Chapter 7

News of Tigerstar's brutal death and Bloodclan spread through the camp like fire. Everyone knew what was coming. Throughout the three days, Thunderclan formed an alliance with Shadowclan and Riverclan, forming Lionclan. Everyone was on high alert. Most of their time was spent battle training, warriors and apprentices alike. The queens and elders were on alert. Even the kits were given lessons in self-defence from Sandstorm. Everyone had to be prepared. Bloodclan were not a clan, rather a band of rogues, as they didn't live by the warrior code. They would kill. These cats had no honour, no place in the forest. There was no doubt that cats would die. If I am to die in the battle tomorrow, I will fight until my final breath to protect the forest. But would that make up for what she'd done? Flowershadow barely cared. All that mattered was that the forest would be safe for future generations.

"Flowershadow," a voice meowed. Flowershadow opened her eyes with a yawn. The warriors' den was empty, leaving behind only the scents of the cats who had slept in it. Some of which would not return. Clawface and Rowanberry stood at the entrance, staring at Flowershadow. Leaping to her paws, Flowershadow trailed after them into the gorse tunnel. She was surrounded by all the cats she was determined to protect: Goldenflower, her dear mother, who never stopped caring for her; Bramblepaw, her brother with a drive to prove himself as more than some Tigerstar clone; Clawface, her former mentor and dear friend, who had helped her keep to the straight and narrow; Rowanberry, a cat she had recently met who proved herself to be fiercely loyal and kind; Firestar, her new leader with a sense of justice and determination to match her own; Fernpaw and Ashpaw, two eager apprentices, who would be great warriors at the end of this; Cinderpelt, a medicine cat who showed kindness to her and her friends despite them being from other clans; Mistyfoot, Featherpaw, and Stormpaw, cats who had been wronged by Tigerstar. Flowershadow couldn't care less if she died, but her friends, family, and clanmates were a different story.

"You know what lies ahead of us," Firestar meowed, turning to face his cats. "I only want to say one thing. Ever since Starclan placed the four clans in the forest, no leader ever had a band of warriors like you. Whatever happens, I want you to remember that."

"There was never a leader like you, Firestar," Graystripe replied. The cats were silent again as they crossed the stream. With a rustle of the bushes, the Shadowclan and Riverclan cats emerged to join them. Mistyfoot padded over to greet her clanmates. Cinderpelt, Runningnose, and Mudfur all padded side by side, each with an apprentice or two carrying their herbs. Firestar and Leopardstar took the lead. The huge group skidded to a halt before Fourtrees, which was eerily silent.

"Graystripe, Mousefur," Firestar whispered. "Scout around the hollow. Don't show yourselves. If you see any cats, come back and tell me." The two cats nodded before disappearing into the hollow. Moments later, Graystripe reappeared with a black and white tom: Tallstar.

"Greetings, Firestar," he murmured. "WindClan are here. All our warriors, and your friends, Barley and Ravenpaw." Two toms stepped out of the bushes. Flowershadow immediately recognized the mostly black cat from when they rescued the Tigerclan prisoners.

"We came to help as we promised," Ravenpaw replied, entwining his tail with Firestar's "We'll fight alongside you, if you'll have us."

"If we'll have you?" Firestar echoed, a purr rising in his throat. "You're welcome; you know that."

"We're proud to fight with you," Barley replied.

"Do you know where Bloodclan is?" Firestar asked, turning to Tallstar.

"Somewhere out there, watching us, I'd guess," Tallstar grunted, flicking his long tail. Another figure bounded through the bushes, a brown she-cat with wide eyes. Flowershadow spotted movement below. She stiffened as a familiar black cat padded out of the bushes, his claws unsheathed.

"I know you're there!" Scourge called. "Come and give me your answer." Firestar glanced at the other leaders.

"Go on, Firestar," Leopardstar murmured, nodding to Firestar. "Lead us." Why is she even leader?! She does nothing but follow others!

Tallstar nodded as well. "You spoke for us before," he added. "You're the one who should lead us now. We all trust you." Firestar nodded. Taking a deep breath, he lead the united cats into the hollow. He stopped in front of Scourge. They stood at the base of the Highrock, glaring at each other.

