Here's the next chapter! And please vote on my poll, it would make my day and really help! (: here are the comments:

VitaniXKopa: Lol thanks for the suggestions and could you vote on my poll? I narrowed it down to the names that I think would be good but I can't decide! LOL

Mistyflower68: I think we all hate him XD

Iceflower of ThunderClan: Lol yeah, I noticed that too and I'm like 'whaaa….?" Lol vote on my poll please! I would really appreciate it!

Echopaw yowled in pain as a dusty tom raked his claws down the side of her face, making deep marks and causing blood to quickly start flowing. Red blinded her for a moment and the RiverClan tom took that to his advantage. He swiftly cuffed her sharply on the head with a blow that sent her crashing to the ground.

Echopaw's head was spinning as she struggled to stand up. Weariness dragged at her limbs and the deep gash on her face screamed in agony. She turned to face her opponent and tried to lash out, landing a clumsy blow on his side. Her breath came in gasp and she could see that the tom was also breathing slightly heavy. She had managed to make some marks of her own on his gray pelt.

"Are all ThunderClan cats as weak as you?" the tom hissed menacingly.

Echopaw narrowed her eyes and tried to shove away the exhaustion weighing down on her. She did a quick scan around the clearing and saw that neither RiverClan nor ThunderClan seemed to be giving in. It had been a while since she had chased off Sunleaf and she knew that she couldn't keep going much longer. Movement at the corner of her eye made her turn around in time to see the tom lunging towards her with claws outstretched.

She had just enough time to doge out of the way before he could reach her. With all the strength she could muster she spun nimbly on her paws and lashed out with an onslaught of thorn-sharp claws. She swiped at her nose, feeling a twinge of pleasure when she caught him good.

The tom growled and threw himself at her, taking her off guard. The two went tumbling onto the ground in a whirl of screeching and clawing. Echopaw lashed out blindly, the blood from her wound seeping into her eyes. They landed in a heap and the tom came out on top. His crazed yellow eyes glared triumphantly down on her as he held his paw to her throat and raked his claws down her soft belly.

Echopaw shrieked in pain and struggled to get out of his grip but to no avail. His size and weight pressed down on her and she felt the fight leave her. She vainly tried to kick at him but he cuffed her with a hard blow. Dark spots entered her vision and she heard him hiss in delight and she saw him raise a large paw. Ivory claws gleamed and Echopaw shut her eyes to wait for the death blow he was sure to give.

It never came.

Echopaw felt the weight lift off of her and her green eyes flashed open. Pinepaw had dragged the RiverClan tom off of her and the two were battling each other. Echopaw noticed that her brother looked as exhausted as she did and that he was favoring his hind paw. She tried to raise herself off the ground and yell at him to run but her heavy limbs just wouldn't move. She wanted to shut her eyes again to block out the terrible scene unfolding before her but she couldn't. So she saw when the RiverClan tom reared up and crashed down on the brown tom. She heard the sickening crunch of bones as his whole weight made contact with Pinepaw's spine.

And as his shocked blue gaze met the horror in her green one, she opened her mouth in a silent wail. As the light died from his eyes, Echopaw's world fell apart.

"PINEPAW!" the agonized scream was torn from deep within her soul in a sound she never knew she could make. All she could see was her brother's body, crumpled and broken on the ground. Her world spun as she rose to her paw, staring in horror at Pinepaw's limp form. NO! her mind wailed. He can't be dead!

Her eyes slowly left Pinepaw's body and burned into the fur of the RiverClan tom that stood over the dead apprentice. His eyes met hers in maniacal glee and like a fire, rage consumed her. It erased all thought except of one.

Revenge.

With a scream that showed all of her wretched, broken heart, Echopaw launched herself at him. She connected heavily with his bulky side and she slashed at him ferociously. Pinepaw's dead body burned into her mind and she violently attacked the other cat. All her pain and anguish roared through her and fueled her never-ending blows upon the weakening RiverClan warrior.

She hardly heard a cat calling her name from the other side. Only after they had shouted it multiple times did it register.

"ECHOPAW, STOP!"

Echopaw froze and the wild look in her eyes dimmed as Rowanpaw yowled at her. The pulsing rage died away and she looked down at the cat lying beneath her. His blood covered her paws and his throat was completely shredded. Her eyes grew wide with alarm and she stumbled off of him as fast as she could. She looked up to see her Clanmates gathered around her, eyes wide with shock and…fear?

