Eek! Here it is: the climax! I have been anticipating this moment since I started the story, but never actually thought I would get there! But first:

WARNING: This chapter does contain a battle. Because of this I rate this chapter T.

Anyway, I felt like I needed to say that. The sequel might be rated T, but for now this is K+. I don't feel like any of my chapters are worth rating T unless they are ones like these ones.

Also, I enjoyed reading your ideas about who will die. It's interesting how some take it from the cats that are there, but lots think Foxstep will rush in to save Creamstep. Well, you'll have to read it and see. Most everyone thought Spruce and Rosethorn would die.

Fact:

Rainstorm blinked up at the leaders, curious. She glanced around, finding her sister Dappleleaf with Ashfall, their tails twined. A warm feeling hit Rainstorm. At last they were happy, and not even a cat like Rosethorn could ruin that. It was truly a miracle.

"Rainstorm!"

A cat's voice called her name. The grey feline flared her ears and got to her paws, searching for the source of the sound. Dappleleaf's head turned when she saw Rainstorm get up. She whispered something to Ashfall before standing and padding over to Rainstorm. "What's wrong?" she hissed, stepping out of the crowd.

"I heard my name," Rainstorm replied, frowning. "I don't know from where, though." She started for the edge of the clearing, away from the gathered cats. "I think maybe these bushes...?"

"Rainstorm! Dappleleaf!"

Rainstorm jumped at the sound. It was definitely from the bush. She ducked underneath, hearing Dappleleaf following her. She squeezed out into another small clearing. Turning around, she found Dappleleaf clawing her way out, breathing heard. "What's wrong?" she asked, eyes wide.

"Nothing..." Dappleleaf gasped, shaking her head. Relief was strewn across her face as she freed herself. "I just...Ever since we were kits, I can't be in closed spaces without getting all panicked. I don't know why."

"Well, you're okay now?" Rainstorm confirmed, a hint of worry lingering in her for her sister. With a quick nod from Dappleleaf, Rainstorm faced the open wilderness again. "Now, who was talking to us?"

"Me."

A cat slowly revealed himself. It was Spruce. "You?" Dappleleaf hissed with surprise. "You are working with Rosethorn. Why are you here? Have you lured us? Theirs a whole group of cats back there that could hear our cries for help!"

"I know, I know." Spruce sighed, shaking his head. "I realize now that she's a monster. I've come to help you, not her. However, she has Creamstep hostage. I can take you to her."

"Let. Her. Go." Dappleleaf's voice grew threateningly dark. Rainstorm glanced at her then back at Rosethorn, a shudder of fear running through her. She tried to stand tall, however, and not let her nerves show.

"Why would I do that?" Rosethorn snickered with a roll of her eyes. "Let her go? And let you all walk away with you happily ever afters? Whilst I am left out without a family or any cat who loves me? I don't think so."

"Killing her - killing us- it won't change that," Rainstorm spoke up, her eyes flickering from Rosethorn to Creamstep. The third sister had gone limp, and the only thing keeping Rainstorm sane was the fact that her sides heaved up and down to show that she was alive. "If we're dead, you still won't have your family. You still won't have Ashfall, or any cat who loves you! Not even Spruce!"

Spruce's eyes grew wide at the mention of his name. Rainstorm was trying to learn how to read cats, just like Sparrow. She wasn't any good, but she had shown improvement. She could now analyze Spruce. He constantly shifted his paws and glanced frantically at Creamstep to check if she was breathing. He wasn't a killer...so why was he helping Rosethorn?

Dappleleaf lifted her paw to take a careful step forward, but Rosethorn tightened her grip on Creamstep's throat. Dappleleaf immediately set her foot back down, stiffening with concern. "Spruce," she faced the tom. "Why? Why are you doing this? You know Rosethorn is a bad cat! You also know that we aren't! We love and care! You can help us chase Rosethorn away forever and clear your name!"

Spruce shook his head. "No...I promised. I won't break a promise. Once this is done and over with then I will live my life. I won't bother your clans, I swear." He gave a slight nod as though that was good enough.

Rainstorm felt another wave of panic rush over her. "Sparrow!" she blurted out.

"Sparrow?" Spruce's head shot up, curious. "What about him? Do you know what happened to him? He left the Kittypet Place without any notification or goodbye."

"Yeah, I know," Rainstorm gave a quick, reassuring nod. "He left. He came to be with me, in LeafClan. He loves me, Spruce. I love him. He's happy and we can have a family. We're in love. Don't you remember that feeling? Now Sparrow feels it."

Spruce turned away, but Rainstorm caught a glimpse of his face before. His eyes lit with hurt and pain. He had instantly went rigid as soon as she spoke about his brother and best friend. "Stop. Don't. Just...don't talk about him. Don't talk about Sparrow."

"Why? No matter what you will live with guilt if you kill me. You will be killing the one cat he loves. You will take that feeling of love away from him! Why would you do that to your own brother?" Rainstorm tried to reason with him. Clearly, Rosethorn was set out for blood. Not just Dappleleaf's, but all three of them.

