CHAPTER 53-Ashes to Ashes

Once I stepped out of those tunnels, I thought I had entered into a nightmare, maybe even hell itself. The ground was scorched and charred with grey, burnt soot that left sighs of smoke in the pale dawn air. A few wisps of fire were still raging across the grass, but most of it had already been extinguished from the gentle patter of soft rain. Black trees had been scorched of their bark and now lay empty and twisted among the ashen rocks. For miles around, there was nothing except burnt rubble and the soft sighs of a land that used to be. I was almost afraid to walk across its charred surface, as if a single touch would make it crumble and die.

But where were the others? I quickly scrambled away from the tunnels, determined to put as much distance between them as I could. My heart sank as I caught sight of some blackened carcasses lying around. Luckily, they were only rats and dogs and the occasional badger or fox. Maybe the Clans escaped? Maybe they were only hiding somewhere.

A painful fit of coughing sounded from farther away, behind a large boulder. I unsheathed my claws and slowly crept toward it, preparing myself in case it was an enemy. To my surprise, it was only Blackstar crouching there with his paws tucked underneath his belly, his white pelt so covered in ash that it looked grey. Scratches and raw wounds covered it. Littlecloud was sprawled next to him, a red gash on his throat. His eyes were closed.

My eyes widened. "Littlecloud?" I gingerly placed a paw on his side, but he wasn't breathing. I looked up at Blackstar tearfully. He only shook his head and closed his eyes. "The Darklings got to him. There wasn't anything I could do." His voice sounded cracked and hoarse. He coughed again, shuddering, his shoulders quivering from the strain.

"Where are the others?" I asked.

"Somewhere. I don't know," he replied.

Littlecloud's cold body was so small that he looked like a kit, wilted and made even tinier from the vast, icy ground that he was lying on. The oncoming rain quickly turned the dirt into a muddy soup that tainted his tabby coat. I tried to groom his fur, licking the grime and soot off with my tongue, my brown eyes sad.

"He was always there for his Clan," I murmured softly, pressing my forehead against his. Blackstar heaved a sigh, the air scratching against his smoke-stained throat.

"I'll miss him," he meowed. His voice trembled. The rain continued to pour from the sky, as if StarClan was mourning for all their losses. Instantly, I was soaked to the bone. The dry ground drank up the water rapidly, soothing its heat-scorched tongue. I gently picked up Littlecloud by the scruff of his neck and began to limp away. I turned, surprised to see that Blackstar wasn't following. He was just lying there, looking utterly exhausted.

"Hey." I nudged him, urging him forward. "We have to leave. It's not safe out in the open."

He only shook his head and winced, before laying his head down between his paws. As I hovered over him, he looked tiny and insignificant. The water plastered his fur over his thin frame, amplifying how weak and skinny he looked. Where did the old Blackstar go? The one who was strong and proud, always willing to protect his Clan and never backing down from a fight?

I pleaded, "Come on. I'll let you lean on my shoulder."

He scowled and muttered, "I told you, I can't. It's no use." There was a hint of his short-tempered tongue hovering faintly in those words.

I nudged him. "Oh, don't say that. Look, once—"

Blackstar closed his eyes and meowed, "I'm dying, Shadefrost. My nine lives have finally come to an end."

My eyes widened as I processed what he said. I crouched down and shuffled closer until our pelts were brushing together.

Together, we watched as the rain plummeted from the sky like so many tears.

"You can't go. Not yet. ShadowClan still needs you," I whispered, my eyes glistening.

He coughed, but grinned softly. "Oh, Rowanclaw will make a better leader than I'll ever be. I suppose the kits will be glad to see the end of me. Russetfur used to always complain about how I scare them half to death."

He laughed good-naturedly, but was abruptly cut off with a coughing fit. "Russetfur...she seemed like a pretty strict cat, but I knew that she only did what was best for her Clan."

I stared at him, at the shrunken leader who seemed so old and slow all of a sudden. "I don't want you to go," I whispered.

He gazed up at the grey sky. "I've lived a long life," he sighed. "It's time to make peace with StarClan."

His amber eyes suddenly flashed with energy when he stared into mine. "I need to ask you a favor," he mewed slowly. "I need you to take care of ShadowClan for me. Please." I nodded quickly.

He heaved a sigh and sank onto the ground. "Littlecloud said that you were the cat from the prophecy. Can I depend on you to save ShadowClan?"

"Yes," I whispered. "I'll try."

