Sorry I haven't updated for a while... AGAIN. But I'll try to more! I promise!

Answers to reviews:

hollyleaf is cool: Okay, thanks! And yes, that does help.

dalmationblack: Read the last and this chappie: I loved your idea!

Amberflame805: xD, yeah me too. I'll try to update more.

WyldClaw: I haven't gotten to that part yet, but I'm open to ideas. Because I don't really know.

KitTea: *sighs* I completely forgot Jayfeather was blind...oops...but thanks for all of your constructive criticism!

Silverdapple: Thank you! And yes, I read The Beginning. Check your reviews!

Featherwingluv: Thank you again!

IslaTheFairyOfIce: (look above) I'm glad you like it.

NOW TO THE STORY:

Dropping her catches on the fresh-kill pile, Ivypool started to groom her pelt, smoothing out the wisps, when Squirrelflight padded up to her again.

"Patrol time," she mewed.

Ivypool groaned but got to her paws. "Didn't we just go out?" She protested.

Squirrelflight twitched her whiskers. "Just come on," she replied, pretending to be exasperated.

Following the deputy to where the patrol was waiting, she spotted a large group of cats waiting for her: Cloudtail, Millie, Dovewing, and Thornclaw with Seedpaw. Ivypool turned to Squirrelflight. "You want one patrol with six cats?" She asked.

The deputy sighed. "These things happening," she replied, meaning Redwillow's attacks, "have forced us to… take measures." She meowed in a brittle tone, and then turned away.

Cloudtail led the way through the barrier out into the forest. When the large patrol reached the WindClan border, he ordered the cats to spread out and renew the scent markings. Ivypool went with her sister to the far side of the border away from camp.

Suddenly Dovewing froze. Remembering her special hearing powers, Ivypool gently asked, "What is it?"

Dovewing narrowed her eyes. "WindClan… it's a patrol… Redwillow!" She stood up quickly. "Redwillow is attacking a WindClan patrol in their territory, far from camp."

Nodding quickly in understanding, she leaped ahead of her sister and raced toward where the patrol was at. "Come on!" She called.

Thornclaw, Millie, and Seedpaw were together. "Redwillow is attacking a WindClan patrol!" She warned them quickly. "We have to help!"

"Seedpaw," Thornclaw ordered, "find Cloudtail. Now!"

The small apprentice nodded and dashed away to find the white warrior. Thornclaw turned to Dovewing. "Lead the way," he meowed grimly.

Deep into WindClan territory but far from their camp, the four cats stumbled upon the battle. All seven of the returned Dark Forest cats were battling the small patrol of three WindClan cats, with one bloodied body already thrown aside. Only the faint rise and fall of his flank showed that he was still breathing. The remaining two cats were fighting with all of their strength, but it was clear they'd be overrun any minute.

Ivypool streamed down to the battle with the other cats beside her, leaping on the cats with outstretched claws. She singled out Snowtuft and leaped on his back, sinking her claws deep in his shoulders. The tom snarled and heaved back, throwing her off and against a rock, where she got up with her head spinning.

As Snowtuft lunged, Ivypool used her paws to trip the cat and she twisted through the air to land behind him. Quick as a mouse, she jumped on top of him and pinned him down. Snowtuft let his muscles relax in a sign of defeat.

Letting out a triumphant yowl, Ivypool relaxed her claws, waiting for him to disappear, but Snowtuft wriggled out from under her and slashed thorn-sharp claws down her muzzle.

Pain went through her head as she stepped back, shocked. Angry now, the silver warrior lunged at Snowtuft and bit down hard on his foreleg. As Snowtuft hesitated, Ivypool raked her claws down the powerful warrior's flank and he howled, racing away but soon melting into shadow.

When Ivypool looked back up, she realized Cloudtail had joined them and was fighting a particularly large warrior, Thornheart. Deciding that the warrior needed no help as he backed Thornheart against a boulder, she spotted Dovewing clawing Eaglepelt.

Sneaking up again behind him, she jabbed for his legs and Eaglepelt collapsed, with Dovewing on top of him. The two cats rolled over in a tussle with fur flying everywhere until Ivypool bit hard on Eaglepelt's paw and the warrior let go.

"Thanks," panted Dovewing.

Ivypool just nodded. The sisters looked around and realized that all of the Dark Forest cats fled, except for one. Cloudtail looked over Thornheart's body, looking shocked. The pale cat sputtered, but his wounds were too deep and eventually he stopped breathing.

Shimmering in and out, eventually the dead warrior disappeared like his allies. Cloudtail still stared at the spot where the Thornheart had vanished, looking up only when Harespring let out an agonized yowl.

The two WindClan cats, Harespring and Sunstrike, were huddled around the Tornear's limp body, without making room for any of the ThunderClan.

Finally Sunstrike looked up at the ThunderClan cats that had helped them, and meowed hollowly, "Thank you for helping us."

Cloudtail nodded. "These cats are an enemy to us all," he meowed gravely.

Signaling to his patrol, the six cats nodded as they headed back to their own territory, leaving the WindClan cats to grieve in peace.