Fawnstep was very startled at the two's state.

"Let me treat your wounds," she mewed, trying to press a leaf to a scar on Nightfur's hide.

The tom snapped at her paw. "No! You can treat our wounds with Kestrelwing."

Fawnstep stepped back, "But Kestrelwing is ThunderClan's medicine cat…" her eyes widened in realization, "Nightfur, you didn't-"

Nightfur gained that smile again. "Oh, Fawnstep, we did." He then scooped up Spottedkit. Birdflight heard his statement and saw her sister's horrified eyes. She let out a breath and looked to Buzzardtail, who was helping Starlingfeather stand up.

"How's Fernpelt?" she asked.

"Fine!" Buzzardtail responded happily. Too happily for a tom who had just raided a clan.

Birdflight picked up Gorsekit while Hazelwing held Webkit. Buzzardtail had Emberkit, Fawnstep had Mistlekit, Quailheart had Hatchkit and Nightfur had Spottedkit. Hawksnow was helping his elderly mate along while Beechpaw and Acornpaw stood on his other side in case he fell.

They rounded around the bramble-woven wall that guarded the walls of the ThunderClan camp. No, Birdflight told herself, no way had they managed to slaughter the whole of ThunderClan. Nightfur, in the head of the patrol, set down Spottedkit at the start of the rocky tunnel and instructed her to lead them in and be careful.

Spottedkit proudly stuck her tail straight in the air and hopped down. The patrol followed. Nightfur let Birdflight set down Gorsekit- though, truthfully, she never wanted to let him go again. Nightfur immediately led the kittens under ferns, where two brown faces stuck out. Fernpelt, Stoatfur, Cloudstar, and Mousefang were standing in a line in front of something. Except for Rainleap, who was holding down Seedpelt by the head.

The kits all ducked into the nursery, but the two faces still stayed, eyes wide. Cloudstar stood and sweeped his tail, parting his warriors.

There laid Redstar, even redder from his blood. He was so mangled, he looked as if they'd taken all his lives in one fell swoop- one foul, foul, foul swoop.

Amberclaw let out a whimper at the sight of his brother. Birdflight couldn't believe her eyes. Her heart skipped a beat and she wanted to yowl, but her throat was suddenly too dry to make any sound.

Bloomheart and Deerdapple exchanged glances and curled their tails around Seedpaw and Thrushpaw. Rabbitfur pulled Oakpaw a bit closer while Squirrelpaw and Stagpaw huddled closer together.

"ThunderClan," Cloudstar announced, "We are here to overtake your clan. Redstar has exiled us, and we have come to seek revenge."

"Murderer," growled Nettleclaw.

Stoatfur huffed, smiling.

Nettleclaw turned a cold gaze to them. "I killed Weaselwhisker in defense!" he snarled, "You killed a harmless cat!"

"Harmless?" asked Mousefang, "Sentencing our clan to death is harmless?"

"Stoatfur, Mousefang, come now!" Cloudstar meowed, glancing at each at them. He then turned cold blue eyes to the gray tabby. "Don't let your father's killer run free."

The two didn't even look at eachother to see the other's move. As if they were the same cat, they leaped at Nettleclaw at the same time, dragging him to the ground. Mousefang tore at his throat while Stoatfur ripped down his stomach. It wasn't very long before Nettleclaw sputtered and his eyes lost their life.

The brown she-cat in the nursery let out a cry, but the tom in there with her but his head over her's, stopping her from running to avenge the tom Birdflight assumed was her mate. Cloudstar strut forward.

"Would anyone else like to object?" he turned to Rainleap, "Seedpelt, perhaps?"

Rainleap loosened her grip on the she-cat's head, though shifted her body on top of hers to keep her from running. Seedpelt's green eyes were wide, but she shook her head. Amberclaw stood, but Mousefang sprung and held him down before he could pull anything.

Cloudstar smiled, facing the horrified crowd of unsuspecting warriors from each clan.

"Seedpelt will stay alive," he explained, "Only so she may attend Gatherings. She will be Seedstar, however, she will not receive nine lives," he turned back to her, "If you do get your lives, my warriors will take them all from you. We've done it before, do you understand?"

Seedpelt nodded.

"You also won't mention our takeover at Gatherings," Cloudstar went on. She nodded again. Kestrelwing met Cloudstar's gaze.

"I assume the same for me?" the medicine cat asked, "I attend half-moon meetings and don't mention this?"

Cloudstar straightened, "That's right. We'll have ears to follow you, just in case. Shadows aren't only wielded by one clan, and last I recalled," he faced Nightfur, "We had one very battle-hungry black cat."

Nightfur lifted his head proudly and gained that grin again. Birdflight could see Seedpelt tremble.

Cloudstar looked around, nodding. "Good. Good. Now, bury Redstar and Nettleclaw, Kestrelwing and Fawnstep can get to work on injuries."

Birdflight shifted awkwardly as Fawnstep stiffly stood and headed toward the other cat's den. Cloudstar took a few steps closer to his mate, facing her with an emotion in his eyes Birdflight had never seen before. His voice was low as he spoke, so low that no other cat would hear him.

"Tell the stars we've finally won."