Yellow eyes stare as the light of the half moon shines down. His dark gray fur was turned silver by it, making his black stripes look like shadows rising from the ground.

Anger fills his very being, from the tip of his tail to his tufted ears. He watches the reeds across the river part as a reddish brown tom. Lips curled, showing sharp fangs as more cats followed. All of them had some sort of shells, and stones from the river as necklaces. Some even had flowers braided. They easily swam across the river like otters onto the sandy shoreline.

Without waiting for a signal, he leaps towards the group. Not caring who he attacks he swipes with claws covered in metal sheaths at a dark gray tom with a white paw. He was small, so probably an apprentice who was about to become a warrior if he was here for a raid.

The apprentice screeches as the larger warrior slashes onto his back, blood beginning to stain his fur and the sand beneath them. The Warrior would have done more when he was tackled off. Looking up he hisses at his attacker, the reddish brown tom who was now glaring at him with amber eyes.

"So much like your mother..Stormthroat had no problem with attacking an apprentice, Darkstripe, no surprise from a rouge though" the tom spats as another cat helps the apprentice up. Rage builds up in him, making his fur bristle.

"You RiverClan scum, don't you dare speak of my mother like that! She was one of ThunderClan's greatest warriors and you cats who were blessed by Afonal have no right to speak her name! You have no right to Sunningrocks, you do not belong in this forest, Oakheart!" he spats feeling like the might of Taranu in his very being. He lashed out at Oakheart not realizing that the others were leaping to fight the RiverClan warriors as well. The sound of screeching cats echo in his ear fur as he pinned Oakheart to the ground.

But before he could give the RiverClan Deputy a wound, a warning yowl came from one of his comrades, "Look out! More RiverClan warriors are coming!" Looking up, Darkstripe turns to see more wet bodies sliding out of the water below the rocks. When he turned back he screeched in pain, Oakheart had used his distraction to slice at his face, leaving a large gash across his face.

Shaking his head, blood blinding his vision he couldn't stop the Riverclan warrior from wiggling free. But he looks up when a desperate scream of a Thunderclan she-cat rises above the clamor, turning his head he sees a large dark brown tabby leaping an enemy warrior away from the she-cat. His amber eyes shone with fury as he lunged towards the gray tom and sank his fangs into their hind leg. Darkstripe smirks hearing the yowl of pain as the RiverClan warrior squeals before they struggle away.

"Tigerclaw!" Darkstripe looks up as he spots Redtail, by the sight of his red bushy tail, that reminded many of a fox's tail. The smaller warrior had run up to the dark brown tabby, the broach that hung around his neck shining in the moonlight "This is useless! There are too many RiverClan warriors!"

Fury burned in his stomach, how dare he..how dare he say that, growling he leaps between the two glaring at the tortoiseshell, "Redtail! This is our territory! Given to us by Taranu!" he shakes his head, sending the scarlet drops flying onto the rocks. "ThunderClan will never be beaten!"

"Darkstripe," Tigerclaw rumbles, "ThunderClan will honor your courage but we can not keep fighting these impossible odds. We will have another chance to avenge this defeat..we can't lose any more warriors after Eiraus' Tears took so many of our clanmates," Tigerclaw's amber eyes gaze at him steadily and he sighs and nods. Even though he claws at the sand angrily.

He watches Redtail sprang onto a boulder at the edge of the trees. "Retreat ThunderClan! Retreat!" the yowl was the only thing to be heard before the warriors of ThunderClan squirm and struggle away from their opponents. They hissed and growled as they back towards Redtail. For a moment the RiverClan warriors stare and look confused but then Oakheart lets out a jubilant cry. ThunderClan stares with anger as the RiverClan warriors join in and an orange barrier appears which slowly turns into a bright blue.

With a flick of his tail, Redtail gave the signal and ThunderClan retreated into the trees, easily slipping through the bracken. Darkstripe followed last, hesitating at the edge of the forest and glancing back at the battlefield. His yellow eyes glaze as if he was seeing something else. Face grim, he shakes his head before he leaps after his Clan.

