat sighed, and when her green eyes opened again, she was standing eye-to-eye with Pippa. The she-cat's body had aged, without scars, and she seemed adult and mature, even if it was ill-achieved.

"Death is as full of surprises as life," she said simply, "Are you going to journey with us to the barn or help Sunclan rebuild?" she asked her sister.

The red tabby queen gaze down at her children who stared back at her, uncertainty clouding their gazes. She wanted to wrap them up in her arms and never let go, but she knew she couldn't do that. "I can ease your pain Buckpaw. In death you are still living, Starclan is warm and welcomes you with open paws. You can also stay here if you wish too." Robinflame spoke, smiling down at her daughter while also keeping a gentle paw on her head. She was doing her best to ease her pain.

Berrypaw huddled closer, inspecting Buckpaw's wounds with a frown. He hid his concern well, but he knew if she chose to stay here it would only bring her more pain. "I think you should go with mom and Beepaw. She will probably need an extra paw in watching over us, besides you get to meet all the cool ancestors!" He smiled, trying his best to hide his sadness.

Ocelotstride nodded with enthusiasm falling over her. That and she did still feel ill and like a wave of pebbled pounded against her stomach too. The Bengal molly took Juniperspring to the camp, feeling happiness rush through her to be able to see her family and mentor again. (MC camp)

''It's not that easy like that Beepaw.'' Bearpaw said with a little hint of worry in her voice, looking at the eyes of Buckpaw.

----

Curlypaw examined Buckpaw's hind legs, and he was sure about one thing: she would be unable to walk for her entire life, she would not be able to hunt or fight like any other warriors, if she would survive, her spine was broken, this injury, this simple injury just changed Buckpaw life forever. ''She can live, but, she won't be able to recover her legs...'' Curlypaw sobbed, he avoided saying to the siblings about Buckpaw's life having more chances to not be saved at all. ''I-i'm sorry, but, nothing i can do to heal this injury...It is not two broken legs, it is a broken spine...'' The medicine cat meowed with a saddened voice, most of the herbs used in the den were lacking, but he still had hope that he could find something, and the only thing that he saw was daisy, and most of them were turning to dust, the tom picked up the ones that were not so brown enough and raced in the direction of Buckpaw, ignoring completely Pumastar, he let the flower fell in the ground, clawing the plant to only their leaves get separated. ''Hey! Hey!'' He called the apprentice.

Buckpaw sobbed with so much pain and anguish, slowly losing feeling in her hind legs. She closed her eyes a moment before opening them to focus on her mother. The starry pelt, the soothing eyes, the calming words. All else around her melded into white noise as she was focused on the words of her mother. The She cat’s sobbing eased as she started to breath slowly. Her spine was broken, if it was not made clear by the way her body laid on the ground. If she were to live, her body would be exposed to sickness and she’d run the risk of death anyway if she didn’t keep her upper body strong. She didn’t know any of this, and, well, if the medicine cat did, it would be a matter if they thought she was worth saving or not. She didn’t feel or notice all the cats that were pressed against her, nuzzling her, just the image of her mother’s starry pelt.

“Am I... am I going to die..?” She choked out the question no one would ever want to answer.

Winterpaw watched as her family, all members of Starclan, pressed against one another. She was alone now... all on her own. Her eyes darkened with sadness that she quickly pushed away. ‘They don’t need to worry about me, we’re together again, I can’t ruin that!’ Winterpaw shook herself and smiled at her father.

“Don’t be sorry. You’re always here for us. In our hearts...” she said, her voice a whisper. She then turned to press herself against them, and walk back home. (Eclipseclan Camp)

Pumastar nodded to the warriors of Starclan, silently praying she was doing a good job, before she turned and trotted out of camp. So much worry laid on her shoulders. She didn’t know if she was cut out for it.

‘not even a moon as leader and already thrown into such an awful battle...’ she thought to herself, clicking her maw. (Eclipseclan Camp)

Raccoonpaw listened to Peachpaw’s words with a sudden realization that she felt the same. She was caught off guard, however, to hear the rest of their family was Dead.

“Peachpaw..i think your right. They may say there will be no more battles, no more murder, but the ambition of cats will always get the best of them. i will leave with you Peachpaw. We can stand at eachother’s Side and fend for eachother. We can leave these awful memories behind and be free! Together we can get away... Will you come with me?” She looked down at her sister knowing she would say yes. She flicked her tail her looking down with a loving gaze at her sister.

"We've got time," Rattlesong said softly, looking up to her brother with admiration. "And when I do go, I'll be watching you. If the wind ever changes when you're hunting, that's me," she said with a laugh. She walked over and found Meadowclaw's body to be the lightest and the StarClan cat hoisted her mother over her silver pelt, and the she-cat departed for home, looking over her shoulder to make sure the rest of her family followed.

(MoonClan camp)

Marshmumble made the announcement, "EarthClan, let us go from this place."

Honeyheart helped gather the dead and the near-dead, a smile on her face despite the task, and began to journey home (EaC Camp)

Beepaw looked down on Bearpaw with a frown, "Oh, come on! Death isn't so bad once you get used to it," she said to Buckpaw, though her own brow was pricked with worry. She looked to Robinflame, is there anything we can do?

Snowpaw realized who the two were at Winterpaw's prompt and had to think hard to realize the implications, but in the end she simply melted in place and went for her father's warm chest, ducking her head into it.

"Don't apologize for anything," she sniffled, "I'm just glad to finally meet you. Let's go home." (EcC camp)

Haypaw nodded excitably, "I only got to see it for a second, but . . . yeah. Why'd you name me after the hay, mama? It's so scratchy," she said. At Peachpaw's departure, the she-cat leaned up and whispered in her mother's ear.

"In the field outside of SunClan- in the loner plains. Follow the clouds on the horizon to the south, and when you've hit a maple tree in the middle of a lone hill, look left, and there'll be a place for you and whoever comes with you to call your own. I . . . I could take you there now, but we would need to leave tonight," Haypaw decreed, stepping back and sitting down and licking her mercifully blood-free paw.

Peachpaw's tail stilled, "We'll never be safe here," she said after a long moment. She sniffled. "Me and you are the only ones left, Raccoonpaw. Sandpaw and Gullypaw . . ." an unsaid sentence. "Even Haypaw." For once in her life, Peachpaw felt a surge of refreshing bravery. Independence. "I- I don't think I'll ever be a warrior for SunClan. Our ***** of a mom ruined it for us. Everyone looks at us with the same accusation, and nothing can ever reassure me that something like this battle won't happen again, even if the cat gods themselves said it . . . I don't trust it. I want to leave before it happens again," she said with a shudder.

Fencerunner heard Dieselstar's thoughts through the art of dead cat telepathy and a frown briefly crossed the youthful cat's lips. She was just beginning to enjoy her freedom in death- the molly dipped her head, grateful when her mate steered the conversation away from one of her greatest secrets.

Of course Mosspaw had to bring it back up.

