Mothstripe woke up in a dark place, the smell of death hitting her nose. Mist curled around the gray trees and crawled across the short, brown grass.  A dark shape was heading towards Mothstripe. Then, a cat stepped out. Mothstripe gasped as she saw a dark ginger tom with amber eyes and white-tipped tail.

"Alderheart?" Mothstripe gasped.

Two deep faded gashes were cut into Alderheart's throat. Dark blood welled on the wounds, and his eyes were black with thin amber pupils. "Heh, surprised to see me here?" He asked, griping the grass with his claws.

"But how?!" Mothstripe whimpered. "I thought.... I thought you were nice!" She hissed, shrinking back.

"Oh, but only the Clans thought that," Alderheart sighed, closing his eyes. "I killed Stoneheart on purpose and sacrificed myself for Ashstar so I could earn my place down here, getting trained by the rogues," He meowed. "If you don't mind me telling you, I also let Sorreltail die."

"No!" Mothstripe whimpered. "How? Why? What made you turn so evil?" She asked, feeling sick.

"Nothing. Just realizing that the Dark Forest is better than ThunderClan. I wanted to train as a warrior, but StarClan made me a medicine cat. I took the training of the Dark Forest cats and in return for their training, I had to kill two cats in ThunderClan," Alderheart grumbled, lashing his tail.

"You're a monster! I trusted you! You acted like a fatherly figure to Twistedfoot! Where did all your love go for your Clan?" Mothstripe growled, bristling.

"I never had any love for my Clan," Alderheart snapped. "I just found a way to fake it."

A huge dark brown tabby tom with a white underbelly and black eyes with thin ice-blue pupils. 

"Hawkfrost?" Mothstripe gasped.

"Oh Mothstripe, just know that bad times are coming. Most of your kin will die," Hawkfrost snapped. "The Dark Forest is growing."

Coming back from the Gathering, Ashstar led his Clan home. I must do something about the rogues. The other leaders discussed getting rid of them, claiming that it's better to do nothing than something. They were preparing for the upcoming battle. WindClan agreed to help ThunderClan with the rogues. 

"Ashstar?" A soft voice echoed in Ashstar's den. 

Ashstar opened his eyes in the gloomy darkness. Squirrelflight was standing in the entrance of his den. "What is it?" He asked.

"When will we attack the rogues before they cause any more problems?" Squirrelflight hissed. "After all, Russetstar and Crowstar were what caused us to move away from the Lake," She pointed out. 

"No, that was Wolffang's fault," Ashstar hissed. "Not Russetstar's or Crowstar's. But don't be worried, the battle will be tomorrow."

"So, Ashstar, we've agreed to fight together against the rogues," Harestar rasped. 

Ashstar leaned close. "Yes," He nodded. I'm on my last life. But I have to stop Crowstar. He turned away form Harestar, who had Antpelt, Eaglefeather, and Fernwhisker with him. 

"I shall now choose the cats who are coming to the battle with me!" He yowled. "Jaywing, Squirrelflight, Ivypool, Ferncloud, Blossomfall, Bramblehawk, Sootwing, Firestorm, Thistlepatch, Ambertuft, Falconflight, and Palewhisker," Ashstar smoothly called out their names. "Fluffypelt, I'd like for you to watch over the camp." 

"Yes, Ashstar," Fluffypelt meowed softly. 

"Battle Patrol!" Ashstar called. "Follow me and Harestar, now!"

Ashstar led his cats through the undergrowth, heading through the thorn bushes and squeezing into the clearing where the Gathering Tree was. Ashstar padded across the clearing, Harestar and the rest of his cats following behind him. They were under the shade of the large tree. It's blossoms were curled and shriveled on the ground, beginning to turn brown. Ashstar leaped across the slightly frozen river, waiting for his Clanmates to cross. 

After the other cats had crossed, Ashstar parted his jaws to taste the air. He could see his breath billowing in front of him in the night air. This was RiverClan's territory. Shadows stretched in front of him, hiding the path in front of him. Ashstar sneaked forward, finally tasting rogue scent. The scents of Crowstar and  Russetstar were fresh here. 

Padding through the forest more, Ashstar heard the close gurgle of the stream near. Thorn bushes came into view, and Ashstar squeezed through them, careful of the stream. He felt his paws slip on cold mud. Ashstar could see the other side of the bank and leaped across, then waited for Harestar and his Clanmates. 

"We've gotta be quiet," Ashstar whispered to them, his tail drifting above the ground. "Lets go."

Harestar nodded to him.

Ashstar flicked his tail for his Clanmates to follow, then they crouched and sneaked through the forest. He saw the rogue's camp. 

"Their camp is up ahead," Ashstar whispered. He could smell the heavy scent of rogue. Brambles were weaved among the thick trunks of the oaks. Vines and mud were packed into the brambles to seal the openings in the brambles. There were an entrance to the camp. Two cats were guarding the entrance: Darktail and a dark ginger tom. Ashstar turned to his Clanmates, who were all cramped together. 

"We'll have to kill the guards," Ashstar whispered. 