Spruce shuffled his paws, worry flickering in his face. He meet a malice filled glare from Rosethorn. "He has me." The kittypet finally spoke up. "If you die...when you die, he'll have me to fall back on."

"But we all know that true love has the power to beat family ties. Maybe that's a bad or wrong thing, but it's the truth." Rainstorm frantically exchanged a look with Dappleleaf. "I almost killed my own sister for a cat that didn't even love me back!"

Dappleleaf piped up to contribute. "I left my sisters for Ashfall. I love him so much, and I love them too. But my life is with Ashfall. It hurt, and I missed them. So Sparrow may miss you, but even if Rainstorm dies he would stay in LeafClan to carry out her wishes!"

"Don't listen to this poison!" Rosethorn snapped at Spruce, who cringed away from her. "I think I've heard enough of this." Her green eyes landed on Dappleleaf. "You. I want you dead first."

Rainstorm whirled to face the white she-cat. "You have got to be joking, right? Who's going to kill her? Spruce can't do it alone."

"I don't expect him to," Rosethorn retorted with a small shake of her head. "But Dappleleaf won't fight, will you? You care too much for your sister. I will kill her if you don't die. Now."

Rainstorm started trembling. She gave Dappleleaf a shake of her head. Rosethorn must know that there isn't a way for her out of this alive. Even if she killed Creamstep, then it would be a fair fight. Dappleleaf and I fight well together, not to mention that Spruce is a barely trained kittypet!

"No," Rainstorm answered coldly. "You will die. You know you will, Rosethorn. You can try and cover up the facts, but they're still there. You can't get out of this alive, and that scares you. So even if the three of us lose our lives, so will you. You would do a lot to get Dappleleaf to lose her life, but not something that risks your own."

Rosethorn's eyes narrowed. "Wrong answer."

Then it all happened so quickly. Rosethorn flashed to Creamstep's side. Rainstorm let out a gasp and froze, horrified. Creamstep's blue eyes flew open just as Rosethorn landed on her, raking her claws across Creamstep's exposed throat. The light colored warrior let out a choking noise before Rosethorn bent down and snapped her neck, leaving the third sister completely motionless.

It was silent.

"No!" Rainstorm wailed, flinging herself at Rosethorn. She felt fur under her claws and instantly started clawing at it. She blindly batted at the opponent until Rosethorn ran her claws along Rainstorm's side. The wounds stung in the subconscious of her mind. She was too numb to feel any pain other than the searing agony of seeing Creamstep's lifeless body.

That one moment had thrown Rainstorm into a fit of hurt. She couldn't describe the feeling as realization sunk in. Creamstep was dead. Creamstep was gone. Creamstep was in StarClan. She would never see her again. She would never speak to her again.

That realization made Rainstorm feel the most pain she ever felt. Anything else that she had thought was severe and torturous pain was just meaningless now. Her sister was dead. And Rosethorn killed her.

After that came anger. No, anger was an understatement. Fury, hatred, everything bad conjured up in her mind, and she pitted all those feelings toward Rosethorn. The SunClan warrior was the reason they all nearly lost their lives. But they left it alone...until it was too late. Creamstep was dead.

In one swing of her paw she knocked Rosethorn off her feet, sending the white she-cat reeling. Rainstorm launched at her, wanting nothing more than to end her miserable life. However, Rosethorn sprang to her paws swiftly and darted out of the way in time to miss the deadly aim.

Rainstorm prepared herself to go after the unfazed cat, but something grabbed her paw and yanked, causing her to lose her footing and smash the ground, which knocked the wind out of her.

Spruce's figure disappeared. Rainstorm gritted her teeth as she felt sharp claws start battering at her ears. She cringed away, sudden fatigue hitting her. The adrenaline rush had passed, making her feel every injury she had received.

A figure leapt over Rainstorm and hit Rosethorn. Rainstorm breathed a sigh of relief. Dappleleaf saved her. As Rainstorm jumped to her feet, she hesitated. It wasn't Dappleleaf that had rescued her. Ashfall stood over Rosethorn, pinning her to the ground.

"What is happening right now?" Ashfall hissed, his eyes widening as he took in the scene. Dappleleaf was battling with Spruce. She made the mistake of taking a step back, and the agile she-cat lost her balance, letting Spruce hold her down.

"Ashfall," Rosethorn cried out in disbelief, scanning her former love interest. "You...you're here? Why? How did you get here?" She struggled under his weight, but he only tightened his grip on her.

"I noticed Dappleleaf leave. I told the others that if I didn't come back soon that they should follow me." He frowned, his eyes finding Creamstep's limp body on the cold ground. "What have you done?" he whispered, his voice barely audible.

Rainstorm spoke first, eager to pin the blame on the rightful cat, which was Rosethorn. "She killed her. Murdered her! Just like Pinepaw! She deserves...," she paused when her voice cracked as she remembered the reality of Creamstep's death. "She deserves to die!"

In a flash, Dappleleaf had kicked Spruce away. The fluffy cat was just a blur as she slammed into Ashfall, knocking him off Rosethorn. Rainstorm started forward, hesitating. What is she doing? Ashfall was helping us!

