I don't own Warriors.

Shadow watched her Tribemates separate into their assigned watches and hunts. She felt well-rested now that her nightmares had stopped, though she found it harder to leave her den in the mornings now, and she was hardly ever up before the sun was. She jumped down from the Big Rock and went to her watch by the border with the Tyrants. Strike, Bear, and Ant were also in it. She led the three toms out of camp and down to the Housing Place.

Before they even reached the border, the scent of SnowClan reached her nose, fresh and strong, but pooling around in one place, as if they were, or had been, lingering in one place. Shadow stopped, tail twitching in confusion. "Do any of you smell that?"

"We're by the Tyrant border. Do you expect to smell fire?"

Shadow glared back at Ant. "What I mean is that it smells like the scent has pooled, which means they must've been here for a while. They might still be here. Be on high alert."

The four cats crept over to the fence. Shadow climbed it and stood on top, somewhat breathless even though she had no idea why. Two cats were sitting on Tyrant territory. She recognized Streammist and Sagepaw, though they were way older than the last time she'd seen them. She flicked her tail to signal the others up and hopped down, claws unsheathed. "You Tyrants are certainly close to our territory. I don't know if that makes you brave, or foolish."

Streammist dipped her head in respect, a gesture that took Shadow by surprise. "My name is Streamstar, leader of SnowClan. This is my deputy, Sageheart. We wish to speak to your leader."

"I'm the second in command. Why do you want to?"

"We'll explain that when we get there."

Shadow glanced at Strike, who shrugged. "Fine. Follow us." She waved her tail and Ant and Strike went behind them, almost herding them. She leapt over the wooden fence and into the Twolegplace. She purposely went in circles sometimes so that the Tyrant cats wouldn't learn the way to the camp.

When they did get to camp, there were plenty of hostile snarls from the Tribe cats. Sting was on the dumpster, staring at the Tyrants though narrowed eyes. "Shadow, why did you bring the enemy straight to our camp?"

"They wanted to talk to you."

Sting nodded tersely. "But only with the leader. The other cat has to stay outside under guard." Sageheart opened his mouth to object, but Streamstar dipped her head. Sting went to his den, the SnowClan leader on his heels. Shadow told Bear and Strike to guard Sageheart and dismissed the rest of the Tribe. She grabbed some meat and began eating, her eyes never leaving Sageheart's pelt.

The white tom stared at the food. "Don't you have fresh-kill to eat?"

"What's fresh-kill? We eat what we can find. You Tyrants lead soft lives."

"We aren't Tyrants!"

"Nor are we Rogues!" Shadow flashed her teeth. Sageheart ducked his head in embarrassment. Shadow went back to her meal.

Sting came back out, Streamstar just behind him. "Shadow, come here. Bear, Ant, Strike, take them back the way you came." Shadow abandoned the meat and entered Sting's den. Pale light came in from all sides, making it pleasantly warm. Sting settled down in his nest while Shadow sat at the entrance. "Streamstar said that her Clan is facing trouble from the Fierce Ones, and they need our help to wipe them out. We would go our separate ways after. I agreed -"

"What! But -"

"That isn't all of it." Sting continued, "I agreed, but only if they gave us half of their prey for six moons. She was desperate enough to agree to that."

Shadow smiled. "That was a smart move. When do we attack?"

"In a few days." He glanced at her belly. "By the way, congratulations. I'm guessing they're Strike's."

At first Shadow had no idea what he was talking about. Then she put the pieces together. I'm expecting kits! "Oh, uh, yes. How do you know?"

"I'm seen my share of expectant queens in my life. Perhaps you shouldn't fight. It might hurt the kits."

"I'm fighting." Shadow wrapped her tail protectively around her belly. "I'm not going to let us lose because I was staying here at camp."

Sting flicked his tail in dismissal and Shadow left. She went straight to Coal's den. The Herb Cat was showing Breeze some leaves that were foreign to her. "Er, Coal. I haven't been feeling great lately and I think I might be expecting kits."

Coal looked up. He ran his paw over her belly and pressed his ear against it. "You are. There's at least two, maybe three in there. I'd say they're due in a moon."

"How can you tell?" Breeze breathed.

"Press your ear against her flank." Breeze did so. "Can you feel something?"

Breeze hesitated. "Yeah. . . . Like a heartbeat, but more than one."

"Right." Coal gave her some willow leaves. "Eat these. They'll help your milk come."

Shadow ate them and padded outside. Strike was waiting for her, his eyes anxious. "Are you alright? Are you sick? Is something wrong?"

