"No!" Flamepaw screamed.

She pelted towards her mentor, taking an apprentice down on the way. She halted next to her mentor.

"Ja-Jaggedfang?" Flamepaw whispered.

The huge tom lifted his broad head, and stared at Flamepaw. She felt uncomfortable under his gaze.

"I guess we should finish this battle, don't you think?"

Flamepaw's eyes widened. Her mentor couldn't fight! Could he? He looked terrible, his flank ripped, a claw torn out, and bite in his neck.

The deputy shakily got to his paws, then shook his head. Before Flamepaw could protest, he launched himself onto the Shadowclan leader.

Flamepaw blinked, trying to clear her cloudy mind. So much was happening!

She spotted an ugly tabby tom running towards her. Barely acting fast enough, Flamepaw jumped in the air, and sunk her claws into the tom's shoulder.

He screeched in pain. Flamepaw hissed in anger as the cat a whipped around and threw her into the air. She landed heavily, getting the breath knocked out of her.

She didn't have time to get to her paws. The tom charged into her, raking his claws down her flank.

Come on Flamepaw, you can do this!

Flamepaw struggled from his grip, and slashed her claws across the tom's nose. Blood spattered to the ground.

Flamepaw desperately searched the camp for Jaggedfang. She spotted him pinning a gray she-cat to the ground. He nodded quickly at Flamepaw before slicing his claws across the she-cat's face.

At least he's well enough to fight...

Flamepaw noticed that the tom had left. But before to long, he was back, and he had another cat with him. He bared his teeth and leaped onto the apprentice.

The other cat he brought with him, was a she-cat. She slashed Flamepaw's ear, causing blood to swell.

This is a battle I cannot win!

Suddenly, Flamepaw went limp. She felt the tom's grip loosen. She let a small breath escape her.

"You killed her!" The she-cat growled in surprise.

"I-I thought she...I barely..." The tom studdered.

Then, seeing her chance, she heaved upward with all the force she could manage. The tom went flying.

Yes! It worked!

"Had to bring another to defeat me? Huh?" Flamepaw taunted.

The she-cat snarled and charged towards Flamepaw. Flamepaw easily stepped aside.

"Come on! You call yourself a warrior?" Flamepaw hissed.

Flamepaw sliced her claws across the she-cat's neck. She looked at Flamepaw with surprise, then went pelting into the trees. She left a trail of blood behind her.

Flamepaw didn't know where the tom was, and she really didn't care.

She heard a screech by the nursery, and she saw three warriors trying to get in.

Shadowclan fights like foxes! They can't harm kits!

Rage rising in Flamepaw's belly, she launched herself on a gray tabby tom. He yelped in surprise. She sliced the tom's nose, then swiped his paws out from under him.

He let out a hiss, then bounded out of the camp. Flamepaw noticed that the other two Shadowclan cats were being attacked by three other cats.

Flamepaw jumped in surprise, it was Sharpkit, Lillykit, and Badgerkit! Sharpkit bit down on her opponent's ear. She howled in pain. Lillykit was feebly battling a tom three times her size.

Badgerkit was doing his best to help his sister. He nipped at the tom's paws.

They need help!

Flamepaw narrowed her eyes and charged in to the tom. He quickly turned around, flinging Badgerkit off. Lillykit watched with wide eyes as Flamepaw raked her claws across the cat's flank. Blood welled as skin met her claws.

Suddenly, Addertooth was on the tom, gently nipping at his neck. The tom struggled under Addertooth's weight.

"Don't think this is over!" The tom hissed.

Addertooth stepped off of the tom, allowing him to pelt into the line of trees.

Addertooth nodded at Flamepaw, then ran back into the throng of fighting cats. Sharpkit and Badgerkit were both battling the she-cat.

I might as well help them, even if Sharpkit gets angry.

Before Flamepaw could help them, the she-cat charged back into the trees, back to Shadowclan territory.

"Yeah, that's right! Go back to your own territory, you flea-pelt! Sharpkit snarled after her.

Flamepaw stepped back in surprise, her sister actually seemed...fierce. She looked battle hungry, and savage. She had blood dripping from one of her fangs, and her ears laid flat on her head.

She has changed. I just hope that it's not for the worst.