Get ready, this ones crazy! :)

Chapter 24

That night, Batpaw had the same terrifying dream that she had had at the Moonpool, but it started sooner and was more clear.

Batpaw was in the middle of a raging battle, and to her horror, it was happening right in the middle of Fourtrees! Looking down at herself, she realized that she was much bigger and that she felt stronger.

But her largeness did not just come from her probably being older. Batpaw realized that this future Batpaw was expecting kits!

Her shock at this was immediately put to a halt as a cat bowled her over. Windclan scent carpeted the she-cat and her teeth were bard into a snarl.

Unlike the other dream, her body felt energized, not sluggish this time, as if in a dream, but really heavier. Then she remembered her kits. Batpaw couldn't believe that a time would come when a cat would attack a pregnant cat, and maybe it was even at a gathering!

Suddenly, her dream felt a lot less like a dream as the Windclan cat slashed her nose, drawing blood. Batpaw let out a yowl of pain and surprise, and tried to fight back. The she-cat's teeth snapped at her throat and blood welled up there.

But before she could force her slow body to respond, a cat leaped in front of her, blocking the Windclan cat from view. At first, Batpaw was scared that this cat too wanted to attack her, but then she realized that he was facing her foe, and smelled of Thunderclan. For some reason, Starclan chose to keep this cat a mystery, and his face as blurred, and his pelt smudged.

"Don't worry," the tom yowled. "I won't let you get hurt."

The tom began to fight with the Windclan cat, and Batpaw looked on with nothing she could do. The dizziness of the battle made Batpaw feel like she was moving, and suddenly she was, flying through the air.

Batpaw cried out with horror as the Windclan cat slashed is claws through the tom's throat, but there was nothing that she could do, as she soared through the air, and into blackness.

Batpaw jerked awake, her breathing fast and raspy. Already the horrifying details of her dream were starting to fade, and she strained her memory, trying to remember them. The tom in her dreams... had wanted to help her... he had died... Batpaw's mind was flashing through thoughts faster than she could think them. She kept seeing images of the Windclan cat sinking his claws into the horrified tom's throat. Words echoed over and over in her head, "I won't let you get hurt." But this constant pounding turned into a lullaby, and slowly, against her will, Batpaw sank into a fresh sleep.

"I thought no patrols were coming to the Shadowclan border!" hissed Crookedwhisker lividly. Nightclaw's black fur seemed to be turning white as he faced the angry warrior. He was slowly backing up, and soon his pelt was pressing against brambles. In an effort to speak, he stepped forward.

"There weren't! I don't know what happened!" he mewed anxiously. This had been one of the last chances, and Nightclaw's mind was reeling so much he forgot their final plan.

"I was almost caught!" Crookedwhisker spat and tore at the ground as he talked. "And the apprentice wasn't killed!"

"So you failed for once." Nightclaw had found a way to make this failure enjoyable. Crookedwhisker had been very, very pushy when he said he would succeed, and it had been very important that he would. Now that he hadn't, Nightclaw could gloat and rub it in his face, even though it was a step back for both of them.

"No, you failed to do your job, or you lied," Crookedwhisker said, pulling Nightclaw out of his thoughts. He was not about to let Nightclaw get the better of him.

Now it was Nightclaw's turn to be defiant. "I did not lie! There was a last minute patrol, that's all!"

"Regardless," mewed Crookedwhisker, "A patrol came, and Batpaw is not dead."

"Well now it doesn't matter." Suddenly, Nightclaw remembered the final plan. He was getting calmer and calmer by the second. "Your brother has whispered in the leaders ear, and by tomorrow morning, Batpaw and Thunderclan will be dead."

Eaglewing's eyes scanned the perimeter of the Thunderclan camp. She sat next to Addertooth, keeping watch.

Addertooth was lazily staring down at his paws and Eaglewing hissed at him, making him look up at her in surprise.

"What's wrong?" he muttered. "You look nervous."

Eaglewing shook her head in frustration. "Something doesn't feel right," she whispered back. "Something's wrong."

Addertooth snorted. "Nothing's wrong. It's just a normal night."

Eaglewing swallowed hard and forced the feeling of uneasiness down. She gazed up into the ebony sky and to her shock, she saw that barely any stars of Silverpelt were visible, although the sky held no clouds.