"Wait, kill Darktail? We can't! He's impossible to defeat!" Squirrelflight hissed. "He's tough," She added, tail lashing. 

"Squirrelflight, Jaywing, and Ivypool, distract the guards, I'll lead everyone else into the camp and start the attack," Ashstar meowed. 

Squirrelflight nodded to Jaywing and Ivypool, then crawled through the undergrowth in the rogue's sight. 

"Intruders!" Darktail hissed. "Blood, you deal with them,  I'll warn the other rogues!" He turned and raced into the camp.

Mouse dung! Ashstar cursed under his breath and flicked his tail to his Clanmates, racing into the camp. "ThunderClan, attack!" He yowled. He flung himself on a gray tom, sinking his claws into his shoulders and pinning him against the ground. 

The tom's hind legs pushed into Ashstar's belly, flinging him backwards. 

"WindClan, attack!"  

Then, Ashstar saw Harestar leading his cats into the camp. Ashstar scrambled to his paws, but heard Crowstar throwing orders. 

"Crowfrost, Viper, guard them!" Crowstar hissed. 

Ashstar was confused. What did the rogue mean by "them"? He leaped back on the gray tom, slashing at his ears with his paw. Then he slammed his paw hard on the tom's head, claws sheathed. The tom stumbled backwards, stunned. 

Ashstar jabbed his paws into the tom's side, knocking him to the ground. Ashstar pinned him down, about to deal the killing blow, but sharp claws dug into his back as a weight slammed on his back. 

Ashstar tried to twist around, but the tom under him dug his claws into Ashstar's shoulders. Ashstar hissed and met the black and white tom on top of him with vicious swipes to his muzzle.  The tom leaped off. Ashstar twisted back around and grabbed the gray tom by the head. Ashstar  sank his jaws around the tom's neck and felt claws dig deep into his shoulders. He felt blood well in between his fur. The tom fell limp in his jaws.

Ashstar looked up and saw Palewhisker fighting Darktail. The pale she-cat was slashing at the tom, but he avoided all her blows, then struck out at her ears. Ashstar raced forward and slashed at Darktail's flank, distracting him. Palewhisker lashed at Darktail's thick-furred chest, tearing out a clump of fur. Skin showed beneath the fur, and Palewhisker slashed again. Darktail coughed up blood, then ducked away from their blows. 

Palewhisker nodded to Ashstar. "Thanks," She murmured.

"No problem," Ashstar purred. He leaped away from her and leaped on Crowfrost, who was guarding a den. A small tortoiseshell tom was with Crowfrost. Ashstar slashed at Crowfrost's muzzle, blood welling on his nose. He dealt a hard blow to his cheek before Crowfrost shoved him off, knocking him aside. The tortoiseshell tom leaped on Ashstar, claws slashing the air. Before his blows could meet  Ashstar's face, he raised his paws in defense. Crowfrost dug his claws into Ashstar's shoulders and pulled his paws away from his face by clamping his jaws around Ashstar's paws. 

Ashstar hissed in pain. The tortoise shell tom slashed at his face, his claws slashing his muzzle and nose. Ashstar felt blood well on his muzzle, and his nose stung with pain. He shoved the tortoiseshell tom off of him, then twisted around and slashed at Crowfrost's ears. The tom hissed as Ashstar's claws struck his ear, carving a deep nick into it. Crowfrost howled with pain as blood dripped into his eyes, the stumbled away from Ashstar.

The tortoiseshell tom was back on his paws, leaping through the air towards Ashstar, claws outstretched.

Ashstar ducked under the tom's belly and lifted his claws, feeling his claws rip through the tom's belly fur all the way down to the tail. Blood spattered Ashstar's face as the small tom collapsed on the ground, blood pooling around him. He then fell limp on the ground. 

Ashstar limped over to the small den and peeked through the shadows, seeing Oakfur, Shrewfoot, and Smokefoot. The each had a long scratch running across their shoulder. "Why are you here?" He asked.

"The rogues imprisoned us," Oakfur rasped. His ribs showed. "You have to beat the rogues," He meowed.

"That's what we're doing," Ashstar meowed. 

"May StarClan be with you," Shrewfoot murmured.

Ashstar backed away from the den, seeing Ivypool and Squirrelflight fighting Russetstar. They were driving back the russet-colored she-cat with blows to the muzzle and ears, then Ivypool reared and slammed her paws into Russetstar's head, knocking her down. Then Russetstar dodged their blows and struck out a paw, striking Squirrelflight's chest.  Then, Ivypool dove under Russetstar, slicing her belly open. Russetstar yowled with pain and jerked on the ground, blood pooling around her. Then the she-cat fell limp.

Ashstar felt hope swarm inside him. We can win this!

"Russetstar is dead!" Panicked meows rose from the rogues. 

"Ashstar, don't think you've won," A voice hissed behind him.

Ashstar turned to see Crowstar and Darktail. Crowstar had Jaywing pinned to the ground, his claws sunk into her neck fur. Darktail was beside him, probably guarding Crowstar. 

