Fireheart

Tigerclaw was the first to reach the conflict, but Fireheart was close behind. Either Bluestar and Tigerclaw had to die, or both of them had to live. Why is everything always against me? He quickly scanned the battle for Bluestar, noticing that that fluff brain Sandstorm was stumbling away from a rogue, bloodied. Whitestorm was trying to fight off two rogues at once. And circling Bluestar was the last cat Fireheart expected to see. Brokenstar! The ex leader of ShadowClan was much bigger than Bluestar, and Fireheart knew that Bluestar would lose if those two got in a fight. Tigerclaw made as if to help her, but a trio of big rogues all attacked him at once, forcing him to a stop. Fireheart tried to reach Brokenstar before he pounced, but he was too slow.

The rogue leaped through the air, claws extended. There goes my chance as leader… Then out of nowhere a warrior slammed into Brokenstar. The two toms scrambled to their paws, shock and rage was etched all over Brokenstar's ugly features.

"That was a mistake, Oakheart!" He hissed. The RiverClan cat simply attacked. The fight was the most intense Fireheart had ever seen. The rogue was faster and more experienced, but Oakheart fought with a legendary ferocity. Finally they once again broke apart, both of them panting. Oakheart had a dozen deep wounds, but he was still standing tall. Fireheart couldn't believe his eyes, Any one of those wounds could've killed a warrior! Brokenstar seemed to be thinking the same thing. Doubt glittered behind his dark gaze as he looked for another opening.

"This isn't your fight, warrior. Return to RiverClan."

Oakheart hissed in defiance, "A true warrior never runs. But you wouldn't know that, would you?" Brokenstar let out a roar, and lunged for Oakheart. The RiverClan deputy met him with claws at the ready, and they clashed together. After a blur of movement, Oakheart flung the traitorous warrior away from him. Brokenstar landed on his side, moaning. Oakheart looked up at Bluestar, and for a heartbeat his eyes glittered with emotion. Then he too crumpled to the ground.

"Brokenstar!" a rogue she cat yowled, leaping towards him.

"Oakheart…" Bluestar murmured, as if in a daze. Behind Fireheart, Tigerclaw lashed out powerfully, sending his final attacker scrambling back into the thick brush. Firheart came to his senses and bounded to Bluestar's side. Act sad… Act worried…

"Bluestar," he mewed urgently, "Are you alright?" Silently, his leader nodded. Fireheart let out a sigh of relief. Maybe his chance at leader was gone after all.

"My eyes!" Brokenstar's agonized yowl rang through the clearing. Fireheart turned to see the ex leader writhing in pain, deep clawmarks covering his face. He felt a shudder of horror. The cat had been blinded. The rogues took one look at their defeated leader and sprinted away into the woods. Loyalty only lasts as long as the power does.

Whitestorm knelt at Oakheart's side and inspected the warrior, "He's dead."

Darkstripe shook his head sadly, "I can't believe it. A RiverClan warrior saved our leader." Tigerclaw glanced at Dustpaw.

"Go tell RiverClan what happened. Tell them they can retrieve the body." Dustpaw nodded, trying in vain to blink the blood out of his eyes before taking off at a bound. Fireheart laid his tail on Bluestar's shoulder.

"Come on," he murmured, "Let's get back to camp." His leader followed him without a word. They arrived at camp without any incident. That was no surprise. Dead cats have a way of messing up a plot. Yellowfang was standing in the center of the camp, an unreadable look on her face.

Fireheart gestured to Bluestar, "We got ambushed by rogues. Could you make sure she's okay?" Yellowfang nodded and led Bluestar away to the leader's den without a word.

Willowpelt and Runningwind padded towards him.

"What happened?" Ask Runningwind.

"I don't know exactly," Fireheart replied, "We were on our way back from the Gathering, and a bunch of cats attacked us. A RiverClan cat saved Bluestar, but he died."

Willowpelt gasped, and running wind licked her ear to comfort her.

Then he turned back to Fireheart, "Who did it?"

"It looks like it was Brokenstar and a bunch of his rogues. I don't think a Clan sent them."

The dark warrior glanced up at Bluestar's den, "At least she looks okay. You should get some sleep." And for once in his life, Fireheart agreed with a Clan cat.

As always, thanks for reading! One of the most important parts of this series is coming up in a few chapters! Suspense...