Why is it that whenever I go to work on this story I have some sort of problem? Whatever, you guys don't need to hear about my sudden fear of the dark and relationship issues. Just a note for you guys: going out with the guy you've been friends with for nearly all your life=trouble. Just saying. Especially a bad idea when you keep thinking about your previous relationship because you thought you were over it and jumped right into a new one. Not that that's what I did-

Hollyleaf: Sure it wasn't.

Aduial: Shut it, Holly. Not in the mood.

Hollyleaf: If it's giving you guilt troubles, just end it!

Aduial: Guilt is the problem! How do you break up gently with your first friend? And why am I having this conversation? You know what? On with the story!

Chapter 3

ThunderClan's Demise

The ThunderClan cats were taken entirely by surprise. All they'd been doing was their normal daily routine, when suddenly, the camp was surrounded, and the DarkClan cats were swarming in. In moments, blood spattered the ground and fur flew. The air was filled with the sound of battle cries.

"What's happening?" screeched Larkwing, one of Firestar's last litter.

"I don't know!" yowled Brackenfur, as he slashed at a DarkClan cat. "Apparently DarkClan is back again! Again!"

Larkwing saw Pinepaw pinned down. The warrior who'd pinned her young apprentice was about to deliver a kiling blow. Forgetting her own battle, Larkwing streaked over to him and knowcked off the warrior.

"Stay away from my apprentice!" she hissed, swiping a paw, claws unsheathed, at the warrior's throat. True, according to the warrior code, it was not necessary to kill to win a battle, but DarkClan didn't care about that. With them it was kill or be killed.

The warrior pulled back just in time. "Make me," he growled.

Larkwing pinned him down and sank her teeth into his throat, killing him instantly. Pinepaw was still catching his breath.

"Are you okay?" Larkwing asked, gasping. Pinepaw nodded before flying into battle again, as did his mentor.

Larkwing slashed at the enemy cats viciously with unsheathed claws. The rabbits have come out from hiding. How wonerful! she thought. After all, DarkClan were essentially cats living like rabbits. They lived under ground, and appeared to have bred at least as quickly, from the vast numbers swarming the ThunderClan camp. She glanced around for her littermates. No sign of them.

She saw her daughter, Maplesky, her only kit, struggling beneath a massive tabby tom, her sleek, tiny silver tabby form looking even smaller. She raced towards her, screeching in fury at the sight of her daughter's bloody shape. She bowled the tom over, letting Maplesky struggle to her paws, coughing.

"Stay away from my daughter!" she hissed before sinking her fangs into the tom's throat. She tasted his hot blood as it flowed from him, and raised her head. Maplesky had regained her breath by now.

"Maplesky, get Bramblestar and his patrol, take Pinepaw with you! ThunderClan is outnumbered. We need help. Go, Now!" she yowled.


Moonshine purred as she and Ashfire storlled along the border together. The pine forest of their territory was beautiful at the end of Newleaf. Greenleaf was upon them, and the birds sang happitly in the trees.

"I love our home," purred Ashfire. "Its so beautiful here. It would be a wonderful place to raise kits someday."

"Yeah, it would be," mewed Moonshine shyly. Her heart pounded. Ashfire was about to speak again. What would he say? Would he ask her to be his mate? Just as he was about to speak, the fresh scent of ThunderClan appeared. The two cats turned their attention to the border.

"ThunderClan," meowed Ashfire grimly.

"Its perfectly fine, Ashfire," mewed Moonshine gently. "We're peaceful with them right now. Bramblestar only wants peace, as do the other leaders."

As if on queu, Bramblestar and his border patrol appeared. "Greetings, young warriors," meowed Bramblestar. "I hope the prey runs well in ShadowClan?"

"It does," replied Moonsihne, courtiously. "And in ThunderClan?"

"Quite well-" Bramblestar began before he was cut off.

"Bramblestar!" gasped a young ThunderClan warrior, a terrified apprentice at her side, eyes wide in shock. "DarkClan! Attack! We're outnumbered! All over the camp! So many dead already..." the young silver tabby she-cat then feinted. The apprentice trembled.

"Pinepaw, what's happening?" demanded Bramblestar, ShadowClan forgotten. "Why wasn't the camp guarded?"

