Raptorclaw charged into the clearing, her clan following. Immediately the Marshclan cats lifted their heads, unsheathing their claws and baring their fangs.

"Attack!" Raptorclaw yowled to rally her cats. Her claws outstretched, she charged towards Foxstar. His green eyes narrowed in hate. Raptorclaw slammed into him, and yowled, "You killed my parents didn't you?! I know you did!" She snarled to him, digging her claws into his shoulders. Wincing from the pain, Foxstar chuckled darkly,

"Indeed, I knew them. But then, one day, they were hunting, and they were killed by a monster."

"Liar!" Raptorclaw growled, her teeth bared and claws fully unsheathed, "You drove them onto the Thunderpath! You watched as they were killed by a monster!" Raptorclaw swung her paw, and successfully landed a blow to the tip of his muzzle. Foxstar snarled in pain, glaring at her,

"You are, indeed, a very smart cat, Raptorclaw." Foxstar smirked.

Then, with a screech, he lunged at her, swings his claws madly. Raptorclaw's eyes widened and she backed up, trying to avoid the whirlwind of teeth and claws. Evantually, Foxstar had her backed up against the edge of camp. Bracken poked into her back legs, and Foxstar advanced, his head lowered and his eyes glowing in the night. Raptorclaw gulped, and Foxstar cackled, madly. Raptorclaw stood her ground, her hackles rising. She remembered one of the many lessons Lionstar had taught her: "Claws and Teeth aren't the only thing we use in battle. Deception is a tool. Feigning surrender can make a cat drop his guard. Remember this in battle"

That was it. That was the answer...Raptorclaw was just a cornered rat, and Foxstar was the hunter. Raptorclaw crouched, feigning surrender. Foxstar, almost shocked at this easy win, cackled,
"You stupid cat! I know you were just like your parents. Just a rogue...nothing else!" Then Foxstar leapt...

Raptorclaw gasped, but she wasn't in the Marshclan camp anymore, she was in a den. She remembered. This was the den she was born in. Her parents, Feather and Fang, looked at her lovingly. "Who are you?" Raptorclaw asked, but it came out as a squeaky mewl. Her parents laughed, full of love and joy. Feather nuzzled her,

"Maybe tomorrow we can take you out to explore, when it's not so rainy out!" Feather said, nuzzling Raptorclaw- or Raptorkit..?- , lovingly. Fang nodded, looking out towards the entrance. The smell of rain leaked inside, and Raptorclaw's nose twitched. Raptorclaw took a glance outside. The entrance was blocked by ferns and leaves. Maybe...

Raptorclaw was snapped back to reality as Foxstar was charging full speed towards her. Hope and power surged from her nose to her tail. Raptorclaw reared up, lashing out at Foxstar. The russet colored cat collided with her, biting at her scruff. Raptorclaw reached out with her claws, scratching at his flank and dragging him off of her.

Then Raptorclaw went on the offense. She lunged at Foxstar, swiping at his face and snapping just mouse-lengths from his face. Now it was Foxstar's turn to try and evade the dark she-cat's attacks. Eventually she had the leader backed against High rock.

"Give up, Foxstar!" Raptorclaw growled, her back arching and her red eyes gleaming, "The battle is over!" The Marshclan cats were starting to tire, and Foxstar seemed to know that. But instead of giving up, he lunged at Raptorclaw. Lashing out with her claws, Raptorclaw slashed the leader's throat.

Foxstar stopped in his tracks, his evil green eyes wide. Suddenly he collapsed, just like Lionstar had a few days ago. The battle slowed to a stop as the cats stared in awe and amazement that Raptorclaw had beat Foxstar. Raptorclaw's eyes widened. Had she really just defeated Foxstar? Raptorclaw looked at the cats around her. Foxstars followers, including Redfur, Stagfur and Grasspelt, Ashtail and several other cats- rogues, maybe?- stared in horror and amazement. The whole battle field was silent, and the only noise was the wind blowing the snow into camp.

Movement to her right made her look towards the entrance. Shadowstar and his patrol were standing towards the entrance of the camp.

