A/N: Hope it was worth the wait.

Chapter 9: A Father's Farewell

The End

A booming clap of thunder exploded overhead as a heavy torrent of rain drops continuously poured down from the sky, soaking the ground and turning it murky brown as it dissolved into trenches of mud. The air roared ferociously with strong gales of wind that raged relentlessly across the land, twisting and ripping trees from their roots without a second thought, as lightning streaked across the darkened horizon brightening the sky and revealing the ravaged forest below.

Goldenshine peered through the branches that made up the roof of the medicine den, staring up into the blackened sky above as rain leaked through the branches drenching him. His golden fur clung to his lithe form, showing him to be several sizes smaller than he usually appeared but the medicine cat gave no sign that he planned to move, appearing to be in a trance.

"The battle rages on," a hoarse voice seemed to emulate somewhere from the golden tom, although Goldenshine didn't remember actually speaking. Heavy drops splattered his face with rain, but the tom neither flinched nor moved as he stared grim faced into the shadowed night, knowing somewhere above the battle for the survival of the forest continued.

Was this really his destiny? Everything that he'd been led up to believe all seemed so utterly twisted and hideous now that he finally knew the truth of what his true purpose was. He wasn't the healer of the wounded that he'd sworn an oath to be. He wasn't even the famed savior of ShadowClan every cat in his Clan had been fooled into believing. A pawn, a pawn of the darkness, that's what he was.

Goldenshine stared down at his paws, emotion churning in his stomach at the memories of the atrocities he helped commit. With these paws of his that had been used to help and heal so many cats in turn he'd dwelled in the darkness and hurt and betrayed twice as many. Leafbreeze, Nightstar, ShadowClan, and now with this final act of evil the entire forest.

Thunder boomed in the distant as Goldenshine gripped the dirt between his paws, clenching his fangs together as his body began to shake uncontrollably. 'What am I going to do?' he thought helplessly, the truth of his final act bearing down on him. 'I've went along with the murdering of my mentor, the tricking of my leader and Clan, but this? How can I?'

The uncertainty was weighing down on his mind and body, the indecision of choosing right from wrong raging a deadly battle within him. Could he really doom the lives of the Clans to such a dark future? With all the things Goldenshine had helped the Dark Forest accomplish, was he truly prepared to be the snake that sunk the poison into the forest and brought about the decay and destruction of the Clans?

He had nowhere to turn, no one to seek help from. StarClan feared him, his Clan was oblivious to his misdeeds, and Cloudstorm had shunned him. What now? What could he possibly do to stop this dark future from coming to pass?

The glint of something in the corner of the cleft where the herbs were kept caught his eye. Goldenshine slowly lifted his head all the while still staring at the glow of something red as he began to pad his way towards the cleft. Coming to a stop before the cleft and with a shaky paw, Goldenshine reached into the depths of the darkness. When he redrew back placed clearly in the middle of his paw pad was a pair of bright red berries.

Goldenshine's eyes widened in surprised. These, these were…no. Could he actually-but was he really willingly to take away the innocent lives of-! Suddenly a commotion from the entrance of the medicine den startled him out of his brooding, as a large, moss colored tom soaked to the bone in rain forced his way through the tiny entrance, snapping and knocking away several branches.

"Goldenshine!" he gasped for air, appearing to have run the entire length of the Clan to get here, "Barrierclaw says to come now. It's time; they're on their way here."

A sense of dread began to gnaw at the ends of Goldenshine's heart. There was only one course of action to take now, but no matter what there would be no chance in redeeming his soul after it.

The moment my head broke the surface of the water, I was immediately swimming for the nearest source of land. Feeling the smooth touch of pebbles beneath my paws, I began to claw my way out of the large body of water before coming to stand on the grassy bank. Not even stopping to shake my pelt loose of water I started on forward, scouting my current surroundings. It wasn't until then, however, that the full brunt and severity of StarClan's territory hit me.

