The fighting TigerClan cats paused in the middle of the fight and Darkstripe was lying on the ground. He had his throat slit open as his gaze stared into the sky. He was not dead yet but he looked like he was going to. His breathing was heavy as Russetfur stood over him. Tigerstar's eyes burned.

He leaped from the Highrock, trotting over to Darkstripe. He stared down at his friend and follower, not looking pleased. "Are you that weak?" he questioned. "You got yourself badly hurt by a she-cat."

Runningnose walked over to Darkstripe's body and began examining the wound. He then looked up to Tigerstar, his amber eyes darkening. "Darkstripe will not make it."

"What? Of course he will!" Tigerstar hissed. "Such a TigerClan cat couldn't be beaten, Runningnose."

"They can still die," Runningnose pointed out. "Warriors can get killed easily. It is my duty as a medicine cat to tell if a cat is going to make it or not. Sometimes it is StarClan's will to let them die."

"Darkstripe may die," Tigerstar spat, "but I've still got Longtail and Dustpelt." Dustpelt's amber gaze brightened up as Tigerstar said his name. It was clear the young warrior had wanted to be just like Tigerstar and it must have meant a lot to him to be mentioned with Longtail, Tigerstar's follower and friend.

Tigerstar unsheathed his long claws and raised his paw. Darkstripe's-who was weak-amber eyes widened as he knew what Tigerstar was going to do. Tigerstar landed his blow onto Darkstripe's throat with so much force Darkstripe's life was ended. There was no regret in the tabby's eyes, just anger.

Tigerstar leaped back onto the Highrock, staring down at his silent Clan. "The time has come for several brave apprentices to become warriors," he announced. "Thorn--"

"Thornpaw cannot be a warrior yet!" Mousefur, Thornpaw's mentor, interrupted. "He hasn't had his hunting assessment just yet." Thornpaw's eyes, which were brightened up, became dull at his mentor's interruption.

"He is an apprentice of TigerClan. He will become a warrior when I think he's ready," Tigerstar growled. "Thornpaw." Thornpaw stepped forward, his eyes brightening up again. "Thornpaw, are you willing to risk your life for TigerClan, and kill any cat who does not obey by TigerClan's customs?"

"I do," Thornpaw replied, sitting straight and puffing his chest fur out.

"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. From this moment on, Thornpaw, you will be known as Thornclaw. TigerClan honours your loyalty and intelligence, and we welcome you as a full warrior of TigerClan." Thornclaw's eyes shined as he was now a fully-pledged warrior.

"Fernpaw." At once Fernpaw sprung to her paws, trotting over to the Highrock, staring up at Tigerstar with wide eyes. "From this moment on you will be known as Ferncloud. TigerClan honours your determination and enthusiasm. Ashpaw." Ashpaw joined his sister, looking nervous as he looked up at Tigerstar.

"From this moment on you will be known as Ashfur. TigerClan honours your loyalty and bravery."

"Ashfur! Ferncloud! Thornclaw!" TigerClan began to chant the newly-named warriors' names. Tigerstar saw Brightpaw, Thornclaw's littermate, looking sad, most likely because she was not chosen to be a warrior. You should train harder, Tigerstar thought to himself.

Ferncloud began to walk over to Dustpelt while Ashfur and Thornclaw decided to sit together. Tigerstar noticed Dustpelt and Ferncloud happened to spend more time together than they usually did. Dustpelt must want to be with some she-cat rather than being a follower of mine, he thought.

"Featherpaw and Stormpaw can live," Tigerstar growled as he remembered about the two half-Clan cats. There was no point in getting them killed just yet, seeing as Blackstar and Russetfur would kill another warrior of his. "But they are not allowed to have a mate or kits."

Featherpaw and Stormpaw didn't look happy, and then their gazes turned to Hawkpaw and Mothpaw, Tigerstar's two kits that were born outside the Clan. Would they get some kind of punishment, or would they just be let off as they were Tigerstar's kits?

"I know you two are wondering why Hawkpaw and Mothpaw aren't going to be killed," Tigerstar began as he noticed the two half-RiverClan apprentices staring at his kits. "They may be born outside TigerClan, but they are strong all the same."

