Snowy: After that horrendously short chapter that Starry did (No Offense), I decided to make this chapter extra long. So, you've all seen Hawkpaw as an apprentice, and now you get to see Larchpaw. Oh, and Starry mentioned that the name of the book she said would be told. The series is called the Guardians of Ga'Hoole, and it's surprisingly about owls. But hey, owls are the coolest birds around. I also finally saw the movie Avatar. Let me tell you. Best, 3-D movie in the world!

Larchpaw nosed the ground warily. Jayfeather had taken her out earlier to show her the best spots for herbs. But something didn't seem right. They were trekking along the abandoned Twoleg nest, when all of a sudden, she heard a commotion.

Her ears lurched forward, and a sharp, piny scent filled the air. The scent was unmistakable, and even a kit would have noticed the difference. She knew that a ShadowClan warrior had only just recently passed through. Jayfeather's paws stopped moving as well, and he noticed it for the first time.

It still surprised Larchpaw that she could sense things before Jayfeather. He should have extraordinary hearing, due to his blindness. But nowadays, he didn't seem to notice anything.

Suddenly, Hawkpaw shot out of a furled bracken bush, with Lionstar, Toadstep and Cinderheart at his heals. Larchpaw's eyes widened in alarm, but her brother didn't even notice her. He was heading in the direction of the ShadowClan warrior, but something told her that it was not a wise move.

"Stay here," Jayfeather hissed. He was glaring at her now with frosty eyes, before he set off in the same direction as the patrol.

Larchpaw watched, suddenly feeling irritated. She could take care of herself, and it felt as though Jayfeather didn't even need her!

She dropped into a crouch and silently followed. Jayfeather would not hear her, for her paws were barely skimming the thick undergrowth that marked the borders. The sharp piny scent was growing stronger, as if more cats were gathering where the warrior had been.

Her mind was reeling over battle moves--moves she had watched apprentices perform. Rainpaw was always a quick learner, and would often practice her moves in front of the den.

Jayfeather's pelt suddenly vanished into the darkness, as pine trees took over. Larchpaw knew now that they were close to the heart of ShadowClan territory, where the warrior had run off. But something felt wrong. It was like they were watched by several eyes.

Then, it all happened in a blur. The screech of a cat, and the battle cry of a warrior. Larchpaw felt her heart lurch when she heard her brother cry out. She narrowed her eyes and stood on her hind paws, only to see what looked like the whole of ShadowClan attacking.

Cinderheart was fighting two ShadowClan warriors, while Lionstar himself faced off against three. Once again, Larchpaw was mesmerized by her fathers' strength. He didn't even flinch when a dark brown tom's teeth ripped through his golden tabby fur. Hawkpaw was fighting off an apprentice, who's mentor was also fighting on the other side. Larchpaw glared at him when she realized that they weren't even fighting fairly. Jayfeather was hissing as a scrawny looking tortoiseshell she-cat dragged him to his paws.

"Rowanstar!" Lionstar's yowl split the air, and the fighting ceased. A ginger tom stepped forward, out of the mist of blood. "You can hardly call this a fair fight! Call your cats off!"

Rowanstar gave Lionstar a sharp glare, before turning to the ginger tom who had spied on the patrol earlier. Larchpaw noticed that he was different from the rest of the ShadowClan cats.

He was smaller looking, and lithe. His gaze was inquisitive, and he didn't even flinch as Lionstar glared at him. He was bold, and dangerous looking. He was their spy.

"My warrior tells me that you are quite capable of fighting," Rowanstar began. He was very well aware that any cat could speak up, but he didn't care. The future of his Clan depended on the outcome of this fight. "And we are more then willing to continue, until you are forced to give up."

A silenced shock followed his words. Lionstar looked utterly dismayed, while Cinderheart turned to Larchpaw, who had given up her position. She was now sniffing a wound along her brother's flank. It already smelled infected.

"Larchpaw, get help from the rest of the Clan," whispered the gray tabby.

But something told Larchpaw that she would not reach them in time. She exhaled slowly, before running off towards ThunderClan territory. A screech quickly followed, and the sound of pawsteps told her that a warrior was pursuing her.

xXx

It was finally happening. The fall of ThunderClan, was truly beginning. The cream-and-gray tom watched as cats fell under his command. He truly was the fiercest warrior in the Clan. Even more powerful, and lithe, then Tigerheart.

He watched with gleaming amber eyes as a tortoiseshell she-cat with amber eyes bounded forward, with Starlingwing, his brother, behind her.

Starlingwing was the eyes and ears of the Clan. If it had not been for Starlingwing, then the battle strategies would have changed drastically.

The tortoiseshell she-cat skidded to a halt, when she saw the destruction of her Clan. Cats were either slain, or crawling to get help. Her eyes widened in horror when she realized that she was much too late.

But this was only the beginning. With ThunderClan out of the picture, they could get to WindClan next. The cats who chose to follow Rowanstar, would be welcomed into the army. Generations of cats, warriors with blood lust, would be created.

"It's over," he mouthed. The tortoiseshell crouched before him, fear clouding her pretty eyes. "ThunderClan, is dead."

xXx

Snowy: I bet you didn't expect that! Well, this is where the plot really takes a wide turn. Hopefully you will see what I mean by this by the time the story is finished. Which hopefully won't be anytime soon.