Hello readers, this is a remake of an older work of mine completed in 2011. Unfortunately, this rewrite is actually far older than it appears. This was completed sometime in 2014 and then forgotten as I left the fandom. Just a few days ago I found the documents on my old laptop and have decided to post them. Since this was completed in 2014 and I have since moved on from this fandom, I decided to post it as it was and without any editing to represent the me from back then. I lost interest in the Warriors series partway through the Power of Three arc and read only one or two of the books in the Omen of the Stars, so this does not line up with canon. There is a total of 12 chapters (each roughly between 1,000 and 2,000 words) and a short epilogue. I think I will upload one chapter a week.

Since the books had barely mentioned him when I began to write this back then, Kestrelflight is the same cat only in name. Most of the cats in this story are OCs and have no connection to canon characters. Any similarities in naming or personality are coincidental.

With that out of the way, I hope you enjoy this story.

Chapter 1: A New Destiny

It was a beautiful day in the camp; the sun hovered high in the sky, warming the earth below. It was the sort of day that stood out, made everyone forget that Leafbare was right ahead, and that cold weather would arrive soon. Many of the cats were lazing around in patches of sunlight, stretched out and otherwise enjoying this blissful day of warmth. The only one not relishing the day, it seemed, was the clan leader, Darkstar. He was in his den, pacing back and forth with anxiety and anger, tail slashing the air as he walked. He muttered to himself, cursing the name Featherstar with every pawstep.

"Why should he be named leader? He didn't deserve it, not one bit! I worked all my life to get where I am, and he just decides 'oh, I'll just form my own clan.' It's not fair!"

Darkstar's deputy would rather had been anywhere than listening to another of his leader's rants. He stifled a yawn and rolled back onto his belly, mumbling as he did so, "Maybe just surprise him and- "The second part was cut off before he could finish.

"A surprise? You're brilliant, Ty!" Typhoon smiled a little at his long-standing nickname, before recoiling in shock as Darkstar finished, "A surprise attack on SkyClan camp…"

"Wait, no! No! Seriously, Darkstar, just listen to me for once-"

Darkstar stopped in his pacing and locked his eyes on his deputy. What the younger tom saw frightened him, he hated when his friend got so absorbed in his emotions. They were dangerous, unpredictable, and got cats killed. Typhoon could yell at Darkstar, complain until his lungs gave out, but it wouldn't change anything. He was still going to go through with his plan, and it was up to Typhoon to try to minimize the losses, as usual.

"I… I'll come up with an attack plan then."

"As you should."

As if reflecting the somberness of what was to come, the next day was cold and overcast. Thick dark clouds covered the sky, and the sun was barely shining. It was early when Darkstar called the meeting and let the clan know what was planned for the day. There were several protests when one of queens, Daysong, was to participate in phase two of the attack. She had fortunately had her kits a few moons back, and they were to be made apprentices the following moon, but Daysong was not in the best shape, having not hunted nor fought for a while now. Even so, there was not much anyone could do, and she left with the rest of the warriors, only stopping briefly to say goodbye to her kits.

Smokekit had expressed the most anger about the situation. "Why do you have to go? It's not fair."

Echokit and Hailkit had remained quiet in comparison, eyes to the floor of the den, not daring to meet their mother's gaze. Daysong replied to her oldest kit with a firm voice. "Sometimes you have to do what your leader says without complaint. If we didn't listen to our leaders-"

"The Clans would fall apart, blah, blah, blah. That's a load of mousedung."

"Smokekit, please don't interrupt others when they speak, and don't curse. It's not becoming."

"Besides, I'm sure Darkstar knows exactly what he's doing!" Hailkit added.

"That's right," Daysong smiled at her only boy. "So, listen to Rainstep while I'm gone, and don't stay up late."

"Let's go, Daysong!" Their father called out.

"Coming Nightwhisper! One more thing, I love you three so very, very much. If I don't… If something happens to me…. just remember that, okay?"

With a bright smile, Daysong turned around and walked out of the den to join her mate. The patrol left soon after, Echokit watched as they disappeared from her sight, worry evident. She couldn't help but wonder what her mother had meant by that phrasing. Was Daysong worried of the very real possibility of losing the battle, and all those she had come to love getting injured or worse?

"Why did it sound like she was never going to see us again?" Hailkit asked, ears drooping.

Echokit didn't want to think of that possibility, not at all, and yet it kept her awake until long after the moon rose to its highest. They still weren't back, what if they were all dead? She shivered and drew into a tight ball, she just wanted her mom and dad back already, comforting her and saying everything was going to be just fine, just like they always had.

The battle patrol returned just after daybreak, staggering into camp. Kestrelflight was the first to greet them, and after scanning the injuries, immediately began to treat the wounded. The three kits stumbled out, bleary eyes searching for their parents. Where… Where were they?

After a moment, Kestrelflight turned to Darkstar and began screaming. "What were you thinking!" The words became a blur, Echokit couldn't focus on them. Her parents, they were nowhere to be seen, and she assumed the worst.

Smokekit went up to the returning warriors and sought out Oakleaf. Oakleaf was Daysong's sister, if anyone knew what had happened, she would. "Oakleaf…?"

The orange she-cat looked to the kit in shock, her eyes glassy from unshed tears. "Sm-Smokekit…? That you?"

"Where's mom and dad?"

"I… I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry…"

Darkstar jumped on the Tallrock, head hanging low. An expression of guilt was clear on his face, and he scarcely could speak. "Today… We lost not only a battle, but two of our friends. Daysong and Nightwhisper, they were brave warriors, and I am sure that StarClan will welcome them with pride."

Echokit couldn't help her screams of anguish, burying her head in her brother's fur. Hailkit couldn't speak, frozen in place, and Smokekit cursed and ranted. None of it would bring their parents back, and it stung to even think they had been taken so suddenly, and while they had been so far from the camp.

Oakleaf watched over them that night, wrapping her body around the three kits as they slept. She didn't sleep herself, and only thought of her sister in her final moments. She would have nightmares, horrible ones, if she tried to sleep, and didn't wish to scare the kits more than they already were. At some point in the night, Kestrelflight snuck in to check in on her.

"You didn't come to see me after the battle."

"I wasn't hurt."

His eyes softened, he wished he could say something to take away the pain she was feeling. He hated seeing her so distressed. 'I'm sorry' just felt too hollow, and she had likely heard it too often already. "Oakleaf I…"

"It's alright, really. I… We knew this would happen. We just didn't know when."

"Of course," Kestrelflight began to leave but paused after taking only a few steps. "You know, you don't have to follow on that promise, if you don't want."

"No. If I don't, I'll be the only… I can't back out. The others won't either. We are seeing this through to the end."

Kestrelflight gave a sorrowful chuckle "Of course, I don't know why I expected anything different."

Hailkit began to stir, so Kestrelflight disappeared without another word. The kit looked at Oakleaf in confusion, but she urged him back to sleep. He did so, only after some convincing.

Outside the den, Kestrelflight shivered in the crisp night air. His forest green eyes shifted towards the sky, towards the glimmering pinpricks of light. There was no moon this night, just the cold hardness of each individual star. He had so many questions, but no answers for any of them. He felt useless in StarClan's plan, and he hated it.

"Falling stars, nine in all, shall make their dive, their echoes as loud as the thunder that fills the sky." He repeated to himself, angry at not knowing what it meant for his Clan and his friends. "And from darkness into light, only one can shine bright."