(Hailstar's POV)

The ThunderClan leader glanced around at the sleeping camp. He had ordered every cat to get some sleep - there are no warriors guarding the camp that night.

He knew it was dangerous, but he didn't really care. Either way, every cat is going to die. It's just how fast it is.

As Hailstar padded to the middle of the camp, he heard a sound before being pinned by heavy paws.

"I will return..." a hauntingly familiar voice growled near his ear.

Hailstar bristled and unsheathed his claws. He was about to spring back and attack his attacker when some cat shouted so loud that it surprised him.

"Hailstar, wake up!"

The ThunderClan leader woke up panting in his nest. He blinked to ket his eyes adjust to the darkness and stared at the cat who woke him up in confusion.

"What's wrong Stagwind?" Hailstar asked.

"Nothing's wrong," Stagwind mewed. "I'm just wondering whether you are alright. I heard you trashing around in your sleep for days."

"Is it possible for cats to live again?" he asked suddenly.

"It doesn't sound possible," Stagwind mused. "StarClan can't do everything."

"Nevermind then," Hailstar mewed. "I'm going back to sleep."

But he couldn't help but let horrible memories flood his mind.

~~~~

Frostblaze was sleeping in the warriors' den. After all the traveling the previous day, she needed to get some rest.

But she couldn't fall asleep. She felt restless - like a fire ant that had crawled into her nest and keeping her awake.

Something is wrong.

There was a terrible yowl that sent some of the warriors sleeping in the den to wake up and rush out.

Frostblaze leaped to her paws as Iceleap rushed past her. The air was now filled with the scent of anger and shock.

Suddenly, Iceleap's white pelt disappeared. In his place was a strange cat with a light grayish pelt stained with patches of mud.

Iceleap's yowl froze Frostblaze in her tracks. It's a trap! she realised.

"Run!" Lilyflower appeared in front of her, nudging her and speaking with an anxious hiss.

"But what about Iceleap? He's in danger!" Frostblaze asked as Lilyflower kept on pushing her towards another exit of the warriors' den.

"Spikethorn is helping him," she replied swiftly. "We better get out of here now, and warn the other Clans. The Dark Forest cats are surrounding us and forcing us to be trapped in our own camp so that they can attack us with any interference."

"How long they have been here?" Frostblaze gasped as she ran out of the warriors' den.

"Not long, but Emberstorm was seriously injured," Lilyflower replied. "Stagwind and Sunstream are treating him, with Poolshine guarding the medicine cat den."

"Get out of the way!" Lightningcurl's voice interrupted their conversation. He was locked in battle with a Dark Forest warrior who seemed to be beating him badly.

Before any of the she-cats could pounce forward to help, Lightningcurl had the Dark Forest tom pinned.

His blazing green eyes met Frostblaze's blue ones. "Are you going to stand here all day - and night? Get the Clans now, or we are doomed. Sparrowshadow is dead, the rest of us will be if you don't hurry!"

Sparrowshadow is dead? Frostblaze thought, shocked. Lilyflower nudged her, snapping her out of her thoughts. "Honour her by fighting," she mewed simply, although her trembling voice had given away her emotions. "I'll go to RiverClan, you will go to ShadowClan."

Frostblaze ran off immediately, hoping that she could return back to camp in time to prevent another noble warrior's death.

Another shock awaited her when she arrived at the ShadowClan camp. The ShadowClan warriors were fighting for their lives, against a huge wave of batttle-hungry Dark Forest rouges.

At the corner of Frostblaze's eyes, she spotted Littlestar and Deerfoot fighting together to chase a brown she-cat from their camp.

"Littlestar!" Frostblaze called, her voice reflecting her anxiety. "ThunderClan needs help!"

Littlestar nodded slightly, flicking his ear at his nearest warriors - Fallowstem and Brackenflame - to follow her.

"ShadowClan will try to send ThunderClan more reinforcements later," Deerfoot explained quickly. "If any more of our warriors leave, ShadowClan may not make it."

Deerfoot's slightly harsh tone reminded Frostblaze that ShadowClan had fewer warriors than ThunderClan.

She acknowledged it with a nod as she ran past the Thunderpath with Fallowstem and Brackenflame following close behind.

"Why isn't there monsters on the Thunderpath?" Fallowstem mewed nervously.

"We can't worry about that now," Brackenflame mewed to his Clanmate. Turning to Frostblaze, he meowed, "How bad is it?"

Frostblaze remained silent, and that was enough for the two ShadowClan warriors to quicken their pace.

With few reinforcements and a warrior dead, how would ThunderClan survive?

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I'm so sorry about the infrequent updates. "-" I have been very busy the past few weeks and honestly speaking, I couldn't find the inspiration to write. But now I have and I hope you have enjoyed part 1 of the battle!

Who do you think is the cat that attacked Hailstar in the dream in the beginning of the chapter?