To my dearest reviewers:

BlueSkyz: Tbh I'm not used to it myself, I have no idea where all this inspiration came from - but I'm just going to keep rolling with it ^-^ thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review! I hope you continue to enjoy this fic!

Snowcrystal: I really enjoy Oakheart (if you can't tell xD). Which reminds me! Thank you so much no just for your reviews here, but for all of your reviews on 'The Brightest Fire'! I woke up this morning and nearly dropped my phone on my face when I got all of the emails! You are amazing, and I hope you continue enjoying both of these fics!

StormtheGreat: I got so excited when I got your review the other night! Tbh yours was what made me go back and read all the others, and then inspiration hit me and the rest is history xD and I really wanted to let Willowbreeze live. I really did. But I think that her death is important to Crookedstar's character development (and Bluefur's) that I just had to let her go to StarClan. I'm so sorry ;-; But I'm glad you've enjoyed the updates, and I hope you continue to do so!

SierraStanley: I'm so glad you enjoyed it! There will be encounters with Whitestorm a weee bit later on, but that's spoiler-y so I'ma just stop there ;) thank you again for reviewing, I appreciate all of your support!

Chapter 8

Oakheart swiped his tongue around his jaws with a content growl. Bluefur was stretched out beside him, her pelt shimmering like the river itself in the new-leaf sunlight. Not two tail-lengths away, Sorrelkit and Mistykit rolled about in a tangle of legs and mock growls while Stonekit and Shiverkit played mossball with their adopted sister, Silverkit.

"They'll be apprentices soon," Bluefur observed proudly, her tail twining lazily with Oakheart's.

"It seems like just yesterday they left the nursery for the first time," Oakheart purred. Bluefur was right—they were five moons old, and thriving in the gradual shift from leaf-bare to new-leaf.

"Mhm," Bluefur hummed. She pricked her ears as Crookedstar padded out of his den. His shoulders were set in determination. Oakheart felt the same resolve in his own heart. It's time.

The red warrior stood. "We'll be leaving soon," he rumbled.

"I know." Bluefur sat up beside him, her eyes narrowing. "I only wish I could fight alongside you."

"Next time," Oakheart promised, his whiskers twitching.

"Oh?" A playful gleam crept into Bluefur's eyes. "You mean we'll have to win sunningrocks back again after this? You intend to give it up?"

Oakheart let out a playful hiss and swatted half-heartedly at his mate. "Hush," he growled. "We'll be back before you can say 'minnow.'"

Touching his nose to hers one last time, Oakheart joined his brother and Timberfur at the center of the camp. Crookedstar greeted him with wave of his tail before raising his voice, "Let all cats old enough to swim gather for a Clan meeting."

Most of the warriors were already coming to stand around their leader. Excitement filled the air between them like lightning, crackling from pelt to pelt and filling their eyes with a hunger for action.

"It's time." Cheers and yowls followed the simple statement, and Crookedstar made no effort to quiet them. When he could be heard again, he continued, "I will lead the first battle party myself, Timberfur will lead the second. With me will be Oakheart, Duskfall, Graypool, and Leopardfur. With Timberfur will be Ottersplash and Whiteclaw. Rainclaw, Loudbelly, and Falconheart, you will make up a third party. On my first signal, Timberfur will lead his reinforcements into the battle. At this time, Rainclaw will lead his patrol around the back of sunningrocks and wait for my second signal. Intercept any messengers or reinforcements, and when you're needed in battle I will give my second signal. Does every cat understand?"

A chorus of affirmation rippled through their ranks. Without another word, Crookedstar turned and plunged into the sedge tunnel. Oakheart matched his brother step-for-step as they raced through their territory. The rest of their patrol fell in behind them, quiet and focused, flickering like fish through the sparse undergrowth. They needed no signal when they reached the river. They entered as one, paddling strongly against the thaw-strengthened current and emerging sleek and strong on the other side. Timberfur's reinforcements stayed hidden in the reeds on the other side of the river, and Rainclaw led his patrol to a better vantage point upstream.

Oakheart sighed as he padded onto the sunlit stones. "I've missed this," he didn't bother to shake the water from his thick pelt. He joined his Clan-mates in pushing the border markers back, making sure all of Sunningrocks carried the fresh, familiar scent of RiverClan.

Duskfall's ears pricked suddenly. "Sunhigh patrol," he hissed.

"I smell them," Crookedstar growled. They fell into a line, claws unsheathed and teeth bared as a ThunderClan patrol burst through the trees.

"Crookedstar!" A spiky furred gray-and-white tom headed the patrol, his amber eyes blazing. Oakheart recognized Thistleclaw. "Get off our land or see it colored by your Clan-mates' blood."

Oakheart curled his lip into a snarl. "Haven't you got a nose? This is RiverClan territory now, you mangy hedgehog."