The scenery before me was incredible. I found myself near the outskirts of a lush and verdant forest, seamlessly decorated in a vibrant display of large and sturdy, dark chestnut colored trees decorated in a stunning array of flourishing foliage. This breathtaking sight was only made more prominent with the soothing backdrop of the night sky, casting an eternal glow of life that seemed to resonate with the air itself.

My heart skipped a beat and I realized that I was speechless. But why, why was I suddenly and so unexpectedly taken aback by the beauty of StarClan? Had I been expecting something else, some sinister and battle scared land that reflected the image of the vile and deceitful cats that dwelled here I took them to be? Surprise? Uneasiness? Were these the emotions my heart was currently exuding?

"It is quite a sight to take in, isn't it?" Icefrost's cold voice sounded from behind me before moments later the dark tom joined my side. "Take a long look, Cloudstorm," he whispered softly. "The object of our hatred and future conquest stands here before us."

Something about the way Icefrost said those words sent a shiver down my spine. How could something seemingly so pure and beautiful house the very cats of my vengeance and rage? It almost seemed tragic in a way.

"Come," Icefrost ordered, padding forward into the forest. "We have a ways to go before we reach the heart of StarClan, and we need to use to our advantage every second StarClan wastes fighting against our comrades to make it there undeterred."

Something clicked in my head. "Wait," I said causing Icefrost to pause. "Are you telling me that the others are merely a distraction? We're not fighting at all?"

"Oh, poor, poor, Cloudstorm," Rosethorn suddenly laughed from behind me, bringing me to remember that she had made the journey with us, "How hopelessly narrow minded and clueless you are."

I growled at maniacal she-cat, but Icefrost's call halted me from causing the damage that she so rightfully deserved.

"We have something even more important than the trading of claws with rival cats that takes precedence over this mission, Cloudstorm."

I grunted in displeasure. "And that would be what? Even now you've failed to let on to just what is your big plan."

Icefrost's eyes seemed to take on an eerie glow before dimmer back to normal. "Simple. We're going to destroy StarClan from the inside out."

I blinked in surprise. "And how are we going to accomplish that?"

Icefrost opened his mouth to reply with sudden a collection of voices sounded from the forest.

"What was that?" someone called out.

"I heard voices coming from the direction of the lake," another called out.

"Take this patrol over that way and scout the surrounding area for Dark Forest cats," a louder, gruffer voice demanded. "Now!"

"Rosethorn!" Icefrost hissed, crouching low to the ground.

"Right," she responded, turning to me and to my confusement stuffing the bundle of cobwebs she'd brought with her into my mouth. "Now don't lose that, beloved," she crooned before dashing away into a section of the forest without another word.

"She'll do what she can to disperse most of them from our position, but for the time being we need to split up," Icefrost hissed my way. "Make your to the center of the forest and whatever you do don't lose what's in your mouth."

Unable to protest with my mouth stuffed full, Icefrost vanished into another part of the forest leaving me alone to fend for myself.

I traveled unchallenged through the forest, stopping every once and a while to sense for enemies before continuing on. Sneaking around hadn't been what I was planning when I'd made plans with Icefrost to take down StarClan. I had my own personal agenda that I wanted to take care of first before anything else. There was a certain ginger she-cat that held my undivided attention at the moment and more now than ever I wanted her near where my claws could finally swipe that smug look off her face.

The sound of fighting off in the distant caught my attention as I wondering briefly is that was the direction in which I'd find Brightstar. The idea appealed to me more and more than Icefrost's of traveling to the center of the forest with whatever this was stuffed in my jaws.

Before I could make a decision of what to do next a voice called out from above, "My, my, why if it isn't the Dark Forest's little pawn."

I unsheathed my claws and shot my head up in search of the cat who'd spoke. My eyes darted back and forth throughout the treetops, but still I was unable to locate the source of who had just spoken out.

