Disclaimer: I don't own Warriors, but I do own the characters created for this story. Please don't steal any of them.

Chapter 20

Clawstar stood on his rock and looked out at the ThunderClan cats and the few kittypets who would be going with them. Francis, Lola, Josephine, and Doodle were going along, whie Whiskerheart was going to stay behind at camp with Maggotstripe.

"Tonight, the war against DarkClan is going to end. Only StarClan knows if we will win or lose," Clawstar began. "Most of us know the prophecy about Rowanwind..."

"Only the ghost of starlight can heed his cause!" Goldenstar's voice echoed through the camp.

"When teeth meet teeth and claws meet claws!" Ashfang's voice said.

"Nine lines he'll have, but no leader's name!" Cottonbrave's young voice called.

"The descendant of Fire, two of the same!" Dapplefoot's soft voice said.

"A ginger tom will rise to conquer the dark," Blackcloud's voice whispered.

"His friend be the apprentice of a lark," Meadowlark's voice meowed.

"Without love, without faith, he will fall," Sprucebark's voice warned.

"Lest the wall of hatred cover you all..." Quickleaf finished.

The ThunderClan cats listened to the voices of their lost loved ones. Their eyes shimmered in the last rays of the sun. So many had died already by DarkClan's claws. Nobody wanted another death to happen, but they all knew that there was a large possibility that those leaving tonight would not come back alive. Clawstar took a deep breath before continuing.

"We must keep our faith alive. We must believe that we will win this war. Without that faith, we will fail. Without that faith, we will fall.

"All we can do is pray to StarClan that they will keep our brave warriors safe during this final battle. We need StarClan's strength tonight like we have never needed it before. We must stand and fight. No matter what the outcome is, at least we will know we have tried our hardest to stop DarkClan.

"It is time to say our good-byes to those who are going off to battle tonight. Do not hesitate to say good-bye to anyone. Some of us may not be coming back."

Rowanwind took a deep breath and looked around. Those who were going off to battle were sitting in a large group. Those ThunderClan cats who were not going were winding through the group, saying their good-byes.

"I can't believe you didn't demand I go," a soft, angry voice said.

Rowanwind turned to see Stormypelt sitting nearby. Her blue eyes were full of tears. Her ears were flat against her head and her tail was lashing angrily.

"Stormypelt," Rowanwind whispered. "You know I couldn't let you go. It's hard enough allowing the others..."

Stormypelt shoved her head beneath his chin, a little roughly. "I feel like I'm never going to see you again!"

Rowanwind wrapped his tail around her and purred, trying to reassure her he was going to be fine. "Listen to me. Don't talk like that. I'm supposed to conquer the dark; and that's what I'm going to do. I'm not going to allow Sly to continue his killing spree. DarkClan's reign of terror ends tonight."

Stormypelt rubbed her face against him. "Promise me you'll come back."

"Nothing will keep me from coming back to you," Rowanwind replied. Not even death, he thought to himself.

"You can't!" Rainfur's scream caught their attention.

Rowanwind and Stormypelt turned to see Rainfur standing in front of her three kits, facing a weary looking Clawstar.

"I just lost my mate! I can't bare to lose my kits!" Rainfur screamed. "Let me go instead! Let me go instead!"

Ghostlight suddenly appeared. He touched Rainfur's shoulder with his tail-tip and whispered a few words. Rainfur's screams subsided, and the white tom led Rainfur away from her kits and toward the medicine cat's den.

Stormypelt gave a small, frightened mew. Rowanwind pressed himself closer to her, trying to give her comfort.

"Stormypelt, I have to say good-bye to everyone else," Rowanwind whispered to her. "Can you be strong? For me?"

Stormypelt nodded against him before slowing stepping aside. "Please, Rowanwind. Be careful."

"I will," he replied before walking away.

"Rowanwind," Oakpelt said. The tom had just finished saying good-bye to his nieces and nephew. "I'm sorry for all of the trouble I cost you. I...good luck."

"Thank you, Oakpelt," Rowanwind said. He walked on to find himself face to face with Lightdew.

"May I have a word with you?" Lightdew wondered.

"Of course," Rowanwind replied, sitting down.

"I wanted to thank you for not letting my kits go," Lightdew said. "Clawstar said he wouldn't allow them, but I'm glad that you did not speak up. I felt like I was going to lose Purepaw after the badger attack...I don't want to lose him so soon after feeling like I just got him back from the brink of death..."