"Echopaw?" Rowanpaw's voice snapped her back and she turned towards the sound of his voice. The ginger tom was staring at her with and unreadable expression and he cautiously moved towards her. "Echopaw, it's over."

Echopaw felt the fight leave her limbs, replaced with a cold numbness. She saw her brother's body laying a little ways away and she stumbled towards it. A cry of anguish escaped her and she collapsed down next to the brown tom. She stuck her muzzle into his cold fur and her whole body quivered. Tears slid down her face and she pressed her pelt against Pinepaw's, trying to share her warmth with him.

"I'm so sorry," she whispered, her heart breaking. "Please forgive me."

Murmurs made their way through the surrounding cats.

"Where's Hawkstar?" Ivypetal asked after a moment of silence.

"He went with Adderflight and Hollyfrost to chase off RiverClan," Windfur meowed, sorrow in her voice.

Echopaw shuddered. What would Hawkstar do when he saw that his only son was gone? StarClan, give me the strength to help him.

She didn't know how long she laid there; it could have been moons or mere minutes because it all felt the same. She felt cats coming up to her and saying their kind words, but all kept their distance. She didn't care. All she wanted was her brother but she would never see his energetic blue eyes or hear his sympathetic purr ever again.

Soon, Jaypath mewed, "They're back."

No one could have been prepared for Hawkstar's reaction.

When the ThunderClan leader entered the camp, the triumphant gleam died from his eyes and he froze in horror when he caught sight of his dead son. "No…" he breathed, racing towards where Echopaw was huddled. He stared down at his dead kit, grief shining his eyes. He let out a long, grief filled groan and backed away.

"WHY?" he yowled to the stars, pain clear in his cry. "WHY DID YOU TAKE HIM AWAY FROM ME? HAVEN'T YOU ALREADY TAKEN ENOUGH? WHY DO YOU HATE ME SO MUCH?"

Echopaw knew she should comfort him but she couldn't make herself leave her brother's side.

Hawkstar's amber eyes grew crazed and he turned around and fled into the forest, almost taking the lump of brambles with him. He left a stunned silence behind him. After a few moments, Featherpool stepped forward. Her own eyes betrayed her sorrow but her mew was calm and collected as she said, "No one goes after him. He needs time to cope with this, alone. I want any cat that has major wounds to go to my den. The minor ones can wait."

The cats broke apart, a third of them heading towards the Medicine Cat Den where Littlewhisker was rushing out with bundles of herbs in his mouth.

Echopaw felt a soft pelt brush against hers and she recognized Featherpool's warm scent.

"Echopaw, I need to tend to those wounds," the Medicine Cat meowed gently.

Echopaw stared blankly at the gray she-cat. "It's my fault," she croaked, wrapping her fluffy tail around Pinepaw. "He wouldn't be…gone if I had done something." She couldn't say the word. Not yet, it was too soon.

"Don't you dare do that," Featherpool said sharply. Echopaw flicked an ear. "Don't you dare start blaming yourself for something that you had no control over. Look at me, Echopaw."

Echopaw closed her eyes.

"Look at me."

Echopaw opened her eyes, the dried blood cracking. She glanced up at her friend, eyes glistening. "What?"

Featherpool stared at her, tenderness in her eyes. "This was not your fault. You avenged his death." As she said this, she glanced to the bloody remains of the RiverClan tom. Her eyes darkened but she quickly hid it. "There is nothing else you can do except grieve and know that StarClan watches over you."

"And look how well that turned out for Pinepaw," she spat, turning away from the gray Medicine Cat. "Leave me alone."

She felt Featherpool's shock and felt a guilty pang. She ignored it. After a moment's hesitation, Featherpool back away. "After you do your vigil, I need you in my den to check those wounds." Echopaw didn't make any movement to show she heard.

The rain had stopped its pouring by now and the clouds spread out, uncovering the shining moon behind them. Echopaw raised her muzzle to the sky and closed her eyes. StarClan please welcome him tonight. He deserves to be a part of your ranks. The stars twinkled as if they had herd and understood her prayer.

Numb exhaustion overtook her suddenly and she slumped down against her brother, unable to hold herself upright any longer. She shut her eyes tightly, wishing that this as all just a simple nightmare that she could wake up from. The pain would come later, she knew. But for now, she welcomed the pure bliss that sleep brought.

Echopaw curled up beside Pinepaw and escaped into the peaceful blackness of sleep.

I honestly cried while writing this chapter. )': Well, read and review, I guess. Make me happy again. Lol

PS: don't forget to vote on my poll! THANKSIES!