I'm really sorry for not updating, but I made this an extra long chapter to make up for it!

Review Replies:

Shira the Mage: Omgosh yes! That's what I was aiming for... Tangle's personality. He is Tangle-Gollum-Smeagol. So, Tanglumol. That sounds like a disease. XD Haha Runningpaw is a bad Runningpaw! *whacks Runningpaw with the Ruler of Justice*

LakeStream- You'll see... lots of battleish things. I'm such a wordsmith XD But anyways, be prepared for the battle. XD

Doglovermastiff- Haha, thanks! Can I bring the cookies?

ZM- Don't worry. Runningpaw will be soon. heheheh...

Snowfall16- Yeah, the sequel I came up with while watching my brother play Mario Kart... and then I planned the entire thing in my head and am currently writing down the plot on paper XD Ooh, I can't wait to see it ;) and yeah, maybe we are XD The first reference was actually from the Desolation of Smaug, when Gandalf and Radagast were talking, but now that I think about it, I think there is a Star Wars line similar to that. Hmm... The second one was also from DOS, the scene where the Dwarves won't get inside the barrels and Bard tells them that whole "value freedom" thing. I burst out laughing when you said, "Whoa, Rainpaw, cool it with the language!" XD And here is the next chapter! ;) Thanks for reviewing!

Dawnlight25- Haha, thanks! I won't tell you, I promise. ;) Let's just say it was a character who, in the beginning of the story, seemed annoying, but after said character grows up a little (while the cats are in the mountains) said character is really... how shall I put it, awesome! ;) And is it okay if Golden Hawk become's this cat's apprentice? The said cat will have just become a warrior, so they're not old XD Yay, I love plushies!

Pikachudragon- YES! YOU GOT IT! I WANT TO HUG YOU! *gives cookies* GO THE HOBBIT: DOS! Did you watch BOTFA? Oh my gosh it was so sad... I cried for so long... Anyways, here is some cookies: (::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::) for getting the references! :D

catbooklover2004- I changed it to this chapter; I hope you don't mind! Thanks! ;)

AnonFanboy- Ah, that's fine ;) I forgot about that Brook and Talon were related until I was looking over the warriors wiki and found that XD Yeah, I had my state tests too... not fun :,( Tangle is crazy XD Here's the update! :D

Guest- I'm sorry, I don't believe I can. I already have that part planned out, and I also finished planning the story, so I hesitate to make changes to the plotline. But thank you for the idea! ;) Thanks for reading too!

Guest(Jimbalaya)- Yes! You get cookies for getting the references! (::)(::)(::)(::)(::) That would awesome! A cat with a collar with a name on it named My Precious... Fabulous...

Mapleshade Returns- Yeah, I was thinking about that at first, but the plot has already been written out (it took so long XD) and the owner of the OC doesn't like Ashwhisker very much, so I wanted to respect them. And Song has already been paired up... sorry XD BUT! Ashwhisker will find love, Rainpaw will find love, Stormpaw will find love, and Golden will find love... but I am not allowed to tell who gets whom ;) It is very exciting! My first fanfiction only had 50 by the end, so I'm pretty excited! My favorite has to be RainxStorm, and two more that I can't name because it happens soonish in the plotline, but not yet and ERGHHH I want to tell you but I can't... XD

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So, the first reference from last chapter was from the The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug, and the second one was also from DOS. ;)

Warning: this chapter will have violence because it's a battle.

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Chapter 26

Willow whipped around, fear and anger throbbing in her chest. They're coming!

"We... saw..." Hawk began, panting hard. Cats began to crowd around him and Runningpaw, murmuring their worry and fear.

"This way," hissed Thrushpaw, leaping up a small ledge a few tail-lengths above their heads. Willow leaped up after him, followed by Lilypaw and Stormpaw.

Stoneteller pushed through the cats crowding around Hawk and Runningpaw. "What happened?" She demanded.

"We saw Shadow's group," he explained, "heading this way. There were many cats, more than I've seen in my lifetime. I didn't see Shadow among them, but no doubt he's out there."

"Did you see anything else on your way back here?!"

"No. We took a different path than them- the shortcut through the woods."

Stoneteller paused. "What direction did were they heading?"

"Well," Hawk began, his voice sounding puzzled to Willow, "They seemed to be heading up the mountain- in the direction of the cave, but they were going up further."

Stoneteller's eyes grew to be twice their original size. "Oh no," her mew could barely be heard.

She turned around and bounded up the ledge opposite the apprentices, yowling, "Cats of the Tribe and all Clans, listen to me! Shadow's group may be attacking soon- we must be prepared. Based on the information Hawk has given me, it seems they will attack from above the waterfall! I think-"

"Wait!" a voice cried. Willow peered at the source, surprised to see Song padding closer to Stoneteller. "I know what they might do!"

