“Look out!” Dovewing shrieked a warning as Breezepelt flew from the edge of the clearing. Lionblaze turned, caught off balance, and fell beneath the WindClan tom. Breezepelt ripped his claws along Lionblaze’s cheek.
“You’re not as strong as I expected,” he gloated.
“Breezepelt, no!” Ivypool snaked through the throng. “Don’t do it! Please! Do you really want to destroy the Clans for Brokenstar’s sake?”
Breezepelt pulled back Lionblaze’s head and smacked it hard against the ground. Growling, Lionblaze tried to shake him off, but Breezepelt held on tighter. “This has nothing to do with Brokenstar.” His gaze flashed at Ivypool. “Lionblaze should never have been born. None of them should.” He flicked his tail triumphantly toward Hollyleaf’s body. “She’s dead; now it’s your turn, Lionblaze.” He bit into Lionblaze’s neck.
“We’re kin!” Lionblaze gasped.
“Never!” Fury blazed in Breezepelt’s eyes.
A black pelt barged past Dovewing. Crowfeather! The WindClan warrior sank his claws deep into Breezepelt’s shoulders and hauled him back. Lionblaze scrambled to his paws.
“This has to stop!” Crowfeather pinned Breezepelt to the ground. “I will not watch you harm a whisker on that cat!” Breezepelt writhed, snarling.
“I always knew you hated me!”
“I never hated you!” Crowfeather growled. “That’s just what you were determined to believe. And Nightcloud encouraged you.”
“It’s not her fault!” Breezepelt spat.
“No,” Crowfeather hissed. “I should have done something much earlier. But now it’s too late. You chose the Dark Forest.” He hauled Breezepelt to his paws and flung him away. “Get out of here!” Breezepelt stared at his father, eyes wide, then turned and raced from the camp.
“I’m so sorry!” Leafpool burst from the battle, her eyes clouded with grief. “I never meant for this to happen!”
“He’s a warrior,” Crowfeather hissed. “He’s been making his own choices for a long time now.” Leafpool looked down at his paws.
“Perhaps if we’d stayed together, things would be different.” Crowfeather’s gaze sparked for a moment, then he sighed.
“It was never meant to be.” Leafpool flinched, but Crowfeather touched his tail to her flank. “I don’t regret anything,” he murmured. His gaze flicked toward Lionblaze. “Nothing at all.” Ears twitching, he shouldered his way through the battle to the brambles sheltering Hollyleaf’s body. He slid beneath them and touched his muzzle to her lifeless pelt.