"Greetings," Scourge greeted, puasing to lick his lips. "Have you decided to leave? Or do you presume you can fight against Bloodclan?"

"We don't have to fight." Firestar's voice was icily calm. "We will let you go back to Twolegplace in peace."

Scourge let out a laugh, one cold and devoid of any real amusement. "Go back? Do you really think we're such cowards? No, this is our home now."

"This will never be your home!" Flowershadow snapped. The Bloodclan leader's eyes fixed on her, his gaze still cold. "We clan cats have lived in this forest, upholding the warrior code for generations. You and your band of lawless rogues have no place in this forest!"

"We rule here by the will of Starclan," Firestar added, flicking his tail.

"Starclan!" Scourge sneered. "Tales for kits. Forest fool, Starclan won't help you now." His fur bristled, making him appear twice his size. "Attack!" he cried. The Bloodclan warriors lunged forward.

"Lionclan, attack!" Firestar yowled. Unsheathing her claws, Flowershadow lunged at the nearest Bloodclan warrior, sinking her teeth and claws into their back. She tore off a chunk of fur, blindly growling and biting. The cat slashed at her, letting out cries as Flowershadow continued to tear them to shreds. She leapt from enemy to enemy. Pain seared all over her as blood poured from her wounds but Flowershadow paid no attention. She ripped into her enemies. Mercy wasn't an option anymore, these cats had refused mercy so they wouldn't be shown any from her. The leaders of each clan were at the forefront. Some of them fought multiple enemies at a time, tearing them to shreds.

All around her, cats of every clan tackled their own enemies, in a flurry of claws and teeth and yowling and blood flying through the air. Bramblepaw wrestled a white tom, thrashing his belly with his back claws. Tawnypaw was nearby. She sank her teeth into the white tom's neck, helping Bramblepaw to his paws. Flowershadow leapt to their side.

"Tawnypaw!" Flowershadow exclaimed, skidding through the dirt in front of them.

"Flowerki-paw?" she gasped.

"It's actually Flowershadow," Bramblepaw replied, flicking his tail. Behind Tawnypaw, Flowershadow caught a black flash out of the corner of her eye. She leapt behind Tawnypaw. Guarding her back, Flowershadow pinned the back she-cat to the ground and sank her claws into the she-cat's shoulders.

"We'll talk after the battle!" Flowershadow called. The she-cat struggled under Flowershadow's claws, kicking at her stomach. She sank her teeth into Flowershadow's paw. Letting out a yowl, Flowershadow sank her claws into the dirt, slashing them across the she-cat's face. She let out a yowl. Flowershadow leapt back, snarling at the she-cat as she stumbled to her paws.

"I can't see!" she cried.

"And you'll never see again if you don't get out of here right now!" Flowershadow hissed, slashing at her face again. A deep scar had appeared on the she-cat's nose. Letting out another cry, the she-cat bolted the opposite direction, stumbling over roots and snagging on thorns as she passed. Flowershadow then lunged at another enemy. She landed squarely on the cat's back. Taking the cat's collar in her jaws, she yanked at it, placing her paw on the back of their neck to crush their neck in the collar. They let out gurgles and gasps. Even as they struggled, Flowershadow refused to let go. A yowl split the air. However, it wasn't from the cat Flowershadow was strangling. It was a familiar voice. Biting the cat's neck, Flowershadow leapt off them and dashed across the bloodstained clearing. Clawface was pinned down by a ginger tom. He struggled under the tom's grasp, receiving blow after blow, his blood spraying through the air.

"Get away from him!" Flowershadow yowled, sinking her claws into the earth. Lunging at the tom, Flowershadow pinned him to the ground. Ripping the collar off, Flowershadow sank her teeth into the tom's now exposed neck, killing him before he had the chance to fight back. She turned back to Clawface. He was still laying on the ground, letting out groans of pain. "Clawface!" she gasped, rushing to his side. Deep gashes covered his body and he looked as if he couldn't get to his paws. "Great Starclan! I need to get you to a medicine cat!"

"Clawface!" a new voice exclaimed. A brown and cream shape lunged from the fray, tripping as she stopped before Clawface.

