Heartstorm let Palebird slip to the ground. They had reached the Clearing. Heartstorm scanned the Clearing. Reedstar, Waspnose and Sparkbelly were talking together on one side. Eelfrost was staring at Embergaze who was still lying on the ground. Heartstorm felt his stomach lurch. Was Embergaze.. dead? Reedstar turned around and spotted Heartstorm. They rushed towards him. Waspnose bent down next to Palebird. 

          "He needs a medicine cat!" Waspnose said worriedly. 

          "It's a mess," groaned Sparkbelly, looking horrified. "Everybody is scattered. We don't know what's happening. We could be winning. We could be losing." 

          "We've got to get as many cats on our side, to the Clearing," Reedstar said confidently. "And I've got to check on RiverClan." Waspnose nodded. 

           "I don't know where Falconstar is," he said softly.

           "What happened to Embergaze?" Heartstorm asked Reedstar. Eelfrost was crouched over Embergaze, his eyes sad and tail twitching. "Is he going to be ok...?" Reedstar gave a sad sigh. 

           "I really hope so...," Reedstar murmured. "He's out cold." Heartstorm pushed past Sparkbelyl and trotted over to Eelfrost. 

           "He's going to be ok," Heartstorm told Eelfrost gently. He stared at Embergaze. He breathed slowly. Suddenly, Weaselscar burst into the Clearing. Reedstar was quick. He leapt at Weaselscar. They tumbled to the ground. Waspnose joined them. He grabbed Weaselscar's hind leg and sunk his teeth into them. Sparkbelly helped them. He lashed out at Weaselscar's stomach. Eelfrost didn't even seem interested. He was distant. Weaselscar howled and roared with pain. He thrashed around. Finally, Reedstar ordered everybody to let him go. They kept him corner though.

          "What is your plan?" demanded Reedstar fiercely. Weaselscar growled and didn't say anything. Reedstar's right paw flashed out. Blood poured out of Weaselscar's cheek. He winced but didn't talk. 

           "We'll kill you!" snapped Waspnose. "I'll kill you!" 

           "Kill me!" panted Weaselscar. "Break the warrior code and kill me." Reedstar spat at him in disgust. 

           "Guard him," he ordered. Sparkbelly grabbed him and dragged him away. Weaselscar spat in Weaselscar's face then clawed at his back before storming off. 

           "We need to find the others," Reedstar said decisively. "Heartstorm, do you think you're well enough to get to RiverClan? Check on what's going on there. And on your way find any RiverClan or ThunderClan cat and tell them to get back to the Clearing and tell as many others as possible?" 

          "Yeah, I'll do it," nodded Heartstorm. He turned away from Eelfrost and pushed out of the Clearing once more. Heartstorm pushed his legs. They barely touched the cold ground. The wind whistled by Heartstorm. Suddenly, Heartstorm was flying through the air. Then his head hit the ground and his breath was knocked out of him. He gasped, lying on the ground, unable to move. Suddenly, he felt claws dig into his side. He moaned in pain and tried to roll away. His vision started to come back to him. He saw shadows flickering around him. Heartstorm tried to get up. Somebody slammed him down once more. Heartstorm felt the world around him leaving. He was going to die. He couldn't control anything anymore. Suddenly, the cold claws wrapped around his neck and Heartstorm felt a warm breath in his face. 

        "Heartstorm, I've been waiting a long time for this," hissed the voice. Heartstorm's mind snapped as he recognised it. Lionbreeze. Heartstorm struggled against him but to no avail. He didn't understand. He was a warrior. Lionbreeze was just a medicine cat. With attitude. But still, just a medicine cat. 

          "Oh, I'm not just a medicine cat," growled Lionbreeze into Heartstorm's ear. "I've been training. Training to fight. Oh I've dreamt of this day." 

          "What have I ever... done... to you?" gasped Heartstorm, taking deep breaths. He had to get out. He couldn't die, he realised. He had a family. He had a Clan. He had to protect them. 

          "You changed out Clan," snarled Lionbreeze. "Not for the better." Heartstorm pushed up. Lionbreeze was taken by surprise and stumbled back. Not knowing how, Heartstorm went for a quick back kick. He hit Lionbreeze on the chest. Lionbreeze was sent sprawling. Heartstorm growled and lashed his tail then pounced onto Lionbreeze. He dug his claws into Lionbreeze's side and clawed. 

