She snapped awake to the sensation of somebody poking her with their nose. Her amber eyes flew open to see Bouncefoot's dark red eyes staring at her, barely a whisker-length away.

She lifted her head, leaning away from her brother to see he was laying next to her, his red scaly wings spread out lazily on either side of him. "How long have I been asleep?" The red she cat demanded, shaking her head to clear the remnants of tiredness from her weary body. She glanced down, seeing cobwebs were wrapped on all her wounds. They didn't hurt anymore, that was good.

"Not that long. It's just coming onto dawn right now." The deputy replied, his paws kneading the ground. "The clan is restless, I've tried my best to calm them but they need their leader to say something. Most warriors haven't gotten a wink of sleep after returning from the battle last night, they were too worked up about the fight."

Crimsonstar sighed and rose to her paws, her limbs wobbling as she stretched briefly. Her joints ached and she flattened her ears. "Ugh, how did I get here?"

"I carried you." Bouncefoot replied, standing up as well. His large wings stretched high as he arched his back, yawning as he gave his whiskers a brief clean with a red paw.

"Only you carried me?" She asked, taking a few steps toward the den exit.

"You're tiny, Crimson, carrying you was easy." Bouncefoot chuckled, following her out.

Wow thanks for reminding me. The red she cat sighed and emerged from her den. Immediately after she did, she saw her clan mates all look up at her. The warriors who were laying half-asleep by their den pricked their ears and stood up. Soon all of Flameclan was gathered before Crimsonstar, their gazes fixed expectantly on her.

For a moment, Crimsonstar was at a loss for words. She didn't know what to say. Eventually, she started talking. "Cats of Flameclan, I am proud of you all. We let Lightclan have a taste of our wrath, now they should think twice before challenging us." Her words seemed to give her clan mates relief and she watched silently, marvelling at how such simple words were admired by her clan now that she was their leader. She never wanted to let go of her title. As leader, she was safe. Nobody could hurt her anymore.

The sound of thundering pawsteps ouside camp made Crimsonstar look towards the camp entrance, her eyes narrowing. "What in the name of Starclan..?" She muttered, her ears flattening as the thundering got louder. Her clan mates drew into a tighter group, all staring at the camp entrance in fear and curiosity.

Finally, the source of the noise was seen. Lightclan warriors poured through Flameclan's camp entrance, trampling through the delicate tunnel with battle cries and yowls. Flameclan immediately jumped into action, spreading out amongst the main clearing to protect the dens as Lightclan warriors gathered in the centre.

Crimsonstar spotted Creamstar at the head of the crowd and snarled. "What is the meaning of this?!"

"You ambushed us, now we ambush you." Creamstar hissed in reply before flicking her tail at her warriors. "Lightclan attack!"

Lightclan warriors lunged at the Flameclan cats with screeches. Crimsonstar watched in terror as her clan mates- still struggling to recover from the initial shock from the appearance of their enemies- were easily overpowered in their own camp. Bouncefoot and Falconheart charged at the Lightclan warriors, but they could only take on a few cats at a time.

Crimsonstar stared in horror, her body rigid from shock. She hadn't expected Lightclan to react so swiftly and violently. Both clans were still recovering from the battle that night, yet Creamstar immediately ordered a counter attack. We can't fight them off! Crimsonstar felt her body begin to move, and she took a few steps back, her tail brushing against her den wall.

Creamstar glared at her from where she stood at the centre of the camp. "You're all cowards! You don't deserve to call yourselves a clan!" The pale she cat turned to her clan mates. "Give these murderers what they deserve!"

"No!" Bouncefoot screeched, lunging straight for Creamstar. His claws were unsheathed to their maximum length, his teeth bared and wings aimed for the Lightclan leader.

Creamstar hissed in surprise and rose to meet Bouncefoot, but the black and red tom easily overpowered her and pinned the pale furred she cat down. "You're the one who deserves to die!" Crimsonstar's brother spat at the leader. "Lightclan are the murderers! We're only reacting in this way to stop you!" His claws dug into Creamstar's throat, blood oozing around his paws as he tore viciously at the skin.

Bouncefoot was ripped off Creamstar by two Lightclan warriors, screeching in fury at the winged tom. "Get off her!" One tom snarled, digging his claws into Bouncefoot's haunches. Bouncefoot growled and whirled around to face the tom, but the second warrior wrapped all four paws around his head, using her body weight to drag his head downwards so that his muzzle brushed against the ground.

Stuck in the awkward position, Bouncefoot shook his head wildly to get free, but a third cat landed on his back and his forepaws buckled beneath the weight. He fell forwards with a gasp, the she cat leaping out of the way just as his body crashed onto the ground.

