Sparrowflight stood in the camp while cats organized themselves for the battle. It was dawn and the cats were breaking off into their groups. Sparrowflight already stood in his group with Antfoot and Hareleap. He looked to see that Batfeather was also in his group, but he kept a respectful distance from her. He could tell that their tensions hadn't died down since Dustbreeze told them about their father.

But she lied to us. Another voice in Sparrowflight's head spoke up. But I still shouldn't have said that. Sparrowflight shook his head, trying to rid himself of those thoughts. He needed to be focused on the battle.

The cats left the camp and pelted through the morning fog towards the Thunderclan border. These cats killed Sparrowflight's mentor. He would avenge him today. The cats all hid in bushes and clumps of fern, waiting for Thunderclan's dawn patrol to show up. The fog would not only distort Thunderclan's vision, but it would help disguise their scent. The forest was silent and the Windclan cats waited.

Suddenly, Sparrowflight heard a crack, followed by sets of paw steps. Could they be any more noisy? Sparrowflight listened and heard voices

"Flamepaw slow down!" A voice called "Sorry Foxtooth." Flamepaw replied sheepishly, slowing down. Sparrowflight looked to Antfoot, waiting for the signal. Antfoot crouched in the bushes, watching and listening. Once the patrol got as close as they could get without smelling them.

"Now!" Antfoot called, leaping at Foxtooth, tackling him to the ground. Sparrowflight looked over and saw Batfeather leaping at Flamepaw and knocking him down easily. Hareleap was rolling on the ground with a young warrior called Sunstrike. Sparrowflight leaped into the battle and helped Antfoot with Foxtooth. He thought about helping Batfeather, but she was easily beating the apprentice.

"Flamepaw get help!" Foxtooth called out before Sparrowflight silenced him with a rough slash at his muzzle, sending crimson droplets of blood onto the forest floor. Foxtooth suddenly flailed out a hind leg, landing a blow on Antfoot's shoulder, sending him stumbling back. Sparrowflight then jumped onto Foxtooth, pinning him to the ground, holding his legs down with his claws.

"You killed Stormheart!" Sparrowflight hissed, anger fueling his actions "Wh-what are you talking about?" Foxtooth stammered. Sparrowflight didn't answer, raising his paw to claw at his shoulder, but Foxtooth was too quick, twisting out from under Sparrowflight and placing a paw on the back of his neck, digging his claws into the soft fur.

Sparrowflight closed his eyes tightly, preparing for the inevitable pain. But suddenly, the weight on him disappeared and Sparrowflight looked to see that Batfeather had knocked Foxtooth off him. She grabbed him by the scruff and flung him into the grass. Sparrowflight shot a grateful glance at his littermate.

When Foxtooth got back to his feet, Sparrowflight expected him to charge at him and Batfeather, but instead he stood there, until the apprentice, Flamepaw, ran back into the battle with more Thunderclan warriors.

A low growl rose in Sparrowflight's throat as he saw the number of Thunderclan warrior grow larger and larger. He looked around at everything that was happening.

Antfoot was being pummeled by two Thunderclan warriors. Hareleap had his belly clawed open and was bleeding everywhere. We're losing! Sparrowflight was about to leap back into battle when he heard a yowl. The second group was joining them!

More Windclan warriors leaped into the battle. Sparrowflight recognized Hawkstar, Blazefire, Thorntail, Dustbreeze, Mudpool, and Lilypaw. There was yowling and fighting everywhere Sparrowflight looked. Lilypaw was tussling with a gray Thunderclan apprentice. Blazefire was rolling on the ground with the Thunderclan deputy, Barkbranch. Then a familiar cry caught Sparrowflight's attention. It was Dustbreeze!

He looked over across the battlefield to see her and Batfeather holding off three Thunderclan warriors. He then looked over the other way to see Antfoot pinned to the ground by Lightstar.

His gaze shifted back and forth between his family and the deputy. Should he be loyal to his family, or prove himself to his Clan?

He took one last glance at Batfeather and Dustbreeze. It looked like they had it covered. Batfeather was a good fighter and Dustbreeze was no slouch. Sparrowflight turned and leaped at Lightstar, digging his claws into his sides and flinging him off the deputy. Antfoot climbed back to his feet and nodded at Sparrowflight in thanks. They were about to attack Lightstar again when they were interrupted by a grief filled yowl.

"Barkbranch is dead!" Sparrowflight shot a shocked glance at Antfoot before hearing another yowl "Noooo!" It sounded like Batfeather!

Sparrowflight immediately raced through the clearing, pushing and shoving through cats until he saw a horrible sight. Dustbreeze, laying unconscious, blood trickling out of her half opened mouth, her eyes wide open, with no light left in them. Sparrowflight let out a cry and buried his nose into his mother's fur. Batfeather stood by, staring with pools of sadness in her eyes.

"Who did this?" Sparrowflight growled, his angry, grief filled gaze, looking suspiciously at the Thunderclan warriors starting.

Foxtooth stepped up "I-it was an accident. I-I never mean-"

"You killed my mother!" Sparrowflight snarled, standing up, nose to nose with the Thunderclan warrior. Batfeather thrusted herself in between them. "Sparrowflight stop!" She cried, tears running down her cheeks. Her bottom lip quivered "O-our mother is gone." She whispered sadly, walking past Sparrowflight and pressing her nose into her mother's neck fur.
    
Sparrowflight's gaze swept around all the cats. It seemed that there were two groups. The cats crowded around Dustbreeze, and the cats crowded around Barkbranch. Suddenly a cat was shoved forcefully to the ground.

"You killed our deputy!" Sparrowflight recognized the voice of Sunstrike, and saw that the cat he shoved was Blazefire. He had blood covering his muzzle and chest fur. "I-I was going for his shoulder!" He stammered "You bit right into his throat! That's a murder if I've ever seen one!"

"Sunstrike enough!" Lightstar growled "We've both lost enough in this unnecessary battle." Blazefire spoke up "It wasn't un-" Hawkstar silenced him with a glare

"You're right Lightstar." He meowed, dipping his head. "We will leave your territory." Hawkstar turned to leave and flicked his tail, signaling for his cats to follow.