Poolclan Warriors swarmed Breezeclan's leader. Quailfur fought to protect him. He heard a screech. Whitejay, Shadowreed, and Rockpaw were defending the nursery. Tallwater bared her teeth as one of Poolclan's apprentices got past them. The kits were spitting at the cat. One of the kits raced forward and batted the apprentice with his mini claws. The apprentice hit the kit and sent it flying. Snarling, Tallwater leapt at the apprentice. The tom looked surprized as she snapped his neck. Tallwater ran to her kit who was just dazed. Quailfur continued battling alongside Rabbitfoot. The Poolclan warriors were pushing back. Honeyberry was helping Acornpaw from a scratch. Gorsestar was on his final life. Rabbitfoot yowled as three warriors jumped her. Hissing in rage Quailfur slashed Cranefeather's nose. "What are you? Rouges? Get out of here while you still have dignity left!" He hissed. Snarling, the warrior leaped at him and bit Quailfur's tail. Yowling, he turned and clawed the toms ear. Hissing they tumbled again. Quailfur used his weight to overpower the tom. "Stop! Let him go!" His clanmate (who was bleeding badly from his shoulder) mewed. Quailfur did what he was told. "Think next time you fight Breezeclan!" He hissed. Quailfur leaped back to Gorsestar's side, Rabbitfoot next to him. He was pushed back again. Duckstar smiled with his jagged teeth. He was alone with Gorsestar. Snarling, Gorsestar launched himself at the tom. Yowling they tumbled. Duckstar was on top. Quailfur battled harder. He needed to get to his leader! Duckstar bared his teeth. "This is for all the pain you caused me." He ripped Gorsestar's throat out. Gorsestar's breath was snagging in throat. Quailfur stared in horror. "No!" He yowled in anguish. The Breezeclan cats looked shocked. Snowflight wailed into the night. Anger flared inside his stomach. His kits will grow up without a father! Yowling in rage he fought harder. Rabbitfoot fought beside him. Quailfur made it to Duckstar. Snarling he launched himself at the tom. Clawing Duckstar's pelt he felt the hot sticky fluid run under his claws. Hissing Quailfur was overpowered by Duckstar's warriors. "Get off him!" Acornpaw yowled as more warriors backed Quailfur up. Claws met pelts and yowls echoed in the air. "Retreat!" Duckstar meowed as the warriors raced to their home. The Breezeclan cats stumbled over to their leaders cold, bloody body. "Why is Daddy sleeping? Wake up Daddy we won!" Dapplekit raced up and prodded his pelt. "Daddy? Daddy! Why won't he wake up?" She meowed. Poppykit frowned and stilled her sister's paw as she continued to prod him. Quailfur bowed down and stuck his nose in Gorsestar's pelt. "Why is he doing that? Mommy!" Dapplekit looked at her mother. Poppykit got on top of Gorsestar and laid a tiny ear on his chest. She looked up in despair. "He's dead isn't he?" Honeyberry nodded sadly. "No! He cant be dead! Come on Daddy you promised to show me a fighting position! Daddy wake up! You fooled us! Now wake up!" Dapplekit wailed. Snowflight gathered her kits and set them beside Gorsestar. The rest of the clan gave the mother and her kits some time to grieve. Holding back a wail, he got up and padded over to Snowflight. "I'm sorry I wasn't there." He mewed solemnly. "It wasn't your fault, Starclan called for him. There was nothing you could do about it Quailstar." She looked at him with watery green eyes. "I'm not leader yet." He whispered. "But you will be soon." Honeyberry meowed. Quailfur looked at her in sadness. "I shouldn't be. This attack was uncalled for and unjust." He meowed. "We need to go to Moon-Oak." Honeyberry walked out of camp. Padding out of the camp, he followed her. They reach the Poolclan border. Growling, they leapt over the ditch. "Stop! You Breezeclan Fox-hearts!" A patrol ran up to them. Quailfur's fur rose on his shoulders. "We are passing to go to the Moon-Oak." Honeyberry mewed. "Why?" A black tom hissed. "Because Breezeclan is now without a leader. Now may we pass?" Honeyberry meowed calmly. Quailfur forced his fur to lie flat. The patrol's eyes hardened, yet an apprentice looked at Quailfur with sympathy in her eyes. "I'm sorry about your loss." She dipped her tabby head. "Fawnpaw!" The black tom hissed. "What? It's true! We murdered his leader!" She snarled. "I am a seiner warrior!" He snarled and clawed her cheek. Hissing, the she-cat raced to her camp. "Fawnpaw come back!" He yowled. She disappeared. "Sorry about my mouse-brained apprentice. I will deal with her later." The tom glared at Quailfur. Lashing his tail, Quailfur dipped his head. They walked past him and raced to get to Moon-Oak.

