Ha, did the title trick you? Sorry, sorry… but don't worry, this story is not about to end just yet! It has at least ten more chapters to go, probably more, a lot more.

Yesss, twenty-two chapters... the story has come so far and I think my writing has improved so much over a short time! What do you think?

Kuroimori- Thanks for your many reviews! I'm disappointed that you suspected Kestrelwing but oh well, someone was bound to pick up on it, right? Also, sorry about how chapter twenty was in bold, there were so many problems with the chapter I gave up on it.

Doggy- thanks for your words of advice! Those are great story ideas… maybe better than my own plans…

WildKat12- Yes, the battle for leader… ThunderClan is in trouble, isn't it? Cue happy laugh (I feel really evil at the moment). Sorry if you were confused at all!

Lightpool- I know, so sad. Ambereye was one of my favourite characters though I did have to kill her off. Thanks so much for your encouragement!

To recap the last chapter, Kestrelwing was exposed (he was poisoning Shadestar- gasp!) and we know Breezefur is behind the attacks, but nothing else happened. A few other things are happening in this chapter though...

"How's Shadestar?" Willowfeather asked anxiously.

"I don't know," Spottedbird replied darkly. "I think she has ingested too many deathberries- she won't be the same again, I can tell you that. She better hurry up and pick a deputy, since the clan will be leaderless soon enough."

Willowfeather gasped. Spottedbird, one of the most optimistic cats in the clan, was giving up on Shadestar. That meant there was truly no chance for Shadestar.

"It is her last life, isn't it?" Willowfeather badgered. "She doesn't have an extra life I know of?"

Spottedbird shook her head sadly, and Willowfeather shut up.

That night…

Willowfeather looked around.

"We need a moon high patrol to go out," She announced. "Especially considering the threats we have received. Kestrelwing's disloyalty and the missing food is only the start, I'm sure."

All the cats nodded in agreement.

"I'll go," All the apprentices shouted at the same time.

"Absolutely not," Dawnflower said to her two kits in reply. "It's dangerous out there, especially at night- foxes and owls come out at this time."

"But we're the most experienced apprentices!" Redpaw argued. "We might never get our warrior name, and then it'll all be your fault!"

"I want to go out too," Cinderpaw badgered.

"One apprentice only tonight," Snowcloud said decisively, before looking at Willowfeather for confirmation. "More than one apprentice will only end in trouble."

"Yes," Willowfeather nodded. "Redpaw, you can come with us, if you'd like. Cinderpaw, you'll be on the dawn patrol- only a few more moons until your warrior ceremonies, huh? Finchcry, Snowcloud, you can come with me today. Dustfoot, Sweetbreeze and Cinderpaw, you're in charge of the dawn patrol tomorrow."

She noticed that Graydust was gone. It's been a moon, she thought. He's gone to meet Breezefur. I hope he doesn't get hurt.

On the patrol…

"What are we looking out for, mainly?" Willowfeather tested- she wanted to know what Redpaw had been taught. Redpaw stopped to think.

"Scents," He suggested. "It's always useful to know where and when a cat, or a group of cats, has travelled through."

Willowfeather nodded approvingly. "What else? There are other obvious signs that something or someone has been at a particular place."

"Tracks!" Redpaw exclaimed. "How could I forget? A cat, especially one trying to stay hidden, is hard to find but other creatures will be easy enough. Footprints, fur caught on branches, and claw marks might be some easy examples."

"Yes, you're right," Willowfeather conceded. "But we are tracking cats, yes? We must stay very alert."

Redpaw nodded, eyes gleaming.

"Nobody will dare to attack with me going on so many patrols," Finchcry boasted, and Willowfeather heard everyone else on the patrol let out groans. Here we go again, Willowfeather thought as Finchcry launched into a long, complicated story about how awesome he was and how he had once fought a badger on his own.

"Ambereye and I were with you at that time," Willowfeather said drily. "And all you did was cower behind a bush."

Finchcry stepped back. "You were the one cowering behind the bush!" He blazed, before shrinking back. "Yeah, you were right."

All the cats except Finchcry let out small mrrows of laughter.

"I'm better now," Finchcry argued. "I'm a great warrior. I can fight off five badgers, I promise!"

"Next time you catch sight of a badger and run, I'll remind you of what you just said," Snowcloud said sarcastically, and the whole group minus Finchcry started laughing again.

"Exactly why I sided with Sunheart," Finchcry muttered. "He's loyal and he's never this sarcastic."

"Yeah, and then you fell in love with Sweetbreeze and now all you do is follow her around all day," Redpaw cracked.

"What do you mean?" Finchcry grouched as Willowfeather and Snowcloud choked back laughter. "This is unfair. It's me versus all three of you!"

"What do you mean, are you going to attack us?" Snowcloud mocked. "Considering you ran at the sight of a badger and left your clanmates to fend it off, I wouldn't count on victory."

"Did you hear something?" Willowfeather asked suddenly, and the toms stopped.

"You're just trying to stop us from fighting-" Finchcry began, and shut up when he heard it too.

The noises were getting louder now.

The sounds of cats screaming.

A few moments later..

"It sounds like Graydust," Finchcry panted as they ran. Willowfeather winced as ran on her broken leg- she should never have come on patrol. It was too hard on her injured body.

"The attacks have started," Snowcloud gasped, when the screaming stopped.

"That either means Graydust won the fight," Willowfeather began, and broke off, not wanting to think about the other option.

"Or he lost," Snowcloud voiced her worst fears.

"No," Finchcry said determinedly. "He wouldn't have lost... he's a good warrior."

They saw fur tangled in thorns, clawmarks everywhere and a pool of blood nearby.

"I think Graydust won," Snowcloud said finally. "Or both of them were gravely injured."

Suddenly, there was a hiss. Behind a tree, Breezefur stood, teeth bared. Her side was stripped of fur, her claws bent, and her ear was nicked badly. She let out a final hiss, and ran.

"Hopefully, it means Graydust won?" Redpaw said, hopefully.

"No," Snowcloud said bluntly. "No."

The others whirled to where he was looking, and saw, half-hidden by a bush, a pale grey tabby body.

"Graydust," Willowfeather breathed. "He was too young to die."

"We've lost so many cats recently," Finchcry said, his voice cracking. "Darkshadow, Leafkit, Ambereye, and now Graydust. H-he had such a bright future ahead- he was a good warrior-"

"But it was all stolen from him," Willowfeather said flatly, trying to feel sadness for the lost warrior. "I suppose we need to take him back to camp."

She felt only emptiness inside. Of course, it was terrible that Graydust was dead- but he had killed Ambereye. He had kits with Breezefur. He was possibly the most disloyal cat in clan history.

"Graydust is dead," Snowcloud said finally. And they began the long walk back to camp, carrying Graydust's body with them.

That took SO long for me to write. Sorry about the wait! I hope you enjoyed this chapter and hopefully, you'll see me soon, I don't know why it took so long even though the chapter wasn't that many words. Another dead cat though… am I killing off cats too quickly?

Don't forget to review!