Leafheart was up and early, in charge of the dawn patrol. It was her first time leading a patrol, and she was really excited, but her concern for Dawnkit overweighed her excitement. With a sigh, she went to get Lilyfern and Hollypelt.

Padding a little further down the den, Leafheart couldn't resist a small purr of amusement as she saw her brother curled up around Hollypelt. With a smile, she poked the black warrior with her tail, and Hollypelt quietly got up, careful not to disturb the sleeping Darkshade. It was too late.

He bounced up as if he had been up all morning. "Where are we going now?" Hollypelt laughed and smiled at Leafheart.

"Dawn patrol?" Leafheart nodded and left her with Darkshade for a bit. Making her way over to Lilyfern, she gently shook Redfur's previous mentor up. The gray tabby woke up with a start, then sleepily stretched.

"Dawn patrol," Leafheart whispered.

Lilyfern moaned dramatically. "Why me?"

Laughing, the two she-cats padded to the exit of the warrior's den. Hollypelt reluctantly licked Darkshade goodbye and joined them, and they padded away. Once out of camp, Lilyfern shrugged.

"So where do we go, Leafstar?"

Leafheart laughed. "Let's go to the forest, there should be good hunting."

Out of the corner of her eye, the cream she-cat saw Lilyfern nod, and felt proud for impressing the older warrior. Leafheart was right; the forest did have good hunting. They separated, and Leafheart went closer to the creek.

There, she immediately spotted a thrush. Holding her breath, she crouched, placed her paws down gently so as to not disturb the grass underfoot, and sprang forward to deliver the killing bite. With a satisfied smile, Leafheart thanked StarClan for the prey, and went to find more.

After catching a mouse, the cream she-cat felt fairly satisfied and went to find her clanmates. Waiting near the edge of the forest, was Hollypelt and Lilyfern, each with a mouthful of prey.

Hollypelt grinned at Leafheart around her squirrel, and Lilyfern gave her an approving nod while her starling almost slipped to the ground. The three padded back to camp in comfortable silence.

Then everything shattered when they entered camp. Pure chaos and havoc met the eye.

Hollypelt immediately dropped her squirrel and ran through the crowd, shrieking, "Darkshade! Is Darkshade okay?"

Lilyfern ran over and pressed herself against her brother's side, and Drizzlestorm spoke a few quick words. Lilyfern looked stricken, and let out a howl of grief.

Terror gripped Leafheart, and she pelted to the warriors den, a whoosh of relieved breath coming out of her. Redfur was still there, and he looked okay.

Leafheart ran to her mate. "What's happening?"

Redfur shook his head, his eyes wide with rage. "Someone killed Icestar." The yowling and howling outside ceased suddenly. Leafheart felt as though her ears had been plugged. Numb disbelief coursed through her, and she suddenly felt angry, angry at Redfur.

"That's not funny. Don't make jokes about dying." The voice was her own. And the cries of grief were back.

Redfur shook his head. "Oh, I wish I were joking. No, someone murdered her. I'm sorry."

Leafheart backed up. "I need to see this for myself." The red tom just nodded miserably.

With burning eyes, the cream she-cat ran to the cluster of cats and stopped dead. Redfur hadn't been lying. Icestar was lying on her side, her normally pure white coat drenched in blood. Her throat had been slit. A small voice spoke up, and Leafheart was surprised to realize that it was her.

"She's going to be okay. She has nine lives, right?"

Larkwing pushed her way through the groups of cats in time to hear Leafheart's question. "This is - was - her last. I'm sorry everyone, she's dead."

Leafheart turned, her eyes brimming. She found herself looking at Bluestorm, his eyes wide with sympathy. "Why don't you come with me?"

She shook her head and ran for the warrior's den, where Redfur was sitting up. Leafheat curled up next to her mate, and relaxed as she felt his tongue smooth down the fur on his head. Shaking, Leafheart suddenly jumped up, banging her head on Redfur's muzzle.

"Who did it?"

A cold breeze swept into the den, and the red tom shivered before answering. "No one knows. There's definitely rogue scent on her, but nothing specific."

Leafheart sighed and started to the exit. "I want to talk to my mother." Redfur nodded. The cream she-cat looked around, but there was no trace of Petalpelt. After searching the whole camp, she finally decided to check outside, and padded over to the dirtplace. Petalpelt wasn't there.

Leafheart peered outside the camp, and let out a shocked yowl. "NO!" Lying in front of camp was a body. A familiar body. A once beautiful, now broken ginger body. Petalpelt was sprawled on the floor, her leg jutting out in a weird angle.

Leafheart hurled herself onto her mother's body and sobbed. Two of the most important cats in my life are dead so soon. She didn't notice all the other cats pad outside to watch her mourn until she heard Redfur meow, "Leafheart, Darkshade, I'm so sorry."

Leafheart looked up and saw Darkshade, his eyes wide with shock. She sadly patted the ground next to her, and Darkshade left Hollypelt to sit next to his sister.

He licked his mother's ears. "Cold already," he whispered in a tremulous voice.

Someone else spoke. A hiss. "This is just the warning. Be prepared." Leafheart jerked her head up and saw a pair of yellow eyes glaring at her from the bushes. Trembling with rage, the cream she-cat leapt forward and tried to feel the cat, but he was gone. She smelled him though, and she followed his scent. LightClan tried to call her back.

"Leafheart!"

"Come back!"

"What did you see?"

Leafheart turned from them. "I'm finding Petalpelt and Icestar's killers. I'm not asking you to come with me," she added as Woodwhisker's mouth opened. "I'm stating it. I'm going by myself, and killing those StarClan cursed cats. Goodbye, LightClan."

As she turned to leave, a familiar voice spoke up. "Don't be silly, of course I'm coming with you!" Leafheart slowly turned to see Redfur stepping towards her, his eyes glowing.

"I loved Petalpelt too. She wasn't my mother, but she was kind and was always there. I'm coming with you." Leafheart gratefully nodded.

"We'll be going now." This time, Darkshade's voice spoke up. "I would love to get revenge, but I need to stay. I'm sorry. May StarClan light your path, wherever it leads." Leafheart wasn't mad, surprisingly. As long as she had Redfur, she was going to be fine. She nodded to her brother.

"And yours."

Then the two mates left, side by side.

Thank you day-dreamer972 for following the story, it means a lot! Sorry I haven't been uploading recently, I've been busy. I'll try to upload once every day or every other day. Please follow/fav/review, thanks!