Farther into the forest, where Baxter was tormented by Darkstripe and the large brown tabby tom, there was a thunderpath. On the opposite side of the thunderpath lived another group of cats. Their territory was almost as wet as a swamp and the trees that grew in that vicinity could easily be climbed. Deep in this marshy woods was a thorn bush, beyond which lay the home of these cats. The cats that dwelled here were thought to be evil. They stalked noiselessly through the night like shadows which is most likely how they got their name. ShadowClan.

In the middle of this place, or camp, as these cats referred to it as was a small pile of dead animals. The pile consisted of a few mice, a rat, two frogs, and a blackbird. Standing next to this pile was three cats. All three of the cats were brown, and from the entrance of a den a white tom with large jet black paws watched the group. A hint of jealousy was in his eyes.

"What of WindClan?" a small brown tabby tom glanced at a long-haired brown tom, his head tilting slightly.

"WindClan will be driven from their territory within the next moon. Then we can focus on RiverClan and ThunderClan. If we cannot persuade them to share their hunting grounds, Stumpytail, then we shall drive them from their territories also." the long-haired tabby snarled. "Clawface. Are our warriors battle-ready?"

The remaining brown tom looked up at the cat. His whole body was covered in battle scars. The ones that particularly stood outlined the cats face. Not the prettiest sight, that was for sure, but it showed how strong he was, probably both in defense and offense.

"Yes, Brokenstar. Our warriors are battle ready. Although I really don't think the apprentices should participate in this battle. Especially Applepaw and Ivypaw. They just began their training a few sunrises ago." The battle-scarred toms mew was deep.

The white tom continued to watch the group from the shadows. He had known about the attack on WindClan for moons now. It didn't faze him. He just didn't understand how Clawface didn't say anything about his own kits. Brownpaw, Wetpaw, and Littlepaw were his and Dawncloud's kits. The white tom hadn't liked it when Brokenstar apprenticed them and their other kits, Applepaw and Ivypaw. Clawface had mentioned them, most likely because they were she-cats and he intended to mate with one of them. All five of the white toms kits had begun their training at three moons instead of six moons like a normal kit usually did.

"We need all of our Clan in this battle. Excluding kits. They will be left here. Brightflower's kits are almost three moons. They can take care of themselves. Every cat must go."

Brokenstar turned and padded towards a den. The entrance to this den was hidden by large grass. He padded inside and found himself face to face with an old gray she-cat. She had a broad flattened face and Brokenstar sneered in disgust as he saw the fleas leaping on her pelt. The she-cat glanced up from the herbs she was sorting.

"What do you want, Brokenstar?" The she-cat mewed in exasperation. "The herbs for the battle are ready. Whatever else could you require?"

Brokenstar did not know that the Medicine Cat was harboring a secret that could quite possibly destroy his Clan. In return, though, she did not know that he harbored his own secret. The truth of the previous leader's death. The Clan thought Raggedstar had been ambushed by an enemy patrol but the truth was that Brokenstar had killed him. Had killed his own father in cold blood in order to quench his thirst. To quench his ambition.

"You will be participating in the battle Yellowfang. We must have every cat in order to drive out WindClan. Unless you wish me to tell the Clan your secret." Brokenstar's eyes glittered with abhorrance.

The gray she-cat gasped in horror. There was no possible way he could know. Only she and Raggedstar shared the fact that Brokenstar was their son. Lizardstripe, the she-cat who had nursed Brokenstar and treated him so cruelly hadn't even known the truth.

"Do what you must, Brokenstar. I am a medicine cat. I heal cats, not fight them. I will have no part in this." Yellowfang's normally calm and raspy voice had been loud and harsh.

"Fool," Brokenstar hissed. "I will destroy you. I will make every Clan hate you. Your days as a Clan cat are over."

The white tom continued to watch as Brokenstar padded out of the medicine cat clearing. His yellow eyes were trained on the dark brown tabby's pelt as Brokenstar leapt onto a huge pile of rocks and yowled a summonings to the Clan. The white cat walked out of the den and sat in front of the pile, ears cocked in curiousity.

"Cats of ShadowClan," Brokenstar yowled as the last of the cats crowded around the rockpile. "We have a traitor amongst us. I have found out who killed the apprentices, Dawnpaw and Sootpaw. Both apprentices were found with bite marks and clawmarks all over them. It was a great loss."

When he said that all the cats in the clearing bowed their heads. A wail of anguish came from a black she-cat.

"Yes Nightfang. All of ShadowClan feels the loss almost as strongly as you. Now listen, my Clanmates. It was Yellowfang who killed them!"

::Author's Note::

Please look at Wolf's Blood, which is my story. It has no reviews, while this very fiction has very few.

Reviews always keep me/us going! Thank you for reading!