The Final Stand.

ALLEGIANCES Thunderclan

Leader- Risestar, jet black tom with green eyes

Deputy- Dawnbird, pale brown she-cat with amber eyes and unusually small ears

Medicine Cat- Brackenpelt, large brown tom

Apprentice- Smallpaw

Warriors-

Goldensun- golden she-cat

Apprentice- Silverpaw

Whitefoot- small white tom with dark green eyes

Apprentice- Flamepaw

Blazeclaw- small, muscular black tom with pale gold eyes and very sharp claws

Apprentice- Fallenpaw

Yellowlight- pale yellow she-cat with matching yellow eyes

Strikeclaw- tabby tom with fierce-looking amber eyes.

Queens-

Trueheart- small, sleek she-cat with pretty white fur and bright blue eyes

Shinefeather- muscled, athletic she-cat with a pale yellow coat and dark blue eyes

Elders-

Graystripe- dark gray tom, oldest cat in all clans.

Blazeclaw

Blazeclaw glared at the tortoiseshell she-cat.

"Get off Thunderclan territory. You're not a Thunderclan cat." he hissed.

"You are right, young one. I am not. But I was once." she didn't look at all fazed by his hostiliy. Blazeclaw looked at her in surprise, then realized his stupidity. He had confronted a Starclan warrior. Not clever, Blazeclaw, he scolded himself.

"Who are you?" he enquired, admiring the beauty of the she-cat. She didn't come close to the beauty of his mate but she was still above average.

"I am Spottedleaf. I fell in love with your ancestor, Firestar, when he has new to the old forest." her eyes were glazed with a faraway look.

"The old forest? New? That makes no sense." he replied, confused.

"The clans were not always here, young one. Moons ago, we lived beyond the mountains, far beyond them. We were happy there, although there was much hatred. Most of it came from a tom named Tigerclaw." Blazeclaw listened intently. It was like being a kit listening to stories in the elder's den- though this was far more interesting,

"Tigerclaw had a mind full of wit and muscles full of strength and a heart full of ambition. But he craved for power too much. So much, he almost destroyed the clans. So much, he would have killed his leader." Blazeclaw gasped.

"That's pure evil! Why didn't the clans drive him out?"

"He hid his treachery with deception. The clans would have been doomed, if it were not for fire." she looked amused at his reaction.

"Fire? But fire..."

"...is feared by all the clans, yes. But this fire was is the form of a cat. A young kittypet named Rusty had lived a pampered life but the fire within his heart blazed even then. He was lead to the clans by fate, and joined them."

"A kittypet? Really?" Blazeclaw was disgusted. The thought of a pampered, fat kittypet pretending to be a warrior almost made him vomit.

"But he was not like any other kittypet. He earned the name Firepaw and trained with his friend Graypaw. But one day, their friend Ravenpaw told them of Tigerclaw's treachery. They learnt that he had killed his clanmate in battle to become deputy, but had failed." Spottedleaf went on.

"Didn't they tell the leader?"

"They tried, but she would not listen. So they went on through life. Ravenpaw was forced to hide so he would not be killed for knowing the truth about Tigerclaw, but the two others became warriors. Graystripe and Fireheart..."

"Graystripe!" Blazeclaw thought of the shrivelled, ancient elder who could barely chew his prey for old age. He had heard all the stories- about his fiery hearted friend who had saved the clans, his beautiful Riverclan mate who died young, his mystical daughter who defeated a giant monster but died with it, his legendary son who lived in the mountains... Everyone knew the stories, but most cats assumed Graystripe was so old that his mind was making things up. He couldn't imagine the old lump of fur as a strong young warrior who had fought against an evil clan of rogues. He listened as the she-cat told him the story of the past.

" And Firestar's daughter mated Tigerclaw's son. They had a kits, and their kits had kits, and so on. Generations later, we are left with you and Risestar."

"What? Risestar and I are descended from Tigerclaw? And Firestar?" Blazeclaw wailed. He had the blood of a tyrannous murderer! He was proud that he had such brilliant heritage from Firestar. His ancestors were the great saviour of the clans, the she-cat who found this territory, and the medicine cat who found the moonpool. But Tigerclaw- or, as he was now known as, Tigerstar, was his ancestor too.

"Yes. The new prohecy states that..

Good and evil shall join once more,

But battle till the land shakes to the core,

What is true shall be lost but may still win

And the battle is won by united kin."

"So I am good and evil joined?" he asked.

"You must work it out for yourself. I am forbidden to directly tell you of the future. But, you one, I must tell you this. A great war is coming and you will play a great part."she mewed.

"And Spottedleaf?"

"Yes?"

"You said you loved Firestar. So his daughter Squirrelflight- she must have been your daughter. So am I related to you?" Blazeclaw wished he could take back the question when he saw Spottedleaf wince.

"No. I died young, and I am a medicine cat anyway. He mated a young warrior named Sandstorm." she whispered, and faded away. Blazeclaw cursed his stupidity. Why did he have to be so insensitive?

Risestar

He stood above the four clans, watching the cats murmuring below him.

"... and Riverclan has a new apprentice, Volepaw." Stonestar was saying. A small brown apprentice stood proudly, his head high.

