Sunningrocks.
ThunderClan and RiverClan had always fought over them.
And for what? A couple more tail-lengths of hunting ground?
After all, we both just wanted the same things: Food to feed our elders and kits, food to keep the Clan strong.
But I knew the matter would never be settled. This was a battle we would never win, yet never lose.
I was locked in battle with my opponent; an older warrior like me, by the looks of it.
One of his claws snagged my left ear, and the pain was sharp. I reared back, but then charged toward him and slammed my head into his flank, knocking the breath out of the tom.
Getting back on his paws and locking his gaze with mine, he curled his lips back in a snarl. He swiped at me with one forepaw, but missed. I did the same, landing a blow to his right shoulder. He stepped back few paces, and I stepped forward.
Then, he leapt at me. I swerved to the right, but not enough, and a few of his claws snagged my shoulder, ripping fur out. Rearing back, I slashed at his muzzle and clawed open his nose. That sent him running back into the throng of ThunderClan and RiverClan warriors, battling for the smooth rocks each of us claimed to own.
My heart was still racing. I turned my head and I saw Tigerclaw fighting a large cream tabby she-cat. She had pinned him to the ground, and I raced over to help him. Batting her ears with unsheathed claws, she jumped off of Tigerclaw and ran over to help one of her Clanmates.
I sprinted over to Tigerclaw and whispered in his ear. "Do you think we can hold them off?"
He just looked at me blankly. "What do you think?"
I was confused. "What do you mean?"
Tigerclaw leaned in closer to me. "What do you think?" Then, he stepped back a few tail-lengths, and lunged at me.
"Tigerclaw!" I yowled as he dug his claws into my shoulders, pinning me down. "What are you doing?"
"I'm never going to get to be deputy if you're alive," he growled.
I was shocked. Tigerclaw was killing me, just because he wanted my position of authority? To be leader one day? I mean, I'd always known him to be an ambitious cat, but usually a cat we could look up to. Not now. Now, he was a reckless tyrant, hungry for blood. And it was too late; he had flipped me over on my stomach, and was about to do the death bite.
Right before he did, though, I saw a small black cat staring at us in shock, his jaws stretched wide. Ravenpaw.
I wanted to scream at him to run for help, or tell Bluestar. But before I was able to say a single word, I felt intense pain at the back of my neck.
The world went black as I sucked in my last breath.