"Origam's Place," she said after a small moment. "Let's go to Origam's place?" she looked towards Dieselstar, one of her paws already raised to begin a break-neck race across EclipseClan's territory. Stars, to run again!

Bearpaw couldn't stay for more time, she heard the painful sobs of her sister, and quickly laid at her side, licking the sisters head. ''Curlypaw! Honeypaw! Please! Someone!'' She yelled, nuzzling her sister, who she was worried now, she was suffering too much, she was getting desesperated at this point.

---

Curlypaw heard Bearpaw's voice, and he reminded why he wanted to stay in the clan, he decided to follow the noble path of a medicine cat, he healed the sick, he helped the weak, he was needed in the clan. ''Sorry dad, but, i need to stay here, i help other cats but don't worry! I'll see you!'' He ran off before his father could say something, the dark brown kittypet observed his son in the shadows, he didn't know if the other cats would either attack him or not, or if they have seen him.

Curlypaw arrived at the scene. ''What she feels?'' He asked.

---

''Pain, too much pain...'' Meowed the reddish brown she-cat, she nuzzled more the poor Buckpaw, licking behind her ear.

The young calico removed herself from Dieselstar's pelt and sat down beside her siblings. She'd never felt so happy in her entire life. So much loss in a short amount of time, but seeing her family and the rest of the starclanners brought new life to the eclipseclanner. Mosspaw caught the look Dieselstar threw toward Fencewalker, confusion evident in her pale olive green eyes. It feels like they're hiding something? "What's wrong?" She inquired.

Robinflame sat down beside her daughter, touching a paw to her head and easing the pain. "My sweet Buckpaw, you look just like your father." The queen murmured, leaning down to whisper reassurances in her year. Berrypaw helped Bearpaw over to their sister, holding back the tears he had in seeing her pain. He leaned slightly on Beepaw, comforted by her presence.

Winterjay nodded to Winterpaw, smiling at the sight of his look alike. "We can all walk home together, back to Eclipseclan." He said and then turned toward Snowpaw. "I hope we will be able to get to know each other better. I'm sorry I wasn't there to protect you girls."

Buckpaw was NOT dead, but she was suffering immensely. Her body ached with pain as when she was thrown into the air, her spine had cracked upon the awful landing. She wheezed as her vision blurred. She looked up at her family, her spirit wavering between life and death as she fought to stay alive.

“I don’t wanna die mama.” Her voice shook with the effort of every word. “P..lease... I don’t.. I don’t wanna... I can’t..” she tried to stand, to embrace her mother and sisters, but her body crumpled beneath itself and she lay on the ground. There was no blood, nothing able to heal the mass amount of suffering that was going on in her body. She just sobbed. “Make it stop... please make it end..”

Winterpaw looked up as her sister’s spirit emerged from her corpse, tear lines visible on her once beautiful face.

“It should have been me...“ She murmured, “I should have died to save you and now...” she couldnt finish her sentence as she dug her claws into the ground and cried, cried and cried and cried. Soon, there was nothing left, and all she could do was sob without the satisfaction of tears rolling down her elegant face. She looked up, however, when she heard her father call to her. She looked at him, then looked at her blood stained paws, slowly making a connection.

“Papa?”

Racconpaw continued to wail for her sister, calling for her with such fear and worry, that tears threatened to poor down her face. She ignored the cats of Starclan, ignored the speech. She wanted nothing to do with them. She just wanted her sister, the only family she had left. When she spotted Peachpaw, it was like being named an apprentice all over again.

“Peachpaw!!” She shouted, meeting her halfway and weaving around her. She listened to Peachpaw’s words, a soft smile on her face. “Yes we did, it’s all over, we’re safe now, it’s safe.“ she cuddled her sister closely, not saying a word about her desire to leave the clans for good.

Pumastar’s gaze continued to search for Dieselstar, though soon giving up.

‘Shes proably busy with family, nothing to do with me.‘ She sighed, looking around. She didn’t expect to see any cat she knew emotionally, her mother never was one for formal gatherings. She sighed, her head lowered a moment before rising high.

“Cats of EclipseClan! It is time we take our leave and return to our beloved clan. Join me here as we shall take a head count. Warriors I ask that if you can, pick up the bodies of our deceased as we shall bury them on our way.“

Ocelotstride wasn't surprised at her mother's words, for something always told her that she belonged in MoonClan, the Bengal just couldn't figure out why. "I wish I would've known earlier, but it sure has been an adventure." The molly's blue-green gaze glowed as she held her family close for a moment before shifting away as she spotted Juniperspring. "I'll meet with you back at the camp as soon as I can." The three nodded, smilies stretching out on their muzzles as the watched Ocelotstride pad to her former mentor and bump her head playfully against the shoulder of the starry molly. "Hey, Juniperspring, you didn't think I'd forget about you, hm?" The molly asked with a small hum.

Cranestar dipped his head to the glistening Scorchedwings, recognizing the starry molly as a former deputy and elder before he had been so grateful to achieve his rank of leader. "Yes, it's time we go to the hills where we belong," The tall tom meowed, his deep voice allowing a low purr to escape. Although he had lost many cats, those whom he could call his friends, somehow a small smile was able to appear on his face. "SunClan! It's time that we travel back to camp any and all who are willing to help the injured get back, please do so."

A fond smile touched Juniperspring's lips as she spotted Ocelotstride conversing with a few family members from across the battle field. While the two had fought like weasels in a den through the cat's apprenticehood, Juniperspring had to admire her fire, even then, and could recognize the fine cat that Ocelotstride had grown to become. She turned away, allowing them some privacy.

Scorchedwings -a former SunClan deputy with a motherly bearing- approached Cranestar and gave a dip of her head in greeting.

"Let's take them home." She meowed.

Dieselstar purred as Mosspaw launched herself on her, practically knocking her down with the force of her enthusiasm.

"Careful there," She chuckled taking in the sight of her little family. Despite it all, the kits had all made it through the battle. She glanced toward Fencewalker, her expression turning serious for a flicker of a moment: we need to tell them.

The striped tom-cat gazed down at his mirror image, a purr erupting from his throat. "You were too young to remember us, but I'm your father and this is your mother." He hoped they'd warm up to him.

Mosspaw raced after Fencerunner, squealing in delight at the sight of Dieselstar. "Mom!" She screeched before throwing herself at the she-cat.

Ripplestream nodded toward Ocelotstride, happy the she-cat found a home within their little family. "Thank you for making Tidebreaker happy." She purred before letting the Bengal go and be with her own family. "Let's head home." She said. (MOONCLAN CAMP?)

"Thank you, Ripplestream, you know, I never got to tell you how much this means to me... How much you all mean to me. I know that I'm not the-well-the purest cat in the world, but I am so thankful." Ocelotstride welcomed the warmth of Ripplestream with a soft purr rumbling in her chest as she fought back tears. "I hope to be a mother as great as you soon." The Bengal's head pressed lovingly into the alluring, starry pelt of the mother before nuzzling her nose into Tidebreaker's neck fur. It only lasted a short moment, but through the wind Ocelotstride heard a strange, yet familiar voices ring through her mind like the whistling of leaves.

