A/N: Here it is, the next chapter. I'm so sorry it took so long. I spilled water on my laptop and completely fried it, so I had to wait to get my files transferred onto my new laptop. Anyway, here it is. This is the second to last chapter. It's so sad that this is coming to an end, but I hope you all like it. Please read and review! And enjoy!

Chapter Ten--The Battle

Jaypaw ran as he had never run before, his paws flying so quickly over the ground that he barely seemed to touch the ground at all. He ran with one blind goal in mind: get to Skypaw. As he went, he barely seemed to notice the area around him, or, more accurately, he didn't notice that a blind cat should not be able to run this fast over an unfamiliar route. In fact, a fully sighted cat would have had difficulty sprinting with his speed over the territory at night.

Somehow, though, Jaypaw managed to run as fast as LeopardClan, his claws already unsheathed, ready to slash and rip at whatever was hurting Skypaw. As he drew closer to the ThunderClan camp, he raised his sightless eyes to the stars and yowled like a mad cat. "StarClan," he yowled, racing onwards, "StarClan, hear me now. Protect Skypaw!"

He continued onward, and though he couldn't see it, a cloud passed over the stars above him, cloaking their light.

Skypaw hardly knew what was happening. One moment she was guarding the ThunderClan camp, and then the next moment, Russetfur has leapt on her, other ShadowClan cats pouring past them into the camp. Russetfur had pinned Skypaw to the ground, and she hissed down at the younger cat. "This forest is no place for kittypets or rogues," hissed Russetfur, her eyes gleaming wildly. "If Firestar won't stop your kind from joining his Clan, we will."

She raised one paw, the claws on the end of it glinting in the moonlight. However, while Russetfur has managed to pin Skypaw by surprise, the past few moons had seen Skypaw grow into a strong young cat. Though still sleeker and smaller than Russetfur, pure muscle rippled under Skypaw's silver coat, and it was with sheer force that she forced Russetfur off her, throwing all her strength against the elder cat.

Russetfur was startled by Skypaw's sudden movement, and she stumbled backward. This was all the time Skypaw needed; she launched herself onto the dark ginger cat, hissing and spitting, claws outstretched. The two cats slashed at each other, claws ripping and tearing at each other's fur.

The pair was well matched; Skypaw's strength and youth was parried by Russetfur's experience and viciousness. Indeed, Russetfur fought with a deep hatred that seemed to drive her on, despite the many blows Skypaw managed to land on her. It was this viciousness that drove Skypaw backwards, into the ThunderClan camp. All around her, ThunderClan and ShadowClan cats were fighting tooth and claw. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Rowanclaw and his apprentice Ivypaw fighting Squirrelflight, who was already bleeding from a gash over her eye.

Skypaw slashed fiercely at Russetfur, managing to slice open Russetfur's shoulder, and the elder cat dropped back, panting. Quickly, Skypaw turned to help Squirrelflight, but then Brambleclaw burst from the underbrush, launching himself onto Rowanclaw. In that same moment, Russetfur managed to pick herself up from the ground and she flew at Skypaw, raking her claws down Skypaw's side. Yowling in pain, Skypaw whirled on her, and the two cats went back at it.

Above them all, the sky was clouding over, the stars veiled by the heavy cloud cover, and a low rumble of thunder rolled across the sky, followed by torrents of rain. All the cats seemed to pause for a moment as the rain started, plastering their fur against their heaving sides. Then Firestar emerged from his den, a flame against the dark night. Russetfur raised her head and yowled, "Get Firestar!"

Then the battle began again in earnest. Two or three ShadowClan cats launched themselves at Firestar, and Skypaw stopped dead in horror. What she had forgotten, however, was that Firestar was not clan leader for nothing; he met his assailants head on, fighting with the strength of LionClan. A rush of pride for her leader welled in Skypaw's heart, and she turned back to her own fight with renewed vigor.

But she was not alone in her vigor, as Russetfur's eyes gleamed and she raked her claws down Skypaw's side. Hissing wildly, Skypaw launched herself at Russetfur's underbelly, ripping the soft fur viciously. Yowling in pain, Russetfur hit Skypaw in the head with her paw, spinning the young cat away from her. Skypaw crouched on the ground, eyes narrowed in pain, panting. Russetfur raised her tail above her head, eyes gleaming in triumph as she stalked toward Skypaw. "This is the end, kitty," Russetfur hissed, licking her lips. "The end of you and your kind."