"Thankyou, Stonestar. Shadowclan has had some badgers in our territory, but our patrol drove them out. We have also found some Windclan cats hunting in our territory and will fight if this continues. Our leader, Roarstar, is still not well enough to attend gatherings but has sent his thanks to Riverclan for saving two drowning Shadowclan kits." Flowerfoot, the Shadowclan deputy spoke.

"Thunderclan has been sent a message from Starclan. I would not normally choose to share this with you but I feel it concerns all of the clans." Risestar began.

"Risestar, it is not your turn." Yellowstar hissed.

"I know, but this cannot wait. I have been sent a message from Starclan warning me of an upcoming war. It is the final stand." he announced. At that moment, there was a rush of light as an array of cats descended from the sky like a shooting star. They landing in a clearing not far from the lake. The clans fell silent.

"The time draws closer. The final battle between Starclan and the Dark forest approaches. You have seven sunups left. All the clans must meet here by that time. If we lose then we will all roam the dark forest for enernity. All cats that die will go to the Dark Forest unless we win." Bluestar announced. From the mud, another group of cats then rose. Mean looking scavengers with sharp, bloodstained claws. Their eyes were dull as mud yet sharp as claws. Risestar shuddered.

"You WILL lose. Then you will take your rightful place in the Pace of No Stars, and we shall live forever!" a dark tom with unusually long claws stepped forward.

"Hawkfrost, that was not for you to say." an almost identical- though bigger- cat stepped forward. Risestar noticed with confusion a third replica of the dark toms, only this one was standing on the side of Starclan. Why wasn't he with his kin? Risestar thought, puzzled.

"We shall fight then." Bluestar growled.

"So be it." with that, both groups vanisheed instantly. The clans were silent for what felt like seven sunups.

"Starclan help us." Risestar whispered, though he knew not even Starclan could do so...

Blazetail

"How are the kits, Trueheart?" he mewed fondly. His mate was talking energetically to Shinefeather, and praising her two kits- Featherkit and Littlekit.

"Oh hi, Blazeclaw! The kits are great! There are four. Want to know their names?" she anwsered eagerly.

"Yeah!"

"Well, this one is Eaglekit, you see the one with big eyes?" she pointed to a pale grey tom. Blazeclaw purred.

"You're so good at coming up with names. I could only come up with Greykit, and Blackit, and Silverkit, and Redkit." he mewed.

"Well, it's lucky you won't be naming them. I will call the black she-cat Nightkit, and the silver she-cat is Streamkit."

"After the beautiful warrior Graystripe told us about?"

"No, I just quite liked the name." Trueheart licked her mate affectionately.

"Can I name the red one?"

"As long as it's not Redkit!" Trueheart told him.

"Okay, keep your fur on. I'm calling him Firekit." he said.

"Firekit? No, I was going to call him Poppykit..." Trueheart began, but Blazeclaw interupted.

"POPPYKIT? FOR A TOM?" he screeched. Trueheart almost choked with laughter.

"Okay, okay! Firekit it is." the two cats gazed at each other fondly.

"You know, Blazeclaw? I love you so much. If I die in the battle, look after the kits for me, won't you?" Trueheart looked serious now,

"I swear on on Starclan that no claw or fang will take the life of any of those kits, not if I can help it. But you won't die. Not till you've lived to a ripe old age and we're so old that even Graystripe will be a youngster to us." Blazeclaw promised.

"Oh, Blazeclaw. If that were true, we'd be called kittypets." laughed Trueheart, but the two cats were in high spirits at the thought,

Firestar

"That move was pathetic," Squirrelflight purred.

"Shut up, Squirrelflight." her sister snapped.

"Don't fight!" Firestar's response was automatic.

"Don't fight?" Sandstorm mewed scornfully.

"Shut up and train." Squirrelflight practised her pounce on Leafpool, who dodged out of the way. With an unexpertly aimed swipe, the medicine cat only just managed to rake her sister's belly with a sheathed paw.

"You know, claws were invented for a reason." Squirrelflight laughed. Firestar frowned.

"That reason was not to kill your sister in training." he scolded. It was the wrong thing to say.

"I'm not going to kill her! I am merely practising. Or are you turning into such a coward you won't even let me practise?" Firestar knew she was only frightened of the future and was taking it out on him. At that moment, Brambleclaw rushed into the clearing of clouds they were training on.

"I have a report! Four kits, named Firekit, Nightkit, Streamkit and Eaglekit were born to Trueheart and Blazeclaw at sunup." he panted.

"Have any of them got special destinies?" Sandstorm asked enthusiatically.

"I fear Eaglekit will become a Dark forest warrior eventually."

"Is there anything we can do?" Leafpool gasped.

"There is nothing we can do unless he changes the path his paws are set on. But he carries the blood of Tigerstar, what can we expect?" Crowfeather murmured, padding up to greet Leafpool, who was now his mate. The dark grey tom apologised immediately when he saw Brambleclaw wince.

"Poor Eaglekit. Can we send him a dream?" Squirrelflight enquired.

"You should know of all cats that once a cat's heart is too dark, we can't interfere with their life." Brambleclaw was referring to Ashfur, who had grown too dark hearted to forgive the pale ginger she-cat. Only Brambleclaw had had enough heart to forgive her for her lies and secrecy.

"He's only a kit!" gasped Squirrelflight.

"He'll soon grow too dark hearted, and he'll never understand a dream now." Brambleclaw looked just as regretful as Firestar felt.