"Can we talk outside of camp? In private?" Anxiety and excitement went through her as she imagined telling him. I just hope I don't mess it up.

Strike went outside first, Shadow trailing behind him. They walked a few blocks away before Strike turned back. "So what's the matter?"

"Strike, Coal said that I'm expecting kits. You're going to be a father!"

Strike stared at her, trying to absorb all of this. A wide smile spread across his face. "Really?! You'll have to give up your duties until they come. We can't risk the kits' safety."

Shadow rested her tail on his shoulder. "They aren't due for a moon. I'll be fine until then." She didn't dare mention the upcoming battle.

"I guess I'm just excited and nervous." Strike pressed his ear against her flank and murmured, "Hello in there. Can you hear me? This is your father speaking."

Shadow felt a kick. She purred, "I think that meant, 'Loud and clear, father. Maybe a little too loud.'"

The day of the battle had arrived. Strike tried to urge Shadow to stay home, but she refused. "I'll be fine." She had said. "I won't let anything hurt them."

The two fighting forces met at the border. Shadow noticed that the Tribe had more cats able to fight, but not too much more. Streamstar and Sting talked for a bit before they started leading the others toward the place where the Fierce Ones made their camp. Shadow and Sageheart walked side by side in the order of the ranking. Next came Snailfur and Coal, armed with herbs. Then they went down the line from there.

Shadow wrinkled her nose when they went past what would be the boundary markers. "Tribe of the Sky, they stink worse than the Tyrants."

"Hey!" Sageheart meowed.

"It's true."

The fighting group traveled in silence from then on. Streamstar stopped everyone by raising her tail. "SnowClan, remember to not let these cats go."

"Copy that, Tribe. The Herb Cats, stay safe." Snailfur and Coal went to a hollow tree to set up. Sting yowled, "Cats, attack!"

Shadow let out a battle cry and ran forward. She jumped over the small wall of the camp, her swollen belly barely clearing it. She landed on a blue-gray she-cat, ending her life with a snap. The other cats were momentarily stunned with shock as countless cats flooded their home.

The next cat the black she-cat faced was a very familiar cream and white she-cat. Her face was marred by three, parallel scars. Slash. "Killed anyone lately?" The Fierce One sneered.

"Yes. First that blue-gray brute, and now you!"

Shadow launched herself at Slash, flattening her under her increased weight. The breath left Slash's lungs, but Shadow also couldn't move fast enough to get at her throat. Slash wiggled free and started circling her. "Let me guess, you're expecting kits. Now I'll feel even better when I kill you!" Slash aimed a blow at Shadow's cumbersome belly, but she curled around it, the claws hitting the back of her neck instead, but not deep enough to kill. She's not going to miss again! I'm sorry, Strike.

Slash lashed out again, but Shadow didn't feel anything. When she looked up, she saw the cream and white cat hanging from Sageheart's jaws by her neck, dead. She scrambled to her paws. "Thank you!"

"Just doing my duty." Sageheart dropped Slash and went back into battle.

Shadow glanced around. Cats were lying motionless on the ground, but to her relief, they were all Fierce Ones. She saw Strike dragging himself away from the thickest part of the fight, his hind leg at an awkward angle. She raced to his side and propped him up with her shoulder. He murmured, "Don't worry about me. Help yourself."

"I'll help you as much as I want and you can't change that!"

"I won't waste my energy."

The two hobbled out of he camp through a gap and over to the hollow tree. Snailfur and Coal were already treating some pretty serious injuries. Strike sank onto the ground, panting. Shadow crouched by him and licked his ears, a surge of helplessness about not being able to help ease his pain going through her. Snailfur came over. The look in his eyes told her he forgave her for killing Crystalheart and he was grateful she spared him. She nodded and looked back down at Strike.

Snailfur examined the leg. "Broken, but not too badly. These poppy seeds will dull the pain." He placed three tiny black seeds in from of Strike's muzzle; the tortoiseshell tom lapped them up, his eyes closing almost immediately. Snailfur started twisting the leg, causing small squeaks from Strike. Shadow walked away, unable to bear seeing her mate in pain.

Shadow sat down close enough to hear the battle. It was much quieter now. She tenderly put her nose to her belly as something wiggled. "I promised to keep you safe, and I kept it. Your father is fine and will get better soon enough." She murmured softly. "I promise you that."

Next chapter is the epilogue. As sad as I am that this is coming to an end, it is the first story I have completed! *passes out cake*