Rainheart awoke and slowly blinked open his eyes, taking in his surroundings; The warriors den. He felt a warm body pressed alongside him and turned his head, feeling warmth spread through him as he rested his eyes on his mate.

The light of dawn shone through the roof of the den onto Poppywing, dappling her fur in vibrant splashes like red leaves in leaf-fall. I still can't believe she took me as her mate. He thought, gazing at her admiringly. She's so smart and talented. I'm the luckiest tom in the forest.

Poppywing stirred against him and slowly parted her eyelids to reveal soft blue eyes. She rested them on him and purred softly. "What are you staring at?"

His fur grew hot with embarrassment, and he flicked an ear back. "Just the most beautiful cat in the clan," He murmured, meeting her gaze warmly.

Poppywing blinked affectionately at him and let out a purr, rubbing her head against his, and he purred happily. After a moment, she stood and arched her back as she stretched out, then looked down at him. "Would you like to go hunting together?" She asked.

"Of course!" Rainheart rose to his paws, and she hurried toward the entrance of the den. He started after her, and not a moment later his heart skipped a beat as he tripped over a leg, awkwardly stumbling forward.

"Hey, watch it!" Cliffshade grunted, raising his head and glaring at Rainheart. "Some of us were up all night guarding the camp."

He ducked his head in embarrassment. "Sorry, Cliffshade." As the gray and brown tom rolled his eyes and settled back into his nest, Rainheart looked ahead at Poppywing awkwardly. Why do I have to be so clumsy? He wondered, hot with embarrassment.

But Poppywing didn't seem to mind his lack of coordination. "Don't mind him, Rainheart," She meowed as he reached her, casting Cliffshade an amused look. "Every cat knows Cliffshade is a grumpy furball."

The brown and gray tom grumbled something, his muzzle buried in the moss of his nest. He gave his tail a lash of annoyance as the couple left the den. Poppywing is so supportive. Rainheart thought in amusement. Few cats are willing to put Cliffshade in his place.

In the clearing, many cats had already begun their day. The ShadowClan deputy, Depthwater, was standing by the meeting rock, organizing patrols. "Crowmask, would you lead a patrol to leave fresh scent markers on the WindClan border?" He paused and scanned the clearing. "Rosebreeze, Ashcloud, and Silverblossom can join you."

The black tom nodded. "Right." He turned his head as Rosebreeze and Ashcloud padded over to the deputy, noticing Silverblossom sitting at the side of the clearing with her apprentice, Copperpaw. "Silverblossom!" He called. "Come on. Copperpaw can come as well."

Silverblossom pricked her ears and said something to her apprentice before crossing the clearing to them. "I'm sorry, Stormstar said it was alright if we gave our apprentices their assessments today? We were about to leave." 

"Oh, sorry." Depthwater looked embarrassed and gave his dark chest fur a few licks. "I forgot."

"It's alright, Depthwater," Silverblossom purred and dipped her head.

Depthwater had only been deputy for a couple moons now, ever since the death of their old deputy, Pinetail. She had been killed in the battle against Bone Shred's rogues. Though Depthwater had been an experienced and skilled warrior, he had big pawsteps to fill, and many questioned if he was a worthy replacement of Pinetail, even Depthwater himself. But Stormstar seemed confident in his choice of deputy. Though he made mistakes now and then, he was quickly adapting to his new position and proving himself a fine deputy.

"Stormstar is going with you, isn't he?" The deputy meowed, looking past her as the clan leader stepped out of his den.

The silver spotted she-cat nodded. "He wanted to oversee their assessments." 

"Of course." Depthwater dipped his head. "I'm sure the apprentices will do very well, Silverblossom." He turned his attention to Crowmask, who looked at him questioningly. "Take Maplefur and Diamondpaw instead."

As Silverblossom turned away, Milkblaze, Timberpaw, Bluerain, and Flamepaw stood with Copperpaw, waiting for her return. Stormstar stood with Milkblaze, speaking with him quietly. Rainheart's sister, Bloomfire, was sitting near Flamepaw, who looked nervous.

"I hope I pass my assessment," Flamepaw meowed worriedly. "What if I fail? Stormstar is going to be there!"

Bloomfire gave him a nudge. "You? Fail? Impossible. You'll do great, Stormstar will see that. Then we can finally be warriors together!"

Flamepaw looked at the orange and white she-cat, his eyes filling with warmth. "Thanks, Bloomfire. I can't wait."

They'll be mates too before long. Rainheart thought, happiness for his sister filling his heart. Though Flamepaw was still an apprentice, he was only a few moons younger than her. They had spent their apprenticeship together up until a few moons ago when Bloomfire earned her warrior name. Flamepaw couldn't wait to join her as a warrior and be able to hunt, patrol, and share a den with her.

"Bloomfire will be happy when he's earned his warrior name," Poppywing commented as she followed Rainheart's gaze to the apprentices. "They make a good couple." She began crossing the clearing, her tail high in the air.