"I believe in you."

I jerked up in surprise. That was the least thing I expected Blackstar to ever say. He closed his eyes, probably for the last time, and I could do nothing more except to curl up around him and wait for the rain to stop.

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I trudged through the ashen dirt, not caring if I splashed mud onto my paws. Littlecloud was dangling lightly on my back, and I was half-carrying, half-dragging the heavy body of the leader by the scruff of his neck.

I needed to check on the ThunderClan camp. I limped over to the tall cliffs that towered above the thorn barrier, pausing in sorrow to see the thorns and gorse torn to pieces and strewn all over the place. I slipped past it and entered the camp, bracing myself for the worst.

The whole clearing was in tatters. The dens were lopsided and had huge cracks and holes in them, as if someone was trying to dig their way inside. Moss was scattered all over the place like bits of wrinkled confetti after a wild party. Dried blood stained the walls. Even the fresh-kill pile, or what was left of it, was only a mound of mouse skeletons and half-chewed vole carcasses.

A large rat was gnawing on the dead body of a hound, but it quickly scattered as I neared.

I peered in all of the dens, but it seemed that it was deserted. A growing sense of despair began to overwhelm me as I quickly scrambled onto the Highledge and scanned the clearing. There was a slight movement in one of the medicine cat dens and I hissed as I thought if it might be an intruder. Leaping down from my perch, I quietly snuck into the den.

A shadow moved in the darkness, and without hesitation, I yowled and bowled it over. It hissed, and I raised my claw when I suddenly realized who it was.

I backed away to let Jayfeather sit up. He lashed his tail angrily. "What was that for?" he demanded.

I ducked my head in embarrassment and forced my fur to lie flat. "I just thought you were someone else." I quickly straightened up and asked, "Where's everyone else?"

He pointed his nose to the distance. "The survivors have assembled onto the Gathering island. I just went back here to check if I had any more marigold."

My ears flattened in worry. I was almost afraid to ask. "...How many of us are left?"

He shrugged and began to sniff a clump of withered herbs. He murmured quietly, "About half of each Clan. The ones who managed to live act as if they've lost all hope."

He softened his gaze. "But as long as you don't give up, nothing is lost. You know that, right?"

I pawed at the ground uncertainly. "Yeah. I'll try to do everything I can."

"Whelp. Let's get going then." He managed to scrape together a few sorry-looking leaves and I followed him out.

A faint breeze of ShadowClan drifted over to us and he flicked his ears forward in surprise as he leaned down to sniff the bodies of Blackstar and Littlecloud. I had left them at the entrance of the medicine den.

"They're dead," I said flatly. He nodded silently and gently carried Littlecloud away on his back. I dragged Blackstar after us, his limp tail trailing in the mud.

We trudged through the gloom in silence, our paws squelching on the wet ground and my senses alert in case anything tried to attack us.

As the sight of the shriveled up, charred oak trees and dog corpses passed us one by one, I flinched and wanted to close my eyes, wishing that this was all just a dream. A hopeless dream.

Luckily, the Gathering island looked wholly intact. The fire must have missed it. We scrabbled on the slippery tree bridge, helping each other cross.

Once I stepped onto the rich, soft ferns and grass slick with rain drops, I managed to relax a bit. This was a place that seemed safe, a place that never felt the hungry, lapping tongues of flame. Soft murmurs rippled through the trees.

Jayfeather pointed with his tail. "They're over there," he mewed quietly.

Hesitantly, I slowly crept over to the center of the island, not sure what I would find. I gulped, preparing myself for the worst.

A large mass of cats were seated on boulders, milling around, or resting. Clumps of their fur had been torn off and patches of dried blood still stuck to their pelts, but most of their wounds had been treated by the medicine cats.

A rare handful of them were chatting quietly with their companions, but the others just sort of...lay there. Their eyes were glassy and unfocused, their mouths set in grim lines. I wondered what special horrors they had seen on the battlefield. If I hadn't noticed the subtle rise and falls of their chests as they breathed, I would have thought they were carved from stone.

The fear scent was overwhelming. Even the kits were quiet and huddled closely to their mothers. I searched the crowd eagerly, hoping with all of my heart that I would see Snowstorm and Dewstep among them.

"Go on," Jayfeather murmured, nudging me forward. Reluctantly, I stepped away from my hiding place.

A moment of raw terror seized the cats when they saw me. They yowled and unsheathed their claws, but quickly blinked and backed away when they realized that it was only me.

