Warning: the following chapter has some graphic scenes, so if you have a weak stomach, don't read. Also I apologize for this chapter because I am not very good at writing fight scenes so if it is bad, I'm sorry. ON a happy note, I turn 16 tomorrow! Yeah! Anyway, enjoy!

As the attacking cats raced toward him, Edward could only think one thing: I wish I could see Winry again.

He pictured Winry as a child, walking to school, eating with them at Picco's, and rolling her eyes as he refused to drink his milk. He watched her transform into the beautiful teenage girl that he knew, fixing his automail, throwing a wrench at him, rolling her eyes and screaming as he again refused to take his milk. He pictured her face when she pointed that gun at Scar; the war that raged within her as she contemplated pulling the trigger. He remembered her helping to deliver that baby, involving herself in his affairs, fighting for and with him.

He grit his teeth and dug his claws into the dirt. No way was he going our like this. He had to, no, needed to get back to her. He would fight, just as she had fought for him.

With a yowl of rage and challenge Edward kicked himself into gear and sprinted headlong into the fray. His vision went red as he kicked, clawed, and bit his way through the throng. He hardly reacted when a cat bit his tail, or when a claw sliced a hole in his ear.

A white flash sped through the corner of his eye as Cloudtail pulled a cat off his back, flinging them off to the side. The cat turned, snarling. The angry she-cat lunged, swiping at Cloudtail with his front claws. Cloudtail sidestepped and raked his claws down her back as she passed. The cat yowled in pain and sped away into the crowd. The fight between Cloudtail and the she-cat had allowed Edward a moment's respite and he glanced around. He spotted Firestar fighting two Shadowclan cats, and nearby Brambleclaw was pinned to the ground by a Shadowclan queen, but Mousefur rammed into her, becoming a ball of fur and claws, allowing Brambleclaw to scramble free.

Someone grabbed him, toppling him over onto his back, exposing his stomach. Edward moved to shield his belly, but there was no attack. The unseen cat pulled him toward the edge of the battle. Edward squirmed, arching his back, digging his claws into the ground, but the other cat didn't slow their pace. Pebbles and rocks dug into his back and he hissed in pain when dirt came in contact with a cut on his back.

Nearby a Riverclan apprentice stood over a wounded comrade, successfully defending them against an assault of cats. A cheap blow kicked the apprentice's legs from underneath him and he shrieked in pain as a Shadowclan cat stepped on his hind leg. Even amidst the chaos and noise of battle, Edward still heard the clean break of the bone. Before the apprentice could begin his shrieks anew, the Shadowclan cat that broke his leg whapped him in the head, and while the apprentice lay stunned, grabbed him by the jugular and gave a sickening twist.

Edward watched in horror as blood pooled out of the apprentice's shredded throat and they briefly made eye contact before the light faded and the apprentice's soul went to the stars.

The killer shook the lifeless body like a dog does with a chew toy, and then threw it aside and immediately jumped on the other, injured apprentice that lay in shock nearby. She didn't even have time to scream, for the cat sliced his claws through her throat, and what little blood she had left streamed out to join the river of her friend's blood.

The cat flicked hid tongue over his bloody maw and turned his flaming, murderous eyes onto the struggling Edward, his white belly shining like a light in the darkness.

Edward strained even more as the killer began stalking toward like he would to a trapped mouse; easily and confidante in the kill.

The cat dragging him must have spotted the oncoming danger. They increased their speed but Edward could tell it wasn't going to be enough as the killer broke into a run, and as the cat neared he felt the tension on his neck slack and the unknown cat jumped over Edward and stood baring the way.

Edward lay still in confusion and shock. The cat that stood ready to defend him, spotted fur covered with blood, teeth bared…was Leopardstar.

The killer charged, springing into the air like a rabbit, intending on pouncing on her back. Leopardstar easily dodged, prancing away as the cat spun and stalked to her left.

Leopardstar kept her opponent moving as she avoided his attacks. Finally, as he swept past her, she reached out her paw and stuck it before him. It had the desired effect of tripping him up, and he landed hard on the dirt. Sensing he was in trouble, the fallen cat yowled loudly and several of his clanmates ran to his rescue. Leopardstar stood undecided, glancing between Edward and the charge of cats, then turned and raced back to Edward.

"Run," she hissed briefly and sprinted past him. Glancing at the oncoming cats he turned and followed. As much as he hated running away there was simply too many of them. There was also the chance that if he followed Leopardstar, he would find out more about her strange behavior.

Racing to catch up he spotted her making a break through the fighting cats and into the forest beyond. As he paws slipped and slided on the bloody ground he heard his name called. Ignoring it, he dodged and weaved through the surrounding cats until he found himself at the edge, looking into the cool forest. He hesitated. If he went after Leopardstar, he would be abandoning his clanmates. He had started this bloody massacre; he couldn't just leave. Could he? He needed to go after Leopardstar. He needed answers. He needed to know. With one last glance behind him, Edward followed Leopardstar's trail into the shadows.