"Rowanberry…" Flowershadow could barely hear Clawface's voice over the fighting. She turned around.

"Rowanberry, help me carry him to a medicine cat," Flowershadow ordered, gesturing toward Clawface. She nodded, taking Clawface's scruff in her jaws. Flowershadow did the same, the two of them dragging Clawface across the battlefield.

"Great Starclan!" a voice gasped. Flowershadow glanced up to see Cinderpelt, limping toward them with a gasp.

"Can you help him?" Rowanberry cried, dropping Clawface. Flowershadow let go too.

"I can try," Cinderpelt replied, taking Clawface's scruff in her jaws. She dragged him away. Rowanberry padded after Cinderpelt, her tail swooshing wildly. Flowershadow lunged back into battle, entering the flurry of claws, teeth, and blood. Blows came to her at all sides. However, she paid no attention, instead slashing and biting wildly at anything she could grasp. Then familiar pelts flashed through the fray. Two ginger cats tousled each other, clawing and ripping off chunks of fur. Flowershadow let out a gasp. One of the cats was Jaggedtooth, a rogue turned Shadowclan warrior, and the other was Goldenflower! Flowershadow lunged at Jaggedtooth. He was imbalanced, stumbling off of Goldenflower with a gasp.

"Jaggedtooth!" Flowershadow yowled, narrowing her eyes. "Why are you fighting on the side of Bloodclan?!"

"Tigerstar is dead!" he exclaimed. "Bloodclan are the only cats left worth being loyal to!"

"You coward!" Flowershadow snapped, baring her teeth to bite Jaggedtooth's neck. He let out a yowl, struggling out of Flowershadow's grasp. "Freak!"

"You and your cats are outside the warrior code!" Flowershadow snapped, sinking her claws into the dirt. "And you're aiming to kill as well, hypocrite!" Leaping toward him, Flowershadow sliced her dirty claws across Jaggedtooth's face. The ginger tom let out a cry. Jumping into position, Jaggedtooth snarled as he prepared to lunge at her. Before he could however, a pale ginger shape landed squarely on his back, her claws sinking into Jaggedtooth's shoulders. It was Goldenflower! Jaggedtooth shook wildly but Goldenflower held on. Flowershadow leapt in front of Jaggedtooth, slicing her claws across his face repeatedly. Jaggedtooth fell onto his stomach. Goldenflower flipped him over onto his back, raking her claws through the traitor's belly. Flowershadow turned around. Two black and white toms charged at her. They lunged at her claws outstretched, but before they could sink their claws into her, Flowershadow ducked. They flopped to their stomachs behind her. Turning around, Flowershadow pinned the tom down and sank her teeth into the back of his neck. The she-cat leapt to her paws. With a hiss, she lunged at Flowershadow just fast enough so that she didn't have time to react. Flowershadow kicked at the she-cat's stomach. Slashing wildly at her face and stomach, Flowershadow was unable to escape her grasp. She took the she-cat's collar in her jaws. Yanking as hard as she could, the collar simply snapped, falling in pieces on the ground. The she-cat bared her teeth. Is this the end?! Flowershadow thrashed wildly but the she-cat kept her hold on her.

"Scourge!" a voice wailed. The she-cat froze, glancing across the battlefield. Kicking her away, Flowershadow staggered to her paws. "Scourge is dead!" The she-cat gasped. Flowershadow turned to her with a snarl.

"Get out of here!" she hissed. The she-cat stared at her with wide eyes before turning tail and bolting into the forest. Flowershadow looked around. All of the Bloodclan cats fled, their ferocity disappearing like dew in the sunlight. Flowershadow glanced at Goldenflower.

"We won," her mother's breath caught in her throat. Flowershadow nodded. Then her ears pricked and she gasped.

"Clawface!" Flowershadow sprinted across the bloodstained grass, skidding to a halt in front of Cinderpelt. She and Rowanberry crouched over Clawface. "Is he okay?!" Flowershadow gasped. Rowanberry gazed at Cinderpelt with the same distress.

"I-I'm sorry," Cinderpelt choked out. "Hi-his wounds are too deep. He's already on his way to join Starclan."

