The light of dawn peered over the horizon, its orange glow melting into the dark indigo sky. The ShadowClan cats raced through the awakening forest. Bloodpaw raced alongside Swiftpaw and Revengepaw, yesterday's dispute forgotten. There were bigger things for him to worry about. They were on their way to launch a surprise attack on ThunderClan.

Am I ready for this battle? Bloodpaw wondered nervously as he ran with his clanmates, the cold morning air rushing through his fur. Did Brownstripe train me well enough?

"I can't wait!" Revengepaw certainly seemed confident in himself. The hefty apprentice had been muttering to himself all morning. "I'll avenge Maplefur... Rip those ThunderClan cats to shreds!"

"Be quiet!" Cougarfoot hissed at him. The golden warrior ran close to his apprentice. "We're about to cross into Thunderclan territory."

Revengepaw cast his mentor a glare. "I'm just excited, that's all."

How can he be excited? Bloodpaw wondered, disturbed by the apprentice's eagerness. We're about to go into battle! Cats are going to be hurt! He looked beside him and saw a wary look on Swiftpaw's face. Bloodpaw guessed that he held the same concerns.

Unease ran through him as his clanmates began to cross the thunderpath. Bloodpaw hesitated before it, glancing into the distance, half expecting a monster to come roaring by to crush them. Revengepaw shouldered past him, along with several other warriors. Bloodpaw's stomach churned. I don't want to cross it!

Swiftpaw bumped his shoulder to his. "Don't worry, it's safe," He meowed. "Even the monsters aren't awake this early." Deciding that Swiftpaw was right, he hurried across the thunderpath with him, startled at how hard the stone was beneath his paws. How do monsters walk on this all day? My pads would fall off!

Bloodpaw grew very uncomfortable as he followed his clanmates into unfamiliar territory, ThunderClan scent wafting around him. He was surprised at the large number of bushes and trees that he had to dodge. ShadowClan territory was a bit more open. Suddenly, Depthstar waved his tail in signal. Every cat quickly stopped.

He drew in a deep breath. We must be close to the camp! The ShadowClan leader murmured something to Cobratail, then looked over his shoulder at his clan as though making sure that they were ready. Revengepaw flexed his muscles, a purr rumbling in his throat. It unsettled Bloodpaw. After a moment, Depthstar waved his tail more urgently in signal. They were ready.

"ShadowClan, attack!" Depthstar's yowl broke the silence dawn had held.

The ShadowClan cats immediately bolted forward after their leader, and Bloodpaw shot after them. Revengepaw let out a yowl and ran ahead of the other apprentices. As they hurried through the trees, Bloodpaw spotted the thorn tunnel leading into the hollow. The camp!

Two warriors who had been guarding the entrance let out startled screeches, rising to meet the ShadowClan attackers, but they were no match for the flood of cats. Timberstorm and Ashcloud each attacked a guard while the clan filed into the camp.

Bloodpaw raced down the rocks into the hollow, Swiftpaw behind him. Warriors streamed out of their dens, stunned as they blinked away sleep and launched themselves into battle.

"ShadowClan! We're under attack!" A brown and cream tabby yowled before leaping at Greenpine. In a heartbeat, the hollow went from silence to a bowl of screeching, battling cats.

He found himself face to face with a young tabby tom who immediately lunged for him. Bloodpaw immediately ducked, feeling a wave of satisfaction as the warrior soared over him, remembering when Revengepaw had used this move on him. Bloodpaw spun and attacked the tabby, sinking his teeth into his shoulder and bowling him over, letting memories of his training guide his actions.

The tabby screeched and bit Bloodpaw's forepaw, causing him to cry out and let go. The warrior took advantage of the moment and slashed at Bloodpaw's flank. A flash of black and white slammed into the tabby, knocking him off his paws, and Bloodpaw blinked.

"I'll help you with this one if you get the one on my tail!" Swiftpaw meowed as he swung a forepaw at the tabby.