Stoneteller seemed surprised. "Song. How do I know we can trust you?" she mewed suspiciously.

Song narrowed her eyes. "I did not know Shadow was as corrupted as he is," she murmured. "He lied to me, and I want to make sure his plans are spoiled."

"Continue," Stoneteller sat down, wrapping her tail around her front paws.

"Shadow plans to have three parties go to the cave," she explained. "The first will be sent from below the waterfall aiming to draw you out and keep you distracted. While the first is fighting, the second will come down from above the cave, and sneak inside to weaken the cats remaining inside. While they attack, the third party plans to surround the cats fighting outside and finish the off. They will attack at sundown tonight." Song finished with a sweep of her tail and sat down with a plop.

Despite her hatred of Shadow, Willow had to admit it was a good plan. She felt Thrushpaw shuffle his paws beside her. "I don't want to say so, but I don't think my Clan's leader could concoct a plan like that," he muttered.

"Mindreader," she whispered back. "Be quiet, Stoneteller is speaking."

"I need the captains of the prey-hunters and cave-guards to come with me," Stoneteller meowed after a moment of consideration. "Song, you'd better come too, and Rushingwind and Flowerstem."

About ten cats made their way to Stoneteller's den, and as soon as they disappeared, terrified yowls burst out in the cave.

"What should we do?!" Lilypaw wailed on the other side of her.

Willow flicked her tail, answering, "What we came to do. Help the Tribe."

Lilypaw shot her an exasperated glance. "How can you keep calm, at a time like this?!"

"Let's not lose our heads."

"Lose our heads?!"

"Shh..." Thrushpaw hissed. "Lilypaw, be quiet please. I'm trying to listen."

Hawk leaped up on the ledge that Stoneteller had been sitting on previously, claws scraping on the dimpled gray stone.

"Cats of the Tribe and Clans," he began, "We will wait quietly for Stoneteller to come back. If we act witless, then we very likely will become so," he finished dryly.

Pawsteps sounded from Stoneteller's cave, and a moment passed before Stormpaw's father, Rushingwind, appeared at the entrance. Cats swarmed around him immediately, worriedly meowing their fear.

Hawk pushed through the cats, coming up beside Rushingwind. Willow angled her ears forward, but couldn't pick out what they were saying.

Finally they stopped speaking, and Rushingwind leaped onto a rock. "Get into your positions!" He yowled, continuing to speak as the cats exchanged bewildered glances. "Prey-Hunters, gather near the Tall-ledge beneath me, Cave-Guards, go near the entrance of the cave. Queens and elders, please gather in the nursery. To-bes, you can go to the ledge where the apprentices are sitting. I will explain to each group individually what is about to happen."

Thrushpaw nudged Willow as a group of five to-bes scampered across the floor towards them, followed by the rest of the Clan apprentices. The cats began to disperse, and Rushingwind went from group to group, giving instructions. He finally came to theirs last, and explained, "This is your part in the battle plan. Half of the Tribe and Clan cats will go down to fight the first group. You will stay behind and hide among the rocks at the top of the cave. As soon as the second group comes in to attack the remaining cats, you'll jump down from the rocks onto them. From there, you have two options. Either you surround them and fight or drive them out of the cave. Always make sure you're fighting beside at least one other cat. I'll leave you to work out the plan."

As Rushingwind bounded away to Stoneteller's cave, Willow turned and counted the young cats grouped together, expecting there to be thirteen cats. She counted only twelve. She frowned and counted again, making sure to count herself, but the same number turned up. She bounded up to Stormpaw and Thrushpaw and started to say, "I think someone's miss-" only to be cut off by Runningpaw.

"Let's get partners! Stormpaw, will you be mine?" She gushed, batting her eyes at him. Willow gagged in disgust, but a second later silently cheered when he replied, "Sorry Runningpaw, I was going to ask someone else."

Willow left Runningpaw to argue with him and padded up to Thrushpaw. "Want to be partners?"

"Sure," he replied. "Lilypaw might join us, if that's okay with you."

"Not a problem!" she replied cheerfully. She secretly felt pleased; Thrushpaw was a sensible cat and was open to ideas. He would be great to work with.

Slowly the cats split into groups, and surprisingly enough, only Stormpaw and Runningpaw were left.

"Where's Rainpaw?" Stormpaw asked. "Runningpaw, she went with you and Hawk, right? With Ashwhisker?"

"Yes," Runningpaw replied, "Why?"

"She didn't come back with you, did she."

"Nope."

Stormpaw's expression changed from bemused to frustrated in a matter of seconds. "Where is she?!"

"Oh, she and Ashwhisker are still out scouting," Runningpaw replied, waving her tail lazily in the direction of the cave entrance. "They should be back sooner or later. But for now," she added, "It looks like we're partners."