Then they caught sight of the limp body dangling from my mouth. I gently set Blackstar down next to Littlecloud as Rowanclaw slowly padded forward, his steps unsteady, his eyes wide, as if he was in a trance. He leaned down and sniffed the leader's fur, his tail quivering in fear.

"Blackstar?" he breathed. He gazed up at me questioningly, wondering for a few seconds if he was somehow alright.

I shook my head sadly. "Blackstar and Littlecloud died fighting," I whispered.

With a muffled wail, he buried his face in his leader's cold fur. The other ShadowClan cats cried and surged forward, and the two lifeless bodies were quickly surrounded by mourning Clanmates.

Brightheart swiftly pushed through the crowd and limped toward me. "Have you seen Snowstorm and Dewstep?" she rasped urgently, her face etched with worry.

I shook my head. "They're with—"

I stopped myself. Why did I trust Pip to protect the two loyal friends that I so dearly loved? Pip was a fox. Everything she said could have just been a trap to lure them away from me.

In the meantime, I helped in treating the wounded cats, taking care of the kits, and trying not to flinch when I saw warriors with worse wounds than mine. It helped me keep my mind off things.

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Rowanclaw's eyes were defiant. He lashed his tail and hissed, "Aren't you the cat from the prophecy? You're supposed to save us! Why couldn't you save Blackstar and Littlecloud?"

Brackenfur mewed evenly, "Leave her alone, Rowanclaw. The last thing we need is an argument."

But I wasn't going to back down that easily. Standing up, I flattened my ears and replied coldly, "There wasn't anything I could do. You can't expect me to save everyone. But I'm trying, Rowanclaw. I really am."

The ShadowClan deputy remained hostile for a few more minutes, but then seemed to deflate like a balloon and sat back down on his haunches, his gaze sorrowful.

After a moment of silence, he mewed, "Now that Littlecloud is gone, who's going to be our new medicine cat?"

Snowbird replied, "That's for StarClan to decide. I'm sure they'll give us a sign soon." She looked expectantly at the cloudy sky, as if a StarClan warrior was going to float down and start talking.

I shook my head and clawed at the ground in frustration. "StarClan can't see us anymore," I hissed. "They won't be giving a sign any time soon."

A murmur of worry rippled through the crowd.

An apprentice wailed, "But we can't go on without StarClan! Who's going to guide us?" The others yowled in agreement.

I turned around and my gaze drifted around the wounded, tired group of cats before me. They all looked defeated.

"StarClan might not be able to help us right now," I said. "But that doesn't mean we can't continue to fight. We have to depend on ourselves and our Clanmates now, not in our ancestors. Prayers and hopeless wishing won't help us. I promise you, I will defeat Fang. I will save StarClan, and every last one of you."

I extended my tail and gestured to all of the cats gathered around me. "You see these cats sitting next to you? These are your Clanmates. It doesn't matter if you're from a different Clan. Right now, we have to band together. We have to protect each other. As long as we look after each other like brothers and sisters, we will prevail. I promise."

The cats blinked at each other uncertainly, but little by little they began to relax. I stared up at the gloomy sky. Angry dark rain clouds had blotted out every ray from the sun, and I knew that the four Clans were on their own.

I couldn't let anyone down. I had to win.

Sighs of relief and gasps of surprise sounded from the others, and I whirled around.

My breath caught in my throat, and for a brief second, the determination flaring inside me faltered.

Snowstorm and Dewstep were limping into the clearing, their flanks heaving in exhaustion. They looked every bit as battered and bruised as the last time I saw them.

Amberlight and Whitewing bounded forward to meet their brothers. "I thought you had died!" they wailed.

I pushed through the crowd, ignoring everything except for the fact that they were alive.

Snowstorm's amber eyes gleamed when they caught mine. I launched myself at them, ignoring the burning stings from my wounds, and tackled them to the ground. Relief flooded over me in tidal waves as I enveloped them in tight hugs, licking their fur despite the tangy taste that the blood gave off.

"I missed you," I whispered, my voice muffled from Snowstorm's fur. He blinked down at me fondly, his eyes shining like round coppers. "Me too. I thought I'd never see you again."

Dewstep drew a paw over one ear, trying not to be embarrassed by the fuss that Brightheart was giving him.

He pointed his nose to the direction of some ferns. "We got help. If it weren't for her..."

The undergrowth rustled and a fox stepped out, walking on three paws because the other one was slightly bleeding.