"We're right here, Ocelot..." "Come on, sis! Look over!" "Now, Lynx, she might not recognize us..." "Oh, of course she will!" The molly's beautiful gaze widened with surprise as she turned her head to spot three Bengals, one tall and a starry shade of brown, mirroring the spots of Ocelotstride herself. The other two were small, but still held similar features, aside from Lynx's cream-colored pelt. "That's my mother...A-and Lynx and Hush...How's that possible?" Ocelotstride's question was obviously rhetorical as she looked from Ripplestream and Tidebreaker in complete awe taking a couple steps towards them. "Well, you see, I used to be in MoonClan when I was young... Until your father wished to leave. Though I never did stop believing in StarClan hence why Lynx and Hush are here too...Your father and I were so young, Ocelot, and I had planned to take you to the clan that day we were hunting...But it seems as though you've made your way to here perfectly alright, and clearly have a wonderful family and mate too." Marsh pressed her nose to the ear of her daughter as Lynx leaned into her lovingly. "Sis, I can't believe it's been this long since I could talk to you! You won't believe how many times I've helped you out in arguments. Hush hates when I do that, but I can't help it! It's so much fun. Oh and you better have a name for kit made up for me too, I want her-I mean-its life to be the life I didn't have. Your handsome mate oughta know that too." Ocelotstride laughed as Lynx spouted out as many words from her lips as possible as though she were saving them up until now. "Heck, and I thought I had a stubborn streak," the molly meowed, giving her sister a soft nudge with her shoulder. "Runs in the family, just you wait." The gorgeous kit-aged molly mewed, soon giving Tidebreaker a wink.

---

"That's all I ever wanted to be to you." Dottie licked Peachpaw's head with love gleaming in her lovely eyes of amber before her gaze looked at all the starry cats. It was beautiful really, how all stars could now be seem from where they stood. Her gaze turned to see Haypaw, Pretty and Pippa racing down to meet her again, the molly showering them both with licks. "It's beautiful...Haypaw...Are you-are you saying that there's a barn up there too?"

Crimsonfox blinked, confusion simply settling in his yellow gaze of sunlight. "Mom..." His voice was hushed until he overheard Rattlesong's loud voice exerting. "Hm, well, Rattlesong. You look much cleaner now, so that's a plus." The color-point tom meowed with sarcasm gleaming into his voice. "I'm gonna miss you all when you go..."

Cranestar listened contently to Moonstar's words, only able to imagine what it would be like up in the sky. As his voice ended and Blossomstar's voice rose, the SunClan leader held an apologetic frown, but he knew what was done was done and couldn't be returned. His gaze turned to see Robinflame and Fenstrike and cats of those long before him. It was truly amazing.

Meadowclaw smiled mournfully- Blossomstar spoke as if he were still living. The she-cat looked to her children and to the tom. He would get to meet Pricklegaze now, and know what strong tom had caused Meadowclaw so much love and loss. A soft grief gripped her.

"We can all talk more at the end of the night," Meadowclaw said, "Once we bury our bodies. I think we can skip the vigil, though," Meadowclaw remained serious despite the humorous words. "At the end of the moon's phase, we will disappear to the stars, many of us for the first time. Until then, we walk with you, here, to put back what was made wrong in our lives. Let us make the most of this time in peace, enjoying the company of our ancestors and descendants," she said, and Meadowclaw moved to be the first one to turn to hoist the stiffening body of Rattlesong between her shoulders and begin the trek home. (MoonClan camp)

Snowpaw looked up at Winterjay and Moonsplash, tilting her head in confusion. She had been so very young when they had died.

"Wh-who are you?" she asked, her powers of deduction not very impressive.

Fencerunner smiled at Mosspaw, "Fine, Kitmoss. Let's go find your other siblings," she chuckled. She slipped up behind Dieselstar just as the former leader ended her joke.

"Hard to obey someone who's dead!" she said, joking macabre, "You're looking quite beautiful tonight. Or maybe its just the lighting."

Beepaw's existential crisis would not end for a long while, but the sight of Robinflame drew her like a moth to a flame and she, too, embraced their queen. She listened to the words and was pacified, her anger melting away and leaving a much different cat.

"That sounds . . . nice," she said softly, without the bite that had been present in life. "Let's do that, mom," she said with a nod.

Marshmumble gasped as she turned to Sparkpaw, his appearance as large of a surprise as her own rebirth. She embraced her son warmly, astral tears descending.

"Not even StarClan could've saved you from that monster," she said, "but I have ended him, and he will not bother anyone ever again. The world has no room for such evils. But it does have room for us, Sparkpaw."

"Even if you really were pest!" Honeyheart mewed, still traumatized, but finding her stride. She was so glad to see her brother again.

Marshmumble withdrew with her embrace, nodding to Honeyheart as Milfoilcloud asked her question. "Honeyheart, we should probably get these cats home. And you should come home as well. It's time you came back to EarthClan," she said.

Honeyheart's eyes had little heart-shaped eyeshines locked in them. She was beyond speech as she looked up at all of the StarClan cats around her- and Milfoilcloud. But she was pretty, and Honeyheart was pretty gay. "All of MoonClan's are, Milfoil. One of your warriors is pregnant though- Ocelotstride. I don't know how she got out of camp without me noticing. I'm sorry," she told the warrior.

Marshmumble looked to Sparkpaw, silence befalling them. "I'm so glad to see you again," she whispered.

''Buckpaw?'' Bearpaw was surprised, she never thought of the possibility of her other sister death, although she was stronger this time, and holded back her tears, she knew that one day she would join Starclan, and see her family again, it was just a long goodbye, she would be able to see them again, for the first time, Bearpaw smiled, their death could be violent but in the end they would just end up fine in Starclan. ''Mom, are you proud of me?'' She asked, looking like the same Bearkit that Robinflame had met.

Bearpaw looked at her mother with a intense feeling of warmth and protection, the same feelings that she had when she was a smaller kitten, she approached to the starry she-cat and head-butted her gently, rubbing her body agains't the reddish starry mother.

Ocelotstride's blue-green watched the cats with awe as Curlypaw bounded past her with the look of joy in his eyes, while tears began to sift through her gorgeous gaze. The Bengal sat alone, watching as loved ones met with their families and believing that hers would not be found within their beautiful pelts. All she ever wanted was to look into her mother's eyes again and be amidst her siblings just as Tidebreaker had seen his mother again. Her ears flattened at such the selfish thought whilst she made her way towards the family. "It's good...To see that you're all here together again...I was hoping that would happen one day." the molly meowed in a hushed voice, though silent sorrow shone in her face as she sat close to Tidebreaker. Sometimes, Ocelotstride seemed like too strong of a cat, as though she wanted to cry, but simply could not. 'I wish I could see my mother...Lynx...And Hush too. Just...Just this once.' Little did the molly know, they happened to there too.