"Addertooth," she hissed urgently. "Addertooth, look!" She flicked her tail up at the sky and the tom's eyes widened with alarm as he saw the expanse of empty sky.

"That's not right," he muttered. "There must be a reason. They must be having a meeting or something else. There can't be another reason."

Eaglewing shook her head in confusion. "No, that's not the only explanation. I was right, something's wrong, but what?"

A rustle in the bushes startled both of them and Eaglewing whirled around. "Nothing," she said, with obvious relief. "It was nothing."

They sat back and began to relax when suddenly a dark shape bowled Eaglewing over. She yowled in surprise and scrabbled backwards.

"Addertooth," she cried, while aiming a blow at the cat's face. "Addertooth, warn the clan!"

Addertooth raised his mouth and howled into the night. His cry sounded in the air and rose up into the sky, loud and clear.

As soon as the sound was out of his mouth, a cat pounced on him and sunk their teeth into his shoulder. Addertooth yowled in pain and tried to struggle back but then the cat hit him hard over his head, sending him tumbling into darkness.

Batpaw's eyes flew open as soon as the alarm was sounded. Fear coursed through her as her thoughts flashed to her dream of a great battle.

She scrambled out of her den and found that Thunderclan's warriors were already fighting with energy and defending the camp.

Batpaw didn't have to look around to know that these were all Shadowclan cats. The scent made her throat tighten up and she gagged.

"Batpaw!" Startail raced over to join her friend. "Come on! We need all the fighters that we can get!"

Batpaw nodded and lunged at a brown tabby apprentice who had Leappaw pinned down. The white and ginger she-cat was struggling wildly but the tom was too strong for her. He opened his mouth to chomp down on her when-

Batpaw landed on him neatly and sunk her teeth into her flesh. The tom screamed in pain, his eyes frantic and wild. "That's my friend that you're attacking," Batpaw snarled. "Get your filthy paws off of her!"

The brown apprentice scrambled to his paws and raced into the bushes.

Batpaw grinned in satisfaction and turned to Leappaw. They flashed smiles and then they both dove back into the battle.

Batpaw was bowled over by a small brown tom with tiny hazel eyes that were flicking from side to side. He whacked her hard, his claws slicing through her ear.

Batpaw shrieked in pain and struggled away from him, her ear feeling like it was on fire. She was about to attack him when a cry rose through the battle, shrill and nerve racking. Batpaw's blood ran cold as she recognized the voice.

The whole battle seemed to stand still for a few seconds as Violetpaw screamed and then Dewpelt appeared, her eyes blazing.

Batpaw shuddered. She had never seen Dewpelt so terrifying, so angry, and the medicine cat's rage flowed into her yowl that echoed across the clearing.

Dewpelt lunged at the white tom who stood in front of Violetpaw, watching the life flow out of her, and blood soak the ground.

The minute that she landed on him, Batpaw knew that Icetalon would never live to see another day. The medicine cat slashed her claws through the Shadowclan deputy's throat and sunk her teeth into his belly.

The tom's scream was horrible and it wound it's way into all the cats souls, his pain shocking them. Icetalon shrieked and blood rushed out of his wounds, dribbling onto the ground, next to Violetpaw's scarlet blood.

The whole clearing moved in slow motion until the spell suddenly broke as Icetalon shuddered and then went still. A loud roar went up from the Shadowclan cats and the camp exploded into a raging fight.

Batpaw sifted through the cats until she found Startail. This battle was not going to end until they fought side by side.

Batpaw raced over and sunk her teeth into the long haired gray she-cat's fur, who had Startail pinned down to the ground.

The she-cat whirled around and lunged at Batpaw, the determination in her eyes shocking. She raised her paw to swipe at Batpaw when Startail pounced on her and scratched her nose. The she-cat yowled with pain and blindly swiped at the two cats, her claws scoring down Batpaw's flank.

Batpaw yelped and doubled over as the she-cat dove her claws into the soft fur on her belly.

Startail spun around, alarmed. "Go to Dewpelt," she cried. "I can handle Dreamfire!"

Batpaw nodded and raced into the medicine cat den where Dewpelt sat treating cats. Her eyes were shining with sadness and she looked up as Batpaw entered.

Dewpelt rubbed an ointment on Batpaw's cuts and placed cobwebs all over them. "Go out and fight for the clan, Batpaw," she whispered. "Thunderclan will not be defeated."