"This battle is over. Foxstar is defeated." Shadowstar proclaimed. The rest of Foxstar's followers lowered their heads in respect- or fear- as Shadowstar walked towards the Highrock and leapt onto it, gazing at the battle field below him. The cats stared up at him. "I will now give you a chance to change for the better. You have seen, and lived through, what Foxstar has done to you and your clan. Now is the chance to make things right. Who is the current deputy?" Shadowstar asked, looking among the group of defeated warriors. Grasspelt stepped forward. Raptorclaw looked at him. She remembered him from the battle when she was an apprentice. His brother was Stagfur. But he didn't look too strong now. His formerly lean, muscular body was now covered in scratches and bites, and his green eyes were unreadable.

"Foxstar...he made me deputy after the battle when Foxstar exiled Clawfur. But...you may want to make Clawfur the leader instead. Clawfur really deserved the position, especially after all he went through." Grasspelt turned and nodded to the former deputy. Clawfur's brown pelt was crisscrossed with scars, both old and new. Clawfur's head was low and his eyes downcast. Raptorclaw walked up to him.

"Come on, Clawfur. It's time you became Clawstar." She smiled warmly at him. The older warrior looked at her, his deep amber eyes scanning her red ones. After a moment of silence, he nodded. Clawfur stepped forward. Shadowstar nodded proudly, "You have the rights to the clan, Clawfur. Tonight, you and Reedpelt may commence your journey to gain your nine lives. I look forward to leading with you, Clawfur." He leaped down to the ground, and bowed his head to Clawfur. The rest of the cats, from both clans, each bowed their heads as Clawfur looked around, a grin on his muzzle.

"Thank you, Shadowstar. For everything you and your clan, Fallowclan, have done for us." Clawfur's amber eyes glowed with pride, "I, too, look forward to leading this clan. I wish you best of luck, and that you may find plenty of prey this Leaf-bare. I will start my journey tonight." Both of the toms bowed their heads to each other once again, and Shadowstar trotted towards the entrance. Raptorclaw followed, taking once last glance at the Marshclan camp. Then, with Robinpaw, Rabbitpaw, and Leopardroar following, she left the camp.

Shadowstar and his patrol were waiting. He nodded at Raptorclaw, and licked her between her ears, "I am proud of you. You have given every cat a great deal of relief. Let's head back to camp. We can talk about what to do next when we get back." Shadowstar smiled at her. Raptorclaw felt the pride and happiness rise in her.

As Raptorclaw trotted through the marshes, her mind seemed to be at peace. Foxstar was dead. Marshclan was on the path to recovery, and everything was getting better. She thought about what her cats had pestered her about so much. Maybe she should start a clan? There was a moor just south of the territories. They could find a camp and settle down.

The patrol came across the Thunderpath. It was busier than earlier, when they had crossed before the battle. Raptorclaw frowned. Shadowstar turned towards the patrol. He raised his voice so the cats in the back could hear him,

"The Thunderpath has more monsters now. We will split into groups of three cats and cross one group at a time. That way the chance of a cat getting killed is much less. There is a small strip of grass in the middle. When one group gets to that grass strip, another group will start. Everyone got the instructions?" The cats nodded, each taking a look towards the strip of grass in the middle. Shadowstar then began to divide the large patrol into smaller groups of three. Raptorclaw was in a group with Violet and Birchleaf. The three she-cats nodded and stuck together. They watched as, one by one, the groups crossed the busy Thunderpath. Raptorclaw's group was last. She watched as Leopardroar, Mountainstorm, and Jaywing cautiously looked across the Thunderpath. When there was a small break in the monsters, they hared across, and safely made it to the strip of grass. Shadowstar, who was watching from the strip of grass, looked at the last group: Raptorclaw, Violet, and Birchleaf. Shadowstar raised his tail,

"Stay over there. Wait until there is a break in the monsters." He advised. Raptorclaw took a tentative step onto the grey stone. Her muzzle crinkled at the awful stench. Suddenly there was a break in the monsters.

"Go!" Raptorclaw yowled. As Violet and Birchleaf pelted across, Raptorclaw leapt to join them, but pain streaked up her body. She yowled as the sudden force pinned her on her back, she looked up.

"Leaving so soon, Raptorclaw?" Foxstar snarled, his claws digging into her throat.