Curlypaw felt more comfortable at Ocelotstride's support, even though he was still crying, until some weird sensation came in his whiskers, running through his body, something made him exit the medicine cat's den, he could see all the starry cats, even though he didn't had any faith in Starclan as medicine cats were supposed to have, the proof was outside, he could see the figure of Moonstar, he could recognize the faces of the dead cats that he could not save, all of them familiar, he was amazed, and scared by all their ghostly presence, he ran in the direction of all Starclan cats, jumping the dead bodies and the pools of blood that were everywhere, and he stopped to hear when Moonstar spoke, he nodded at the words of the long dead leader, he felt more happy to see the new rules that promote peace.

---

Bearpaw could see the starry cats everywhere, she was sure that it was Starclan, she tried to find Aspenleaf, Robinflame and Beepaw, but it was hard to see, so many cats in the same place... ''Berrypaw, have you seen mom? Or Beepaw?'' She asked, searching for them with her yellow eyes.

Moonstar's face was drawn in grief as he looked over the clearing and with the graceful movement of a born warrior, pounced onto a raised surface. He turned and settled, bearing the hundreds of eyes upon him with quiet assurance, and finally spoke: “May the cats of all clans gather here for a meeting.”

Milfoilcloud drew forward, followed, at some distance, by Burdockbone. Oxalispaw and Mulleinpaw, exchanging looks of fear and confusion, settled near them, their paws trembling as one of the starry cats sat behind them. All eyes remained on Moonstar as he addressed the clans, “I have long believed that it is the right of a cat to decide their own fate.” He paused, allowing his words to sink in. “As warriors, we choose to live lives that are not safe from harm, but to live lives that are worth the harm; as clans, we are honorable and brave, disciplined and loyal, but also proud and independent. For this reason, we of StarClan have abstained from interfering in the lives of the living. The clans, as the cats in them, have the right to determine their own paths, to make mistakes and learn from them, to live full lives free from the meddling of the generations of those who came before. But we have never abandoned you.

“We have watched; rejoiced for your triumphs and grieved for your pain. We wept for lost kits and hungry winters, for the loss of brave and kind warriors, struck down for their clans. But the warriors still fell. Tonight, dozens have fallen, all before their time, and all without cause. For this, I must beg your forgiveness. We all must use what we are given and we must use it to the best we can, however much or little help we have for the task. The Warrior Code arose from honorable intentions, but intentions matter little in the face of tangible consequences. We cannot allow the mistakes of a cat too young to have earned his warrior name to guide cats even younger than him to their deaths. We cannot become so used to horror, that we assume there is no other way. There is always another way. The cats of StarClan gathered tonight and, as one, we present you with a new way: The Ideals and The Code. We cannot promise you safety, but with you, we hope that the lives of our descendants will be those worth the risk inherent to our ideals.”

Moonstar bowed his head and began to recite, “Each clan has the right to be proud and independent, but in times of trouble they must forget their boundaries and fight side by side to protect each other. A threat to one clan is a threat to all. The safety of the clans as a whole is more important than the safety of one cat.

“A warrior protects those who are weak. A warrior must not neglect cats in pain or danger, even if the cat is an enemy. A warrior must not attack cats who are seeking help, even if the cat is an enemy.

“A warrior defends life. A warrior must not kill unnecessarily and must never risk the lives of others or their own life for frivolous reasons.

“A warrior’s strength does not make them capable of ruling; a warrior’s strength makes them capable of service. Deputies must be chosen by a majority vote of adult cats and approved by StarClan. A warrior may challenge a weak or cruel leader.

“A warrior chooses their path. A warrior may choose to leave their clan of birth and join another upon receiving their warrior name. Any adult cat sincerely wishing to join a clan must be given a trial period of a moon, during which time they are tasked with apprentice duties. “The Code: Every clan cat must follow The Ideals and live a life worthy of StarClan.

“Prey is killed only to be eaten. Elders, queens, and kits must be fed before apprentices and warriors. Unless they have permission, apprentices may not eat until they have hunted to feed the elders, queens, and kits. If any warrior or apprentice is sick or injured, they may eat while the elders, queens, and kits are eating.

“Warriors must not needlessly trespass or hunt outside of their territory. Territory boundaries must be checked and marked daily.

“Any adult cat may seek the guidance of StarClan at the Moonstone.

“A gathering of all clans is held at Hawk’s Tree on the night of the full moon. Any violence among the clans at this time is punishable by exile.

“A meeting of medicine cats is held at the Moonstone on the night of a half moon. During this time, the medicine cats may commune with StarClan in privacy. Any violence among the clans at this time is punishable by exile.

“Every cat within a clan has a role to play in protecting and serving their clan.

“Kits are precious and vulnerable. Kits must stay in the camp until they are apprenticed and may neither train nor hunt.

“Apprentices learn the ways of their clan, The Ideals, and The Code. Apprentices are responsible for training in the ways of their chosen path. A kit must be at least six moons old to become an apprentice. An apprentice must be at least twelve moons old and earn the approval of their mentor and leader to become a warrior or medicine cat.

“Warriors protect and provide for the weak. Warriors are responsible for training apprentices, hunting, and protecting the clan. Newly appointed warriors keep a silent vigil for one night after receiving their warrior name. After this vigil, warriors are sworn to uphold The Ideals and The Code.

“Queens ensure the future. Queens are responsible for caring for the clans’ kits. Queens are released from their duties as warriors or medicine cats for the duration of their stay in the nursery. Any cat may choose to become a queen and raise the clan’s young.

“Medicine cats heal. Medicine cats are responsible for treating the sick and injured and providing spiritual counsel. When a medicine cat apprentice has achieved the approval of their mentor and leader, they travel to the Moonstone to commune with StarClan and receive their full station.

“Deputies create order. Deputies are responsible for orchestrating clan life by organizing border patrols, hunting expeditions, and group training sessions. A deputy becomes clan leader when a leader or deputy dies, retires, or is exiled and may act in a leader’s stead if a leader is temporarily incapacitated. After a deputy position is vacated, the new deputy must be chosen before moonhigh.

“Leaders serve their clan. Leaders are responsible for mediating disagreements, performing clan meetings and ceremonies, enacting punishments for infractions of clan norms, The Code, and The Ideals, and making decisions that affect the clan as a whole. Upon sharing tongues with StarClan at their leadership ceremony, the new leader is granted nine lives with which they are expected to protect and serve their clan.

“Elders guide the clan with their wisdom and experience. Elders prepare the dead, provide counsel, and carry clan traditions, The Ideals, and The Code to the clans’ young. Cats become elders when they can no longer serve their clan as a warrior or medicine cat.”

Moonstar fell silent, allowing the living cats to reflect upon The Ideals and The Code before he spoke again. “We of StarClan will remain with you until the full moon, when we will return to our hunting grounds within the Starpelt. I pray that the living never have need of us again.”

Burdockbone struggled up to his feet, blood dripping from a long gash along his shoulder. His opponent seemed to hold back, adjusting her feet in a defensive pose, as his vision momentarily swam. He stumbled forward, trying to strike out at her, but his attack was plainly telegraphed and Milfoilcloud evaded it, instead going through with an attack of her own that left him sprawled out on the ground with a new bite opened on his shoulder and another, he anticipated, aimed for his neck.

