Shadowheart collided with Flamestep and easily pinned the ginger warrior to the ground, snarling.

"Shadowheart?" The tom gasped. "Traitor!"

The black tom swiftly bit the warrior's neck and watched as blood poured from the wound. He cast him one last glare before returning to look for another opponent. He spotted two cats on top of Mudbark, trying to kill the tan dog. He jumped onto the animal's side and climbed onto his back.

Shadowheart climbed up to the dog's throat and bit down hard, stabbing his claws in for more of a chance of killing the dog. Mudbark let out a yelp of pain and surprise, collapsing over onto his side, knocking the three cats off. The other two vanished to go attack more cats.

He moved so that he stood, looking Mudbark in the eyes and felt a pang of satisfaction to see the shock and the pain.

"So long, mutt." He snarled, slashing his claws across the dog's throat one last time before turning back into the mess of battling cats.

Suddenly, Shadowheart gasped as he saw a familiar white pelt. The she-cat's icy blue eyes glared at him, full of hatred and betrayal.

It was Icedust.

Chapter 22

Icedust couldn't believe what she'd just seen. Her best friend had just killed Mudbark, the clan's greatest weapon. Her best friend did that. She flattened her ears in anger and unsheathed her claws, glaring at him hatefully.

Shadowheart looked up, shock filling his red eyes, though it faded instantly. A little regret filled them, but was quickly overpowered by determination.

"Why?" She half wailed. "Why are you doing this, Shadowheart? I thought we were friends."

A small sadness filled the tom's eyes, though she saw something else that she couldn't place. He padded up to her, standing just a fox length away.

"I'm sorry." Shadowheart's saddened growl came.

"You were planning this from the beginning, weren't you?" She snarled suddenly.

"Yeah." A confident snort escaped the tom's mouth. "I was."

"You used me!" Icedust wailed.

"So what?" Shadowheart countered. "I'm halfway to getting what I want. There's only two clans left for me to destroy after this."

Her eyes filled with worry and determination as she heard what he said. He was planning to take over! I should have known! I should never have trusted this...this kittypet! She twitched her tail.

"Traitor!" cedust snarled, sadness and betrayal overwhelming her. "Kittypet! Mouse-brain! Idiot! Traitor…" She trailed off as she held back a sob. "You were my friend…"

"Friend?" Shadowheart sneered. "I've never had any friends." His voice softened suddenly. "I never knew...that you considered me a friend. I thought I was just a clanmate to you, just a kittypet, like the others thought of me."

"I loved you as if you were my kin!" She retorted sadly.

"W-what have I done?" The black tom murmured.

"I-it's not too late to stop this, Shadowheart." She mewed, trying to soothe herself as much as him. She padded up to him and dug her nose into his scarred, bloody black pelt. She took in his scent. "You can call off the attack and send those kittypets back to the Twolegplace. Then we can pretend that nothing happened."

"How can I?" He responded. "There's only…" He glanced into her eyes, seeming ashamed. "Littleclan only has five survivors."

Before Icedust could respond, water shot into her friend, knocking him to the ground. Lionclaw's golden pelt shoved her aside.

"Time to end this, once and for all." He snarled.

"No!" She yowled, barging into the golden warrior and knocking him to the ground.

Our Cats:

Thunderclan (Borrowed/changed from A Vision of the Shadows Arc):

Leader: Squirrelstar (dark ginger she-cat with green eyes and one white paw)

Deputy: Whitewing (white she-cat with green eyes)

Medicine Cat(s): Leafpool (light brown tabby she-cat with amber eyes, white paws and chest)
Jayfeather (gray tabby tom with blind blue eyes)
Alderheart (dark ginger tom with amber eyes)
Warriors: Berrynose (cream-colored tom with a stump for a tail)
Cinderheart (gray tabby she-cat)
Lionblaze (golden tabby tom with amber eyes)
Bumblestripe (very pale gray tom with black stripes)

Ivypool (silver-and-white tabby she-cat with dark blue eyes)
Dovewing (pale gray she-cat with green eyes)
Cherryfall (ginger she-cat)
Molewhisker (brown-and-cream tom)

Sorrelstripe (dark brown she-cat)
Leafshade (a tortoiseshell she-cat)
Sparkpelt (orange tabby she-cat)

Twigbranch (gray she-cat with green eyes)

Swallowthroat (pale gray tabby tom)
Plumheart (black and orange she-cat)

Stemfur (orange tabby and white tom)

Queens:Daisy (cream long-furred she-cat)

Elders: Briarlight (dark brown she-cat, paralyzed in her hindquarters)

Apprentices: Shrewpaw (light gray tabby tom)

Kits: Hollykit (black she-cat)

Stealthclan:

Leader: Brackenstar (golden tabby tom)

Deputy: Jayleaf (gray tabby tom)

Medicine cat(s): Kestrelthorn (mottled gray tom)

Icedust (white she-cat with icy blue eyes)

Queens: Squirrelheart (light ginger she-cat)

Elders: Butterblaze (ginger tabby tom, missing one leg)

Warriors: Cinderspirit (very light gray she-cat)

Tigersnarl (dark brown tabby tom)

Lionclaw (golden tabby tom)

Sugarheart (white she-cat)

Fernspirit (gray she-cat)

Shadowheart (black tabby tom with red eyes)

Apprentices: Rainpaw (gray-blue she-cat)

Kits: Lightkit (light gray tabby tom)

Pondclan:

Leader: Blossomstar (ginger she-cat with white spots)

Deputy: Troutfur (dark gray tabby tom)

Medicine cat: Berryfur (creamy she-cat)

Queens: Featherfoot (silver she-cat)

Elders: Splashstep (gray tabby tom)

Warriors: Tallfoot (pale gray she-cat)

Silvershine (silver she-cat)

Rustpelt (ginger tabby tom)

Voleclaw (gray tabby tom)

Violetheart (light brown she-cat with purple eyes)

Sleekfur (black and white tabby tom)

Apprentices: Dapplepaw (tortoiseshell she-cat)

Kits: Lilykit (ginger she-cat)

Littleclan:

Leader:

Deputy:

Medicine cat: Blackmist (black she-cat)

Queens:

Elders:

Warriors: Strongsoul (black she-cat)

Poppypelt (black she-cat with gray spots)

Shinefur (ginger she-cat)

Apprentices:

Kits: Joltkit (electric ginger tabby tom)

Heartclan:

Leader: Deadstar (pure black tabby tom)

Deputy: Otterheart (dark brown tabby tom)

Medicine cat: Mallowheart (gray she-cat with soft green eyes)

Queens: Beepelt (tortoiseshell she-cat)

Elders: Tansydrop (gray she-cat)

Warriors: Petalgleam (ginger she-cat)

Hollysoul (black she-cat)

Firestream (ginger tom)

Cloudclaw (white tabby tom)

Gingerpelt (ginger she-cat)

Applefoot (light brown tabby tom)

Giantfoot (black tabby tom with very big paws)

Silentsoul (silver tabby tom)

Apprentices: Snowpaw (white tabby tom)

Kits: Cinderkit (gray she-cat)