          "Still not as strong as a warrior, " muttered Heartstorm. Lionbreeze growled and twisted out of Heartstorm's grasp. With amazing flexibility, he turned his neck and bit into Heartstorm's back paw. Heartstorm felt his teeth sink into his flesh. Heartstorm tried to shake himself free but Lionbreeze wasn't letting go. Heartstorm claws at his face, at his stomach. Lionbreeze kept hold. Finally, Heartstorm let go of him and tried to wrench himself free. Every small movement let Lionbreeze's teeth sink deeper into Heartstorm's flesh. Heartstorm growled as pain flared through his leg. 

       "Kill me," growled Lionbreeze. "I don't care. As long as I cripple you for the rest of your life." Heartstorm roared in anger and bit into Lionbreeze's spine. Lionbreeze shuddered and Heartstorm felt his jaw slacken. Heartstorm staggered back, panting hard. His leg was bleeding. He tried moving it. It wouldn't work the way he would have liked it to. It felt..., heavy. Heartstorm shook himself. He'd be fine. The adrenaline kept the real pain away from him. Heartstorm stared at Lionbreeze. He didn't know what he had done. Lionbreeze's eyes were rolled up leaving his eyes blank and white. He trembled as if he was cold. His right paw looked locked into place. Heartstorm approached Lionbreeze carefully. 

         "What- what have you done?" croaked Lionbreeze. Heartstorm didn't know. He found himself hating to see his old Clanmate like that. He turned away in disgust. "Kill me! Kill me! Don't leave me like this.... I can't live like this...." Heartstorm turned around. Lionbreeze was trembling on the floor but had managed to prop himself up a little. His right paw was still strongly blocked in the same disgusting position. Heartstorm frowned. Lionbreeze had attacked him first.

          "Have mercy on me...," continued Lionbreeze, his voice hoarse and raspy. "I can't live like this." Heartstorm understood. Lionbreeze would never be able to walk again. His leg wasn't just blocked in that horrible position. Heartstorm had paralysed him. He didn't know what to do. He wanted to end Lionbreeze's agony. But he didn't want to take another cat's life. He didn't want to see another cat's limp and dead body. He turned away and started to walk away through the trampled grasses. 

          "Heartstorm!" snapped LIonbreeze, his voice stronger. "Don't do this..." Heartstorm didn't turn around. 

          "You brought this on to yourself," Heartstorm replied and slipped away. He headed towards RiverClan. He could hear some shuffling and shouting. There were yowls and hisses. But no cat appeared near Heartstorm. The sky was still covered in angry dark clouds. Heartstorm listened out for anymore ambushes. At every small noise, he stopped and pricked his ears. As he neared the river, he heard the grasses ruffle. A cat was running his way. Heartstorm crouched, ready to leap at any moment. A white cat burst into view. Heartstorm's muscles tightened and he got ready to leap but he recognised the cat. He stood up quickly. Snowfur, the ThunderClan medicine cat jumped back in fear and surprise. When he recognised Heartstorm, he sighed in relief. Snowfur had a cut on the back leg and a scratch across the cheek. He looked weary and tired but otherwise, he looked fine. 

           "Heartstorm," Snowfur said in relief. 

           "Snowfur!" Heartstorm exclaimed then lowered his voice. "don't rush about like that. An enemy could have heard you. You've got to get back to the Clearing! Somethings' happened to Embergaze and Palebird. If you see anybody from RiverClan or ThunderClan on your way there, tell them the same. Everybody is to meet at the Clearing." Snowfur gave a brief nod, looking overwhelmed. Heartstorm understood what he must be going through. 

          "Don't worry. You'll make it," assured Heartstorm. 

          "Thanks," Snowfur said, taking a deep breath. Heartstorm sped away. He pushed harder. He was reaching the border. He could feel it. Long grasses hit his face. They tried to trip him. They pushed at his sides. Finally, Heartstorm burst out of the grasses and the river rushed in front of him. His heart racing, Heartstorm sneaked towards the tunnel. The scents were mixed. Heartstorm wrinkled his nose. Then he crept into the tunnel and emerged back into RiverClan.