Rosethorn quickly got up, only to be taken down again by Dappleleaf, who rammed into her. "This is for my sister!" she snarled, pouncing on her and tearing at Rosethorn's exposed stomach. "This is for Pinepaw. And finally, this is for all the lives you've taken and all the cats you have hurt."

Rosethorn let out a whimper as Dappleleaf attacked her. Rainleaf met Ashfall's amber eyes. They both felt they same amount of worry at that moment.

Ashfall darted forward, pulling Dappleleaf away. "Get back!" he ordered sternly yet softly. "Don't kill her. You can't live with the guilt. You're compassionate. You care. And that's good, but that also means that if you take a life then it will eat at you with guilt."

Rainstorm froze, waiting for Dappleleaf's response. Her sister blinked, shocked. She let out a startled gasp, glancing at her blood covered paws. "No...I couldn't have done this..."

"You didn't do anything wrong," Ashfall soothed, wrapping his tail around her to comfort her. "I'll handle it." He got to his paws, shutting his eyes for a brief moment before padding over to a severely wounded Rosethorn. "Get out of here. Leave. If I ever smell your scent again then I will personally kill you myself. Go."

"Well, look at you," Rosethorn coughed, her green eyes narrowing. "Always wanting to save everyone. You've given me so many chances. I've blown every single one of them. And here you are, offering me another. Why would I listen now? Tell me that."

"Go. Now." Ashfall let out a low growl, his ears flattening. "I always want to save cats. I tried to save you, I did. But you are beyond saving, Rosethorn. I promise you that I will end your life unless you leave and never, ever come back. Understand?" He took a step back, hoping his words had sunk in.

For some reason, Rainstorm felt a surge of anger. He was letting her live? After all the lives she took? He was letting her go? Well, maybe not. Rainstorm stared at her. She's injured so badly. Even a medicine cat would have a hard time saving her. Perhaps Ashfall knows that. Perhaps that's why he's letting her live.

"Fine." Rosethorn sniffled, slowly getting to her paws. "I know you think my wounds will kill me. Fear not, love, but I have enlisted a healer to help me. I will live, don't fret about that."

Rainstorm hesitated again. She's bluffing. She has to be! Quickly, Rainstorm analyzed her. Every cat let something slip while lying. Rosethorn was not lying. She really did have help. She might just survive and return, readier than every to terrorize them again!

"I want to speak to her," Rainstorm said instantly, starting forward. "Get out of the way, Ashfall." She shoved past the larger tom, not caring for his curious stare. "I have unfinished business with her."

"Rainstorm! No!" Dappleleaf was immediately to her paws and sprinted at her sister. Her eyes were huge with concern and her feet moved at a rapid pace. Despite this, it was too late.

"You killed her."

Rainstorm didn't cringe away from Ashfall's words of shock, unlike Dappleleaf. "You killed her! Why? Why would you do that? She's a killer. She took lives. She wanted to kill the cat I love more than anything, but I refused to stoop to her level. If we killed her, doesn't that make us just as bad?"

"No, Ashfall, it doesn't," Rainstorm angrily countered. "She was ready to kill again. She didn't even hesitate when she ripped Creamstep's life away." She paused, starting to choke up at the thought. "I saved so many cats when I ended her life. I did the world a justice."

"You killed a cat," Ashfall insisted, glancing around frantically. He shut his eyes. "I know it was the right thing, but murder is murder. I don't want any of you to have to face the guilt of it."

Rainstorm turned away, trying to bite her tongue. She failed. "I've killed before. Remember Sparrowpaw? I didn't think for one second about his life after I took it. I didn't crumble with guilt. If I can handle killing an innocent cat like him, don't you think I can handle Rosethorn's death?"

Dappleleaf stood up, nodding. "She's right. Rosethorn needed to die. Everyone is so much safer now. We owe her a 'thank you'." She sighed, closing her eyes. "Creamstep's death...she deserves vengeance. She is my sister." In that moment, another shocking and unexpected thing happened.

Dappleleaf whirled around, lunging at a cowering Spruce. She landed on him and swiftly sliced his neck with her claws. He let out a silenced yelp right before his life ended She took a wary step back, her breathing hitching when she realized what she had done.

"Dappleleaf!" Rainstorm cried out, shocked. Spruce had helped Rosethorn, sure, but he was a victim as well. He could have gotten away. He could have led a normal, or somewhat normal, life. Of all the cats there, it was Dappleleaf who killed him.

"What d-did I do?" Dappleleaf asked, her voice shaky. "I don't know why I did that. I...I didn't mean to. It wasn't supposed to happen." Her green eyes were wide as she glanced up. "I killed him. I killed a cat."

Okay, now you know that I MUST KNOW WHAT YOU THINK! I would like 366 reviews for a new chapter!

Soo...were you surprised? Sad? Angry? I must know!

Next chapter: Dappleleaf is devastated at the loss of her sister and the fact that she took a life. She tries her best to move on, but she fails after a StarClan cat visits her in her dreams and delivers surprising news.

Question: Aside from the obvious (WHAT DO YOU THINK?!), I want to know if you were surprised by the cats who died. Also, who do you think visits Dappleleaf in her dreams?