But the bite never came. A hush descended upon the clearing and Burdockbone slowly opened his eyes to strange, glowing forms that slipped across the battlefield. The forms materialized into cats, their fur illuminated against the dimness of the room as if filled with twinkling starlight. The shapes seemed to deepen and fill out, their masses becoming real before his eyes as they took on individual character, and Burdockbone heard a hushed prayer from the MoonClan she-cat he had been fighting, who stood dumbfounded over him, still poised to deliver a deathblow.

Burdockbone stirred and the she-cat seemed to remember herself and step away, with a muttered reflexive apology that he could only return with a slight dip of his head. He found his feet under him once more, the ground slick with blood -- his own or others, he didn’t know -- and watched the otherworldly cats as they filled the camp, first a dozen, then two, then many more. At their helm was a large silver and white tom: Moonstar, Burdockbone realized, the father of the clans. He seemed so young, much younger than Burdockbone himself.

Eaglepaw's movements were based on reaction. Her nose was blocked with blood, she did not smell SunClan. She did not recognize the two from her clan- they'd just emerged from the nursery. Fatigue framed her mind. She made a mistake.

She lunged for her clanmate, Sandpaw, with lethal force, and crunched down on the neck of the new apprentice. She let go, retched blood, and then looked around for the little cretin who'd screamed. But Peachpaw was gone.

Eaglepaw stepped over Sandpaw and continued, looking for Dovepaw until the end.

Sandpaw stood, still too scared to move. She gazed at Eaglepaw, seeing that something was very off about her, but no matter what she did, her limbs refused to move. "Peachpaw..." she let out a whisper, barely audible. Her eyes were wide, her heart felt like it might explode, she could barely breath. "I-I can't..." she could barely form words.

Mulleinpaw and Oxalispaw huddled close to each other's sides, all of their past squabbles forgotten in this new desperate battle to keep each other alive. Gingerfall happened to pause in front of them to catch her breath, a mistake that soon proved to be fatal.

Mullinpaw spotted her first and pounced, sending the she-cat sprawling and trying to get to her paws, when Oxalispaw darted forward and went straight for her neck, giving the she-cat far too little time to respond before his sharp teeth took hold and tore back, taking her life with it. Mulleinpaw scrambled off, the death barely registering as she took up her brother's back again, a seemingly endless stream of EarthClan and MoonClanners before them, each encounter presenting a simple choice: them or us.

Pebblestorm ran into the battle, looking all around, overwhelmed by everything going on around her, trying to catch her breath and focus

Sandpaw stood of to the side, frozen in fear as she watched her clanmates dying left and right, and others killing other cats left and right. She was terrified

Gingerfall wanted nothing more than to be in camp right now, playing with the kits in the nursery. She hates fights, she didn't want to be here, surrounded by death and destruction.

Blossomstar's death wasn't quick, but he felt no pain- thank starclan for that. He appreciated Meadowclaw's presence, it calmed him and helped alleviate some of his grief. "I wish I'd been a better leader and a better friend to you." He coughed, nudging her side. "Who will you complain too once i'm gone?" He hoped his teasing words would help. He didn't want her to be sad, he only wished for her happiness. He laid his head down and passed quickly after the words left his mouth.

Blacknose nodded his head toward his deputy, a silent goodbye as she left them. He was grateful for having known her and he'd do everything in his power to protect his clan as well as the kits she left behind. The large black and white tom heard Ocelotstride's protests and turned away from the mother-daughter scene. He followed her voice to the nursery and smiled at her. "Come on mom." By now, most of the battle field knew their was a new queen on the grounds. "Let's go find Tidebreaker."

Mosspaw found her Fencewalker's body and finally started to cry. She plopped herself down next to the elder's mangled body and wept into her pelt. She lost too much. First Dieselstar and now her other mother.

Berrypaw glanced at his sister, letting the she-cat lean on him for support. "I could've sworn I heard mom's voice." He said.

Fencewalker's corpse lay openly, the elder slain by a clean cut to the throat, but otherwise unmarked. She had barely put up a fight towards the MoonClanner who had looked down on her with distaste- only asked for a moment to reflect on her mistakes. She died at peace, her eyes closed, the final of her nine lives taken from her swiftly as her heart stopped beating before it ran out of blood to pump. There was no smile on her face; but there was no anger either.

Meadowclaw leaned down and comforted her leader, rasping her tongue over his brow in the way only a mother really knew how to. She heard Tidebreaker speak and was surprised at the maturity there- if he survived Cranestar, he might make a fine deputy one day.

"There was nothing you could've done. This was inevitable- and its not your problem anymore. Not now," Meadowclaw said, easing him down. The blood was warm between her toepads. Fresh.

"Blossomstar- I-" she squeezed her eyes shut, looking away, "I need you to know that its okay. I don't blame you. No one else, will either, or I'll strike them down. For they are wrong. StarClan, I-" at the mention of StarClan, a strange tug pulled at Meadowclaw's throat and she stopped talking. Her next words were whispers.

"I love you."

Marshmumble was in no shape to redirect her attention towards her clanmates. Jupiter had lain her bare, his claws scalping her of the skin of her shoulder, laying muscle and bone to the open air. It was a gruesome wound. Marshmumble was unable to stand on it, and walking pained her much more. It wept blood. But it was nothing compared to the scratch that sailed from her neck to her haunch. A trickle came from Marshmumble's nose.

She shook as she looked at Jupiter's body, but did take Blacknose's words to heart.

"Thank you for your help," she said to him, laying down, "But- I- I don't think I'll be able t-" Marshmumble fell over, passing out promptly.

Honeypaw didn't see her mother fall, but she sensed she had to exit the medicine cat den. Fresh air- fresh wounds. Stars, there is no end. She was drawn, though, to her mother's side, and in an instant her cool persona melted and the medicine cat was in hysterics.

"Mom!" she wept openly over the body, seeing the blood, seeing there was nothing to do. There was, once again, a tale as old as a thousand years, too much blood being lost, and too little to do about it.

But Honeypaw tried. She had to.

Marshmumble startled back with a shocked gasp as Honeypaw's paws pressed on the mortal wound- pain flipped behind her eyes. She screamed. Honeypaw looked on in fear at what she'd done. "Honeypaw- wh-wha?"

"Mama It's okay- I-I'm gonna save you. Everything will be okay-" "Honeypaw,, listen- it's-it's okay. Tell daddy I love him." "Mama, no- I can't- no-" Honeypaw wept. "You're going to do great, Honeyheart. Sometimes, the worst part of being someone important is learning when to let go. I love you."

Marshmumble's eyes clouded, her face a grimace. She left Honeypaw- Honeyheart -weeping over her corpse, and a very confused onlooker nearby.