"Can't find me?" the voice called out mockingly. "I have to say for such a cat that seems to have StarClan in such an uproar you're a bit of a disappointment. I suppose you aren't as dangerous as Brightstar made you out to be."

The mention of Brightstar set my pelt on fire. "Show yourself!" I demanded, spitting the bundle of cobwebs out of my mouth to the floor.

I was rewarded with a chorus of laughter. "Well, since the almighty Cloudstorm insists upon it then I suppose I must."

Suddenly a blur of fur emerged from the top of the tree closet to my left side and out dropped a golden brown tom, his pelt sparkling brightly with the signature of a StarClan cat. I crouched low into a battle stance, but the large tom before me merely shook his head in distaste.

"You can cut that out, kit. I have no intention of fighting you."

I slowly rose a bit from my crouched position, eyeing the tom evenly. "Wait a minute? Did you just call me a kit?"

"As long as I've been around that's what most of you tend to be when compared to me," he responded, flicking his tail dismissively. "But in your case, it's also when a perfectly grown cat acts like an unruly kit that's saw fit to throw a tantrum in hopes of getting what it wants."

I growled in response. "Kit, you say! What right do you have to scold me when StarClan's the one who wronged me first!"

The golden tom snorted. "There you go again with the whining, kit. There are countless cats here in StarClan itself who felt they were at least greatly wronged once or twice in their life, but you don't currently see them raging war here. And to think you were once the deputy of my former Clan. My, look how far ThunderClan has fallen."

I snarled in protest. This cat was starting to try my patience and if he wasn't planning on doing anything other than berate me, I was done here.

"What do you expect to accomplish anyway?" he continued on. "Let's say you succeed tonight, what then? It won't change anything will it? You'll still feel angry inside and she'll still be dead. Don't you realize that? Don't you-."

"Lionstar," a voice called out from the shadow of the trees. "That's enough. I'll handle it from here." I stared in the direction of where I'd heard the voice first originate from, but the darkness from the forest made it physically impossible to see.

The golden brown tom now identified as Lionstar shot one glance in the shadow and then turned to leave, deciding to depart with the closing words of, "I wanted to see if there were any redeemable traits left of you to speak of, kit, but it seems I'll have to leave it to someone better suited to handle your mood swings."

I had the slightest of what he was speaking of until the glare of a pair of silver eyes shined through the dark to lock gazes with me. There was only one tom in the history of the four Clans to have a piercing gaze resembling those set of eyes. The name was out of my mouth before the emergence of a tall brown tabby stepping into the light greeted my eyes.

"Hawkgaze."

We stared at each other, the vicious yowls and battle cries from other fighting cats far off in the distance echoing around us. Since the last time I'd seen him within the Dark Forest with Brightstar, I knew this moment was coming. We both did. Two opposing forces colliding in a head to head battle in an attempt to prove whose power was the more superior. Yes, we had come to the end.

"It isn't fair, you know?" Hawkgaze spoke, his piercing, silver eyes emotionless as he unsheathed his claws. "All the moons I've spent here waiting in StarClan and the only thing I've wanted was to see you face to face again. It's almost a cruel joke when you think about it. I finally get to see my son, but when we finally meet here in StarClan we have to kill each other to stop the others conquest."

"Yes," I agreed, unsheathing my own claws. "It truly is unfair, Hawkgaze."

We sprang at each other before colliding in a furious ball of yowling and clawing. Blood pounded in my ears as I traded blow for blow with Hawkgaze. Our claws sliced through each other like a paw through water, and blood flowed freely from our wounds.

We tore into each other, biting viciously with our fangs and attacking with reckless abandonment with intent to hurt. I sunk my teeth into his forepaw, hearing a loud crunch as I made contact with the bone. With a yowl of outrage Hawkgaze angrily batted my head to release him. We suddenly broke apart, taking a split second to catch a gulp of air before launching right back at each other.

Hawkgaze fought with a ferocity I hadn't known he was capable of. He bit, scratched, and clawed me as if he was simply fighting another enemy, and not his own son. But then again in a way I guess he was.

