"An eye for an eye will only make the whole world blind."
― Mahatma Gandhi

"JIOVEPAW!"

Weaselberry cried and wrapped herself around Jiovepaw.

"So that's your mother?" Wasppaw asked. "She's seems more doting on her than you."

"You could say that." I muttered. "I must go, it's important."

"Just remember." Hailpaw gave a serious face, then broke into laughter. "I'M SORRY, HOGPAW, I CAN'T DO IT!"

A dark brown tom rolls his eyes.

I wasn't quite in the mood for jokes so I followed my Clan back to Camp.

Darkpuddle still danced around in my mind time to time as me and my friends were walking back in silence.

We made it back to camp and Weaselberry dragged Jiovepaw into Morningpool's den.

My eyes flew to where Darkpuddle and Duskbright were, her giggling and him smiling eagerly.

I hate Duskbright so much, I mean WHY did Splotchstar have to pressure her to have kits?!

I spotted Pebblebird, her eyes dark and hurt watching her mother with Honeypaw.

"All cats of RiverClan, come before me!" Splotchstar yowled.

Many cats were eager to do so, as we would finally know what we were going to do about Shallowstar's threat.

"I've decided what we are going to do, we will fight, but not with ShadowClan." Splotchstar dramatically paused. "With ThunderClan."

Many cats yowled in shock and rage.

"ThunderClan hasn't done anything!" Heroneyes growled.

"We're going to die fighting a Clan that never threatened us!" Haytuft snarled.

"SHUT UP, HAYTUFT!" Splotchstar roared. "ShadowClan is no threat, but ThunderClan is. They are by far the biggest Clan, and the fact their Queen Blossomheart had five kits doesn't exactly make our situation any better."

"You should think of this." Amberfern hissed. "We could be fighting the wrong Clan."

"That's why I didn't pick you as deputy when Minnowbriar died." Spotchstar snarled. "Besides the fact you were expecting half-Clan kits!"

"We're not half-Clan!" Volepaw hissed.

"Than prove your loyalty or I'll think a ThunderClan tom fathered you two scraps myself." Splotchstar growled. "The next sunfall, when ThunderClan is asleep, we will sent a full force of warriors and apprentices to fight! And one more thing."

The Clan listened intently.

"It may be against the code, but I'm ordering you to Kill." Splotchstar lashed her tail. "They almost have twice the warriors we do. If possible, go for the kits. Especially Blossomheart's."

The warriors didn't dare protest, they kept silent.

"Clovertalon, Antpad, Applefrost." Splotchstar meowed. "You will be teaching your apprentices all they'll need to know on fighting after they wake up next sunrise. They will take small breaks in between till RiverClan is ready to fight."

"Yes, Splotchstar." the three warriors said in unison.

"The list of cats I'll be taking to the fight will be announced next sunrise." Splotchstar said. "You are all dismissed."

"We're going to be fighting!" Brownpaw gasped, but not in delight. "And killing kits!"

"What can we do about it?" I sighed. "The leader's word is law."

"Some of them are probably the same age as Spiderkit!" Brownpaw whimpered.

I ignored my brother, I didn't want him to repeat exactly what I was fearing.

I retreated to the Apprentice's den and fell asleep.

"REDPAW!"

Antpad, I figured. Of course.

I woke up and saw I was the only apprentice in the den, not even knocked out Jiovepaw was still in there.

"Battle training with your siblings and every other apprentice." Antpad announced. "Yep, all of them. Let's go."

"What about dawn patrols?" I grumbled as I got up on all four paws.

"Splotchstar sent the four punished she-cats hunting and border patrolling all around the RiverClan borders till they have five pieces of fresh-kill each and then clean out the apprentice's den." Antpad explained.

I almost felt bad for them, but smirked knowing Duskbright was not trying to get on top of Darkpuddle at the moment.

I trotted to Antpad's side and we headed toward the clearing near the warrior's den to practice.

"Apprentices!"

All eight of us apprentices looked straight at Mothleap and the seven other mentors.

"We won't be praticing water moves." Mothleap explained. "Mostly because we will be fighting in the forest, which will prove to be a challenge."

"We as mentors decided you will be practicing outside camp where there are many trees." Sweetcloud announced.

"Willowpaw, Honeypaw, Fuzzypaw." Brambleblaze meowed. "If we win this battle, and if your fighting skills are satisfactory, Splotchstar will make you warriors."

All three siblings smirked and unsheathed their claws.

"You will keep your claws sheathed during the battle training." Aspendrop hissed. "Let's go."

The sixteen of us left camp and entered the area Antpad explained.

"Willowpaw, Honeypaw, and Fuzzypaw." Aspendrop said. "You will be RiverClan, Willowpaw will be leader."

"Yes!" Willowpaw purred.

"The rest of you: Flypaw, Volepaw, Jiovepaw, Redpaw, and Brownpaw." Applefrost explained. "-will be ThunderClan. Volepaw will be leader, and Redpaw, you will be a Queen defending your five kits. Jiovepaw is in charge of protecting you."

Oh great.

"And what will my kits be?" I sneered. "Rocks?"

"These five big leaves I collected." Sweetcloud replied. "-should each stay in one piece."

"How do we know who wins?" Honeypaw asked.

"If your group destroys all the leaves, you win." Aspendrop explained, then looked at our group. "If you guys make it to the huge lake with the leaves all in one piece, you win. And yes, teeth marks means they're still in one piece."

"Go!" Applefrost growled. All eight of us scattered into our groups and Willowpaw and her siblings chose the other side of the stream as their side while we ran into the trees with the five "kits"

"Flypaw! Brownpaw!" Volepaw ordered. "Watch the stream. Jiovepaw, you protect Redpaw and the leaves!"

Jiovepaw glared at her and all five of us placed the leaves beside me before Flypaw and Brownpaw ran to the stream.

I wrapped my tail around the leaves and glared back at Jiovepaw. I knew if I looked back for a second she would tear up the leaves and make us lose.

And I would have none of it.