Pip!

The others cats growled and unsheathed their claws. "Get away from here!" they yowled.

Pip flinched and halted, obviously overwhelmed.

I quickly stood over her, my eyes firm, daring anyone to attack her.

"Leave her alone!" I meowed. "She saved Snowstorm's and Dewstep's lives."

Reedwhisker bristled and spat, "But she's a fox!"

I muttered, "Yeah, and Midnight was a badger." Ignoring their hostile glares, I gently sniffed Pip's wounds. Her bristling began to lie flat.

"Thank you," I whispered gratefully. Her eyes shone happily.

She tipped her head to one side and said, "Ember."

"What?"

Dewstep padded over to us and meowed, "Her real name is Ember. At least, that's what she told me."

When the other cats realized that Ember wasn't a threat, they began to break up and drift away, having quiet conversations with each other.

"So how did you escape?" I asked.

Dewstep shrugged, wincing from the pain. "Ember led us out of the tunnels. A few other foxes were chasing us, so we had to split up. In the end, we managed to find each other again and managed to run away."

I grinned. "It seems that you were wrong about her, Dewstep. Ember is different from the other foxes. She's one of us now."

The tom reluctantly muttered, "Yeah, I guess," and flicked his tail. Some WindClan cats called him over, and we watched as he ambled away.

Snowstorm seemed antsy for some reason. "Do you need to see Jayfeather?" I asked worriedly.

He shook his head and pawed at the ground. After looking around nervously, he mewed, "Uh, I need to take a walk. Will you come with me?"

I brightened up. "Sure!" I wanted to spend some time in his company.

Before leaving, he said to Ember, "If any cat gives you any trouble, just come find us," and without hesitating, we bounded off, carefully so we don't strain any of our wounds.

The air was quiet and echoing. Pine trees loomed up around us and seemed to wrap us in a protective embrace. I knew this serene feeling wouldn't last forever, so I tried to enjoy it for as long as I could.

It was Snowstorm who first broke the stillness. "So, uh, Ember changed?"

"Yep. She figured out her mistakes and realized that everything Fang did was wrong. She couldn't stand that much bloodshed and suffering."

I paused. "Do you...think we could make her a warrior of ThunderClan?"

He smiled, realizing how absurd that sounded. "A warrior fox? I don't know."

He suddenly cleared his throat and quickened his pace. He seemed nervous again.

His next question caught me completely by surprise.

"Um, Shadefrost? Do you...ever think of settling down and..." He broke off and swallowed. "...and having kits?"

I paused, almost falling flat on my face from surprise. My mind went blank, and I wondered if I had just imagined what he was saying. I glanced at him. His face was dead serious (and a little bit anxious).

I coughed nervously and looked away so he wouldn't see the soft smile dancing on my face. Having kits would be nice...

I imagined myself in the nursery with four kits tumbling all over me, their eyes all round and cute. And Snowstorm was with me...

I snapped back to reality, my fur burning like the sun.

I mentally shook my head, my thoughts zooming around in my head at a hundred miles per hour. He only asked me if I wanted to have kits! That didn't mean anything! That didn't mean anything at all!

And besides, I was too young to be thinking about that kind of stuff. But still...I couldn't help but imagine what it would be like...living our lives together.

I pushed that thought away, telling myself that it would never happen.

With my heart racing, I took in deep breaths and forced myself to calm down. "Uh, yeah, kits, I'd like that..."

If anything, Snowstorm looked even more embarrassed than me. His white fur had almost turned a shade of pink.

I backed away as he slowly took a step toward me. Leaning down, he gently pressed his forehead against mine. His flowery scent that I had grown to love so much enveloped me in its gentle arms.

I relaxed slightly as he licked my cheek fondly. I had dreamed about this moment often, telling myself that it was only a fantasy, a tiny wish that the falling stars had forgotten to grant. That it would never come true.

Now, as my heart raced inside my chest, threatening to burst with emotions, I gazed wide-eyed at him as he pulled back. Nothing felt real anymore, as if this was just a dream. I didn't want to ever wake up.

"Shadefrost," he began.

I clenched my eyes shut, preparing myself in case this was all just a fake vision. I felt him wrap his tail around me and pull me close. I felt his fur tickle my nose, and I had no choice but to melt into his warmth.

"...love you," he murmured.

I smiled and buried my face in his fluff, not willing to show him how happy I was. No one had ever said that to me before. I hadn't expected anyone to.

