A/N: It has seriously been forever since I've updated. I'm so sorry, I really am. Life's been, well, life, and I've set aside time to write. Whatever comes out never seems exactly what I want, so I've edited three chapters that I like, and I'm posting them all now. I hope three new chapters makes up for the delay? (: Thanks for reading! Make sure to check them all out!

Chapter Twenty-Seven: Coward

Lionpaw ripped around, heart beating quickly. He knew the stranger's scent behind him, and as he turned, he knew who it was.

"Longfang!" he spat.

The huge lion had slipped into the den soundlessly, and he wasted no time as he leapt over Lionpaw and crashed into Pebbleheart, pinning the much smaller lioness to the ground under her.

"You won't breath a word to Snowstar! I'll kill you before you get the chance! Both of you!" Longfang hissed as he smashed a paw across

Pebbleheart's face. Shock washed over Lionpaw as he saw blood begin to smear over her pretty face and sink into Longfang's paws. The dark lion had lost it. The cool, amused, dangerous mood he'd held up last night was dead: now, a wild, deranged killed had taken his place. This was the murderer within.

Pebbleheart tried to yowl but Longfang smashed a paw over her mouth, crushing her face into the dirt as her body shook and struggled. "Never!" he hissed.

The whole thing had taken about five seconds, and Lionpaw finally shook himself, awaken from his shock, and let out a growl, jumping at Longfang. He knew it was beyond stupidity- Longfang was twice his size- but it was a struggle worth fighting. He couldn't let Longfang kill Pebbleheart!

"Get off of her!" he screeched.

Their struggle grew noisier, and Lionpaw thought Longfang had been foolish to attack them in camp. But what other choice had the deputy had?

He wanted them both dead, and had to do it now, before anyone else awoke.

"You are going to die, apprentice!" Longfang roared, shoving Lionpaw off of him and whirling as he opened his huge jaws and sunk them into

Lionpaw's shoulder. Lionpaw let out a cry of pain, and suddenly thought back to all his days training with Snowstar. They all led up to this one moment, and he fought with a new strength suddenly as he thought of Snowstar, of LightningClan, of Frostpaw. He had to save them.

Hissing, the blood roaring in his ears, Lionpaw raked his claws across Longfang's formidable muzzle. The huge lion bared his huge teeth, the white fangs glistening like the moon, and he snapped at Lionpaw's head. There came an angry cry from behind them as Pebbleheart nipped Longfang's heels, trying to distract him.

"Come on!" Lionpaw snarled as he shoved Longfang away from him. They locked together again, a deadly embrace, a whirl of fur and blood and claws. Lionpaw felt more powerful than ever, yet blood gushed and he was tiring, while Longfang continued to fight at top-notch. If he didn't get help soon, he'd be finished.

They finally rolled out into the camp, and Lionpaw no longer cared who saw or what they thought of it. He was fighting to the death. He had to.

"Lionpaw!" Pebbleheart screeched.

There came snarls of shock and fury as the Clan was aroused by their fight. They trickled from their caves and dens, fur bristling and teeth bared.

Roars and yowls went up, cries of confusion and anger, at the sight of their deputy battling an apprentice.

Longfang seemed too furious and locked in the battle to realize he was revealing his true, deadly nature to everybody. His eyes gleamed with a wild, furious flame, and as his claws ripped into Lionpaw, they sent waves of shock and agony into the apprentice's mind.

"What is this?" came the furious boom of Snowstar, as the great leader leapt from his cave and raced toward the battling Clanmates.

Above them, the sky was darkening. For being the morning, the sky was an unnatural, dark gray color, almost black. It looked angry and vengeful, and Lionpaw knew the storm was truly arrived. Just as thunder rumbled in the distance and lightning flashed across the sky, Longfang abruptly broke away from him.

His whole body was panting, and he was covered in blood and dirt. Lionpaw fell back, too, exhausted, wondering what was happening. As

Longfang took one look at the angry, confused LightningClan warriors around him, he knew what they wanted to do to him. And he whirled around, and was racing towards the entrance.

"Longfang!"

"What's he doing?"

"Tell me, what in StarClan's name is going on?"

The confused snarls of Lionpaw's Clanmates echoed around him like the thunder growing in the sky, and he was on all fours immediately, racing after Longfang. He refused to let him get away!

"Get back here, you coward!" Lionpaw snarled into the cold air.

Lightning flickered in the darkening sky like dying wing beats of some creature. Thunder rumbled furiously after it, almost as if StarClan was speaking their anger about Longfang's sudden escape. Lionpaw hoped others were coming after them. He needed help. He couldn't let Longfang get away, never!

Fear thudding in his veins, cold rain began to splatter down. The sharp, bitter droplets fell down in lazy sprinkles before growing angry and racing down, shooting the ground and soaking Lionpaw's fur. As he raced through the storm, he found himself tiring, running hopelessly. What was he thinking? Longfang was twice his size. There was no way he could catch up to the coward now.

"Lionpaw!" came cries from in the distance. He slowed and looked around, gasping, the rain trickling into his eyes. "Lionpaw!"

They were coming for him. Lionpaw growled low in his throat, fighting the relief with the fury that washed over him like burning flames at the thought of losing Longfang's trail. Such a fool...!

Sudden anger prickled in Lionpaw's claws as he let out a furious snarl, raking the wet earth with his gleaming claws. His howl echoed in the rainy, stormy jungle, and to his shock, it sounded like a true lion. Not an apprentice.

There came flashes of lighting around him, flashing freaky, bright lights into the jungle. Shadows had eyes, trees had teeth. Lionpaw blinked, glancing around as he curled his tail, feeling a little afraid. Where were the others?

"Lionpaw."

