A/N: Okay, this is the second to last chapter! So be excited! :D I'm not going to answer the reviews to the previous chapter because there were like 20 something and it would take me forever! But I do appreciate all you taking the time to read the story and leave a review! It inspires me to write more and quicker!

Another note, for those who don't know, I started to write a new series called A Warrior's Tragedy! The first book is called A Warrior's Tragedy: An Eagle's Sight! So go R&R that story after this one! 3

So let's get on with chapter 20 of The Claws of a Panther!

Chapter Twenty

Fury rushed through him as time slowed to a halt. Nightspirit appeared beside Panthersound and whispered, "The end is near, Panthersound. Everything as we know will shake to the roots. Some will disband, some will move on, most will die. Three former heros, three new generations, three new-borns. Three will solve all problems. A life spared is equal to several lives saved," she meowed just before she vanished.

Shock over took Panthersound as time resumed. He slammed his claws into the dirt just beside Flamehawk's face. The insanity in his eyes vanished and the amber spheres grew clear and cold. He slowly leaned down to Flamehawk's ears "Leave, now, and never come back. Or I will kill you," he hissed into his ear.

The ginger tom's reflected gratefully as he scrambled up and yowled, "Dark Forest warriors, retreat! This battle is lost!"

"What? You fear these fools?" Hawkflight snarled.

The toms fur clung to his body and was matted in his own blood. "Don't challenge me, Hawkflight, or should I make you match your sister?" Flamehawk snarled in response.

The silver tom flattened his ears then backed away into the undergrowth. Suddenly, Dark Forest Warriors began to vanish instantly. Panthersound watched Flamehawk pad to the line of the tall pine trees that lines the PineClan camp. The ginger tom turned and glared at Panthersound. It sent chills down his entire body. "This isn't over," the tom growled just before he vanished into the night.

Panthersound felt relief strike through him, but then he turned to stare at his clanmates, bloody and broken. He shivered when he saw his father's body lying in the dust. Blackheart stood over him with his head hanging. Wildfire stood behind him with his head turned away from everyone and his shoulders hunched. Panthersound swallowed hard and saw Molestep leaning over Fawnstar by her den.

The golden tom's heart throbbed against his chest, but first he scanned the clearing for Lightstream. The she-cat sat beside Blacksky, her father, and Darkthorn. Lying in front of them laid Sapwing, their mother. The she-cat laid sprawled out on the ground, breathing faintly. Panthersound strained to hear the she-cat's final words. "Know, that I'm always with you all. I want you all to pursue your dreams," the she-cat choked as her final words left her muzzle.

He saw Lightstream shudder, then bounded over to her. Darkthorn looked at him with glossy hazelnut eyes. "Help her cope with this," the tom murmured to him as he passed.

Surprise shook him as the usual hateful brother appeared respectful for him. He padded to Lightstream's side and sat next to her. Their fur brushed together as she turned and buried her nose in his fur. He could feel her shaking out of shock. "Sapwing must be proud of you, I know Blacksky is," he meowed as he looked at the older black tom.

"Always," the tom meowed gently as he stood and escorted Darkthorn away.

"What will I do without her? She was my best friend," she wailed gently into his pelt.

"And she will always be your best friend and mother. She'll be waiting for you the day you join her, StarClan pleading that's not soon. I'm still here, you know," Panthersound soothed gently between licks as he groomed her face free from blood.

The ivory she-cat looked up at him with glistening eyes. "I cannot even begin to explain how grateful I am to have you with me now," Lightstream meowed as she rubbed her face into his fur.

"I'll always be with you, Lightstream," he purred as he licked her injured eye gently.

"Excuse me, Panthersound?" Molestep interrupted suddenly.

Panthersound flicked his ears then looked at the brown tom. "Yes?" He asked as he noticed the tom's green eyes glistening with worry.

"Fawnstar wants to speak with you," he meowed as he stepped out of the way.

Panthersound looked at his leader then looked at Lightstream, "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'll be fine, go ahead," she meowed just before she placed her muzzle close to her mother's scruff.

Panthersound stood with shaky, exhausted legs and padded toward his leader, who laid on the ground. Gentle rain began to pour from the sky just as he stood above his bloody leader. The she-cat wheezed as Molestep stood beside him and continued to work on her wounds. "I-I wanted to let you know that I've never been m-more happy to fight beside such a l-loyal and strong warrior as yourself," the she-cat croaked as she blinked slowly, wincing in pain.

