A/N: I just re-wrote all my notes (Or, well, almost all, I'm working on the third book's notes, so meh) so this fic will be on my brain for a little while longer. Sorry everyone~! ^-^

Chapter Ten

Sparrowpaw had wondered when WoodClan would make a move on MeadowClan Territory, as they always did the closer to New-Leaf it got. The time of New-Leaf marked the return of the Twolegs, and with them brought an abundance of dogs and abandoned cats, and traps to try and capture any cats unlucky enough to find their bland rabbit-dropping Kittypet food appetizing. With New-Leaf brought dangers beyond the cold and hungry times of No-Leaf, and all the Clans were eager for as much protection as possible. So, Sparrowpaw had expected an attempt to take land soon, as the snow had finally stopped falling and the sun had started shining more often.

She just hadn't expected such a large force to move in to take said territory, nor that the closest Patrol to respond would only be herself, her brother, Stonefang, and Windclaw.

"WoodClan, attack!" a cat had yowled, and out of the dense shrug that the MeadowClan cats had been passing, no less then seven WoodClan cats had lunged, yowling as they leaped towards the startled MeadowClan cats.

Immediately, Sparrowpaw found herself bowled over with a high yowl, by a large white tom she vaguely recognized as Snowheart. Thrashing, Sparrowpaw desperately tried to escape the large cat's grip on her neck, his weight pinning her on her side as she fought, blood beginning to dampen her throat as he held onto her firmly.

"Sparrowpaw!" Sunpaw cried, and the tabby queen had time to watch her brother wrench himself from the grip of a WoodClan Apprentice to lunge over and sink his teeth into Snowheart's ear, ripping it badly and making the larger Warrior yowl in pain and loosen his grip. Sparrowpaw took her chance, twisting herself onto her back and striking at the toms face, making him pull away as her claws scored a shallow scratch down his cheek. Throwing herself out from under him, the Apprentice tried to get out of easy striking range, but found herself cut off by a calico Apprentice with a brown head and orange muzzle. The two young queens snarled at one another, Sparrowpaw's gray eyes clashing with the WoodClan cat's blue, and the two lunged at one another, teeth and claws seeking purchase as the two of them struggled.

A sharp, pained screech distracted the two Apprentices, and Sparrowpaw looked towards it in time to witness a WoodClan Warrior, a black and white tom with massive paws and large ears, tear open Sunpaw's throat.

Sparrowpaw felt something in her chest go numb, her ears pinning back with horror as her brother tried to escape, his blue eyes wide and blank with terror as he looked to her for help. Sparrowpaw didn't remember moving. She was suddenly airborne with a screech so high and loud it hurt her own ears, landing on the WoodClan cat with rage as she tore into him, making him yowl in pain and surprise as he tried to buck her off, writhing as Sparrow tore one of his large ears and carved deep scratches into his forehead. With a sudden roll, she was knocked off the tom, who lunged back to the safety of the WoodClan territory, but Sparrowpaw didn't care, quickly moving to hover protectively over her brother, who was mewling weakly in pain.

A yowl announced the arrival of MeadowClan reinforcements, just as WhisperStar himself, as well as Foxtail, Nightfur, Grassrunner, and Palestripe appeared out of the snowy-covered grass, leaping into the fray with ruthlessness.

Sparrowpaw didn't move from her spot over her brother, lashing out at any WoodClan cat that got too near, snarling and hissing, her mind blank of anything but the panic that had been there since her brother had been injured. She barely registered Windclaw killing the Apprentice she had fought earlier, making Snowheart screech in rage and strike out furiously at Stonefang, blinding the massive gray tabby in his fury and grief, before Nightfur was yowling and barreling him over, chasing him back into the WoodClan territory.

Sparrowpaw barely noticed when Foxtail killed a WoodClan Warrior, who had spent most of the battle wheezing hoarsely, his pale brown tabby fur clinging to his gaunt frame as he struggled to get away from the MeadowClan Deputy, only to fall to her sharp teeth and claws.

"WoodClan cats, retreat!" a large, shaggy brown tabby tom caterwauled, a nasty scratch covering his muzzle with blood. Immediately, the intruding cats tore themselves away from their fights as best they could, tearing off into the safety of their trees, chased to the edge of the boundary by Nightfur and Foxtail, who yowled after them threateningly.

"Are there any of us badly wounded?" WhisperStar demanded; Sparrowpaw let out a low sound, nudging her brother and getting the Leader's attention. Sunpaw's breathing was shallow and wet, his eyes half-lidded and his mouth bloody as he struggled. WhisperStar stepped over and gently nudged the yellow tom's head, his yellow eyes grim as he examined the injury. Slowly, he lifted his head, met Sparrowpaw's desperate grey eyes, and slowly shook his head.

Sparrowpaw felt her stomach drop, and the yowl that escaped her was harsh and pained and hurt, making her Clanmates flinch slightly, ears pinning back as she collapsed next to her brother's side, curling against him tightly and hiding her face against his side. WhisperStar sat at Sunpaw's head, bowing it over the Apprentice and pressing his nose to the young tom's bloodied head.

"I ask my Warrior Ancestors to look down at this Apprentice," the Leader began solemnly, and Sparrowpaw's ears pinned back tightly against her head as the Dying Apprentice Ceremony began, a wounded sound escaping her throat as her brother's breathing became slowly more labored and slow. "He has learned and lived the Warrior Code, and has given up his very life to uphold them in the service of his Clan. Let StarClan receive him as a Warrior, one who embodies the virtues of bravery, honesty, and loyalty. He shall be known as Sunflare." In solemn response, the MeadowClan cats surrounding them lifted their heads, and sent up their approval in yowls and cries, carving the newly-made Warriors name into their hearts, and sending it clearly to StarClan.

Sparrowpaw did not join them, instead she shuddered, and slowly lifted her face to rest her head on her brother's shoulder, grief tightening her throat as she whispered softly into his ear as he breathing worsened. He was not long for their world, now.

"Sunflare," she whispered to him hoarsely, closing her eyes in pain as the ear twitched weakly towards him. "A Warrior StarClan can be proud of. A Warrior I am proud of." Sunflare shuddered weakly, and, not even a full breath later, he fell still, his final breath shuddering out of him in a slow sigh. Sparrowpaw stilled, before she hid her face once more against his side, shuddering weakly with a hurt noise.

After a few minutes, WhisperStar gently nudged her away, so that Sunflare could be carried back to the Clan to be honored properly. Stonefang was leaning heavily on Windclaw and Foxtail, while Grassrunner and Nightfur finished pulling the WoodClan dead to the border so that their Clanmates could honor them as well.

"Come, Apprentice," Palestripe told Sparrowpaw quietly as he stepped to her side, letting her lean against him aimlessly, her gray eyes locked on her brother's corpse as WhisperStar gently lifted it to lie across his shoulders solemnly. "Let's get you back to Camp." Sparrowpaw could only nod, and allowed her mentor to silently lead her.

That night, as they held Vigil for Sunflare, Sparrowpaw would swear on everything she knew, that she saw him standing in the open area across from her, made of stars and smiling gently, before he had turned and disappeared, no doubt going back to StarClan.

Her heart felt lighter, her grief leaving with him, and she knew that he was safe with StarClan from that night onward.

A/N: Yep, I killed the brother. My bad?

Short, yes, oh well, enjoy!

Review!