He sighed. Whatever happened, Tigerstar would live on.

Trueheart

She stood protectively over her kits, the sounds of battle roaring in her ears. Hidden in the nursery, she couldn't help but fear for her mate.

"Trueheart." the dark tom from the gathering stepped forward.

"Hawkfrost." she replied calmly.

"No! I am the great Tigerstar." he roared.

"The GREAT Tigerstar?" she repeated scornfully, but her heart was pounding.

"Mother, are we in danger?" Nightkit whined.

Trueheart didn't reply. The dark brown tom glared at her with blazing amber eyes. She knew he was stronger, but she had something on her side that he would never know of. Bored with waiting to kill the queen, Tigerstar pounced. Trueheart blocked him. She fought with everything she had. More than her own strength. When strength ran out she fought with anger. When anger ran out she fought with hope. When hope ran out she fought with love. Love never ran out. The thought of her family blazed in her mind and she could have fought for them forever. Claws slashing, teeth gnashing, they were going to kill each other. Even though Tigerstar couldn't die, if he was killed he would be confined to the Dark Forest forever. So she had to keep fighting for her family, her clan. Her mate, Blazeclaw. Her sister, Dawnbird. Names flashed through her mind. BlazeclawRisestarFirekitStreamkitNightkitEaglekitDawnbird...

"Mother!" Firekit squeaked a warning but it was too late. Trueheart lay on the floor. Desperate, she slashed her opponent's face. Blood blinded him momentarily. Furious, he delivered a crushing blow, She returned it, staggering.

"My kits, I love you so much. Streamkit, you're so beautiful. I love you." Streamkit opened her eyes, which had been squeezed tightly shut, in surprise.

"Nightkit, you're so caring. Remember to keep your kindness in a secret place in your heart and don't let any cat take it from you." Trueheart rasped.

"Firekit, you are so brave. One day you will lead the clan." this was no news to the ambitious kit, who nodded respectfully. Trueheart meant to turn to Eaglekit to tell him he was strong, but she stumbled over before she could manage. Silent now, the fighters lay on the floor. They had both won. They had both lost. All that was left was the four kits, huddled in the corner, their eyes wide open.

"Mummy, you can get up now. He's gone." Streamkit whispered, her blue eyes stretched wide.

There was no reply.

Blazeclaw

"Onwards and upwards, Riverclan!"

"To me, Thunderclan!"

"'til the end, Shadowclan!"

"Always, Windclan!"

The familiar battle cries filled the air. Blazeclaw raced towards the seemingly endless array of dark hearted warriors.

"I got your back." Whitefoot muttered.

"Same to you." he told his friend quietly as they raced towards what seemed to be certain death. He was dimly aware of their starry ancestors zooming by their sides. Among them was Blueflower, Trueheart's mother. Her eyes were full of pain and Blazeclaw dreaded to find out why.

He stopped in front of a bloodthirsty warrior with needle sharp claws.

"I am Thistleclaw. You may call me Doom." he snarled.

Blazeclaw raked his claws over the warrior's shoulder, but to no effect. His opponent stood over him, his fangs at his neck.

"Good riddance." he grunted. Blazeclaw braced himself for death.

"No!" a Starclan warrior burst out of nowhere, knocking the Dark forest cat away and killing him instantly. He felt joy bubble through his veins.

Then he saw who it was.

And he knew he wanted to die.

Starclan announcement.

''It is our pleasure to report that Starclan defeated the Place Of No Stars in the Final Stand, after their leader was killed by a Thunderclan queen. However, we are devastated to say that we must report deaths.''

''Yellowwing- Windclan. Killed protecting Shadowclan kits''

''Redfur- Shadowclan. Killed in action.''

''Blacktooth- Shadowclan. Killed in action.''

''Yellowlight- Thundeclan. Killed protecting leader.''

''Trueheart- Thunderclan. Killed in action.''

''Gorseleaf- Riverlclan. Killed in action.''

''Smileheart- Riverclan. Killed protecting leader.''

''Blazeclaw- Thunderclan. Killed protecting kits. ''

''Brackenpelt- Thunderclan. Killed while caring for injured''...

List to be continued at a later date.

''All the above deaths will lead to ranks in Starclan. We would state to share our compassion for the affected family members.''

Streamkit

She looked at her mother, confused.

"Mummy, you can stop pretending. He's dead." she mewed anxiously, waiting for her mother to spring back up. She laid perfectly still.

"Do you think she's sick?" Eaglekit queried, nudging the she-cat impatiently.

"Let's go and ask Brackenpelt." Firekit decided, strolling fearlessly outside. His siblings followed him.

"I wonder if they..." Nightkit began, but she fell silent when she saw what had happened. The clearing was silent apart from occasional murmurs of pain. It was full of stiff, unmoving cats with bloodstained pelts. Streamkit could smell plenty of living cats too, but they had gone somewhere else.

"Can you see Brackenpelt?" whispered Eaglekit nervously. Nightkit wailed.

"There!" she gestured with her tail to an unmoving tom with a pelt soaked with blood.

"Now what will we do?"

"What's wrong, kits?" a tired rasp made the young cats squeal with shock, then sigh with relief when they saw who it was. Before them stood Dawnbird, their deputy.

"We need a medicine cat. Our mother is sick and..." Firekit stopped when he saw the look on the deputy's face.