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More rain had begun to fall, but we managed to take shelter in the hollow of a tree. We were curled up around each other, our tails tangled together.

He nudged my cheek gently. "I'm sorry I couldn't protect you."

I sleepily curled up tighter, not wanting to let go. "I'm the one who should be apologizing. You got hurt and I couldn't help you."

The rain drummed down gently onto the ground, washing away the ash and the taint of blood on the soil. Snowstorm closed his eyes and breathed gently, "When all of this is over, would you like to have kits?"

Oh, I'd like that. Snowstorm and I, just the two of us with our family...

I smiled. "I'm too young." The words slipped out of my mouth before I could stop them.

He crinkled his eyes in amusement. "What do you mean? You're already a warrior."

"I—uh..."

He leaned toward me closely and rested his head on top of my shoulder. "You're hiding something, aren't you?" he purred. "I can't help but notice when you accidently say something, and then you quickly break off and won't say anything more about it."

I was reluctant to tell him. How would he react? Would he run away? Would he hate me? I gazed at his amber eyes, as soft and gentle as mist. But I couldn't keep a secret forever. I had to trust him.

Ducking my head, I murmured, "I...I'm actually a Twoleg. Or I used to be one."

He stiffened slightly. "But that's impossible."

"StarClan turned me into a cat and sent me here." I hesitated, not wanting to meet his gaze. I gulped.

To my surprise, he rasped his tongue over one of my ears, grooming me. "Snowstorm? Did you hear what I said?"

"So what, if you're a Twoleg? I love you anyway."

"Snowstorm..." I was so happy that I could hardly breathe.

He murmured, "How old are you, anyway?"

My ear flicked. "Fourteen years."

He closed his eyes and twined his tail around mine. "That's amazing."

We rested for a moment in the hollow, feeling each other's heat and breathing in our scent. Love was so gushy and sappy, but it left a sweet taste on my tongue.

This was a dream come true. For a while, everything was right in the world.

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Most of the cats hadn't noticed our absence. Dewstep bounded over to us, flicking his tail with his yellow eyes glinting mischievously.

"Did you have fun?" he purred. Snowstorm's ears turned a shade of bright scarlet and he meowed bluntly, "Say that again and I'll claw your face off."

Dewstep's whiskers twitched in amusement, but then his tone turned serious again. He asked, "So, when do you think the foxes will attack again? Maybe if all of the Clans gather together into a tight group, they'll be reluctant to fight us."

I shook my head. "Fang won't give up that easily."

The air suddenly seemed thicker, for some reason, as if something was coming our way. I braced myself.

Just then, a surge of foxes and Darklings whirled out from their hiding places and instantly, the Clans were surrounded.

They growled and pawed at the ground, but they didn't move. They were waiting for orders from their leader.

To my relief, the Clans had managed to work together. All of the warriors were bunched up, side-by-side, into a circle. The queens, kits, and elders were huddled inside the center of it, protected by the thick ring.

I growled at the foxes. They glared back. Ember scooted up next to me and whined anxiously. I stroked her back with my tail, never tearing my gaze away from the enemies. Snowstorm glanced at me, and seeing him immediately made me relax a little.

The foxes parted and Fang shouldered his way through, looking all mighty and proud in his rat-hearted glory. Oh, I wanted so much to feel the rip of his fur beneath my claws, to make him pay for everything he did. I hissed.

Fang's eyes narrowed when he caught sight of me. The others stiffened.

The fox barked sharply, "I want Shadefrost. If you give her to me, then I might reconsider killing the rest of you."

Liar. Fang would kill us anyway.

The foxes and Darklings began to close in around us, circling us with a hungry look in their evil eyes.

I whispered to my companions, "As soon as I give the signal, I need you to run and swim into the Lake as fast as you can, until you get as far away from here as possible." My voice was so quiet that it could have been only a sigh of the wind.

Fang's attention was focused entirely on me right now. If I started running, he would immediately follow me, and I would be able to lead him away from the Gathering island.

His only intention right now was to kill me. He wouldn't let me go.

Snowstorm, Dewstep, and Ember made no movement to show that they had heard me. They were only glaring at the enemies, their claws unsheathed and bristling.

Smoothly, subtly, I flicked my ear.

They immediately whirled around and zipped through the trees, sprinting as fast they could, whizzing like bullets. I tailed them, ignoring the sting of my gashes. My mind was only focused on the air coming in and out of my lungs, the pounding of my feet against the ground, the racing heartbeat thudding in my ears.

