(Splashclaw POV)
Turtleleaf stood up and gave his white chest fur a couple of embarrassed licks. The whole of Moonclan watched as he padded up beside me on the Rock Ledge. I angled my head to where I could see through a crack in the cave. "I look up to our warrior ancestors, for I hope they agree that Tigerleaf is the right cat for deputy." I paused, thinking. "Tigerleaf is an experienced warrior and I think he would do perfect in the role of deputy."

"I will be going to the StarCrystal with Blossomshine to receive my nine lives from Starclan." I signaled for the meeting to end before hopping down from Rock Ledge and coming to rest beside Amberstar. "Please grant me a life." I whispered as I touched noses with the formers leader. "That would mean a lot."

I sighed and looked over at Blossomshine. She was talking with the warrior Nightshade. She cast a glance at me and quickly ended her conversation. I'm guessing she quiet she-cat ended her conversation with a "I need to do something right now, talk to you later." She was always one to be friendly, even with the most hostile cats, she was calm and sweet. I have never seen her cry.

My paws started carrying me over to her. "Let's go." I meowed sternly. The grey spotted she-cat nodded and we started walking out the cave. Turtleleaf must have noticed because he started gathering cats together to go on night patrols. Soon, I couldn't hear his strong meow anymore, only the harsh mountain winds howling in my ears.

Both Blossomshine's and my ears were relieved when we stepped into the cave that sheltered the StarCrystal. At first, Blossomshine and I were walking side by side, but with the cave walls dramatically tightening against our sides, she had to start trailing behind me.

I was happy when the walls finally opened up into the small cave that held the StarCrystal. Holy Starclan, I thought. How do the medicine cats do that every half moon!? I padded up to the big, white, glowing crystal that stuck up out of the ground. Taking a deep breath, I laid down next to it. I looked over to the pretty medicine cat, she nodded and I closed my eyes. I slowly moved my muzzle towards the StarCrystal, careful not to rush into anything.

BAM!! Something slammed into my side, knocking the unready breath out of my lungs. As I gasped for air, I felt claws battering my soft belly. My eyes shot open to see the dim shine of yellow-green eyes staring into my own green eyes.

Before I could react, I felt the beating stop and yowls ringing in the cave. I heard a big HUFF and I was being beaten again. I noticed the dim outline of Blossomshine's body as she got back up and prepared to attack again. "NO!!!" I yowled, startling both of them. "RUN!!"

I heard nothing but claws breaking skin and felt only blood oozing from my scratches for a heartbeat of hesitation from Blossomshing before I heard her scurry away through the cave. I kicked the cat away with my back legs and tried to stand up, but I only staggered a few paw steps before I felt them grab my tail in their teeth and yank me backwards. My claws screeched against the hard rock, causing me to shiver.

The cat knocked me over and held me down with one paw as they smirked. "How can I make you suffer the most before I kill you?" The cat, I'm guessing a tom, meowed. He switched his paws that were holding me down and slid out one, long, right front claw. He started at my chest, pressing down till his claw pierced my skin. I flung my paws everywhere I could, but, somehow, the most I could do was catch the ends of his short fur.

He drug his claw down my body, cutting through everything he touched. His left claws slid out to keep me from squirming. He continued down my body. I tried to be strong and not care, as though it was a shallow cut, but the kit in me was starting to break through as a tear broke from my eye.

"What's wrong, Kitty?" The tom mocked. "Can't take a little cut from Storm?" So that's his name. "I thought clan cats were supposed to be strong...." I could feel the blood starting to,rise in my throat as he talked more. With that, he stopped cutting my belly, and swept his claw across my throat. "But I guess I was wrong...."

Blood started welling in my throat and I could feel the warmth of it puddling around my neck. I tried to move, but I couldn't. All I could do now was watch my killer silently padded out of the cave as the edges of my vision started to fade to black. Soon all I could see was black. I quietly whispered, "Welcome me Starclan...." As I felt my heart stop beating and my body go limp.