My father was weak. I must make up for his weakness. I must be the strongest there is!

Tigerstar listened to Firestar's attempt at reasoning with him. He thought of the BloodClan warriors behind him.

This is sad. I shouldn't need help to defeat a worthless kittypet like Firestar.

Tigerstar didn't pay much attention to Firestar as he continued in his rant. He responded with thought but he had already gone through every possible scenario of this in his mind. He knew what to say, so he turned his attention back to his thoughts.

Pinestar should never have left the forest to become a kittypet. He's worse than Firestar, and that's hard to do. He was soft. Only the strong and pure of blood can survive. All the others must die! All my life I've been waiting to become leader. I wanted to lead ThunderClan into Its brightest days. But they betrayed me. Them and that Firestar.

Tigerstar stretched his claws and imagined them wet with the blood of his enemy. As he snapped back to reality, his TigerClan warriors fanned out around him, joined by BloodClan cats. He could see the surprise on the faces of the other cats at BloodClan's appearance. The conversation continued after the introduction of them.

"You see Firestar? I am more powerful than StarClan, for I have changed the

Clans in the forest from four to two. TigerClan and BloodClan will rule together."

Tigerstar could see the alarm on Firestar's face, but he answered calmly and quietly.

"No Tigerstar, if you want to fight, let us fight. StarClan will show us who is more powerful."

"You mouse-brained fool! I was prepared to come here and talk with you today. Just remember that it was you who drove us to this. And when your Clan mates are dying around you, they will blame you with their last breath."

This is it. This is my chance. I will prove that I am better than my father. I will prove that I am the greatest leader to ever live!

�BloodClan, attack!� he yowled as loud as he could but not a cat moved. His eyes widened and he desperately yowled again, �Attack, I order you!�

Only Scourge moved, and Tigerstar�s eyes lightened until he said, �I am Scourge. The leader of BloodClan.�� He turned to face Tigerstar and mewed in an icy calm voice, �Tigerstar, my warriors are not yours to command. They will attack when I tell them, and not before.�

Tigerstar glared at Scourge with more hatred than he had ever felt in his life, yet the BloodClan leader remained un-phased.

Firestar padded forward and gazed at Scourge calmly while he told him Tigerstar�s history.

Tigerstar didn�t pay much attention. He was staring at his paws, still reeling from the response that this cat, which had promised to help him in his quest for power, had given him.

Firestar concluded, "This is Tigerstar's history. It all shows one thing-that he'll do anything for power. If he promised you a share of the forest don't believe him. He won't give up one pawprint, not to you or any cat."

Tigerstar looked back at Scourge. He could tell that he was in deep thought, pondering what he had just heard.

Scourge broke the silence. "Tigerstar told me what he was planning to do with the dogs when he visited me two moons ago." He looked at Tigerstar. "He did not tell me that his plan failed."

"None of that matters now," Tigerstar responded roughly, his voice showing all of the rage that was building up inside him. "We have an agreement with you, Scourge. Fight beside me now and you'll have all I offered you."

Scourge narrowed his gaze slightly as if in mock at Tigerstar's rage. "My Clan and I fight when I choose." He turned to Firestar. "I will think about what you have said. There will be no battle today."

Tigerstar could contain his rage no longer. His fur bristled, his tail lashed and his amber eyes burned like fire. He dropped into a crouch and screamed as he leaped at Scourge with all his might, claws extended. "Traitor!"

Tigerstar knew he would win this fight. He was much larger than Scourge, and trained but Scourge used his size to his advantage and avoided the leap easily. When Tigerstar landed Scourge swiped at him with his the dog teeth on his front paws. He struck Tigerstar on the shoulder and unbalanced him with one blow.

How can I let this mouse of a cat beat me!

Scourge's claws ripped into Tigerstar's throat and blood welled out as Scourge continued the same strike until he had nearly torn Tigerstar in two. A scream of pure rage burst from Tigerstar but was quickly replaced by horrifying choking sounds and yowls of pain. Tigerstar's body now lay on the ground. One long gash from his neck to his tail continuously bled. His body trembled and convulsed, then suddenly went still as he lost his first life. Tigerstar felt weak for the first time in his life, as he lay there dying. He felt energy being restored to him as StarClan tried to heal the wound, then lost again in the rush of blood that was fleeing from his body. He clawed at the ground and shrieked in pain. He could only claw at the grass. He convulsed again, and again felt the healing powers of StarClan flee from him as his body continued to bleed. His screams faded from fury and rage, to terror. He repeated this process again and again, over and over, each time more agonizing than the last.

His eyes faded as he looked at Firestar for the last time. He looked into his eyes and saw the horror on them. He gave him a look of fury, and with this, he closed his eyes.

I failed in life. I have surpassed all the leaders, yet I still have much more to do. I will not stop. I will not rest. I will get my revenge! I will rule the forest!

His body convulsed again, and he was gone.