Hey guys! This is my first ImagineClan challenge. I hope you like it! The quote that is given is what the story is formed around, for that was the rule in the Challenge! Hope you enjoy!

Falling

Based of off this quote:

"A true friend never gets in your way unless you happen to be going down."

Swiftflower dashed around the Dark Forest warrior that blocked her path, raking her paws down his side as she passed. The dark furred warrior hissed in pain and spun on his paws, trying to tackle Swiftflower to the ground, but she was already gone, bounding away into the mass of fighting cats.

The speckled she-cat's eyes landed on a white pelt. Frostsong was grappling with a tom almost twice her size, so Swiftflower leaped over the heads of growling and hissing felines to help her friend. As soon as she landed, Swiftflower slid down on her side, skidding underneath the Dark Forest warrior's belly. She flipped onto her back and kicked up with all of her might.

"Thanks," Frostsong panted, sides heaving. Swiftflower watched as blood trickled from a deep scratch down the white she-cat's side. She noticed how Frostsong's legs trembled under her.

"Go to Silverlight," Swiftflower demanded, tossing her head towards the medicine den. "You need to get that patched up."

Frostsong nodded and, as she turned away, Swiftflower jumped back into the fray, looking for another enemy to sink her claws into, preferring Snowtuft. He was the Dark Forest warrior who killed her brother moments before.

A while later, the ThunderClan cats were finally able to rid the camp of Dark Forest warriors. Swiftflower chased after the last warrior at the end, hissing with hackles raised. Once she reached the tattered remains of the Thorn Barrier, she stopped, staring after the retreating Dark Forest cats with a smug smile.

"Quick, spread out around the camp before the next wave hits," Beetlestar barked. "I want warriors at the top and bottom of the hollow."

"I'll take top!" Swiftflower shouted over her shoulder, already dashing away. She ran up the slope, only slowing when the cliffs rose up considerably over the camp. Once she was there, she looked down into camp, watching as her Clanmates mingled about, reinforcing the nursery with what they could.

Swiftflower's ears swirled backwards when she heard a twig snap behind her a heartbeat before she turned around. The ThunderClan warrior came face to face with a rather ugly looking cat; scars covered his body and his teeth were yellow-stained and bloody. She took in the tom's dark brown- nearly black- tabby fur with a darker stripe running down his back. She knew his name all too well.

Darkstripe.

He was the new leader of The Place of No Stars, since Thistleclaw and Mapleshade had faded away.

"What are you doing here, Darkstripe?" Swiftflower growled, her hackles starting to rise as anger coursed through her. "Why don't you go fight someone you can actually beat?"

"Don't talk to me that way, you mangy flea-pelt!" The tom spat, amber eyes growing hostile.

"I'll talk to you anyway I want to," she shot back, taking a defiant step towards him.

"Swiftflower!" A voice called out. She glanced to the side to see Frostsong standing a few tail-lengths away. "Don't take on someone you can't beat. He's a lot more deadly than you think! He can kill you with the flick of his paw."

Swiftflower let out a disgusted snort. "He's going to have to do a lot more than that to kill me," she said defiantly, glaring at Darkstripe. "Besides, if I kill him, the Dark Forest cats will retreat. They wouldn't go on without their leader." She ended the last sentence with a growl, lifting her lips over her teeth in a snarl.

"You've got heart," Darkstripe commented, amusement glinting in his eyes. "But it won't be enough to take me down." With that, he leapt.

"No!" Frostsong's ear-splitting cry could be heard through out the forest.

Within a heartbeat, Darkstripe had collided with Swiftflower and the two warriors scuffled on the forest floor in a ball of teeth and claws. Swiftflower fought back with all her might, landing a mighty blow on Darkstripe's head.

As it was enough to stun him, Swiftflower danced out of Darkstripe's reach and stood at the edge of the cliff.

"Swiftflower," Frostsong mewed, her voice shaking with fear. "Don't do it. Don't sacrifice yourself just so you can save the Clans. There are other ways to save us."

"This is the only way," Swiftflower snarled breathlessly as Darkstripe scrambled to his paws. "Don't you ever stand in my way again." She shot one last look at Frostsong, warning her not to intervene again.

Swiftflower watched as the smelly, grimy Dark Forest warrior shook his head and locked his eyes to hers. He let out a low growl before charging. Swiftflower braced herself for impact.

As soon as Darkstripe connected with her, Swiftflower flashed out her claws, slashing the warrior's throat. The ground fell away from her paws and Swiftflower knew that they both had fallen over the cliff.

Swiftflower could hear the cries of her Clanmates as they watched her tumble to the ground. She couldn't even close her eyes. She just watched the ground as it fastly approached. Before she hit the ground, she shut her eyes.

All she could feel was immense pain as she collided into the ground. Searing pain shot through her, then in the next heartbeat, she couldn't feel anything at all.