"I recognize you!" The big tabby beside Thistleclaw crowed, his eyes blazing suddenly. "You're the filth that traitor left ThunderClan for! What I wouldn't give to shred that crow-food eating…"

With a furious caterwaul, Oakheart lunged, his claws outstretched. He was met half-way by the big tabby, but his great momentum gave him the advantage. Beside him, he heard his Clan-mates falling into battles of their own. We have them outnumbered! Oakheart dug his claws into the big tabby's shoulders as he pinned him. Anticipating it before it happened, Oakeart sprang aside as the tabby—he recognized him as Thistleclaw's former apprentice, Tigerclaw—erupted upwards. He jumped higher than he meant to without Oakheart's added weight, and as he tried to land on his paws the RiverClan warrior darted forward and thrust his shoulder beneath his side, sending him sprawling. He lunged again, raking his claws across his backpedaling opponent's ears.

"Don't ever talk about Bluefur," he hissed mutinously. Tigerclaw lifted onto his hindlegs, hoping to bring his weight down on Oakheart's shoulders, but Oakheart saw through it again. Slippery as a fish he dashed between Tigerclaw's hindlegs and clamped his jaws around his tail. With a firm tug he pulled him over and leapt on top of him again. They rolled over and over, but in the end Tigerclaw's imposing size couldn't match Oakheart's experience. He sent the brute wailing into the trees, pausing to spit a few insults after him before shaking the blood from his ears and jumping back into the fray.

Crookedstar and Thistleclaw were nowhere to be found, but Oakheart heard his brother's signal, and saw Timberfur plunge into the river with his reinforcements. We've still got the advantage. Oakheart spun and caught sight of Graypool pinned beneath a white ThunderClan warrior. He dodged through the battle to her aid, gripping the white warrior's scruff and tearing him away. Graypool rounded on him in an instant, slashing mercilessly into his exposed belly until Oakheart finally let him struggle free and hurtle into the woods. No reinforcements. Rainclaw must be holding up well. Exchanging a triumphant glance with Graypool, Oakheart wheeled around with her and lunged after their next enemy.

"Thistleclaw!" The gray-and-white warrior was sent skidding to a halt on the bloody stones. A ThunderClan she-cat hurried to his side, limping heavily. "We've lost, Thistleclaw, we must retreat…!"

Thistleclaw staggered to his paws with a hiss. "This isn't the end of this," he rasped. "Just you wait…!"

Crookedstar lifted his head. "This is RiverClan territory," he sneered. "Crawl back to your trees and lick your wounds before we chase you out."

With one last defiant glare, the ThunderClan warrior spun unsteadily and charged away into the trees, the she-cat hot on his tail.

For a moment, there was quiet. Then Whiteclaw erupted from the trees with a triumphant caterwaul, and all of the battle party took it up. Crookedstar weaved through their ranks, his green eyes bright with pride and the rush of battle.

"You all fought brilliantly," he growled. "Now we must return to camp and share the news."

With another victory yowl, Crookedstar turned and led the race back to camp. The exploded through the sedge tunnel with their chins and tail high.

"Welcome back," Owlfur called from the sunny spot outside the elders' den. Lilystem sighed contently from her place beside the old tom.

"I smell victory."

"Well-scented," Ottersplash crowed with a toss of her head.

Sorrelkit and Stonekit were at Oakheart's paws in a heart-beat.

"Did you win?"

"Are you hurt?"

"Is that cut painful?"

"How many warriors did you fight?"

With a gruff purr, Oakheart slapped his tail over both of the kits' muzzles. "We won," he told them.

"We won!" Sorrelkit let out a mighty cry. "Let's go tell Sedgenose!" Mistykit met her brothers halfway, only to let out a squeal and join them on their way back to the nursery. Bluefur rolled her eyes as she approached, Shiverkit and Silverkit trailing after her.

"I heard that you won," she mewed dryly.

"Word sure travels fast," Oakheart snorted and touched his nose to hers. His mate drew her tongue across one of his deeper wounds.

"Thistleclaw?" She guessed.

Oakheart shook his head. "That apprentice of his, Tigerclaw. I see where he earned the name."

Despite the humor in his voice, Bluefur's eyes grew dark. With a forceful shake of her head, she cleared her thoughts—and her eyes. "I assume you sent him running back to the nursery?"

"Naturally."

Nearby, Graypool snorted as she licked her wounds clean. "It was a good battle," she meowed. "It's a shame you missed it, Bluefur."

"I don't know," Whiteclaw joked. "According to Thistleclaw, 'This isn't over.' I'm sure you'll get to flex your claws, Bluefur."

Bluefur unsheathed her claws, feeling a rush of excitement she hadn't felt in moons. It wasn't about spilling blood, or claiming territory—it was about the loyalty she felt for her Clan-mates, and the burning desire in her heart to prove herself to them. "I'm looking forward to it."

It's probably not the best battle scene that I've ever written, but I wanted to emphasize that Tigerclaw (while always clever) always seemed to just rely on brute force in battle, leading to his downfall multiple times to smaller, faster cats. I wanted it to be apparent how young he is, and how inexperienced. Also I just really love watching ThunderClan lose every now and again xD

Anyways

I hope you all enjoyed this chapter, even though it's a little shorter than some of the others. Much love; see you all next chapter!