Well we are almost to the end here folks. There's just this chapter, the next one and then the epilogue. As for me, I've gone back to university with all the fun that implies. To think that I would have ever thought high school was stressful...

Trivia: There's a few small details that were added into this version of the story; the original didn't show much of Darkstar even though he's one of the catalysts to the plot, so this rewrite included just a few more moments where you got to see him.

Chapter 11: Final Battle

Against all procedures established by their ancestors, Darkstar did not appoint a new deputy by moonhigh. Some cats were sympathetic and were willing to give him time to mourn, while others were more concerned of the loss of structure. If WindClan was down a third of its command, they were weaker in the eyes of their enemies and could easily lead to another clan deciding to take over their territory. Still, they all knew it would take time before their leader was capable of finding someone to replace the one he had called his best friend.

The next deputy was not announced the next day, nor anytime between the completion of the next full moon cycle. By that time, everyone doubted he would ever assign anyone to that position and tried to seek out Kestrelflight to convince his leader to move on. Kestrelflight would listen for a moment and then would cease as soon as anyone mentioned what had happened, those green eyes once so vibrant with life dull and lifeless. Echolight knew why it hurt him so deeply and offered her sympathies when no other cat would consider Kestrelflight could be hurting worse than their leader.

Some warriors tried to step up to fill in Typhoon's role, not out of any innate desire to one day become leader but more out of necessity. Echolight was one of those cats; she helped arrange the daily patrols, all the while keeping a close eye on their leader. She knew how he was, and she knew it was only a matter of time before Darkstar took his frustrations out on someone else. She knew it was sooner than latter; their most recent Gathering was just short of a disaster.

Darkstar had climbed the tree and had the displeasure of being close enough to Featherstar to have him in his peripheral vision the whole time. While the other clan leaders talked meaningless chatter, mostly good news of newborn kits, new warriors, and apprentices, Echolight could see Darkstar's fur bristling. After Bramblestar finished the recent undertakings of ThunderClan, the leaders all turned to listen to what WindClan had to say. They knew something was wrong. Mistystar stared down at where the deputies were sitting then flicked her eyes to Darkstar, as if she was trying to silently prompt him to explain why there were four rather than five seated down there.

With Owlstar, Mistystar, Bramblestar, and Featherstar all staring him down, Darkstar lost his temper. The growl he let out was audible to all those gathered and caused the other leaders to back away slightly. He then said something to the other leaders that Echolight couldn't hear from where she was seated between Pinefall and Hawkwing, and then it happened. Featherstar tried to get a little closer to his estranged brother, taking a submissive posture to try and convince Darkstar he was not a threat. Darkstar let out another growl and pushed Featherstar off the low tree branch. The gray cat failed to land on his paws, hitting his head on an exposed root. The other leaders all started yelling at Darkstar, the island a sudden center of chaos.

The island was engulfed in shadow as the full moon was swallowed by black clouds. It felt like everyone one was talking at once, and Echolight found herself unable to either see or hear what was happening on the tree branches. She noticed Hawkwing left her side to check on the still body of Featherstar, flanked by the other medicine cats. Echolight let out a relieved sigh when she saw SkyClan's leader force himself to his paws with a shake of his head.

Shortly after, all the clans left the island one by one. All the while they shot dirty looks at the WindClan cats; even those innocent to what had transpired. WindClan was the last to leave, returning to camp in silence. All of WindClan was on edge for the next few days, knowing what was going to happen. Even if they hoped and prayed, they knew it was coming, and several days later Darkstar stood on the Tallrock and announced his plan. It was time to finish this blood feud between SkyClan and WindClan; this would be the battle to end it all.

Echolight was not happy she was among those picked to participate in this battle; she had thought she could perhaps sneak off in the middle of the clan meeting, but it was not meant to be. The next night, just a few hours before moonhigh, the battle party slunk around the lakeside. They didn't speak to each other and the silence was driving Echolight crazy. It gave her time to think, and her mind was going into overdrive. How many times had she thought about how it was this stupid feud with SkyClan that made the clan suffer? While things had to have been bad before she was born, it felt as though it got worse after what happened with Nightwhisper and Daysong. She swore if she made it through this battle alive, she was going to do everything in her power to solve this problem. This had gone on for too long.

"Echolight, are you ready? It's almost time," Some warrior whispered to her. She didn't pay close enough attention to recognize whose voice it was.

"Yeah. I am." Echolight lied.

Beneath the cloak of night, the battle began with a single yowl. Echolight could scarcely keep track of the mass of cats that emerged from the dens and began to engage the WindClan battle patrol. She kept the dueling leaders in her sight as she sought out an opponent. The soft gray she-cat who had once been so friendly to her stepped in her path to the leaders. Stormcloud watched Echolight with a cold expression before launching herself at the younger she-cat.

The she-cats tussled. Echolight took a swipe at Stormcloud's shoulder. The SkyClan cat jumped to the left and then burst forward, knocking Echolight's paws off the ground and causing her to collapse. She tried to get back up and found weight atop her. Stormcloud's voice was soft in her ear,

"Stop struggling. I don't want to hurt you."

"Can I trust you?"

"Of course. Haven't you noticed I never unsheathed my claws?" Stormcloud hadn't been fighting her seriously? Echolight arched her neck to get a better look at the older warrior; she just gave a faint smile. "It's a favor I'm repaying to a friend."

Echolight remembered herself at that moment and realized she had lost track of Featherstar and Darkstar during their short and rather one-sided fight. Echolight found a strength she wasn't aware she possessed and threw Stormcloud off her and stared out across the battlefield. She had to find a way to end this fight now; it was clear now that neither side wanted to do this.

Stormcloud slowly walked back over to Echolight; the two a beacon of peace amongst all the turmoil that surrounded them. When she finally spotted the two leaders, it appeared as though both were gravely wounded though neither were backing down. Whoever survived was meant to be the victor and neither wanted to be the weaker of the two.

"Stormcloud. How many lives does Featherstar have left?"

"Seven. N-no… Six. He has six lives left. Why?"

"I need to end this. Please forgive me." If she could manage to take one of Featherstar's lives, perhaps that would be enough.

"W-wait!"

Stormcloud's shout rung onto deaf ears as Echolight bolted away from her. Even with only three legs, even though Stormcloud was stronger than her, the older she-cat could never hope to catch a pure-blood WindClan cat on a mission. Echolight dodged battling cats and quickly closed the distance between her and the two toms. She judged the distance quickly and leapt, closing her eyes.

As soon as she felt fur beneath her paws, she dug in and sunk her teeth deep into the back of Featherstar's neck. She refused to let up until he stopped struggling. Her whole body was shaking from adrenaline, how tightly her jaws had wrapped around the other's neck. She had killed prey in a similar fashion but to do the same to a fellow cat and with such a dishonorable move?

When she reopened her eyes to the sound of unnerving silence, she noticed quite a few things at once. The battle seemed to have ended because everyone was just staring at her, mixed expressions of shock and relief all at once. Perhaps the worst thing she noticed was the cat standing a tail-length away. He laid on his side as though he had just been thrown off balance and his mouth agape. Echolight gulped and finally looked down at the cat by her paws to confirm her fears.

It wasn't Featherstar she had just killed.