Skypaw shrank away, flattening her ears against her head. She tried desperately to stand, but her legs would not seem to obey her. It truly seemed like it was the end, and she closed her eyes, whispering, "StarClan, save me."

"StarClan?" hissed Russetfur angrily, flexing her claws next to Skypaw's head. "StarClan will do nothing to save you. StarClan looks after it's own."

She raised her paw, ready to strike the killing blow, when a dark shape leapt from the bushes, hitting Russetfur in the side. Skypaw took this opportunity to leap to her feet, turning to face her savior. It was Jaypaw, his fur puffed and his claws extended. "Are you alright?" he meowed, his eyes full of concern.

Skypaw crossed to him and touched his nose with hers. "I'm fine," she mewed, closing her eyes briefly and inhaling his scent. "But go to Firestar. Protect him." She turned away, narrowing her eyes at Russetfur. "I can take care of this by myself."

Flicking her once with his tail, Jaypaw leapt off, racing across the clearing to where his leader was still in furious battle with several ShadowClan cats at once. Now it was Skypaw's turn to cross the clearing to where Russetfur lay panting heavily. Skypaw's paws felt heavy as she approached her adversary. This was it, where she would make the killing blow, but something in her heart seemed to stop her. How could she kill a wounded cat who lay helplessly on the ground? No matter how much Russetfur hated her, and no matter how many times she had almost killed Skypaw, Skypaw knew in her heart that Russetfur was not a bad cat. Misguided in her ways, yes, but Russetfur truly believed that it was not StarClan's will for Skypaw to be here, and Skypaw could not bring herself to kill a cat whose only belief was in StarClan.

Russetfur's breathing sped up at Skypaw approached, and she narrowed her eyes in contempt. "Well, little kitty, are you going to end this, or what?" spat the older cat, but her sides heaved as she spoke.

Skypaw flexed her claws, but she made no further move toward the ShadowClan deputy. "I will not waste my claws on you," she meowed contemptuously, then she turned her eyes away. "Take your Clan and get off ThunderClan's territory, or another cat will kill you."

A myriad of emotions flickered across Russetfur's face, but she settled on a cool and calm look. "Fine," she hissed, staggering to her feet. "As you wish, kitty." Then she threw up her head and yowled, "ShadowClan, to me!"

Other cats from around the clearing echoed her yowl, and Skypaw felt her shoulder fur relax. It was over, finally. The ShadowClan cats surrounded Russetfur, and the ThunderClan cats dropped back. Russetfur turned back to look at Skypaw, and Skypaw was surprised to see a look of triumph there.

Then Russetfur let out another yowl, and as one the ShadowClan cats tore across the clearing to where Jaypaw and Firestar were crouching. "No!" howled Skypaw, as Jaypaw sat up, his eyes wide and confused.

She barely knew what she was doing as she leapt across the clearing, her paws barely touching the earth. She had never run so fast before; all she knew that she had to get to Jaypaw, to save him.

Jaypaw stood, shaking, whether from fear or anger, but his claws were ready and his fangs were bared. He swiped at the first cat who came near him, his claws meeting fur.

It was Russetfur, and she rounded on him, her eyes blazing. "Little blind cat," she mocked. "Do you really think you can beat me?" Over her shoulder, she commanded, "Take Firestar. This one's mine."

Skypaw saw her leader stagger under the mass of ShadowClan cats, and her heart was torn between the one she loved and the leader she was sworn to protect. It seemed StarClan chose her path for her, for at that moment Squirrelflight barreled across the clearing to Russetfur, so Skypaw willingly joined the other ThunderClan cats in aiding Firestar.

Skypaw had just pulled Ivypaw off of Brambleclaw's back when she heard a terrible cry from where Squirrelflight and Russetfur fought. Skypaw turned just in time to see Russetfur throw hit Squirrelflight, sending her flying hear-first into a rock. Squirrelflight mewed pitifully, then closed her eyes. Russetfur rounded on Jaypaw, who was cowering back against the rocks, sides heaving and various wounds bleeding, his sightless eyes desperately looking for some way out.