Bloodpaw turned and saw a silver tom racing toward Swiftpaw. "Got it!" He hissed and launched himself at the tom, pinning him onto his back.

The silver cat snarled. "Get out of our camp, frog-breath!" He kicked Bloodpaw in the stomach, and he gasped out as the air was knocked out of him. His opponent swiped his claws at Bloodpaw's face and he fell off of him, catching his breath. "Nice try, apprentice!" The silver tom sneered and bolted away.

Bloodpaw staggered to his paws, his gaze darting around the camp. He recognized Snowfalcon immediately. The massive tom was swinging hard blows at Cobratail. Both deputies looked furious and deeply engaged in battle. Foxshadow rolled by with a ginger she-cat who clawed madly at his shoulders. He spotted Bloomfire's orange pelt across the clearing, and his father by her side, facing two ThunderClan warriors.

"Take that, ThunderClan flea-pelt!" Revengepaw screeched as he slashed his claws across the face of a dark furred warrior.

"Ha! Are you too scared to fight?"

Bloodpaw heard Mottledface and turned. To his surprise, he was crouched near an extremely young apprentice. She looked fresh out of the nursery, likely only apprenticed a few days ago, or possibly as recently as yesterday. Her fur was fluffed up in terror, eyes wide. "I-I don't know how to fight yet!" She whimpered.

"That's too bad for you," Mottledface commented and lashed out, catching the tiny apprentice's ear. She let out a squeak as blood trickled from the cut, and with a small growl, she leaped at the warrior, grabbing onto his shoulders. Mottledface easily shook the tiny cat off, and she went rolling into the bushes, staring at the ShadowClan warrior anxiously as he stalked toward her, a growl rumbling in his throat.

Bloodpaw immediately raced at the scene, slamming into Mottledface and knocking him away from the tiny apprentice. "What are you doing?" He gasped in horror.

Mottledface nearly fell over, clearly startled by Bloodpaw's attack. He spun to face him, amber eyes lit with anger. "What's wrong with you?" He spat. "She's an enemy!" He crouched to attack, but Bloodpaw stepped in front of the terrified apprentice.

"She's a fresh apprentice without any battle training!" Bloodpaw hissed defiantly. "Have you no honor? Go pick on someone your own size!"

A growl rumbled in Mottledface's throat, and for a moment, Bloodpaw wondered if his clanmate was going to attack him. But instead, he spun and ran off. He relaxed, relieved.

The tiny she-cat nervously slunk out from behind Bloodpaw. "T-thanks!" She stared at him uncertainly, as though wondering if he would attack.

"Go somewhere safe," Bloodpaw meowed. "You're not ready for this battle." With that, he ran back into the fray. He was about to take on another warrior when a furious screech rang out from within the hollow.

"Depthstar!"

Most of the cats paused to see what was happening, and Bloodpaw turned to see Depthstar and Strawberrystar facing each other on the highrock. He thought he'd seen the ThunderClan leader angry at the gathering. But today, she looked absolutely enraged. Her spotted fur fluffed up, causing her to look twice her size, her amber eyes lit with fury.

"What in StarClan's name do you think you're doing?" Strawberrystar screeched out each word, bristling with fury.

Depthstar's tail lashed as he glared at the she-cat. "Two of my warriors have been killed by ThunderClan cats!" He hissed. "And we will not stand for it any longer!"

Strawberrystar's eyes flared with anger as she pushed her face close to Depthstar's. "We never touched your warriors!" She snarled furiously. "You stupid, mange-pelted excuse for a leader!" With a screech she lunged at him, grasping his neck with her claws and rolling him off of the highrock. Depthstar slashed at her shoulder, and as the two leaders fought, the hollow erupted into battle once more.

Bloodpaw jerked at a loud yowl close to him, abruptly cut off. He spun around and let out a horrified gasp.

