Willowheart raced through the marsh just behind the other RiverClanners. Leopardstar and Mistyfoot had gathered Dapplefur, Pouncepad, Pebblestep, Rippletail, Spottedpaw, Sagepaw, and Mallowpaw for the attack. Pelting alongside Willowheart was Reedwhisker, who Mistyfoot had assigned to protect the medicine cat during the battle.
It was unfortunate for WindClan that their camp was right out in the open, but they seemed to be expecting an attack. Eight warriors and three apprentices were lined up alongside the camp, and they sprang at RiverClan with quick, powerful bodies.
Too late, Willowheart realized they were outnumbered.
Rippletail, the eldest warrior besides Mistyfoot and Leopardstar, was fending off two younger warriors, Harebreeze and Heatherwind. He batted at their faces with claws unsheathed, but they ducked and wove, spitting at him. The apprentices were locked in battle with the apprentices. Spottedpaw was sleek and swift as she rolled beneath Sedgepaw's stomach and kicked upward, sending the WindClan tom flying. Sagepaw had leapt on Thistlepaw's back and the two of them were rolling and wrestling. Swallowpaw had pinned Mallowpaw.
"Reedwhisker, you have to help them!"
"Then who will help you?" He looked at her with deep concern in his eyes.
"No one!" she spat. "Look! We're outnumbered, even with Leopardstar and - no!" she cried. She could already see ThunderClan coming over the horizon, led by Crowfeather.
And Jayfeather was with them, along with Shiningpaw.
Firestar had brought Brambleclaw, Berrynose, Cinderfrost, Lionclaw, Jayfeather, Spiderleg, and Sorreltail, along with Foxpaw and Shiningpaw. The two apprentices, one russet, the other silver, leapt onto Spottedpaw, not even knowing that she was related to one of them. Spottedpaw wrestled, spitting like a mad cat, and Sagepaw leaped to her rescue, digging his claws into Foxpaw.
Too late, Willowheart saw where the real problem was.
"No!" she shrieked, racing down to the lakeshore.
Heatherwind, Breezewhisker, Berrynose, and Spiderleg had pinned Leopardstar between them and the lake. She was looking around wildly until she spotted Willowheart. She opened her mouth in a soundless cry for help.
"The island!" Willowheart yowled. "Leopardstar, swim!"
But even as the unusually-spotted golden tabby turned around, Berrynose leapt, his cream fur flashing as he pushed Leopardstar down under the water. It was like things moved in slow motion. Firestar whirled, and his eyes widened with astonishment when he saw the RiverClan leader go under.
"Berrynose, no!"
"Leopardstar!" Willowheart shrieked. She sprang into the water, colliding so hard with Berrynose that he flew off a tail-length and splashed into the lake. Willowheart splashed at the water, trying to find her leader, but already she could see the blood floating up from where Leopardstar's head must have collided with a rock. She has one life left - she has one life left - she has one life left - just have to find her - She swam powerfully around the lake, even ducking under the salty water once or twice to search for that golden tabby fur. Finally, after what seemed like ages, she found it. Berrynose attempted to help, but she clawed him hard across the face, and knew it would leave a scar. As she dove under to retrieve Leopardstar and help her to get air, she heard Jayfeather cry, "No!" but didn't have time to think. She buried her muzzle in Leopardstar's scruff and hauled the golden tabby to the surface.
Jayfeather was there, hauling Willowheart and Leopardstar from the water. "Are you okay?" he asked in an undertone.
"Yes, I'm fine." She paused. "Thank you, Jayfeather."
"Sure, Willowheart, I -"
"She's not breathing!" came Mistyfoot's anguished yowl. All fighting had stopped. All cats, WindClan, ThunderClan, and RiverClan alike, gathered around Leopardstar's limp form. Mistyfoot was nosing it anxiously. There was a bloody wound on top of Leopardstar's head, and water was dribbling from her mouth.
"Move!" hissed Willowheart and Jayfeather at once, and the two of them, seeing and blind, were pressing down on Leopardstar's chest, pumping water from her system.
But all of it was to no avail, for she had already joined StarClan. She had died once drowning, and a second time from the wound on her head.
"No!" screamed Mistyfoot, a long and drawn-out scream that ended only when she had no air left. All of RiverClan lent their mournful yowls, and Jayfeather pushed his nose into Willowheart's fur at the sound.
When finally it fell away, Firestar spoke, his voice trembling. "Let all cats welcome the new leader of RiverClan...Mistyfoot."
Mistyfoot turned a frightened gaze on the flame-colored leader. "But - Firestar - I can't do this!" Willowheart knew that Mistyfoot and Firestar knew each other of old.
Firestar's face hardened. "Would you have preferred Hawkfrost take the post?"
"Of course not, but he is dead!"
"I don't think you have a choice here," Onestar pointed out, but Mistyfoot whirled spitting on the WindClan leader.
"You shut up, you foxhearted piece of crow-food," she spat. "I have no use for the opinions of fox dung!" She turned to Willowheart now and took a deep breath. "I'll go to the Moonpool after tonight, when we will hold vigil for Leopardstar. Willowheart, you will attend as well."
Willowheart dipped her head shakily.
The two eldest warriors of the party, Mistyfoot and Rippletail, lifted Leopardstar's body and began carrying it back to camp. Before Willowheart followed, she dropped back to whisper in Jayfeather's ear.
"Did Spottedpaw or Shiningpaw get hurt?" she murmured urgently.
"I didn't smell any wounds on them," he answered her. "Listen, Willowheart -"
"Willowheart," said Reedwhisker meaningfully. He shot a glare at Jayfeather, which the medicine cat felt if not saw. Willowheart brushed her tail along Jayfeather's back before following after Reedwhisker.