"No, you're doing it wrong!" Tigerstar roared furiously. "Left paw swipe at the right shoulder! Did Bluestar teach you anything!?"

Firepaw was panting heavily, bleeding out of one shoulder. His head still ached from the day before, and his vision was starting to get fuzzy again. "Y-yes, Tigerstar."

The leader grunted, sauntering over to the other side of the clearing. Firepaw's mentor had suggested that they train outside ThunderClan territory today, in the wild part of the forest.

The ginger apprentice settled into the familiar crouch. As Tigerstar swung around and squared up to him, he raced forward and leaped onto his hind paws. He kept his gaze fixed on the tom's left shoulder, then lashed out with his left paw to swipe at his right shoulder. Tigerstar ducked the wrong way, expecting a blow on the left shoulder, and Firepaw managed to slice his nose, too.

"Cut it out, kittypet," the broad-shouldered tom growled, and Firepaw dropped back onto all fours. "That was... better, but still pathetic,"
He sounded hesitant and his eyes were narrowed. "We're done for today. Go back to camp and rest; you'll need it for tonight."

Why? Firepaw gulped. "Yes, Tigerstar." He kept glancing over his shoulder as he padded out of the unfamiliar clearing. Tigerstar was just sitting still, staring at him with an intense amber gaze. What's he planning? Whatever it is, it can't be good.

                                ~~❤︎❤︎❤︎~~

"Cats of ThunderClan, gather here for a Clan meeting!" Tigerstar's yowl rang out through the crisp leaf-fall evening air. Cats slunk gloomily from their dens to huddle at the base of the Highrock.

Firepaw sat next to Yellowfang and Cinderpelt near the back, not want more attention called to himself. Whatever Tigerstar's planning, I just know I'll be a part of it.

"My loyal warriors," the leader began. "What is the main problem that we face today?"

Hesitant murmuring met his words.

"The prey is running well..."

"The weather isn't bad..."

"There haven't been any battles since... Sunning Rocks..."

"That's exactly it," Tigerstar's amber gaze remained emotionless. "Sunning Rocks has always been ThunderClan's territory, but RiverClan still battles us over them. How many of our kits are we going to allow to be killed in endless, pointless border skirmishes? How many of you are willing to watch your Clanmates die at the paws of one of those lazy, arrogant mouse-hearts?"

Firepaw could see Graystripe bristling, but the gray tom didn't retort. Instead, a murmurming of agreement was starting to rise in volume.

"He's right, though..."

"But there has to be something else to it. It's Tigerstar we're talking about."

"There is nothing else to it, I assure you," the leader blinked slowly, his gaze sweeping over the crowd. "But I would like to thank my friends that have been assisting me over the past few days. All of you, come forward."

   The former ShadowClan warriors and rogues stood and shoved their way to the front of the crowd. "Tangleburr, Blackfoot, Stumpytail, and Clawface. You all already hear the name of a warrior, but not of one of ThunderClan. So by the power of StarClan, I deem you true warriors of ThunderClan."

   The four cats dipped their heads, then sat down to let the rogues stand before the leader. "My friends," Tigerstar smiled. "You helped me heal well and hunt while I was injured. I feel very strongly that each one of you; Mowgli, Jay, Snag, Scorch, Jingo, Scarlet, Violet, Fang, Trout, Finn, and Sepia; deserve your warrior names. Do you promise to defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

   Snag's yellow eyes glittered. "We do, Tigerstar. We pledge our unwavering loyalty to you, and you alone."

   Tigerstar smiled. "Excellent. Snag, I rename you Jaggedtooth, for your excellent fighting abilities. Mowgli, you will be known as Moonfang. Jay, Scorch, Jingo, Scarlet, and Violet; you will now be known as Jayscar, Scorchwind, Ravenflash, Redflame, and Violetbreeze. Fang, Trout, Finn, and Sepia, you will now be called Lionfang, Silverstrike, Bristlethorn, and Hawkflight. May StarClan light your paths."

Slowly, the Clan cats began to chant the new names. The cheers grew louder and louder until Firepaw was sure that they could hear them in WindClan.