Thunder seemed to explode overhead everything time our blows made contact with flesh. Boom! as I landed a strike at his shoulder. Boom! as he landed one to the side of my flank leaving a thin line of blood. I winced as a swipe from Hawkgaze caught me right below the eye. The fresh wound stung as air hit it, and I yowled in defiance.

Spitting angrily, I returned with a clubbing blow to the head. I could feel my claws make contact with the structure of Hawkgaze's skull, a scraping noise sounding as I ripped them free. Blood pooled down the side of Hawkgaze's face, drenching him in blood and blurring the vision of his right eye.

He hissed from the pain of the blood stinging his eye, and gave a swipe at me which I neatly ducked before barreling into him. I tried valiantly to pin him, trying quickly to finish the fight, but Hawkgaze refusing to submit delivered several nasty cuts across my body. I growled in protest before slamming my paw against his chest, knocking the air straight out of his lungs.

Hawkgaze wheezed painfully from the blow while still attempting to throw me off. Not being deterred in the slightest I landed another blow against his chest followed up with one to the face. I thought I would've been over right there but still, still he fought on. I could see from my position over him that Hawkgaze was fighting with every ounce of his soul to continue going on.

"Stay down!" I ordered, slamming another heavy blow down against his chest. "Stay down!" I spat angrily as he began to struggle now even more before finally pushing me away.

My heart pounding and blood racing, I watched as Hawkgaze slowly crawled to his paws, the blood from his head wound now leaking to cover his face. He stood there exhausted and literally dead on his paws, shaking pitifully in an attempt to stay standing. This fight was over. There was no point in us continuing to cause each other harm when he obviously no longer proved a threat. Why then? What was Hawkgaze's goal in doing all of this? Surely protecting Brightstar from me couldn't be this important? There had to more, an ulterior motive of such but what?

"I can't let you continue to go down this road of self-destruction, Cloudstorm," he wheezed, stumbling to stay standing. "I won't allow it."

"It's a little too late to still be trying to father me, Hawkgaze," I responded gruffly. "We both know one way or another I have to destroy StarClan. They must pay."

"But at what cost!" he shouted, sending flecks of blood from his face flying as he started toward me in a woozy charge. "You still have a chance to make things right!"

I watched in surprise as beaten and bloody, Hawkgaze charged at me with what I assumed was the last of his strength. Why was he so determined to stop me? Why? Why! "Don't do this!" I shouted as he crossed into my striking range and I lashed out a clawed paw to meet him.

Hawkgaze toppled from the fore of the blow, snapping his head back before bouncing against the ground with a heavy thud. He lay there, still and breathing heavily, as blood began to bleed more profusely from the wound on his head. His eyes were dim, and his face bore several cuts from where I'd smashed him. He wheezed horribly attempting to attain air, but seemed to be only choking himself with every failed attempt.

I looked down upon Hawkgaze, as he struggled to survive, and stared into his eyes. He met my gaze, his silver eyes sparkling and a swarm of memories over swept me in an engulfing embrace.

I saw Hawkgaze pacing back and forth outside the ThunderClan nursery, worry evident on his face. His mate was giving birth to their first litter of kits, and the doubts and fears of what if something was to go wrong ran rampant in his mind. A yowl from inside the nursery sent him into a wild panic before rushing for the entrance.

Fear clutched at his heart, as he feared the worst had happened. However, upon entering the nursery instead of blood or some gruesome sight, his nostrils were hit the sweet smell of milk, and his ears the soft mewling of kits. The ThunderClan medicine cat turned to Hawkgaze, a small smile upon his lips, as he took a step back and motioned for Hawkgaze to come meet his kits.

Excitement and anxiety bubbled up inside of him as he took a step forward. His mate, a light-grey she-cat smiled warmly up at him, as he was greeted by the sight of three healthy looking kits.

"I've already named these two," she said, motioning to the two kits on the far left. "But I saved the last born and only tom for you to name."