The large Moonclanner huffed out a breath, chest rising and falling at a ragged pace. His golden eyes were glazed over and some part of him knew these were his last moments among the living. Blossomstar coughed, chest convulsing as he breathed in the stench of death. He could have avoided this- he realized. Back in camp he had chose the path of battle and now- he couldn't see how many but he knew most of his clan mates had fallen. The sound of Tidebreaker's voice paired with Meadowclaw's had him shifting. He wanted to see them both and apologize for the pain he'd cause. He managed to prop himself up, tears stinging his eyes. "I'm so sorry." Blossomstar choked out, the once stoic like tom was now reduced to a pile of tears and blood. "I couldn't protect them."

Tidebreaker stood his ground, ocean eyes set of Cranestar and the other sunclanner. Moonclan had come here to prove a point, it had unfortunately been lost somewhere with the tension that pit the clans against each other. "I ask you to stop this meaningless fight. Too many have died here and I don't speak just from Moonclan's point of view. Look around us, what good would it do you to continue?" The black and white tom spoke with finality, but he knew the leader would choose what he thought was right. His mind drifted toward his mate and he wished she was by his side in that moment. Her presence always seemed to chase his fears away.

Blacknose, alongside Marshmumble, had finally been able to bring Jupiter to his knees. He'd been surprised by the cats skills in battle and his speed was unmatched, but Blacknose was skilled in his own right and Marshmumble's motherly rage had helped to defeat the killer. The havana brown cat lay amongst the dead but he was headed straight to the dark forest. The earthclanner turned toward his deputy, a slight frown marring his features. "It's over Marshmumble, we need to gather our clan-mates and put an end to this fight." He said, glancing away to scan the crowd for his son and daughter-in law.

A young calico she-cat sat at the edge of the carnage, her white, grey and ginger calico pelt was stained red with blood- whether it was her own or her enemy's, she couldn't tell. Probably both. Her anger over he mother's death had been her fuel, it spurred her on and helped her end lives. Bile rose, threatening to spill out and add to the scene before her, but she refused. Mosspaw needed to remain strong. The fight was ending, she could tell it was drawing to a close. She padded toward the nursery, hoping to find a familiar face, maybe Oxalispaw or Mullienpaw.

Berrypaw sat by himself, having become useless to the healers quite some time ago. Most of their patients succumbed to their wounds. Bearpaw would be find, but Beepaw was gone and he had no idea where Buckpaw had gone. His heart clenched, a painful feeling as he let the tears fall. They'd lost so much and in the aftermath of that massacre, he finally could see how many lives were gone. Berrypaw.... The sound of his name being called caught his attention. He jumped to his paws, green eyes frantically trying to locate the voice. It was so familiar.. it sounded just like moms.

Meadowclaw screamed in alarm at Peachpaw's ferocity. It seemed the cutesy apprentice was cut from a different clothe- but her claws were just as sharp as her own. Meadowclaw tousled to get out of her grip, all the while listening to a barrage of profanities from the young cat's mouth. In the end, Meadowclaw threw her hard against the door and left Peachpaw with a dangerous wound to the underbelly before running off, spooked. This was a battle the likes of which Meadowclaw had never seen. She would never admit it outside the trusted confines of her own mind, but she was terrified.

She scanned the main room critically. Only a few tattered fights still broke out, pathways between the carnage connecting them along with cats who moaned for death. Meadowclaw was forced to step over them, abandoning the bodies of her family as she searched for revenge. The few cuts Haypaw and Peachpaw had given her already stung, but she had to ignore them.

She spotted a large black shape lying in the dust- only one cat could've fulfilled such a space. Near him, Cranestar, Meadowclaw devised. And another SunClanner. And a cat, standing protectively over Blossomstar- such a small one, though. Meadowclaw's subconscious formed around his name but her heart didn't know- Tidebreaker.

She ran to defend, hoping she could make up for the guilt of her absence. She was still ready to fight, even if everything around her decayed into a screaming mess of blood.

"Blossomstar," she said, sniffing his wounds- StarClan, this was bad, and there was little to do but watch on and defend him so he could die slowly. What sort of victory was that? The warrior glared up at Cranestar and the enemy SunClanner, but trusted Tidebreaker to keep the peace while she spoke with and comforted the dying tom.

Blossomstar fought valiantly against Cranestar's advances, but it didn't help that another Sunclanner came to aide his leader. Blood cause his pelt to ling heavily to his sides and his breathing was ragged. He knew he'd die from blood loss- he'd already lost two lives to this fight. He was a formidable fighter, even two against one. He just wish he could see Meadowclaw again and apologize for being unable to protect her kits. He felt his paws give way underneath him, large body thumping against the already red stained floor.

"Blossomstar!" Tidebreaker called from where he stood, adrenaline spurring his movements forward. He pushed Cranestar aside, ocean blue eyes focusing on his leaders battered body. The unnamed sunclanner attacked the black and white tom, but unfortunately was no match for the Moonclanner. Tidebreaker growled and refused anyone who tried to get at his leader.

(EAC) Blacknose stared at his deputy for a few moments, a frown spreading across his face. He knew she was right and there had always been something off about Jupiter. Instead of prying Marshmumble away from the rogue, the black and white tom-cat joined her. If they were keeping the clans safe by killing Jupiter, then so be it.

The tom ran off in true MoonClan fashion, leaving Peachpaw panting and alarmed as she looked around dumbfoundedly. She looked to Raccoonpaw and buried her head in her sister's soft chest, feeling the need to cry but knowing now was not the time nor place to do so. She took a deep breath and withdrew.

"Wait a second," she said softly, "Where'd Haypaw go?" she said, looking around in terror. Dottie would have her tail.

Curlypaw looked at Bearpaw's face, he noticed that she was revealing her yellow eyes slowly. ''Thank you.'' Mumbled Bearpaw to Curlypaw and Berrypaw, she was still tired, the brown tabby tom didn't heard her words, his attention was to the new cat in the den, he noticed her belly a little more bigger than normal for a cat. ''What a great time to be pregnant.'' He complained tiredly, and approached to Ocelotstride, it looks like Honeypaw already treated her wounds.

----

While this, Bearpaw tried to stood, but she was too tired to even move. ''Buckpaw...'' She mumbled, her pupils moved in hope to see her sister, but there are no signs, not even her scent was present here, she got worried, but she could do nothing until she got more strenght, she was sad but she didn't showed her sadness.

"Murderer!" Marshmumble shouted as she clawed for Jupiter even as he wriggled out from underneath her heavyset paws. She lashed for his throat, slow though she was, obviously no longer in self defense mode for the first time in her life. "Rapist! Kit-killer!" she said, flashing a look to Jayflower and Blacknose with sheer animosity towards the tom she attacked. Jupiter may be her own clan mate, but Marshmumble saw him as public enemy number one. And if either bystander had sense, Marshmumble hoped they'd sense her tone and join the depiuty in dispatching the true threat.

Honeypaw helped Ocelotstride into the den, past Swivelstrike and Tidebreaker, and treated her wounds- they were, thankfully, non-deadly, though Honeypaw worried for the she-cat's kits. She would tell the queen later- now was not the time.

