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

Author's Notes: And here they are...the very last three chapters of Warriors Descended! What else can I say, other than...please enjoy!

Warning: This chapter does get gruesome, especially at the end.

Chapter 23

"What have we here?" Sly asked, his orange eyes glinting maliciously. "A full light-demon who thinks he can defeat me?"

Ghostlight sneered. "I can't believe you wouldn't recognize one of the kits you killed! Then again, you've killed so many that you must have lost track!"

Sly's eyes flashed dangerously. "What? You can't be serious! I only killed one kit who had fur as white as yours, and I made sure it was dead!"

Ghostlight laughed. "I am being watched over by the ancestors in StarClan. They gave me nine lives. I have eight left...enough to ensure your death!"

Sly screamed in frustration and leaped at Ghostlight. The two collided and rolled across the grass. Rowanwind watced as they swiped at each other. His heart began to pound as Sly slammed Ghostlight to the ground.

Stay back, Rowanwind! This is my battle, for now, Ghostlight's voice said in his mind.

Sly's paws found Ghostlight's neck. The white tom struggled beneath the black tom. Rowanwind watched in horror as the life was squeezed out of Ghostlight. The white tom took one last breath and his body slumped.

"Fool," Sly snarled. "I don't believe in your StarClan!"

Rowanwind wanted to charge at Sly, who was turning away from Ghostlight, but his paws felt like they were stuck to the ground.

Sly caught sight of Rowanwind. His lips pulled back in an evil smile.

"Well, well," Sly said with a laugh. "Is it time already?"

There was a sudden gasp behind Sly. The DarkClan leader spun around to see Ghostlight rising to his paws.

"No! Impossible!" Sly screamed.

Ghostlight gave a bitter laugh. "How many times do you have to kill me to believe in StarClan?"

Sly snarled and tackled Ghostlight. Rowanwind couldn't help but watch as Sly tried to choke Ghostlight again. This time, Ghostlight kicked out with his back paws and knocked Sly aside.

"I have seven more lives!" Ghostlight taunted. "How many do you have? Oh, that's right! Only one!"

Sly gave another cry of frustration. He swung a paw and sliced Ghostlight's shoulder open. Blood oozed out, slowly. Ghostlight swung at Sly, but the large tom dodged out of the way. He reared up and slammed his paws into Ghostlight's side. Ghostlight rolled away, but he quickly got back onto his feet.

"You don't deserve to live, light-demon! This StarClan you speak of is only in your imagination!" Sly said.

"You have much to learn," Ghostlight replied. "StarClan is as real as you and me."

"Liar," Sly laughed. He swung his paw and tossed Ghostlight to the ground once again.

Rowanwind cringed as Sly jumped onto Ghostlight's back. Sly's large paws caught Ghostlight's head. There was a pop as Ghostlight's neck broke.

"Stay dead!" Sly hissed into Ghostlight's ear. The DarkClan leader climbed off of Ghostlight's motionless body. "Stupid light-demon."

Rowanwind took in a deep breath. He hadn't realized he'd stopped breathing as he watched the two toms battle.

"That took two of his lives," Dusklight whispered. His claws unsheathed, but the black tom did not move froward from where he stood next to Rowanwind. Dusklight glanced at Rowanwind. "He only has five left."

There was another gasp, and then Ghostlight was leaping at Sly again. The two toms rolled together, hissing and clawing. Both tried to get the upperhand, but Sly won.

Ghostlight was slammed to the ground again. Sly pressed his paws into Ghostlight's throat again.

"Why won't you die?" Sly hissed into Ghostlight's face.

Rowanwind slumped to his stomach, unable to stand any longer. Ghostlight was dying again. He watched the light of life leave Ghostlight's yellow eyes. Rowanwind barely noticed that Sly was breathing heavily. FOUR LIVES LEFT RIGHT NOW

"Rowanwind! Rowanwind!"

The familiar voice was hardly heard through the pounding of his heart in his ears.

"Rowanwind!" Thunderstripe skidded to a stop beside him. "It's Clawstar! Rowanwind, he's losing his last life!"

A strange warmth suddenly flooded through Rowanwind's body. He pushed himself to his paws. "Lead me to him, Thunderstripe."

Thunderstripe turned and streaked away. Rowanwind followed, leaving Dusklight behind to watch Ghostlight and Sly continue fighting.

Rowanwind's best friend led him to the foot of the tree where the leaders spoke during Gatherings. Clawstar was lying in a patch of moonlight beneath the tree. His gray fur was covered in patches of oozing blood that glistened in the moonlight. Wetpelt and Cedarspirit were sitting beside him. When they saw Rowanwind walk up, the two of them stepped aside.

"Clawstar," Rowanwind whispered, sitting beside his leader's head.

Clawstar's mint green eyes opened...eyes that reminded Rowanwind so much of Ashfang. A small purr escaped from Clawstar. "Rowanwind. You...made it."

"I couldn't let you to go on to StarClan without saying good-bye," Rowanwind whispered. He bent over Clawstar's head. "I'm very glad that you chose me as your deputy."

