A/N- PLease plese please read & review! I really need the reviews!

Disclaimer- I don't own warriors. No, I don't.

Chapter 9

The Thunderclan cats slipped silently through the dense forest of Riverclan territory. Ginger pelts, grey pelts, white pelts and black pelts all move swiftly through the undergrowth. Never once did the approaching creatures make a sound. They couldn't even hear themselves breathe. They were intent on only one goal, reaching the Riverclan camp undetected and launching a surprise attack. Most thought it was revenge for Patchpaw's death, but three cats knew their purpose was different. Whitestar, the leader, Redpaw, the apprentice medicine cat, and Silverpelt, the brave silver warrior.

A twig snapped up ahead and the party of cats stopped. Swiftwind took a few steps forwards, leaving the group, and went on ahead. A few minutes later, he reported back.

"They're expecting us! They're guarding the camp heavily!"

"What will we do?!" hissed Brokenpaw.

"Keep going." said Whitestar, "We are not giving up."

The cats slunk on.

They soon reached the Riverclan camp. Silverpelt was nervous. He didn't want to hurt his sister, but he couldn't defend her. He had to be loyal to Thunderclan.

And I have to be loyal to Orangestripe, he thought.

He unsheathed his claws.

The Riverclan camp was on an island, surrounded by two rivers and covered with reeds.

The cats sprang through the thick boundary of reeds and into the camp.

There were about fourteen cats facing them. They were outnumbered. Riverclan snarled. The Thunderclan party hissed at them. The two sets of cats growled and roared. Then Brokenpaw leapt at a Riverclan cat.

"I thought you were my friend, Shadowpaw!" he cried.

"I'm not Shadowpaw anymore. I'm Shadowmist now! I am a loyal Riverclan warrior and I can easily beat apprentices like you!" replied the cat.

Shadowmist threw Brokenpaw off him and hissed. Shadowmist was a thin cat. He had a black pelt with wisps of grey along his sides. His eyes were a cold, bright blue that penetrated deep within Silverpelt, even though he was not being looked at. It made him shiver just thinking about what it must feel like for Brokenpaw.

He glanced around the clearing and heard faint mews coming from a thick bush, covered in thorns, on the other side of the clearing. He guessed that must be the nursery. He breathed a sigh of relief. His sister would have had her kits by now. It was good to know she would be safe in there.

Redpaw looked around nervously. He had just remembered something. Tonight was the half-moon! If Tatteredfur, Lionfur, Brightmane, Mousetail, Spottednose and himself did not die by midnight, the forest was doomed! What could he do? These cats would have to die in the battle, but there had been no sign of Lionfur since the day she had attacked Whitestar. He could get the other clans to join the battle, but what about her? He would have to hope that she had joined Shadowclan, otherwise, he didn't even want to think about the consequences. How should he get the other clans? Redpaw stood thinking about this while Brokenpaw and Shadowmist circled each other. Suddenly he had an idea.

He crept up to Whitestar and whispered,

"Whitestar, we are outnumbered, let me fetch Windclan to help us. Riverclan have just sent for Shadowclan and I know Windclan will fight them."

It was true. He had just seen Froststar send Dustpaw, a sturdy, dark brown tom, to fetch Shadowclan. He had heard Froststar give the instructions.

Whitestar said,

"That is a good idea. Go now, and make haste!"

Redpaw nodded, then turned and ran out of the camp. He followed the scent trail of Thunderclan back to fourrocks then headed away towards Windclan. He stopped when he reached the edge of the forest and gazed out across the open moorland. He saw a band of cats stealthily hunting and walked towards them. One of them leapt forwards and snatched up something from the ground. As Redpaw drew nearer, he saw that it was a rabbit. The Windclan cats picked up his scent and turned towards him. He walked up to them and stopped. One of them, a dark brown she-cat, snarled at him and flattened her ears. Redpaw bowed to her. She stepped back, startled, then asked,

"What do you want?"

Redpaw replied,

"Thunderclan needs your help. A group of Riverclan cats killed Patchpaw, one of our apprentices, when he was out on a patrol. We are battling Riverclan but we are outnumbered. Riverclan has just gone to get backup from Shadowclan and we will be slaughtered if it's two clans against one."

A dark ginger she-cat looked at him for a moment then said,

"Thorneyes, go and ask Swiftstar what she says." The hostile she-cat turned and left.

