Chapter 6

We are all going to die, we are all going to die, we are all going to die, the thought repeated in Flowershadow's mind over and over again as she tried to sleep. She laid beside Rowanberry and Clawface in Cinderpelt's den. Both of them were fast asleep. However, Flowershadow was wide awake, unable to banish the stiffness that had taken over her whole body. The battle was tomorrow. The battle that would decide the fate of everyone in the forest. Flowershadow was determined to end her father's reign of terror once and for all, no matter what it took. This couldn't go on any longer. I should've helped Stonefur… Firestar, Graystripe, and Ravenpaw were right there, they could've helped us fight… But was it a fight they would've won? To Flowershadow, that hardly mattered. She had done nothing but follow blind determination. Determination to please her father, to become a warrior, to best even her own clanmates in battle. All of it sacrificing the right thing to do. Guilt ate away at Flowershadow as she ruminated about everything she had done. She sat up. Her claws were still sunk deep into the earth.

"Flowershadow," a voice groaned. Flowershadow glanced down at Clawface, who strained his eyes open with a yawn. "You already awake?"

"Already?" Flowershadow squinted through the fern tunnel. A sliver of sunlight streamed through the ferns. "I was up all night?!" she groaned.

"Great Starclan!" Clawface exclaimed, sitting up to meet her gaze. "You're that stressed about the battle?"

"Sort of…" She gazed at her paws… her bloody paws. How many cats had been needlessly injured at these paws?! "I've been thinking… a lot… I've done so much wrong… blindly following Tigerstar's orders… killing Stonefur. I should've done more to stop it… all of it, it's my fault." Clawface was silent. There was a flicker in his eyes: was it ...sympathy? Flowershadow had never seen it before, especially not from him specifically.

"I understand that��" Flowershadow took a step back. That was not the response she was expecting at all. "Regret… doing things you know are wrong because your leader ordered to and don't see any other option but to obey…" Clawface cringed, his own memories obviously creeping into his mind. "My paws are filthy from the same thing."

"Which leader?" Flowershadow asked. She couldn't recall Tigerstar making Clawface in particular do anything so horrid.

"Brokenstar, mostly," he replied, taking a step closer. "At least Tigerstar ordered you to kill Stonefur… Brokenstar gave me no such order about Spottedleaf… but I killed her… because… because…"

"You didn't know what else to do," Flowershadow finished.

Clawface froze before nodding. "Yes." He stepped closer. "Hey… I, uh, want you to know that what you did... betraying your father to save those cats… was incredibly brave. Starclan will honour you for it."

"Thanks, but that's not why I did it."

"Then why did you?"

"Because…" Flowershadow dipped her head. "It was the right thing to do." Clawface smiled. After a while, the rest of the cats awoke. Many of the warriors and apprentices followed Firestar to Fourtrees. Everyone else stayed behind with the deputy, Whitestorm, to guard the camp in case of an attack. They padded up the slope to Fourtrees. Flowershadow huddled beside Bramblepaw and Clawface in the bushes.

"Why are we standing about?" Cloudtail demanded, padding up to stand beside Firestar. "Let's get on with it."

"Not until I know what's going on," Firestar replied, flicking his tail "For all we know, we could be walking into an ambush." The leader turned to face his cats, raising his voice so they could hear him. "You all know why we're here, Tigerstar wants us to join his Clan, and he won't take no for an answer. I'd like to believe we can get out of this without a fight, but I can't be sure." Cloudtail flicked Firestar's shoulder with his tail, pointing across the hollow. Everyone glanced in that direction. A black and white tom padded toward them from the moor, a battalion of warriors behind him.

"Good, Windclan are here," Firestar mewed. "Let's go and meet them." He flicked his tail at his warriors, gesturing for them to follow. The patrol padded onto the moor. Tallstar and Firestar stopped to face each other.

"Well met, Firestar," the Winclan leader mewed, dipping his head. "This is a black day for the forest."