Clawstar sighed. "That...was Ashfang's...doing. I was...going to choose...someone else..."

"I know," Rowanwind whispered. "But you decided to listen to Ashfang's sign. You could just as easily have ignored it."

"Not...when it came from...my daughter," Clawstar said. His breathing was getting more shallow by the moment. Clawstar looked straight into Rowanwind's eyes. "I'm very proud...of you...Rowanwind. I know you...you will be an...excellent leader."

Rowanwind's eyes stung with tears. "I will be the best leader I can be, Clawstar."

"I know that," Clawstar whispered. His voice grew weaker. "You are...the one in the prophecy...I believe in you, Rowanwind...go...destroy the dark..."

"I promise I will," Rowanwind replied. "Go in peace to StarClan, Clawstar."

Clawstar's last breath left his body. His green eyes slowly closed. Rowanwind watched as the shimmering form of Clawstar's spirit appeared. The newest member of StarClan bowed his head to Rowanwind. Rowanwind reached down and touched the cold, torn ear of his dead leader. He looked up in time to see Clawstar's spirit walk up the beam of moonlight and up into the sky to his new home in StarClan.

Rowanwind turned to Thunderstripe, Wetpelt, and Cedarspirit. "It is time for me to fulfill the prophecy. It is time to conquer the dark."

"Good luck, Rowanwind," Thunderstripe meowed.

"May StarClan watch over you," Wetpelt added.

Cedarspirit walked forward and touched Rowanwind's ear with his nose. "May all the courage of ThunderClan, the speed of WindClan, the pride of ShadowClan, and the cleverness of RiverClan go with you, as well."

"Thank you," Rowanwind them.

Rowanwind began to walk away. He stopped, turned back around, and went to Thunderstripe. "If I don't survive this..."

"Don't talk like that!" Thunderstripe said. "You're going to do this."

Rowanwind pressed his cheek to Thunderstripe's. "If I don't survive this, tell Stormypelt I love her."

Thunderstripe yellow eyes filled with tears. "Of course."

Rowanwind cuffed Thunderstripe's ear. "I love you and Gingerheart, too."

A small laugh escaped from Thunderstripe. "We know." His whiskers twitched as he gestured with his tail. "Your destiny awaits, Rowanwind."

Rowanwind took one last look at his best friend before hurrying off. He skidded to a stop beside Dusklight.

Dusklight didn't take his eyes off the two battling toms. "Rowanwind, he only has two lives left."

That meant Ghostlight had lost another life while Rowanwind had gone to say good-bye to Clawstar.

"Rowanwind," Dusklight meowed. "He's going to sacrifice himself."

Rowanwind's heart wrenched. He'd known all along that Ghostlight was going to sacrifice himself, but he'd never stopped to think how that would affect Dusklight. The two brothers had just recently found one another again, and now they were going to be split up again. And this time, there was no possible way for Ghostlight to come back.

"I should have seen this coming," Dusklight meowed.

Rowanwind turned to watch Sly and Ghostlight still fighting. Ghostlight's fur was splotched with blood. His tail had a kink in it that hadn't been there before. One of his ears was practically torn off, allowing blood to trickle down the side of his face. Sly was panting heavily. One of his own ears was torn. Whiskers were missing from his face. He had a deep gash in his left shoulder that wouldn't stop oozing. There was a second, more shallow cut on his left flank. Neither of the toms were speaking now.

Sly reared up and slammed himself down on top of Ghostlight. Rowanwind winced as the claws of Sly's right front paw scored down Ghostlight's back, leaving three new cuts on Ghostlight that began to bleed profusely.

Ghostlight's body convulsed suddenly. Sly slinked around Ghostlight, limping on his left front leg.

"What's going on?" Rowanwind whispered to Dusklight.

"Ghostlight has lost too much blood," Dusklight mewed. "He's dying again."

Rowanwind's heart sank to his paws. One more life lost, and Ghostlight would be gone forever. He couldn't let that happen! Rowanwind was about to spring forward, when Ghostlight came back to life one last time.

Ghostlight suddenly gasped out, "Tu nut muvo!"

Rowanwind's entire body froze. He tugged his paws, but he could not move. He screamed out in frustration. Ghostlight wasn't allowing him to help!

As you know your destiny, Rowanwind, I know mine, Ghostlight's voice filled his head. It is my time to leave this world. It is supposed to happen this way.

"No!" Dusklight screamed in agony. Rowanwind realized that Dusklight was tugging at his own paws, unable to move as well.

They were forced to stand and watch as Sly circled Ghostlight. The white tom stood up, shakily, and bravely faced down the cat he knew would be his murderer.

"Your time has come," Sly hissed. His orange eyes were glowing impatiently in the moonlight. "Are you scared, light-demon, of your death?"

"No," Ghostlight said. "You have no power over me, Sly. You've never had any power over me. I welcome my destiny."