I caught up with Snowstorm, and he flashed me a grin. I smiled back.

I didn't look back, but I could already hear the frantic barking and lunging of the monsters raging behind us. The undergrowth crackled as they charged through it, as mad as bulls.

Pretty soon, we had made it to the edge of the island. I didn't hesitate. None of us did.

We threw ourselves into the water, overboard. I gasped as the cold water swallowed me up. Some of it got into my lungs, and for a moment, I was suspended in time.

Then I felt phantom paws brush me, and my head floated onto the water, rivulets streaming into my eyes. Ember and Snowstorm were propping me up, Dewstep leading the way.

Quickly, I adjusted to the temperature of the water and began to paddle my legs as fast as I could. I couldn't swim for all the mice in the world, but with Snowstorm and Ember supporting me on both sides, it seemed to become easier.

The foxes and Darklings were still chasing us. I could hear their barking and snarls and the splashing of their claws. They never gave up, did they?

At least I was leading them away from the island.

I saw Ember bobbing up next to me, her breath coming in tired gasps. Her fur was dark red from the water, and she looked back. Her eyes widened in surprise. "Fang's coming!" she gulped.

Snowstorm spun around and snarled at the foes, but I held him back. I didn't want him to leave.

Ember took a deep breath and hesitated. "I'll fight them," she whispered, treading water.

I wrinkled my brow. My arms were already getting sore. "But...what if they kill you?"

She was already swimming back toward them, determination set in her gaze. "They're my pack," she growled fiercely, "Or, used to be."

Dewstep called, "Come on! We have to go!"

Snowstorm urged me on, and I had no choice but to continue paddling onward. I casted one last reluctant glance behind me before I left.

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Ember watched gratefully as the cats swam further and further out. At least they would be safe, for now.

The foxes began to circle her like cavernous sharks.

Fang barely even glanced at her as he drifted past.

"The rest of you foxes, deal with her," he snarled. "The Darklings and I will find Shadefrost."

"No!" Ember roared, and she lunged toward him, scattering drops everywhere. A paw whacked into the side of her head and she fell back into the Lake, dazed. As she began to sink, the cold water filled her mouth, and she snapped to her senses and began to tread water again. She couldn't afford to lose here. If she did, she would drown.

Scarlet rounded on her, aiming for her neck. She yelped and dodged it, kicking her legs underwater. The other foxes barked and sank their teeth into her, charging all at once and in every direction. She growled and snapped back, but it was too much. There was no way she could fight every last one of them. Already, she could feel her limbs tiring from the strain of swimming.

As she sank, inch by inch, deeper into the water, she could feel it dragging her down with invisible teeth, sucking her down into her doom.

Scarlet grinned fiercely, showing off all of her teeth. Ember scowled, but at the same time she couldn't help but feel betrayed.

"You're my sister, Scarlet," she whined, trying not to swallow any water. Her head was dipping dangerously below the surface. Fear flashed in her eyes.

Scarlet swam around her in circles, mocking her. "That changes nothing," she spat. "You're a traitor to the pack. We gave you a home and fed you, and this is how you repay us?!" Scarlet was furious now. Ember could see that she was only minutes away from having her throat ripped out.

She yelped as water filled her nose, and coughing and sputtering, managed to kick her legs weakly to keep herself afloat for just a while longer.

"Don't you see, Scarlet?" Ember coughed. "You can't kill every single cat living around the Lake. They did nothing wrong!" She tried to look fierce, but shrank back when Scarlet swam right up in front of her. The other foxes looked on, their eyes eager for bloodshed.

Ember's gaze hardened. "And you definitely can't kill Shadefrost," she growled, baring her teeth.

Scarlet cuffed her. Ember fell to the side, the impact of the blow causing stars to swim in her vision. A thin stream of blood trickled down her face, slightly tainting the waves with a subtle shade of pink.

Scarlet loomed above her. "She's only a cat," she growled, leaning in so closely that Ember could smell the crowfood in her breath. "She's as rotten as all of the others. The foxes and the cats have been enemies. They always have been, and they always will be. Don't you remember? They killed our mother!" The vixen's voice rose to a roar. "What, did Shadefrost brainwash you? I'm your sister! The only family you have left!"

Ember searched Scarlet's eyes, hoping with all of her heart that she would find an emotion, even if it was only a flicker. But she found none. Scarlet's eyes were as dark and cold as the bottom of the Lake. She wouldn't hesitate to kill Ember, right here and now.