The last of the Windclan group turned to Redpaw and said,

"I'm Rainpelt, by the way, I used to be Rainpaw until yesterday, when I was made a warrior." She looked very proud. "And this is my former mentor, Wildstorm." The dark ginger she-cat nodded and said,

"Our clan is very sad right now. Spottednose, our medicine cat died today. Spottedpaw, his apprentice, has only had about twelve days of training. She was hit by a twoleg monster and had to quit her warrior training. She will be journeying up to the Moonpool tonight, to receive her medicine cat name."

"Oh." said Redpaw., "I never knew. I'm so sorry." Redpaw looked away, embarrassed. Suddenly, Thorneyes returned, leading about nine cats. Redpaw recognised Ferneyes, the cat that Swiftwind had been talking to at the Gathering. She came up to him.

"Hello, Redpaw, is it?"

"Yes." he replied, "How are you?"

"I'm fine. How's Swiftpaw?"

"He's Swiftwind now."

"Oh, that's wonderful news!"

Redpaw nodded and looked closely at her. She was thin and fast, like Swiftwind, but she had strong muscles under her fur.

Just then, Swiftstar came forwards.

"Greetings, Redpaw. Windclan are ready to help you."

"Thank you." said Redpaw. He bowed his head then turned and sprinted away. The Windclan cats were following him. He lead them back the way he had come, via fourrocks. As they approached the Riverclan camp, Redpaw stopped and turned to face Swiftstar.

"Attack Tigerpelt and Lionfur if you see them. Lionfur recently abandoned us and we believe she has joined Shadowclan. She has attacked our leader and is a traitor to Thunderclan and the warrior code."

The Windclan cats nodded, then raced forwards, into the enemy camp.

Silverpelt was only aware of the chaos around him. He spotted Leopardfur, a small dark Riverclan tom with spotted markings. He was a strong warrior and his skills in battle were known throughout the forest. Silverpelt lunged forwards and bit down hard on Leopardfur's leg. The Riverclan tom howled with pain and swung around, sending Silverpelt flying away. He crashed into a large boulder and collapsed to the floor. It was a few moments before he could get up again. When he had recovered, he ran back into the fray. Shadowclan had recently come charging into the battle and the Thunderclan cats were hopelessly outnumbered. Any reasonable leader would have retreated by now, so why hadn't Whitestar?

Suddenly, a large group of cats ran into the clearing. Silverpelt recognised some of the Windclan cats. He spotted Wildstorm, Icestorm, Mousestorm, Rainnose, Swiftstar and Ferneyes, the cat who he had seen Swiftwind talking to at the last Gathering.

Silverpelt saw the pale grey she-cat leap onto Ripped, a Shadowclan female, who was also being attacked by Swiftwind.

Suddenly, a cat leapt onto Silverpelt's back. He recognised it's scent as Shadowclan. He flipped over, onto his back, winding his attacker. He jumped up and span around to face his opponent. He recognised this cat. It was Leopardstorm.

"Why are you attacking me?" he asked, desperately, "I saved you!"

"I know," she replied, "Which is why I'm attacking you. Any other Shadowclan cat would rip your fur off, but I'll go easy on you."

Silverpelt understood what she meant. She wouldn't hurt him as much as another cat. He purred softly, then leapt at her, knocking her over. After a while of mock-fighting, she noticed that Firestorm was watching her, and scowling.

"Oh no! My brother's seen me!" she whispered, "Quick, bite down deeply in my shoulder. I don't care about the wound."

Silverpelt complied, biting into her as hard as he could. She screeched and fled away, into the reeds.

Firestorm yowled and charged at Silverpelt. Leopardstorm's plan had failed, Firestorm was madder than ever.

Firestorm crashed into Silverpelt and bit out a big chunk of his fur. Silverpelt howled with pain. The ginger cat pinned him to the ground and ripped out more of his fur. He writhed underneath Firestorm and wriggled free. He twisted himself round and forced Firestorm to the ground. Silverpelt clawed down his back and the ginger tom wailed. Firestorm tried to flip himself onto his back, to wind Silverpelt, but the silver warrior had been expecting this and sprung upwards as Firestorm flipped over. Silverpelt landed on him and pinned him to the ground, raking his soft belly with his claws. He leapt off the fox-coloured cat and Firestorm twisted around and ran away, sprinting out of the camp.

Silverpelt glanced around, looking for a free Riverclan or Shadowclan warrior to face, or to see if any of his allies or friends were in trouble.

Just then, he saw a Shadowclan cat enter the nursery. He caught a glimpse of a dark ginger tail with black stripes. He heard terrified wails come from inside. He charged towards the nursery, only to have a Riverclan warrior block his way. He recognised the cat as Brightpaw, a pale ginger she-cat.

"Move it, apprentice. Your queens are in danger!" he hissed.