"Your mother is dead." her tone was bland, empty. Streamkit didn't believe a word of it.

"Don't be mousebrained. She's still in the nursery, just napping. The battle must have been tiring." she snapped. Dawnbird sighed.

"She's gone. They're all gone. Risestar, Blazeclaw, Trueheart, Brackenpelt... the list goes on. There's barely enough cats left for two clans. How will we survive? Oh, Risestar, tell me what to do. I love you." Dawnbird murmured. And she raced into the forest.

Streamkit snorted.

"I might be a kit but I'm not stupid. Trueheart was okay a moment ago, how could she be dead?" panic rose in her chest. Was it true? No, it couldn't be. It wasn't. Was it?

"Eaglekit? I think she might be telling the truth." Streamkit whispered. Pine needles scratched her heart. Panic bubbled up inside her with them. How would she survive without her mummy?

"No! You're lying!" screeched Eaglekit. He rounded on his sister angrily.

"Why did you say that?" he growled.

"It's true!" Streamkit blinked at him with innocent blue eyes.

"She wouldn't have died." Eaglekit roared, and bashed his unsheathed paw violently over his sister's head.

Many moons later...

Eaglepaw

Eaglepaw stalked the mouse silently. It had been moons since the Final Stand and he had finally earned his rightful place as apprentice of the leader, Goldenstar.

But Firepaw had earned his name as Firepelt. His brother had overtaken him. No, they weren't brothers at all. Eaglepaw didn't have a mother or father or any kin. His "siblings" were supposed to be so much better than him, everyone said so. Even his own mother...

"Hey, Eaglepaw!" Littlepaw called eagerly. The brown tom blundered toward him. The mouse scuttled away.

"What was that for?" Eaglepaw hissed.

"Okay, keep your fur on!" Littlepaw looked hurt before scampering away. Good, he thought. So he wasn't the only one who got hurt. He was always the outsider, the loser. Even his mother had ignored him on her deathbed. But it was good that Littlepaw admired him. He'd need support when he was leader and he wouldn't get that from Streampaw or Nightpaw. He would not accept any help from Firepelt anyway.

"Hey, Eaglepaw!" a pretty golden she-cat trodded up to him, mewing enthusiatically.

"Hi, Featherpaw ." his heart leapt. His future mate was an amazing cat, he thought happily.

"Talked to my mousebrained brother?" she looked sympathetic.

"Don't be so mean! Think about how the mice must feel, being compared to Littlepaw!"

"And Starclan forbid the mice feel bad!" gasped Featherpaw jokingly, swiping a friendly paw over his ear.

"Did you hear? Dawnstar.. I mean, Dawnfur had two kits yesterday." he changed the subject. It would appear too unfriendly to spend too long insulting Featherpaw's brother.

"Awesome! She-cats or toms?" Littlepaw asked eagerly, bounding back over to join them.

"Both toms. One will be called Risekit and the other will be called Dirtkit." Eaglepaw answered.

"Oh, poor Dirtkit. His mother obviously favoured Risekit right from the start." Littlepaw said, but stopped at the look on Eaglepaw's face.

"I was only saying, since one was named after his mother's mate and the other..." Eaglepaw turned to go, thinking hard. Littlepaw was right. Dirtkit was in the same situation as him. He'd be a valuable follower.

"Where are you going?" Featherpaw called.

"To the nursery! I can't wait to see Dirtkit and Risekit!" he lied. He was only interested in Dirtkit. They were so alike. Risekit might be a good warrior too but he'd be soft from too much motherly love.

The two apprentices reached the nursery, panting. Featherpaw inhaled.

"Even the smell of this place reminds me of being a kit!" she purred, and began to recount happy memories of playing with Littlekit. Eaglepaw sighed. All he could remember from kithood was watching his dying mother in horror as she said her final words to his siblings but ignored him.

"Yeah, it does, doesn't it?" he lied fluently, not wanting to seem weak or vunerable.

"Hello, Featherpaw and..." Dawnfur's words were cut short by a wailing. One of the kits was on top of the other; they had been playfighting.

"We've come to see you." Eaglepaw told her. The ex-deputy purred and turned to her kits.

"Oh, I should be leading my clan now, not staying stuck in the nursery with kits." she muttered.

"So, which one's which?" Featherpaw asked brightly.

"The one that's hurt the other, that's Dirtkit. And the hurt one is Risekit." she replied, before turning to scold Dirtkit.

"You stupid kit, you know you're stronger than your brother. Why don't you think before opening your horrible little mouth and stabbing a horrible little tooth into Risekit?" Eaglepaw watched in a mixture of horror and satisfaction. This was verbal kit abuse, and although it would be handy for training Dirtkit, it was terrible. Terrible yet perfect. Dawnfur was a lovely cat but she didn't know what to do with kits at all.

"That's not fair. You're a horrible mother. No, you're worse than that If only you were so much as half a horrible mother, I'd be something close to happy." Dirtkit replied angrily. Dawnfur rolled her eyes before turning to talk to Featherpaw. Eaglepaw leaned down and breathed into Dirtkit's ear;

"Don't worry. She's the stupid one. You can't trust family. My kin was like that and look at me now! I survived it all. Listen to me and you will too."

"So what did you do?" Dirtkit's amber eyes stretched wide.

