"Tallwing!" A voice called out, and purring, I turned as I saw her. Her sleek black pelt glowed in the sun as she crossed the clearing to me. Her amber eyes glowed with pride and love as she gazed at me. I felt my chest swell with love as I gazed down at her. After a moment, we couldn't stay away from each other and nuzzled.

I hesitated, but finally pulled away and looked at her. "What is it, Blackstorm?" I asked her, and her gaze went even brighter as she sat back and looked up at me, revealing her slightly larger stomach, not that I would ever say that to her.

"I'm having our kits!" She announced proudly. "Leafwhisker said so!" She searched my face for a reaction, but I could only stare in surprise for what seemed forever. I finally realized what she said and snapped shut my jaw which had hung open and purred even louder, nuzzling her face.

"That's so great!" I said enthusiastically as I realized I was going to be a father! "I'm so proud of you, Blackstorm." I stepped back over a moment and looked over her. "But shouldn't you be resting? Does anyone else know?" I fretted, and began to gently nudge her towards the nursery, but she stopped me.

"Don't worry! Leafwhisker and Cloudpaw say I have plenty of time before I need to worry, and I can still perform my warrior duties." Blackstorm said, looking only slightly annoyed at my worrying, but more pleased. "Besides, Tallwing, you know you can't get rid of me that easily."

I stepped back, embarrassed, but she ignored it and went on. "And no one else knows, only us and the medicine cats. But I made them promise not to tell anyone, I wanted you to be the first."

I was about to answer when a surprised and pained yowl rang out through the forest. The whole clan stopped in their tracks and looked up to see an apprentice, Oakpaw, burst into the Thornclan camp. He was breathing heavily, and I could see blood and claw marks running down his side. Cats swarmed around him, but I could see Redstar pushing through the crowds to meet him.

"S-Snowclan attack!" Oakpaw said before collapsing, and I could see how bad his wounds really were. Cats gasped, and despair rang out through the camp, with Redstar and the deputy, Greystream, weaved through the cats, trying to calm them down.

Redstar leapt onto a large rock, yowling loudly for everyone's attention. "Thornclan, heed my call! We all know we can defeat Snowclan, thanks to Oakpaw, we have a better chance and will not be taken by surprise-" he couldn't finish as another yowl sounded and cats flooded into the camp, and I was overtaken by the horrid stench of Snowclan.

Blackstorm snarled loudly, and without hesitation, leapt into battle. I called out for her, concerned for her and our kits, but she was lost in the crowd of cats. I had no choice but to fight as a sandy yellow cat suddenly leapt at me. I yowled loudly and met him chest to chest, forcing him back. We circled each other, and then I lunged at him, grabbing him by his paw and flinging him away. Before he could regain his paws I was on him, digging my claws into his side and digging my fangs into his ear. He yowled in pain, and giving him a snarl and scratch for good measure, leapt off him and watched as he scrambled away, yowling in pain.

I turned my gaze back to find Blackstorm, calling for her wildly and shoving through the battle and helping others while I was at it. I thought I glimpsed her black fur when I suddenly felt a heavy weight on my back and was forced to the ground. I rotated my head to see a white cat maliciously snarling at me. "Don't you dare hurt my clan mates!" He yowled and slashed at me. I barely got away before slamming into his shoulder, knocking him down and not having time to deal with him as I leapt back into the fray.

I finally located Blackstorm on the other side of the clearing, easily holding her own against another gray tom. I sighed in relief and turned to see if there was anything else I could do. Leafwhisker suddenly appeared in front of me, his eyes wide with fear. "Tallwing, you have to help Redstar! He's on his last life!"

I gasped and could see Redstar himself fighting against the Snowclan leader, Stonestar, and two others, all of which were pummeling him as he was slowly pushed back into the thorn bushes their territory was known for. He yowled in pain as the thorns and barbs pierced his fur. They'll kill him! I realized as they mercilessly clawed at him. I gave Leafwhisker a quick nod and ran across the clearing towards Redstar.

I was halfway there when I saw Blackstorm. She was also bombarded with more cats than she could handle. I saw her begin to fall under them when time seemed to slow. I looked back in a panic between her and Redstar, I ached to help my leader, who would surely die and lose his last life. But Blackstorm- she held our kits! And she was my mate! I panicked, not knowing what to do as time began to speed back up.

Shutting my eyes, I let out a soft breath. "I'm so sorry." I said hoarsely and ran through the fray. I ran up to the pile of cats that were tearing at my mate. I grabbed the first cat and dragged him away from Blackstorm before digging my teeth into the paws of the next. She finally regained her stance and gave me a thankful look before getting her revenge on one of the cats.

"You're hurt." I said, and pushed her towards Leafwhisker and the medicine cat den. "Go get help, you've done enough for today. And for once please don't fight me." I pleaded, and I could see Blackstorm was biting back a retort. She gazed at me worriedly, and I knew she knew I was panicking and pained. But she just licked my cheek and headed towards the medicine cat den. I watched after her for a moment before turning towards Redstar, even if I knew I was too late.

I could see Stonestar finishing off Redstar and yowled loudly. He barely even glanced at me before his claws scored across my leader's throat. Blood flowed out, and in shock, I slowed to a painful stop. I stared down at my leader as he convulsed for one moment, losing his final life before his eyes glazed over in death.

"No!" I yowled loudly, the whole battle stopped behind me, but I could only stare at Redstar's dead body. I shot my eyes, agonized, because that was my fault. My leader had died because of my decision. Yowls sounded, and I could feel the contemptuous gaze of Stonestar on me.

"The battle is over." Greystream said, her voice mainly calm, but I could hear the grief underneath it. "You attacked us for no reason, and you have won." She sounded bitter. "Now leave us to grieve the leader you coldly murdered."

The rest was a blur to me, but more words were exchanged and I felt Blackstorm sitting beside me, her fur brushing against mine comfortingly. We leaned against each other as Redstar was placed into the middle of the clearing and smeared with Rosemary and Watermint, but it couldn't mask the scent of death, which I had caused.

Night soon fell, and cats slowly trickled into their dens, and after a bit, Blackstorm reluctantly left me as I grieved for my fallen leader. Stars shone overhead as I looked down at Redstar, knowing Greystream had left to gain her nine lives with Leafwhisker.

"I'm so sorry, Redstar." I whispered softly and lowered my head. "It's my fault you died, I couldn't reach you in time. But I had to save Blackstorm, I couldn't bear it if she died." I looked up at the stars overhead and gave one more sigh of sadness before turning away and heading into my den and lying beside Blackstorm. I looked outside of the den at the stars one last time before shutting my eyes and falling asleep, dreaming about the horror I had witnessed and the choice that would haunt me forever.