Author's Note: This chapter contains a scheming Leopardstar and some violence. Yes, it's the battle chapter you've all been waiting for. I made it a little shorter so you could all bear with it.

"RiverClan and WindClan attack!" yowled Leopardstar, the RiverClan leader.

The cats reluctantly obeyed, but who were they to question their leader? Onestar's fur bristled. "I believe that nobody from WindClan died and made you leader," he replied.

The spotted she-cat just ignored him. WindClan were known for their terrible tempers. And it was nice to infuriate them so they could fight better for her side.

Earlier, Leopardstar had on a determined smile. She was hungry for both some food and some territory. But she knew that ThunderClan was very large, so it also had to have many cats that were in fighting condition. The old leader had limped over to WindClan, where she had offered Onestar some of ThunderClan's territory if he fought with her.

"You can't go, Leopardstar, you have only three lives left!" Mothwing, her medicine cat, had protested.

"No, Mothwing, if I can walk to WindClan, I can fight!"

For a while, the medicine cat and the leader kept on exchanging words. Mothwing was for peace, and she didn't want her old friend Leafpool, now a warrior, to get hurt. But Leopardstar still kept that smile on her face, and as long as she did, she was determined to get all the prey that she wanted.

Brambleclaw let out a battle cry, one loud enough to rival Leopardstar's.

Already, cats had leaped into battle. Dustpelt and Tornear rolled past the deputy, a mass of clawing fur. He had to jump back to stop them from barreling into him. Knowing the older warrior, he would not like help with this battle. The dark brown tabby tom found a worthy opponent in Ashfoot, the WindClan deputy. Ever energetic, the gray she-cat gave him a shower of blows. Frustrated, Brambleclaw scored his claws through her face. It would damage all she was proud of, her beauty and her confidence.

Cinderheart, meanwhile, was locked in battle with a strong she-cat from RiverClan. Before she knew what was going on, the she-cat was in the lake. She was drowning. Reedwhisker, her mate, swam up to her. Gently and carefully, he hauled her away from the water. Cinderheart looked on from where she was, on the ground. The poor cat could die if she was like this too long. And it was all her fault.

"I'll get Mothwing," she volunteered.

"Get Willowshine as well," Ashfoot ordered, Brambleclaw's blood covering her pelt.

"But, she'll attack the camp," Weaselfur whispered in the WindClan deputy's ear.

"No," she replied,"what can one cat possibly do?"

Graystripe looked at her, his eyes filled with what was it... sadness?

Lionblaze hissed as Emberfoot's claws sank into his pelt. Despite all of the pain, the golden tabby's lips were still twisted into a smile. He had the power of StarClan in his paws, what did a simple warrior have to say to that?

He came out of the crowd of cats, not wounded, his pelt unscarred. Heathertail smiled at him, a cold smile. She was still loyal to her Clan, and if that tom had forgotten their friendship... she would fight. Love today was not on her side.

Whatever friendship was between Firestar and Onestar, it was surely a fragile one. It was not constant, like the friendships all of ThunderClan was used to. It changed every second of its life, until it became what it was right now. A heartless friendship, for the friends did not stand up for each other. Then the breeze blew, ruffling the dark tabby's fur, and reminding him of what he had to do.

"Stop!" Brambleclaw yowled because it was all going crazy and vicious and also probably because ThunderClan was steadily losing. He had promised himself to make sure that ThunderClan came out on top, and it didn't seem to be happening. ShadowClan was not a good ally, apparently. The screeching cats grew silent, curiosity getting the better of them.

"We can fight you more if we have to," Brambleclaw continued,"but why have you come?"

Leopardstar turned away, her claws still unsheathed. She did not want to answer. Revealing the purpose of this attack was like making RiverClan weak. And that would not happen when she was around.

"We come for what we require," Onestar said hotly, willing to answer the question with as few words as possible, giving away as little as can be managed. Brambleclaw was not satisfied. Onestar could just say this to Firestar's Clan, the same Firestar who had once been his good friend? That ungrateful leader of WindClan should remember all that ThunderClan has done for him!

"And just wondering," Cloudtail stared him down,"what would that be?"

The lithe brown tabby ignored the white warrior. "That is all I have to explain; perhaps Leopardstar would like to answer." All of the cats looked at the RiverClan leader expectantly.

"That matter is between WindClan and RiverClan alone," she said curtly.

When Brambleclaw found that he couldn't answer, Leopardstar continued. "We've wanted nothing more than some of your territory. Look how well-fed you are. You don't need more than that."

"So?" Cloudtail asked, probably not getting her point. The spotted she-cat thought he was rather greedy.

"I would like to have some of that fresh-kill of yours."

"Never!" Brambleclaw couldn't control himself. He just knew that he would never give up anything to that cat.

"Well, then, RiverClan... attack once more! Remember, ThunderClan, you asked for it."

Lionblaze, meanwhile, looked around for Icepaw. He was shocked when he couldn't find her. Had a rival warrior taken her life?

The cats concerned all realized at once. The Clans were no place for friendship. There had been no friendship at all.

Your guesses? Where could Icepaw be?