Chapter 19

"Thunderwing is dead!" a shout rang out as Jaystar burst into camp. "As well as Icepaw, and Snowpaw!"

Cats bristled around the camp and Sparrowstar pushed her way past Foxcry to come up to him. "What happened?" Sparrowstar demanded.

"Thunderwing was killed... by Splashstar! They're attacking our camp!" Sparrowstar's eyes widened as Jaystar spoke. She understood. That prophecy was fulfilled. When the stars fall, all will be revealed to those who need it. Thunderwing used to be a Tribe cat named Star, and she had fallen.

"At least, Icepaw and Snowpaw were murdered by Splashstar! Thunderwing and Stargazer... killed each other!" Jaystar screeched. It had been a full moon since Sparrowstar had been wounded, and all had been quiet, even at the Gathering. Sparrowstar had been right to be suspicious.

Sparrowstar turned to Nettlesong and Flamestripe. "Nettlesong, Flamestripe, go tell Pinestar!" she ordered. The young warriors raced out of camp as fast as they could. "Hawkwhisper, Tawnywhisker, Eagleshade, Mintsplash, Palebranch, Scarfang, Beechclaw, Pouncetail, Snaketail, Wolfpelt, Shortfall, Thrushpaw, Adderpaw, and Blazepaw! You all are coming with me. Shortfall, lead the first wave. Lead Eagleshade, Mintsplash, Palebranch, and Scarfang! I will lead the other one. The rest of you, guard the camp!"

Sparrowstar led the cats out. Sparrowstar continued across the hilly landscape before crossing into the moorland. Jaystar succeeded her and led the cats to a little camp. Screeches of fury erupted from it. Sparrowstar halted and twitched her tail. Shortfall's patrol darted out, down toward the FireClan camp. Jaystar raced, screeching, behind them. Pinestar appeared and signaled. His deputy, Tawnyfur, led a patrol down into the camp.

Sparrowstar waited close by Pinestar. The two leaders tensed, awaiting for the right moment, before leading their cats into battle. Blood was dripping on the ground. Cats were battling left and right. Sparrowstar leaped into the fray, snarling viciously and tearing at Goldseeker's pelt. Slowly but surely, the cats of HeartClan were driven back.

Then, Sparrowstar understood what she and her Clanmates must do. They must follow and destroy HeartClan...

Snarling, Sparrowstar and her cats raced into the HeartClan camp. They viciously tore at whoever came into their wake. Sparrowstar saw a flash of black and silver fur as Blazepaw was hit back. He scrabbled at Longfur as she sliced at his shoulders. Sparrowstar leaped forward and sent Longfur flying. The white cat landed hard on the ground and Sparrowstar was on her in an instant. Sparrowstar tore at the cat's back. Longfur screeched and Sparrowstar was hit away by a flurry of claws. She looked up and rolled out of the way, narrowly avoiding an attack from Webfur and Peppertail. Sparrowstar scrambled to her paws to find herself nose-to-nose with Webfur. The tom snarled and reared back, ready to strike.

Taking advantage of Webfur's foolish tactic, Sparrowstar hooked his hind paws out from underneath him. As Peppertail leaped over him, Sparrowstar grabbed her scruff in her jaws and threw the she-cat away. Sparrowstar slashed at Webfur's forehead, making it impossible for him to see. Peppertail landed on Sparrowstar's back and the MistClan leader staggered, struggling to take on the weight.

Foxcry started as cats streamed into the MistClan camp. She recognized HeartClan scent. "Sparrowstar was right," she meowed. "HeartClan's attacking!" she added with a screech.

She darted to the nursery where Junipertail was curling her kits close to her with her tail. The medicine cat watched as Whitestalker protectively stood in front of the nursery. Whitestalker disappeared under a flurry of claws, snarling viciously and snapping at the cats surrounding him. Flamestripe's pelt flashed as he struggled to help Whitestalker.

A groan escaped Firecloud and Foxcry turned to her. "Of course the kits are coming!" Foxcry hissed. Foxcry silently cursed StarClan.

Suddenly a flash of a ginger and white pelt appeared and Heartpelt was there. "Help her!" she hissed as Foxcry prepared to help Whitestalker and Flamestripe. "I'll take care of them!"

