Silverpaw let out a low hiss as she watched the line of ShadowClan warriors cross the RiverClan border and move closer. Iceleap's tail brushed her apprentice's flank.

"Stay with me," she said. "And try and fight cats that you know you can fight. So, the ShadowClan apprentices." Silverpaw didn't turn her head, but only muttered a small mew of agreement.

I wish Dawnpaw was here, she thought. The battle lines had been re-made by Emberstar, and now the younger warriors and apprentices were fighting alongside the senior warriors. The reddish brown tom was in the camp, still recovering from his wounds from the Gathering and the one in the previous battle.

Minnowtail lifted her tail, showing the sign to move forward, towards the approaching ShadowClan warriors. Silverpaw dropped into a battle crouch and stepped purposely across the grass, it's dewy blades brushing her nose. She kept her eyes focused on Minnowtail's orange tail, ready to react to any other orders.

Glancing back at her warriors, the deputy began to open her mouth when Thistlestar leapt on top of her, yowling a battle cry. ShadowClan warriors came thundering down upon the RiverClan warriors. Silverpaw bunched her muscles, found a target, and leapt upon the ShadowClan apprentice Rubypaw.

Hissing furiously, Silverpaw unsheathed her claws and raked the Rubypaw's shoulder. Beads of crimson blood appeared, then started flowing down her orange and white fur.

"You piece of fox-dung," the other apprentice hissed, and tried to jump on Silverpaw. Silverpaw pushed her out in midair, almost crashing into Iceleap as she wrestled underneath a black tom.

"Are all ShadowClan cats that slow?" Silverpaw taunted. Rubypaw swiped again, her anger making the blow clumsy and off-target. Silverpaw forced down a groan of frustration, and cuffed the ShadowClan cat over the ears. As Rubypaw grunted in pain, Silverpaw took the chance to land several more blows, ones that drew blood, onto her haunches and back.

"Get off my sister, you piece of crow-food!" screeched Grasspaw. The ShadowClan cat leapt onto Silverpaw's back, ripping out pawfulls of her back and neck fur.

"Don't expect anything less!" growled Rubypaw. "RiverClan has never fought fair!" Silverpaw screeched as claws dug deeper into her pelt, and she felt as if her bones were on fire. Great StarClan! She thought desperately, buckling underneath the weight of both Grasspaw and Rubypaw.

Rubypaw leapt off of Silverpaw's back and caught hold of her ear. Yowling, Silverpaw shook her head, but the orange and white apprentice held on tighter, until she felt part of it tear away. Blood dripped into her eyes, and her pelt was fiery with pain.

"Help—" Silverpaw tried to yowl, but was cut off by another yowl as Grasspaw scratched her back.

Soon, another weight landed on Silverpaw's back, and she crumpled to the ground, as the new cat was heavier than both Grasspaw and Rubypaw combined.

"So you think it's fair when it's two to one?" Dawnpaw hissed. She screeched and threw herself at Grasspaw, knocking her into the grass. The two apprentices wrestled, trying to claw each others eyes.

Silverpaw stood, dizzy. She shook her head, wincing at the pain in her ear, then knocked Rubypaw's legs from underneath her. As the ShadowClan apprentice fell, she used the moment to bring both forepaws down on her head in a crushing blow.

"You cowardly piece of fox-dung!" Silverpaw hissed. She unsheathed her claws and sliced Rubypaw's muzzle, blood spraying on the ground and on her own pelt. Rubypaw lashed out both paws and gripped Silverpaw by her shoulders. For a moment the two she-cats tried to push each other down, and Silverpaw twisted violently to the side.

Rubypaw crumpled onto the ground, and Silverpaw lashed out quickly. She placed both of her unsheathed paws on the ShadowClan cat's shoulder, and pummeled the soft white fur of her belly with both hind legs.

Coughing, Rubypaw wheezed," Stop! I-I surrender." Silverpaw stepped back from the apprentice.

"Run," she hissed.

A light sparked in Rubypaw's eyes as she stood and shook herself. "No. It's your turn." Rubypaw thrust herself at Silverpaw, throwing swipe after swipe. Her blows were clumsy and inaccurate, but still were strong. The ShadowClan cat joined Grasspaw, and together they forced Silverpaw and Dawnpaw back from the battle lines, and deeper into RiverClan territory.

They're fighting like rogues! Silverpaw thought viciously. She clawed back, but the ShadowClan apprentices had gained the upper hand long ago.

"Silverpaw," groaned Dawnpaw. Silverpaw looked at her sister. Crimson spots of red showed on her flank. "I don't think I can go on." Silverpaw darted backwards, turning her back to the other apprentices. Dawnpaw hurried alongside her.

"Where are we going?" Silverpaw hissed. "We can't lead them to camp!"

"Stand and fight, you RiverClan cowards!" yowled Grasspaw. The ShadowClan apprentices were fast, and were gaining on Dawnpaw and Silverpaw every second.

"The water" Dawnpaw panted. "We can win there."

Silverpaw and Dawnpaw stood belly-deep in the rushing river. Grasspaw and Rubypaw stood on the bank, nervously eyeing the fast flowing rapids.

"Scared?" hissed Silverpaw. She leaned forward, whiskers twitching. "It's just water..." Rubypaw and Grasspaw growled deep in their throats. Silverpaw purred and turned towards Dawnpaw. Her paw slipped on the rocks beneath the surface, and Silverpaw's purr stopped as she fell into the water, paws flailing, and shuddered. Her head was ringing, and although she tried to get up to the surface, her paws wouldn't move.

And she fell into the cold embrace of darkness.