"The camp was guarded! But the guards are dead!" the apprentice wailed.

"Thornclaw? And Cloudtail?" Bramblestar was stunned. Both toms had served ThunderClan for many moons. "Brightheart..." he murmured. Thornclaw was her brother, and Cloudtail was her mate.

Pinepaw simply nodded. "Many others on both side are already dead! Bramblestar, we need help! There are so many..." The apprentice was trembling iolently, clearly scared out of his wits.

Bramblestar looked at Ashfire and Moonshine, who were standing at the border, bristling.

"Those filthy Dark Forest rats..." growled Ashfire. Moonshine hissed in agreement.

"Could you please take Pinepaw and Maplesky back to your camp?" asked Bramblestar. "We cant leave them here, and the ThunderClan camp won't be safe..."

"Of course," mewed Moonshine. "I'm sure that Blackstar will understand. If possible, we will go to help you as well. We can't let DarkClan destroy a true clan."

"Thank you," meowed Bramblestar before flicking his tail and leading his patrol back through the forest to the ThunderClan camp.


Back in the ThunderClan camp, the battle wasn't going well. Nine ThunderClan warriors remained standing. The Three, Larkwing, Brightheart, Whitewing, Brackenfur, Leafpool, and Graystripe. Cinderheart and Daisy crouched in the nursey with Jayfeather's apprentice. Sandstorm, Bumblestripe, and Millie were on patrol with Bramblestar. Berrynose, Sorreltail, and Squirrelflight were hunting. Maplesky and Pinepaw had gone for help. Every one else, save for the kits, was dead. The eight warriors stood in a circle, unmoving.

"Jafeather, are you sure you should be out here fighting?" mewed Dovewing, voice high in terror.

"I'm prepared to die for my clan," the medicine cat replied.

"This is it," mewed Lionblaze, heart pounding.

"ThunderClan, get out now!" yowled a familiar voice.

"Bramblestar!" breathed Whitewing in relief.

"Retreat! ThunderClan, retreat!" Bramblestar yowled as he cut down his enemies. "Get the queens and kits out! Don't stop until you reach ShadowClan! If possible, make for the ShdowClan camp!"

Were leaving? thought Larkwing. ThunderClan. Our home... Where will we go now? She shook her head and picked up one of Cinderheart's kits. ThunderClan was gone. Their home destroyed. Taken by the enemy. With a heavy heart, she fled the camp towards ShadowClan.


The ShadowClan cats looked in shock and horror as the ThunderClan refugees entered their camp, covered in blood. Not one was free of injury. Even the kits had tiny scratches from crashing through the bramble as they'd fled for their lives. Pinepaw and Maplesky left the medicine cat's den to see their clanmates.

"So few. So few of you escaped!" Maplesky mewed.

"Where are Lilypaw and Flamepaw? And Birchpaw and Ashpaw, and Lilacpaw!" mewed Pinepaw, looking for the other apprentices.

Bramlestar looked down at the apprentice in sorrow. "They will never return from battle," the leader meowed sadly. He looked up at the sky. "I've failed my Clan! ThunderClan has fallen! Our camp is gone, our clanmates dead!"

"How many lives have been lost?" asked Blackstar. "Did any others escape?"

"We regrouped at the border. We waited long, no others returned. This is all that is left of my clan. Our medicine cat and medicine cat apprentice, my deputy, eight warriors, two queens, their kits, and one apprentice. And myself. Three other warriors, Sandstorm, Squirrelflight, and Millie were out hunting. I'm not sure if they are still alive," replied Bramblestar. "We have lost our camp and our territory will soon be overrun. We have nowhere to go."

"You may stay here as long as you need," murmured Blackstar. "DarkClan has returned for good, and therefore the five clans must once again work together to be rid of them."

"Thank you, Blackstar," replied Bramblestar, dipping his head.

"You will get your home back," Blackstar vowed. "But for now, you and your clanmates need rest."

Tigerflame emerged from his den. He, Jayfeather, and Redpelt set about healing the ThunderClan cats.

Hopeflower watched from the entrance to the warriors den. Her heart pounded. Questions she dreaded raced through her mind. What would become of the clans? What if the chosen failed?

Well, since I'm tired and have a little homework still, goodnight, enjoy, and no the cats will not speak.