Hello, and welcome to my challenge book! This is where I'll put all of my challenges so I don't have to make separate stories :D I might end up putting my SecretClan challenge from two years ago here, too… but I might just keep it separate ;; I've never gotten 9 reviews on one chapter before, so I think I'll keep it, haha :3

Anyway, without further ado, here's the first challenge!

A Deadly Decision — A NightClan Challenge

"RiverClan! Attack!"

The battle was so sudden. Ashfeather ducked as a watery cat launched over her, bowling over a ShadowClan warrior. The gray tabby warrior unsheathed her claws, whipping around to attack the RiverClan cat, but another cat attacked her from behind, bringing her down to the ground.

"This will teach ShadowClan not to steal prey," the cat hissed above her, and Ashfeather recognized the voice as Silverfish's, someone she thought was her friend.

"Why would we want fish?" Ashfeather spat, struggling to get to her paws. But Silverfish had her claws deep in the gray tabby's shoulders, holding her in place.

Suddenly, a black cat launched at the silver spotted RiverClan cat, knocking her off balance and allowing Ashfeather to jump to her paws. She looked to her savior and was startled to see her new mate, Blackstrike, fending off Silverfish, who was hissing at him. The midnight-colored warrior launched another blow to the RiverClan she-cat, and then she ran off, throwing a scowl at them.

Blackstrike turned back to Ashfeather, his amber eyes dark with worry. "Are you okay?" he asked, stepping forward and sniffing her wounds tentatively.

"I'll be okay," the gray tabby she-cat responded, gently pushing him away. "Come on Blackstrike, this is a battle! We're supposed to get hurt."

The black warrior's whiskers twitched, and he looked as if he was about to reply, but then thought better of it. Blackstrike sighed, flicking his ears and then meowing, "Okay, well, just be careful, okay?"

"I'll be fine," Ashfeather murmured, pressing her nose to his. And with that, the gray tabby turned and jumped into another battle, battering a yellow tabby tom.

Then, a yowl split the air, stopping Ashfeather and the yellow tabby in their tracks. The gray tabby she-cat turned quickly, and spotted her leader, Leafstar, getting double teamed by the RiverClan leader, Volestar, and the deputy, Swiftstream. The yellow tabby warrior smirked, moving to attack Ashfeather, but she was faster. She darted away from the RiverClan cat, sprinting towards her leader, but then there was another screech.

Ashfeather whipped around, and froze. Lying under a large RiverClan warrior whose paw was unsheathed, ready to swipe his throat, was Blackstrike.

The gray tabby moved to protect him, but then remembered Leafstar. She turned her head, worry clouding her green eyes as she saw the white tom disappear under a mound of fur. Ashfeather swivelled her head around, not knowing how to choose.

Oh StarClan, please help me!

Looking around, she saw a RiverClan warrior catch her eye, and they stalked towards her, their claws glinting in the half-light. Ashfeather winced, knowing she had to make her decision fast.

Do I want to save Leafstar, the leader of my Clan who has guided us through many tough times and is also on his last life, or my new mate, Blackstrike, who I love with all my heart?

The gray tabby she-cat frowned, making her decision. Wishing desperately that she could save both, Ashfeather winced, turning away from her mate and heading towards Leafstar, claws unsheathed. She knocked away Swiftstream, who meowed in surprise, and gave her a good slash to her face.

The black and white RiverClan deputy hissed, her fur bristling as she lashed a paw forward. Ashfeather dodged expertly, ducking her head and then giving Swiftstream a bite on the shoulder. The other she-cat glared at her with cold blue eyes before turning around, racing into another battle.

Ashfeather turned back to her leader, and was relieved to see Leafstar fending off Volestar as great as he could, battering his chest with unsheathed claws. The brown tabby RiverClan leader gasped, and then glared, biting Leafstar's ear. The white tom yowled in pain, closing his green eyes.

Ashfeather growled, moving swiftly to bite Volestar's throat. But before she could get a good grip, the brown tabby threw her off, making her land with a thump! on the ground. But he did let go of Leafstar, which let the white leader be able to attack Volestar once again.

After a while of fighting, with Ashfeather helping her leader faithfully, Volestar finally stepped off. He raised his head and yowled, "RiverClan! Retreat!" Then he turned around and ran off back to their territory.

The ShadowClan cats let out caterwauls of victory, some giving parting wounds to the retreating RiverClan cats. But Ashfeather was looking through the crowd, trying to spot Blackstrike. She hoped he was okay….

Finally, she spotted him. But what she saw made her blood freeze. Lying still, with blood still seeping out of a wound, was Blackstrike. Ashfeather stood still for a moment, before letting out a yowl, rushing towards him. "Blackstrike! Blackstrike!" she wailed.

The other cats stopped cheering, looking at her in a confused way. But their expressions changed to worry when they realized Ashfeather was heading towards the still Blackstrike, and they began to follow slowly, making a circle around them.

"Blackstrike? Please, you told me to stay okay, but you aren't!" Ashfeather wailed again, pressing her face into her mate's fur. It still had a flash of warmth, but it was growing colder every second. She knew that it was all over.

Blackstrike was dead.

Ashfeather pressed her face closer, letting out a choked sob. Oh, Blackstrike… Blackstrike, I'm so sorry!

Well, that's it! D: Poor Ashfeather…

But I hope you like it! It has 882 words ^.^ I worked pretty hard on it, so I'm hoping you accept it~!

I'll do more challenges later :)

;;Orangeflight of ShadowClan