He followed her and nodded with a purr. "They do. They-"

"Poppywing! Rainheart!"

They paused and turned to see Depthwater padding up to them. "I need two more warriors to join Cougarfoot's hunting patrol," He meowed. "Would you like to?"

Poppywing exchanged a disappointed look with Rainheart before returning her attention to the deputy. "Actually, Depthwater, me and Rainheart wanted to hunt on our own, if that's alright?"

The blueish black tom's eyes gleamed. "Of course, you always do," He gently teased. "You're both such fine hunters, I'd be a fool to stop you." He dipped his head. "Good hunting, you two." 

As the clan deputy returned to the side of the clearing, Poppywing looked at Rainheart, her blue eyes gleaming. "Come on, I'll race you to the burnt sycamore!" She raced through the thorn tunnel.

Rainheart let out a purr. "That's not fair!" He bounded after her, knowing there was no way he could outrun her. But he didn't care. He loved spending time with Poppywing, more than anything else. I'm far from the strongest, fastest, or cleverest warrior in the clan. He thought as he ran through the pine forest. I'm certainly no match for Poppywing in any way. Yet she loves me for the cat I am, and I couldn't be more grateful.

By the time he reached the burnt sycamore, Poppywing was already sitting at the base of the tree, her tail curled neatly over her small paws. Her eyes gleamed with amusement. "What took you so long?"

"Show-off." Rainheart purred and gave her a lick on the ear, and she chuckled. "Where shall we hunt today?"

The red tabby she-cat looked around thoughtfully. "No cat has hunted in the woodland by the SkyClan border in a while," She pointed out. "We might have some luck there."

That's a great idea. Rainheart thought. The two of them padded through the mucky grass, their shoulders brushing as they stayed close to each other's side. Their tails twined together, and occasionally they met each others' gaze, finding them alight with the same happiness and love for one another.

When they reached the patch of trees by the SkyClan border, Poppywing's ears pricked forward. "Squirrel," She murmured, scanning the bushes around them.

Rainheart purred in amusement. "You're going after it, aren't you?" ShadowClan cats didn't normally chase squirrels. But Poppywing seemed to enjoy climbing trees to catch them. Though it wasn't every cat's favorite option on the fresh kill pile, he could see how happy it made her and how proud she was of her unusual skill.

"Of course I-" Poppywing broke off as the fluffy tailed creature appeared behind a tree root, searching for nuts. With that, she took off after it.

He watched as the red striped she-cat pelted past him and up a tree, leaping swiftly from branch to branch after the squirrel. She couldn't be more graceful if she were flying. He thought, admiring her. Stormstar had named her Poppywing for this very reason. No other ShadowClan cat had such skill. She's practically part squirrel herself!

As Poppywing leaped for another branch, she nearly missed, and Rainheart inhaled sharply as she scrambled for a grip on it. She's going to fall! He started forward, but she had regained her balance and climbed one more branch where she caught the squirrel and sank her teeth into its neck. 

He let his fur slowly flatten as she returned to the ground, holding the limp squirrel proudly in her jaws. "Do you always have to scare me like that?" He asked anxiously. "You could have fallen!"

Poppywing set down the squirrel and purred in amusement. "Rainheart, you worry far too much. Nothing is going to happen to me."

"You don't know that." He leaned forward and licked her on the head. "What if-"

"Hold it off!"

A distant, terrified yowl cut him off. Silverblossom? He and Poppywing froze and jerked their heads in the direction of the sound as it was followed by shrieks and snarls.

"Hurry, all of you, run!"

That's Milkblaze! Rainheart realized in alarm. He's Timberpaw's mentor. He and his brothers are supposed to be completing their assessment. But something had clearly gone wrong.

"Something's wrong! Come on!" Poppywing bolted away, leaving the squirrel behind. Rainheart shot after her, his heart racing as they ran through the trees toward the yowling. 

As they got closer, he began to pick up the reek of fox, and he immediately knew what was happening. Oh no! They burst out of the bushes and into a clearing.

A huge fox had its back to them, snarling and twisting as Milkblaze clung to its back, digging his claws into the fox's pelt. Not far from them, Stormstar crouched in front of a second fox, his teeth bared. Silverblossom bit into the fox's tail.

Great StarClan, those are the biggest foxes I've ever seen! Rainheart thought in horror. He froze when he saw Bluerain crouched in the grass, blood running from a wound in her shoulder. 

"Bluerain!" He gasped and shot to his mother's side, nudging her gently. "Come on, you have to move!" She shook her head and slumped onto her side, revealing a bloody bite in her flank. He turned his head in alarm. "Poppy-" 

But his mate was already at his side with a wad of leaves, and she and Rainheart began pressing them to Bluerain's wounds as she groaned. He shot an anxious glance behind him to see what the foxes were doing, afraid that one would try to finish off his mother.