"Whatever," Stormpaw mumbled, sulkily plopping down and gazed at the floor.

Willow rolled her eyes and padded up to him. "Do you have a hairball caught in your throat? Deal with not getting what you want and stop sulking."

Stormpaw looked taken aback, but after a moment he let out a mrrow of laughter. "You're right, Willow. I'd be no better than a badger if I kept this up."

Willow flicked him over the ear with her tail and went back to sit beside Thrushpaw as Stormpaw stood up.

"I think half of us should walk into the cave as if they're part of Shadow's group, and half of us should jump down from the rocks and attack them. We could keep switching roles until we've all got it."

The cats agreed, and they split into teams- Shadow's group and the apprentices. Willow and Thrushpaw ended up being sorted into "Shadow's group," along with Streampaw, Lilypaw, Wolf and Scratch.

"Group meeting!" Thrushpaw called. The six cats huddled into a tight circle. "We should split up- two cats can go along the left side of the cave, two along with right, and two down the middle. We'll want to sneak in carefully. Sound good?"

"I'm all for that plan," Streampaw mewed.

"I've got something to add," Scratch twitched his whiskers thoughtfully. "I know that Shadow's group probably won't expect us to be prepared, but just in case he does, we should act as if we know what's going to happen. Or surprise the cats swooping down on us. As soon as they are about to land on top of us, we could flip over and use our hind legs to fling them off. That'll give them a shock."

"Great idea," Thrushpaw nodded. "Let's get with our partners and start."

Moments later, Thrushpaw and Willow were sneaking along the right side of the cavern. Willow was thankful for her silver-gray pelt, being able to blend in with the rocks, and Thrushpaw's tabby gray one.

Willow suppressed a laugh as she heard a quiet voice hiss from above her, "Get off, Leap! You're treading on my tail!"

She sped up and pulled alongside Thrushpaw, pointing with her muzzle at the top of the cliff. "We've got company." A single tail whisked back into the shadows.

"Right you are." They paused and listened for the sound of fur brushing against rock, but the noise from the waterfall droned out any clues they might have had.

Suddenly a two dark shapes fell from above them. Willow jumped out of the way and watched Flower, one of the Tribe to-bes, plummet to the ground with a thump. As Flower lay, winded, Willow leaped on top of her and pinned her to the ground, watching Thrushpaw do the same to Leap. "I think we won that round," she mewed, glancing at dethe rest of her group, who had pinned the others to the ground as well.

Stormpaw snorted. "I stand corrected. I thought we would win that."

They switched groups, and their new plan was to wait until the intruding cats were in front of them, so they could jump down behind them and knock them over while they weren't looking. However, the opposing team came in standing in opposite directions, so that at least one cat was facing each wall. Willow's team ended up getting caught, and they kept practicing until Rushingwind approached.

"Good work," he meowed. "You deserve a break. Go eat, get your strength back up." Grimly, he added, "You'll need it."

(Sorry if this was rushed. I'm still trying to get back into the groove of writing :3)

Crackling in the bushes behind them made the cats run even faster. "They've seen us!" Golden Hawk gasped, her paws pounding in the forest floor.

The golden she-cat glanced behind her, Rainpaw and Ashwhisker racing along. Rainpaw's eyes were stretched open with terror.

In the corner of her eye, Golden Hawk spotted a fleeting image of tabby fur flashing among the ferns on her left side. She put on an extra burst of speed when white fur shone on the right.

"Keep going!" She yowled. "We're almost there!" The crackling in the bushes grew louder. Golden Hawk knew she and the Clan cats were in danger.

Suddenly a dark ball of fur came snarling out of the undergrowth in front of her. Golden Hawk skidded to a stop, Ashwhisker and Rainpaw crashing into her.

"Duck!" The cat growled. The three obeyed immediately, too shaken to do anything else.

The newcomer leaped over their heads, clearing Ashwhisker's tail by two fox-lengths. Four other cats followed him, each falling into a perfect line behind the leader.

Their pursuers suddenly burst through the leaves and cannoned into the group of five cats that had appeared.

Each stood their ground, looming over the two cats. Golden Hawk watched, amazed, as a tabby tom was knocked over with a ferocious sweep of a paw by the leader. His partner, a white she-cat with a deep vee mark in her ear, was pinned down almost instantly.

"I'll flay you!" The tabby snarled, scrambling to his paws. "I'll spread your entrails for here to the top of the mountain!"

The dark brown leader flicked his tail. The cats behind him slid into a formation around him, excluding the cat that was holding down the white she-cat.

They stalked up to the tabby. "I'd like to see you try," the leader purred coolly. He threateningly unsheathed his claws.

Despite the tabby's brave words, Golden Hawk could spot the fear in the nervous lashing of his tail.

