Days later, Scorchstar finally received the report he had been dreading when Songbreeze raced into camp, her silver tabby tail streaming behind her as her paws kicked up dirt when she skidded to a halt in front of the Tall Branch. Scorchstar watched her clean the grass off her shoulder before turning to face him.

"Well?" Scorchstar asked. "What did you see?" He had sent cats on numerous border patrols lately to pick up any trace of fresh RiverClan scent. From the worry in the usual stone-cold expression of Songbreeze's, he knew that the silver tabby she-cat must have seen something.

"Over in the forest near the RiverClan border, I met up with a ShadowClan warrior," Songbreeze replied. "He was there doing the same thing I was – searching for the scent of any RiverClan cats for the impending attack. We saw them coming. They're marching there, Scorchstar. The attack is happening now. The ShadowClan cat raced back to report to Talonstar, and I'm here to report to you."

Scorchstar's ginger-and-white fur bristled with fury. Of course he had expected the attack to happen any day, but he couldn't help but wish Dapplestar had chosen a later date to attack. The WindClan leader got to his feet, and much to his relief, the pain that had been unbridled over the past few days had slowly died down to a quiet throb.

"Then we'll go there," Scorchstar declared. "Dapplestar wants a fight? Fine. She can have it."

Songbreeze gave him a swift nod as Scorchstar turned on his heel and addressed his Clanmates who were already lining up around him, having heard Songbreeze's news from where they angled their ears. "Clanmates!" Scorchstar yowled. "The time to attack is now! Dapplestar is coming, eager for revenge, but I say that we show her what WindClan cats are truly made of!"

"Yes!" A chorus of cries emitted from the WindClan cats. Even the cats who had been unable to walk the day the prior battle had ended were on their feet, their claws unsheathed, their eyes blazing with the light of battle. Scorchstar watched them as bloodlust made his ears pound and his muscles tighten. He looked over to shoulder to see Brambledusk walk over to him.

"We must win here if we are to build a new world," Brambledusk told him.

A new world? Scorchstar stared at Brambledusk, puzzled. He wanted to ask the pale tabby more, but there was no time. Instead, he acknowledged his deputy's words and turned around. "WindClan, with me!" he yowled.

Russetstripe was behind Scorchstar, some of her wounds still open from the previous battle, but Scorchstar was sure that even if he had Russetstripe imprisoned to force her to not engage in the battle, she'd find a way to escape and join the fight. Blackdove's sleek black fur was fluffed up and her hackles were raised. Thrushwing's lip was curled, his teeth bared, and Lilystream's long claws sent a shudder through Scorchstar's spine. Buzzardwing's green eyes glowed with the lust for a fight, and Lightningtalon was already in a fighting stance. Cinderfall and Seedfur brushed their pelts together as they hung at the end of the line. Scorchstar angled his ears to pick up their conversation.

"After this battle," Cinderfall was saying to Seedfur, "when we both return, will you do me the honor of being my mate?"

"Yes!" Seedfur gasped, her blue eyes alit with joy. "Of course I will! I was beginning to think you'd never ask."

"You just became a warrior," Cinderfall purred.

"But I've had a crush on you since we were apprentices together." Seedfur nuzzled Cinderfall's cheek. "I'll fight by your side, I swear."

"And I you." Cinderfall licked Seedfur's shoulder before turning to walk with his Clanmates. Seedfur was right behind him.

Ah, I was like that once, Scorchstar thought wistfully. I bet we'll have more kits to celebrate when we come back. He shook his head. But I need to focus on this battle. He turned his head back to focus on the terrain, listening to Songbreeze as she bounded up to him and directed him where to go. As the cats left the moor and skirted around the marshland, where the ground became dry compared to the bogginess of the marsh, the WindClan patrol came across a massive strip of woodland. When was this here?

The WindClan patrol padded through the forest, the darkness of the trees covering the sky from above them making each cat nervous. Scorchstar watched as Songbreeze trekked onwards, and just as she skidded to a halt, Scorchstar could see a massive stream carving the forest into two. He looked down at the rushing water. It was bigger than the stream in WindClan territory – were they expected to cross that to meet RiverClan? Just as Scorchstar was stewing over the best-case scenario, a familiar scent wafted through the forest around them and made him pause. A deep voice caused him to turn around.

"Scorchstar." Scorchstar spotted Talonstar appearing from the shadowed woodland, his amber eyes the only indication he was there until his entire tabby pelt emerged from the shadows and walked towards him. Shrewfur and Snakenose flanked him, regarding the WindClan cats with cold, but not hostile, glances. Scorchstar could sense a newfound respect within both Clans. After all, they had fought together. It was just this battle they had to fight once more to defeat RiverClan once and for all.

