I hope you enjoy this chapter! R&R!

I stared at Snowwhisker. The world dipped beneath my paws and spun, swirling together into a mass of color. All I could manage was a "No", my voice hoarse with disbelief. I started backing up, not caring as I backed into somebody. "No." I repeated. "No."

Slowly, Snowwhisker came towards me. "I'm sorry, Bramblestar. I really am."

I didn't register his words. Continuing to back up, I felt as if the world was a cave, collapsing in on me. Suffocating me. My breaths turned short and ragged, my tail sweeping low over the ground. My mind was in a haze of disbelief. Tawnypelt wasn't dead. She couldn't be. I'd follow Snowwhisker, and see that he was wrong. Tawnypelt would be standing there next to Rowanstar, smiling as she did whenever she saw me. Tawnypelt wasn't dead. Her tortoiseshell fur would be neat and well-groomed, smelling of pine and flowers. Her green eyes would be bright and curious, wondering why I was so ecstatic to see her. Tawnypelt wasn't dead.

I continued backing up until I felt a tail wrap around my shoulders. "Bramblestar." Squirrelflight said gently. "Go with Snowwhisker. Please."

Numb, I made my way over to Snowwhisker on shaky paws. The comforting words of his patrol seemed distant. Was this how Ivypool had felt when she lost Dovewing? Hollyheart when she lost Sorrelheart and Fernheart? It was something I had been foolish enough to believe would never happen to me.

As slow as snails, we walked through the forest. I tried to erase the look of grief on my face as we neared the ShadowClan border, but I couldn't. Rowanstar was waiting for me, along with Tigerheart and Scorchfur. For the first time since becoming leader, Rowanstar looked solemn. His eyes were clouded with grief, and his shoulders sagged.

"Greetings, Rowanstar." My voice faltered, and I cleared my throat. "One of my warriors has informed me that... That Tawnypelt was killed recently."

The ginger leader nodded. "She was killed by one of the visiting Twolegs at the Greenleaf Twolegplace. She was defending her apprentice, Hawkpaw, like a true warrior, when the Twoleg seized her and snapped her neck. The Twoleg would have killed Hawkpaw if she hadn't... acted."

It took me a long time to respond. Rowanstar's words sank into me slowly. As a new wave of grief came up and engulfed me, I forced myself to speak.

"Can I see her?"

I expected him to refuse. So you can imagine my surprise when he agreed. "You may, but your warriors stay here."

Slowly, I dragged my gaze from the ShadowClan cats to my own warriors. "Go back to camp. Tell Brightheart she is in charge until... I return."

They hesitated. I could tell they didn't like the thought of leaving their leader alone with a group of ShadowClan cats. But I held strong, and at last, they left.

I turned back toward the ShadowClan cats. "Take me to her." My voice came out as barely a whisper. I followed the ShadowClan cats as they led me into their territory. This was the first time I had been in ShadowClan's territory since the flood, a full season-cycle ago. As we passed through the Greenleaf Twolegplace, I felt bile rise in my throat. One of these Twolegs had killed Tawnypelt. I didn't know which one, but the very thought of it burned in my mind and made my claws slide out.

"The Twolegs here have been proving troublesome for us lately." Rowanstar confessed. My gaze darted over towards the leader, shocked that he was suddenly being so open with a rival Clan cat. I didn't try to interrupt him as he continued.

"The Twolegs have been scaring off a lot of our prey with all of their activities. They aren't like the other Twolegs that come here every season-cycle. They keep doing strange things, almost as if they are trying to map out a new camp. More of them come every day. I don't know how long it is going to be until they leave, but things aren't looking good."

I stayed completely quiet. I wasn't about to share with Rowanstar that I already knew all of this. He wouldn't be happy to learn that I had sent warriors to spy on him and his Clan. Instead, I focused on the path ahead. Everything else around me got blurry again. Tawnypelt. I reminded myself. You're here to see Tawnypelt.

We finally reached the ShadowClan camp. Inside, everyone was quiet. They eyed me curiously as I entered camp alongside their leader, but nobody commented on my presence. It was only natural that a brother would wish to pay his respects to his fallen sister.

All of my hopes that Rowanstar had been mistaken were extinguished when I saw her body.

Her head was twisted in an odd fashion, her eyes blank and sightless. Around her were her closest family and acquaintances. Her daughter, Dawnpelt, had her face pressed into her mother's dusty fur, eyes squeezed shut. Her kits, Flameclaw and Greystorm, lay next to her. And along with them, Hawkpaw, who had been Tawnypelt's apprentice before her death. Tigerheart, Tawnypelt's son, settled next to Flameclaw and pressed his nose against Tawnypelt's twisted, deformed neck.

"It's true." I croaked.

"Of course it is." Rowanstar's voice came as a growl of irritation. "Why would I lie about the death of my own mate?"

For a split moment, it hit me that Rowanstar and my sister had been mates. I don't know why I forgot that. I stepped away from Tawnypelt's body and looked at her ex-mate.

"I'm sorry for your loss."

Rowanstar's eyes hardened. "ShadowClan are not the only ones that have lost. You belong to a different Clan, yet I have come to acknowledge that you are Tawnypelt's kin. I am not going to stand by and not make any attempt to avenge her death. I have decided that tomorrow at dawn, my warriors and I will attack these Twolegs and show them that they cannot kill our warriors without consequence."