"Leave Tuft and I alone!" he hissed.

"Nettle!" The she-cat, Tuft, gasped. The cat that was pinning her down had tightened her grip and pressed Tuft's muzzle against the forest floor.

Nettle sprang in the direction of Tuft, only to be knocked down again. He sprawled in the dust. "Let her go!"

The leader growled, "Only if you promise never to come near this place again."

"Fine!"

He flicked his tail, and the cat holding Tuft down released her.

Tuft sprang up and vanished among the bushes.

Nettle backed away from them. "You'll regret this!" He hissed nervously, "Shadow will find you!"

The leader narrowed his eyes. "Run." The single word, quietly spoken, but filled with ice, sent Nettle over the edge.

With a whimper, he fled into the night.

Ashwhisker felt absolutely shocked. "Did they just fight for us and barely have to lift a single claw?"

Rainpaw said nothing.

"Obviously you've never met the border guard." Golden Hawk meowed. "They can scare off an intruding cat with one loud hiss."

Then why didn't they scare us off? Ashwhisker wondered. His question was soon answered as Golden Hawk pranced up to the leading cat.

"Hawk's Flight!" she greeted. "I see you haven't lost your dramatic flare."

"Golden Hawk." He nodded.

"Nice to see you too."

Hawk's Flight shook his fur. "Sorry. I'm a bit edgy after that."

Ashwhisker padded forward. "Sorry to intrude, but Golden Hawk, who are these cats?"

"My bad," she replied. "Let me introduce Amber Drop, Drifting Sapling, Kestrel Wing, Jagged Rock and Hawk's Flight." Each cat dipped their head as they were named. "They are the border guardians of a group that lives at the foot of the mountains."

"Welcome," Hawk's Flight extended a paw and lowered his head, an odd gesture to the Clan cats.

"You're not going to chase us off?" Ashwhisker asked cautiously.

"Any friend of Golden Hawk is a friend of ours," he responded evenly, though Ashwhisker winced as he detected a hint of irritation in his voice.

"Great. I'm Ashwhisker and this is Rainpaw."

Before Ashwhisker could say any more, Golden Hawk broke in. "Hawk's Flight, we need your help. Could you take us to your camp?"

"Of course."

He flicked his tail, and the other cats fell into a perfect line behind him. Golden Hawk nudged Ashwhisker and Rainpaw into line, and they began to trod through the forest without another word.

Rainpaw flicked her tail back and forth, impatiently waiting for the cats ahead of her to pick up their speed.

"Ashwhisker, won't they go any faster?" She grumbled. "Cats at home could be dying."

"I don't think it would be wise to rush them." He murmured. "I did earlier and all I received was a 'shut-your-mouth-and-do-what-we-say' look."

"Maybe we should try again. They could- mmph!" She coughed as she bumped into Ashwhisker. They had stopped.

Rainpaw twitched her whiskers and looked around the gray tom. The cats had stopped, and Hawk's Flight was peering around with sharp eyes. He stood in front of a huge, lichen-covered boulder, surrounded by various kinds of plants.

Finally, he turned to the seven cats that waited behind him. "Ready to disappear?"

"What?"

Hawk's Flight spun around and vanished under the rock.

"What just happened?"

More of the cats continued to 'disappear' under the rock, until only Ashwhisker, Rainpaw and Golden Hawk were left.

"This is my favorite part," Golden Hawk meowed smugly. Before they could reply, she walked around a small bush and was gone.

Rainpaw raced after her, rounding the bush, and stopped as she saw a small gap in the ground in front of her. A tunnel?

She sniffed at the entrance, and hesitantly placed a paw inside.

"Come on!" Golden Hawk's voice echoed from inside. Rainpaw slowly crept in, feeling the walls of the tunnel press on her shoulders.

Blackness enveloped her. She couldn't see the ground beneath her paws, or even a hair beyond her nose. "Uh, Golden Hawk?"

"Keep going, it opens up soon."

Rainpaw followed the tunnel, memories of first meeting Stormpaw in the tunnels replay in her mind. Suddenly she inhaled sharply. Stormpaw! He could be fighting right now!

Fear chorused through her veins, and she sped up, only to crash into Golden Hawk.

She heard a sigh. "Honestly, Rainpaw. First Ashwhisker, now me. We'll get there soon enough."

"Sorry!" Rainpaw gasped. "I'm worried for my friends."

Golden Hawk didn't reply, but Rainpaw could sense that she understood.

After a few moments, Rainpaw could see her whiskers, then paws, and then the cats in front of her. Then blazing light shone from the entrance of the tunnel, and all the cats sped up, racing out and into a clearing.