"Greetings, Talonstar," Scorchstar meowed, dipping his head to the tabby leader. Talonstar returned the gesture. Shrewfur nodded to Brambledusk, and Brambledusk met his gaze steadily. "Ready for the fight?"

"Indeed, I am." Talonstar's whiskers twitched. "My warriors caught them marching already. We should meet down at the ridge. When they face us, we will attack."

"Right." Scorchstar nodded. Just as Talonstar and his warriors plunged back into the shadows, Scorchstar beckoned with his tail to his own cats, who fanned out in a straight line behind him. Songbreeze fell back to join them, but Brambledusk stayed by Scorchstar's side. Scorchstar didn't have the heart to tell him to go back – Brambledusk had hated him so much, but now he seemed to refuse to leave his leader's side. I'll have to talk to him when this is over. I need to know his thoughts.

Scorchstar led his warriors down towards the stream, and for a moment, anxiety pricked at his paws. Would they be forced to fight the RiverClan cats in the stream, where their power was the strongest? He searched the stream for stepping stones, but couldn't find any. If RiverClan really wants to fight, they'll cross the river to get to us, he thought. He stood at the head of his army, lifting his head and puffing out his chest. In the corner of his eye, he saw Talonstar bringing down his own mass of cats, standing right in front of the stream with his dark tabby fur fluffed out.

But what Scorchstar saw next turned his blood cold.

RiverClan was marching towards the stream, Dapplestar at the head of them, her green eyes full of bloodlust. Her claws were already unsheathed, and a swarm of cats walked behind her, seemingly as angry as Dapplestar. Next to Dapplestar marched another group of cats… cats with the scent of oak and birch clinging to their fur, well-muscled and sleek-furred.

Leading those cats was Rootstar of ThunderClan.

Impossible! Scorchstar gawked, staring at Rootstar and his line of ThunderClan cats. Dozens of ThunderClan warriors fanned out behind him, their tails lashing as they eyed the WindClan cats, facing them squarely. Scorchstar's tail lashed back and forth. He had been expecting to face RiverClan solely, not RiverClan and ThunderClan! What kind of fight is this going to be? Scorchstar turned his head to catch Talonstar's glare.

Talonstar's amber eyes were smoldering, and Scorchstar guessed that he hadn't expected the turn of events as well. Scorchstar hissed at him, "Tell me we're still fighting."

"Of course we are." Talonstar lashed his tail. "Daisyflight died. I won't let them get away with killing a warrior of mine."

"Good." Scorchstar turned his head and focused his gaze on Rootstar and Dapplestar. Then, he lifted his head to the sky and let out a piercing yowl, signaling the start of the attack. Talonstar joined in, and the two Clans raced head on to meet the cats that lived in the water and the trees.

Rootstar led his warriors that crossed the stream with ease and slammed into the WindClan line. Scorchstar hissed as Sunfire from ThunderClan leaped on top of him, raking his claws down his unprotected belly. Scorchstar ran his claws down Sunfire's yellow shoulder, splitting his fur and skin open. Just as Sunfire grunted, Scorchstar sank his teeth into Sunfire's spine and thrashed him from side to side.

"You fools!" Scorchstar howled. "What do you gain from allying with Dapplestar?" He let go of Sunfire, who staggered back, and then he kicked him fiercely in his underbelly. Sunfire howled with pain, but it didn't stop the fierce yellow tom, for he skillfully and quickly jabbed at Scorchstar's elbows. Scorchstar nearly staggered, but he found the strength to stop himself from landing on the ground. He rolled on his back and kicked Sunfire once more to stop him from landing on him.

"Shimmerwing saved Lionpaw's life," Sunfire hissed as he leaped away to avoid the brunt of Scorchstar's wound and swiped his claws across the WindClan leader's chest. "That's what ThunderClan is about. Honor. I can't say the same for WindClan or ShadowClan, though." Scorchstar leaped up to spit a remark at the yellow tom, but Sunfire slammed his paw against Scorchstar's jaw, dazing the tom for a few moments.

I refuse to lose here! Scorchstar shook his head to regain his bearings, even though he could taste blood trickling from his mouth and his head was whirling. The WindClan leader lashed out his claws again at Sunfire, their tips grazing his throat, but not enough to kill the tom. Sunfire gazed at him with flat green eyes before lunging at him again, and Scorchstar neatly rolled over, bringing the yellow tom with him. Scorchstar pushed Sunfire away, sending him into the woods. The WindClan leader got to his paws, ready to follow him, to end his life, but a weight sending him crashing to the ground. Scorchstar rolled over to see what tom had pinned him down, and when he came face-to-face with the cold, callous eyes of Emberflame, Scorchstar's heart skipped a beat.

