Chapter Thirty-One

Shadowheart sat at the edge of the hollow pit, watching the newest warriors spar for the upcoming battle. Mousepaw, Batpaw, and Volepaw—now Mouseleap, Batwing, and Voletail—were in the middle of a sparring match, while the apprentices, Dapplepaw and Bluepaw, watched. Shadowheart was ordered to oversee their training for the day with Silverleaf, while their mentors went on last minute hunting patrols.

Several days had passed since the Clans agreed on uniting to fight against Hawk. Shadowheart couldn't help shake the anxiety he felt for the upcoming battle. This would be the final end to the rogues, and he wasn't sure if was really ready to face them. I used to consider them kin, he reminded himself. To think I would turn against them now, I just don't know how to feel about it.

"Are you nervous?" Silverleaf asked, glancing sideways at Shadowheart.

Shadowheart sighed. "I would be lying if I said I wasn't."

"I always admired you, you know," he murmured. "When you were my dad's apprentice, I looked up to you. I was so happy when I was your apprentice for the rest of my apprenticeship."

Touched, Shadowheart looked at him. Silverleaf had been his apprentice for only a short time, but Shadowheart felt pride in seeing the young tom become a valued warrior of LeafClan. Looking up at the sky, he thought of Sagepelt.

"You were a good apprentice," Shadowheart told him. "I was honored to mentor you, especially since you were Sagepelt's son. He would be proud of you if he were still here."

Silverleaf looked ahead. "He would be proud of you too. He really cared a lot about you. You were his first and only apprentice, you know."

"He was a great mentor," Shadowheart purred. "I remember when I first came back from the rogues, how easily he accepted me. I owe him a lot to what sort of warrior I am today."

Eyes sparkling mischeviously, Silverleaf nudged Shadowheart. "Too bad he didn't teach you how to handle Firelight."

Pelt growing hot, Shadowheart shifted his paws uncomfortably. "T-That's not fair you know."

Silverleaf laughed and stood up, curling his tail in amusement. "Ah, but since when did warriors really play fair?"

Growling playfully, Shadowheart swiped his paws him. "Oh get out of here, you cheeky kit!"

Laughing, Silverleaf leaped down into the hollow pit. Shadowheart watched him with a huff. The more I talk to him, the more he reminds me of Sagepelt! Feeling a breeze gently blow by, he stood and followed his former apprentice. Batwing had her brother, Voletail, pinned under her as she yowled triumphantly.

"And that, you two, is how you don't underestimate your opponents!" she called to Bluepaw and Dapplepaw, who were watching with wide eyes.

Voletail growled. "Alright enough! Get off of me already, you lump!"

Purring, Batwing let him up. Mouseleap padded over to his Dapplepaw and Bluepaw, dipping his head to them. "We can show you two a couple of those moves if you want."

"No," Shadowheart chimed in quickly as he approached. "Those are a bit too advanced for them right now. Why don't you show them some basic maneuvers?"

Dapplepaw tipped her head to one side. "Don't you think we should learn the advanced moves instead?"

"Yeah! What if Foxstar chooses us to join in the battle?" added Bluepaw.

Silverleaf flicked his tail across Bluepaw's head. "Don't be ridiculous! Foxstar would never send apprentices into such a dangerous battle. Besides, Shadowheart is a good warrior. You should listen to him."

Grumbling, Bluepaw looked down at her paws. Shadowheart gave a sympathetic purr. "Don't be discouraged," he assured her. "You'll have an important job of guarding camp while warriors are away."

Batwing swiped at the air. "I can't wait to shred those fox-hearts! No one messes with the Clans!"

"Do you think we'll even be chosen to battle?" Voletail muttered to her. "We're new warriors after all."

"Chosen to battle or not," Silverleaf mewed pointedly to them. "Either is just as important. The safety of our elders, queens, and kits are our top priority."

Dapplepaw crouched down, wiggling her hindquarters as she practiced a pounce. "I'm ready to practice some new moves! If we can't be in the battle, I want to protect the kits!"

Shadowheart purred. "That's the spirit," he motioned for the two apprentices to follow them to a corner of the hollow pit. "Since Silverleaf and I will be your mentors today, I want you to show us what you can do already. Come at me, Bluepaw."

Eagerly the blue-gray apprentice charged at him. Shadowheart braced himself as she leaped, and quickly ducked, causing her to fly overhead of him. She landed on her paws and turned to charge again, but this time Shadowheart used his fore paws to swipe her paws out from under her. Crashing in a heap, the apprentice gave a loud grunt.

"Mouse-dung!" she spat.

Shadowheart nosed her to her paws. "Honestly, didn't Lynxfang teach not to charge in recklessly?"

"Yeah, but I thought-" she began defensively.

"That's where you messed up," Silverleaf interjected quickly. "While it's good to think for yourself in situations, you also need to remember your training. Lynxfang is a capable warrior, so I know she taught you better than that. This time, I want you to come at me; but as you were trained!"

Growling, Bluepaw turned on Silverleaf. She narrowed her eyes at him as he sat a few tail-lengths away, his calm green gaze giving nothing away. Seeming to study him closely this time, instead of just charging in, Bluepaw began her attack. This time she veered to the left, instead of dead center, and began to swipe her paws at him. Silverleaf leaped to the side, using his weight to shove her off balance. Bluepaw was fast however, and rolled away quickly. With a powerful leap, she sprung onto Silverleaf's back, clinging on as the tabby warrior tried to shake her off. Silverleaf then rolled to his side, trying to squish the apprentice under his weight. Bluepaw let go quickly, using this to her advantage. Pouncing onto his exposed belly, she began to land hard blows. Kicking her off, Silverleaf broke away from the apprentice and the two faced each other, panting.

