Last chapter, hopefully, unless I feel like I need to add more. Sequel will be posted whenever I finish it ;) What? A sequel? Yes, but the name is TBA.

Earthstar sneered down at Saltstar and her kits. He reached out a paw, but before he could, Honeyfrost threw herself at him, yowling fiercely. Acidclaw joined her, clawing at the ShadowClan leader's sides.

Saltstar stared helplessly as the two cats fought Earthstar, driving him out of the den. Her kits mewled, not knowing what was going on. She pushed them closer to her belly, raising her head as soon as they were comfortable.

Earthstar was gone. The medicine cat and his apprentice had driven him out, back into the battle that was going on just outside her den...

"I have to help them!" she yowled, trying to stand.

"You can't," Acidclaw mewed firmly, pushing her down with a paw. "Your kits need you more. The cats out there are experienced warriors, trained at fighting off intruders. Your kits are helpless, born only moments ago. Who do you think needs you more?" he asked pointedly, nuzzling one of the kits closer to her.

She sighed. "My kits, of course," she murmered. Any queen she ever saw had been bursting with joy when they had their kits, but she felt only a deep sadness. These kits were the children of Curse, the cat who had killed Stripedpelt and helped her break the warrior code.

"Acidclaw?" she began. He twitched his ears to show he was listening. "I... I can't keep these kits. I know they're mine, and I should love them, but I don't feel love. I only feel like I should take care of them just for the sake of taking care of them. It's hard to explain..." she trailed off.

Acidclaw nodded. "I see what you mean. What are you going to do?" Out of the corner of her eye, Saltstar watched Honeyfrost sprint out of the den. Saltstar was too tired and too focused on Acidclaw to care.

"I think... when they're old enough to eat fresh-kill, I'll try to find Curse. He can take care of them." She made sure not to show any affection in her voice. She hated Curse. She didn't exactly hate the kits though; it wasn't their fault their father was a murderer. She just couldn't watch them grow up.

The medicine cat sighed. "I can't say I approve of your choice... But they're your kits, and you'll do what's best."

In the clearing, the yowling and screeching died down. Saltstar couldn't help but wonder if all her warriors were dead and Earthstar won. But then she heard him yowling outside.

"ShadowClan, retreat!" There was the sound of muffled pawprints as the ShadowClan warriors uninjured enough to run escaped her camp.

She yawned. She didn't want to be, but she was tired. Acidclaw saw her, and told her to sleep.

"I can't sleep!" she protested. "I have to sit vigil for Stripedpelt and appoint a new deputy." He nodded, and helping her to her paws, led her out into the clearing, staying behind to watch the kits.

The clearing was a scene of absoloute disaster. There were cats everywhere, either moaning in pain or aiding the injured. Honeyfrost ran around frantically, giving herbs and cobwebs to any cat she saw.

"What's happened to my Clan?" Saltstar muttered to herself.

Acidclaw padded out behind her. "Your Clan is fine," he told her, a little sharply. "But right now, they need a leader they can depend on. And that leader needs a new deputy."

She nodded. "Right... sorry." Flicking her tail, she picked her way toward the Highrock.

As she walked, she couldn't help but notice the body of Stripedpelt, still laying near the entrance to the camp. She stopped, throat momentarily closed with grief, and dipped her head, pushing her nose into her deputy's fur.

"Oh, Stripedpelt, what will I do without you?" she whispered, closing her eyes.

She sighed and raised her head as she felt another cat's presence beside her. It was Honeyfrost, her own blue eyes clouded with grief. The gold she-cat bowed her head respectively, both for her leader and dead deputy.

"How is the Clan holding up?" Saltstar asked.

"No major injuries," Honeyfrost assured her. "But it's you I'm worried about, Saltstar. You just gave birth to kits, and now you're up and running around camp. It's not healthy."

Saltstar held back a hiss of annoyance. The gentle gold she-cat had meant nothing from her words, but the ThunderClan leader couldn't help but feeling angry. She has no idea what I'm dealing with.

"I'm fine," Saltsar lied. "I couldn't just sit in my den and do nothing when my Clan had just been attacked. The least I can do is sit vigil for Stripedpelt and appoint a new deputy." She said the last part a bit too icily, but she didn't care. She turned and stalked away from Honeyfrost, toward Highrock.

She leaped on top and called the customary ritual: "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather here beneath Highrock for a Clan meeting!" Most cats were uninjured enough to stand and limp over to sit beneath the Highrock. But a few just lay where they were, either too tired or too hurt to make an effort on standing.

Is this what my Clan has come to? Saltstar thought in despair. I'll take care of them, she decided.

I will lead you until the day I die.

Meh, sort of a crappy ending. But I'm really excited about writing the sequel and I want to get this finished.