My eyes widened. "You wish to attack Twolegs? Rowanstar, have you forgotten how much bigger and stronger they are than us?"

His tail-tip twitched impatiently. "I would rather die than live knowing Tawnypelt had died in vain. Her death has showed us all how vicious and violent these Twolegs can be, and I will not stand by as more of my warriors are killed. I have already visited RiverClan and convinced Mistystar to join us in battle today. Now, I approach you. Bramblestar, I'll deny saying this later, but we need you and ThunderClan tomorrow."

I stayed quiet for a long time. Rowanstar was right when he said we couldn't let Tawnypelt's death go unjustified. The Twolegs that were responsible for her death would have to pay somehow. And even though the thought of fighting a Twoleg seemed mouse-brained, I couldn't think of a better solution.

"ThunderClan will stand beside you tomorrow in battle."

Rowanstar smiled. "I knew you would be willing to fight, Bramblestar. You are a true warrior, like your sister. May I have permission to pass through your territory to speak with Onestar?"

I blinked in surprise. Rowanstar usually never asked permission to walk through another Clan's territory; he just did it. I guess grief really could change a cat. I nodded, giving him permission to enter. "But you may not enter my territory with more than two warriors." I added quickly. He dipped his head in response, agreeing to my terms.

I turned toward the camp entrance. "I have to go. I will tell my Clan of what we have agreed to, and you have my word that we will be here tomorrow to fight for you."

Rowanstar met my eyes. "I expect nothing less from the leader of ThunderClan."

THE NEXT DAY

"Brightheart, Cloudtail, Millie, Smokepaw, Thornclaw, Ivypool, Daisypaw, Lionblaze, Snowwhisker, Stormcloud, Hollyheart, Thornsting, Firelight, and Dustpaw will join the battle patrol for today."

I could tell that some of the cats still were completely against the idea of fighting Twolegs, but I had confidence in Rowanstar's plans. On his way back from WindClan last night, he had stopped by and informed me that he had convinced Onestar to fight alongside the other three Clans today. One or two Clans weren't powerful enough to fight an entire group of Twolegs. But four Clans were.

My claws itched as I waited for the cats I had called to join me to assemble. I wondered which warriors the other leaders would choose to fight for them. I had a feeling Tigerheart and Dawnpelt would both be there, desperate to avenge the death of their mother. Hawkpaw, too.

Once all of my warriors had gathered, I turned to Birchfall. "You are in charge of the camp until we return, Birchfall. If something should happen to Brightheart and I, tell Squirrelflight she is to lead this Clan in my place."

The warrior looked a bit surprised that I had made such a wish, but he didn't voice his thoughts. Instead, he nodded curtly and went to stand beside Whitewing. The white queen looked relieved that none of her youngest kits had been called to battle.

I turned toward the camp entrance. Letting out a fierce battle cry, I sped into the forest. My patrol charged after me, all of them keeping pace. The apprentices were clearly looking forward to fighting in their first battle, while Thornsting and Firelight seemed eager to fight in their first battle as warriors.

We set a blinding pace through the forest, heading towards the Greenleaf Twolegplace. All four Clans had agreed to bring their battle patrols to meet at the ThunderClan-ShadowClan border. As I ran, I felt my heart begin to pound with excitement. I'd never even dreamed that one day I'd be fighting an opponent as formidable as a Twoleg. Now, I was finally going to get the opportunity to fight what I considered to be the most dangerous creature alive.

When we reached the border, Rowanstar and Onestar's patrols were already there. Rowanstar called out a greeting, while Onestar held an icy silence. I ignored his hostility and returned Rowanstar's greeting. As I had expected, Tigerheart and Dawnpelt were both there, looking eager to begin fighting. I recalled how Tigerheart had trained in the Dark Forest at one point. Despite that, he was one of ShadowClan's most loyal warriors. I felt a flicker of pride for my kin.

I scanned the rest of the ShadowClan cats, looking for the familiar face of Hawkpaw. I had to admit I was a bit surprised to see that he wasn't there. His brother, Clawpaw, wasn't, either. I had only just remembered last night that Hawkpaw and Clawpaw were Tawnypelt's kin, too, since their father was Tigerheart. I guess Rowanstar only wanted experienced warriors to fight in this battle. I did see Greystorm, however, which pleased me. Scorchfur, Dawnpelt's mate, was there, too, along with Crowfrost, Grassdawn, and Stoatfur.

From WindClan, Onestar had brought with him his deputy, Harespring, along with Crowfeather, Gorsetail, Heathertail, Breezepelt, Featherheart, Hootowl, Crouchfoot, and Rockstep.

Most of us were silent, with a few cats exchanging battle tips and discussing the threat these Twolegs posed. Rowanstar, Onestar, and I all avoided talking until we heard Mistystar's call.

I looked up as the blue-grey leader approached, flanked by her deputy and son, Reedwhisker. They were joined by Minnowtail, Mintfur, Grasspelt, Duskfur, Lakeheart, Heronwing, Lizardleap, and Perchleap.

I opened my jaws to greet Mistystar, but Rowanstar spoke before I could. "Greetings, Mistystar. Now that all four Clans are here, we can start."

The RiverClan leader nodded. Rowanstar turned towards the Greenleaf Twolegplace.

"Let's go. It's time for revenge."