Revengepaw had a brown tabby warrior pinned onto his back, teeth fastened deep into his throat. Blood ran onto the sandy ground. Bloodpaw silently screeched at the warrior to fight back, but it was clear that he was already dead. The tabby's amber eyes were frozen, and as the apprentice released him, he fell limp to the ground. Revengepaw raised his head triumphantly, eyes gleaming down at the dead warrior.

"Revengepaw!" Bloodpaw choked out, numb with shock. "What have you done?"

The white tom turned to look at him, and a chill bolted through Bloodpaw when he saw the cold stare Revengepaw gave him, his muzzle splotched with blood. The crimson liquid soaked his chin, spiking the fur beneath.

"He could have been the warrior who killed Maplefur," Revengepaw growled and licked blood from his muzzle.

Bloodpaw stared at the dead tabby, frozen with shock. "Warriors don't need to kill to win battles." He rasped.

Revengepaw narrowed his eyes, glancing down at the dead warrior. He gave the body a kick, then turned and ran off. Bloodpaw felt that he should drag the dead ThunderClan cat somewhere out of the way where he wouldn't be trampled. But instead, he backed away. Knowing my clanmates, they'll just accuse me of killing him!

Dark fur streaked in front of Bloodpaw and swiped a forepaw at him. He staggered back, snarling as he found himself face to face with a dark apprentice. "You're Bloodpaw!" The tom sneered, lashing a black paw at him.

Bloodpaw ducked, glaring at him. "Do I know you?"

"No," The dark tom responded, his skinny tail lashing. "But I know you! Depthstar announced your name at the last gathering. My name's Batpaw." He swiped at him, but Bloodpaw dodged. "And your name's Bloodpaw! What a weird name to give a kit!"

Bloodpaw let out an angry snarl and leaped at Batpaw, rolling him to the ground. "I bet you think you're so dangerous with a name like that!" The tom sneered. "But I know you're not!" He kicked Bloodpaw off of him, scrambling to his paws.

"I'm dangerous when I have to be!" Bloodpaw hissed, and the apprentice prepared to attack.

"Hickoryroot!" A cat suddenly wailed. "He's dead!"

Batpaw and Bloodpaw turned to see a creamy she-cat crouched over the tabby Revengepaw had killed, looking horrified. "He's dead!" She yowled again.

Many cats broke apart, battle forgotten as they stared at the dead warrior in alarm. Several ThunderClan cats raced to the dead tabby's side, letting out cries of grief. On the highrock, Strawberrystar was staring at Hickoryroot's body, clearly stunned. After a moment, she swung her head to Depthstar, anger lighting her eyes. "How could you allow your warriors to do such a thing?" She spat. "Murderer!"

"I could ask you the same thing!" Depthstar snarled.

Strawberrystar's eyes blazed with fury. "Get out of my camp!" She screeched. "Now!"

The ShadowClan leader held her furious gaze. "The battle has been won!" He yowled to his clan. Strawberrystar hissed at him as he leaped down from the highrock and headed for the thorn tunnel, waving his tail for his clan to follow. The ShadowClan cats yowled triumphantly.

Bloodpaw watched Revengepaw strut after his clan leader, his white tail high in the air. "We showed those ThunderClan fleabags!" He purred, clearly pleased with himself.

Poisonedsap padded to her son's side and rasped her tongue over his ear. "You fought brilliantly," She purred. "Maplefur would be so proud of you."

Would he? Bloodpaw stared at the massive apprentice, remembering the coldness in his eyes after he had killed Hickoryroot, muzzle spiked with blood. Would he be proud of his son for murdering another cat?

He suddenly wondered where Swiftpaw was. He hadn't seen him since the start of the battle. He turned his head and spotted the apprentice standing near Hickoryroot's body, staring at him. "You didn't have to die..." His friend whispered.

Bloodpaw looked back to Revengepaw who stood close to his mother, muscles rippling beneath his white pelt. He killed that ThunderClan cat without hesitation... He longs for battle... What kind of apprentice is so willing to kill?