She continued over and spared a look to Berrypaw. Curlypaw and Bearpaw were working diligently, and Honeypaw looked towards the wounds with a shock- they had stopped bleeding. StarClan had answered her prayers.

"Leave her now- she'll be fine," she told Curlypaw before busily hurrying towards another needy soul. Something took over her paws, something supernatural, and the herbs flashed in images in her mind instead of words. From that moment onwards, her prayer sounded over and over again, and Honeypaw repeated her wish to never have to close the eyes of another cat for the last time.

Haypaw was unaware of the sequence of events that led to her separation from her family. She'd run away after Raccoonpaw leapt towards the tom that had attacked Peachpaw, a scratch on her tail from Peachpaw biting it. She looked around, absolutely frozen in terror, and every direction seemed blocked by blood or bodies. She had lost sight of Dottie, or of anybody friendly, and the kit-apprentice's green eyes were wide as she searched any face for signs of friendliness, that it was okay to approach. She still hoped this would all end. Dottie had promised a barn.

Curlypaw felt more pressured when he heard Honeypaw saying that now Berrypaw had to do what he says, he didn't want to bring someone to their death, the she-cat was still bleeding so he put a few cobwebs, luckily, she didn't had many large wounds, he was sure that Bearpaw will survive. ''Berrypaw, take a look at the herbs that we have, please?'' He meowed, a little less sad, because he knew that he could save someone, even with the few herbs that he had.

Honeypaw stepped aside and laid her ear to Bearpaw's chest in triage as Rumbleheart brought her in. She failed to recognize the sibling relation between Bearpaw and Berrypaw, but she didn't have to. She sniffled as she looked over the wounds- the blood was already slowing on its own. Honeypaw closed her golden eyes, laid her tail over Curlypaw's head to still him, and spoke aloud a prayer she'd learned in the company of MoonClan's camp.

"StarClan, recognize this apprentice's will and return her to us, touched by your grace and mercy. If it is her night to hunt the forest of stars, I beg you to take her swiftly," she said before beginning work in cooperation with Curlypaw. They were running out of herbs; Honeypaw was able to reuse a poultice- bloody though it was- on one of the worse-bleeding cuts. She stepped back after a moment, wiping the blood from her chin like a hospital smock. She knew she'd heard her name from somewhere . . .

She spotted a tense scene from the entrance and coldly regarded Berrypaw. "Go put pressure on that cat's wound. Don't let up or she could die. Do whatever Curlypaw tells you to do and she might yet live," she said, commanding her crossclan peer with a sweetness to her voice that was almost overshadowed by her jaded tiredness. She slipped back, her attention forced to Ocelotstride's bleeding form, Tidebreaker's aggression, and Swivelstrike's understandable denial of entry.

Honeypaw was forced to approach the enemy warrior, though her tail quaked. She could only hope the tom would recognize her from the one gathering she attended- where she'd stepped alongside Endlessdream to save Fencewalker's kittens from a bloody miscarriage.

"EclipseClan warrior," she addressed Swivelstrike, her eyes on Ocelotstride, "There are no clans in this den, only herbs and helpful paws. Please, let that queen through," she said, shocked that Ocelotstride had even slipped her own attentiveness. How had Honeypaw let her go to battle? And now she was bleeding . . .

Marshmumble skidded across the carpet at Jupiter's tossing. Her face, so matronly and characteristic among her clan as a figure to watch over them, was twisted into an ugly snarl, "You know no rules but your own, Jupiter!" she shouted with venom, spitting clear, "Seeing you kill this cat-" a glance towards the defeated Smallfoot, "-and knowing what you've done and threatened to do . . ."

She drew her claws in, freeing her to leap across the carpet. Hell had no fury like Marshmumble, armed with revenge for her fallen sons and the need to protect her new litter that dozed back in Moonclan's camp. Her teeth were her chosen weapons, yellow though they were with age. Her humanitarian mission was forgotten

"I didn't know until now." Ocelotstride clenched her teeth and lashed her tail at the Eclipseclanner's words, wanting so much as to claw at her face, and she really would have too, for Tidebreaker knew just how much she wanted to fight. Though, now her head spun a little, the scent of death and blood, mixed with her body made her feel absolutely sick to her stomach. It was a strange feeling that was certain and Ocelotstride didn't know how to feel about it. It wasn't long before Tidebreaker ushered her along while carefully watching Swivelstrike's every movement. "Tide...I feel so sick.." The Bengal's voice was quiet, more of a mutter than a whine, however. "Do...you really think it's possible...To save the clans as they are now?"

Cranestar noticed the sudden distraction the Blossomstar now had upon him, and with that, the tall tom took it as a sign to attack once more. He aimed his teeth straight for the neck of the large tom, done playing around. So many of his cats were now dead and he was ready to damage MoonClan.

Silhouettechase let out one last scream, her eyes closing at the teeth of the tom clamped against her throat, blood pooling into her mouth as everything around her began to dim. The last thing that she saw were the fearless eyes of the MoonClanner, then her head tipped back as her neck snapped, and there she was, lying on the coldness of the floor, dead.

(MC) The black and white tom-cat growled at Swivelstrike's words, upset by her accusation. He wasn't here to cause unnecessary death, he was here because his leader asked him to be. "I wasn't going to disobey my leader. While I may disagree with his intentions, It's my duty to battle for my clans sake. But it seems both sides were out for blood. I will not fight you, but if you force my paws I will have no choice but to protect myself and my mate. I'm going to try and stop this before too many cats are sent to an early grave you can either help or stand aside." Tidebreaker stated. He wasn't going to allow for this- he would do something even if that meant for his death in the process. Please Starclan. We could really use your help right about now. He ushered Ocelotstride along but he held Swivelstrike in his gaze at all times.

"Honeypaw!" He called for the apprentice, a sad smile capturing his lips. He caught the tail-end of her conversation with a young sunclanner- a little upset at her words. "You can't lose hope, not yet."

(SC) The reddish furred tabby tom flattened his ears, green eyes swimming with so many emotions it made him dizzy. He didn't appreciate Honeypaw's negativity, but he understood where it was coming from. "No." He said, "I refuse to leave. Any cat will most likely need help after the dust clears. I don't care from which clan- we need to have faith." He agreed with the new warrior who approached.

(ECC) Mosspaw sucked in greedily, trying to fill her lungs with as much oxygen as possible. That fight had been her first and while she had pride in her heart, it was slightly unsatisfying. She hadn't meant to kill the Earthclanner, but casualties in battle could never be avoided. Those words were the same ones Tigermask had preached to her just before while they trained for this very battle. The young calico shifted her attention to the rest of the room where blood splattered the carpet and furniture like paintings. A sigh left her lips and she found herself dodging more claws as she was thrown back into the heat of the battle. (SOMEONE IS MORE THAN WELCOME TO ATTACK HER)

(EAC) Jupiter was startled when he was firmly pinned to the grown, but a grin captured his lips again at the sight of Marshmumble. "Hi lovely." He purred, using his back legs to push him upward. He jerked the she-cat offer and twisted around to face her. "Attacking a clan-mate, isn't that against the rules?"