What Rainpaw thought was a clearing in the forest was actually a hollow in the ground surrounded by enormous brambles. Five or six caves lined the walls of the hollow, and grass grew in the dirt at the bottom. There were several small bushes scattered about, and a heap of prey in the center. A side of the hollow was slightly less steeper than the others, and it had vines and roots clinging to it, providing an escape root. Cats were gathered everywhere, young and old, queens and toms, and they all were sharing prey and talking together. It almost reminded Rainpaw of home.

As soon as the newcomers passed into sight, they lifted their heads and stared in their direction, mainly at Ashwhisker and Rainpaw. Rainpaw flattened her ears, fur pricking uncomfortably. "Act normal," Ashwhisker hissed in her ear.

Hawk's Flight stopped halfway through the hollow. "You are dismissed. Golden Hawk, Rainpaw, Aswhisker," he meowed, "Come with me."

He led them up a ridge on the side of the hollow and through a small crack in the stone, but stopped them as they were about to pass through. "Wait here." He ordered, and disappeared into the hole.

After what seemed lifetimes, a voice boomed, "Enter."

Rainpaw followed Ashwhisker and Golden Hawk through the opening, but halted as she saw a huge, muscular gray tom watching them like an eagle.

"River Ripple, you've met Golden Hawk, but this is Ashwhisker and Rainpaw. They have come to ask for your help."

"Thank you, Hawk's Flight. You may leave." River Ripple rumbled.

"Very well." He dipped his muzzle and backed out the entrance.

As soon as he was out of earshot, River Ripple relaxed. "You need my help?"

"Yes sir, please-" Rainpaw started, but was cut off by Ashwhisker.

"Rainpaw and I are from the Clans by the lake. Some of our cats went to help the Tribe that lives up the mountain- have you heard of them? fight a cat that was terrorizing them and wanted to drive them out of their home for the sake of power. We recently saw the numbers of the cats that we'll be fighting..." Ashwhisker trailed off.

"There are too many of them for us to match! Our cats are going to be ambushed without any warning and we need your help to fight this cat!" Rainpaw butted in. Get to the point, Ashwhisker! Cats could be dying!

"And if we agree to fight for you, I would love to know who we will be fighting against."

Rainpaw and Ashwhisker exchanged a glance. "His name is Shadow. He's a ruthless killer who cares for nothing but power. He killed one of the Tribe's members and has been laying traps for them. He's planning to destroy the Tribe."

River Ripple was silent, eyes flicking back and forth in thought. "I've heard of Shadow." He murmured. "Most of my cats came from a group of loners that was attacked by him. Many of their cats died and the rest came to me for refuge. If we fight, can you promise me that we won't have trouble from him? I can see we will if he wins."

"I can only promise that he won't harm you if he's dead."

River Ripple rose to his paws. "I need to speak with my cats about this."

The story Rainpaw and Ashwhisker had told River Ripple has just been repeat to his cats.

Cries of outrage erupted from the crowd.

"Shadow's back?!"

"Kill him!"

"He dared show his face here! Shred him, I say!"

"Our kits won't be safe until he's dealt with!"

"Silence!" Roared River Ripple. The crowd quieted their yowling reluctantly. "I understand your concerns! However, those that go to battle may not come back!"

"Yet those that remain could be slaughtered if we don't fight!" A black tom growled.

"We must fight to survive," a cream-and-gold she-cat added. "What's to become of our young if we stay?"

"I know that you-" River Ripple began, only to be cut off by an elderly tom.

"If we hide in our hollow like cowards, afraid to show our faces in a fight, Shadow may consider us weak and attack anyway."

Meows of approval came from the cats.

Ashwhisker turned to River Ripple. "I believe your cats have spoken," he murmured. "What's your decision?"

Please say yes! Rainpaw pleaded inwardly.

River Ripple shifted from paw to paw, glancing uncertainly at Hawk's Flight and Golden Hawk.

"River Ripple?"

Dark thunderclouds drew nearer to the mountain, bringing with them a hot, humid crowfood-scented breeze.

Thrushpaw stood with his face turned towards the entrance of the cave. The sun was setting, and soon Shadow's plan would fall into action. But theirs might stop it. The different groups were already in place. They were just waiting for a signal from the few cats watching for Shadow.

"Nervous?" Willow settled beside him.

He started, but replied, "Aren't you?"

"Of course. We all are."

"Do you think Rainpaw and Ashwhisker will make it back before the fighting?"

"I hope so."

"Me too."

They lapsed into silence. I wonder how this will all turn out, Thrushpaw thought. I could be a dead cat tomorrow, or alive. My friends and family could be the same things. I hope Willow will still be here. She's a great cat.

"Willow?" He murmured.

"Mhmm?"

"You've been a great friend to me, and I just want to thank you."

Willow turned to look at him, surprise clear in her eyes.

"And whatever happens tonight, I want you to remember that I'll have your back."

