Barkkit stood at the camp entrance, the sunset washing against his brown pelt. He thought to himself. " One day I'll rule the forest, and I will be so strong no badger or dog will defy me I will rule as Barkstar!, king of the forest!" But He knew that day wasn't coming anytime soon though, Dew flower was calling him in for bed. He padded over;

" Why do I always have to go to bed so soon?"

". Dewflower sighed; " Because I said so, and what I say is final;"

" Because I say so and what I say is final" Barkkit mocked.

" Then why does Acorn kit get to stay up so late?". Barkkit said frustrated."

"Because he's older and can stay up later." Dew flower exclaimed exasperated.

Acorn kit padded over, looking very smug " You fox brain, mom is right, I'm older so I get to stay up later!."

Barkkit got the Idea, "ok, ok I'll go to sleep, but only if you let me play by the camp gate again!."

" Fine, tomorrow you can play by the camp gate, now go to sleep, I'm tired!". Dewflower could no longer keep her legs upright and she fell to the ground exhausted. She thought " I didn't know to have kits would be this hard!"

The next morning was very uneventful warriors doing patrols, as usual, apprentices training in the grove. Everything was fine until Darkpaw came back to camp with a badly wounded Shrewleaf.

" What's wrong," Wrenstar said in a concerned voice

" I...It.. it Snakepath is dead!" is all Darkpaw managed to spit out before passing out.

Barkkit could hear worried murmurs across the camp, he was starting to worry himself. Shrewleaf was one of the Fallenclan's best warriors, no cat could beat him. But what about Snakepath, was he really dead?

" We must find Snakepath's body if he is indeed dead!" Wrenstar shouted to the clan with uncertainty. " Dewflower, Rockslash, go and search the area for Snakepath's body!"

Dewflower sighed knowing that there was something out there that killed there second-best warrior she wasn't sure if she was going to come back alive from this search.

" Alright I'm off kits, behave for Rainmist while I'm gone, ok?

" We will!" Both Acornkit and Barkkit said in unison. As their mother padded off, Barkit had the strange feeling he'd never see her again.

"Hey Acornkit, I don't feel so well so I'm heading off to bed" He knew if he went to sleep he'd feel better.

" Fox dung! We were in the middle of a game, And I was winning!"

" Whatever, we can play tomorrow," Barkkit said with annoyance.

Five sun highs later

Barkkit was very worried, why hadn't Dewflower and Rockslash come back yet? He knew Wrenstar was worried too, Barkit could see it in his eye's. The whole camp was in disarray. Half of our warriors were missing or injured and The gathering was happening soon.

" Acornkit I'm worried what if Dewflower and Rockslash don't come back."

" That's why I'm older because I'm not as worried as you!"

" That's not the point our mother hasn't come back you dummy!"

"Don't call me a dummy fox heart!"

Then they played till it was time for bed.

Everything seemed fine for just that little while.

Another five sun highs later

Wrenstar climbed on the high branch, an expression of dread on his face.

" All cats able to climb trees come under the high branch for a clan meeting!"

Barkkit thought he knew what this was going to be about.

" As you know Dewflower, Rockslash, and Snakepath have been missing for ten moons now."

Barkkit was smart enough to know what Wrenstar was about to say, but he didn't want to hear it.

" I'm pronouncing them dead as of today we will sit vigil for them tomorrow."

It took a while for Wrenstars words to sink in. But when they did Barkkit was furious

" Dewflower is not dead! Send more warriors you can't just give up on her… you can't just leave her to die."

" My word is final no defiance." Wrenstar said with a glare

"Well I'm not giving up on her, even if the rest of the clan does!"

" Barkkit just deal with it… she's dead." Acornkit said with sadness

" Don't talk to me mouse brain! You don't know what you're saying!" Barkkit said with blind rage. He pushed Acornkit to the ground and stormed out of camp.

" Wait come back!" Acornkit shouted

" I don't care what happens to me I'll save everybody and kill whatever hurt my clan mates."