Stormstar and Silverblossom were taking turns swiping at their fox, while the other twisted and threw Milkblaze off of it, snarling.

As Milkblaze staggered to his paws, Copperpaw and Timberpaw were pressed against the bushes at the side of the clearing, their fur bristling. Flamepaw and Bloomfire were crouched in front of them protectively, glaring at the first fox. With a furious bark, it lunged for Bloomfire, grabbing her hind leg and dragging her forward as she shrieked in alarm.

Bloomfire! Rainheart's heart jolted with terror. 

He was about to start toward his sister when Flamepaw let out a furious screech. "Let her go!" He leaped onto the fox's head and sank his teeth into its ear, slashing his hind claws at the fox's eyes and muzzle.

It snarled and released Bloomfire, sending her tumbling to the ground, blood trickling from her hind leg. Copperpaw and Timberpaw ran to her side, looking down at her anxiously.

"Oh, StarClan, we can't take on two huge foxes like that!" Copperpaw whimpered.

Timberpaw shot a glare at his brother. "Stop it! We're about to be warriors, stop whining like a kit!"

Flamepaw was losing his grip on the fox as it leaped and twisted angrily. With a mighty swing of its head, it sent Flamepaw flying through the air and straight into Copperpaw, knocking his brother off his paws from where he'd been crouched by Bloomfire. 

With a snarl, the fox lunged for Timberpaw, grabbing him by the tail, and he shrieked out in pain as he was lifted off the ground. The fox shook him violently, then threw him headfirst into a pine tree. 

Timberpaw groaned as he slumped against the trunk, his yellow eyes appearing to be unfocused as the fox stalked toward him, snarling lowly and lashing its fluffy tail. 

He's stunned. Rainheart realized in alarm. "Timberpaw needs help!" He yowled.

Stormstar heard him from where he and Silverblossom fought the second fox. He shot a panicked look at his mate. "Silverblossom, go!"

The silver she-cat looked at him in bewilderment as the fox snapped at her, and she ducked just before its teeth closed around her ear. "But-"

"Go!" Stormstar leaped away from the fox and charged for the one cornering Timberpaw. As the fox crouched to spring, teeth bared, Stormstar leaped in the way and arched his back, snarling furiously. "You won't lay another claw on my clanmates!"

Rainheart stared in shock as Stormstar lunged at the fox's throat and buried his teeth into it's white neck fur, blood spurting out onto his face. The fox let out a sharp, high pitched yelp and fell onto its back, snapping its jaws at him and swiping its legs madly, slashing open Stormstar's tabby pelt, but the clan leader was relentless. He bit down harder on the fox's throat, ignoring the wounds the mad creature inflicted on him. 

At last, the fox stopped moving, and Stormstar released its throat, spitting out a mouthful of blood. The other fox seemed to freeze, staring at its companion in shock. Then it let out a furious screech and lunged for Stormstar.

The clan leader instantly bolted through the trees, the fox hot on his tail, snapping and snarling angrily.

"Stormstar!" Silverblossom shrieked, staring after her mate in horror.

Milkblaze panted and shook blood from his ear, looking at her anxiously. "Come on, we all need to leave before it comes back."

"What are you talking about?" She demanded, glaring at him in bewilderment. "We have to help Stormstar! He can't fight that fox alone!"

"He knows that." Milkblaze met her gaze, his eyes dull with sorrow. 

Shock and sadness pierced Rainheart's heart like a thorn. He's sacrificing himself so that we can get away.

Silverblossom stared back at the white and cream warrior, as though struggling to understand what he was saying. Then she hung her head and let out a sob of grief. 

In the distance, they heard the mad snarling of the fox, accompanied by a screech of agony. It caught Stormstar. And seeing how Silverblossom is acting, this must have been his last life... Rainheart shut his eyes. Our leader is dead.

"We need to leave." Milkblaze looked down and let out a shaky sigh. "Quickly. Help the wounded."

Flamepaw and Copperpaw were helping Bloomfire to her paws, letting her lean on them as she winced at the pain in her hind leg. 

Beyond them, Silverblossom was gently nudging Timberpaw. "Come, we need to hurry." Her voice cracked as she spoke.

The brown tabby apprentice blinked at her, trembling and in shock. "B-But... Stormstar..." He seemed completely stunned as she gently guided him away from the tree, wrapping her tail around him. "He gave his life for me..."

"Come on, Bluerain," Poppywing murmured, gently nudging her to her paws.

She stumbled, and Rainheart let her lean on his shoulder, giving her cheek fur a lick. "Can you walk?" He asked worriedly.

"Yes, I think so," Bluerain rasped, and the warriors headed back through the trees toward their camp. Silverblossom was sobbing, her ears flat with grief. Rainheart exchanged a dull look with Poppywing. Every cat remained silent and solemn as they walked, processing the fact that their leader would not return with them.