Close by, Falconheart was already pinned down on the ground by a gang of four she cats, their eyes glimmering with amusement as the black and blue tom relentlessly struggled.

Creamstar was limp on the ground, most likely losing a life. Well done Bouncefoot. Crimsonstar narrowed her eyes. You might have bought us some time.

Stepping closer to the battle, Crimsonstar growled. "Hurt one of my warriors and you will be sorry!" She unsheathed her claws, flattening her ears to look as fearsome as possible. Unfortunately, her act was no believed for one heartbeat.

"Oh really?" The tom pinning Bouncefoot down snarled. "I doubt a tiny she cat like you can do anything to us. I'm surprised Starclan let you become leader."

She tried not to let her fear show before replying. "Oh yeah? Come up here and let's see how tiny I really am." As she spoke, an idea came to Crimsonstar. Glitch! She called silently for her Dark Forest mentor. I need your power! With Glitch's help, she could beat the tom and prove to Lightclan that she was a force to be reckoned with.

Glitch's presence was felt almost immediately, and the white she cat whispered. "I think it's time I gave you the shadows."

Now? Crimsonstar narrowed her eyes at the barely visible figure beside her.

"You've proven to be the one." She replied simply. "But just so you know.. Once I complete the transfer, I will die."

The Lightclan tom was making his way towards Crimsonstar, but he was slow. Somehow, time seemed to be moving extremely slowly, allowing the two she cats to speak.

Crimsonstar took a deep breath and murmured. "Do it."

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Searing pain erupted in Crimsonstar's paws, but was gone the instant it arrived. She barely had time to react to the pain, it was gone so quickly. When the agony left, a new found power flowed through her viens and she immediately felt more in control of herself than she ever had before. The feeling was amazing, and she craved more of it. She grinned, glancing sideways at Glitch to see the white she cat had disappeared.

For a second she forgot, but the memory was quick to come back to her. Glitch is dead. She blinked, staring at her paws. She hadn't fully thought about it up until that point. She had basically just killed the only cat who had ever provided her help and comfort. But now I have her power.

Looking back up, Crimsonstar saw the Lightclan tom was standing right before her, his eyes narrowed. "Well then, show me what you've got!" He snarled, ears flattened.

Crimsonstar looked back at her paws. They were still buzzing with energy, but she couldn't see the iconic whisps of smoke anywhere. Where are they? She wondered. Do I have to harvest them from scratch?

"Okay, time's up!" The tom lunged for her with a growl.

Crimsonstar squeaked and lashed out at him, her claws scoring across his face. The shadows were nowhere to be seen. She had to get them herself by stealing souls. I can get his soul! She bared her teeth and clawed at the tom as he pinned her down on her back. He didn't budge, his claws digging painfully into her chest. "Let me go!" She snarled, her paws pushing relentlessly against him to try and kick him away.

To her surprise, the tom let out a sudden choked gasp and blood sprayed over her from his mouth. His eyes rolled to the back of his head and he collapsed on top of her, limp. Crimsonstar gasped and wriggled away from the dead Lightclan tom to see Falconheart standing over him, the dark furred tom's blue eyes narrowed in anger. "Nobody hurts my sister and gets away with it." He muttered under his breath. "Not anymore."

Crimsonstar stared at Falconheart for a few heartbeats before turning to see Creamstar had risen. The Lightclan leader was hissing and spitting at her, her ears back. "Leave before I kill you all! Flameclan is no more! You are banished from these territories forever!" Around her, Lightclan warriors swarmed the beaten Flameclan cats, herding them towards the camp exit.

Crimsonstar stared in horror. No! She can't kick us out! She shook her head, her tail lashing in rage. "You can't do this!"

"Actually I can." Creamstar snarled. "Now get out before I kill you!" She stalked closer to Crimsonstar threateningly.

A screech of fury sounded from behind Creamstar as Bouncefoot slammed into her, sending the she cat sprawling. Creamstar got up with a growl and turned to face the winged tom as he towered over her. He shoved her onto her back and uncoiled his wing.

The gleaming claw dug itself into Creamstar's chest, the she cat wailed in pain and blood spurted into her fur. Bouncefoot removed his wing with the sound of flesh tearing. His wing claw was impaling Creamstar's heart.

The cream she cat gasped and coughed up blood before toppling over, her eyes glazing over. Starclan could not heal this.

Bouncefoot was swiftly piled on and beaten into submission, he stumbled to Falconheart and limped out of the Flameclan camp.

Crimsonstar growled, but fear took over and she scrambled after her clan mates, leaving her camp for the last time.

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