She swallowed. "As will I."

One of the Tribe to-bes raced into the cave. "They're here!" She panted. "Stoneteller told me to get you all into our positions."

Thrushpaw sprang up instantly and raced over to his group's side of the cave, Willow right behind him. Their group of six were on the left ledges, while the other group was on the right.

They waited silently for the rest of the cats to reach them, then backed into the shadows of the ledges. Thrushpaw could feel his tail shaking, along with Willow shivering against his flank.

"Good luck."

"You too."

Thrushpaw remained still in tense silence, feeling the hushed, quivering breaths of the other apprentices and to-bes in his fur.

Thrushpaw began to notice a low, drawn -out caterwaul that slowly raised in pitch and volume echoed from outside the cave. The noise bounced inside the cave, until it rung in Thrushpaw's ears and chilled his bones. It stopped abruptly.

Suddenly loud, pain-filled screeches started. He felt Willow stiffen beside him.

Claws scraped against rock, howls of anger and agony sounding from below the cave. Thrushpaw heard the kits in a tiny hidden cave below him start mewling in fear, only to be silence by their mothers and the elders.

Thrushpaw began to quietly pace in agitation. "Can we not help?" He growled desperately. The screams below continued on.

"Thrushpaw!" Willow hissed. "Come look!"

He sidled up beside her, peering through a small crack in the cave wall. Eight cats were crawling up to the cave entrance, dark pelts blending in with the stone so that they were barely seen.

"We outnumber them!" He whispered. Thrushpaw glanced across the cave to the opposite ledge at Stormpaw, frantically trying to get his attention. The gray tom glanced over at him, nodding slowly. He had seen them too.

Fur brushed the entrance of the cave as all eight cats entered together. Thrushpaw beckoned his group with a swish of his tail, and crept after them.

They stopped slightly ahead of the cats. One of the to-bes tried to shove past Thrushpaw and jump down on the cats, but he halted them. "Wait for Stormpaw's signal."

He glanced over at the tom. Stormpaw raised his tail in the air.

One... two... three...

"Now!" He hissed.

All twelve cats leaped down upon the intruders, yowling viciously. Thrushpaw unsheathed his claws and landed on the back of a huge ginger tom. He dug his claws into his fur as the tom crashed to the ground and ripped the, along his spine, leaping off as soon as he heard the cat wail in agony.

The eight bleeding cats sprang to their paws, spitting as their eyes flashed with hate. They were completely surrounded.

"Give up?" Stormpaw growled.

"Are you kidding?" A black she-cat hissed. "Never!"

The split up and began clawing at the Tribe and Clan cats. Thrushpaw gasped in fury and a tortoiseshell she-cat with a ravaged ear cannoned into him. There were no traditional swipes in this fight, only writhing balls of snarling fur clawing desperately at their opponents.

Thrushpaw was pinned down by his attacker. He clawed at her belly fur, trying to shove her off, when an old trick his mentor taught him came to mind.

He went limp, closing his eyes and letting out a soft howl of submission.

"Thrushpaw!" A cat screamed. He recognized the voice as Willow's and cringed. Sorry...

The she-cat snorted. "I'm going to throw you off the cliff," she threatened, "and leave your broken bones for all your cats to see."

As she began to bite down on his throat, he sprung up with all his might and tossed her against the cave wall. She yowled in agony ad her head bashed the stone. "Not if I get you first."

The she-cat fled, along with several others. Thrushpaw lined up with his friends and drove out the remaining four cats with triumphant yowls.

As soon as they reached the entrance, the purrs died in their throats. The Clan and Tribe cats were defeating the intruders, but the third and final group of opposing cats had come racing down a slope and were joining in the fight.

Rushingwind came running past the horror-stricken cats, blood pouring from above his left eye. He shouted, "I need help! To-bes, stay and guard the cave while the apprentices come with me! Stoneteller needs..."

The wind began to pick up, drowning out what Rushingwind was saying. Raindrops began to fall from the sky.

Thrushpaw saw Stormpaw bound up to his father. "Rushingwind, what will we do?!"

"Round up as many free cats as you can and meet me behind that bush!" He pointed his tail at a tiny, ragged shrub and raced off.

Stormpaw looked around the apprentices. "Well, you heard him! Get to work!"

Thrushpaw pounded off in a random direction, at once running into his mother as she sent a white she-cat shrieking into a small copse. "Flowerstem!" He gasped. "Come with me! Rushingwind needs us!"

She flicked her ears, drops of blood spattering the ground. "Coming."

They found one other cat and joined Rushingwind behind the bush. Thrushpaw was slightly annoyed to see he was the last one there, but his annoyance changed to shock as a blood-coated, scarred cat padded out from inside the bush. Stoneteller!