"No! NO!" Rowanberry cried. She fell on Clawface, her tears soaking his fur. Flowershadow crouched in front of her former mentor, feeling a faint breath in his chest. His eyes were also glazed over in pain as Flowershadow met his gaze.

"Clawface, please! I still need you! Rowanberry still needs you! Your clan, they all-" Flowershadow broke off in a sob. "Please!"

"You-you don't need me…" Clawface rasped.

"Y-yes I do!"

"Not anymore," he replied, struggling to lift his head. "Flowershadow, you've grown to be a great warrior, a better warrior than I ever was."

"That's not true!" Flowershadow protested, tears streaming from her eyes. "Clawface, you're more wise than I could ever hope to be! You inspired me!"

"And you grew beyond me," Clawface replied. His head fell to his paws, panting hard.

"Clawface!" Rowanberry cried, resting her paw on his shoulder as she met his gaze. Flowershadow backed away. Clawface struggled to meet Rowanberry's gaze.

"Rowanberry…" his voice had grown weaker, barely above a whisper. "I know you never forgave me… but I never stopped loving you."

"Neither did I," Rowanberry sobbed, resting her chin on his head. Tears flooded from her eyes. "Please, Clawface, don't leave me."

"Rowanberry… my love, take your time," he rasped. "I'll wait for you in Starclan."

"Don't talk like that!" Rowanberry gasped. "Please, we can still save you… you just have to hold on!" Clawface didn't respond. His head fell to his paws and his breath stopped. Rowanberry's wail pierced the sky, making Flowershadow's heart crack. Cats slowly gathered around Clawface's body.

"D-dad?" A voice cried. Flowershadow turned to see Stumpytail padding toward Clawface's body, his eyes watering. "What happened?!" Nobody answered. Stumpytail wailed, pressing his face into Rowanberry's fur. Blackfoot padded toward Clawface's body, resting one of his black paws on the brown tom's still bleeding body.

"Clawface… I'm sorry," he sighed. "You did the right thing by betraying Tigerstar… I should've stood by your side." Littlecloud and Runningnose approached. The younger medicine cat pressed his muzzle into Clawface's fur.

"Clawface, my warrior mentor... you trained me well… even though I did later choose to become a medicine cat, I still thank you. If anything, you're the reason I lived to become a medicine cat. So… thanks." Runningnose didn't say anything. He pressed his muzzle into Clawface's fur before backing away. Flowershadow stepped forward.

"Clawface," she sobbed, pressing her face into Clawface's fur. "My mentor and my friend, I wouldn't be the cat I am today if it weren't for you. So, thank you." Rowanberry didn't say anything either. She pressed her face into her former mate's fur, stifling her sobs in the deceased cat's pelt. The grieving cats stayed with Clawface's body. Even as their clanmates padded away back to camp, they remained at their fallen friend's side, sharing tongues with him one final time. Flowershadow, Stumpytail, Rowanberry, Blackfoot, and Littlecloud stayed until sunset, Firestar idling nearby even after his clanmates left. Finally, the cats dug a hole in the earth beneath Fourtrees. They laid Clawface's body down, scooping dirt over him in his final resting place.

"Flowershadow, Rowanberry?" The two she-cats turned to Blackfoot, their ears pricked. "Will you be returning to Shadowclan?"

"I will," Rowanberry replied, taking a step forward. Flowershadow said nothing.

Blackfoot glanced at her. "What about you, Flowershadow?" he asked. "Will you be returning?"

Flowershadow glanced at Firestar, who nodded. "I won't mind what you choose," he informed. Flowershadow thought for a moment. In Shadowclan, she had her sister and Rowanberry. In Thunderclan, she had her mother, brother, and a good leader. Either way, however, Tigerstar's treachery would hang over her like an ominous storm cloud. Flowershadow padded toward Firestar.

"I must return to my kin in Thunderclan," she informed, dipping her head to her new leader. "I'm sorry, Blackfoot."

"No, no, I understand," he replied, turning away. He said nothing more as he padded away with Rowanberry and the others. Flowershadow nodded to Firestar. He nodded back as the two padded back to Thunderclan.