Hawkgaze peered down closer at the small bundle of fur, and was greeted by a ball of dark grey, puffy fur that reminded him fondly of a grey storm cloud during a thunderstorm. Hawkgaze eyes softened upon seeing the innocent young kit and he glanced up at his mate, his mind made up for the perfect name.

"Cloudkit," he mewed, proudly smiling down at the kit. "It's the perfect name for the perfect little kit."

Suddenly the memory shifted to a dimly lit clearing where Hawkgaze stood staring off in the distance with a cat that I couldn't recognize due to the light, standing by his side.

"So, are you really going to go through with StarClan's wishes and kill Cloudstorm?" the cat asked softly.

Hawkgaze didn't answer for several moments, continuing instead to stare off in the distance before finally sighing deeply, "No, I doubt I ever could cause that kind of harm to my own kit no matter what he's done. Call it the blinding love of a foolish tom if you will, but I can't bring myself to do it. I'll hold him at bay as long as I possibly can until hopefully we're able to drive the Dark Forest back. If possible I'll persuade him to run away. Runaway and never come back."

"Do you honestly believe for one moment that he's going to take heed and runaway, Hawkgaze?"

Hawkgaze closed his eyes, lowering his head in a sign of submission. "No I don't. But I have to try anyway, don't I?"

I felt myself released of the memory, finding myself once again standing over a broken Hawkgaze. Grief washed over me in a blanket of sorrow, as I looked down at the dying cat before me. When he finally let go he wouldn't just appear later in StarClan, whole and new again. No, he would vanish forever never to be seen again. It wasn't until now that I fully realized that my father would be gone forever. Torn away from me just like that without a possible way of ever coming back.

"I had to try," Hawkgaze coughed out, regret clouding his gaze. "I'm sor-ry, Cloudstorm. I-I wanted to s-save you. I wanted to save my perfect li-ttle kit, I-i- tr-tried. I had to try."

"I know," I told him gruffly as my throat tightened with grief. "I know, Hawkgaze."

Darkness began to claim Hawkgaze's eyesight before he shut them close. I watched with a pained heart as he took one final successful breathe and exhaled deeply. Before my eyes his body began to glow, radiating brightly with the stars that adorned his pelt. In that same instant I felt him let go and his body suddenly exploded in a blaze of sparkling light as his body evaporated into a cluster of glowing stars before vanishing out of existence.

I stared blankly at the spot where I'd just saw my father's essence disperse into oblivion. Pain like none I've only ever experienced once in my life ripped at my very heart and soul. StarClan had caused this. They had started this entire cause of events, and it was their fault that Hawkgaze was gone. Their fault that he was gone forever!

I threw my head back, and yowled loudly into the heavens above letting my rage and pain be known. He was gone. He was really gone. I regretted what I'd just done. I hated myself for what I'd just done. But I hated StarClan even more for what they'd led me to just commit. They would pay for this. I would journey to the heart of StarClan and finish what should've died moons ago. This was for my mate! This was for my father! This was for revenge!

I continued onward in a daze, silently carrying the bundle of cobwebs in my jaws while my body felt hollow and empty inside. It's an eerie feeling knowing that it's the blood of your father that's currently staining your claws. It unsettles you in a way that I can't quite bring myself to explain.

To see someone you've been so close and attached to in life up and suddenly disappear, the only notion even remotely close is that of having to bare the feeling of knowing a part of you just died inside. Unfortunately for me it seems I've successfully managed to die twice inside the last seven or eight moons past.

I had only one objective now: The destruction of StarClan. Whatever lingering misgivings I'd previously had at destroying this place died the moment when Hawkgaze disappeared. There was no mercy left to be had, that much was certain. The very next cat that stood in my way, Dark Forest or StarClan would meet their end with me.

I journeyed unopposed for the remainder of the trip. The once prominent and ever present yowls and tussling of fighting cats having slowly faded off into the distance as I drew deeper towards the center of the forest. I noticed the further in I got the thicker and lusher the undergrowth and vegetation seemed to get.

