Chapter 23

Redpaw moved quickly to stand between his sister and his parents. "No, Featherpaw. This battle is over."

The she-cat narrowed her eyes. "This battle is far from over. Cedarpaw may have died, but I will carry this battle on for him."

"But we're kin, Featherpaw. You'd be fighting our mother and father! Doesn't that mean anything to you?"

"Not anymore," Featherpaw hissed. "I'll fight all three of you if I have to!"

Bramblestar padded up to stand beside Redpaw. "No, Featherpaw. End this now. Let the battle be over."

The she-cat shook with anger, her eyes filled with pain. Featherpaw looked from her leader and mentor to her brother and parents, and then shook her head. "I can't. I won't," she growled. The apprentice turned to Dovewing, now curled around her son's body. "They killed your son. Fight beside me now to avenge his death."

The pale gray warrior stared at Featherpaw with hollow eyes. "No, Featherpaw. My son is dead, so there's nothing left to fight for."

Fury swelled in Featherpaw's eyes. "Fine, don't help me then. I don't need help anyway." She turned back to face Rainsong, Swiftbreeze, and Redpaw, her tail lashing. Featherpaw took a deep breath before launching herself at her mother, raking her pelt with unsheathed claws. Redpaw leaped at his sister's back, trying to pull her off Rainsong without hurting his sister, but Featherpaw shook him off with a hiss. The tortoiseshell apprentice realized too late that his mother wasn't trying to defend herself- she was going to allow her daughter to kill her mercilessly.

Redpaw leaped at his sister again, this time not caring that she was his littermate. He had to save Rainsong. Featherpaw rounded on her brother. "Stay out of this!" she spat, raking her claws down his face. Redpaw stumbled backwards, unable to see through the blood welling in his eyes. Shaking the blood away, the tom knew it was too late to save his mother.

At long last, Featherpaw finally backed away from her mother. Glaring at Swiftbreeze with hatred in her eyes, she growled. "You better say your goodbyes. She doesn't have much time left."

Redpaw hurried to his mother's side, Swiftbreeze on his heels. The apprentice found himself unable to speak. Rainsong was covered in deep wounds from head to tail. Blood was flowing from multiple wounds on her pelt, and one eye was closed as if it were too painful to open.

Swiftbreeze nudged Rainsong with his nose. "Why didn't you fight her?" he whispered.

Rainsong focused her good eye on her mate. "I could never hurt my kit, even if it meant letting her kill me. You didn't fight her, either."

"I couldn't save you from our own daughter," Swiftbreeze mewed, shaking his head sadly.

"I don't blame you. It's hard to fight someone you love," Rainsong coughed.

Swiftbreeze sighed. "I'll see you in StarClan."

"Just don't join me too soon. Watch over Redpaw," Rainsong mewed, giving one last loving look to her son before her eye closed for good.

Redpaw stared at his mother's body. She was dead. His sister had killed their own mother. He whirled around to face Featherpaw. "You monster! How could you kill our mother?"

Featherpaw licked her pelt nonchalantly. "She deserved to die."

"No she didn't, but you do!" Redpaw hissed, leaping at his sister, all the love he had once felt for her gone, replaced by fury and grief. He lunged for her throat, ripping at it with sharp teeth. The she-cat instantly fell limp, slumping to the ground. Redpaw stood over her, prepared for another strike, but Featherpaw merely stared up at him with pain and sadness in her eyes.

"You killed me," Featherpaw choked, her body trembling.

Realizing what he had done, Redpaw immediately felt horrible. "I'm so sorry, Featherpaw," he whispered.

"No. I deserved it," she replied, her voice shaking. "I see that know. I was wrong to think Cedarpaw was innocent. I'm sorry for killing Rainsong."

Sorrow swelled within Redpaw. "You would have made a great warrior, Featherpaw," he mewed.

"Hopefully Mother will forgive me," Featherpaw mewed. Redpaw stared at her with empty eyes as she gave one last breath, and then she was still.

"She will, Featherpaw. I know she will," Redpaw said, burying his nose in her fur.

Swiftbreeze padded up beside his son. "She finally understood that she was wrong," the warrior meowed, his amber eyes filled with sadness.

Redpaw glanced up at his father, "Are you mad at me?"

The black and white warrior shook his head. "I once killed my sister, when she attacked Rainsong. Sometimes we have to kill those we love so they can understand what's right and wrong, no matter how much it hurts us."

Bramblestar stood up from where he'd been sitting, staring at the dead warriors. "A horrible thing happened today. Because one cat bore a grudge for too long, two innocent cats lost their lives. Oakpaw and Rainsong did not deserve this cruel end. Cedarpaw is a truly evil cat, and Featherpaw was tricked by his lies. She will be remembered not as a traitor, but as another victim of another cat's rage."

Redpaw heaved a sigh of relief. It was more than his sister deserved, but he was glad she wouldn't be remembered as a villain.

Bramblestar continued. "ThunderClan has seen too much tragedy in the past moon. Now that Cedarpaw is dead, we can live in peace. I'd like to start our recovery with honoring one of our brave Clanmates. Redpaw was torn between loyalty to his sister and what was best for his Clan. I am proud to see that ThunderClan has such fine warriors."

The tortoiseshell tom lifted his head in pride at being mentioned by the Clan leader. Bramblestar thought of him as a warrior!

"Redpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code forever, even at the cost of your life?" Bramblestar asked.

The apprentice nodded. "I do."

"Then from this day forth, you will be known as Redwhisker. ThunderClan honors your bravery, loyalty, and courage," Bramblestar meowed.

"Redwhisker! Redwhisker!" his Clanmates cheered loudly, Swiftbreeze the loudest of all.

Redwhisker stood proudly before his Clan, lifting his head to the sky. The sun had set and had been replaced by many brightly shining stars. The stars began moving in swirling motions until they formed to cats, one large she-cat and a smaller one beside her. The starry bodies stared down at Redwhisker, pride in their eyes. The larger one nodded encouragingly at Redwhisker, sending the new warrior a silent message.

"Thank you for forgiving Featherpaw, Rainsong," Redwhisker breathed. "I'll make you both proud.

The starry cats nodded, their message given. Redwhisker watched as the stars swirled into their original position. Filled with hope, the warrior padded to the center of camp, ready to begin his vigil. He was a warrior of ThunderClan, and he would stop at nothing to preserve the peace his Clan had now earned.

(Revision date- April 3, 2014)