Sunheart led her hunting patrol along the WindClan border. Following her was Foxleap and Graystripe. Bramblestar had thought it would help her to lead some patrols and turns out he was right. Sunheart had gained some confidence and the senior warriors helped her out as much as they could. She was grateful for their support.
Suddenly Sunheart halted. She narrowed her eyes when she saw Breezepelt heading out of the territory. "What are you up to Breezepelt?" she murmured.
"Should we follow him?" Foxleap asked.
"No, he'd hear us," Sunheart pointed out.
"Then what do we do? He's only met the rogues and night and that's obviously what he's doing," Graystripe piped up.
Sunheart thought for a moment before coming up with a solution. "I've got it! Dovewing can track him! Come on! We've got to hurry!" She dashed back toward camp with the patrol behind her. When they got there she sent Graystripe to tell Hawkfur and Foxleap to inform Bramblestar. Sunheart found Dovewing sharing tongues with Jayfeather and Lionblaze outside the medicine den. Sunheart padded up to her.
"Hi Sunheart," Dovewing greeted her with a smile. "Catch any good prey?"
"Dovewing, this is urgent. I need you to track Breezepelt," Sunheart meowed, ignoring her greeting.
Dovewing's happy gaze turned to one of seriousness. She nodded and began to use her senses to track Breezepelt. After a moment she opened them again and looked at Sunheart with fear in her eyes. "He's coming now!"
Sunheart nodded. "Thanks Dovewing!" she meowed as she dashed toward the Highledge. Bramblestar was just climbing down from his den.
"I heard you saw Breezepelt. Is he coming now?" the ThunderClan leader asked.
Sunheart nodded. "Dovewing said he's coming."
Bramblestar nodded. "It's your time now, Sunheart. Lead us out of this."
Sunheart climbed the Highledge and took a deep breath. "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join here beneath the Highledge for a Clan meeting!" she called. The Clan began to gather quickly. Squirellflight came up with Hawkfur behind her. She instructed him to sit below the Highledge like she would do. Hawkfur did as he was told. When all the cats were gathered Sunheart began. "Cat's of ThunderClan the battle is upon us. You've seen our enemy. The threat comes from Breezepelt, Dark Forest warriors and rogues. But we are not going to let them get into our camp. We'll meet them outside in the territory. However I'm going to leave some warriors to guard the camp entrance. I want no enemy warriors inside camp."
"What about Vineleaf?" Jayfeather asked. "She's out gathering herbs."
"Shadowmoon, go and find her," Sunheart ordered. "When you get back you can help guard the camp entrance." The young warrior nodded and dashed out of camp. "I would also like Dustpelt, Leafpool and Icecloud to stay and guard the camp entrance. And the apprentices must stay near a warrior at all times. I don't want to lose any of ThunderClan's future warriors. We will beat this threat! ThunderClan will win this battle!"
The Clan yowled their agreement and Sunheart leaped off of the Highledge. With Hawkfur at her side she led the Clan out of camp. Hawkfur licked her ear. "Be careful."
"You too," Sunheart murmured. She the caught the scent of Clan scent mixed with rogues and Breezepelt appeared with all his followers. Sunheart raised her tail and ThunderClan halted.
"The Clans are no more!" Breezepelt yowled. "You cast out the strong and care for the weak! We will not stand for it any longer! The warrior code makes the Clans weak! Death to the Clans!" The cats behind him yowled their approval.
"The warrior code makes us strong!" Sunheart retorted. "What you see as weak is really strong! The warrior code is worth fighting for!" ThunderClan yowled their approval behind her.
"And who are you to speak for ThunderClan? I thought that was Bramblestar's job," Breezepelt growled.
"I was chosen by StarClan to stand before you today. No matter what it costs me I will not let you destroy the warrior code. Long live the Clans!" Sunheart's yowl was taken up by her Clanmates behind her.
"StarClan can't help you now!" Breezepelt sneered. "Attack!" The cat's behind him surged forward.
"ThunderClan! Attack!" Sunheart shouted and the battle began.