Foxcry dipped her head as her mentor flung herself into the flurry of teeth and claws. Foxcry turned to Firecloud. "Don't worry, it'll be over soon," she whispered gently to the nervous queen.

Firecloud hissed in agony as a spasm passed through her. "Heartpelt!" she screeched, pointing her nose. Foxcry followed the ginger cat's gaze to see her mentor's throat sliced open as the same time she sliced open Graywhisker's neck.

Foxcry's knees grew weak as her mentor collapsed on the ground, ominously still.

Sparrowstar snarled and ripped into Longfur's throat. She called out, "No prisoners! These cats have never shown mercy to us; fight like rogues!"

As the cats writhed on the ground, ripping at the throats of one another and scrabbling at each other. Sparrowstar killed many cats, and the battle seemed to rage on endlessly. However, it wasn't as long as it had seemed. It wasn't long before Sparrowstar found herself facing Splashstar. The brown cat snarled, "So you turned out to be a murderer, just as you always were prepared to be!"

Sparrowstar felt weak as she gazed at her sister. "Why, Splashstar? Why have you done all this? Where did Splashpaw go?" she could barely manage to ask the questions.

Mintsplash could hear Splash's paw steps after she sent an apprentice scurrying away. She turned to her old friend. Splash dipped her head, "Mintsplash."

Mintsplash studied Splash. This cat was all she had ever known, from her own paws to her dead mate, Bramblewish. That included the prophecy that had been foretold for Mintsplash, and the prophecies foretold as she had gazed at her kits.

"I know why you've come, Splash," Mintsplash whispered.

Splash nodded, meowing, "I know."

Time around Mintsplash slowed to a stop, and everything but her and Splash lost its color. Mintsplash narrowed her eyes, "I know what Sparrowstar's destiny is, and Lionfire's, and Shadowflight's. I know what will happen to Splashstar, even. I've known everything, but... why have you shared all of this with me?"

"I knew you would become silent, Mintsplash, to your Clanmates. I know it would appear that way, and you've known that as well. But now, it is time for you to reveal your own destiny, and why you are blind in one eye," Splash meowed.

Mintsplash dipped her head, sorrow filling her.

"You know Sparrowstar can't do it, but she can do everything else," Splash meowed.

Mintsplash nodded, "I shall do it for Bramblewish, and for Lionfire. I want Lionfire to realize that just because he used to be Brackenstar doesn't mean that he needs revenge. I just wish I could do the same for Shadowflight..."

Splash touched her shoulder with her tail-tip. "I know, we all do," Splash agreed solemnly. "But Shadestar was lost to hatred. Even if at times he forgets he was ever Shadestar, Shadowflight still has the lust for murder."

Mintsplash nodded.

"You can't do everything for your kits, Mintsplash, but this is the one time that you must do one thing for them. Each of them," Splash's voice was filled with sorrow. "I will see you in StarClan, old friend." Splash turned. She walked away, her body slowly fading. Everything sped up once more, and color refilled the air.

Mintsplash turned to Sparrowstar and Splashstar, who were gazing at one another, one with hatred and one with a mixture of determination and sadness.

"I know of what you've been doing, Sparrowstar, and what you've always done!" Splashstar snarled, her claws gripping the ground.

Sparrowstar flattened her ears. "I know I've been seeing the Dark Forest cats, but, I never meant to hurt you with it," Sparrowstar whispered.

Splashstar glared at her and snarled, "I learned, when I came to HeartClan, that I was wrong about you. I knew I had to kill you before you took over MistClan. But I was too late. Now, I'm going to free your Clan once more from your cold heart!"

"My cold heart!?" Sparrowstar stared at her sister in disbelief. "I've never been so cold-hearted! I'm sorry, Splashstar, but do you seriously think that I'm the cold-hearted one?"

"You will never rule a Clan, or StarClan!" Splashstar shot back. "I know what Falconstar has been planning for you, and it's not going to happen! I'm going to rip you to shreds so much that you will be forced into the Dark Forest!"

Rowanpelt leaped forward and hit Sparrowstar. Her eyes widened as he sank his claws into her neck. The world flashed and everything went black.

I do not own, or claim to own, Warriors, Erin Hunter does.