"I said," Swiftstar snarled, "what are you doing here?"

"Those stupid mountains couldn't support us and the tribe," Stripes replied, "so we had a battle for the territory. The tribe was destroyed."

"The whole tribe?" Squirrrelflight whispered.

"No, but most of them. We took two cats prisoner," Stripes meowed. "Stormfur and Brook."

"Show them to me," Swiftstar meowed. Stormfur and Brook padded into the middle of the clearing. Their ribs were showing from their ragged unkempt pelts.

"You mean that you don't even have the decency to take care of your prisoners?! You crowfood eating, flea-bitten mange-pelts!" Swiftstar screeched.

"What?! How dare you call me that! I'll flay your fur from your…"

"Daddy? What are you doing?" Swiftstar heard a call from the nursery. Emberkit had stumbled out of the nursery.

"And who is this?" Stripes purred.

"I'm Emberkit!" Emberkit replied. Pointing to Swiftstar, she added, "My daddy is the guy that stands on the big rocks! And who are you? You and your buddies smell really yucky!"

All of a sudden, Stripes picked up Emberkit. She began wailing.

"Daddy! Don't let the mean cat hurt me!" Emberkit mewled.

"Put her down, Stripes!" Swiftstar snarled.

"Fight me for her," Stripes replied.

"Fine. Tomorrow at dawn."

WWW

Swiftstar took a patrol of Cloudtail, Brackenfur, Lionblaze, and Graystripe. He had sent Stormfur and Brook to Jayfeather's den. He had invited them to stay in ThunderClan, and they accepted.

"What if it's a trap?" Lionblaze meowed.

"That's why I brought you," Swiftstar replied. "But don't fight Stripes. This is my battle for Emberkit." His stomach clenched when he said her name. Stripes had taken her until today, and he and Hollyleaf were crushed.

"Let's go," Swiftstar yowled. He padded onto the horseplace territory. He saw Stripes sitting there, tail curled around his daughter.

"So you came," Stripes meowed.

"Yes, I did," Swiftstar replied. "Shall we begin?"

"With pleasure," Stripes growled. Both cats began to circle each other. Swiftstar let out a growl. He leaped for Stripes, claws unsheathed.

Stripes dodged to the side and raked his claws down Swifstar's side. Blood welled from the wound, and Swiftstar winced with pain. He turned around and brought his paw down hard on Stripes' side. Blood spurted on Swiftstar's claws.

He landed on the ground and turned to face Stripes, who was charging at him. Swiftstar jumped to one side and bit into Stripes' leg. Stripes let out a yowl of pain.

This must be the life Willowpelt gave me. This is how much a mother loves for her kits. Well, I'll show him how fathers feel about it too! Swiftstar thought. He bit even harder into Stripes' leg. He could feel Stripes losing energy. Then, he felt something heavy on top of him.

Stripes was dead.

"Stripes is dead!" Flora wailed. The rest of Stripes' followers wailed and fled from the scene.

"And if you ever come back, you'll have the same fate!" Lionblaze called menacingly.

"Peace, Lionblaze," Swiftstar meowed.

"Daddy! You fought so well!" Emeberkit mewed. "Oh, no! You're hurt!"

"I know. Let's go back to camp."

WWW

"How'd it go?" Dustpelt meowed.

"Stripes is dead," Cloudtail replied. "Swiftstar killed him."

"Good," Dustpelt meowed. Swiftstar padded to the medicine den.

"Jayfeather? Fawnleaf?" Swiftstar meowed.

"In the back."

Swiftstar padded into the back. The two medicine cats were talking.

"Well, if you love Cinderheart, then stop being a medicine cat!" he heard Fawnleaf meow.

"But you'll be alone! And you need an apprentice!" Jayfeather meowed.

"Don't worry," Swiftstar meowed. He walked into the clearing. "Jayfeather, I know Cinderheart loves you. And I know you can't have a mate. However, I can relieve you of your duties."

"And what about Fawnleaf?" Jayfeather meowed.

"She can have Treekit, my daughter," Swiftstar meowed. "She's always wanted to be a medicine cat. When she's old enough, Fawnleaf will mentor Treekit, and you will no longer be our medicine cat."