In a deserted clearing a bluish gray she-cat with orange patches looks up to the sky. Her blue eyes stare into the clear night sky, at the stars overhead. Sitting on her head was a crown made of antlers which wrapped tightly around her head..as if to remind her of the burden she carries.

Her ear twitches as she listens to the breathing and stirring of sleeping cats. Blue eyes turn as a dark tortoiseshell emerges from a dark corner..even with leaves braided in her fur, her pawsteps were quick and soundless.

"How is Mousefang?" the blue chimera asks, dipping her head in greetings and respect.

"Her wounds are deep, Bluestar," meows the tortoiseshell, settling herself next to the she-cat, "But she is young and strong..she will heal..if she stays in the nest and listen to the Witch," her amber eyes turn to glare at the figure that was trying to sneak out of the corner that the tortoiseshell came from. The figure hisses in frustration making Bluestar chuckle.

But then Bluestar sighs and looks back to the stars, "I am troubled by tonight's defeat..we are lucky we didn't lose any warriors this time..I count our blessings..since we lost so many to the Tears of Eiraus..and who knows how long this peace will last..I know ShadowClan and Windclan have been having many battles lately..and we know many of our own Warriors won't take it down with RiverClan taking Sunningrocks..war is on the horizon..ThunderClan needs more warriors if its to survive.."

"But remember Bluestar, the year is just beginning," amber eyes stare at her with such knowledge, "There will be more kits coming..Goldenflower just gave birth to her and Featherheart's kits and Frostshine is about to have their and Lionheart's kits at any moment..and I'm definitely sure that Violetspring is about to move into the nursery with the way she and Mossthorn have been acting,"

"You are right about that Spottedleaf," Bluestar twitches her shoulders as she chuckles, thinking of her kin, her dear sister, Snowpoppy's kits and her own daughter having families of their own. "But it will take time for them to grow..and then training them when the time comes will take time. If ThunderClan is to defend its territory, it must have new warriors now,"

Spottedleaf blinks at her before looking to the stars as well, "Are you asking the Four Gods for answers?"

It is at times like this that we need their wisdom to help us..have they spoken to you?"

Spottedleaf sighs, "Not for some Moons, Bluestar,"

At that moment a star blazes over the treetops as it falls. Bluestar takes a step back as Spottedleaf froze, the leader could see that the fur along her spine was bristling and her eyes were glowing white.

After a few moments, Spottedleaf lowers her head, gasping in breath. When she turned her head, Bluestar could see hope shining in her eyes, "The Gods have spoken Bluestar.." a distinct look came into her eyes as murmured. "A Blaze will come..a strong Blaze that brings hope to all the Clans.."

"A Blaze? Like a Fire?" Bluestar feels her shoulders tense remembering a prophecy told to her by her uncle, ThunderClan's old Warlock.

"Like Fire you will blaze through the forest.." the words echo in her ears making them twitch but she shakes her head, "You have never been wrong before Spottedleaf..you are a gifted Witch..if the Gods have spoken then it must be so..a Blaze will come.."

Green eyes stared in curiosity as they looked at the gathered cats, before they looked up to the ginger and white she-cat who she sat next to. Blue eyes stare down at her showing her kindness and love.

"It will be alright dear...they won't hurt you.."

The young kit looks at the gathered cats..and realizes that unlike her and the older molly..these cats were faded, see-through. Her fur begins to rise but she calms down when the she-cat licks her ear, "Grandma..what's wrong with these cats?"

"They're Ghosts, Amber..cats who are blocked from going to the Light until they finish a task they failed to do while alive..or something in the living world is keeping them tied down.."

"You mean like Old Pine..?" Amber whispers, thinking of the old cat that she sees her grandmother talk to sometimes...now that she thinks about it..he too was see-through.

"Yes, just like Old Pine..you see Amber..you and I are the only ones who can see them because this ability has been passed down from parent to kit.." Amber sees that her grandmother gets a glazed look in her eyes, "I gained it from my mother who gained it from her mother..my sisters also gain the ability..along with my brothers.." she gets a glare on her face and her claws dig themselves into the dirt..before she shakes her head.

Watching from behind the fence was a nearly furless cat. His blind gray eyes stared at the tiny kitten who was now softly talking to the spirits. He gives a small smile before he fades.