"It is indeed," Firestar replied. "But our clans will stand for what is right by the warrior code, whatever happens." Flowershadow nodded, taking a step forward. The Windclan warriors stood strong, despite the attack on their camp yesterday. Flowershadow stood taller. A rush of determination now flooded her. We're going to win today. I will fight until my final breath to restore the warrior code.

"Lead on, Firestar." Tallstar dipped his head to Firestar. The ginger tom dipped his head to the Windclan leader, turning with a wave of his tail. The two groups merged into one. Flowershadow and Clawface padded beside Onewhisker and Webfoot. They all stalked down the slope. They made their way into the clearing among the great oaks. With a rustle of the bushes, Tigerstar emerged, with Blackfoot, Darkstripe, and Leopardstar.

"Greetings, Tigerstar," Firestar meowed, his voice scarily calm. "You came, then. Not still looking for those prisoners you lost from RiverClan territory?" Flowershadow's heart skipped a beat.

Tigerstar's eyes narrowed and he let out a snarl, "You'll regret that day's work, Firestar."

"Try and make me," Firestar retorted. Tigerstar did not reply. More of his followers emerged from the bushes, their tails bushed up and claws unsheathed. Many were still covered in the wounds from their attack on Windclan. Tigerstar took a step forward. He raised his head, towering above Firestar.

"Have you thought about my offer? I'm giving you the choice: Join with me now and accept my leadership, or be destroyed."

Firestar and Tallstar exchanged glances. "We reject your offer," Firestar replied, "The forest was never meant to be ruled by one clan, especially not one led by a dishonorable murderer."

"But it will be." Flowershadow could hardly heart Tigerstar's voice above the wind. "With you or without you, Firestar, it will be. By sunset today, the time of four clans will be

over."

"The answer is still no," Firestar replied, his voice steady. "ThunderClan will never submit."

"Nor will WindClan," Tallstar added, taking a step forward.

"Then your courage is matched only by your stupidity," Tigerstar growled. A new figure emerged from the bushes. Flowershadow gasped.

"Tawnypaw?!" Brackenfur and Bramblepaw turned to look at her, their gazes qually shocked. The she-cat stood in the middle of the Shadowclan cats, her gaze fixed on the ground as her paws shifted awkwardly.

"What is she doing here?!" Brackenfur demanded, throwing himself to the front of the crowd to stand beside Firestar. "Tigerstar did steal her!"

"Steal her?" Tigerstar purred, raising an eyebrow. "Not at all. Tawnypaw came to us willingly."

"Tawnypaw!" Flowershadow snapped. She stepped to Bramblepaw's side, glaring at her sister. "Why would you leave your clan to join him?!"

"Yeah!" Bramblepaw's voice cracked as he spoke. "What are you doing? You're a Thunderclan cat-come back to us!" Tawnypaw didn't reply.

"No," Tigerstar's voice was soft. He gazed at Flowershadow and Bramblepaw. "You come to us. Your sister made the right choice. Tigerclan will rule over the whole forest, and you can share our power." "What do you say?" he prompted, nodding to Bramblepaw. "Thunderclan is finished. There is nothing there for you."

"Join you?" Bramblepaw growled. He hesitated, gulping before he continued, loud enough for everyone to hear him. "Join you? After everything you've done? I���d rather die!" Flowershadow smiled. Murmurs of approval rippled from the cats around her.

"Are you sure?" Tigerstar hissed, his eyes blazing with fury. "I won't make the offer twice. Join me now, or you will die."

"Then at least I'll go to StarClan as a loyal ThunderClan cat," Bramblepaw retorted, flicking his tail. Tigerstar growl. Biting his lip, he turned to Flowershadow, meeting her gaze with the same glare.

"What about you, Flowershadow?" Tigerstar demanded. "I'll even forgive you for releasing those half-clan maggots. You were a loyal warrior before… I'd love to have that daughter back."