The cat who my father had imprisoned in his camp. Scorchstar looked up into Emberflame's face, seeing hatred and wanton fury crossing his face. He clearly hasn't forgotten. As Emberflame held him pinned down, Scorchstar used all the strength in his muscles to pummel the tom's stomach with his claws, but several wounds on his stomach had been reopened thanks to Sunfire, and he slowly felt the fight start to drain from him. Emberflame snorted.

"Here's for making my life a living hell," Emberflame hissed in Scorchstar's ear. Scorchstar opened his mouth, to explain what happened, to force the tabby off him, but he could feel the ThunderClan tom's breath right on his exposed throat, and a burning fire spread through his entire body as the ThunderClan tom sank his fangs into Scorchstar's throat. Wha… what…? The agony lacerated through his throat, stinging Scorchstar's eyes with tears. Blood drained from the deep wound, and Emberflame's grip on him was iron tight, suffocating him until he could no longer breathe. Scorchstar felt his head swim, and the last thing he saw was the lust for vengeance in Emberflame's eyes before the world disappeared.

There was nothing. Scorchstar couldn't hear a thing, but he was aware of his consciousness. He finally forced his eyes to open, and when he looked around, he sucked in a deep breath. He recognized this place. This was the moor he had been sitting in when he received his nine lives. The last thing Scorchstar remembered was Emberflame's teeth in his throat, and he could still feel the burning agony right at the puncture wound. But the iron-clad grip of Emberflame was no longer there, and even though every movement he took was throbbing, he could breathe.

Scorchstar spotted a familiar ginger-and-white tabby pelt walking over to him. Father, Scorchstar thought as the big tabby tom approached him, his amber eyes soft as he touched noses with Scorchstar. Just as Swiftstar pulled away, Scorchstar could see blood dotting his nose – it hadn't been there before he touched Scorchstar.

"Scorchstar," Swiftstar greeted him.

"What's going on?" Scorchstar asked, looking around, his voice weak as he tried to use it. Every word he uttered out fought against the stabbing pain from the wound in his throat, but he had to ask. "I should be back fighting, for my Clan."

"You've lost a life," Swiftstar said, sitting down. "Hurts, doesn't it?"

Scorchstar nodded numbly.

"You need a few moments to rest," Swiftstar said. "You'll be back in your body soon."

Scorchstar wanted to ask his father so many things. Had he done the right thing, bringing his Clan into battle? Should he have just ignored Dapplestar and stayed in camp? But what if Dapplestar brought her patrol into his camp? Was he weak for losing a life? But he couldn't find the strength to say any of these words – his throat was in too much pain for him to say anything else. Instead he just nodded to his father and waited for the waking world to embrace him.

I don't want to be here, Scorchstar thought. I don't want to die. I want to live. I want to be a father to my kits. I want to see them grow, to become apprentices, and then warriors, and maybe succeed me one day. I don't want to die. I have to fight… to see them again.

The field slowly started to disappear, each stalk of grass fading separately, until Swiftstar's starry figure was the last one to melt into the darkness. Scorchstar watched his father disappear, and his world was replaced by complete darkness again. Scorchstar forced his eyes to open again, and when he blinked twice, he could see a shaft of sunlight blinding his vision. Scorchstar pulled himself up, coughing out blood, and just as he felt a pelt brush about him, he turned on his heel, ready to attack.

But the pelt next to him was black, not a brown tabby like Emberflame, and the cat's eyes were green. Blackdove nudged his shoulder gently, pushing him back down as he tried to get up. "You need a minute, Scorchstar," she told him.

"How did you…?" Scorchstar croaked out. The ache from his throat had subsided, making it easier to talk, but the embers from the pain still crackled.

"Shh." Blackdove pressed her tail to Scorchstar's mouth. "I found Emberflame on top of you. I attacked him and brought you back here."

Scorchstar looked up to see the trees of the forest covering the two cats, blocking the sight of the battle. He could hear the cries, but the trees muffled them, and he had no idea what the severity of the fighting was at the moment. "I've got to get back to the fight."

"You can't," Blackdove protested. "I just saw you lose a life."

"Don't tell any cat." Scorchstar rose to his paws. "We can't lose morale."

"But…!" Blackdove pressed her lips tight at Scorchstar's order.

"Are we losing?" Scorchstar's tail lashed.

"It's a fair fight so far," Blackdove replied, but her green eyes were shadowed as she looked down at her paws.

"But…?" Scorchstar could tell there was more the she-cat wanted to say.

"Rootstar is known as the God of War for a reason," Blackdove murmured.

"I've got to see what's going on." Scorchstar started to walk away, but blood fell from his throat, and he nearly collapsed. Blackdove propped him up, her green eyes wide with worry. The black she-cat led him towards the outskirts of the forest, and the sight Scorchstar was greeted with was far from a fair fight.