Tigerstar waved his tail for silence. He had a cold, calculating glint in his amber orbs as he studied each and every one of his Clanmates. His gaze once again landed and rested on Firepaw's reciprocated green one. "Tonight we will strike at RiverClan's heart, and teach them once and for all that we are not cats that they can push around. We are the strongest Clan around Fourtrees, and if they need us to prove that to them, well," the tom began to chuckle. "Then we'll show them what we can do."

                                ~~❤︎❤︎❤︎~~

Firepaw was breathing heavily, his fur spiked in fear and anticipation as he crouched begins the reeds. We're about to start another pointless war! Many cats are going to die tonight, and in the battles to come. How can StarClan sit back and let this happen?

"Alright," Tigerstar turned around from in front of Firepaw to face the patrol of ThunderClan cats. They were all crouched among the riverside plants, waiting and watching. "You all know the plan. Longtail, you will take your cats and attack the first RiverClan patrol that comes to the border. Jayscar, your cats will reinforce Longtail's attack."

The old black she-cat nodded, flexing her claws. Tigerstar nodded back and continued. Jaggedtooth's and my patrol will head straight to RiverClan's camp. Dustpelt and his cats will go ahead of us to fight off any cats that may be ready to stop us." he gazed proudly at his Clan for a few heartbeats before turning back to face the river. Longtail's patrol was a little further upstream, hiding behind a fallen tree. Firepaw could see the occasional flash of fur and rustling of the grass, but that was the only thing that told him that his Clanmates were there in the dim moonlight.

The dark ginger apprentice turned to his friend, who was directly behind him. "This is a horrible mistake," he whispered in a low tone.

"I know," Graystripe sighed. "But there's nothing we can do. If only Bluestar was still alive."

If only... Firepaw leaned into to nuzzle his gray companion. "Whatever happens, please stay safe."

Graystripe smiled. "I'll defend you and my Clan until the bitter end."

Firepaw was about to respond when yowling broke out nearby. "They're here!" Tigerstar growled. "They outnumber our patrol, but just barely. Jayscar, go!"

The ThunderClan cats watched the former rogue slink through the undergrowth with Mousefur, Thornpaw, Hollyshade, and Runningwind in close pursuit. When the second patrol reached the battle, the RiverClan cats were horribly outnumbered. Firepaw watched cats striking out at each other, hissing in pain and fear but still fighting with all of the strength they could muster. He saw cats stumble and fall, but it was too dark to tell whether the unmoving bodies were from the enemy or his own Clan.

The skirmish was over in a matter of heartbeats. Several cats lay motionless on the riverbank, but an almost equal amount was still standing. The remaining cats trotted and staggered back over to their Clanmates.

"Excellent," Tigerstar flashed a wicked smile. "Any casualties on our side?"

"Just one, I think," Jayscar rasped. "It was that lanky cream tabby."

"Runningwind?" Mousefur choked.

"No," Dappletail breathed. "No! StarClan, how could you take him? How could you take the cat I love? That should have been me! I should be dead!" The tortoiseshell elder slumped down to the ground, letting out pitiful sobs of pain and grief, even though she had not been wounded. Mousefur, Runningwind's sister, and One-eye and Halftail, the fallen warrior's parents, all gathered around the grieving she-cat.

Tigerstar blinked slowly. "We will all remember the sacrifice that Runningwind made tonight, and we will not forget his loyalty and dedication to ThubderClan. However, we must not let his sacrifice be in vain. We must finish this attack, for Runningwind. Do you think you can fight for him, Dappletail?"

The small tortoiseshell she-cat straightened, wiping tears from her eyes. "I will avenge his death with every ounce of energy I have left in my body."

The leader smiled. "Good. Now let us proceed with Stage Two."

                                ~~❤︎❤︎❤︎~~

Runningwind was the first of many to fall that night. Smallear was the second, with his mate, Speckletail, crumpling right beside him. The two died with their tails intertwined, fighting side-by-side.

Then it was the apprentices. Ashpaw was struck down by a massive RiverClan tom, and he lay in the blood-soaked grass with his final snarl plastered on his face. Brightpaw was nearby with half of her face shredded, and Firepaw wasn't sure whether she was dead or not.

Some of the rogue cats had perished, too. Hawkflight and Redflame lay beside Tangleburr, all of their eyes closed for the final time. The scene was horrible; the green grass was stained crimson with the blood of terrified, hopeless cats, and the rising sun was revealing just how many cats had been killed in this battle.

