The Beginning of the End

At the top of the slope, Firestar paused, crouching. Almost at once Cloudtail appeared at his side.

"Why are we standing about?" he demanded. "Let's get on with it."

"Not until I know what's going on," Firestar told him. "For all we know, we could be walking into an ambush." Facing his warriors, he raised his voice so that they could all hear him. "You all know why we're here," he began. "Tigerstar wants us to join his clan, and he won't take no for an answer. I'd like to believe we can get out of this without a fight, but I can't be sure."

Nightfrost touch his brother's shoulder with the tip of his tail. A rustle of leaves and grass made him turn to the Fourtrees.

"Good, WindClan are here," Firestar mewed. "Let's go and meet them."

Firestar led the way along the lip of the hollow until he came face-to-face with the long-tailed, black-and-white tom.

The Windclan leader dipped his head in greeting. "Well met, Firestar. This is a black day for the forest."

"It is indeed," Firestar agreed. "But our clans will stand for what is right by the warrior code, whatever happens." His brother looked at the Windclan cats, shocked. Taking a deep breath, he meowed, "Let's go."

Tallstar dipped his head. "Lead on, Firestar."

Firestar waved his tail to signal to the two united clans.

As Firestar led his cats into the clearing beneath the great oaks, the bushes on the opposite side parted and Tigerstar stepped out to face him. Blackfoot, Darkstripe, and Leopardstar flanked him like vengeful shadows. The massive tabby's eyes gleamed as he spotted Firestar. Nightfrost narrowed his eyes icily in realization. This war was personal for Tigerstar, had his brother never chased him away, he would be Thunderclan leader. "Well, it's personal for me too. But it seems like you've forgotten, Tigerpaw...I'll at least take some of your lives, Firestar can take the rest."

"Greetings, Tigerstar," Firestar meowed coolly. "You came, then. Not still looking for those prisoners you lost from Riverclan territory?"

Tigerstar let out a snarl. "You'll regret that day's work, Firestar."

"Try and make me," Firestar retorted.

Tigerstar didn't reply, more of his warriors padded in with scars from the battle with Windclan the other day. Tigerstar took a pace forward, his head raised challengingly. "Have you thought about my offer? I'm giving you the choice: Join with me now and accept my leadership, or be destroyed."

Instead of Tallstar, Firestar spoke for them both. "We reject your offer. The forest was never meant to be ruled by one clan, especially not one led by a dishonorable murderer."

"But it will be." Tigerstar's voice was soft; he didn't even try to defend himself against Firestar's accusation. "With you or without you, Firestar, it will be. By sunset today, the time of four clans will be over."

"The answer is still no," Firestar meowed. "ThunderClan will never submit."

"Nor will WindClan," added Tallstar.

"Then your courage is matched only by your stupidity," growled Tigerstar.

He paused, his gaze raking the warriors of Windclan and Thunderclan. Nightfrost heard snarls from the Tigerclan warriors behind their leader and turn his ice-cold eyes and sharp claws to match their glittering eyes and bristling fur.

Then he heard a choking sound behind him, and a single word gasped out: "Tawnypaw!"

Bramblepaw was standing rigid at Firestar's shoulder, staring into the ranks of their enemies. Following his gaze, Nightfrost spotted the young she-cat standing close beside Oakfur, a Shadowclan warrior.

"What is she doing there?" That was Ravenwing, thrusting himself forward to stand at Firestar's other side. "Tigerstar did steal her!"

"Steal her?" There was a purr in Tigerstar's voice. "Not at all. Tawnypaw came to us willingly."

Nightfrost glanced at Nightpaw. Sandstorm's apprentice and Tawnypaw are friends back in Thunderclan. The she-cat looked at her friend sorrowfully, but determined. In a way, she also looked accepting, like something like this had happened before.

"Tawnypaw!" Bramblepaw called. "What are you doing? You're a Thunderclan cat—come back to us!"

Tawnypaw said nothing.

"No, Bramblepaw," Tigerstar meowed. "You come to us. Your sister made the right choice. Tigerclan will rule over the whole forest, and you can share our power."

Nightpaw glared at the Shadowclan leader. She looked like Whitestorm did back then, when Darkstripe made that remark about Bluestar. If looks can kill, Tigerstar would have died each of his nine live painfully.

"What do you say?" Tigerstar prompted. "Thunderclan is finished. There is nothing there for you."

Nightfrost turned back to the center of attention. "Join you?" Bramblepaw growled. He paused, swallowing as he fought to control his anger. When he spoke again his words rang out clearly so that every cat in the clearing could hear him.

"Join you?" he repeated. "After everything you've done? I'd rather die!"

A murmur of approval broke out among the Thunderclan cats.

Tigerstar's amber eyes smoldered with rage. "Are you sure?" he hissed. "I won't make the offer twice. Join me now, or you will die."

"Then at least I'll go to StarClan as a loyal Thunderclan cat," Bramblepaw retorted, his head high. A part of Nightfrost felt like snicking. He never thought Tigerstar would lose his acting.

"Fool!" Tigerstar spat. "Stay, then, and die with these other fools." Blackfoot raised his tail in a signal.

The bushes on the opposite slope rustled, and Nightfrost's eyes widened in shock as more cats emerged into the clearing. He had never seen any of them before. They were skinny, their fur ragged, but he sensed strength in their wiry limbs. The stench of crowfood and the Thunderpath rolled off them. These were no forest cats nor are they ordinary rogues. No, they are the most terrify ones any cat will meet.

Lionheart's words rung clearly in his head. When the time comes, you will know the choice you need to make, Nightfrost.

"Bloodclan." Nightfrost thought.

"Well?" Tigerstar demanded silkily. "Are you still sure that you want to stand and fight?"

Okay, I seriously want to see what people think about this, since readers have been asking me about this for quite a while. There are going to be some major differences later on(no spoilers, sorry, unless you figure out what Lionheart meant). I'll just waited for a day and work on an extra related to this fanfic.