"Jaywing!" Ashstar gasped. "Let her go!" He hissed to Crowstar. 

"Only if you do me a favor," Crowstar slurred. His blue eyes glowed with delight as he saw terror spark in Ashstar's gaze.

"And what would that be?" Ashstar asked, tail flicking. 

"Call off your cats. Tell them to stop fighting my cats," Crowstar hissed. "I've told my rogues that when you call your cats off, they'll stop fighting," He added. He rolled his eyes. "And then only you and me fight. I want to see your strength in a death battle."

"Are you crazy?" Ashstar hissed. "I'm not calling off my cats!" 

"Oh but you will," Crowstar hissed, lifting his chin. "Or else  Jaywing gets hurt," He growled. He nodded to Darktail.  The large white tom put the tip of his claw on  Jaywing's leg, then began to press hard. Blood began to well from the wound, and Jaywing whimpered with pain.

"Please stop!" Ashstar yowled.

"Then do as I asked," Crowstar snapped.

Ashstar looked around. His Clan was winning this battle very clearly. Only a few rogues remained, which were Crowfrost, a black and white she-cat, a silver she-cat, a mottled brown tom, a black and white tom, and a large light gray tom. They were all bloody and battered and Ashstar's Clanmates had them backed up against the bramble wall, hissing. But was winning this battle more important than Jaywing? Ashstar turned back to Crowstar, bristling. 

"ThunderClan, stop!" Ashstar called into the chilly night air. 

The fighting around him stopped. Ashstar turned around and saw his cats backing away, confused. They stared at him. "Why'd you call us off?" Squirrelflight hissed. 

"I had to," Ashstar meowed, shifting his paws. 

"He's battling me alone in a death battle!" Crowstar yowled.  He jumped off Jaywing and Darktail held back Jaywing.

"Hey!" Ashstar hissed. "You agreed not to hurt her!" He growled.

"Don't worry, she's only watching the battle," Crowstar soothed. He unsheathed his claws and leaped on Ashstar. 

Ashstar lifted his paws in defense, but Crowstar twisted in the air, landing beside Ashstar and slashing at his flank. Ashstar hissed and ducked, swiping a paw at Crowstar's chest. Blood spattered on the grass and Ashstar swerved sideways and clamped his jaws around Crowstar's hind leg, making the rogue tom fall to the ground. Ashstar slammed his paws into Crowstar's chest, making the rogue gasp in surprise. Ashstar pinned him to the ground, putting a paw to his throat. "You made this easy," Ashstar hissed.

"Oh yeah?" Crowstar growled. He shoved Ashstar backwards, tearing out clumps of Ashstar's belly fur. Blood welled on the scratches. 

Ashstar felt his paws knock from underneath him as he got up. He slipped in his own blood and swiped blindly at the air. Claws slammed into his belly, and he could feel them tearing at his flesh. Blood trickled through Ashstar's fur, then Ashstar yowled and exploded into the air, leaping on Crowstar. 

Shocked, Crowstar didn't have time to defend himself as Ashstar struggled him to the ground, pinning him down. Ashstar lifted his paw, then slashed Crowstar's throat, blood spattering the grass and staining Ashstar's claws and paw. Crowstar gasped with pain, then as fast as a snake, struck Ashstar's throat with his claws. The black cat's head rolled back limply as Ashstar backed away from him, his breathing turning shallow. No! 

Crowstar smiled weakly, blood pooling around him and trickling from his mouth, then he twitched and fell limp, his blue eyes dulling.

Ashstar collapsed on the ground as the rogues yowled around him. 

Darktail dropped Jaywing, his gaze dark, then ran out of camp. 

Jaywing cried out in pain and fear and ran over to her father. "No! Ashstar, hang in there! I'll get someone to get Mothstripe!" She gasped.

Ashstar lay on the ground, feeling hopeless as his last life was beginning to drain from him. "No, there's no time. I'm going to die anyway," Ashstar rasped. He felt blood welling up in his throat and could feel it on his tongue. "But don't worry, Jaywing, you'll do fine without me."

"No! Hang on!" Jaywing whimpered. "Squirrelflight!" She yowled. Her Clanmates gathered around as they realized what was happening. "Please, someone get a medicine cat!" She cried. 

The ShadowClan prisoners padded from their den, their gazes filled with grief as they saw that Ashstar was dying. 

"Don't. I'll die anyway," Ashstar rasped. The  WindClan cats looked on with grief. 

Ashstar felt his vision darkening. "Jaywing," Ashstar rasped. "Promise me you'll do good without me." Ashstar coughed up more blood and watched as it splattered on the ground.

"I- I..." Jaywing choked on her wounds. 

Palewhisker padded forward and touched noses with Ashstar, then rested her tail on Jaywing's shoulder. "Don't worry Ashstar, we'll take good care of your Clan," She meowed, her voice cloaked with grief.

Ashstar looked at his daughters. They'd grown into fine warriors, and so had Jaywing's kits. Ashstar closed his eyes as darkness folded over them, then he woke up in a completely different place. 

"Welcome to StarClan, Ashstar."