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Quailfur pressed his nose against the tree. The surroundings disappeared. Cats surrounded him. He recognized the cats of his childhood that passed. A small Tabby queen padded up to him, her kits played around their mother's feet. "Shadowglade!" He purred to his best friend. Her eyes glimmered with stars. "Quailfur!" She lifted her tail. Winterkit and Kestralkit came up to him and licked his nose. Purring, Shadowglade padded up to him. "You were loving towards my kits when I..." She trailed off. He remembered it like it was yesterday. She was leaving her body fast. Her last words were. "Protect them." Her kits died a day later. "I'm sorry for letting them die." He mewed. "Enough blaming yourself!" She pressed her nose on his head. "With this life comes love. Love your clanmates like you loved me." He sighed, his body flooded with warmth. "Thank you." He meowed. A golden kit came next. "Sunkit!" He felt his throat tighten. His sister looked at him with love in her eyes. "Hello little brother. Though you're now bigger than me." He laughed. She padded up to him and touched his cheek with her nose. "With this life I give you Humor. Never lose it or your clanmates might think you're stuck-up." A flash of heat bubbled in his chest and he burst out laughing. She grinned. He licked the top of her head. " I love you." She looked at him bitter-sweetly. "Me to." She padded back as a youthful warrior padded towards him. "Olivebranch!" He greeted the medicine-cat with a respectful nod. The tom grinned. "With this life I give you Loyalty. Use it well, or you might regret it." A jab of pain coursed in his stomach. Olivebranch padded away. A beautiful golden she-cat walked over. "Dawnlily!" He greeted his mother. "I'm so proud of you!" She purred. "Is Brackenheart here too?" He glared over her shoulder. "Enough. Now..." She licked his head. "With this life I give you Good Judgment." A burning sensation flashed from nose to tail tip. "You will need it." She whispered. She padded back into the line. A black tom ran up to him. "Nightsky!" His former clanmate came and waved his tail. "With this life I give you Protectiveness. Protect your clanmates like a Queen guarding her litter." A shock of rage filled his belly then subsided. "Thank-you." He nodded once and ran back in line. A white she-cat with red and black streaks walked over with pride. "Runningfeather!" He meowed. "Didn't think you would see me huh?" She smirked. "It is a little surprise." He remembered the cranky elder that passed many moons ago. "With this life I give you Pride. Be proud of your clanmates even if they do wrong. But don't be too prideful." She jabbed her nose in her nose to his cheek. His fur felt like it was on fire. She padded away, her tail swishing behind her. A strong brown tom padded over, his eyes filled with pride. Quailfur lowered his tail. "Brackenheart." He hissed his father's name. Brackenheart grinned sadly. "I wish I had been there to see you grow into the strong tom I see today." He mewed. "Well you weren't. You were gone with other she-cats while your kit died and left my mother and I to grieve alone!" Quailfur spat. "It's not his fault." Sunkit meowed. "Yes it is!" He hissed. "No, he's right." Brackenheart mewed. Quailfur lashed his tail. "All I can do is ask for forgiveness." He dipped his head low. Quailfur stiffened, and narrowed his eyes. 'Why should I forgive him?' He asked himself. A tiny voice in his head, the innocent voice called. 'Because you still love him. Even through all the mouse-dung he caused you' sighing, he walked over to him and laid his head against Brackenheart's chest. "I was never mad at you. I...I just wanted you to be proud." Quailfur sobbed. Licking his son's head soothingly, he purred. "With this life I give you Forgiveness. Let go of grudges and forgive mistakes that cats make, we're not perfect." Quailfur felt rage then it softened to a disappointment. "Thank you." He swished his tail. Brackenheart nodded then padded away. A black and white tom came over to him. "Darkpaw?" The Poolclan apprentice nodded. "I'm sorry I was part of the raid that killed your leader." Quailfur looked calmly at the tom. "All is forgiven." Darkpaw lifted his tail. "With this life, I give you happiness. You will be happy when you get every new kit to a new elder." He touched Quailfur's head with his nose. Warmness shot through him like poison spreading from an Adder bite. "Thank-you." Quailfur purred. The tom walked away and was replaced by Quailfur's beloved leader. "Gorsestar!" Joy echoed in his meow. "Hello Quailfur." Gorsestar's tail twitched in amusement. "With this life I give you Courage. Lead your clan and risk your life...lives...to save others." Quailfur felt braver than ever before. "Thanks?..." Gorsestar's gaze grew serious. "Kits of Four will unlock the door to your salvation. But beware a darkness rises that will be your doom." He shook his head. "Say hello to my kits and tell Snowflight I love her and I'll see her in Starclan." He padded away. "Welcome, Quailstar of Breezeclan!" The cat's chorused. Quailstar woke with a jolt. "Welcome, Quailstar." Honeyberry meowed.