"I didn't give a mousetail whether they wanted me to die! I was strong and I survived. Don't bother with them. Even if they do care about you, they just block your way to glory. We were lucky, we won't have to push them aside." he muttered. Dirtkit nodded.

"Will we be great?"

"Oh, the greatest! I will be leader- and if you stick with me, you will be deputy. Imagine the victory we'll have then! And when I join Starclan, you will be Greatstar, leader of Thunderclan." he entertained the kit with a fantasy.

"Won't it be Dirtstar? I hate my name but it's mine."

"You will change it, of course." Eaglepaw turned to leave, followed by Featherpaw.

"May all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather!" Goldenstar announced. Curious to know her reasons, cats swarmed in from all directions. He noticed Flamepelt and Littlepaw sitting near the front of the assembly and went to join them.

"As you all know, Smallpool, our medicine cat, is yet to join Starclan soon. He was injured badly and has not long left to live. The clan will honour his skills and courage." Goldenstar announced. Eaglepaw shot a regretful look at his follower.

"Yes. Starclan have sent me a sign that I will die today, and I have no apprentice. So I would like to name one." not me, Eaglepaw thought. Please not me.

"An amiable companion, yet skilfull minded cat." Please not him. Please.

"Someone I admire and think will succeed." For Starclan's sake, who? Eaglepaw thought.

"Featherpaw, from the moment I die, you may be known by your warrior name. Do you accept?" Eaglepaw stared in shock, while the words sunk in. No, it couldn't happen. But it might happen.

But it might happen.

It might happen.

"NO! SAY NO! WE WERE SUPPOSED TO BE MATES! NO!" he screeched.

"You can't boss me around, Eaglepaw. I never said we were going to be anything close to mates, anyway. It's my descision." what was she saying? Why wasn't she turning Smallstrike down? He knew she was going to refuse, he knew it. It was as much as a fact to him as the existence of joy. He knew it because he could feel it. But there was no joy now, only anxiety.

"Smallstrike, I'm afraid this..." Eaglepaw breathed a sigh of utter relief.

"...is going to be a hard descision." he tensed up again.

"I must go with my heart..." he wanted to cry his thanks so loud that Starclan would hear it.

"...I accept your offer." He almost choked with shock.

"NO! PLEASE!" he begged. The other cats gave his disdainful looks.

"I love you, Featherpaw." he whispered gently, in too much pain to make any more noise.

"I love you too." she looked directly into his eyes.

"Then you must put aside your feelings. For I say these words before Starclan and may they hear and approve of my choice. Featherpaw, you may have been trained in the ways of a warrior but you have the skill of a medicine cat. Do you accept?"

"I do."

"Then from this moment onwards, you will be known as Featherpool." The worst name he would ever hear was uttered for the first time. Featherpool, Featherpool... oh, if only she didn't have to add the traditional medicine cat "-pool". If only, if only. If only.

That night, Smallstrike died peacefully in his sleep. He was rumoured to be crying apologies to Starclan for unknown reasons.

Eaglepaw wanted to kill him for stealing his only joy.

How had be gone from everything to nothing? He was in so much emotional pain felt like a hundred monsters were ramming into him, a hundred deathberries were being forced down his throat, a hundred Twolegs were forcing needles into him, a hundred fires were raging inside him. He loved Featherpaw so much, she couldn't not love him back.

Burning with rage, he went to see Featherpool, deciding that he would somehow persuade her to change her mind and allow Littlepaw or some other fool to take the job.

Creeping through the grass, he planned his speech. He was only meant to speak to her at sunrise when she was allowed to talk, but soon he couldn't bear it any longer. Bursting through the long grass, he yowled

"Featherpool I..." he fell silent. Featherpool wasn't there and her scent was stale. She had abandoned her vigil long ago. Why had she done that? He was sure it was to get away from him.

She'll be sorry, he thought. One day she'd wish that she had loved Eaglepaw, but it would be too late. He would be a great leader with the most beautiful mate in all the world and the cleverest apprentice and the greatest clan. Streampaw, Nightpaw and Firepaw didn't deserve that kind of glory. He would be the gloriful victor. He wouldn't be afraid to kill any cat.

Wanting to shock Featherpool, he followed her scent to a clearing. His emotions were mixed up so much that his head spun with confusion. Hate, pain, love, bitterness. Reaching the clearing, he was horrified to smell his oh-so-perfect brother's scent mixed with hers. They were talking, and he had to listen. And his heart froze at what he heard.

Firepaw and Featherpool were murmuring softly.

"I love you." he snarled under his breath as his brother murmured to Featherpelt.

"I love you too." she replied. Eaglepaw snarled loudly, but the two cats didn't notice. Too enthralled in their love, he realized. Doubling up with pain, he squealed like a sick kit. He felt literally sick with agony. Then hate replaced the pain. Hate was easier to bear, and he had to bear so much that is was simply easier to forget the pain. It was all his brother's fault. He stole all the fame, all the attention. Eaglepaw was strong and trustworthy, whereas Firepaw was smaller and forgetful. He'd be sorry. One day he would kill Firepaw for stealing everything. And he'd enjoy every minute of it. Desperate to drown out the sounds of loving, he entertained himself by fantasizing about how he would kill his brother. Painfully, for sure. First he would blind him. Then he'd rip him open slowly. He'd have to slash at his brother's throat so he couldn't say any mushy last words to Featherpool.

