"Courage in danger is half of the battle."

~•~•~•~•~•~

It was time. There was no going back now.

Dimstar stood on highledge outlooking the crowd that stood before him. The cats were already divided into three, separate groups for the war. The russet tabbies eyes narrowed as he scanned his gaze over the crowd to make sure every cat was in the right group.

Cats that were to be in Dimstar's group, the first group, sat behind Minktalon closer to the exit of the camp. Breezestorm, Redcloud, Ashwhisper, Flamepetal, Splashsky, Slap, Wasppaw, Angelpaw and several other cats stood amongst the group. This was the group that would charge straight into the camp first, lead by Dimstar with Minktalon and Breezestorm to help keep every cat in order. It was originally going to be Cloverpool leading the first group, but with the recent news of her being pregnant Dimstar decided to be the leader of the first patrol instead.

The second patrol sat beside the first patrol, but left some space in between. The Clan was surprised when Dimstar announced Birdcry to be the leader of the second patrol, but Dimstar knew she had true potential and was trustworthy. Cats such as Smokeflight, Nightleap, Twistedmoon, Snakeleap, Flowpaw, and others stood amongst her. The she-cats eyes narrowed when Dimstar met her gaze, the two sharing a nod of approval.

The last and final group would stay at the camp and guard the queens and kits while the battle took place. Larkthorn, Mistysong, and Jayclaw all offered to stay and help protect the camp. Dimstar was still not very trustworthy of Jayclaw, but the tom had said before that he would rather stand for the rebellion than Archangel. Eveningfawn, Sparrowblaze, Swanheart, and Cloverpool stayed back, also protecting Hollowstorm's kits while Jayclaw guarded the prisoner. Harepaw would also stay, since the she-cat's limbs were broken.

Dimstar stood on the edge of highledge, his eyes now shut as a faint breeze blew through the tunnels. His ears bolted straight up as he heard whispers be carried by the breeze. They were the whispers of his ancestors, granting him praise and words of encouragement. Quailchaser, Waspstar, Galestorm, Mousepaw, Pinekit, and others were all counting on him. He wasn't going to let them down.

"It is time for us to win back EchoClan," Dimstar spoke up, his eyes flickering back up as he tilted his head up towards the ceiling of the tunnels.

As soon as he finished speaking, cheers began to break out amongst the crowd. A smile was plastered upon every cat's visage and they held their heads high. Their eyes burned with pride and courage, ready for the battle lying ahead. Dimstar's gaze skimmed over the crowd and his lip corners began to fold into a smile.

"You know the plan! My group will charge in when I give the command after Birdcry's group gets set in their positions first. Our third camp will stay here and protect our queens and their kits," Dimstar added, casting a glance over at Cloverpool, who stood at the exit of the nursery with Eveningfawn. "All of you must stay safe and close to one another. Stay within your group and we must be awfully silent once we reach Archangel's territory."

Dimstar leaped off of highledge and landed on all fours. He shook his fur loose of any dust or dirt and then flicked his tail to signal for his group to gather with him. Minktalon and Breezestorm led the group to his side, hastening their pace to stand alongside Dimstar has he padded towards the camp exit. The russet tabby froze in his tracks though at the nursery, glancing to his side to glance at Cloverpool and Eveningfawn.

His mate instantly pressed forward and rested her muzzle in his neck fur. Dimstar smiled faintly, his eyes flashing with sorrow at the thought of possibly losing his mate if this ended terribly and never seeing his kits. He nuzzled his mate's ear, a soft purr rumbling in his throat.

"I love you, Dimstar," Cloverpool mumbled softly as she pulled away from him. She looked him straight in the eyes, her ears folded back. "Promise me you will come back?"

A frown appeared on Dimstar's voice and he sighed lightly. "I cannot promise you anything, but I can promise that you will be safe and that I will risk my life for every cat here," He told her, pressing his muzzle to her's. "I love you...with all of my heart. No matter what happens, I always will."

With those final words, the two mates parted from one another. Dimstar turned away and flicked his tail, signaling for his group to follow. As he led his group out of the tunnels, Birdcry's group followed close behind but kept a slight distance so their groups didn't get intermingled. Every cat's paws were light on the earth as they padded on, exiting the tunnels and starting straight for EchoClan territory.