"You're wrong about Shadefrost," Ember breathed wearily, her legs cramping from the strenuous exercise. "Shadefrost loved me. She did things that you would never, ever do. She taught me how to hunt. She taught me how to speak the cat language. She taught me how to skip stones across the surface of the Lake. And she showed me the life outside of the tunnels, Scarlet. She showed me the meadow and the moon and the fireflies and stars. For the first time, I actually felt alive. I—"

Scarlet silenced her with a savage bite, aiming for the neck. Ember let out one final, shrill yelp before sinking under. The foxes paused, preparing themselves in case she resurfaced, but she didn't. The ripples subsided and a trail of blood drifted down from the bottom, painting the black waves a pale crimson.

Scarlet scowled, and then barked, "Let's go then, after Fang. We can't waste any more time." Without a second glance back, she led the pack across the Lake.

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Ember floated down and down and down, as gently as a feather. The water whispered in her ears. When she was sure that they were gone, she gave her limbs a small, weak kick, and was sailing underneath the surface of the Lake. Blood gushed out of her wound like red smoke. Scarlet's teeth had only grazed her neck, so it had sunken into her shoulder instead. Luck was on her side.

When she couldn't hold her breath for any longer, she slowly swam up to the surface, her head breaking the water into ripples. She needed to hurry to Shadefrost. She needed to be there to protect her.

But her limbs were oh so tired. She could barely keep herself afloat. Taking another deep breath, she plunged down into the bottom and went limp, resting her legs for a bit. Snowstorm and Dewstep were with her, and although she didn't know them that that well, she knew that they would protect her with their lives if they had to.

Go, Shadefrost, she thought wearily. Save the Clans.

A strong wave of sorrow washed over her, striking her with sharp needles. She wanted to cry. Scarlet, her own sister, had tried to kill her.

Scarlet was right. She was the only family that Ember had left. After the death of her father and mother, she was all alone now.

She didn't even have a sister anymore.

A surge of energy flowed through her legs and she swam to the surface again, gasping for breath. Without hesitating, she began to tread water, swimming closer and closer to the shore, closer and closer to where Shadefrost was waiting.

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Shadefrost's POV

Once I got to the shore, I didn't even stop to shake the water from my fur.

"Hurry!" I urged, my flanks heaving. My paws felt tired after the long swim, but I didn't dare rest. We sprinted as swiftly as hawks, winding across the undergrowth until the grass turned into mud and we were sloshing through ThunderClan territory.

Dewstep warned, "Careful. The mud is slippery, so don't fall down the cliffs."

Snowstorm draped a tail over my shoulder, keeping me close.

I blinked at him fondly, and then we were off again.

Black shadows flitted through the trees, easily keeping pace with us. Darklings.

Snowstorm nudged my shoulder and panted, "Shadefrost, you go on. Keep yourself alive. As long as you live, the Clans won't stop fighting. Snowstorm and I will stay behind to battle and buy you some time. Find somewhere to hide until Fang gives up his search."

My eyes widened. "Fight the Darklings? Have you gone insane?"

Dewstep sighed, "No, Shadefrost. We have to do this." A twinkle of a smile shone in his eyes. "Remember that Darkling you killed? If you can do that, then we can do better."

I stood my ground, lashing my tail. "No!" I hissed. "You'll die!"

I gazed at the two toms desperately, begging them to see the danger that they were about to face.

"Shadefrost." Snowstorm padded toward me softly. For a second, I thought that he had changed his mind, but then he pressed his forehead against mine, twining my tail with his. I didn't want him to ever pull away. I didn't want this moment to vanish.

He murmured, "Shadefrost. Remember when I said that I would always protect you?"

I gulped, trying not to cry. I had to be brave. I closed my eyes tightly, breathing in his scent. "Yeah," I said, my voice quivering. I forced a smile. "And I promised to save the Clans. And I will do that. You...be safe, alright?"

I bounded over to Dewstep and licked his shoulder. "Both of you," I mewed quietly.

Dewstep nodded. "Of course."

I knew I couldn't change their minds about fighting the Darklings.

I slowly trudged away, my paws leaving prints on the mud. I looked back hesitantly. They stared grimly back.

"Snowstorm," I whispered. "We'll see each other after this. And we'll have kits. We'll live together. We'll have a family."

