A/N- 10 performances, giant project, school, another giant project, writing LJ oneshot, practice for dance recital, dress shopping, finals, graduation, procrastination: just a few of the things that prevented me from writing. I won't bore you with the whole list.

Disclaimer- No, just, just…no

Chapter 19- ShadowClan

"Swiftpaw! Swiftpaw!" Leafpaw's voice broke the still morning air and summoned her sister out of the apprentice den. Ignoring the grumbles of the half-asleep Hawkpaw, the excited shepherd continued loudly, "Swiftpaw I'm going on the sunhigh patrol today! And Spiritstar is coming! You know what that means!"

Leafpaw was too excited to notice the momentary look of sadness in Swiftpaw's eyes. It was gone in the blink of an eye, and Swiftpaw replied in a falsely cheery voice, "That's great Leafpaw!"

Leafpaw nodded and pranced away with her tail waving in the air.

Once she was out of sight, Swiftpaw allowed her shoulders and head to slump forward. "Left behind again." She whispered to the ground.

She started slightly when a voice behind her said grumpily, "So Leafpaw is going to become a warrior? Maybe we'll finally have some peace and quiet in the den."

She turned and saw Hawkpaw speaking. He was still rumpled from Leafpaw's rather rude awakening.

Dapplepaw padded up behind her brother and cuffed him playfully over the ear, "Be nice. She's just excited. I know I would be if it were me."

"Well it's not you, and it won't be for a long time. Not until you can beat me!" Hawkpaw retorted, crouching down and then leaping on top of her. Swiftpaw shook her head wistfully as this resulted in a full-fledged scuffle.

She turned as she sensed someone padding up to her. Jewelpool sat next to her and, not taking her eyes off the scuffling apprentices, said, "I heard what Leafpaw said."

"Who didn't?" Swiftpaw joked.

"I remember what it was like being the last apprentice in my group. I don't have to tell you that it stinks. But don't worry, you'll be a warrior soon enough."

Swiftpaw just stared at her for a moment, wondering how she could have possibly known exactly what she had been thinking.

"Anyway," Jewelpool continued, finally turning to her, "I'm taking Rabbitpaw out hunting for Spottedchest. Care to come along?"

Swiftpaw nodded slowly, "Thanks Jewelpool."

The shepherd merely shrugged, "What are friends for?"

OOOoooOOO

Swiftpaw dashed out of her covering under a hazel bush just as the rabbit bounded past. She leaped on top of it and quickly finished it with a bite to the neck.

Rabbitpaw slowed to a stop beside her, panting heavily. She gasped, "Good catch Swiftpaw. It was just too quick for me."

Swiftpaw shrugged, "Its okay. Even some warriors have trouble outrunning a quick rabbit like this one."

Jewelpool trotted out of the undergrowth towards them with a vole in her mouth, she dropped it and began, "You put up a-"

She suddenly froze, scenting the air. The shepherd's eyes narrowed, and she whispered, "Rabbitpaw, go get help."

Rabbitpaw looked bewildered, "But what-"

"ShadowClan." Jewelpool growled, the hair along her spine beginning to rise.

Rabbitpaw's eyes widened and she bounded back towards camp.

Swiftpaw nodded curtly to Jewelpool and they strode through the undergrowth towards the intruders.

A few fox lengths from the border, they found Bonehunter, Hawkpath, and three other warriors leaving scent marks.

Furious, Jewelpool called, "Bonehunter! What are you doing on ThunderClan territory?"

Bonehunter turned his blood red eyes on her and let out a laugh that was more like a growl, "What does it matter?" he taunted, "ThunderClan is too weak to defend its borders. You're too preoccupied with the half-breeds and sickness in camp. Tut tut, you really should teach your apprentices to keep their mouths shut."

Jewelpool looked as though she would fly at the deputy's throat any minute, but Swiftpaw knew they had to keep them talking until help arrived, so she snarled, "You have no right to be here. Now slink back to the dark hole in the ground that you came from, before we have to beat you back."

Hawkpath sneered, "You're one to talk half-breed. You don't belong in this forest any more than your filthy kin do."

Swiftpaw bristled instantly, digging her claws into the ground. Bonehunter bared his teeth in a snarl, "You talk tough, now let's see if you've got the guts to follow up." With that he lunged at Jewelpool. The fight was on.