Firepaw struck another blow at the dark gray tom in front of him. It was Stonefur, one of Bluestar's kits. The dark ginger tom twisted around and managed to slip out from under the larger tom's grip and onto his back.

"Bluestar is dead," Firepaw whispered in his ear. "She was your mother. I wish she could have told you herself, but StarClan had other plans, it seems."

"You're lying!" Stonefur growled, flinging the apprentice onto the ground under him. "My mother was a loyal RiverClan cat who died defending me and Mistyfoot from a fox!"

Firepaw screeched as the dark gray tom bit down hard on his shoulder, ripping through the flesh. "I s-swear to StarClan, I'm n-not lying."

"I'm not just going to believe a stupid kittypet," the RiverClan tom spat in Firepaw's face. "Your Clanmates killed my father. And you're going to pay, kittypet."

Stonefur flipped Firepaw over onto his back. The dark ginger tom's belly was exposed, and he slashed out frantically, but Stonefur held him fast. "Bye bye, kittypet." The tom opened his jaws, revealing glinting white fangs. Firepaw screeched and writhed, but it was no use. I'm sorry, Graystripe. I'm sorry. I've failed.

Just as the RiverClan cat dove down to tear out Firepaw's throat, a sandy-brown shape flashed past and knocked Stonefur off of Firepaw. The apprentice scrambled to his paws and saw one of his Clanmates battling the tom.

"Sandstorm!" Firepaw cried as Stonefur pounced on top of her, clawing viscously at her flanks. "I'm coming!"

But a white she-cat blocked his way. "Not so fast, crow-food," she spat. "You're the kittypet, aren't you? How cute. Let's see how well you can fight."

She leaped at him, aiming for his ears. Firepaw ducked, then whipped around to claw at her haunches as she landed. The she-cat roared, twisting around to nip Firepaw's ear. He felt flesh tear, and warm, sticky blood ran down his cheek and dripped on the dry earth. Fueled by rage, he pounced on the RiverClan cat and bit down hard on the nearest bit of fur. The she-cat screeched, then fell limp in Firepaw's jaws.

Startled, he stepped back, and saw that her neck was twisted at a horrible angle. "Oh no..." he whispered, feeling for a heartbeat, but her skin was already growing cold. "No, I'm sorry. I-it was an accident," he sobbed into her fur. He only drew back when he heard pawsteps approaching. He whipped around, seeing the one cat he had hoped to never see again.

"Well done, Firepaw," Tigerstar curled his lip in a sneer. "That was a clean bite, though I personally prefer to make them suffer a little longer. Not bad."

"You're horrible," Firepaw spat. "She was a living, breathing cat, with feelings and goals and a family and a purpose, and you don't care at all."

The leader chuckled, which quickly escalated into a maniacal cackle. "Enemies are enemies, Firepaw. Don't see every cat as an ally. That she-cat stopped you from saving your friend, didn't she?"

Stopped me from saving her? Firepaw bolted past Tigerstar, his heart sinking with every step he took towards two bodies lying in the dirt. One pelt was a dark, stormy gray, while the other...

"Sandstorm!" He wailed, crouching down by the she-cat. Her claws were fully extended, her brilliant green eyes full of defiance. A bloody gash covered where her throat should be, and an identical wound was shown on her opponent's lifeless body. "Sandstorm..."

He sobbed quietly as he buried his nose in her soft fur, breathing in her quickly fading scent for the last time. His heart was filled with an ache more painful than any wound he had received. I loved you, Sandstorm. I've wanted to tell you that for many, many moons. But now I'll never have the chance to.

He was dimly aware of a cat hovering beside him. The tom silently laid down next to Firepaw, licking the dark ginger tom's fur gently.

"Graystripe... she's gone, and it's all m-my fault—"

"No, it's not," Graystripe meowed sternly, his usually warm and playful gaze cold and distant. "It's Tigerstar's. Too many cats died in this battle. T-too many loved ones will never walk again."

Firepaw gazed up at his friend, and noticed a trace of grief in his eyes. "Not your kits..."

"Both," the tom murmured sadly. "They stuck together until the very end."

"This is horrible," Firepaw whispered, the ache in his chest making it hard to breathe. "We can't go on living like this. So many cats died in this pointless battle... how could StarClan ever let this happen!?"