Snowstorm hesitated, one paw raised. Suddenly, he bounded forward and wrapped his tail around me, pulling me close to his chest. "Of course," he murmured. I could tell he was trying hard not to break down. "You and me. See you later."

He pulled away, but I could still feel his touch on my fur, his scent wafting around me.

Without looking back, I urged myself to continue running, trying not to stumble and fall. They'll be alright. They're warriors. A faint smile gently tugged on my lips. Kits. The idea seemed so overwhelming. And I loved it.

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DEWSTEP'S POV

The two of us stood side-by-side, watching grimly as Fang and his minions swam into view. I looked strong on the outside, but on the inside, I was quaking with fear.

Snowstorm placed a tail on my shoulder, comforting me.

Water soaked into the ground as Fang lurched onto dry land, shaking his fur. His companions did the same. I sucked in a tight breath as the Darklings rounded on us, snarling.

Fang flicked his ears, his amber eyes narrowed into slits.

"Kill these two stubborn gnats. I'll get rid of Shadefrost myself."

I yowled and flung myself at him. He shook me off, but my rage was burning like a fire. With perfect aim, I clawed his face, streaking across one eye and his muzzle.

The blood poured down the gashes like red tears, but before I could relish my triumph, he snapped his teeth at me, roaring with anger. Behind me, I could hear Snowstorm's snarls and the weak screams of the Darklings as they died.

I couldn't let Fang go. Leaping onto his back, I fastened my claws into his shoulders and drove him to the ground. He was amazingly strong.

He flung me into a tree with enough force to jar my bones. The breath was knocked out of my lungs as I crumpled onto the ground.

Fang snarled and bounded away, in the direction that Shadefrost had gone.

Glaring, I quickly jumped up onto my paws and hurried after him. Two Darklings growled and blocked my way.

They didn't let me leave. I saw Fang's tail disappearing over the hill, but there wasn't anything I could do. The Darklings lunged, both at one time, and I leaped into the air, aiming to land behind them. My paw snagged on a tooth, and I crashed ungracefully onto the ground, stars forming in my eyes.

"Dewstep!" I heard a yowl. My heart sank into my stomach when I saw Snowstorm lying on the ground, trying to struggle to his paws but failing each time. There was a large gash on his neck that was pouring out blood, and the Darklings stood over him tauntingly.

"No!" I yowled, struggling to sit up. "Leave him alone!"

Like a miracle, the dark grey clouds began to part, revealing a blue sky and the peering eye of the sun.

The Darklings screamed and wailed and scrambled to get away, but the rays were quicker. They were immediately burnt into nothing but smoke that faded away with the wind. It had all happened in a matter of minutes.

This wasn't the first time the sun had saved us.

I limped over to Snowstorm, fearing for the worst. Were his memories stolen?

"Snowstorm?" I whispered. He blinked up at me, his breath coming quick and...and the blood wouldn't stop flowing. The gash was incredibly deep and ragged.

I desperately spun around, searching for some moss to stop it, but he weakly grabbed my paw.

"Don't leave," he whispered, his ears flat against his head.

"Look, you have to get up. At least, sit up. Don't lie there as if you're going to die," I pleaded.

He chuckled, but winced from the wound. I leaned down and buried my face in his muddy fur, choking back sobs.

"Snowstorm," I wailed.

He only stared off into the distance, his eyes unfocused. He closed them and said, "And I thought that Shadefrost and I would always be together."

My gaze hardened. "And you will be! Don't die, Snowstorm! Don't you dare die on me! You're supposed to be stronger than this! What will Shadefrost say?"

His brow furrowed in sadness, and he weakly looked up at me. "Tell Shadefrost that I'm sorry," he choked. "But...at least we bought her some time. She should be far away by now."

"No!" I wished desperately that this was just a dream, that nothing happening right now was real. My brother. Snowstorm.

He sucked in a deep, shuddering breath, and then was still. I stood rooted to the spot, unable to move. This couldn't be happening. I couldn't bring myself to put my paw to his chest, to see if his heart was still beating or not. He was only unconscious, I told myself. He wasn't dead. He couldn't be dead.

I thought that we would always be together, fight together. How could I go on?

I clenched my teeth and reluctantly turned away, forcing my paws to move, one in front of the other. Shadefrost was still out there, somewhere. I had to protect her. Snowstorm's death can't be in vain.

Forcing myself to move forward, I picked up the pace, and soon I was running as fast as I could, wanting to get as far away from that place as soon as possible.

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