"We are losing," she rasped, clearing the blood from her eyes with a shake of her head. "Shadow has too many. I need to send in our fresh warriors who haven't fought yet in a little early... And I want you all to join them. Split into two groups and attack from either side. If you see Shadow, kill him. I was hoping scaring his cats away would help, but more keeping coming. I believe that the only way to stop him is if he is dead."

Thrushpaw dipped his head. he would fight to the death if he had to- to protect all that he held dear to him.

Stormpaw dashed after the warriors to the other side of the fighting. Rain had begun to pour, and lighting would occasionally flash down, followed by loud rumblings of thunder.

The sky lit up for an instant, and Stormpaw gagged as he saw the torn-up blood spattered battlefield. Cats still sparred, and some lay ominously still.

"Stormpaw! Focus!" He snapped to attention at Rushingwind's growl. They were waiting for a signal from Stoneteller, who perched on a rock far above them.

She glanced in every direction, and lashed her tail down.

The warriors raised their voices in a loud yowl and they thundered down the slopes to join the fighting.

More than half of the intruders raised their heads and stopped fighting. Several fled the scene, and the rest were trampled by the incoming cats.

Stormpaw lashed out his claws in every direction, whipping past his enemy. As he raced past a ginger she-cat and lashed his claws down the side of her face, she bit down on his paw and dragged him backwards.

Thrown off balance, Stormpaw lay winded and let himself be tossed to the ground.

"You'll be fox-food once I'm done with you!" She crowed.

Stormpaw scrambled up and hissed at her, flattening his ears.

He tensed his muscles and prepared to leap, but froze in horror as he caught sight of something behind the she-cat. She gave him a confused look and turned around. Her lips began to spread into a smirk.

A huge black tom was creeping up behind Stoneteller. He was almost twice her size, and Stormpaw could see huge claws glinting even from where he sat, far beneath the ledge Stoneteller stood on.

"Stoneteller, look out!" He and many other cats shrieked.

She turn around just as he swiped her her paws, knocking her over and off the cliff. She managed to catch the edge with one paw, but slowly, to the Tribe's and Clan's horror, slipped off.

He body hit the ground far below with a thud.

"No!"

She raised her head and stared weakly at him. "Never underestimate me, Stoneteller!" He bellowed. "I always have a second plan!" He let out and eerie yowl- the same one the apprentices had heard earlier.

Ranks upon ranks of cats appeared behind him. Stormpaw felt dread freeze his mind.

Shadow.

He skidded down the slope and stopped just above Stoneteller. "Believe me when I say this: I will enslave every one of your cats and make them live lives of torture. If they leave they will be hunted down and punished- there are worse things than death."

"However, I have an alternate idea. I will let you and your immediate family go with little harm if... you bow down to me."

Stoneteller was gasping for breath by now. Her words could barely be heard as she rasped, "I would rather die than bow down to you, you foxheart!"

"Wrong choice." He shrugged and turned to his battalion of cats. "Atta-" his yowl was cut off.

"Shadow!" A young golden-ginger cat leaped over a rise a few fox-lengths away from him. "Remember me?!"

"Golden Hawk, how could I forget?" He purred with mock affection. "The little traitor. Have you seen your parents around? Oh, that's right! They're dead! How could I forget?"

"Never speak of my parents that way!" She snapped. "You killed them, and now it's your turn. Attack!"

Cats leaped out behind her, so fast and so many that he couldn't see the ground beneath them. They all headed straight for Shadow, snarling and spitting.

In an instant, he sprang away from Stoneteller and fled, fur raised on his back. The cats stopped chasing him and instead attacked his battalion and the remaining cats fighting on the ground.

"Ha! Nothing but a coward!" Golden Hawk yowled. She leaped down from the rise and joined in the fighting.

Suddenly a weight hit Stormpaw in the back. "I'll finish you!" He stumbled, caught by surprise, and was shoved to the ground.

A ginger face contorted in rage glared into his eyes. The she-cat unsheathed her claws and raised one paw, about to strike. Stormpaw braced himself for the death blow.

"Don't hurt him!" A flying ball of tortoiseshell fur barreled into the she-cat slicing her claws down her flank as blood spurted out of the wound.

"Rainpaw!"

The ginger she-cat cried out in pain and tore herself from Rainpaw's claws, and fled the fight, wailing.

"That was payback for you saving me as a kit." She meowed.

"Where have you been?!"

Rainpaw bounded over to Stormpaw. "No time to explain. Let's go get Shadow. I saw Golden Hawk, Willow, Shauna and Song chasing him a few moment ago. We can still catch up."

As she spoke, Stormpaw saw the named cats disappear into the bushes directly behind Rainpaw. "Over there!"

They began to give chase, racing side by side until the were deep into the undergrowth.

"Where'd they go?"

