Chapter 34

Silverstar. The name still echoed in her dreams and when she was alone, it rang in her ears, even though it had been half moon since the ceremony. Dawn had already came and went, and sun-high was nearing. Silverstar padded over to Reedpelt, who was sending off a border patrol. "I'd like to go too." She meowed.

Reedpelt dipped his head and said, "Of course." Silverstar nodded back, and swept her patrol together with a swish of her tail. The cats, Splashspot, Shinewhisker, Webpelt, and Rosedrop, fell in behind her. Silverstar led the way out of camp and into the forest. The ThunderClan border was quiet, with no scent of trespassers.

"Do you want to check the Windclan border? There's no trouble here, so we have time." Shinewhisker asked.

"Yes, that's a good idea," Silverstar meowed. But she didn't take more than a few steps before a cat came flying out of a patch of bramble and slammed into her. Silverstar staggered, but lost her balance. She got to her paws, and shook out her fur. She glared at the cat that had knocked into her and opened her mouth to scold him, but close it as his scent washed over her.

The cat was already on his feet, walking toward Silverstar with urgency and panic in his eyes. "They're coming! Assemble the clans!" Gorsetail spoke in a rush. Silverstar's heart beat fast. Ok, you know what to do. You worked this out with the other leaders. Gather your clan and charge to Windclan land. That's where you're meeting up. That's where the battle will be.

Fear spun in her head; she had never been more scared for her clan in her entire life. Yet, this is what she was born to do. She nodded to Gorsetail and sent her patrol with him back to his territory while she turned toward the camp.

"Riverclan!" She yowled as she raced into camp. "It's time, warriors to me! Elders in your den!" The clan reassembled, the warriors rushing to her like water running through the river. Reedpelt stood at her left, and to her right was Oakstorm. With hardly a glance around her clan, she ran through the entrance of the camp again.

Reedpelt, panting as he kept pace with Silverstar, said, "There's a hunting patrol at the river!" Silverstar glanced to Oakstorm but before she said anything, Oakstorm turned around.

"I'll get them!" he yelled over his shoulder. Silverstar glanced after him for a minute, but returned her full attention to the path in front of her. When they neared the border, Silverstar ran straight through the scent marks without hesitation. If anything, she lengthened her stride. The dash across the moorland was easier, without the worry of running into trees. She saw ThunderClan to her right, so she veered a little off course to join them.

"Honeystar!" she called. The leader turned to the sound of her name and looked relieved to see Silverstar and her warriors. The two leaders nodded to each other and like joint leaders, led their clan as one to edge of WindClan.

"Dewdrop spotted them coming up highstones. He sent Gorsetail, Flamestripe, and Dapplefur. Gorsetail came back with a patrol of your warriors." Heatherstar reported when they reached her and her clan.

"Yes, he found us patrolling the ThunderClan border. I figured it would be easier if they went with him."

Heatherstar nodded, and Silverstar added, "I had one of my cats go get a hunting patrol. They'll get here soon."

"Look!" Honeystar said. ShadowClan emerged at the tops of the ridge and streamed down to join the others. Mudstar joined the other leaders at the head of the clans.

"Are all your cats here?" Silverstar asked. Mudstar shook his head.

"I had to have some cats get the queens and kits into their den. But they're on their way." He replied. Reedpelt, who had been standing behind his leader, nudged her.

"The hunting patrol just got here." He reported. Silverstar thanked him and excused herself. She picked her way through the crowd of cats and meet Oakstorm's gaze. He jerked his head and she made her way over to where he stood.

"I love you, Silverstar. I've never been happier than I am right now, to be your mate. If I lost you…I couldn't go on. Please keep yourself safe. Really, I need you." Oakstorm choked. Silverstar couldn't find the words to speak, so she simply nodded. He licked her ear, and she pressed herself close to him. His warmth filled her with strength and resolve.

She nudged him, then paddled up to join the other leaders. Cats began to appear at the top of Highstones. A movement behind her distracted her, but when Silverstar looked back, it was only the Shadowclan warriors. "Right. Everyone's here. Let's go." She meowed, and the other leaders nodded. Silverstar pictured Shadewhisper and Watersong, hoping they and the other medicine cats had found a good place to hide.