Swiftpaw skidded out of the way just as Hawkpath lunged at her. She raced past him, scoring her claws down his side in the process. However, her way was blocked by another dog. He jumped on her, pinning her to the ground with his weight. She struggled desperately, clawing any part of him that she could reach and pummeling his stomach with her hind paws.

Just as she thought he would win, the dog yelped and leapt off of her with something white clinging to his back. Swiftpaw realized with a jolt that it was Rabbitpaw! She quickly attacked the dog again, helping Rabbitpaw send him yelping off into the woods. Looking around the clearing, she noticed that Hawkpath had run off. She saw Redstorm and Leafpaw battling two other dogs side by side.

Looking beyond them, Swiftpaw watched as Spiritstar and Bonehunter battled fiercely. Both were merciless as they slashed at the other. The area they were fighting in was covered in blood, though Swiftpaw was unsure whose.

As she watched, Bonehunter landed a paralyzing blow to the side of her mentor's head. Weakened as she was by her recent sickness, Spiritstar stumbled and fell. Within moments Bonehunter was on her. Swiftpaw desperately scrambled towards her leader. She leapt savagely at Bonehunter, surprising him.

Landing squarely on top of him, Swiftpaw latched her jaw onto the back of his neck and ripped her claws into his back and shoulders. The deputy scrambled and rolled, crushing her into the ground with all his might, but she refused to let go. Finally, he tore himself from her hold, losing a large chunk of skin and fur from his neck in the process.

Bleeding and defeated, he stumbled out off towards the border, calling the remaining two dogs as he went. Swiftpaw stood glaring at the bushes, shoulders tense, panting heavily, her jaw still clenched around the deputy's missing fur and skin. She whipped around and snarled when someone laid their tail across her shoulders.

She was met with Leafpaw's wide, green eyes. With a jolt she realized that her sister's eyes were filled with fear. She was afraid of her. Swiftpaw's eyes softened and she blinked as her fur laid flat and her breathing returned to normal.

She spat out Bonehunter's fur as Leafpaw soothed her, "Calm down. They're gone. You did well."

Swiftpaw looked around and saw Redstorm helping Jewelpool limp from the bushes, her white fur stained red and her blue eyes glazed in pain. Rabbitpaw was gently nuzzling Spiritstar's side, but it was no use. Their leader was dead.

Swiftpaw almost collapsed as she walked on shaky legs towards her mentor. She was silent for a moment before glancing at Redstorm and asking the question that was burning on her mind, "How many lives does she have left?"

The setter looked at her sadly and replied softly, "One."

OOOoooOOO

"Swiftpaw, I'm fine. You shouldn't be so concerned."

Swiftpaw quickly switched her gaze back to the ground as Spiritstar shook her head slightly. Swiftpaw had been watching her every move the entire walk back to camp as though she thought her leader would collapse at any moment. Her gaze had just wandered slowly back to her leader when she heard a gasp from Jewelpool.

"What's wrong?" Swiftpaw asked, worry evident in her voice.

"Blood, and lots of it." Redstorm replied darkly.

They followed the trail through the undergrowth. Swiftpaw's heart sunk when she realized that they never once had to alter from their course to the camp. Her fears were confirmed when they arrived at the gorse tunnel to find the camp strangely hushed. No sound of pups whimpering in the nursery, no sound of apprentices scuffling, nothing.

She stepped forward and glanced at Leafpaw before ducking through the tunnel. She found the Clan gathered in the clearing, all wearing sober expressions. Her gaze found the body in the middle of the circle and her blood ran cold as she saw fur brindle fur. Then she realized that the dog was much too big to be Hazelpup and calmed down considerably.

Spiritstar, however, let out a mix between a whine and a growl and rushed forward. Swiftpaw padded up next to her and finally identified the fallen warrior through the bloody fur. She heard a whimper next to her and instinctively wrapped her tail around Hazelpup, pulling her close. She then looked up into Beechclaw's grief filled eyes, but she could think of nothing to help him.

Only time would heal the wound left behind, as Darkclaw joined StarClan.

A/N- eh, not quite as good as I wanted it to be, but oh well. Sorry for any mistakes, I really wanted to get this up, because if I hadn't I wouldn't have had time for another week, and that would put me at 2 months since the last update, and that's just WAAAAAY too long. Okay to one month is terrible too, but I'm sorry.

I did however finish the epilogue, so I know where I'm going, now getting there's the problem. Oh well. Just know I'm trying and it's FINALLY SUMMER BREAK!! CELEBRATE!!