Sly gave a laugh and jumped. Ghostlight rolled onto his back and clawed at Sly's exposed belly. Sly's laugh died away as Ghostlight's claws connected with flesh. Warm blood splattered Ghostlight. Sly landed heavily on his feet. With a mighty caterwaul, he rose onto his hind legs. Blood splattered the ground from his new wound. Sly's claws came down on Ghostlight, ripping him open. Blood poured onto the grass.

"NO!" Dusklight screamed.

Sly crept away, laughing. "He's dead! He's finally dead!"

Rowanwind's paws were suddenly free. Dusklight rushed forward. Not caring about his brother's blood spreading out in a pool on the grass, Dusklight lay beside his brother's head.

"Ghostlight, no!" Dusklight whispered. "Please! I can't lose you!"

Ghostlight's yellow eyes fluttered. "I will watch over you. Fuhovoh, bhuthoh."

Rowanwind understood the words as, "Forever, brother."

The white tom's eyes closed forever. Dusklight's shoulders began to heave with sobs. A red hot rage filled Rowanwind. It was time. Sly had caused the death of too many.

It was Sly's turn to die.

Rowanwind turned away from the two brothers. Sly was still creeping around, laughing. Behind him he left a trail of glistening blood. Rowanwind could hear the tom whispering, "Dead! He's dead! I killed him! No cat can defeat me!"

"Want to bet?" Rowanwind snarled.

Sly stopped pacing and turned to Rowanwind. His orange eyes glittered with anticipation. "Has it finally come? Are you here to destroy me, foolish light-demon?"

Rowanwind glared at the DarkClan leader. "Your time as leader of DarkClan is over, Sly. I'm here to make sure that you will never kill another cat again."

Sly chuckled. "Then let's get on with it, light-demon. You think you're here to kill me? I cannot die!"

"We'll see about that," Rowanwind growled.

The two toms circled one another, their eyes never leaving each other. Everything else happening around them was completely forgotten. All that existed was Sly, Rowanwind, and their fight to the death.

Sly gave a cry and shot at Rowanwind. The ginger tom dodged and swiped at Sly's untorn ear. Fur tore beneath his claws and blood oozed out. Sly screamed and slammed Rowanwind to the ground. Rowanwind lifted his back legs and kicked Sly, sending him flying through the air. The black tom landed heavily on his wounded left side, making him cry out in pain.

Rowanwind rushed to Sly's side and swiped at the tom's exposed right shoulder. More fur tore beneath Rowanwind's claws. Glistening blood covered the DarkClan leader's right shoulder. Sly struggled to his feet, panting.

"Die!" Sly slashed a paw out at Rowanwind, hitting him on his left shoulder.

Rowanwind rolled away, his shoulder stinging from the blow. He quickly got back onto his feet and began to circle Sly once more. The DarkClan tom flicked his right leg, splattering blood everywhere.

"You won't win!" Sly hissed.

Rowanwind reared and slammed his paws into Sly's side. Unable to stand on his weakened front legs, Sly went down. "I think otherwise, Sly!" Rowanwind hissed into his ear. Rowanwind bit into the back of Sly's neck.

Sly's paw swiped upward, slapping one of Rowanwind's ears. Rowanwind leapt away, a little dizzy. He shook himself to clear his head.

Sly attempted to jump at Rowanwind, but the tom had little power left. He fell short, landing just in front of Rowanwind. Rowanwind's claws unsheathed, and he slammed his right paw against Sly's head. The tom fell to his side. His breathing was coming in short pants, his sides heaving with the effort to breathe.

"Can you feel the life slipping from your body?" Rowanwind sneered. "Can you feel your strength ebbing away? Feel that? That's what happened to every cat you killed that I cared about!"

Sly cried out as Rowanwind pressed his unsheathed claws into the deep gash in his left shoulder. The DarkClan leader's orange eyes glistened with tears. "Please, have mercy! Have mercy!"

Rowanwind pressed his other paw into Sly's neck, digging his claws into the sensitive flesh. "You don't deserve mercy, after everything you've done!" he whispered into the tom's bloody ear.

Rowanwind clawed Sly's back open. "That's for my mentor, Ashfang!" He dug his claws into the gash on Sly's shoulder, ripping and tearing. "That's for Dapplefoot!" He sliced open another gash in the tom's shoulder, even deeper than the first. "That's for my cousin, Cottonbrave!" He continued to claw and tear at Sly's body. "And that's for Quickleaf, and Meadowlark, and Icefur, and Reedclaw, and Webpelt, and Crookedfern!" His claws tore apart one of Sly's ears. "And that's for my leader, Clawstar!" Rowanwind leaned in close to Sly's ear. "And this, this is for every other cat that you hurt because of all the cats that you killed." Rowanwind's claws flashed in the moonlight as he ripped them across Sly's throat.

Sly let out a gurgle. Rowanwind heard the tom's last words as his life left him. "I should have left...when Decayingflesh...told me to..."

With a final gasp for air, Sly died beneath Rowanwind's bloody claws.

End of Chapter Twenty-Three