Things got to a critical level where I could no longer see the light of the night sky above thanks to the trees now closing in on each other. The grass itself had managed to sprout to an irritating level of height, hanging now several lengths over my head where I couldn't even tell which direction I was heading.

Time seemed to slow down as I transversed endlessly of what appeared to be a never ending trek. The world had long ago gone deaf, leaving me nothing to hear but my own rapid and heavy breathing. My body grew heavier with each step I took, the power of time itself appearing to weigh me down as I drew ever closer. My heartbeat slowed to a single beat, only letting me know that I was currently still alive with a random beat every other drawn out moment. I felt myself grow sluggish, the speed at which my mind ran screech to a complete stop.

What was I experiencing? This feeling, was this the call of death? This agonizing and drawn out shutdown of a cat's mind and body, was this what it felt like to die? I was insane. I don't think I could keep going much longer. If this didn't stop now I think I really would- Suddenly I lurched forward, dropping the cobwebs from my mouth and beginning to tumble down a hill. I rolled several times before finally coming to a halt.

Clearing my head, I climbed back to my paws seconds too late to realize something was off. Why was everything blue? All around me a powerful aura of blue emitted from every source of life around. The trees, leaves, grass; even I had taken on the strange glow. What was it though? What was making all this happen? And that's when I saw it. In the middle of the enclosed clearing was a blue pool, similar in many ways to the dark pool that resided in the Dark Forest. The difference, however, was startling.

The few times that I'd been around Icefrost black pool there were only two emotions that I ever got from it: Danger and fear. Emitting from this pool, however, was a completely different feeling entirely. A wafting glow of warmth and energy seemed to spill from it, spreading and resonating into anything nearby strength and a sense of safety.

I wanted to get closer. Something about this pool seemed to be calling out to my very soul. If I could just touch it maybe, maybe I could-!

"Stop right there, Cloudstorm."

I stopped. 'That voice!' my blood nearly seemed to be screaming at me as it boiled to new levels.

"You!" I snarled, whipping around to lock gazes with a bright red ginger colored she-cat whose fur contrasted with the blue aura of the pool.

Something in the back of my mind told me I should be wondering how she had managed to find me or an even more troubling idea of what if she'd known I'd be here. If I'd been in the right mind to think logically that's most likely what I should've been thinking. It should but it wasn't. Only one thing dominated my thoughts now and she was standing right in front of me.

Not a word was said. There was no talking, no insults or unnecessary bouts of rage and rants exchanged at all. There was no need. We'd said everything that there was to say to each the very last time that we'd met. Now it was time to settle the score.

We slowly stalked a circle around each other, both of us low to the ground, claws unsheathed, blood racing, muscles tensed and ready to spring. The sheer multitude of all that I had to go through to make it here was making my heart pulsate out of control. I'd waited a long time for this moment to happen, and now with everything presented before me, I was going to take advantage of every possible second of this opportunity.

I made a pounce towards her, deciding an ariel attack would be the best way to get the jump on her. Brightstar stayed still, watching intently as I sailed toward here and at the last possible second duck under, managing in the process to score several times under my belly before I came crashing back down.

I rolled once, using my momentum to propel myself back to my paws before quickly having to backpedal mere seconds later as a swipe from Brightstar just nicked the tip of my nose. I struck back in return, relishing the feel of my claws finally making contact with her flank. It was a shallow cut, but a cut nonetheless, and that was enough to motivate me to try harder.

I let my paws go, attempting to overwhelm her in a swarm of strikes. She not only successfully avoided every one of my attacks, but snuck in two quick swipes of her own every time I missed. The longer the battle raged on, the more vicious it grew.

We bit and clawed, tussling for superior position with her sneaking in with swift swipes and me with clubbing blows. One moment she was scoring relentlessly down my flank and the next I was furiously batting her away before pouncing right back at her. We twist and turned around each other locked in a deadly match of wills as Brightstar managed to get inside and shock me with an angry cuff to the side of the head.