"You don't need to explain anything, Lightdew," Rowanwind said. "I understand your concern. I would never have suggested bringing Purepaw or Palepaw, especially since Purepaw just finished healing."

"Thank you," Lightdew said, her light green eyes swimming with tears. "And good luck. I'm praying to StarClan that we get through this."

Rowanwind nodded and continued on before being stopped by Mistmeadow, Silvermoon, and Cloverpelt.

"We wanted to wish you luck," Cloverpelt meowed.

"And we're praying to StarClan that you return safely," Mistmeadow added.

"Good luck," Silvermoon meowed softly.

"Thank you," Rowanwind said to the three of them. "It means a lot, coming from all of you."

He thought back to their days as kits and apprentices. These three cats had always been a part of his life. They had survived this war, and they would continue to survive because they were staying in camp, where they would be safe. Rowanwind's paws felt heavier than ever as he padded away.

He spotted Maggotstripe sitting with Purepaw, Palepaw, and Stormpaw. They were the four apprentices being left behind. He went over to them.

"Hello Rowanwind," Maggotstripe said, somberly.

He nodded to her. "How are you four doing?"

Purepaw ran a paw over the left side of his face. "I can't stand it! I can't watch all of you walk out of here, not knowing who is coming back!"

"Or if any of you are coming back at all," Palepaw mewed quietly.

"Don't think like that," Rowanwind told them. He glanced at his nephew, Stormpaw, who was glaring at his father, Oakpelt. Rowanwind's half brother was now talking to Reedclaw and Crookedfern.

"How else are we supposed to think?" Purepaw demanded.

"Don't speak to your mentor like that, Purepaw," Maggotstripe said, batting a paw at his lashing tail.

"You need to have faith, like Clawstar said," Rowanwind told his apprentice. "Pray to StarClan."

"What's the use?" Purepaw asked, putting his head down on his paws.

Palepaw licked her brother's slightly tattered left ear. "Come on, Purepaw. Don't be so grouchy. We have to say good-bye to Rowanwind."

Purepaw sighed. He looked at Rowanwind with his light green eyes, so much like his mother's. "Good-bye, Rowanwind. Please come back."

"I will, don't you worry," Rowanwind told him.

"Good luck, Rowanwind," Purepaw said.

"Yes, good luck," Maggotstripe said. "May StarClan watch over you tonight."

Palepaw glanced at Stormpaw, who still hadn't said anything. She nudged him with her shoulder. He turned to glare at her. "Rowanwind is here. Aren't you going to say good-bye or something?" Palepaw asked.

Stormpaw looked at Rowanwind, his glare softening. "Good-bye, Rowanwind. Be careful tonight, okay?"

"Of course," Rowanwind replied.

Rowanwind walked over to where the two queens, Softcreek and Quickpelt, were lying with Poppyflower.

"Rowanwind!" Quickpelt said, her voice cracking with emotion. She pressed herself against him. "I'm so scared for you! I can't help but feel as if this is the last time I'm going to see you."

"Don't worry, Quickpelt," Rowanwind assured her. "I'll be back."

"Rowanwind," Softcreek said. "I have to tell you that I'm sorry I didn't take your advice and watch Coldkit like I should. It's...well, it's just difficult, knowing that he was born because of Oakpelt's betrayal..."

"You don't need to apologize, Softcreek. You are looking after Coldkit the best that you can," Rowanwind told her.

Softcreek nodded.

"I have to go now," Rowanwind said. He touched his nose to Quickpelt's cheek. "Good-bye, mother. Say a prayer to StarClan for me."

"Every second I can, I will," Quickpelt replied.

Rowanwind waved his tail in good-bye and went over to where Clawstar and Frostflower were seated. Both cats looked weary.

Clawstar turned to Rowanwind. "It is time for us to go."

Clawstar called forth all of the cats who were going to the final battle against DarkClan. As the cats began to slip through the tunnel, Rowanwind could hear the cats being left behind calling out good-byes.

Clawstar, Frostflower, and Rowanwind took the lead at the head of the group. They led the ThunderClan cats through the forest to the edge of the lake. The moon, which would soon reach its highest point in the sky, was nearly full. The lake was still tonight, reflecting the moon and all the stars in the sky. It was as if their ancestors in StarClan were showing them that they were on the ground tonight, right beside them.