"Chill out, kit, I love you."

"You know what? The word kit reminded me of some very special news I have to tell you. I'm going to have YOUR ..." he couldn't bear it any more.

"Traitor!" he yowled, leaping into the clearing. He had to kill the evil from the world. She was a medicine cat! She should know better!

"Eaglepaw!" they leapt apart.

"Hi, Eaglepaw! We were just discussing Dawnbird's kits; we were wondering if they were worth her giving up her leadership. Care to join us?" Firepaw lied smoothly.

"Liar! You're loving each other even though she's medicine cat."

"Promise you won't tell?" Featherpool begged. But it was too late. Eaglepaw slashed his claw across Firepaw's throat.

"Featherpool, I love you." his last words were mere gurgles.

"Firepaw!" she howled, before rounding on Eaglepaw.

"How could you, you pile of fox dung. I hate you so much I want to kill you right now. But I'll leave that to Goldenstar." she hissed.

"In your dreams."

"In my dreams, Firepaw is back with me and you are burning in the Place of No Stars!" she screeched.

"Oh, Firepaw. I love you. Why did you have to go?" she murmured to the body, forgetting about Eaglepaw for a moment.

"You said you loved me. You lied." Eaglepaw couldn't resist lashing out at her. He struck her over the head, but then couldn't meet her eyes. There used to be love and admiration glowing in her eyes. Now the glow was extinguished and her eyes were dull.

"I did love you. As a brother. But not any more. I want to be with Firepaw and I want to kill you now."

"Well, why don't I let you be together?" he asked with quiet venom.

"How? We can't bring him back.." her voice trailed away when she realized what he'd said.

"I love you too, Featherpool." he mewed.

"No, you don't. You're going to kill me. How is that love? Oh, I love you, Firepelt! I love you! I loveyouIloveyouIloveyouIloveyou!" she screeched.

"Lie down. This is going to be very painful if you don't do as I say. I can't let you tell anyone about this." he growled.

"At least let me have my kits They're innocent!" she begged. Eaglepaw stopped. The perfect revenge would be to kill her, then bully her kits into becoming bullies. They could be great followers. After all, they were kin whether he liked it or not.

"Very well." the two cats stopped, and Eaglepaw imagined what could have happened between them. They would have been perfect together, he thought wistfully. No, he stopped himself. This was a traitor. Any cat that loved his brother more than him was a traitor. His mother included. After what seemed like moons of waiting, Featherpool began to wail, but Eaglepaw didn't stir.

"Help me! For just one last time before you kill me." she pleaded, writhing in pain. But Eaglepaw simply sat and watched.

"You loved Firepelt? Take the pain." he snarled, kicking out at her swollen belly. Featherpool let out a screech of pain, and Eaglepaw just purred. Featherpool cried out in anguish as she struggled to give birth to a pair of toms. One of them was a striking ginger and the other was stony grey. Eaglepaw growled. The ginger one should have been a replica of him, not his oh-so-wonderful littermate.

"I am going to call the ginger one Firekit after his father. And the grey one will be called Rainkit after my grandmother, ." she rasped, looking with the purest of love at both kits. She cared for these kits so much. It was going to be torture for her when Eaglepaw made them into the monsters they deserved to be.

"When you die, I will call them Crowfoodkit and Maggotkit. Far more appropiate names." Eaglepaw relished in her wince.

"You won't name them. When I am in Starclan I will send a dream to Goldenstar and she will name them. My kin would never betray me as you have."

"Look at who's talking!" Eaglepaw spluttered. How could she, the cat who had said she loved him, then turned to his brother, say he was the one who betrayed her?

"I LOVE YOU FIREPAW!" she called, and closed her eyes.

"I LOVE YOU TOO, FEATHERPOOL!" a ghostly sillhoutte raced amongst the trees.

"I love you Firepaw. I love you, Firepaw. I love you Firekit. I love you Rainkit." she repeated the chant as she waited for death. Unable to take any more of this pain, Eaglepaw raked his claws against her neck. The chanting was silenced.

"Mummy?" Firekit mewed, his eyes opening. (A/N, I know he shouldn't be able to see or talk or hear yet, but here I'm saying they are suddenly older and more mature. Deal with it XD) 

"That isn't your mummy. That is a bad cat." Eaglepaw growled.

"Who is she? Who are you?" whimpered Rainkit.

"I am your father, but no cat knows that. You can't tell." he lied.

"Why?" Firekit whined. Eaglepaw delivered a crushing blow on Rainkit's head. That one was too weak, he thought. As the kit lay dying in his mother's blood, Eaglepaw turned to Firekit.

"That's why."

"Why did you do that?" the kit persisted.

"He wasn't worth living, was he?"

"I guess he was a bit annoying. Whining all the time. But you killed him!" the ginger kit gasped.

"He's only going to The Dark Forest, where he belongs. But we will go to Starclan. But only if you follow me." Eaglepaw lied again. Deciding to go, he turned to the bodies of Featherpool and Firepaw for the final time. Breathing in Featherpool's blood-drenched scent, he muttered his final words to the dead lovers.

"Well, well, if it isn't the two forbidden lovers. Such a shame that dog got you. You'd have made a perfect pair. Still, I'd better tell Goldenstar exactly what happened, shouldn't I?" he hissed...

