Bumblestar POV

Ratscar's dark brown pelt was laced with old battle scars, the most notable a long one down his back. He was bound to be a fighter, having been trained by the Dark Forest. I knew this would not be an easy battle. His amber eyes were brimming with fury. He bared his yellowed teeth at me as I charged towards him. I surprised him by skidding to a halt as he sidestepped, instead of leaping at him as he had expected me to, and rearing up onto my hindlegs. I swiped downwards at him, but he ducked, and with a nimble forepaw swept my hindlegs out from underneath me.

I hit the ground and Ratscar immediately took to the opportunity to pin me to the ground. I saw the pale pink light reflected off the stone walls as sunset came, noted the crowd of onlookers watching the battle unfold, and glimpsed Foxleap snarling at Graypaw. Claws pressed against my throat and then dug in deeper, causing me to gasp for breath as I struggled to inhale any oxygen.

"LET THE APPRENTICE LEAVE THIS CAMP NOW, OR YOUR LEADER DIES!" Ratscar roared.

I had a feeling that threat did not necessarily encourage ThunderClan to release the apprentice. Killing me would perhaps be a favor for ThunderClan. Foxleap, however, hurriedly ushered Graypaw to the camp entrance. Graypaw, bewildered, stumbled off into the woods. Perhaps a badger would eat the mouse-brained fool. That would be interesting.

I screamed in agony as Ratscar began clawing at my stomach. White-hot flames spread quickly through my whole body and I kicked upwards with my hindlegs, to no use.

"You said...y-you woul-wouldn't kill m-me if G-graypaw left," I gasped.

Ratscar looked down at me with contempt in his eyes. "I did not. I said you would die if he didn't leave the camp. I didn't say you wouldn't if he did."

His paw raised upwards. I tensed and flinched as it came downwards towards my neck. I could already feel the pain sear across my neck before his claws touched skin. I could see the light of victory in his eyes, the gloating in his posture. I would not die in cowardice and fear. I would not give him the satisfaction. I allowed a spark of defiance to enter my eyes. "Go ahead," I sneered as he hesitated. "What are you waiting for? Do it, I dare you, you lying cheating Dark Forest warrior! One of their recruits, they taught you well, didn't they now?"

His eyes narrowed. "I am no Dark Forest cat. I am a loyal ShadowClan warrior who was wrongly kidnapped. You are the Dark Forest cat!"

I chuckled bitterly. "Is that supposed to be an insult?" I spat. "TRAI-TOR!"

Hissing with fury, he brought his paw down for the death blow. I was laughing insanely, and I heard a cat from my own Clan whisper, "Do it!"

Not a single cat moved to help me. My death was a heartbeat away, but I didn't care at all. Time seemed to slow down. I leaned my head back and braced myself for the pain, surrendering to fate.

Or perhaps not.

I rolled out of the way as his claws struck the empty space where I had been a heartbeat before. I scrambled to my feet and blindly slashed my claws through the air, connecting with the right side of his face, as I sensed him lunging at me. We stared at each other for a few moments, neither one moving.

"I will never forget this!" the dark brown tom snarled.

Then, Ratscar turned and raced out of the camp, vanishing into the forest. I watched him flee and muttered, "Coward."

Shadekit stumbled over to me. "Bumblestar, why would you want them to kill each other?"

"Because they needed to die," I hissed.

"But that's against the warrior code!" Shadekit whined.

Nightkit padded over, rolling his eyes at his brother. "Shadekit, ShadowClan are our enemies. Their pain is our gain."

I nodded in approval to Nightkit. "There's a smart one there. One who understands the way things really work!" I turned to Shadekit. "You should be more like your brother. You're a disappointment, really. You take after your mother too much. She was a bad influence."

Shadekit unsheathed his claws. "Don't talk about my mother like that!"

I sliced my claws across his nose and he yelped in pain. "Don't talk to your leader like that then. It's quite disrespectful."

A/N: Everyone's like "Bumblestar is gonna win!" and "Ratscar + Graypaw= Dead" and since I hate being predictable, I did not do that :P there will always be those plot twists, won't there? :D