"How was that?" Bluepaw asked, her eyes gleaming.

Silverleaf raised his head approvingly. "I expect no less of Ivyfrost and Snowfoot's kit. Good job!"

Pleased, Bluepaw stuck her chin up proudly. As Dapplepaw weaved around her sister, purring her congratulations, movement at the edge of the hollow pit caught Shadowheart's eye. Rainfall dipped his head in greeting, waving his tail.

"Foxstar is calling a Clan meeting," he informed them, his eyes shining with excitement. "I think she's choosing which cats to join the battle patrol."

Batwing ran and leaped up next to him. "Finally! Let's go!"

Purring, Rainfall butted his daughter's shoulder with his head. "Don't be so impatient."

Like he's one to talk about impatience! Shadowheart bit back a purr. Silverleaf's eyes shone with amusement, and Shadowheart knew the tom had the same thoughts. Quickly, they following Rainfall back to camp. Already, the Clan was gathered around the Highoak, staring intently up at their leader. Shadowheart found a seat next to Firelight, and Larkflight, exchanging a glance with his friend. This is it, he realized. The final battle.

Foxstar was standing tall, her amber eyes burning like fire. "I have thought hard about which warriors to include in the battle with Hawk, and I have come to my decision," she announced, waving her tail. "The cats that will be in the battle patrol are as follows; Lionclaw, Rainfall, Shadowheart, Snowfoot, Tigerfrost, Silverleaf, Larkflight, and Dawnrise. The rest of you will have the job of protecting the camp in case Hawk tries to use this to his advantage."

Firelight tensed beside Shadowheart, her eyes burning with indignation. She looked down angrily, digging her claws into the dirt. She must be dying to fight the rogues, Shadowheart thought, laying his tail across her back. She didn't look up, just closing her eyes. The Clan disbanded, Foxstar heading back to the nursery with her kits. Shadowheart twitched an ear. Would Foxstar be taking part in the battle now that she had kits? Or did she intend to battle, and that was why she left Alderleaf out of the patrol?

"Shadowheart," Firelight muttered quietly. "I won't be there to keep an eye on you during this battle. So, don't you dare die on me!"

Meeting her fiery gaze, Shadowheart gently touched his nose to her ear. "I won't die just yet," he promised. "I'll come back to this Clan, and Hawk will be gone."

"You better!" she threatened, her eyes dark with worry. "I better not have to sit at your vigil!"

Shadowheart purred. "It's not like you to worry so much."

Flattening her ears, Firelight looked away. "Oh shut up, you stupid furball."

I swear I'll come back home, he got to his paws, staring at his friend. I'll bring peace to the Clans at last. Gently pushing past Firelight, Shadowheart headed toward the nursery. Poking his head in, he saw Minkkit and Daykit soundly sleeping against Sandpool's belly. His brother's mate looked up at him, her eyes filled with anxiety. Wrapping her tail around her kits tightly, she dipped her head to him. That's right, he thought, gazing at them. I have to come back. No matter what.

Leaving the nursery, he headed towards the medicine cat den. Peering in, he saw Pinefrost busily going through her herb stores. Ravenfeather was tending to Timberfall nearby, making him swallow some herbs. Lifting her head up from Timberfall, Ravenfeather tilted her head.

"Oh, Shadowheart," she walked over to him. "What's up? Do you need something?"

Shadowheart nodded. "I wanted to talk to Pinefrost, actually."

Pinefrost turned her gaze on him. "What did you need?"

"I wanted to talk to you outside. There's something I needed to discuss with you," he explained.

Following Shadowheart outside, he led her to the edge of camp. The two sat in silence for a few moments, before Pinefrost took a deep breath.

"This is about the battle, isn't it?" she asked.

Shadowheart nodded. "Yeah. You still have kin back in the gorge, so I was worried about how this was affecting you."

Pinefrost looked down at her paws. "It's been hard, if I'm honest. I don't want a battle, and I worry about Leaf and the path he's chosen to take. I worry even more so for my parents. I know cats will die, and that scares me more than anything. I may have been born a rogue, but I'm also LeafClan's medicine cat now. Can I really afford to have any divided loyalties? StarClan only knows."

"Cinder and Lily are still back in the gorge too," Shadowheart agreed. "I didn't want to fight Cinder, and StarClan knows I tried my hardest to make her see sense. And then there's Lily, who was my mother for so long. She's not the type of cat to fight, so what will happen when we invade their camp? Lily is the only mother I have now, I don't what I'd do if she was killed during all of this."

"We can only hope our loved ones stay safe," she murmured. "We can't change the paths they've chosen, as much as I wish we could. Shadowheart, whatever you do, make sure Hawk is taken care of. I might be a medicine cat now, but I was raised a rogue at heart. I want nothing more than for him to pay for what he has done. Don't let him continue to be a dark presence over the Clans."

Unsheathing his claws, Shadowheart dug them into the ground. "I won't. I have already sworn to myself that I'd take Hawk down. The Clans will be free once again."