The blow left me disorientated and off balance as I clawed wildly at air, missing each time and allowing her time for a counter attack. The more I swung and miss the more specks of blood seemed to fly from my pelt. The air was knocked out of me as Brightstar's weight suddenly came crashing on to me.

She attempted to force her forward and pin me to the ground before I pushed her away after scoring several time to her flanks with my hind paws. Scrambling back to paws, I managed to slip a swipe intended to blind me and slammed my body into Brightstar, sending her flying back several foxlengths.

Without a second thought I charge back into battle, letting my hate and anger guide my claws towards Brightstar body. I raked my claws down her spine, hearing the sound of my claws rip through Brightstar's flesh as she yowled out in outrage. I slashed down without hesitation, feeling the spray of blood stain my fur as I opened up a nasty cut across the side of Brightstar's left flank.

In return, Brightstar latched on to my right foreleg, digging deeply into the limb before pouncing forward to clench her jaws against my shoulder. Fire erupted from my shoulder as Brightstar sunk her fangs deep, blood beginning to already profusely flow from the wound. I angrily batted at her, forcing her to let go before finally breaking free. Blood splattered the ground as my wound leaked all the way down my foreleg, staining the grass red.

We paused for a split second to view the other, gasping for the little bit of air we'd both only allow each other to have. My blood still boiled uncontrollably at the sight of her, every single one of my instincts urging me on to attack, attack, attack!

Her body was littered with an array of scratches and bites as blood pooled from the wound on her left flank while I resembled a similar sight except with blood pooling from my shoulder. Our paws were soaked in so much blood there was no chance of telling the difference between ones blood from the other. It was all the same anyway. Both burned with the desire to see the other cat standing before crushed and humbled before their paws.

I took a step forward and winced as my body buckled slightly from the pain of my shoulder. That was all the opening Brightstar needed to attack and start the fighting back up. Lips curled back in a snarl I met her attack head as we collided in a barrage of flailing limbs and the blur of white fangs disappearing to sink into flesh.

We battered and bruised each other without concern for our safety. There was only one thought echoing in continuous, rapid succession in our minds. Attack, attack, attack! That would be the deciding factor of this battle, the turning point of who reigned victor while the other lay humbled on the ground in defeat. The first cat whose mind wavered even for the slightest of moments away from the current thought would fall.

The battle raged on with seemingly no end when it happened. It was the faintest of signs, barely perceptible by anyone other than the two of us fighting, but for the slightest of moments a slip in Brightstar's intensity occurred and I struck. Claws flashed, blood flew, and Brightstar's eyes widened in shock. She fell back from the blow and I lunged forward, latching my fangs around her throat and preparing to end it all with one final bite.

I released Brightstar's neck and took a step back away from the ginger she-cat. Brightstar gave a wheezing cough as I released her and looked up at me in absolute disbelief.

"Wh-why?" she asked shocked to find I hadn't finished her.

"Don't take this as a sign of mercy," I told her snarling. "I still plan to kill you, Brightstar, but simply ripping your throat out in cold blood isn't enough for me. There's no satisfaction to be had in a quick kill. It's too easy, allowing you a quick escape from the all pain I have in store for you. I'm going to beat you into submission, Brightstar. Assault you until you're begging me for your life like you and StarClan made me beg when my mate was dying. You're going to experience the pain I felt that day and every day after until you're begging me to release you from this horrible existence. And then, only then will I kill you."

I stood over Brightstar, a towering omen of death as I raised my paw for what would be the first strike of her long awaited punishment.

"Cloudstorm stop!"

I froze. No, that voice. It couldn't be. She couldn't be. There was no possible way! My gaze drifted to the origin of the voice starting at the paws and slowly traveling my way up before making contact with the face. My heart shattered.

"Amberheart."

A/N: One chapter remains.