She took a few steps and then the others leaders did too. The four clans moved together as one, with Silverstar in the lead. The other leaders were behind her, and their deputies behind them. When all the enemies were directly across from them, she stopped. A lone cat took a step forward. That must be Blare,Silverstar thought, remembering Shadewhisper's story of how she and her friends killed his brother.These cats hardly look scary.

The cats were scrawny, their pelts ungroomed and their eyes blank. "We have come to take this land for ourselves!" Blare yowled.

Silverstar let out a huff. You and what army? We defeatl you easily!"You'll have to get through us first!" she yelled back. "Attack!"

She threw herself at Blare, hearing her cats yowl battle cries. The tomcat wasn't prepared for her attack, so he made no move to defend himself. All around them cats jumped on cats, fights broke out. Silverstar could hear hissing, could see claws ripping fur. She looked down at Blare. Surely, the fight wouldn't be this easy? Why had Starclan been so scared? She scratched him, slicing her claw from flank to tail. Blare screeched. He threw Silverstar off without difficulty and she found herself slammed into a gray tom.

The tom hissed and turned to see what happened. When his eyes meet Silverstar's, he growled. Silverstar searched for Blare, but to no success. He had simply vanished in the sea of cats. Suddenly the tom was on her, trying to expose the soft flesh of her belly. He clawed her side, and then her cheek. She let out a hiss of pain, and dropped to the ground and rolled. He was dislodged from her back, letting out a cry of surprise.

She was quick to use that surprise. She lunged forward and tangled her paws with his, making him fall. She bit him on the stomach, and growled. She put her legs on either side of him, digging her claws into the ground so he couldn't throw her off. She bit him again, on his face this time. Should I kill him…?

She couldn't bring herself to do it. That wasn't the kind of cat she was. She took one of her legs out of the ground and raked her claws down his stomach. He gave her one last growl before heaving her off and disappearing off in the battlefield.

Silverstar surveyed the battle. It seemed as though the enemies had grown more confident as the battle raged on. Silverstar saw a ginger she-cat and pounced on her.

…

Shadewhisper gathered the marigold together and rapidly chew it together. She spat out the leaf and put the rest of it on the bite wound Blackshadow had gotten. The medicine cats had all agreed to treat each cat's wounds without worrying what clan they belonged to. Blackshadow gave her a nod before rushing to rejoin the battle. The best shelter the medicine cats could find was a perfectly symmetrical dip in the ground. It looked like it was formed by from a Starclan cat, who had reached down and scooped a pawful of sand out of the ground. She looked over to Watersong, who was inspecting a scratch on Redclaw's side. "Here's some marigold," she meowed to her mentor.

"Thanks, could you get me some cobwebs?" Watersong asked. Shadewhisper nodded and walked to the edge where all the combined supplies were kept. She took some cobwebs and handed them to Watersong. The RiverClan medicine cat took them and applied it to the wound.

"Thanks." Redclaw, the deputy of ThunderClan, meowed. He scramble out of the dip and dashed away.

Seeing the enemies challenge her clan had reminded her of all the time she had spent in the mountains. She was finally able to be glad she and her friends had killed Blade. It would be ten times as bad with him still around. She had been shocked to see how battered they looked but judging by all the wounds, they were back to their old selves.

She was broke out her remembering by the sound of pawsteps. A cat in pain! Shadewhisper sprung to her paws. She recognized Browntail, of ThunderClan, but not the bloodstained cat she had on her back. Quickly, she helped him lower the cat to the ground, but it was too late. Shadewhisper didn't hear her breathing or see her chest fall and rise. She rasped her tongue over the pelt anyway, cleaning her up. Underneath the dried blood, the pelt was white and black.

It was Runningspot, a ShadowClan queen. May Starclan receive you safely.She called Runningfire and when he saw his clanmate lying there dead, his eyes filled with grief. All the medicine cats bowed their head respectfully. Shadewhisper murmured, "Thanks for bring her here. You'll be needed in the battle." Browntail nodded and seemed to shrug off his sadness.