"Loyal?" Flowershadow chuckled softly. "I was loyal to you, wasn't I? You really think I take pride in that? I showed loyalty to you because you made me feel like I had no other choice. Now I see you for what you really are: horrible, vile, and power-hungry. Your praise once meant something to me, but those days are done… and will never come again. I don't care if you hate me. I know I'm doing what's right. Rot in the Place of No Stars, Tigerstar." For a moment, Tigerstar looked stunned. Flowershadow held his gaze. Her eyes were narrowed into slits as she faced the cat she once called 'father.' Not anymore. She bristled with rage.

"Fine," Tigerstar growled. "Stay, then, and die with these other fools!"

"You'll be the one dying!" Flowershadow snapped. She marched closer, glaring into Tigerstar's eyes with every ounce of hatred in her body. Tigerstar just chuckled.

"Oh, we'll see about that," he replied, coolly. Flowershadow stiffened as a new scent filled the air. She backed away. A battalion of cats padded into the clearing. Flowershadow didn't recognize any of them, though she noticed that many of them wore collars lined with teeth, claws, and bones. Rows and rows of them stretched back as far as the slope. There seemed to be more cats in this massive group of strangers than there were in the entire forest. Fox dung…

���Well?" Tigerstar demanded. "Are you still sure that you want to stand and fight?" This isn't a battle the forest can win. Something inside Flowershadow screamed at her to run away, to keep going. No! Flowershadow unsheathed her claws. I won't run! This fight isn't for me, it's for the whole forest! Once the cats were done gathering, a huge black and white tom slunk toward Tigerstar, standing shoulder to shoulder with the dictator. A much smaller cat stalked behind him. Sliding in front of the black and white tom, the tiny cat revealed his black fur and single white paw. A growl rose in Flowershadow's throat.

"So Tigerstar," Firestar's voice was steady. "Do you want to tell us who your new

friends are?"

"This is BloodClan," Tigerstar replied, pointing at the newcomers with his tail. "They come from Twolegplace. I have brought them to the forest to persuade you foolish cats to join with me. I knew you wouldn't have the sense to agree on your own." Hisses rippled through the Thunderclan and Windclan cats.

"We had the sense to refuse!" Flowershadow snarled.

"No, Tigerstar," Firestar replied, shaking his head. "If you want to fight, let us fight. Starclan will show who is more powerful."

"You mouse-brained fool!" Tigerstar spat back, glaring down at FIrestar. "I was prepared to come here and talk with you today. Just remember that it was you who drove us to this, and when your clanmates are dying around you, they will blame you with their last breath. Bloodclan, attack!" Flowershadow's body tensed as she prepared for claws and teeth to rip into her fur. However, nothing happened. The clearing remained silent, with the exception of the leaves rustling in the wind. Flowershadow's head tilted to the side. "Attack, I order you!" Tigerstar screeched. Still no cat moved. Only the tiny black cat slunk from forward, stopping in front of Tigerstar.

"I am Scourge, the leader of BloodClan," he informed, his voice cold. "Tigerstar, my warriors are not yours to command. They will attack when I tell them, and not before." Tigerstar's gaze filled with hate. The tiny cat matched his expression, even as Tigerstar towered over him.

Firestar took a step toward Scourge. "Greetings, Scourge," he meowed, his voice smooth. "I am Firestar, leader of ThunderClan. I wish I could say you are welcome in the forest. But you would not believe me if I did, and I have no wish to lie to you. Unlike your supposed ally here, I am a cat of honor." Firestar flicked his tail at Tigerstar. "If you've believed any promises he made to you, you're mistaken." Flowershadow raised an eyebrow. Is he going to try reasoning with Bloodclan?

"Tigerstar told me he had enemies in the forest," Scourge replied, his voice colder than the chill of the leaf-bare air around them. "Why should I believe you instead of him?"

Firestar took a deep breath. "Cats of all clans, and especially cats of Bloodclan, you have no need to believe or disbelieve me. Tigerstar's crimes speak for themselves. When he was still a warrior of ThunderClan, he murdered our deputy, Redtail, hoping to be made deputy himself. First Lionheart was chosen as deputy, but when that noble warrior died in a fight with ShadowClan, Tigerstar achieved his ambition at last." Flowershadow's eyes widened. He did what?! The clearing was silent until Tigerstar gave a grunt of contempt.

