Prologue

Mistysplash whirled with a hiss, her paw striking a HurricaneClan warrior's back.

The she-cat yowled, and Mistysplash recognized her- Haretail, a newly made warrior. Although Mistysplash was almost an elder, she refused to stop fighting and hunting for her Clan.

"Watch out!"

Mistysplash leaped up just in time, the warning from Maplestorm giving her an advantage. Gorsepelt had charged at her, and she landed on his back.

Gorsepelt huffed as his legs buckled, Mistysplash clinging to his back. She dug in her claws, feeling the tom's warm blood underneath her paws. He whimpered and wriggled out, limping to the border.

"Leave!" Mistysplash spat, panting. She was getting older, and the fight had worn her out.

A heavy weight suddenly slammed into Mistysplash's side, and it was her turn to buck. Haretail had rejoined the fight, with a young apprentice by her side that Mistysplash recognized as Beetlepaw. Beetlepaw's icy blue eyes glowed, and Mistysplash felt a sudden surge of fear as she stared into the tom's blue eyes. She scraped at Haretail's belly with her hind paw, not wanting to maim young Beetlepaw.

Haretail just snorted and tightened her grip, ambition shining in her eyes. Blood began steadily streaming out of Mistysplash now, and she was beginning to feel light-head.

Haretail smirked and backed away, muttering to Beetlepaw, "Leave her to run away," and the two launched themselves back into the fray.

What if I can't run away? Mistysplash thought, laying limp on the cold ground as her wounds continued to bleed steadily. What if this is the end?

It felt like claws were still digging into Mistysplash's spine, and she shivered as the chill from the ground began seeping into her bones. She struggled to lift her head, her vision clouded by the red blood that ran down her forehead from an ear wound. No one could help her now... she'd just have to go, go to StarClan...

Mistysplash laid her head back onto the ground with a long sigh as her vision turned black.