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This chapter is shocking, sad, and adorable. You guys won't be disappointed!

Chapter 20

Acornkit squealed in surprise as his brother pounced on him, sending the two tumbling on the ground, sending clouds of dirt up into the air. Earthkit placed a tiny paw on Acornkit's stomach, his eyes shining triumphantly. "I win!" he cried, grinning.

"Thats not fair!" whined Acornkit, scrabbling at the dappled grey ball of fur which was crushing him. "I wasn't ready."

"All right, kits, thats enough." Deerspots pushed the two of them apart with her paws, although she couldn't help but smile. "Why don't you go and visit Minnowtail in the elders den? Maybe she'll tell you some stories."

Batwing watched in amusement as the two kits bumbled off towards the elders den, giggling together. It had been one moon since Deerspots had left, and life was beginning to slowly slide back into place. Leaffall had come, bringing the chilly winds and flaming colored leaves, and soon Leafbare would be upon them.

Shadowclan had begun to settle down since her meeting with Dawnspirit and Talonclaw, and Batwing was beginning to think that perhaps Crookedstar had had enough since the battle with Riverclan. However the two were not taking any chance. She had continued to train the young medicine cat until she had flawless battle skills. Blueflower had helped, her Shadowclan tactics all new to Batwing.

She suddenly shivered with rippling excitement, the feeling which always came as Talonclaw's face came to her mind. It had been bumbling through her head ever since she had realized who he was, and she could hardly control her mixed feelings over her brother.

It was as if someone had told her an incredible secret that filled her with unimaginable joy, yet the burden of it, to conceal it, simply crushed her. Batwing sniffled softly, hating the tumbling feelings inside of her.

Batwing got to her paws, the sudden urge to go hunting, perhaps to clear her head or distract herself from her own thoughts. As she padded over to the gorse tunnel, she turned at the sound of her name.

"Batwing!" Cloverfoot called out, bounding over next to her. "I was wondering if I could go hunting with you, I was going to go with Lynxfoot but he's busy today..." He trailed off and looked up at her hopefully.

Batwing grinned at his bashfulness. "Of course," she mewed brightly. "I'd love some company."

The cats bounded out of the Thunderclan camp, Cloverfoot's eyes sparkling shyly. It was two days since the tom's warrior ceremony, and it was clear that he had never enjoyed himself more. He also seemed to have more confidence, when he was an apprentice he had been too scared to ever approach Batwing. The two of them headed towards Snakerocks, the thin tress shading them.

Batwing glanced over at her companion, a mischievous glint in her eye. With a giggle, she shoved him into a monstrous pile of leaves, all shades of gold, amber, and crimson. Cloverfoot squealed in surprise and toppled into the thick stack.

His head popped out of the heap, one bright red leaf sitting atop his head. He grinned and lunged at Batwing, sending her tumbling after him into the pile with a cry of surprise. Cloverfoot burst out laughing as she surfaced back up into the air, her face startled and amused.

She snorted and stuff his head back under, her eyes narrowed daringly. "I win," she giggled.

Cloverfoot burst out of the leaves, rolling out onto the ground. He batted at her, but was already flipped over onto his back, helpless. Batwing grinned and playfully nipped his ear, jumping back as he flipped over and leaped onto her back, sending her flat on her side.

"Nope," he mewed, paw pressed triumphantly on her neck. "I win."

Dewpelt slipped more catmint into Goldenfoot's mouth, her brow wrinkled. She glanced back at Snowstorm, shivering from the fever which raged through his body. The greencough had spread from the old warrior to the elder, and with leafbare readily approaching, Dewpelt was beginning to fear the worst.

She nuzzled Goldenfoot gently, her eyes sad and defeated. She didn't want to admit to herself that she had failed the she-cat, yet she couldn't push off the realization any longer. The sickness had not improved, and Goldenfoot had begun to awaken less and less. Dewpelt feared that one day she would simply never wake up.

She force a quick smile as Snowstorm's eyes fluttered open. "Dewpelt," he mewed, his voice hoarse. He struggled to sit up on his haunches, a faint smile also on his face. "I feel as if your herbs are working, I'm not as tired as I was yesterday."

Dewpelt nodded hopefully, knowing she must remain strong for his sake. "Yes, I think you're right. Here, take some more." She prodded more catmint over to him, her pained smile still plastered onto her face. "You're going to be fine. You'll be better in no time."

Batwing padded back into camp, a mouse and a sparrow clamped between her jaws. Cloverfoot bounced along behind her, carrying a thrush. The two had stayed out all the way until sun high, and now the camp was alive with action.

The two cats deposited their catch on the freshkill pile, giving each other a grin. Batwing had expected that the hunting trip would be awkward since she and Cloverfoot weren't very close, however it had been so easy to talk to him. Once they had ended their little wrestle, they had begun to hunt, talking all the while.

Cloverfoot had told her how he had been afraid he would never become a warrior, he had been too behind in his training. Batwing had admitted that she had once felt that way also, sharing her fear when Startail became a warrior, and her doubt once Rabbitfoot had also left the apprentice den.

She had hardly been able to believe how much she shared with him, but it seemed to easy, as if she somehow knew she could trust him with her secrets. She had longed to spill her secret meetings with Dawnspirit, her strong bond with the young medicine cat, and her fears for Shadowclan, but she held her tongue, knowing she would just frighten him.

"Batwing, there you are!" Eaglewing bounded over, Owlfeathers and Greymoon in tow. "I want you on hunting patrol, we've been running low, and you're hunting skills are just what we need. Owlfeathers is leading it."

Batwing's fur warmed at her former mentor's praise, ducking her head. "Who else is coming?"