"No!" cried Skypaw as she saw Russetfur raise her paw, ready to deliver the killing blow. She launched herself at Russetfur, but at the last moment, just as her paws left the ground, Ivypaw rammed into her, throwing her off balance. She flew through the air, landing with a sickening thud and sliding along the ground into Jaypaw, who she pushed out of the way with the last of her strength.

Russetfur's eyes narrowed in fury. "You!" she spat, raising her paw again.

Skypaw looked over at Jaypaw, who was slowly getting to his feet. "Jaypaw," she whispered. Then she felt the hot claws rip through her fur, and she shuddered, her eyes closing.

Jaypaw smelt the blood, and instantly, he knew. "No!" he snarled, leaping on to Russetfur and slashing at her viciously with her claws. He kept shredding her fur beneath his claws, not even hearing when Rowanclaw yowled, "ShadowClan! Back to camp!" He kept tearing at Russetfur until Firestar himself came over and pulled him off.

"Jaypaw, it's over," said the ThunderClan leader wearily. "It's over. Russetfur's dead."

Jaypaw sat back on his haunches. "She's dead?" he asked dazedly.

A weak voice called to him. "Jaypaw."

Instantly, he was at Skypaw's side. "Skypaw," he breathed, nosing her ever so gently. "Stay still. I'll get you some herbs. You'll be fine, I promise."

"Jaypaw, it's too late for herbs," whispered Skypaw, her blue eyes cloudy with pain. "I am going to join StarClan, and I never even got to be a warrior."

Firestar padded over to her. "We can change that," he meowed, his voice calm even though his eyes shone with emotion. "As your mentor, I do declare that you are ready to be named warrior." He sat beside her and raised his voice. "I, Firestar, leader of ThunderClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down upon this apprentice. She has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend her a warrior in her turn. Skypaw, do you promise to uphold the Warrior Code, and to protect and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

Even as she approached death, Skypaw's eyes shone, and she whispered, "I do."

"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Skypaw, from this moment on you shall be known as Skyheart, for your heart is surely as big as the sky. The Clan honors your dedication and loyalty, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan." Skyheart lifted her head just enough to lick Firestar's shoulder, and her mentor looked down at her, a mix of pride and grief on his face.

"Skyheart," murmured the other ThunderClan cats, but their eyes were full of grief for the loss of the young cat.

Jaypaw touched Skyheart's nose with his own. "Skyheart, you can't leave me," he whispered, eyes full of tears. "You can't."

"Jaypaw, even if I had a million seasons left, we would never be together in this world," she whispered, her eyes half-closed. "You know that as well as I. You have found your place in your Clan, and I would never come between you and that. You will make a great Medicine Cat, and when you come find me in StarClan, then we will be together, and none will stop us."

Her breathing was more labored now. Leafpool padded over to Jaypaw, resting her tail on his shoulder. "Leafpool, isn't there anything—?" Jaypaw started, but Leafpool shook her head, her eyes sad.

"There is nothing we can do now," meowed Leafpool. "She is in the paws of StarClan."

"Jaypaw," whispered Skyheart. Her eyes met his sightless ones, and she mewed simply, "I love you."

Jaypaw touches noses with her again. "Skyheart," he whispered, his voice rising with distress as he went on. "Don't leave me. Please. Don't leave. I love you."

But Skyheart's blue eyes had closed for the last time, and her silver pelt became still. The ThunderClan cats bowed their heads. After a moment, Firestar raised his head and said softly, "Let us all share tongues with Skyheart once more as she joins StarClan. I will sit vigil with her tonight. Jaypaw, will you join me in vigil?"

Turning on Firestar, Jaypaw snarled, "I will not join you for anything involving StarClan. StarClan is a lie. How could this happen if there was a StarClan? How could they take her way from me?"

He turned and ran through the gorse tunnel, heading deep into the forest. Leafpool laid her tail on Firestar's shoulder. "Let him go," she meowed. "Let him grieve in peace. I will sit vigil with you tonight."

Firestar turned to his daughter, his eyes soft with love for his daughter. "No," he meowed, shoulders slumping. "I will sit vigil alone. You must see to the living."