Chapter 25

                Splashheart’s attack still hadn’t come, but Crazystar knew better than to doubt Thunder’s words.

                Three moons ago, Stonestream had been released from apprentice duties but she knew most cats didn’t trust him anyways. On the same day, Graypaw had received the name of Graywhisker. And only a few sunrises ago, Blossompaw had become Blossomtail and the ThunderClan leader’s apprentice was Brightleaf. There were currently no apprentices, and the younger warriors weren't happy about being back on apprentice duties.

                Not often enough for cats to get suspicious, but just enough to assume they were talking about Stonestream’s position in the Clan and his temporary duties, Crazystar would order him to come to her den and they would talk just like they used to at the WindClan border.

                It was just like any of the days of the past four moons. The sun shone brightly and a few thin silver clouds drifted in the blue sky. But Crazystar definitely was expecting Splashheart’s attack sometime soon…

                So she wasn’t surprised at all when Splashheart dashed into the camp and the ThunderClan warriors yowled with alarm. The surprising part was that he was alone. “Crazykit!” the gray-and-white tom called mockingly as she descended from her den. “Now presenting the great leader of ThunderClan!”

                “Shut up, Splash-loser!” she responded furiously.

                “Best insult you can come up with?” Splashheart sneered.

                “No,” she replied. “My best insult would be to tell someone that they have a face as ugly as yours!”

                Snickers came from her Clan. He didn’t know how to reply for a moment. “Well, at least I don’t live in a Clan lead by a cat who belongs in the nursery!”

                “Hmm,” Crazystar growled. “So he doesn’t deny it…”

                The cats of ThunderClan joined in. “Ugly!” Liontail shouted.

                “Pathetic!” Hawkwhisker added.

                “You look upset Splashheart,” Crazystar purred innocently. “Something wrong?”

                “I’m only upset because I’m looking at you!” Splashheart countered.

                “You’re upset because you know I’m an infinite amount of times more beautiful than you could ever be and that we’re all about to send you running for your mother?” she asked.

                “My mother’s dead!” he snarled.

                “Did she die from looking at you?” she questioned him. “I pity her…”

                “Shut up!” the traitorous tom ordered.

                “Funny,” she muttered. “Last time, I checked you have no authority over me because you’re no longer deputy. You’re not even a member of this Clan!”

                “That’s because your Clan is pathetic. They could never withstand an attack from my cats!” he responded. “Your final opportunity. Surrender the Clan and your territory to me, Crazystar, and I’ll allow you to continue to live here under my leadership. Or decline my offer and be destroyed.”

                “I will fight to my final breath,” she vowed.

                “It’s a shame,” Splashheart meowed. “Your death is near. Any of your loyal warriors who wish to come join the right side?”        

                Thornwhisker marched confidently over to the former deputy. “He’s right,” the old warrior told the ThunderClan leader. “You don’t even deserve to be deputy, so you most certainly shouldn’t be leader!”

                “Smokewhisker!” the gray-and-white tom called. “Every cat needs to have the warrior he’ll choose as his first deputy with him before he takes over a Clan. A Clan that I’ll rename SplashClan!”

                Smokewhisker entered the camp. “Warriors of SplashClan, join me here now!” he shouted.

                A group of cats almost twice the size of ThunderClan raced in and stopped behind Splashheart, glaring at the Clan cats. “Are you rethinking your decision, Crazystar?” he asked. “Will you surrender peacefully or have your whole Clan die fighting us?”

                “Never, Crazystar, never!” Liontail snarled fiercely.

                Crazystar couldn’t believe she’d once doubted her deputy’s loyalty. “Of course not!” the gray furred she-cat declared. “ThunderClan will never let a cat like you be our leader!”

                “SplashClan, attack!” Splashheart yowled.

                “ThunderClan, attack!” she cried.

                The two Clans, one of real warriors and one with vicious rogues, ran towards each other. Smokewhisker crashed into her, knocking the ThunderClan leader onto the ground. She twisted sideways and then heaved herself upwards. Smokewhisker wasn’t thrown far though. She quickly scrambled to her paws and looked up to see the former WindClan deputy charging at her. She barely had time to sidestep.

                Smokewhisker spun around and aimed for her face. She ducked under his strike and quickly glimpsed the clearing, which had exploded into battle around her. Even the elders, Honeywhisker, and Pinefoot were fighting.             

                She allowed Smokewhisker to push her back towards the camp wall, only pretending like she was attempting to defend herself. She found herself trapped against a tall stone wall with no escape…which was exactly where she wanted to be. She placed her hindpaws on the wall and pushed upwards. She turned in mid-air and as soon as she landed, she swiped her claws across his throat. Smokewhisker fell to the ground.

                Just as she was about to leave and search for Splashheart, something sent her tumbling onto the grassy ground. She saw Thornwhisker standing over her. She tried unsuccessfully to throw him off.

                “Say good-bye, Crazykit!” he growled, raising a paw for the death blow.

                Then, a dark gray blur crashed into Thornwhisker. Stonestream?

                The tom looked at her. It was Streamsplash, her brother! “Traitor!” Thornwhisker hissed.

                Streamsplash looked him. “No,” he disagreed. “That’s you.”

                That’s where things went wrong. Thornwhisker slithered out of Streamsplash’s grasp and before Crazystar could help, he had created a large wound in her brother’s throat.        

                Her vision went red with fury. She dashed towards Thornwhisker and moved her head as he aimed for her throat. He swept his claws down the right side of her face, but her mind only distantly registered the pain.

                She twisted her head and fastened her teeth to his throat. Thornwhisker stumbled around as she stepped back before collapsing.

                Not caring about the traitorous old warrior’s death, she scurried over to her dying brother. “Why did you do that?” Crazystar whispered. “I have nine lives but you don’t!”

                Streamsplash’s eyes flickered open weakly. “I…betrayed you. Splashheart had me spy on Cloudstar…didn’t know he was a traitor until…until it was too late,” his voice was faint and fading.

                Her brother coughed once and then a shudder passed through his body. He lay on the grass, completely still. She stood there for the longest time, her face buried in his fur. The warmth was already disappearing…

                “Crazystar,” a voice meowed behind her.

                She half-heartedly glanced back. Liontail stood, a wound just above his eyes still dripping with fresh blood. “The battle is still going on,” he warned. “You must find Splashheart and kill him. There’s no time to grieve!”

                Liontail was right. But…if only Streamsplash was still alive…

                “Crazystar!” her deputy called again, pulling her out of her thoughts.

                She shook her head, struggling to clear her mind. She took a deep breath and meowed, “Okay, I’m coming.”

A/N: The battle isn't over! It continues in the next chapter! :) Hope you enjoyed!