Surrender- FrozenClanChallenge

Some cats don't know when to stop fighting, and simply retreat. Cats hungry for power, who crave bloodshed.

Cats like Tigerstar- though he was Tigerclaw when I was alive.

Before he killed me.

I am Redtail, the first victim of Tigerclaw. Bluestar's noble deputy, someday to be leader.

As you know, that was not the case.

I knew Lionheart would make a fantastic deputy for ThunderClan, and while I honestly had my doubts about Fireheart, I grew to admire him with a passion- daring, loyal, caring- the model warrior, deputy, and leader.

Let me take you back, and show you why sometimes we need to surrender- to live to fight another day.

I flicked my tail in a silent signal to attack.

We leaped out at the RiverClan cats from behind a boulder, and they reared up at us simultaneously.

I charged into battle with my Clan, calculating my moves, slashing, biting, dodging.

I saw Tigerclaw order Mousefur to run when she was wounded, and then noticed him again taking on Oakheart.

Most of the warriors were already exhausted, but when a second patrol of RiverClan cats joined the battle, they were disheartened as well.

Dismayed, I looked around at my Clanmates, who were bleeding and panting, every fiber in their body exhausted. Tigerclaw was still fighting, though, and fighting hard. I admired his strength and stamina.

But if the other warriors kept fighting, they would soon have no strength to fight with, and they would be cut down and left like trampled grass.

I yowled to him over the clamor of screeching and ripping fur, "Tigerclaw! This is useless! There are too many RiverClan warriors!"

The look in his eyes was one of pure rage and hatred as he replied in a hiss, "No, Redtail. ThunderClan will never be beaten!" Drops of blood welled on his muzzle and he flicked them off impatiently.

"ThunderClan will honor your courage, Tigerclaw, but we cannot afford to lose any more of our warriors. Bluestar would never expect her warriors to fight against these impossible odds. We will have another chance to avenge our defeat." I persuaded, meeting his unreadable amber-eyed glare and glaring back.

Once he looked away, I jumped on top of a boulder and cried, "Retreat, ThunderClan, retreat!"

My pelt spiked and I resisted the urge to snarl as the RiverClan cats yowled their victory to the stars. We live to fight another day, I vowed in my head.

I flicked my tail for the other cats to go ahead of me, and did not notice Tigerclaw in the shadows. No other cat did, either.

I started on my way back to camp, when suddenly a weight barreled into my side. The breath was knocked out of me, and a cat pinned me down. I was too stunned to recognize the scent, and it was too dark to see who it was, so I assumed it was RiverClan, trying to take more than they could ever deserve.

I snarled. "Get off me, you mangy fish-eating RiverClan piece of-!"

Suddenly, the moon came out form behind the cloud, and I stared, stunned, at the broad tabby face, amber eyes, and scarlet blood welling on the muzzle of the cat many thought to be the most loyal cat in ThunderClan.

"Tigerclaw?" I asked, my eyes wide. "What in StarClan's name are you doing?"

His only reply was a purr as he reared his paw, spiked with the longest claws in the Clans. The last thing my eyes saw were the terrified eyes of a skinny black apprentice.

And I surrendered to the darkness crashing over me.