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Quailstar sat down in his den. The ivy rustled and Rabbitfoot padded in. "Yes?" "A cat from Poolclan has come to see you." She stepped aside and he saw Fawnpaw. He got up and padded over to her. Her fur was matted and she was bleeding. "Leave us." He meowed. Rabbitfoot dipped her head. When they were alone, Fawnpaw ran to his and sobbed. "I'm sorry I came here, but Duckstar parents and forced me to mate with him!" She sobbed harder. Curling his tail around her, he started grooming her. She sighed, and started purring. After she was groomed, he ordered her to go to Honeyberry. "Thank you." She whispered. After a few days, Fawnpaw asked if she could stay. "Of course!" Quailstar meowed. "Thank you." She purred. He walked outside his den and leaped on High Ledge. "All cats old enough to kill a rabbit gather around me." He started to see come cats trickle in from their dens. "What are we doing?" Dapplekit murmured to Poppykit. "I would like to welcome Fawnpaw as a member of Breezeclan." He yowled. Shocked mews echoed in the hollow. "Rabbitfoot." His deputy dipped her head. "You are a brave and wise warrior. I believe that you will share these valued traits to Fawnpaw." They touched noses. "Fawnpaw!" "Fawnpaw!" Yowls arose from the crowd. Fawnpaw beamed at everyone. Quailstar headed to his den. He looked back to see Fawnpaw looking at him with sadness in her eyes. He disappeared into his den and curled up in his nest. 'Why was she so sad?' He pondered as he drifted off to sleep.

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"I welcome you, Fawntail warrior of Breezeclan." Quailstar purred. "Fawntail! Fawntail!" Fawntail glowed with pride. For the past 6 moons, she learned the basic fighting techniques for Breezeclan and how to hunt rabbits. "Thank you." She purred to Quailstar. He felt his fur burn. Smiling, she turned and walked to the entrance. "Come on Quailstar." Her tail swished as she raced through the heather. Grinning slightly, he jumped down from High Ledge. He pelted after her. "Catch me if you can!" Quailstar heard her mew. Sniffing the air he smelled her hiding in the tall grass. Crouching, he crept closer to the grass. The wind changed and he smelled Poolclan and fresh blood; rabbit blood. He heard yowling on the other side of the grass. Hissing, Quailstar leaped to Fawntail's side. Her pelt was bristling with rage. He narrowed his eyes at the patrol of Poolclan warriors. Glancing down at the rabbit, Quailstar's lip curled; showing his teeth. Dewshard unsheathed his claws. Willowpool looked at Fawntail sadly. Fawntail returned her gaze with one full of cold rage. "What are you doing on Breezeclan territory?" Quailstar hissed. "The question you should be asking is what are you going to do about it." Riverpaw replied, unsheathing his claws. Willowpool looked sharply at him. "Show respect! He is a leader!" Riverpaw growled. "Why should I? He's not my leader. Besides, why is he here with Traitorpaw." He lashed his tail. Snarling, Fawntail leaped at the apprentice. "That's Fawntail to you fish face!" She snarled. Stumbling under her weight, he snagged a claw in her ear. Yowling, she clawed at his eyes. "Fawntail!" Quailstar hauled her off the burly apprentice. "I wasn't finished clawing his eyes out!" She hissed as she struggled to get back at him. Dewshard bared his yellow teeth. "Don't touch my son traitor!" Quailstar stepped in front of Fawntail. "Stop. Take the rabbit, we don't need it anyway." Quailstar started to pad away. "Willowpool." Fawntail growled. "Fawntail...I'm sorry." Willowpool whispered. Dewshard and Riverpaw raced away holding the rabbit between them. "You better go." Fawntail hissed and padded closer to Quailstar. Willowpool glanced at Fawntail and him. "Take care of her." Willowpool's tail swished as she swiftly leaped away. Quailstar cocked his head, confusion clouding his gaze. Fawntail was ripping the tough moor grass. "Why did you do that?" Quailstar finally said. "He called me a traitor...and a paw." She hissed, eyes blazing. "It's not that bad." He mumbled. She whirled around and gazed at him with even more fury in her eyes. "How dare you! It's not that bad? I'll show you bad! She unsheathed her claws and leaped at him. Eyes widening, Quailstar dodged her attack. She twisted mid-air and landed on his back. Hissing, she started shredding his shoulders. Yowling, he rolled on his back. Her breath was knocked out of her. She let go and he scrambled on top of her. The fury stayed in her eyes but, fear edged them. "What are you going to do?" She whispered. He narrowed his eyes. 'She is vulnerable.' A voice in his mind said. He shook his head to clear his thoughts. His gaze fixed on Fawntail. "I don't know." He said flatly as he let her go. She glanced at the sky, it was turning black. "We better get back." He said. "Let me clean those wounds, I gave you a beating." She started to clean his wounds. "Thank you." He whispered as her rhythmic licks ceased. "No, I'm sorry. I should not have hurt you." She replied. He twined his tail with hers. "You fixed it." He purred and touched his nose to hers. Her breath came in fast spurts. He ran his nose along her jaw. She purred. He let out a sigh and looked into her brown eyes. She looked up at him. "Fawntail..." She silenced him with her tail and walked over to a shallow dip in the heather. "Come here." She meowed. Following her, he curled around her protectively. "Good night Quailstar." She breathed. "Good night Fawntail." He placed his head on his paws and fell asleep.