Hello again peoplez. Um….the computer and the internet have started to hate me…that's why I didn't update since Friday…:P…

Replies to the people that have reviewed Chapter 15 and 16…

Aijo Akamara: Yes, I am updating now, don't pass out yet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I like your review(s)….OMG! How much do you write?!

xXBloodpulseXx : doesn't your name change! LOL! I have read your OOTS Books and I really enjoy them! I just hope mine will be half as popular! Nice name…I am still thinking of names…

Avatar: You can choose the flavour! Firestar had lost 4 lives before (BloodClan, The rats at SkyClan's gorge, The rats at Ravenpaw's barn, The falling tree at the battle of the Twolegs) and the mystery murderer took 2, so three. Don't worry, he is still alive. I couldn't let him die….just tortured! XD

As for those kit names, I like Wolfkit. There is already a Dawnkit, but I like Wolfkit a lot!

On my profile, the weirdest username poll is up. There can only be one winner…unless there's a draw…

Did you like my little surprise at the end of the last chapter…? LOL! That was lots of fun to write…

This is from Brambleclaw's POV again…

Chapter 17 – Attack III – Abdication

We ran back to defend the camp, not caring that we were soaked through, not caring if we were aching all over. If we were defeated, we would lose so much. DarkClan warriors that had been fighting at the quarry had sped along back to our camp to stop us from even getting there.

I ran up to Crowstar who was squinting his eyes in determination. "How much fight do we have left?" I asked my leader and friend worriedly.

"I don't know, but I will fight to the last breath to defend my Clan," he pressed on, his stubbornness showing off as sheer determination and faith.

Finally we had got over the grassy plains to the Wind Moors. DarkClan warriors were lining the scent markings.

"You'll come no further if you want to stay alive," growled one tall brown cat I recognised as Thistlefang.

"Go back to your own territory, and we'll leave you unscathed," sneered Crowstar, eye contact not breaking as the hostility showed through the two cats.

"Very well," Thistlefang mewed viciously. "Attack!"

The line of…about fifteen cats swarmed on our warriors. Almost immediately, we were thrown into battle. Rowanclaw landed on my back, as he tried to dig his claws into my pelt. I managed to summon the strength to fling him off, but he wasn't finished yet. He batted a paw at my head in an attempt to disorientate me. But I nimbly dodged and flew an unsheathed paw at his nose.

Blood welled at the cut I had made as he ran off to the side of the battle. EarthClan and ForestClan were quickly penetrating the barrier that the enemy had made. By no time the barrier had been completely destroyed.

We continued over the hills and towards the Thunder Forest, near to the camp. From here, the yowls of battle and fear were echoing in the hole in the ground where our beloved camp resided. We effortlessly picked our way over the forest debris and made our way through the destroyed thorn barrier. The scene in front of us was horrific.

DarkClan cats were scattered all over the clearing; wrecking food supplies, going through dens to catch out any unwary warriors, terrorising queens and kits with precious few warriors defending.

Immediately, Squirrelflight and I went towards the nursery.

"Get inside," I almost pushed Squirrelflight inside. She looked at me worriedly. "I'll stay here, I promise".

Suddenly, Russetfur tried to break through the barrier of the nursery play area, where Sorreltail, Squirrelflight, Ferncloud and the kits were hiding. Immediately I ran around towards the back and swatted the russet-furred she-cat towards the rocks. She got back up again and tried to get her teeth into my scruff. I nimbly stood aside as I pressed myself against the bracken barrier. Instead, while was distracted with sitting back up, I fastened my teeth in her scruff and started to scratch at her legs to get her to collapse. She recklessly tried to fling me off, but I remained strong and kept my grip. Then, she started to aimlessly walk around before she landed unconscious on the floor.

But this battle had distracted me as a warrior managed to get inside the nursery. I couldn't watch. I noticed it wasn't any cat; it was Ashstar. And he was grabbing Squirrelflight by the scruff and pulling her up onto the GorgeRock. What is he gonna do to her?!

Then I noticed beside me that Crowstar was also looking up at the GorgeRock on sheer horror: Leafpool was also being dragged up by Crookedjaw, another former rogue. She was hissing and spitting at the twisted warrior, but to no avail as he effortlessly threw at the floor to disorientate her.

"It's time to end this battle!" the DarkClan leader yowled. "Move away from the Clans, or you will all die like these two," he gestured to the defiant sisters "are going to if you don't agree."

"Don't agree!" Squirrelflight struggled to get any words out. "For the sake of EarthClan…" she looked directly into my eyes, full of unspoken words. Yet she was so loyal to the Clan, the Clan she had helped create, she would die for it. That's why I loved her so much, always loyal, and even though I hated to admit it, nearly always right in the end.

Leafpool nodded her agreement as a twisted smile crept on Ashstar's face.

"What about the kits?" Crowstar yelled desperately to Leafpool. Leafpool was having kits too!? So many lives lost tonight…

"They'll know in StarClan that their father was a hero…" Leafpool trailed off in sadness.

"So you are not going to surrender?" Ashstar mewed sweetly. "Very well…kill!" he gestured to the two henchcats who had already started to pounce towards their victims. Suddenly, the three cats on the rock toppled off as three new faces faced the shocked crowd.

It was three DarkClan warriors, Clanborn cats. They were Owlwhisker, Tornear and Webfoot.

"We have shocking news concerning everyone here," Owlwhisker heaved as he sat down. He took a deep breath and yowled, "Firestar is dead!"

Everyone in the clearing caterwauled in shock; Squirrelflight and Sandstorm on the verge of a breakdown, Greystripe, Leafpool and Ravenclaw all looking solemn as they remembered their old friend.

"He was killed mercilessly by Ashstar," Owlwhisker continued. "He was in his den at the time, defending the camp, and next heartbeat, he was gone, blood all over his paws."

"How do you know this?" Squirrelflight whimpered softly.

"We had also stayed to defend the ForestClan camp," Webfoot chipped in. "We are tired of being in unjust battles and in a Clan that will only be remembered for bloodshed and fear, not respect and power."

Several DarkClan warriors yowled, "traitor!" while others just nodded their heads in agreement.

Below Ashstar was stirring while the henchcats were still out cold. Suddenly, it registered to him that three of his own warriors had betrayed him as he immediately glared daggers at the warriors above him.

"How dare you!" he screeched. "You joined this Clan and you swore allegiance to us. Now you turn against us. Why?!"

"We wanted to be in a Clan that was respected," Tornear meowed calmly "not a Clan that was feared unjustly. We wish to leave DarkClan now, and we will welcome any DarkClan cat that feels the same way."

Crowstar walked powerfully up to the DarkClan leader and mewed levelly, "you have no place with the Clans anymore. Leave. NOW!"

"No…no…no…I can't….I am their leader….and I swear I did not kill Firestar…or that apprentice…" many of the cats around him were edging closer. He saw his chance to run away, and he did so, leaving a trail of dust in his wake. The battle had finished.

That is the end of Chapter 17! Only 2 more to go……:P

Don't forget to review! And don't forget to do my poll!!!!!

From Leopardstorm