DISCLAIMER: THE FOLLOWING CHAPTER INCLUDES A SCENE THAT IS WRITTEN BY ERIN HUNTER, PUT IN MY PERSPECTIVE.

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My kits were terrified. I could feel them shaking next to me. But then again, Scourge scared us all. My kits were six moons old, and I was afraid they would have to fight as apprentices.

"Mama," Eaglekit mewed. "I'm scared."

I wrapped my tail around them. "I know, my kits. I am too."

"I dont want that cat to come," Sweetkit whimpered.

"I don't either." My kits cuddled close to me. Strangely, I could hear something. A sort of series of high and low drops. It willed me to sing along.

Deep in the meadow
Under the willow
A bed of grass
A soft green pillow
Lay down your head
And close your eyes
And when they open
The sun will rise
Here it's safe
And here it's warm
And here the daisies guard you from every harm
And here your dreams are sweet
Tomorrow brings them true
Here is the place where I love you

I stopped as the song finished. I had been lost in thought. I thought that Willowpelt would be awake, angry that I had awaken her kits. In fact, the den was quiet. I laid down my head. Tomorrow would be a big day.

.

"From this moment on, until they have received their warrior names, these apprentices will be known as Lightpaw, Eaglepaw, and Sweetpaw." 

He looked around the clan. "Longtail, you will mentor young Sweetpaw. I hope that you will pass on all of your strength and knowledge to her.

"Cloudtail, you will mentor Eaglepaw.

"Graystripe, you will mentor young Lightpaw."

I was the first to call, "Sweetpaw! Eaglepaw! Lightpaw!"

"Cats of ThunderClan," Firestar continued, "we now go to fight with BloodClan. But there are four clans in the forest, and we will fight today!"

We all followed Firestar out of the camp. I remember everything. My kits were left at the camp to help the kits, queens, and elders, thank StarClan. I had just hoped that I would return to camp with them. Their father is gone. I'm the only one they have left, I thought. 

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We met the rest of LionClan at the top of the hollow. All three of the clans were there, including Ravenpaw and Barley. "StarClan help us! Show us an enemy we can fight!" Tallstar shouted.

Mousefur appeared. Dark shapes appeared from the bushes at the foot of the opposite slope as BloodClan advanced in a single menacing line. Firestar's belly clenched in fear when the small figure of Scourge stepped out.

"I know you're there!" the BloodClan leader called. "Come and give me your answer."

Firestar paused for a heartbeat, and glanced at the cats behind him. I knew how terrified he must be, but determination shone brightly on his face. LionClan was ready for battle.

"Go on, Firestar," Leopardstar mewed quietly. Her fur was bristling and her ears lay flat against her head in a mixture of fear and defiance. "Lead us."

Firestar looked at Tallstar, who nodded. "You spoke for us before," he meowed. "You're the one who should lead us now. We all trust you."

"Greetings," Scourge meowed. He swiped his tongue around his jaws as if he were tasting a fresh piece of prey. "Have you decided to leave? Or do you presume you can fight against BloodClan?"

"We don't have to fight," Firestar replied steadily. He looked so fierce and bold. "We will let you go back to Twolegplace in peace."

Scourge let out a cold mrrow of laughter. "Go back? Do you really think we're such cowards? No, this is our home now."

These cats were no rogues or lonors. These were lean, tough cats, most of them wearing collars studded with teeth like Scourge, most likely the trophies of earlier battles. Some were flexing claws strengthened with dogs' teeth, and I remembered the way Scourge's claws had ripped through Tigerstar's belly. Their eyes glittered as they waited for the order to attack.

"The forest is ours," Firestar told the black cat. "We rule here by the will of StarClan."

"StarClan!" Scourge sneered. "Tales for kits. Forest fool, StarClan won't help you now."

How dare he! I crouched, flattened my ears, and snarled. Scourge sprang to his paws, his fur suddenly bristling out so that he looked twice his size. "BloodClan, attack!" he snarled. The line of BloodClan warriors raced forward with thundering paws.

"LionClan, attack!" Firestar yowled.

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I snarled and let out a battle cry. Rushing through the battle, I was ambushed by a medium, black-and-white cat with a white ear, just as I had planned. We rolled, hissing and spitting, hitting other warriors. Some of our warriors may have extra injuries when they come home.

Eventually, he did manage to pin me, still hissing in my face. I could tell this warrior was all about the suffering. He tried to kill me slowly. He scraped his claws lightly on my belly. As he did, he loosened his grip. Biting back pain, I jumped at him and held him down by his shoulders. "Not so bright, are we now?" I spat. I bit down on his shoulder and he screeched.

Another black-and-white cat sprang on me, biting my scruff and clawing my flank. I rolled, ripping out fur and slamming him on the ground.

Firestar's voice rang above the fight. "I say these words before the body of Whitestorm, that his spirit may hear and approve my choice. Graystripe will be the new deputy of ThunderClan."

I was stunned. No, It couldn't be. Whitestorm! He can't be dead! "Whitestorm!" I howled.

The other cat jumped on me. Full of grief, I drank in the pain of the wounds they inflicted. My mother was gone. My father was killed. My brother was dead. Runningwind was murdered. I had watched Spottedleaf die. What is the point in surviving?

"Scourge!" I turned my head to look. Firestar was facing Scourge. "Turn and face me!"

The small black cat whipped around, letting go of Cloudtail in his shock. "How...I killed you."

"You did," Firestar spat back at him. "But I am a leader with nine lives who fights alongside StarClan. Can you say as much?"

It was then I realized something. Scourge's lack of belief in StarClan was his greatest weakness. Without belief, without the laws and customs of the forest Clans, Scourge did not have the nine lives of a true leader. When he died, he would be dead forever.

I felt Runningwind by my side. I will always be with you. I had to survive. I had to win. I screeched and fought back with the fierce courage of a true warrior. I am all my kits have left. With deep wounds, the warriors grew angry. One of them pulled on my tail while the other grabbed me by the scruff and shook.

It was all a blur. I was an inch from death. Again. Still, I fought with all the strength as a mother would have.

"Scourge is dead!"

They dropped me on the hard ground. It's all over. I was bleeding violently, lying helplessly on the ground. I was left to die.

But safe.

Ferncloud and Ashfur rushed to me, calling for Cinderpelt and carefully taking me away from the field of battle. I remembered that day, many moons ago, at my first battle as an apprentice. The promise I had made.

Most of my clanmates were injured, wailing for loss, or grieving for great leaders. Two great deputies had joined StarClan today. But we are ThunderClan. No matter what StarClan or the world will throw at us, our lives will go on. For StarClan watches over us and lights our paths.

I am Stealthheart, and my life will go on. Some may say that love and grief is weakness, but it is a strength. I will love and care for this clan with my final breath.

Always.