AN: So, one of you asked how Tiggy will be all evil in TR; the explanation will come at the end (I'm going to make another AN-chappy like I did with TR), and in addition to the answer to that question, I'll fill you guys in on some more behind-the-scenes type stuff.

I can answer a bit of your question now, though; looking back on the lives Tigerstar gave Unke Tiggy, you can see that he wasn't really bad until the lives started progressing along. At the beginning he was a bit cold to Tiggy, but other than that he wasn't very monstrous. However, as his influenced over Tiggy grew, his attitude started to change until the grand finale, when he was truly monstrous.

C h a p t e r 23

Tigerstar realized upon waking up in the morning that he had completed eight tests, leaving one more before they could climb the mountain and ascend into StarClan.

It has to be truly selfless, though, Tigerstar thought, and frowned. That means I can't sacrifice something for Splash on purpose, knowing that it will bring us both to StarClan. It has to be because I mean it. But where is there an opportunity for that, here?

Gingerstep was nervous when they woke, and as they began traveling, Tigerstar soon realized why; they were near the end of their journey. If all went well, Gingerstep, Tigerstar, and Splash would reach StarClan. If it did not, they would be stuck in the Dark Forest forever. It was enough to make even Tigerstar nervous.

Gingerstep kept looking over her shoulder as they neared the foot of the massive mountain, as if she was expecting someone to leap out at her.

"I'll protect us," Tigerstar promised, trying to console her, but Gingerstep simply glanced at him and looked away as quickly as she could. It wasn't quick enough for Tigerstar to miss the deep sorrow in her eyes. It gnawed at him for the rest of the day.

Finally, they reached the foot of the mountain, and as Tigerstar turned to look up at it, he couldn't help but let out a quiet gasp. It was truly huge, the peak seemed to touch the North star; indeed, the star almost seemed to hang directly over the mountain.

"It's guided us home," Splash said softly.

"Or to your deaths," Gingerstep said under her breath, quietly enough that Tigerstar almost didn't catch her words. He glanced at her quickly, but she wasn't looking at him; her eyes seemed misty and far-away.

She said 'your' deaths, not 'our' deaths, Tigerstar noted, feeing unnerved. What does that mean? Does she know something that we don't?

Splash didn't appear to have heard Gingerstep's comment; rather, her blue eyes were bright, even though her tail to her middle region seemed to blip in and out of existence now and then.

It is good we are so close, for Splash is at the end of her strength, Tigerstar realized, and again he bent to pick her up. It was luck that he did so, for as they began walking up the rough rocky slope, Tigerstar's pads were cut again and again until they bled silver. He began to feel weary at only sunhigh, and they had to all stop and rest several times before they camped for the night. Gingerstep was still on edge, although Tigerstar wasn't sure why; surely no bad cats would be this close to StarClan, without passing on?

"Relax," Tigerstar said to Gingerstep quietly. "If you're nervous, we can watch through the night. I'll take the first shift."

Gingerstep turned to him, and her golden eyes were wild. "Run," she whispered. Tigerstar blinked at her, confused. "Run," she whispered again, and her voice was stronger this time, resolute, as if a great decision had been made. "It's a trap, Tigerstar. I've been leading you into a trap this entire time. All of it, ever since I joined you."

Tigerstar simply stared at her. "What are you talking about?"

Gingerstep was quivering. "There's a group, Tigerstar, led by a fierce cat that lives on this mountain. Every cat in the group is incapable of selflessness; they cannot pass into the mist without dying. But they had discovered a secret, Tigerstar; the secret to immortality. I am in this group, Tigerstar, and it was my duty to lead you here into an ambush, where you would be killed and your lifeforce used. You asked how I could be so old, Tigerstar? I've been in this group ever since I attempted this journey in the first place. I've been dependant on it just to stay alive. Otter is in league with us, sort of; whenever a large group passes through he lets us know, and then we set the trap for them. One of our group is dispatched to lead them here, in case they get lost on the way, or stuck on a certain test. Otter notifies us out of fear; he hates it, but he has no other choice, for he can't pass his next test and he knows we will kill him otherwise….He knew that a kit in the Dark Forest was big news, and so he notified us…." She closed her eyes. "Please, Tigerstar. I was sent to trap you two, but I can't go through with it now. I can't hurt Splash, and you…." Her voice trembled.