.____________________________________________________________________________________

Firekit (in the first person. Sorry the writing style has changed but he thinks to himself so much that I had to change it. Sorry XD. This is also a while later so the allegiances have changed a lot. One final thing, as time goes on the ceremonies have gradually changed a little. It is to show time passing, and I know it might be annoying but I kinda couldn't resist it Xp)

Allegiances- Thunderclan

Leader- Strikestar

Apprentice- Risepaw

Deputy- Eagleheart

Medicine cat- Smalleye- large brown tom with tiny blue eyes

Warriors-

Fallenfoot- tall golden tom

Nightstorm- pretty black she-cat with sparkling green eyes.

Flamepelt- bright red she-cat with pale blue eyes

Whitefoot- small white tom

Palemoon- pale yellow she-cat with matching yellow eyes

Roughfoot- large tom with ragged fur. ex-rogue

Littlestride- small brown tom

Dirtpelt- dark brown tom.

Apprentices-

Hardpaw- muscular dark brown tom

Ruepaw- pretty pale yellow she-cat with sparkling blue eyes

Petalpaw- very pale red she-cat.

Sugarpaw- grey she-cat with pretty amber eyes.

Queens-

Streampelt- beautiful silver she-cat

Elders

Dawnbird- pale brown she-cat

______________________________________________________________________________________

"Streampelt, who is my real mother?" I asked.

"Firekit, your mother was Featherpool. She was a very brave cat and she was killed by a dog with your father." she told me. I sighed inwardly. My father was Eagleheart, he'd told me so himself. And he also said I'd killed her when I was born. Every other cat told me it wasn't true, but I knew Eagleheart wold never lie to me. I was born a monster and I would die one.

"I had a brother, though. I remember that. Who was he?" I asked, although I could remember perfectly well.

"Your brother was Rainkit. Your mother gave birth to you during the dog attack and he was killed too. Eagleheart only just managed to save you." I knew that was an outright lie. Eagleheart had killed Rainkit. But if I ever tried to tell, he would kill me too.

"But now, your brother is Clawkit." she added brightly, gesturing to her own son, who was my best friend. He admired Eagleheart though, and wouldn't listen when I told him about what really happened.

"I would have like to have known my real brother." I sighed. Rainkit visited me in my dreams sometimes, and we played together. We could playfight and joke and shared all our secrets. He knew all about Eagleheart and had promised to send a mouse to bite him extra hard every time he hurt me. It was always a disappointment when I woke up and Rainkit wasn't there. Clawkit was good fun too, but it wasn't the same. I hated Eagleheart for ruining my family. One day I'd kill him so painfully that he'd drown in his own blood. I hated him so much my heart burned whenever I saw him. He was clan deputy but I'd kill him long before he got to be leader.

"We're going to be apprentices soon!" Clawkit squealed

"I can't wait." I muttered, though I dreaded that time.There was a chance that Eagleheart might mentor me and then life would be unbearable.

"I want Eagleheart to be my mentor." announced the brown kit.

"You don't get to choose!" I purred, covering up my mistrust and anger.

"Who do you want?" he ignored me. I thought about it. Nightstorm would be a pretty good mentor, but so would Fallenfoot. Or Yellowlight. Any cat except Eagleheart.

"I'd like Nightstorm to mentor me." I decided. The she-cat was always nice to me. She called me her "special kin" and gave me little treats like nice-smelling flowers and squirrels she'd caught whilst hunting. I always loved the taste of squirrels.

"What about Eagleheart? He told me he ate a DOG when he was an apprentice." Clawkit mewed. I didn't believe a word of it.

"And don't tell anyone, but he said that his brother was killed in a dog attack. So he chewed off his brother's ears and swallowed them! Because apparently he broke the clan law by loving a medicine cat." I knew that part was probably true. He'd told me all about my mother's evil lover, Firepaw. About how I looked just like him. About how lucky I was that Firepaw wasn't here to poison my mind with treachery.

"He outran an entire Windclan patrol, fought off two badgers and defeated a monster." I couldn't believe was I was hearing. Clawkit actually believed this rubbish!

"I think I heard some cat say he's flown to Starclan and back." he continued.

"Very believable." I muttered, rolling my eyes.

"He has twelve lives and he's not even a leader."

"How can he have more than one life? He's a deputy."

"He can do anything. He even brought a cat back from the dead." I was listening intently now.

"How?" I whispered.

"Well, he was calling a name. It must have been a medicine cat, because he was saying FEATHERPOOL really loudly. And she came and told him he was evil, and he belonged in the Place Of No Stars. I think she was joking."

"Be quiet, Clawface. You don't need to shout quite so loud. Firekit is very upset about his mother's death, there's no need to shout out about it." scolded Streampelt. I made the most of the opportunity and blinked tearfully, although I didn't really remember my mother at all. I only really missed Rainkit, with his brotherly advice and gentle humour.

"There's no need to be sad. You're going to be an apprentice today! Won't that be great?" Streampelt tried to cheer me up. I could see she was trying to work out why I wasn't hopping up and down in excitement like any other kit.

"Are you feeling alright? Shall I ask Smalleye to take a look at you?" she fretted. I shook my head. At that moment, Strikestar strolled into the nursery. I squeaked with excitement. This was THE Strikestar, the actual leader of Thunderclan! Clawkit and I both practically worshipped the great tom. And now he was actually coming to visit us!

