Aurorastar's belly tightened with fear as she glanced around at her surroundings. Everything seemed misty and sparkling, as if it had rained and now a cloud of fog had settled over the land.
A large tom with a white pelt that sparkled like morning dew padded over to her. "Aurorastar, welcome to StarClan."
"Froststar!" Relief swelled over her as she greeted her old leader with a friendly nuzzle. "I'm not dead, am I?"
"No," Froststar answered. "But you have lost your first life. You need time to recover before we can send you back."
"We?" Aurorastar questioned, but suddenly, a large group of cats padded forward and sat next to Froststar. Their pelts shined with starlight, though their eyes still glowed with grief for their death. Aurorastar shared their feelings when she recognized some of the cats. Skypaw sat beside Froststar, his blue eyes sparkling.
"Skypaw, I'm so sorry," Aurorastar whispered.
"It was my time," Skypaw mewed, but Aurorastar saw a flash of sadness in his eyes. "Just remember to greet Mistpaw for me, and tell her not to grieve."
Aurorastar nodded, scanning the other cats. She saw Fireleaf's ginger pelt, no longer bloody and battered. She recognized the StormClan tabby warrior named Falconcry who she had seen die at Darkstar's paws. She also saw two CloudClan warriors and a NightClan apprentice.
"No one should have died tonight," Aurorastar murmured.
"Do not grieve. Life goes on, and cats must come when it is their time. Fret not though, for new life is coming your way." Froststar's eyes sparkled with mischief, and Aurorastar realized that his words had more of a deeper meaning.
"Wait, what do you mean?" But the StarClan cats were already beginning to fade away.
"Aurorastar?!" Eclipsewing's voice was filled with fear. "Dear StarClan, please don't be dead!"
Aurorastar's deep blue eyes flickered open. Eclipsewing was standing in front of her with wide eyes. She also noticed that Nightsun had joined her, kneading the ground in anxiety.
"I thought you were dead!" Eclipsewing buried her nose in her sister's fur.
"Thank StarClan." Nightsun nuzzled Aurorastar's cheek. A prick of worry hit her when she saw a blood oozing gash on his hind leg. "Are you okay?"
"Fine," he replied. "Better now knowing that you're okay."
A fearsome yowl tore through the air. It was Darkstar, lashing out brutally at two small cats. They were covered in so much blood it was hard to tell who they were.
"That's Willowpaw and Ravenpaw!" Eclipsewing gasped, racing towards the apprentices with her tail streaming out behind her.
Aurorastar got up and pounded after her sister, Nightsun close behind her.
"You made a terrible mistake by refusing DarkClan!" Darkstar spat. With a hefty blow, he sent Ravenpaw flying, where she lay motionless.
Great StarClan, please don't let her be dead, too!
Willowpaw leaped on top of Darkstar. "Don't you hurt my friends again!" Darkstar shook her off, however, knocking the apprentice away.
"Enough, Darkstar!" Aurorastar snarled. Darkstar whipped around, his eyes blazing and his teeth stained with fresh blood.
"I killed you!" another voice screeched, and Blood skidded to a halt beside Darkstar. "How are you still alive?!"
"DarkClan has turned their backs on StarClan, which was a terrible mistake. The Clans are guided by our ancestors. I am alive because StarClan has given me the gift to rule my Clan and become a part of it for many lives to come." Aurorastar hissed. "But StarClan will not pity you tonight. You will die for what you have done." With a snarl, she leaped at Darkstar. She found, however, that other cats were also racing towards Darkstar. Swiftpaw of SunClan, Willowwisp of StormClan, Clawslash of NightClan, and Frostfire of CloudClan.
The Clans must be united to relieve themselves of the evil that has taken over. And Aurorastar found herself digging her claws deep into Darkstar's throat.
Darkstar collapsed under the weight of all the cats, blood pooling out of his throat and other wounds inflicted on him. "I swear on it, Aurorastar, this will not be the last time you see me." He sputtered, hacking up a clot of blood. "I'll see you all in StarClan," he rasped, the light leaving his eyes. He took his last breath, and then he was no more.
Aurorastar starred down at Darkstar's body. "I doubt you will ever get there."
Foxclaw, looking battered with one eye bloody and closed, looked at Darkstar's body in shock. "Th-this isn't over!" she snarled, speeding off into the darkness. Aurorastar noticed that only the rogues and a few of the DarkClan warriors followed her. So not all the DarkClan warriors were really following Darkstar, Aurorastar realized.
A dark gray tom began walking towards her. Aurorastar unsheathed her claws, but realized his dark blue eyes showed no signs of hostility.
"My name is Storm," the tom meowed. "I was a prisoner of DarkClan, but now that they are no more, I wish to be a part of SunClan. I hear a few other rogues I have known are now under SunClan's hospitality."
Aurorastar was surprised by Storm's request to join SunClan, but nodded her head in approval. "I would love to have you become a part of SunClan. We would be welcomed to have you, and Cherry, Falcon, and Flower would be pleased."
Storm dipped his head, respect and relief brimming in his eyes. "Many thanks, Aurorastar. SunClan has my full loyalty." He nodded, and padded off.
Though he may have joined SunClan, Aurorastar thought, he does not have my full trust yet. I shall keep an eye on him.
Nightsun ambled over to her, touching her nose with his. "It's all over," he meowed quietly.
"Yes, and new life will begin," Aurorastar replied, remembering Froststar's words. She twined her tail with his.
"I love you," Nightsun whispered.
"I love you, too," Aurorastar replied back.
Together they watched as the sun began to rise in the sky, bringing new light to the world above.
Yay, the battle is over! Like I said before though, there are still MANY chapters to come! Hope you liked it! ^.^