"That trick won't work. And I'm not an apprentice anymore, I'm Brightpelt now."

"Congratulations! But please, I'm telling the truth. Listen to the sounds coming from the nursery!" he said.

The she-cat looked at him for a moment then turned and listened. She heard terrified wails and cried out. Brightpelt sprinted towards the nursery and looked inside. Silverpelt followed her.

Tigerpelt was picking up kits and the queens were hiding in a corner. Silverpelt saw he had sent one cat flying into a wall, she had a very large gash across her chest. She was dead.

"Goldenfur!" cried out Brightpelt. Looking at the dead queen. "Her kits were almost apprentices! You didn't have to do that!"

"Ah, but they're my near-apprentices now." meowed Tigerpelt. Brightpelt leapt at him and sent him crashing to the ground. He dropped the kits and they raced over to the hiding queens. They cowered behind Frostfeather. Silverpelt spotted his sister and raced over to her as Brightpelt and Tigerpelt tumbled outside. The other queens cowered away, but Frostfeather purred and Silverpelt licked her ear.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

"I'm fine." she replied.

"I'll have to go now, but one thing." said Silverpelt.

"Anything." she answered.

"What are the kits called?" he asked.

"Oh. This ones called Ravenkit." she said, pointing to a sleek black kit. "And this is Loudkit." she said, indicating the other kit who was pale grey.

Silverpelt gave both the kits a quick lick, then sped out of the nursery. Thunderclan and Windclan were beginning to retreat, backing towards the entrance. Redpaw was stood in the centre of the clearing. He hadn't moved a muscle and was staring at Shadowmist. Suddenly, Shadowmist leapt.

He had intended to land on Redpaw's back, but Redpaw moved. Shadowmist landed, his jaws instinctively biting down hard.

Into Redpaw's neck.

Redpaw went limp, then collapsed onto the floor. He lay still, his chest not rising and falling. He was dead. Silverpelt had known this would happen, but it still came as a shock. Never again would he see the apprentice medicine cat pressing cobwebs to his friends wounds, or giving Whitestorm poppy seeds to ease his aching joints. He would never again thank him for healing his injuries or purr at a sarcastic comment he would make. Redpaw's den would stand cold, and empty. Whitefoot took a few steps forwards. He had seen many cats die before, but never his own apprentice. Redpaw had been so close to getting a medicine cat name. Whitefoot had even chosen it. He would have been called Rednose.

Silverpelt had to look away, or else the moment would be burnt into his mind forever. He glanced around the clearing. This had been one of the worst battles ever. Four other cats lay dead. Brightmane was among them. "Brightmane..." he said. The other cats heard him. The Thunderclan cats looked at the body and wailed. They had lost two cats. Other clans began to wail too. Riverclan had lost their medicine cat, Tatteredfur. Shadowclan had also lost their medicine cat, Mousetail, but they had also lost Lionfur.

She had joined them then, thought Silverpelt.

And now, the sister of Tigerpelt was dead. It seemed that fate had wanted to wipe out all the family. Lionfur, Heavyfur, Patchpaw. Only Tigerpelt remained. Silverpelt walked over to the entrance and slipped out of it. He padded back to fourrocks and jumped over the river that separated the territories. He trudged back into camp.

Tawnypelt looked up at him.

"What happened?" she asked.

"Redpaw and Brightmane died."

Tawnypelt gasped. She turned and went back into the nursery.

The rest of the party returned into the camp. They saw Silverpelt and realised he must have told the rest of the clan. Whitestar jumped up onto the highrock and called a clan meeting.

"Redpaw and Brightmane are dead. As is the traitor, Lionfur." he announced. "As a result, Thunderclan currently has no deputy."

All the cats started to whisper to each other.

"I have thought hard about who is to become deputy." continued Whitestar. "And I have made a decision."

He stepped forwards. Greystripe and Orangestripe had moved the bodies of the two dead Thunderclan cats into the camp.

"I say my decision infront of the bodies of these two dead Thunderclan cats so that they may hear and approve my choice."

A hushed silence descended over the clan.

"Greystripe shall be the new deputy."

The clan all cheered for Greystripe, especially Silverpelt and Tawnypelt. Greystripe purred then walked over to Whitestar, who had now leapt off the highrock, and thanked him. Whitestar said something to Greystripe and they both went into Whitestar's den.

Silverpelt was proud of his friend. He and Greystripe had grown up together and been made warriors together. His friend deserved this now. Silverpelt didn't want to spoil the celebration with Redpaw's news. That could wait until morning. However, he would sit with the body tonight. He walked over to the body, licked Redpaw's cold ear, then sat down and took his place by his side.