I twined my tail with Tropicpalm - who had received her medicine cat name and liked it way too much - briefly, pressed my muzzle against Lilypad's before resting my tail on Stormcloud's spine reassuringly. I wrinkled my nose; I could smell their fear scent, "Don't worry. May Starclan help us all survive this battle."

Lilypad gave her chest an embarrassed lick, "I'm just a little scared. What if Beestripe and Fallenleaf don't come!?"

I growled, "They had better come."

Stormcloud gulped, "But - but Beestripe's still extremely hurt! She's still limping!"

We all stiffened to look at him and some Peaceclan warriors shifted uneasily. Most of us hadn't seen Beestripe since the last battle. She'd been kept in the medicine cat's den by Yellowpaw; Tropicpalm's unofficial apprentice. I'd thought that she would be able to fight, apparently not.

I lashed my tail, "Why didn't you speak of this sooner? Beestripe can't fight!"

"I can!"

A tawny she-cat with black stripes walked over with Fallenleaf beside her. There was a long and deep scratch down her side and she was favouring her back paws as her front-left paw was covered in cobwebs. 

 A few warriors followed them obediently. Stormcloud rushed forward and pressed his muzzle into Beestripe's affectionately. 

Fallenleaf and I rolled our eyes at the same time, "Urgh - couples."

Lilypad glanced at us briefly before focusing her intense gaze at Beestripe, "You can't fight! We can't risk it with you injuries. You're not fighting. End of discussion."

Beestripe raised her hunches but dipped her head in consent, "All right." In a quieter voice, she said, "Mistysky? I have to tell you something."

As Lilypad pushed Stormcloud along and all the warriors followed, I fell back with Beestripe, "Yes?"

She told me warningly, "Be careful of Whiteslash. I know he said Thunderclan would fight beside us. But I've heard him plotting to join Riverclan and Windclan's side in the middle of the battle."

He wouldn't dare. For the first time today, I felt scared by the prospect of going to war. Was Peaceclan ready? And if we weren't, what would happen? What if we lost? What if Whiteslash betrayed us? I shook my head, "I'll take that into account. Thank you, Beestripe. Now, go rest up."

We left Beestripe in the fox den with three apprentices and one experienced warrior as we ventured further into the forest. At a certain point, Lilypad warned the warriors to tread lightly for we were near the Windclan camp. 

We had loyal warriors in Windclan who would happily rise up if we needed them to. But we could also count on Riverclan trying to help Windclan. Stormcloud and Lilypad led the patrols that would hide in the trees around the territory, ready to jump down as soon as Riverclan appeared.

Me and Fallenleaf would lead the larger patrol that would attack straight on and make Windclan pay for destroying half of Peaceclan's camp. Whiteslash emerged from the undergrowth with another patrol of Thunderclan warriors who hid in the bushes to assist Stormcloud's group.

I checked that everyone was ready before, beckoning for them to follow, I rushed in to the camp with a ferocious caterwaul, "Attack!!!"

As we streamed in, I crashed into Larkwing, claws flailing. With the element of surprise on my side, I managed to gain the upper paw, raking my claws across his side. The brown tom brought up his hind legs and attempted to kick me off, scrabbling at my underbelly. 

I cuffed him over the ears before jumping off, snarling, "You used to be a good warrior. But you've gotten old."

Larkwing straightened up and dashed at me again, aiming a blow at my ears. His claws never landed as I dodged and used one paw to hook his scruff and jerk him away. As he skidded, the old warrior collapsed onto his side and Windclan's medicine cat, Violetshade, dragged him away. 

I looked around and was pleased to see that we were already winning. Fallenleaf was chasing off a fleeing warrior and the members of Peaceclan in Windclan was fighting alongside of us. I saw Pearlstorm face off her littermate and Darkfang turn on his deputy.

"Harespring! How dare you!"

I turned around to see Harespring cowering in front of Wrenflight, his mother. I leaped in between them, baring my teeth at Wrenflight and letting my claws slide out. The brown-grey she-cat launched herself at me and I dodged.

As I did, she landed and, without a pause, scratched my nose twice before I pounced at her and we rolled on the floor, both of us yowling. Suddenly, Harespring threw himself into the brawl, pushing Wrenflight off of me and then jumping off her. 

She stared at her son, eyes wide with hurt then turned and ran off. 

I padded over to Harespring, who was frozen to the spot, and rested my tail on his back, "Don't worry. She wasn't hurt. Besides, she just doesn't understand how important Peaceclan could be."

He turned to face me, unsheathing his claws, "Well, I hope it's okay if I don't understand either."

I took a step backwards but not before he rose onto his hind legs and tore the fur off my shoulders. Yowling, I took the opportunity and scored my claws across his underbelly.

As he fell, in pain, I raked my claws down his face and nose, "Traitor!!"

Rising up, I got ready to deliver the final blow. A stream of Riverclan cats pour into the camp and suddenly, more members of Peaceclan were dropping from trees everywhere as Whiteslash's patrol emerges from the bushes. 

I bring my paw down but Harespring jumps up, pushing out with his front claws and sending me flying. My vision blurs as I crash into the warriors' den but I get up, shake my head into focus, and run back out to face Harespring with all my strength. I scan the battle for the tom but he's nowhere to be seen.

Instead, Whiteslash approaches me, his tail bushed up triumphantly, "The battle is going well."

I remember what Beestripe told me and raise my hunches, flattening my ears, "I heard you were going to betray us. Is that true?"

The white tom blinked for three heartbeats but then unsheathed his claws, "You ruined my surprise!"

I dodged his first blow, shrieking, "Peaceclan! Thunderclan is now our enemy!"

Then Whiteslash jumped on me, scratching my nose and ears. I scrabbled at his underbelly, attempting to kick him off but he was just too heavy. His weight was abruptly lifted off me as I saw Fallenleaf dragging him. 

When I got up, the two toms were at each other's throats, each clawing and hissing like their lives depended on it. Courageously, I whammed into Whiteslash and he landed on all four paws, sizing up the two of us for a moment before rushing off with his tail between his legs. I panted and Fallenleaf brushed his pelt with mine, twining our tails for a moment. 

I let out a purr, "Thanks for having my back."

He licked the scratch on my ear, "Always. Thanks for having mine."

I nodded back, then we both leaped back into the battle, more determined to win than ever.