"Stop, Fawnstar, you're not going to die," he scolded as he sat down.

Suddenly, he saw the foggy shape of Nightspirit standing in the distance. Her glowing amber eyes glistened with dread and sadness. Behind her, several cats stood. Sapwing, Tigertooth, Curvefoot, Bearstride, Doestep, Oakbranch, Stonerunner and Owlflight stared down at their clanmates in sorrow. Panthersound flattened his ears. "You can't take her yet, not when we need her so badly," he whispered gently as Fawnstar's eyes rolled to the back of her head.

"I won't just yet, Panthersound, but your Clan's suffering has only just begun. Heed my warning," her voice meowed as she vanished with the fallen warriors behind her.

He watched as Molestep pressed his paw to her neck. "She's alive, but very weak," he determined then looked at him for instruction.

"I guess I'll have Opossumfur and Buckstride take her to your den. I'll send the severely injured to your den as well," he meowed as he stood and looked at the Clan.

"Opossumfur and Buckstride, carry Fawnstar to Molestep's den," he called to the two eldest warriors.

The toms quickly ran to their leader and lifted her gently. Molestep grumbled half to himself, "With all this work, I'll need an apprentice."

Panthersound couldn't help but purr. He quickly stopped when he saw the blood that stained the grass and dirt. He flattened his ears. PineClan had lost so many. What would his leader say to the other Clan's? He saw his clanmates already reconstructing dens. Sunstone and Dapplelight delicately lifted their fallen clanmates and placed them in the center of the clearing for their kin to mourn. Falconpaw, Pollenpaw, and Larchpaw helped their mother clean the debris from the clearing.

Instantly, he stood and padded to his brother, who still sat by his dead father's side. He sat beside him and flattened his ears. "Thank you for saving my life," he meowed gratefully to the black tom.

"Don't mention it, really. I was just protecting my clanmate," he grumbled, his eyes never leaving his father.

Panthersound flinched when he even denied him as kin. "I-I mean I was just protecting my brother," Blackheart stammered.

"If kin doesn't have each other's back, none of us would ever survive," Panthersound meowed in response as he leaned down and touched his nose to his father's already death-like, cold fur.

"He always liked you best. He barely even ever noticed me," Blackheart meowed bitterly as he turned his head away from Tigertooth.

"No, Blackheart, that's not true," he meowed as he shot a glance at his brother, who now began to shake.

"All I ever wanted to do was make him proud of me. Him and Quietheart, but they were always so caught up in you because you were so small as a kit. I was nearly twice your size," the black tom meowed with a flick of his ears.

His amber eyes narrowed to tiny slits, but soon, Tigertooth appeared before the both of them. "Blackheart, you are foolish to think such a thing. I have always been proud of you for being dependent and making yourself different from the rest. You're strong, brave, and loyal," his ghost meowed just before he vanished again.

Panthersound flicked his gaze to his brother, who sat hunched over with his fur buried in Tigertooth's fur. "A-all cats old enough catch their own prey, come f-forth to hear my w-words," a frail voice meowed through the eerie silent clearing.

Panthersound turned his head to see Fawnstar laying, exhausted, on the speaking stone. "What are you doing up there? You should be getting rest," Panthersound called to his leader, rather harshly.

"Oh, shut it, Panthersound," she huffed as she hoisted herself up. "I must name the new deputy of PineClan."

Panthersound sat up straight at her words. Who would she choose? Buckstride? Opossumfur? Maybe Blacksky! Lightstream would be so proud, he thought. Soon, the she-cat was sitting beside him with her tail intwining with his. "I s-say these words before the body of Tigertooth so he may hear and a-approve my choice. Panthersound will be the new deputy of PineClan!" She called proudly, but weakly.

A/N: Is Panthersound ready for this responsibility? The cats around him already look to him for instructions! What about Blackheart? Thoughts? Comments? Let's see! A lot of the Clan passed on, guys. It's so sad:( I really liked Tigertooth! Bah! But he had to go for the sake of the story. What will happen next chapter since the story is practically over? Only more thrilling news to come! REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW to find out more!

Let's get to 496-500 reviews before I post the next chapter! LETS BREAK 500 reviews guys! I'd just die! Okay, well not really, but I'd be so happy!

Also, the contest is coming to an end for my story! So don't forget to favorite and follow The Final Season to qualify to win a speedpaint and deviantart entry on my channel! You have to do both to qualify, so of you haven't, do it now! Thanks!

-Nightspirit