Snow was painted over the forest floor, pawprints left behind in it when the groups trudged through. Small specks of white fluttered to the earth and the trees were naked, their leaves no where in sight. The sun was beginning to fall in the distance, sending faint, pink streaks across the sky and allowing stars to finally start emerging. A soft breeze blew through the land, whirling in the cat's ears to where they had to pull back their ears to avoid it roaring constantly in their ears. The snow crunched under their paws as Dimstar led them on, his heart racing.

Dimstar had to admit that he was slighly afraid. With every step he took he took a deep breath and then exhaled loudly in advance. His muzzle was pointed straight forward and his ears flicked back up as he noticed a familiar scent sting his nose. His eyes suddenly lit with an eternal flame, his claws coming loose of their sockets. He felt the urge to allow a growl rumble in his throat, but they all had to remain silent.

The leader froze for a second right before the border. His teeth clenched together tightly and he shut his eyes for a moment, thinking to himself. It's time to make things right. I can't look back. I have to fulfill my promise.

Taking a deep breath in and out, Dimstar's eyes then fluttered back open and he turned his head over his shoulder. With a nod to the others and a flick of his tail, he faced back in their selected direction of their destination. His eyes narrowed and he stepped over the border, pausing for a moment afterwards.

There is no going back no. Keep going forward. Do it for EchoClan.

The groups went on, trudging through the snow as quietly as possibly as Dimstar led them on. Minktalon and Breezestorm padded alongside him, their expressions dull but their eyes lit with a flickering flame filled with courage and stride. They were all ready to fight, no matter how scared they were of the consequences of the battle. They were all ready to win EchoClan back.

As they neared the camp, every cat's pace began to slow and it grew awfully silent. They stood right before the camp entrance now, silent and crouched in the snow. Dimstar signaled to Minktalon to signal Birdcry and her group to the trees. The former medicine cat nodded and signaled to her mate and her group with a circular flick of her tail.

Birdcry nodded to her group and they scattered, heading towards different trees around the camp entrance. They hooked their claws into the bark of the trees and began climbing up. Dimstar glanced out of the corner of his eye to watch Birdcry and Snakeleap climb up the tree closest to the camp entrance. They were all silent as they did so, quickly climbing up and finding a position high and secure enough for them.

Dimstar watched as Birdcry examined the trees around her before glancing down at Dimstar and nodding. The russet tom nodded back before signaling his group forward. His group began to stalk closer to the camp entrance, their pelts covered in snow and their bodies lowered. Their ears pointed up to the sky when sudden commotion could be heard inside of the camp.

A echo of multiple voices rang through the camp. Dimstar's heart drummed against his chest when he heard the chorus of voices, his pace hastening. They had to hurry and exact their ambush before Archangel sent out any patrols or discovered them. Dimstar began to rise from where he was crouched as he advanced closer to the camp entrance.

Once the chorus of voices faded out, Dimstar flicked hsi tail forward towards his spine to signal his group to run forward. Their paws began to thunder against the earth as they crashed into the camp entrance, Dimstar's jaws parting to release a yowl he had been planning to release for many moons.

"Cats of the rebellion! Attack!"

Yowls and battlecries echoed after Dimstar as his group charged into camp. Dimstar froze for a second and stood tall and proud as he watched his cats swarm into the camp, taking Archangel's followers by surprise. The leader watched as his cats slammed into their enemies, a moment he had waited too long for. His chest swelled with pride but the smile faded off of his face when his gaze landed on a familiar cat ahead of him.

The tom was pure white, his eyes flickering with surprise and apprehension as blurs of fur swarmed his followers. A growl rumbled in Dimstar's throat and he raced towards the tom, his ears pinned against the back of his head. He buckled his hind legs back before springing into the air, lunging towards Archangel with outstretched paws.

He slammed into the tyrant, who released a yowl of surprise and terror. As they rolled across the earth, kicking up snow as they flailed their paws around to try and lacerate one another, Dimstar's gaze happened to meet Archangel's.

The moment his gaze met Archangel's, he wanted it to be the last time. This time, it would be, and he would make sure of that.