"Mew away, little kittypet. It won't change anything."

"Being deputy wasn't enough," Firestar continued, completely unfazed. "Tigerstar wanted to be leader of the clan. He set a trap for Bluestar by the Thunderpath, but my own apprentice strayed into it instead. That's how Cinderpelt came by her crippled leg." Flowershadow couldn't hold back a gasp. Cats around her, of every clan other than Bloodclan, shared shocked murmurs. "Then Tigerstar conspired with Brokentail," Firestar went on. "The former leader of Shadowclan, who was Thunderclan's prisoner. He brought a pack of rogues into Thunderclan camp, and tried to murder Bluestar with his own claws. I stopped him, and when Thunderclan had beaten off the attack we drove him into exile. As a rogue, he slaughtered yet another of our warriors, Runningwind. Then before we knew what he was up to, he had made himself leader of Shadowclan." He killed a cat when I was with him?! How could I miss that?!

"Fox-heart," Flowershadow hissed under her breath. Every cat in the clearing stared at Firestar with identical faces of horror.

"But Tigerstar still wanted revenge on Thunderclan," Firestar went on. "Three moons ago, a pack of dogs got loose in the forest. Tigerstar caught prey for them, then laid a trail of dead rabbits between the dogs' lair and the Thunderclan camp to lead them to us. He murdered one of our queens, Brindleface, and left her near the camp to give the dogs a taste for cat blood. If we hadn't found out in time to escape, the whole of Thunderclan would have been torn to pieces."

"He did what?!" Flowershadow exclaimed. She leapt up, her tail bushing up. Bramblepaw rested his tail on Flowershadow's flank, prompting her to sit back down. How did I not know about this?!

"Good riddance," Tigerstat growled. Flowershadow glared at him, her teeth bared in a snarl. She was a mouse-length away from lunging at Tigerstar, ripping out his throat, and forcing him to bleed out nine times. Such a horrid cat deserved a horrid fate.

"As it was," Firestar sighed, "our leader, Bluestar, died the bravest death of any cat, saving me and all her clan from the pack." Flowershadow bit her lip. She hadn't known the old Thunderclan leader well. However, she did have vague memories of her and many cats in Thunderclan camp spoke fondly of her. The clearing was silent.

"This is Tigerstar's history," Firestar's tone was urgent, as he glanced back at Scourge. "It all shows one thing—that he'll do anything for power. If he promised you a share of the forest, don't believe him. He won't give up one pawprint, not to you or any cat."

Scourge's eyes narrowed. "Tigerstar told me what he was planning to do with the dogs when he visited me two moons ago." Scourge turned to Tigerstar. "He did not tell me that his plan failed."

"None of that matters now," Tigerstar growled, flicking his tail. "We have an agreement with you, Scourge. Fight beside me now, and you'll have all I offered you."

"My clan and I fight when I choose." Scourge turned to Firestar, adding, "I will think about what you have said. There will be no battle today."