"Hi, Streampelt." he mewed. Both of us kits sat up straight and tried to look smart.

"Hi, Strikestar. This is Clawkit, and this is Firekit." she answered. To my shock, she wasn't acting like she was talking to a mighty leader at all. I realized that maybe Strikestar was just an ordinary cat like Streampelt or Nightstorm. After all, he was Palemoon's older brother, so he must be a normal cat too. This was actually good news. I had every chance of being leader if any old cat could take the job- and I was more than any old cat. My only obstacle was Eagleheart.

"Greetings, kits. Your... uh... adoptive mother and I were just saying, I think it's time you two had your apprentice ceromony. What do you think?"

"Yes! Yes! I'm going to be the best warrior in the forest!" Clawkit squealed in excitement but I was silent.

"Aren't you excited?" Strikestar peered down at me, concern in his eyes.

"Yes, I am. But I can't reveal my emotions in case my opponents see me..." I stopped in horror when I saw all the other cats were laughing at me.

"We're in Thunderclan camp, mousebrain. There aren't any enemies." Clawkit muttered. I closed my eyes and thought of Eagleheart. And I knew Clawkit had been wrong...

"Firekit, get out there!" Eagleheart poked his head round the nursery wall.

"Eagleheart!" Streampelt exclaimed.

"Hi, Streampelt. I just need a quick word with my kin." he mewed, gesturing for me to come. I followed him out of the nursery and into the depths of the forest.

"Let me get this straight." he began quietly. His amber eyes burned into mine, and there was no mistaking the hatred that was burning so hot in his heart that I could feel it in his eyes, in his actions, in his very prescence.

"What straight?" I mewed, confused.

"Don't play the innocent kit. Tell me, do you think I'm stupid?" he asked in the same quiet voice. To any other cat he would have sounded gentle and forgiving but I heard the menace in his voice. It rang out loud and clear. It wasn't as if any other cat would find us, anyway. He chose his places especially well.

"No." I whispered.

"I said, DO YOU THINK I'M STUPID?" Eagleheart roared suddenly. I winced.

"No!" I said loudly. In response, he swiped his paw across my head, knocking me clean off my paws. Dizzy, I tried to get up, but he knocked me straight back down again. Almost crushing me with his weight, he pinned me with his paws so there was no escape. If I tried to move he would rip my throat out. All I could do is lie here as he hit me again and again.

"Then why do you pretend to be innocent? Why won't you confess that you killed your mother?" he hissed.

"It was an accident. She died giving birth to me." I glared at him.

"Accident! Accident! You are an accident, my son." he growled.

"You're not my father! Firepaw was. Streampelt told me so."

"What does she know? Fine, I'm not your father. What're you going to do about it? I still hate you all the same. Your mummy, she was crowfood. Your daddy, he was filth. Put it together and we get you. Crowfood filth!" he taunted me. I snarled.

"My mother was a great cat, and so was my father."

"Liar! How would you know, anyway?" he roared, and tore at my pelt like he was trying to shred my fur to pieces. Which he was...

________________________________________________________________

"Do you promise to uphold the ways of the warrior code?" Strikestar looked straight at me.

"I do." Clawkit and I said immediately. We both waited, and I could tell Clawpaw was just as nervous as I was. Who would mentor us?

"Then from now on, you shall be known as Clawpaw and Firepaw. Now, Nightstorm. You have yet to mentor an apprentice." my heart leapt.

"You will mentor Clawpaw." I almost screeched in shock. Clawpaw shot me a look of self-pity, and I returned one of envy. Nightstorm was a gentle humoured, kind she-cat with tremendous warrior skills. She would make the perfect mentor. Clawpaw was going to learn so many skills from her. My aunt was a brilliant cat. No, I didn't want her as a mate. The very idea was repulsive. As disgusting to me as a Twoleg would feel about taking their own aunt as a mate. She was just the perfect mentor. I needed skills to learn how to kill Eagleheart and become deputy. When I was leader, no cat could hurt me or belittle me. No way.

"And Raggedfoot. You have shown extreme bravery and fought for your rights. You survived the injustice of the rogue discrimination in Newleaf and it is time you had an apprentice." I gave a shudder of relief. Roughfoot might not be clanborn, and he wasn't anything like Nightstorm. But he was still better than some.

"Do you accept?" he asked them both. Nightstorm nodded eagerly. But Raggedfoot looked uncertain.

"Strikestar, I'm grateful for all the clan have done for me. But I'm still not a good fighter or a decent hunter." there were yowls of protests.

"That's not true!"

"You're great, Raggedfoot!

"Look, I'm no better than a clan appy... appy..."

"Apprentice." Strikestar prompted him.

"Yeah, that. Firepaw could be a great cat. I don't want to ruin him by teaching him badly." Raggedfoot finished.

"I strongly disagree, but if that is how you feel, then I must appoint a new deputy." he looked pointedly at Yellowlight.

"Excuse me, Strikestar. But I have a request." a new voice spoke out.

"Yes?"

"I would like to mentor the apprentice. He is my brother's and my love's son. I care for him more than anything. I want to make sure he has the best training he can have." a large tom spoke. I shook my head violently. No. No. Oh Starclan, please no.

"Yes, I understand. Of course. Eagleheart will be Firepaw's mentor..."