Ivypool stood a little ways away from the bottom of a cliff. Bumblestripe was on one side of her, and Dovewing on the other. Lionblaze and Jayfeather flanked them both. Cinderheart stood next to Lionblaze.
On top of the cliff stood Tigerstar, with Hawkfrost and Brokenstar on his flanks. At the bottom of the cliff were hundreds of dark warriors, teeming with evil and hatred. Behind them the sun was setting, and the sky was bleeding.
A cool breeze rifled through Ivypool's fur and she looked behind her. The moon was rising, and with it she felt the goodness and power it brought. Silverpelt appeared above her and the sky weaved with purple, blue and silver as StarClan warriors by the hundreds came down to help them fight.
Dovewing took a step forward. "We come to fight!" She yowled. "Come forward and face us to die, or leave now and never come back."
Ivypool felt a rush of pride toward her sister. Since she had found out about the prophecy, she could truly understand what her sister was going through. She'd gotten so much more confident, so powerful these last moons. Whatever happened, she'd fight beside her sister and mate.
"You think you can defeat us?" Tigerstar snarled. "A weak, sniveling example of what the warriors have turned into? Think again." He twitched his tail and Hawkfrost padded forward, jumping down the face of the mountain from rock to rock until his paws hit the ground firmly. "I want one of your warriors to come and fight Hawkfrost, see who can win. An omen, an idea of who will win the game." His voice was smug and amused, and his eyes swept the mass of cats, coming to rest on Ivypool.
Hawkfrost ran into the middle of the stretch of land between the two sides. "Come and send the warrior that stands the strongest chance of defeating me!" He howled into the night, and the screams of encouragement from the cats behind him was terrifying.
Lionblaze stepped forward, teeth bared. "Ah, ah, ah!" Hawkfrost nearly purred. "You have skill from StarClan, but I have skill from the Place of No Stars, equally powerful. No, right now you are not the cat who has a chance of defeating me." He turned toward Ivypool. "My apprentice does."
While Lionblaze stared at her, opened mouthed, Dovewing rested her tail on her sister's shoulder. "I knew you'd received special training from somewhere, but I didn't know where." She whispered. "Thank you for picking the right side." Her eyes brimmed with sadness and pride, and Ivypool thought back to when the prophecy was a secret, the anger between them. Now they were seamless, a perfect team.
"I love you Dovewing," She whispered. "And I will come back to fight again." Ivypool turned to Bumblestripe. "And of course I love you," She pressed her nose against his, and he opened his mouth. "Don't say anything," She interrupted. "Because I will be back." Without waiting for a reply, she turned and ran out to meet Hawkfrost. "I accept your challenge!" She meowed.
Yowls, caterwauls and shouts were heard from everywhere now. StarClan called their support, and Ivypool felt powerful. The Dark Forest cats screamed, desperate for the first blood to be spilled.
Hawkfrost nodded and, eyes flashing red, jumped at her, claws unsheathed. Ivypool ducked down and lashed up with her claws unsheathed, tearing at his belly. He snarled and landed on his front paws, swinging his hind legs around to hit the side of her head. She fell and rolled, and she could hear his paws hit empty ground. Leaping immediately, she landed on his back and lunged for his neck.
Hawkfrost flipped over, unbalancing her, and kicked her away. He latched onto her once she landed, leaving marks in her chest and whipping around, tossing her away. Ivypool landed roughly again and she saw him going for her throat. Resorting to an old move, she twisted and his teeth met her side instead. Instead of unbalancing him though, he hung on with teeth and claws, bringing a lot of blood. Ivypool snarled and lashed at him with her claws unsheathed, slicing his face and neck. Finally, he lurched back with a yowl and she grabbed onto his belly.
With her hind legs, she clawed through the already blood stained stomach and waited for him to slip forward, which he always did in training. The second he did she let go and he slipped onto his side.
Quick as a hawk diving for its prey, Ivypool bit down on his neck, killing him instantly.
Yowls of approval and triumph came from the StarClan cats, and Tigerstar bared his teeth. "The battle is not yet won!" And both sides raced toward each other, meeting in the middle with a clash of blood.