Tigerstar's fur bristled. Bunching his muscles, he threw himself at Scourge. "Traitor!" Before Tigerstar could sink his claws into the small cat, Scourge whipped to the side, and Tigerstar landed to the side. The sunlight glinted off Scourge's claws. Flowershadow's eyes widened in horror when she realized dog teeth were attached to his paws. Tigerstar whipped around to face Scourge. One blow to his shoulder unbalanced Tigerstar and he fell to his side, exposing his belly. Scourge slashed his claws across Tigerstar's stomach, from chest to tail. Blood sprayed form the wound, tainting the grass red. A yowl split the air. Tigerstar convulsed on the ground, his limbs jerked at awkward angles as he slashed his claws desperately. Every strike missed. Scourge stared at Tigerstar, a smug look creeping up on his face. Flowershadow's breath caught in her throat. Tigerstar let out desperate cries, flailing in the growing puddle of his own blood. Then he stopped. Flowershadow expected him to remain still, at least for a while, but only a heartbeat later, Tigerstar let out rasp and began jerking and flailing again. Isn't Starclan supposed to heal leaders after they lose a life? However, blood continued to pour from his wound as he flailed and cried desperately. Then it hit her. The wound was too much for Starclan to heal! Tigerstar was dying nine times! Flowershadow's heart skipped a beat. She longed to look away from the scene as Tigerstar's fear became her own. However, she was stuck to her spot. Flowershadow knew Tigerstar deserved to die, even wanted to kill him herself, but like this? She watched the scene with wide eyes. Horrified yowls broke out from the Tigerclan cats, all of them breaking rank to flee. Flowershadow wanted to do the same. Yet something kept her in place to watch the horrifying death.

"Wait! Hold the line!" Tallstar called, forcing his cats to stop. Flowershadow realized that the only cats that hadn't made a move to flee were the Thunderclan cats. Of course. Tigerstar did more to harm their clan than any other. Tigerstar laid in place, panting with exhaustion, struggling to move apart from the random jerks and spasms. Finally, his head fell into the grass with one last gasp. His eyes remained open, forever filled with the pain and horror he had felt throughout his brutal death. It was over, just like that. The Bloodclan took a step forward behind Scourge. Flowershadow tensed, unsheathing her claws and bunching her muscles to lunge at them. Firestar glanced back at them. The Windclan and Thunderclan warriors around Flowershadow were similarly tense. Scourge raised one bloody paw. His cats skidded to a halt behind him.

"You see what happens to cats who defy BloodClan." Scourge's voice was a sort of icy calm. Like a breeze in leaf-bare. "Your friend here-" he flicked his tail at Tigerstar's corpse. "-thought he could control us. He was wrong." Flowershadow's heart pounded in her throat. Tigerstar, what in Starclan's name have you brought to the forest?!

"We don't want to control you," Firestar rasped, staring at Scourge with dazed eyes. "All we want is to lead our lives in peace. We're sorry that Tigerstar brought you here with lies. Please feel free to hunt before you go home." Flowershadow glared at her leader. You think they're just going to leave after their leader killed Tigerstar like that?! They clearly want something from the forest.

"Go home?" Scourge repeated, flicking his tail. "We're not going anywhere, forest fool." Go figure. "In the town where we come from, there are many, many cats, and live prey is scarce. Here in the forest we won't need to depend on Twoleg rubbish for our food." His gaze shifted toward the Thunderclan and Windclan cats. "We are taking over this territory now." Flowershadow's eyes widened. "I shall rule the forest as well as the town. But I understand that you may need some time to reflect on this. You have three days to leave-or meet my clan in battle. I shall wait for your decision at dawn on the fourth day." Of course! Killing Tigerstar, one of the strongest cats in the forest, was to scare us with their power so they can take our territory! Scourge turned and disappeared into the bushes. His warriors padded after him in silence, only the rustling of leaves filling the chilly air. Flowershadow glanced at Tigerstar. She expected to feel a surge of triumph, relief, or even grief. However, staring at the corpse of the tom she had once called 'father,' she felt nothing. Her gaze was blank. The shock factor had worn off, even her previous anger was gone, leaving her empty. Nothing had been solved. With Tigerstar gone, there was just another threat to the forest looming over everyone.

"Firestar?" Graystripe asked, his voice breaking the silence. "Are you okay?"

"I will be," FIrestar answered, his breath caught in his throat. "Don't worry, Graystripe. Come on- I need to talk to Tallstar."

"I never want to see anything like that again," Graystripe's mew was hoarse.

"If we don't get rid of Scourge, you probably will," Firestar replied, dryly. He padded toward the Windclan warriors, stopping in front of Tallstar.

"I can't believe what I've just seen," the WindClan leader gasped. "Nine lives gone- just like that."