"I want Leappelt, Cherryblossom, and Brownlily," Eaglewing called out, answering the question, yet also yelling out across the camp so that her voice could be heard.

The three cats she had mentioned appeared out of their dens, faces alert and ready.

Owlfeathers gave a curt nod to them, clearly trying to hide his excitement at leading the patrol. He flicked his tail and bounded up the ravine and out of the camp, the rest of the cats following his lead. They made good time, heading towards sunningrocks. By the time they had reached their destination, Batwing had caught two mice and a small rabbit. The rest of the patrol hadn't been so lucky, however most held one catch in their jaws.

However something caught Batwing's attention, causing her to wrinkle her nose in confusion. It was the sharp tangy scent of catmint, quite out of place in this section of the forest. She glanced over at the rest of the patrol, yet they hadn't noticed anything out of the ordinary.

"Owlfeathers," she said tentatively, sniffing the air again. "Do you smell that?" The mint began to make her mouth water, its deliciousness wafting towards her nose.

Her words were cut off as a battle roared out across the forest. Batwing gasped with shock as Shadowclan warrior leapt out of the trees, their pelts bristling and claws unsheathed. She couldn't tell how many there were, but it clear that Thunderclan was outnumbered.

Batwing snarled in fury as she spotted Twigtail, bounding towards Brownlily. "Oh no you don't," she growled, her words sparked with fury. "I've got a score to settle." She lunged out across the ground, landing on the brown tom, her claws digging into his pelt. Brownlily took the opportunity to score her claws down the warrior's flank.

Twigtail roared in fury and flew Batwing off of his back, but she twisted midair and landed neatly on her paws. Before her had time to think, she lunged back at him and sunk her teeth into his shoulder, tasting the salty tang of his blood. Twigtail howled in pain, his screams unheard in the ruckus of the battle. He flailed his paws, trying to get free, managing to score his claws down her neck, sending a burning pain rocketing down her body.

Batwing finally let go of him, watching him stagger away and run back into the trees, his eyes wild with pain. She turned back to the battle, spotting Dreamfire battling Leappelt. Her friend was bleeding heavily from a wound along her neck, looking nearly fatal. She had similar cuts all along her belly, beginning to weaken her considerably.

Batwing snarled in anger and raced over, her eyes dark as she came face to face with Dreamfire. She gave a quick nod to Leappelt before jumping forward and whipping her head past the she-cat's grey pelt, teeth catching on her skin, ripping a huge wound open along her spine.

Dreamfire screamed in pain and surprise, having expected less from the black warrior. "I'm better when I'm angry," Batwing hissed, guessing the Shadowclan warrior's thoughts. "Murderer." She spat out the last words, as if it fouled her mouth.

Dreamfire leaned forward to attack again but stopped as a roar split the air. "Shadowclan retreat," Scratchfur howled, his wounds making him stagger.

Dreamfire glanced back at Batwing, who hissed back at her. With a snarl of fury, the she-cat turned and followed her clan off into the trees.

Batwing took a deep breath, wincing as she felt the wound Twigtail had given her. She heard a tormented moan and turned in horror to see Leappelt lying on the ground, her eyes scrunched up tightly. She rushed over with a cry, Owlfeathers rushing up next to her.

"We need to her back to Dewpelt now!" Batwing cried, her voice frantic as she covered up one of the deep cuts with her paw.

Leappelt moaned once more and went limp, her heartbeat feeble, as her blood trickled out onto the ground, staining it ruby.

Batwing stalked across the Thunderclan, her pelt flaming. Her eyes still stung with tears as she thought of Leappelt, her last breath draining away. The young she-cat had managed to make it back to the camp, still hanging on, but she had lost too much blood, and Dewpelt could do nothing for her.

She could still envision Leappelt's glassy eyes in her mind, her face filled with pain and sadness as she slipped away. Panthertail's face had been too much to bare, the horrified expression mixed with such agony that it broke Batwing's heart to look at him. He stayed with his sister until the end, his nose pressed into her quivering fur, helping her hold on.

Batwing snarled in outrage, jerking herself out of her thoughts. Dawnspirit was pacing back and forth in the clearing, expecting her friend. She opened her mouth in relief, ready to say something, but was cut off.

"You have nothing to say to me!" Batwing roared, her emotions exploding out, all of the bottled up rage and grief spilling into her words. "This battle was too far Dawnspirit. An amazing friend of mine was killed, and I will not ignore the threat anymore."

Dawnspirit trembled, her eyes tearing up. "I'm sorry, you know I had nothing to do with this."

"You're lying," Batwing hissed, her voice shaking. "I know you've been hiding something from me, I know that you're the only one who can destroy Crookedstar. Why won't you do it?"

Dawnspirit stared up, her face unbelieving. "You knew about the prophecy?" She looked down, both confusion and pain filling her gaze. "I'm afraid," she whispered. "I don't think I can do it."

"Of course you're afraid," Batwing said quietly, beginning to calm down and soften. "But no one else can stop him. You have to find the courage, Crookedstar has so many horrible things, and he'll just continue to bring pain to all he meets if you don't stop him. I don't know how you can save us but I know what the prophecy says and its not wrong."

Dawnspirit trembled. "I can't!" she cried, shaking her head. "Maybe he's not as bad as we think, perhaps I don't have to stop him."

Batwing sputtered at her feeble lies, her mind flashing back to the prophecy. And secrets learned.

Dawnspirit turned and began to pad back to the camp, her step defeated. "I'm sorry, but I don't think theres anything I can do."

"Dawnspirit!" Batwing cried, staring in horror at her retreating form. Her mind raced desperately and then she thought of the only thing which could perhaps convince the she-cat. "Dawnspirit, Crookedstar is your father!"