Okay, for those who want to argue about the last one, I can also point out that Rabbitleap did no wrong with the respect prey code either. If you haven't got it by now, this is a curse that not even StarClan can stop now. Instead Duskfoot and Silverwing have to walk him through it to stop anything bad from happening, but there are times the curse makes it look like it's his fault anyway. This is usually because a different cat doesn't like him (e.x. Minkit, Bramblekit, and Kestrelfang because he's a kittypet.)

Anyway, I hope you all enjoy this chapter as we close closer and closer to the end. There will be an epilogue maybe. If I need there to be one, that is...

I need to stop rambling.

14. An honorable warrior does not need to kill other cats to win his/her battles, unless they are outside the warrior code or if it is necessary for self-defense.

Rabbitleap was woken up by a bundle of brown tabby fur. He grumbled quietly as he looked down at his first apprentice. Bramblepaw. The she-cat had been demanding since yesterday, when he first got her. It was part of his "punishment" for something he didn't even do. As he got to his paws, the newly named apprentice puffed out her slightly lighter tabby chest.

"I want to practice fighting!" She ordered and Rabbitleap frowned.

"I'm your mentor and I say what we do."

"You just don't want to train me because you're a soft, little kittypet!"

"Fine," He hissed through gritted teeth. "We'll go practice your battle training."

That perked Bramblepaw up, for she trotted out of the warriors den with her muzzle held high. Grumbling some more, he followed without bothering to groom out his ruffled pelt. He didn't see the point if he was going to have to put up with this torture for a while. His gaze turned to Oddeye, who insisted to be moved out of the elders den so that the Clan could have more warriors. Most of the Clan obviously was concerned for the graying tom's health. He had been a new warrior back when Echostar was a kit and everyone was well aware how old the she-cat was before her untimely death. Oddeye wouldn't take "no" for an answer and Mottlestar had no choice.

"Mind if I head out with you?" Rasped the white tom as padded over to Rabbitleap.

"Not really, but why?"

"I want to see if I still have want it takes to fight." Uncomfortably, Rabbitleap agreed, much to Bramblepaw's dismay. The tabby apprentice stomped paw in a demanding way.

"Why to I have to train with an elder?"

"First you need to learn to respect them.," Oddeye chided. "And learn to speak up when you're on that side of me. I've been deaf in that ear for seasons."

The three set out, Rabbitleap keeping a close eye on the weakened elder. As they got to the hollow oak, where Rabbitleap had been trained as an apprentice, Oddeye leaped up onto the fallen oak and laid down.

"Don't worry," He gasped as he lowered his head. "I just need to catch my breath."

"Ugh, this is no fun already," Huffed Bramble was she sat down and looked out across the lake that sat only a couple of tail lengths away from where they were. "When are we going to teach ThunderClan a lesson?"

"We're not at war with ThunderClan anymore." Rabbitleap reminded her as a sound caught his attention. He swore he heard whispering not to far away.

"Told you... Tunnel... Straight to... Clan..." The voice sounded like a hushed tom's voice. Padding quickly he walked towards the whispers. Probably curious, he could feel Bramblepaw following right behind them.

"This will be a great way to attack." A she-cat purred. Rage ran through Rabbitleap in waves and he forced himself to calm down. He knew Softface's voice anywhere. Her betrayal still haunted him. Peaking through the pines he saw four cats. He spotted Softface right away, setting next to a smooth dark tabby pelt.

What is Softface doing with Python and... Yellowstar? Sure enough he spotted the scarred golden tabby pelt of the former ThunderClan leader. The fourth cat was completely unfamiliar to Rabbitleap. It was a shaggy, pale ginger tom missing chunks of fur around his shoulders.

"Go get a patrol." Hissed Rabbitleap quietly as he nudged Bramblepaw. Without question or complain, she obeyed and took off towards camp as quickly as possible. However, it was not as quietly as possible because the crunching of twigs under Bramblepaw's paws caught their attention. The four cats looked back towards Rabbitleap was hiding behind a thick tree trunk and a dying bush. He had already ducked back and he was sure they had at least saw movement.

"Sandy, you go check it out with Softface." Yellowstar hissed the order.

"My name's Cupcake." The pale ginger tom snapped quietly.

"Well you're not a kittypet anymore. You're a rogue. It's time to drop that stupid name."

"Let's move, Cupcake." Softface hissed. PAwstep approached. Frightened, Rabbitleap decided to risk running to the hollow oak. He took off at full speed, zipping past the trees. To his dismay, he was not fast enough to outrun the older WindClan warrior. Within seconds Softface pounced and had Rabbitleap pinned on his back after a tumble in the mud, dirtying both of their mostly cream pelts.

"It's you again." She hissed. Cupcake appraoched, already gasping for breath.

"Man you forest cats are fast. Oh! You caught them!"

"Quiet, Cupcake! There might be others around." Snapped Python as the tom emerged into sight. Yellowstar was not too far behind.

"This kittypet may be stupid, but he's not stupid enough to travel alone," She hissed, glaring down at Rabbitleap. "Where are they? Where are the others?"

"There's no one out here with me."

"Lies!" Yellowstar bristled, her claws unsheathed and ready to strike. Without a warning, there was a yowl only seconds before the dark pelts of ShadowClan warriors sprinted into battle and went for the four intruders. Catching Softface by surprise, he knocked her off her paws and pinned her down. The rage returned full force as he remembered his hatred for her. Without thinking, he raked his claws down her soft underbelly. There was scarlet blood mixing with his muddied cream paws. He was about to go for the killing blow when he realized what he was doing. He quickly stepped off and the she-cat weakly struggled to her paws before tottering off. The other three were being chased off as well. Rabbitleap, however, never took his eyes off his paws.

D-did I really almost kill her. He remembered as he drug his sharp claws down her belly.

H-had I killed her? I... I... The thought of being responsible for a cat's death, even if it was Softface, made him shake with fear. He hardly cared that Willowshade and Nightfoot were guiding him to the medicine cat den. A stone formed in his throat as he never moved his gaze from his paws. As Brownwhisker walked away to check the other cats, Rabbitleap let out a frightened whimper even he could barely hear.

"I don't want to be a k-killer..."

We'll find out if Softface dies...

In the next chapter.

The consequence if he did kill her?

Unfading regret.

Even as a 'paw, the thought of murder frightened him. That's why he took Shadepaw's death so hard.

Also, Cupcake has some ties to a cat I know who looks exactly like Cupcake, but that cat's unfortunate name is Princess Sprinkles. He belongs to a small child and he has such a pitiful name.