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Chapter 11

Snowpaw leapt into the fray with a howl of rage, sniping and scratching at any ShadowClan warrior she could reach. Through the fighting cats, she could see Oakpaw wrestling with Applepaw, and Snowpaw had to admire the young she-cat's skills. She soon sent Applepaw yowling into the gorse and thorn brambles.

But that wasn't the only apprentice to be fleeing the fight. Rainpaw was tearing a hole in the gorse and wriggling through it. Snowpaw hissed with fury. Coward!

A blow to her flank made her turn, and to her horror, she saw Boulderbash leering at her as he prepared to spring.

"Oh no you don't!" Stormpaw shouted, latching onto Boulderbash's shoulder and sinking his claws into his belly.

Boulderbash let out a screech of pain, oddly high-pitched for such a large cat, and swiped at Stormpaw. Snowpaw leapt at him, tearing her claws along the gray cat's side, causing him to yowl with agony and shake Stormpaw off.

Now the two apprentices were circling the much larger warrior. Snowpaw tensed for a moment, then sprang at Boulderbash from behind while Stormpaw grabbed his shoulder and bit down.

Boulderbash was confused, he couldn't tell which apprentice was where until Snowpaw hooked her claw in his left ear and tore a V-shaped gap in it.

With a scream of pain, Boulderbash shook off both cats and streaked off, wailing, into the misty night.

"Thanks for that!" Snowpaw gasped, wincing from a cut on her hind leg.

Stormpaw nodded and dashed off to help Thistlepaw and Gingerblaze, who were being menaced by three ShadowClan warriors.

Snowpaw was on her way to look for the queens and their kits (If ShadowClan was fighting to kill, they would likely go straight for the young ones and their mothers.), but something knocked her over. She was pinned to the ground, her paws flailing wildly, and she caught a glimpse of black paws and a gray face-

Pebblestar was the one that was going to kill her, and she couldn't do anything to stop him. His teeth were at her throat, and they were closing down for a killing bite.

Through a gap in the fighting cats, Snowpaw saw Rubyheart, his scarlet and black pelt splattered with blood, bounding towards her, his face set in a terrible snarl. But then-

"Rubyheart! Help me!" Snowpaw saw through the dust that Diamondclaw was being pinned down by the ShadowClan deputy, Blackmask. Snowpaw saw Rubyheart pause, his face torn with horror at the choice to save his future mate, or his talented apprentice…

The choice was obvious, and even as Rubyheart ripped Blackmask off Diamondclaw, Snowpaw knew she was going to die. She could feel Pebblestar's teeth sinking into her neck, could almost feel her life blood burst from her. She was going to die, and she knew it. She was never going to tell Stormpaw that she loved him…

And then Flamestar was there, like a wildfire, pulling Pebblestar away. She sprang to her paws, gasping for breath, and stammering her thanks.

She heard a loud screech from the medicine cat's den, and ran over there to look. Crowclaw, blood pouring from his flanks and neck, was looking frantically around the camp.

"Crowclaw, stay still! I can't treat you if you keep moving!" Tawnyflower hissed.

"I must-" Crowclaw's breath was coming in ragged gasps. "Find- Moongaze!"

"I'm right here, father." Snowpaw heard her voice from behind her, and looked over her shoulder to see the white warrior padding towards her father, and saw his eyes burn, not with hatred, but with joy.

"I saw you fight." Crowclaw rasped, blood still pouring from his ghastly wounds. "I saw you fight, and I knew. I knew you would always be a warrior. I as wrong to try and snatch that life away from you. And I ask now, Moongaze. Can you ever forgive me?"

"I would forgive you, father." Moongaze's eyes burned with tears as her father collapsed.

"I go to hunt with StarClan now." Crowclaw hissed, his eyes becoming distant. "Thank you, Moongaze, my daughter. My warrior." With a final gasp, a final twitch, Crowclaw's eyes closed. He let out one last ragged breath, and he was gone.

Moongaze stared at her fallen father for a moment, then turned to Snowpaw. "We can't let his death stop us. ShadowClan will pay!" And she leapt back into the fray of fighting cats with renowned vigor. Snowpaw followed, her claws burning like white-hot knives as she attacked the ShadowClan monsters who had taken Moongaze's fathers life away. The rage she felt was nothing compared to Moongaze's, but she was still fighting like a warrior of StarClan.

There was a triumphant yowl from the center of the camp, as Flamestar flung Pebblestar into the wall. The ShadowClan leader's body fell still for a moment, his eyes shutting. "What's happening to him?" Snowpaw asked Thistlepaw, who was nearest.

"He is losing one of the nine lives that StarClan gave him. StarClan will heal the wound that killed him, and soon he will return." Thistlepaw meowed, wincing from a cut on his face.

"Thistlepaw-" Snowpaw mewed, not knowing how to put it. "Crowclaw- He's dead."

Thistlepaw stiffened, then relaxed. "He was a good mentor. He taught me everything I know." He meowed, but Snowpaw could see the tears on the dark tabby's face.

Pebblestar's eyes opened, and he stood up with a hiss. "You may have won this fight, and we shall leave. But not without a little souvenir!"

Even as he ran from the camp, Snowpaw saw what he meant. A murky brown tom had emerged from the nursery, carrying a small black kit with two white ears…

"Noooo!" Cloudbush screamed, leaping after the cat taking Shadekit, but he had already vanished into the fog. Cloudbush let out a wail of pure agony, collapsing at the camp entrance with sobs heaving her body.

Then, from within the fog, there came a loud shriek of pain, and then Rainpaw, limping a little, emerged from the fog, carrying Shadekit in his teeth.

"Shadekit!" Shrieked Cloudbush seizing her kit from Rainpaw and licking her daughter's head frantically.

Rainpaw raised his head proudly. "I fought off Murkymind and saved Shadekit!" He boasted.

Pinepelt, a large scratch on his side, pushed his way over to his son, smirking. "Rainpaw, you have fought like a warrior, and I think that you have earned your warrior name."

Snowpaw felt like something had smashed into her from a very great height, and let out a soft mew of disbelief.

"I think you are right, Pinepelt." Flamestar meowed. He was already on the Highledge, his eyes downcast for some reason. "Do you, Rainpaw, accept and pledge yourself to the Warrior code, and will follow and honor it to the end of your life?"

"I do, Flamestar." Rainpaw's eyes glinted with triumph.

"Then, by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Rainpaw, from this moment you will be known as Rainstripe. StarClan honors your bravery and ingenuity, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan!"

"Rainstripe! Rainstripe! Rainstripe!" The sound of Rainstripe's name being chanted out was more than Snowpaw could bear. She dashed into the apprentice's den, curling up in her favorite spot and bursting into tears.

"It is also my sad duty to announce that Crowclaw was killed by a ShadowClan warrior. Sorrelheart, you will continue Thistlepaw's training. I shall sit vigil with Crowclaw's body tonight, as is the custom." Flamestar's voice still reached her ears, and Snowpaw sobbed even harder due to that.

She stayed in her nest for a long while, and then felt someone's comforting presence next to her. Stormpaw was lying next to her, along with Drizzlepaw and Darkpaw. Thistlepaw must be sitting vigil with his mentor, and Oakpaw was at the other end of the den. Snowpaw sighed. Even after everything that had happened, it was good to be here, in the company of friends.

Okay, now things are really messing up. Thanks to all who reviewed!