"No cat would blame you if you took your Clan and left the forest to find another place

to live," Firestar replied with a nod. Flowershadow's tail rattled. You think they're just going to leave?!

Tallstar stiffened. His neck fur bristled with a rage more intense than Flowershadow's. "Windclan was driven from the forest once," he hissed. "Never again. Our territory is ours, and we'll fight for it. Is Thunderclan with us?"

"Of course," Flowershadow muttered. Similar murmurs of agreement rose from the other Thunderclan cats. There was a burning feeling in Flowershadow's heart, making her tense from ears to tail tip. "Bloodclan will never take the forest. This is our home and I'm willing to fight for it to my final breath." Cats nodded around her.

Firestar glanced at them before turning to Tallstar with a nod. "We'll fight," he replied. "And we'll be proud to stand side by side with WindClan." There was a long pause as the leaders simply looked into each other's eyes.

"We'll go now to prepare ourselves," Tallstar meowed. "And we'll meet you here again in three days, at dawn."

"At dawn," Firestar echoed, nodding. "And may Starclan be with us all." Tallstar nodded to him before turning to his warriors, gesturing at them with his long tail to follow. The Windclan cats padded up the slope. Flowershadow cast a glance at Tigerstar's body, surprised to find another dark pelt beside him. Flowershadow padded toward him.

"Bramblepaw?" Her brother didn't reply, continuing to stare at Tigerstar's body. Flowershadow wrapped her tail around him. "You okay?"

"No," Bramblepaw admitted, his ears drooping. "I… I thought I hated him, our father… I didn't want to join his clan but I didn't want him to die like that."

"No one deserves to die like that," Flowershadow replied. Though deep down, her words rang empty. Moments before Scourge killed Tigerstar, she had wanted to kill him herself. Was that an empty desire? What did she feel, Flowershadow didn't know. "At least we're free of him."

"Will we ever be though?" Bramblepaw sighed. "Even now that he's dead, no cat will forget that I'm his son." Flowershadow's eyes widened in realization. Her siblings back in Thunderclan, a clan that hated Tigerstar, had probably been treated poorly for being his kits. Flowershadow had experienced the opposite. However, now that Tigerstar's treachery was out in the open to every clan, Flowershadow felt dread settle in her stomach.

"Fools who think we're the same as Tigerstar just because he was our father aren't worth your time," Flowershadow replied, flicking her tail. "I mean look at me, I was raised under his constant influence and in the end, I didn't turn out evil."

"We shouldn't have to prove we aren't evil," Bramblepaw grunted. "No one else does, why should we?!"

"I know it's unfair-"

"And what about Tawnypaw?" Bramblepaw interrupted, flicking her tail. "How

could she choose to follow him?"

"I don't know," Flowershadow sighed, shrugging. "Maybe she was sick of constantly having to prove herself to your clanmates." Bramblepaw glanced at her, his amber eyes wide.

"Bramblepaw!" a voice called. Flowershadow and Bramblepaw glanced over their shoulders to see a ginger shape approaching. "You two coming?" Flowershadow nodded. She turned and padded after him. Bramblepaw hesitated for a moment before trailing after her, his tail dragging through the dirt.

"Are you okay, Bramblepaw?" Firestar asked.

"We're worried about Tawnypaw," Flowershadow grunted. "And what cats will think of us because of Tigerstar." Bramblepaw glared at her, eyes narrowed.

Firestar glanced at them. "Flowershadow, Bramblepaw, If we get through this, I promise, we'll find a way to talk to her."

"Does that mean you will let her come back to Thunderclan?" Bramblepaw asked.

"I can't be sure of anything," Firestar admitted, his head hung low. "We don't even know if she wants to come back, but I'll give her a fair hearing, and do the best I can for her."

"Thank you, Firestar," Bramblepaw sighed, his voice tired and defeated as if there had actually been a battle. "I suppose that's more than she deserves." Flowershadow nodded in agreement as she trailed after them through the gorse tunnel.