A pained yowl sounded up ahead.

"There!"

They rushed past the trees until they started to grow thinner, and the dirt under paw changed to rock.

They burst through the bushes, but abruptly stopped, barely avoiding the edge of a cliff.

Four angry cats nearby had Shadow cornered as he scrabbled on the cliff. Rainpaw and Stormpaw joined them, blocking any exit.

Song stepped forward. "You lied to me. You told me you didn't harm my family when you slaughtered them. You even told me you loved me, when you were just using me! How could you?!"

Shadow shrugged. "I needed you to trust me so I could get more territory."

"You're despicable."

Willow and Shauna replaced her. Shauna said nothing, but spat at his paws. Willow did the same. "Song's right," she muttered.

Finally Golden Hawk stepped forward. "You lied to me. You killed my parents. You kill, deceive and destroy. You're no leader. You're a tyrant."

"That's what they tell me, my dear."

Without warning, Shadow leaped at Golden Hawk. Rainpaw tried to spring to her defense, but Willow blocked her. "This is her fight."

Golden Hawk slid underneath Shadow as he was in the air. He landed gracefully on his paws, and sprang at her again. Golden Hawk snarled and ducked, catching his hind legs with her paw. "Don't forget you trained me! I know all your moves."

"I bet you don't know this one."

Shadow dived for her paws but pulled back at the last second, letting her spring in the air before he leaped and knocked her with a strong bat of his unsheathed paw.

She fell to the ground with an agonizing thump.

Rainpaw's breath caught in her throat.

Shadow sneered and padded away from the she-cat's body. "Who's next?"

Before he could move, a voice growled from behind him, "You."

Golden Hawk grasped his scruff and unsheathed her claws, ripping them down his sides in and into his unprotected stomach. Shadow howled and struggled in her grasp, but she dug her claws in deeper and flung him to the edge of the cliff.

Shadow was blood-soaked. He didn't move as Golden Hawk stalked towards him, claws unsheathed. She raised a paw, ready to give the death blow.

"Perhaps I was wrong," Shadow rasped. "Perhaps you have the making of a great leader."

Golden Hawk narrowed her eyes in fury and struck.

The death blow never came.

She dug her claws into the ground. "Not one like you." With a whisk of her tail, she padded away towards the group of cats that awaited her.

Shadow struggled to his paws. "I'll find you. Keep your eyes open, because I'm coming for you. And this time you will die."

Rainpaw suddenly felt the fur raise on her neck. She looked up at the dark clouds, peering through the rain, and saw the sky begin to light up.

"Golden Hawk, look out!"

She raced forwards and grabbed Golden Hawk's scruff, dragging her away from the ledge.

Suddenly a huge bolt of lightning struck down just fox-lengths away from where they had been.

Rainpaw's ears were filled with a large crackling, and she slipped, frozen as the huge noise continued. Finally it faded away to a small rumbling, but a new noise replaced it.

"Help!" Shadow yowled. He clung to the cliff edge with a single paw, and he was slipping.

They raced forward just as he let go. With a howl, he plunged into a deep chasm and was enveloped in darkness.

"He's... dead..." Song whispered.

Rainpaw was shocked. "Is it over?"

"His reign of terror is, yes," Golden Hawk shook her head. "Shadow will never harm another cat again."

They had raced back to the battle only to find almost all of the intruders gone. A remaining ten were surrounded by the Tribe, Clans, and group that had come to help.

As soon as Golden Hawk announced that Shadow was dead, the remainder surrendered to Stoneteller. She had managed to pull through, and made them promise never to attack the Tribe again before she let them go.

Now that all the intruders were gone, Rainpaw took in the full scene.

Several of the Tribe cats were dead, along with many of the Clan cats. Of the sixteen cats that made the journey, twelve remained.

Stormpaw stopped beside Rainpaw. She winced as he saw what she was staring at. "How many...?"

"Four from us, seven from the Tribe."

He didn't reply, but let out a wail of anguish and sprinted towards a blood-soaked mound of black-and-white fur. "Father!"

Rushingwind, along with Skycloud, Pigeonfeather and Dustbreeze has died during the battle.

Rainpaw lowered her head as grief swamped her. She felt a comforting pelt press against her side. "Thrushpaw."

He licked over her ear. "Let's go find mother."

They found her in the cave, frantically calling their names. "Flowerstem!"

She rushed into them, licking the tops of their heads. "I was so worried! Where have you been?!"

She didn't give them a chance to reply and she continued to lick the dust and blood from their fur, a relieved purr rising in her throat.

This is it, thought Rainpaw. We're going home.

And there you have it! Part One is complete! Longest chapter yet, guys! 7,353 words! Yeesh! I should upload soon... Start checking in two-four days for chapter 27! :)

(Unedited)