Tigerstar reeled with shock. "But, if they're on the mountain…StarClan…."

"I don't know if StarClan waits for us or not, but it doesn't matter. If you don't leave now, you'll die. Find somewhere to settle down with Splash until the end. I've heard that fading…isn't so bad…."

Tigerstar let out a quiet growl. "Splash and I are going to StarClan; being killed is better than giving up. Either way we'll be stuck in hell, and I won't let Splash give up that easily. I'll carry her up there alone if I have to."

Gently, he picked up Splash. She blinked awake for a moment, looking confused, before her eyes drooped closed again.

"Tigerstar," Gingerstep whispered, but Tigerstar didn't look at her.

"Just stay away from us," Tigerstar growled. "We don't need you anymore."

"Tigerstar, wait," Gingerstep said pleadingly, but Tigerstar did not look back.

* * *

Tigerstar padded up the mountain, ignoring the pain in his paws; it felt as if someone was digging spikes into them with each step. He knew he was losing more precious lifeforce as he continued, but he didn't care; what did it matter, so long as they made it to StarClan after all?

Tigerstar finally collapsed from exhaustion, making Splash squeak slightly.

"Sorry," he grunted. "I'm just tired…I'll just rest for awhile, okay? Then we can begin moving again."

"Where is Gingerstep?" Splash asked, a quiver to her voice, but Tigerstar was already gone, fast asleep.

* * *

Low laughter woke Tigerstar, and as he blinked around him, he saw bright, gleaming eyes. Tigerstar sprang to his paws, snarling, but more laughter echoed around him. More pairs of eyes appeared, until Tigerstar realized that he had Splash were completely surrounded. Splash huddled between his paws.

"Awake? A pity; it's usually easier to be asleep, or so I've heard," a cold voice said from the mass of blinking eyes. A gray tom, so dark that his pelt was nearly black, stepped forward. A cool smile hovered on his muzzle, and he blinked at Tigerstar. Tigerstar blinked back, feeling confused. This tom seemed familiar, something about him….

"Who are you?" Tigerstar growled, tensing. "We don't want any trouble. We're on our way to StarClan."

The tom laughed quietly. "I can see that," he purred. "I'm afraid you'll never make it, though," and as he spoke, his sounded genuinely sad. "We need your lifeforce, you see," he continued, speaking as calmly as if he was talking about the weather.

"Please," Gingerstep whispered, and she too came forward, her golden eyes filled with shame. "Can't we just let them go…?" She gazed at Tigerstar, and her eyes were full of an emotion that Tigerstar had suspected for some time that she felt for him. The other tom misinterpreted her look, however, for he simply smiled.

"Are you fond of the kit?" he asked. "You can have her, Gingerstep, I don't mind. She's only got a few days left, that one, and you medicine cats do love having little kits nearby." He flicked his tail. "You, there, surrender her," he ordered, and Tigerstar's heart sparked with fury as he realized the gray tom was ordering him about. "It'll be much better for her if you just give her up, or we'll have to kill her too."

"Over my dead body," Tigerstar hissed, and the tom laughed.

"Don't worry, that will come in time," he purred, and then smiled. "You don't realize who I am, do you?"

Tigerstar's eyes narrowed, but he said nothing, for it was true; he did not know this strange gray tom.

"I'm the beginning of it all, you see; the beginning of this," the tom hissed, glancing around him. "If it wasn't for me, there would be no Dark Forest. Or at least, not in this form, for I am plainly not the last bad cat to have walked the earth. I was the first cat here, Tigerstar, and I shall be the last to fade; it is my being here that ties my mother here as well, you see, and you should be grateful of that. The North star wouldn't be here without me."

Suddenly it clicked in Tigerstar's mind, and he opened his mouth to speak the tom's name, but Splash beat him to it,

"Shadeclaw."

AN: OMG, rite? I warned you guys that the stories were important! Yes, this is Shadeclaw, the first ever cat to be in the Dark Forest. And yes, the North star cat was waiting on him to come to StarClan, for she refuses to move on without him. So in a way, Shadeclaw is responsible for Tigerstar being in the Dark Forest, but also the reason that Tigerstar can get out of it.

How has he been alive this long? We shall see….