ThunderClan was completely overwhelming WindClan. Houndheart sent his claws down Seedfur's throat, and the gray she-cat hit the ground, unmoving. Rootstar cut warrior after warrior down, his black-and-white fur stained with blood as he ran through the ranks like the god he was named for, the WindClan warriors trembling when he came across them. Peartuft flung Brambledusk across the woods like he was a piece of prey, Winterfall dug his teeth into the back of Dovewillow's throat, Goldensky's claws raked down Songbreeze's stomach, and Honeyfeather threw Harewhisker to the ground, spitting out blood from her mouth.

Rootstar stopped in his tracks, staring at the battlefield. Then he turned to Brookfeather, whose muzzle was stained with blood, and jerked towards the RiverClan cats, who wrestled with the ShadowClan cats in the water. Brookfeather nodded and flicked her tail, racing over to the RiverClan cats, and the ThunderClan warriors followed her. Scorchstar's gaze followed them, and he watched in horror as the ThunderClan reinforcements finished off the ShadowClan patrol just as soon as they assisted the RiverClan cats.

Two great armies had fallen apart thanks to the combined might of ThunderClan and RiverClan. Scorchstar collapsed to the ground, utterly horrified at what he had just seen. This couldn't have just happened… The blood dripped from his throat and stained his paws as his hollow gaze focused on the destroyed ruins of his Clan. He could feel Blackdove brushing against him, offering her support, but nothing would ease the dismay Scorchstar had felt seeing his Clan.

"We need to go home…" Scorchstar rasped, horrified at what he had just seen. He had led his Clanmates to death. "I've… I've failed…"

"Oh, Scorchstar," Blackdove whispered. "No one could've predicted this. This isn't your fault."

"I was the one who led them here," Scorchstar gasped, unable to allow Blackdove's words to comfort him. "I led them to their demise!"

Blackdove blinked the tears out of her eyes. "Scorchstar, no one knew that RiverClan was allying with ThunderClan. Nobody."

"It should've been common sense to me!" Scorchstar snapped.

"No, it wouldn't!" Blackdove's fur rose as she hissed at Scorchstar. "None of us thought RiverClan would try to find another ally after allying with ShadowClan failed! In fact, it was foolish that they did that! They took another gamble – the gamble that destroyed them in their first place!"

Scorchstar stared at Blackdove, taken aback by her ferocity. Blackdove flattened her fur and shook her head. "I… I'll talk to Talonstar, but you're right. We need to go home… let me talk to Talonstar, and you bring our Clan home."

"That's Brambledusk's job…" Scorchstar protested. Something Brambledusk had said, a couple of moons ago, rushed through his mind.

"Then you better hope you stick to that, Scorchstar. Because if one innocent life is lost for no reason, I will no longer serve as your deputy." Brambledusk's words had been firm and unwavering, and the cold determination that blazed in his eyes was something that would stick with Scorchstar, always.

Blackdove gazed at him questioningly.

Scorchstar shook out his short pelt. "Okay, Blackdove. You can talk to Talonstar in my place. I need to gather the Clan. I have to help them." Without sparing the black she-cat a second glance, Scorchstar bounded down the ridge and towards the woodland near the stream, horrified to see several of his Clanmates, lying limp on the ground. Scorchstar's heart sank in his chest when he saw an unmoving lump of spotted gray fur. He walked over to the body and nudged it, rolling it over to uncover the cat.

Seedfur. Her pale blue eyes were unseeing as they fixated on the sky, and Scorchstar could see the fatal wound on her neck. Scorchstar's blood turned cold, and for a moment, the entire world stopped around him. My first dead warrior. The first warrior who's died underneath me. Scorchstar shut his eyes, feeling tears trickle down his cheek. She was supposed to be Cinderfall's mate when they came back.

Was there any other cat who died? Scorchstar walked away from Seedfur, his breath coming in ragged gasps as he looked around the clearing. Most of the cats were injured but were still trying to rise to their paws – he was searching for cats who weren't. Another bundle of fur was lying near the stream, unmoving. Scorchstar trekked over to the body, but he didn't even need to move it to know who it was. Thrushwing. He placed his paw on the old warrior's side, but he didn't rise. Scorchstar dropped his head and touched his nose to Thrushwing's shoulder. No…

Scorchstar finally found the strength to raise his head as he looked around the forest. So many of his warriors laid injured, their blood staining the ground. Scorchstar glanced at his own paws, having waded through their own blood to get to Seedfur and Thrushwing's bodies. Scorchstar's lips were dry and he couldn't even swallow as he continued to approach his cats. He couldn't see any other limp bodies, but the damage was done. Even though he couldn't spot any other dead cats, there were so many injured cats that Scorchstar couldn't even keep count on his paws.

I've failed, Scorchstar thought miserably. We've lost, when I promised my Clan we'd win. What kind of Clan leader does that make me?