Firelight Firelight hissed as the other cat came down at his limb. He heard a sickening sound winced. Though it didn't break it was messed up in some way. He pushed the other cat off of him, holding his injured leg in the air. He glared at the other cat. His wasn't one to back away from a fight. But he had to if he wanted to live. But he wasn't leaving till he made a mark on this cat. He lunged forward claws out.

Curlypaw was pretty busy with all the cats in the battle, his efforts seems useless, the stock of herbs was ending, and some cats who he saved just came to the battle again to be killed off, others just die in his paws, a few still lived, but they kept in the medicine cat's den, which was not so big, ''Please go, Honeypaw is right, there's nothing to do here that can help effectively in the battle.'' He meowed with tears in his eyes to Berrypaw. then, he saw Rumbleheart, who dragged probably a lifeless body of a apprentice. ''Bring this corpse out of me! We have enough of them.'' He yelled hopeless, but when he put his thoughts in order, he noticed that it didn't make sense for the deputy give to the medicine den a already dead cat, Curlypaw approached to Bearpaw with curiosity, and he heard the she-cat breathing, she was alive, although there are no herbs to take care of her sudden loss of consciousness , the brown tabby tom dragged Bearpaw into a corner in the den, it was hard, she was heavy and large. ''She is alive, is just a matter of time to wake up.'' He meowed to Rumbleheart and Honeypaw.

*SC*

The SunClan she-cat felt dizzy as sorrow pulled her heart down to her stomach. Rumbleheart stopped amongst the fighting, losing sight of every cat around her when she noticed her dear friend, Pretty, lying on the ground, lifeless. She didn’t want to accept it. It hurt, more than anything ever had. “Why… why can’t we just stop all of this?” She choked on her own words, tears spilling from her eyes. How much longer would this fight rage on?

Through the blur of her tears, not very far from her, she saw a mass of red-brown fur tumble over, and figured: she must be dead, too. Without really registering what she was doing, she trudged forward to the feline, recognizing her as Bearpaw. Rumbleheart lowered her head to touch her nose to the Apprentice’s forehead, mourning not only her, but Pretty, too. She was still as stone as she sent a prayer for each of her clanmates whose lives had been taken too early.

Then, she heard Bearpaw breathe. Rumbleheart lifted her head again to look down at Bearpaw’s chest, and watched it rise and fall. She’s not dead, she thought, eyes widening in shock. Hurriedly, she took Bearpaw’s scruff in her mouth and carefully pulled the she-cat out of the way of the center of the battle, making her way to the medicine cat’s den. You won’t die...

*EcC*

Endingday’s white and black fur was now spotted with bright red. It dripped down his pelt where Firelight dug his claws into. His eyes flashed with determination; he would not back down until this cat turned tail to run, or begged for his life to be spared. Instead of pulling out of Firelight’s grip, he turned and dropped his weight down on the tom’s limb, his goal being to either break or, at the least, sprain the other's paw or leg.

Swivelstrike lashed her tail side to side. She almost felt the need to laugh out loud in disbelief at Tidebreaker’s words. “You shouldn’t be here, then, don’t you think?” She returned his gaze, seeing clearly the foolish sincerity in his blue eyes. Coming to the conclusion that the two MoonClanners were no immediate threat to her, she turned her head, practically pointing her nose up at them, but sweeping her eyes across the blood-drenched camp. “What can you possibly do to stop the bloodshed? It seems you only want to save your own skin,” her tone was light, but scathing all the same. “This battle will only end once every capable Warrior is maimed or dead… Or, running with their sorry tails between their legs out of Raven’s Fortress.” She glanced back at the two, narrowing her eyes slightly. Of course, she hadn’t failed to notice the other she-cat’s unique scent; above the sharp mingling smells of blood and death, it stood out, and, as she looked on, Swivelstrike contemplated whether or not it was in her to hold the death of a queen on her claws.

Grousethorn didn't pause to take in Silhouettechase's words and in the heat of the battle, they barely even reached his ears as he stuck his head down onto her neck and mercilessly bit down, not stopping until he heard a pop and she completely stilled under him.

Bearpaw was impressed as well, her opponent, who just died at her paws complimented her skill, and while she was suffering, and coughing blood, which made her regret her choice, even though she was the enemy, she noticed that it was the worst mistake she could ever done, because Aspenleaf was a good warrior, with her own life, not all the cats wished the war, and not every cat approved such barbarian choices.

''May Starclan light your path.'' She meowed at Aspenleaf, even though she was unable to respond.

The young apprentice spitted the blood of the once living warrior in the ground, she moved away from the corpse, she was having some confusing conflict in her mind, it was so stressful that Bearpaw dropped her body, her confusing feelings made her faint, she was left in the bloody battle unconscious.

(EcC) Silhouettechase had little time to let go of Cedarclaw's neck when Grousethorn slammed her straight down into a pin, her spine cracking under the strength of MoonClanner. She let out a shattered yowl and visible tears began to cloud her eyes when she realized that she could not move the lower half of her body. "I-I made it quick...So h-he didn't suffer..." The beautiful, Turkish Angora mewed in her whispery voice, her ears flattening with fear.

(MC) Ocelotstride stopped dead in her tracks when Swivelstrike flexed out her claws, the lovely molly's first instinct was to bare her teeth, however she did not. There was a new, very fragile scent that mingled with the MoonClanner, forest smell. That of a new Queen who had yet to have kits of her own. Ocelotstride wasn't going to take that chance anymore. She backed herself up, close to Tidebreaker, her blue-green widening and didn't say a single word.

Firelight quickly ducked, but not quick enough. The claws of the other tom caught his forehead very close to his eyes, just above. That was so close. He turned his body to dig his claws into the other tom. He hissed in pain and clenched his jaws.

Endingday ripped his leg away from Firelight's teeth, leaving a gash in his skin. He hissed at the pain, and growled when the tom effectively threw him to the ground. He was quick on his paws, however, and charged forward once again, using both of his paws to swing his unsheathed claws at Firelight's face.

Bearpaw felt a little more empathy for the cat she was attacking, but she immediatelly ignored that feeling, she put more strenght in her jaws and the blood kept going, she wanted the end of the fight, she wanted the death of the older she-cat.

Aspenleaf knew dead was at her den. She fought back with all of her power. Kicking, clawing, biting, anything to get away from this blood thirsty apprentice. She panicked slightly not wanting to die at the paws of a worthless apprentice.

Silhouettechase was not the strongest cat in the world, but in this battle she prepared herself to do anything. The Eclipseclanner recognized the tom for a moment from the gatherings previously held, and her big, copper eyes knew very well how he acted around the other clans, that she did remember. She was fast and uninjured from the battle aside for a small claw mark on her ankle from a flailing cat. "I-I'm sorry, but I must do this...F-for my clan's sake." Her shuddering voice flowing in the deathly air as she aimed her fangs straight for the neck of Cedarclaw.