"Stronger than some half-Clan cats," Hawkpaw sneered as his ice-blue gaze looked at Stormpaw and Featherpaw. Stormpaw looked annoyed. "Such weak apprentices should be in this "StarClan" right now." Stormpaw unsheathed his claws and threw himself at Hawkpaw.

Hawkpaw, pinned onto the ground by Stormpaw, unsheathed his claws and slashed them across Stormpaw's muzzle. Featherpaw was staring in horror, probably knowing either apprentice could die if Tigerstar did not stop them, while Mothpaw looked ashamed.

"Are you going to stop them?" Longtail whispered to Tigerstar. "There have been too much deaths in one day. You don't want the whole of TigerClan to die, do you?" Tigerstar stared down at his deputy and then returned his gaze to the fighting apprentices.

"Stop!" he yowled, and at his command Stormpaw and Hawkpaw stopped, moving away from each other with glares. "I will not have any more bloodshed today. There have been more deaths today than there should be in a Clan."

"Finally the all so powerful Tigerstar realises that," Cloudpaw muttered. Tigerstar's ear twitched as he had heard what Cloudpaw muttered.

"Do you want to return to the nursery, Cloudkit?" Tigerstar questioned. Cloudpaw blinked and then shook his head. "Or would you prefer to return to your Twolegs, being the kittypet you once were?"

"Never!" Cloudpaw replied. "I am a Clanborn cat, not a stupid kittypet."

"You'll never be a pure Clan cat," Tigerstar spat at the apprentice. "Should little Cloudpaw be thrown out of our Clan for real Clan cats?"

"Yes!" Longtail replied, his blue eyes shining as he glared at Cloudpaw. "Such a kittypet could never make a true warrior. He's just like old Firehear-paw-through and through."

"Does any cat dare protest against my choice?" Tigerstar questioned his Clan. Cloudpaw didn't look happy while Brightpaw had worry in her blue eyes. There was no reply to Tigerstar's question. "Good. Cloudpaw, you are no longer welcome in TigerClan. Go, and never return or else you will suffer the same fate as Firepaw."

Cloudpaw gave a nod and began to walk away, his head hung low and his tail drooping. Being a Clan cat had meant everything to him, and he wanted to be a warrior. But now that was ruined all because of the evil Tigerstar that ruled his once loyal Clan.

Brindleface, Cloudpaw's foster mother, watched with sadness as the white-furred apprentice left the Clan forever. Ashfur looked pleased while Ferncloud was slightly saddened by the fact she could never see her foster brother again.

Now there are no more kittypets in TigerClan, Tigerstar thought, now satisfied. His amber eyes flickered across the gathering cats below him. "Soon, my dear Clan, we will have RiverClan and WindClan joining us. Soon the forest will be TigerClan's, and we can thrive with no cats outside the Clans."

"And until that day we will all bow to the Clan's greatest cat," Longtail added. Tigerstar stared at him and then returned his gaze to the rest of the Clan.

"I want Nightwhisper, Mousefur and Whitestorm to accompany me when I go to WindClan's and RiverClan's camp later," Tigerstar went on. "But first there will be--"

"I'm here, Tigerstar," a high-pitched voice interrupted. Tigerstar looked and saw Scourge walking into the camp. His ice-blue eyes stared back at the cats that stared at him with fear. They are only afraid of his appearance, Tigerstar thought to himself. A small cat is a weak cat, always.

"You're earlier than a moon," Tigerstar commented. Scourge seemed to be alone with no other BloodClan cat following him.

"I decided to come early," Scourge replied. "I couldn't wait to see my future territory."

"Your territory?" Dustpelt questioned in disbelief. "You don't have a right to any of TigerClan's territory! You're not even from the forest!" Tigerstar flicked his tail for Dustpelt to be silent.

"Later I am going to WindClan and RiverClan to request an alliance. Would you come with me instead of my chosen warriors?"

"Of course," Scourge replied. "I'd like to see WindClan's and RiverClan's territories as they will be mine soon." There was this look in Scourge's eyes that Tigerstar did not like. But if Tigerstar were to really rule all four Clans, Scourge would play a great part in his ambition.