He gasped, a snarl ripping his throat as he whipped around. Someone had whispered his name. Here, confused and lost in the rainy, stormy jungle, Lionpaw knew he was utterly alone and defenseless. Why had he run off like this?

Flashes of lighting illuminated the trees and leaves, and Lionpaw gasped. He thought he'd seen... but that was impossible...

He turned around, and saw something move in the bushes. His fur bristling as thunder angrily roared above them, shaking the jungle with its wrath, lighting once again split the sky, her beautiful, deadly golden claws ripping the heavens. As the glow washed over the jungle, Lionpaw caught a glimpse of a huge, crouching monster.

Lionpaw's eyes widened. Immediate fear engulfed him, but suddenly, he felt pelts brushing against him. He turned his head ever so slightly, and thought he caught a glimpse of a burning lion, crouching and snarling at the deputy who had murdered him.

Be brave, young Lionpaw. Believe what you wish; but know one thing. This is my killer. He must be stopped.

Lionpaw hesitated, then swallowed hard, planting each foot firmly in the ground, unsheathing his claws and baring his teeth. His tail lashed once, twice. He was in power. He had the will of StarClan behind him. And what did Longfang have?

The answer came in a whisper by his ear.

Nothing.

Lionpaw felt strength rushing through him as he let out a furious cry. The battle cry. Defiance and a lust for claws, blood, and pain. To tell the murderer crouched in the trees that he was not afraid, and never would he be again.

There came no warning as the creature let out an angry roar and burst through the trees, claws extended, mane wild, eyes burning with a deadly passion. Longfang rushed at Lionpaw, the killer truly unleashed as he let his mind be eclipsed by the ruthless monster in his heart.

"Murderer!" Lionpaw hissed as his muscled tightened, his shoulder-blades rolling as if in hunt.

There was a single heartbeat as Longfang flew through the air, his body and mind frozen in fury, as he stared down at the apprentice he now loathed. Everything seemed silent; almost peaceful. Lionpaw watched as if they were friends having an amiable go at each other.

But everything was suddenly moving too fast as Longfang landed to the ground, and his growl, low in his throat, almost reaching his heart, trembled with his ankles.

Longfang attacked first. He raked his claws over Lionpaw's face, the apprentice ducking just in time. Snarling but not discouraged, Longfang slipped forward, teeth bared as he lunged for Lionpaw's neck, desperate to rip the apprentice apart. But just as skillful, Lionpaw snaked away and clawed at the deputy's shoulder, snarling as they met as if in an embrace.

They rolled, over and over, clawing, screeching. But it was no pathetic, desperate fight. Longfang was perhaps the best fighter in LightningClan; he was wise and strong. While Lionpaw, despite the title of an apprentice, was formidable to the lion's brutal strength, and had been trained by the leader of LightningClan. He knew every move; his actions were calculated and swiftly thought. He knew Longfang's every move before the deputy hit, and the larger lion stared, half shocked, half furious.

How did he do it? Any other apprentice would have been beaten by now.

Lionpaw realized the answer in a flash as he leapt across Longfang's back, whirling around, his tail lashing, and raked at the deputy's face.

They had both been trained by Snowstar. They matched in ability and strength; they were enemies as well as brothers.

"Snowstar taught you well," Longfang chuckled. Lionpaw aimed a paw at the deputy's face, but the lion easily blocked it, leaping back as lightning flashed above them, the rain continuing to slice down.

"You bet he did," Lionpaw snarled.

"I was his first apprentice," Longfang went on as they struggled. It baffled Lionpaw; this lion had gone from furious to polite within moments. It only shed a little light on how far unstable and mad he was. "He was a learner, just like me. And he knew I would be great; he told me every day.

That's why I knew he'd choose me when it came to deputy." He smiled mockingly as Lionpaw fell back, chest heaving.

"You liar!" Lionpaw hissed. "You gave him no choice; you killed Firerunner."

"He was a traitor anyways!" Longfang whispered as he treaded after Lionpaw. Lionpaw, snarling, scrambled back and slipped onto a huge, moldy log. He steadied himself, baring his teeth.

Longfang just chuckled and slithered towards him. His dark fur was painted even darker by the shadows and rain, and his mane was matted and dirty. He was bleeding, too, Lionpaw noticed with relief. It was easy to believe this lion was impossible to hurt.

"Lionpaw!" came the cries. But they were even more distant.

"No," he whispered.

Longfang chuckled and turned his ears, angling them where he heard the cry. "They'll be missing you, Lionpaw. We must hurry this up."

"Why are you still here?" Lionpaw snarled in response. "If you want to run, then go now."

"Run?" Longfang repeated, sounding politely puzzled. He shook his head, long teeth gleaming. "No, my young, foolish friend. I do not run. I am here for you. It will be... sad." He stepped carefully, tauntingly, towards Lionpaw, gazing up at the apprentice, feet above him on the log. "I'll have to tell the Clan how... you attacked me, out of some misplaced sense of self-righteousness. I tried to run, to avoid a fight; but you ran after me."

His eyes were gleaming; a creeping horror crept into Lionpaw's stomach as he stared at Longfang, heat fluttering weakly.

No...

"I kept running, but eventually tired. I found you, lost you in the rain. In the mud, having slipped and broken your neck..." He grinned, and Lionpaw felt true fear suddenly ripple in his spine. He was alone, and he was weak, already in pain, while Longfang was still fighting.

"So what do you think, Lionpaw?" Longfang purred. "Does my story sound about right?"

Lionpaw shuddered, and then, in one swift movement, found himself sweeping off the log. He was suspended in the air for just a moment, before falling, crashing into Longfang, snarling and fighting with new strength that had been born out of his fear.

He would have to fight to the death, but it no longer mattered. He was fighting for Firerunner; for Frostpaw, for Flamepaw, for Snowstar. For all the Clans.

For Pebbleheart.