Following the shore of the lake, each step took the ThunderClan cats closer and closer to the island. The heaviness lifted from Rowanwind's body, allowing him to feel the anxiousness and fear coming off his Clanmates in waves.

Soon, almost too soon, the log that allowed them to cross to the island loomed into view. A large crowd of cats sat, waiting, on the shore of the lake. Rowanwind recognized cats from RiverClan, ShadowClan, WindClan, and RogueClan. He even saw the kittypets who had come to help them end the war.

The three other leaders and their deputies, as well as Gloom and Smutty, were seated in a circle in front of the log. Clawstar and Rowanwind padded over to them.

"It is time," Clawstar said.

The other cats nodded in agreement.

"Rowanwind," Crimsonstar said, looking at him with her dark blue eyes. "Would you like to say something to all of the Clans? Remind them what it is we are fighting for?"

Rowanwind couldn't help but be surprised at the suggestion, especially when it was coming from Crimsonstar. She had never really approved of Rowanwind being ThunderClan's deputy.

"I don't know," Rowanwind replied, unsheathing and sheathing his claws nervously. "I'm not really sure what I would say to them."

"You can do it, Rowanwind. You've battled badgers and crows and spoken to StarClan," Clawstar said. "If anybody can get us all into the mood to fight, it is you."

Rowanwind took a deep breath. "If you are all so sure..."

"We could ask no one else," Featherstar said.

"You are the most qualified," Angelstar agreed.

Clawstar gestured at the log with his tail. "Go on, Rowanwind."

Reminding himself to breathe, Rowanwind walked over to the log. He clawed his way to a spot where he could see the entire crowd of cats spread out before him. His yellow eyes scanned the gathering, picking out faces he knew. He easily spotted Brownclaw, Smokefrost, and Willowsky, all of Stormypelt's siblings, sitting with their parents, Francis and Lola, and Pineroot as well. Violet, Tulip, Franklin, and Jenny were seated with the RiverClan cats. Murry, Rudy, and Neeko were sitting on the outskirts of the WindClan cats. Andy, Oliver, and Casey were mingled in with the ShadowClan cats. Many other faces brought names to Rowanwind's mind: Timberpelt and Torchfur of RiverClan, Rippletail and Blackshadow of ShadowClan, Robinclaw and Cloudpool of WindClan. These were cats he knew, who lived lives feeding and defending their Clans in the same way he did.

Rowanwind took a final, steadying breath before he spoke. "Remember why we are here tonight. We are here to rid our homes of a plague of cats who call themselves DarkClan. They have attacked us, angered us, humiliated and defeated us. But they have underestimated us, as well!

"We have all of our ancestors in StarClan watching over us tonight, from those who first brought us to these territories around the lake, to those who have died fighting in this war. Each time we send a prayer to the heavens, our ancestors give us strength, they give us wisdom, they give us the courage to stand up and defend our very existence...to defend the warrior code!"

The cats gathered below him yowled in agreement.

"We must not forget that tonight, of all nights. We must hold that knowledge in our hearts, our minds, our very souls. The moment we forget that we have the ability to overcome anything, as long as we work together, as long as we stand side by side, then everything is lost. We must remember the strength, wisdom, and courage that StarClan bestows upon each and every one of us!"

There was another rumble of yowls beneath him.

"So let us go forth onto the island where we gather every full moon, a sacred spot that the evil cats of DarkClan have forsaken. Let us fight like we have never fought before! Let us rid ourselves of DarkClan forever, so that we may reclaim our territories and continue our lives the way they were meant to be lived!"

The yowling was even louder this time.

Clawstar, Crimsonstar, Angelstar, Featherstar, and Gloom hoisted themselves up to stand on the branches around Rowanwind.

"ThunderClan!" Clawstar yowled.

"ShadowClan!" Crimsonstar yelled.

"WindClan!" Angelstar meowed.

"RiverClan!" Featherstar screeched.

"RogueClan!" Gloom rasped.

"ATTACK!" they all screamed together.

The five Clans, and all of their kittypet allies, surged forward.

End of Chapter Twenty

Author's Notes: Oh. My. Gosh. Was that not one of the best speeches I've ever written? I do believe it is. Rowanwind knew just the right words to say to get the cats ready to fight! Hold on to your seats, dear readers...the final battle is about to begin!