Batpaw nodded vigorously. "I will," she murmured. "But not just for the clan, for Violetpaw."

A tear trickled down Dewpelt's silver fur, but she brushed it away. "She was a good cat," she whispered. "And she would have made a good medicine cat. Now go!"

Batpaw nodded and raced out back into the battle.

Nightclaw ran through the fighting cats, trying to find Crookedwhisker. His eyes scanned the crowd, searching for the russet cat.

Suddenly he toppled over and was pinned down as a tom launched himself at him.

"No, wait," Nightclaw cried. "Please! You can't attack me!"

The tom sunk his claws into Nightclaw's fur. "Of course I can!" he scoffed.

"No, you don't understand! I'm on your side!"

But the tom paid him no head as he sunk his teeth into his throat and slashed it open. Nightclaw screamed in pain and sunk to the ground. Everything had failed, and he was going to die.

Batpaw heard the scream echo in her head and she froze. "Nightclaw," she breathed. She searched the crowd and found the black tom lying on the ground, his throat stained with blood.

Batpaw raced over and crouched beside him, wondering if he was still alive. "Nightclaw?" she whispered. "Nightclaw?"

The tom's green eyes flickered open and he uttered a loud groan. "B-Batpaw," he muttered. Nightclaw's vision was fuzzy but he was able to make out her blurry form. "Batpaw."

As Nightclaw opened his eyes, a memory flashed into his mind.

The black she-kit snuggled closer to Nina and suckled for milk.

Nina laughed adoringly. "What do you think we should call her?" she mewed, smiling up Nightclaw.

Nightclaw shrugged, undecided. "Coalkit? Blackkit?"

Nina looked up at him in surprise. "Clan names? But she's a rogue! I thought that you didn't want to be reminded on the clans?"

Nightclaw shrugged. "I don't know, but I just like clan names so much. But if you don't want any of them that's okay."

"Oh! No, it's fine, let's do whatever you want!"

"Well, okay!" Nightclaw sounded unsure, but he just pushed it off. "How about..." He paused. "Ebonykit? Crowkit?"

Nina shook her head. "No, those aren't right."

"Batkit?"

"Hmm. I like that!" Nina's eyes narrowed as she thought hard. "Lets wait some more. Maybe we'll think of something else, something perfect! She's your daughter after all!"

"My daughter!" Nightclaw gasped, his eyes wide with horror. "Batpaw!"

Batpaw stared at him, confused by the dying warrior's words. "Who's your daughter? You have kits?"

"No! Batpaw, you don't understand," Nightclaw cried desperately. "Nina was your mother's name wasn't it?"

"What?" Batpaw stared at him, shocked. "How did you know that?" she whispered.

Tears welled up in Nightclaw's eyes as he stared at the cat whom he had searched for, for so long. "I'm your father, Batpaw, Nina is my mate."

Batpaw looked at Nightclaw, horrified. "No! You can't be! That's not right!"

Nightclaw nodded, in clear distress. "It's true, you must understand! I'm sorry Batpaw, I made a big mistake!"

Batpaw just shook her head. "No, no, no!" Her heart felt like it might burst as she looked at Nightclaw. "But you wanted to kill me! How could you be my father?" Batpaw raised her head to look up at the dark night sky, noticing that the stars had returned.

"I'm sorry, Batpaw, I was wrong. I shouldn't have done this."

Then something horrifying dawned on Batpaw. "You planned this raid, didn't you? You set this whole thing up!"

Nightclaw nodded painfully. "Yes, Crookedwhisker and I did. I'm sorry, but it's too late. I'm going to join Nina in death!"

Batpaw shook her head, horrified. "No! You can't die!" Batpaw paused for a second and then she whispered, "You're the only father I've ever had."

Nightclaw just shook his head, his breathing slowing. "Goodbye, Batpaw."

"No!" Batpaw wailed. "Don't go!"

But her father's body just shuddered and then became still. A cool breeze rushed by Batpaw as the tears began to flow and she saw two wispy forms outlined in the air, one black and one brown. Faint mewing sounds could be heard as they touched their noses in greeting, their spectral eyes glowing with life once more.

The two ghostly cats rubbed against each other, turned and padded out into the dark night sky, up into the stars, tails entwined.

So I hope no one hates me for doing the whole star wars 'I am your father' thing... I know it was a bit classic...

Anyway, the epilogue is up, so you can go check it out!