Watersong pressed her pelt to Shadewhisper's for comfort. That was the sixth cat that had lost that day. Windclan had lost Wildheart and Rabbitfoot and the Shadowclan warrior Jadeeye had been killed in an ambush. Riverclan had lost Frostwhisker. A loud screech pierced the air, interrupting the sad passing. A black tom jumped into the dip and growled. The five medicine cats huddled together, scared stiff. Shadewhisper knew what she had to do. She was the only one who could go up against him. She had received training while she was in the mountains, and she knew his moves.

With a battle cry, she lunged for him, sweeping him off his paws. He was quick to retaliate. Back on his paws, he raked his claws from her shoulder to the base of her tail. Yowling in pain, she raised her claws to defend herself but he jumped on her. He flashed his teeth, almost in a smile, and placed his claws on her cheek. Slowly he ripped them down her face, stopping just before her throat.

His hesitation was his mistake. Watersong threw herself at him, sending him flying away from Shadewhisper. He hit the side of the dip with a loud thud. Hissing furiously, he struck his claws at Watersong, injuring her face. She tried to get up, but the tom was quicker. His teeth met her throat and it was all over for Watersong. Shadewhisper stared blankly at her mentor for a moment before unleashing all of her fury and sadness on him. Merciless, she clawed him and bit him before scratching his throat out. "Watersong!" she yowled.

The medicine cat had died quickly, leaving Shadewhipser so suddenly it took her breath away. She crumpled to the ground at Watersong's side, wishing things had been different, that she had been able to do something.

…

Silverstar had fought too many cats to count. She felt exhausted, hardly able to put one paw in front of the other, let alone fight. She wasn't the only one though. Most of the cats, clan or not, were tired. Neither side was giving in yet though, still trying to achieve their dream. A safe place to raise the future of the clans, or more hunting grounds and more greed. Blare! Silverstar knew that the battle could not be won without his death.

Before she could do anything, Bramblestripe leaped on the cream colored leader, and raised her claws. The WindClan she-cat's paws scored the leader's flank. Blare yowled, and wrestled with Bramblestripe. The gray she-cat was tired, but so was he. They stood apart for a second, just glaring at each other. Silverstar didn't think she was needed, so she turned her back to the fight and pounced on a sandy colored tom. He growled at her, and they became a whirling mess of fangs and fur. They both broke apart at the sound of a bloodcurdling, heart-wrenching scream.

It was Bramblestripe who had called out. Silverstar gave the sandy tom one last hiss and sprang to Brmabstripe's defense. Blare had her in an iron grip and was leaning in to deliver the death blow that would end her life. But Silverstar wasn't going to let that happen. She charged at Bramblestripe, knocking her out of Blare's claws. His blow came down on Silverstar instead, crushing her neck. She could see everything dimming fast. Her throat gushed out blood, and it was getting harder to breathe.

She had to do this now. Forcing herself to the limit of her strength, she hooked her claws around his neck and pulled him down hard. His head hit the ground, and bent at an awkward angle and his eyes rolled into his head. He gave a last jerk. Wherever his spirit was heading, it wouldn't be the same place as Silverstar's.

…

When Silverstar found herself in the shimmery forest, she didn't panic. Lined up in front of her were the nine cats who gave her the nine lives. Silverstar had a weird feeling in the pit of her stomach, almost as though something was trying to come out. It was then she started panicking. She had been to Starclan more times than the average cat, yet this had never happened. What was going on?

"You're losing a life, Silverstar. It will be a moment before you are well enough to return to the forest. The wound needs time to heal." Rainstar answered her unspoken question.

"You did marvelously well, Silverstar. We made a great choice in picking you, but you have surpassed even our expectations, and surprised us by just how much you're willing to give." Riverstar meowed.

Skyheart meowed, "You may return home now, to your clan, your sister, your mate and to peace. Peace will always be there for someone who is willing to fight for it. You, Silverstar, have fought and won it. You have passed every test."