Softheather looked around the den. It was empty, and daylight filtered through the leaves.

At first, she sat confused. But then the dream came back to her.

What? I'm not a medince cat... but I know for a fact that it was real.

Softheather layed there for a few minutes, going over what she was going to do.

When death strikes, it will spread. That must mean that many cats will die? And did he say guys... there must be more cats who received this.

Softheather stood up, and padded out of the den. Not many cats were in camp. Those who were were working on the new den. It was almost complete. She was about to walk up to her friend Marigoldshadow, when a patrol bursted into camp.

Lionfur was in the lead, followed by Yarrowpaw, Blackpetal, Rainstone, and Quinnpaw.

Softheather took a good look at Quinnpaw, who was huddled next to his brother. He was quite small. Softheather remembered how hard he took Lakeshadows death. The two were very close.

His blue tabby pelt was bushed up in fear, and his large amber eyes were widened.

"Theres rogues coming!" Lionfur yowled to the whole clan. "We have to be smart, with so few cats we have in camp!" Lionfur turned to Softheather. "What do you suggest?"

Softheather scanned the cats in camp quickly. Marigoldshadow, Dawnpaw, and Redbark were just working on the den, but were now staring at Softheather in fear. Eveningfoot had been resting in a patch of sunlight, but now she sat up, her ears alert.

Softheather thought quickly. "Dawnpaw, your smart, sneaky, and fast. Go and find all the patrols, and send them back." The small dark orange she cat nodded and rushed out of camp, her tail streaming behind her.

"Marigoldshadow and Lionfur, get Eveningfoot up that tree." She meowed, while pointing to an oak with low branches, just inside camp.

"Im sorry, Softheather, but are you crazy?" Lionfur meowed briskly.

Softheather turned to him. "Lionfur, don't question your deputy! I have a plan, so do as i say! Stay up the tree with them." The yellow tabby nodded, as he rushed to get to Eveningfoot.

"Redbark, Blackpetal, and Rainstone, you have to try and get Stormsky up the other tree." She stated, pointing with her tail to another tree with even lower branches. "Be careful, and also stay up their with him."

Blackpetal looked doubtful as she rushed to the elders den, then appeared a couple seconds later with a grumbly Stormsky. Redbark was already waiting at the base of the tree, while Rainstone rushed over to Softheather.

"Please, Softheather. Let Quinnpaw come with me. I dont want him to get hurt!" He whined.

"Rainstone, i can assure you i wont let any cat hurt him. Hes as much as a brother to me as he is to you." Rainstone hesitated before nodding, scrambling up the tree he was assigned to.

"Everyone else, come to me." She yowled. Quinnpaw ran over, followed by Yarrowpaw. The brown tom looked scared, his yellow eyes wide.

"I dont wanna die!" He squeaked.

"I wont let anything happen to you. You two, go up the tree by the nursery. I will join you as soon as the elders are safe." The two apprentices nodded and scurried off.

Softheather turned to help the elders. Eveningfoot was out of breath as she sat on a branch, barely visible with the orange leaves surrounding her. Lionfur sat close to her, along with Marigoldshadow, making sure they dont fall.

But on the other side of camp, Stormsky was arguing with Redbark.

"Im not climbing a stupid tree! You cant make me!" He growled. Softheather ran over.

"Stormsky, shes trying to protect you. If you dont get up the tree, the rouges are going to kill you. We dont have much time, so go before they pull you up." Although he grumbled, he started to climb the tree. Redbark followed after him, and Blackpetal and Rainstone were already up there.

Softheather ran to join the apprentices tree. She suddenly felt thundering on the ground. The rouges were almost there.

She managed to climb the tree when Softfur emerged in camp, yowling. Several rouges followed her, but stopped short as soon as Softfur did.

"Come out! Where are you?" A dark gray she cat yowled, her fur looking blue in the sunlight. Softheather recognized her right away, and she was guessing Quinnpaw to, as she felt him stiffen against her. She also noticed there were twice as many as there were last time.

"Shut up, Rain!" Softfur growled. "Maybe they went somewhere... We'll sit here and wait." Softfur said, as she padded to the middle of camp and sat down.

At once, Softheather noticed the ginger tabby who killed Hailwind. He made his way to the fresh kill pile and picked up a fat mouse. "Dont mind if i do." He said to himself, a smile played across his face.

"Solar, knock it off! We're here to attack, not eat!" Softfur hissed. Solar rolled his eyes and sat the mouse back down.

Suddenly, a patrol of cats rushed into the clearing.

"We came as soon as we-" Tideshimmer cut off as soon as she seen the rouges. Confusion lit her gaze.

"1..2..3!" Softheather whispered to the apprentices. "Attack!" She yowled as loud as she could. She sprung from the tree, landing on a gray tom who was close. Softheather noticed the patrol was not one, but two patrols, as they immediately started to attack.

She also noticed how confused the rouges were from cats jumping from different trees.

The gray tom she landed on had fallen to the ground from the impact, and was dazed for a few seconds. In those few seconds, she managed to give him deep scratches along his back, and a nook to his ear.

But as soon as he was focused, he jumped back up and immediately started fighting back. His sharp claws caught on Softheathers muzzle, and blood started drizzling from the wound.

She fiercly stood up on her back two paws and pushed her front paws down on the tom's shoulders. He buckled below her, and Softheather jumped on top of him, hitting his face with strong blows.

She was about to claw his throat when she noticed the ginger tabby that Softfur called Solar. He was leaning over Briarcloud, ready to make the killing bite.

Softheather jumped up and ran over as fast as she could, but Squirrelstar was faster. He made it just in time, and the blow landed on him.

She watched in horror as the gray leader fell to the ground, blood gushing from his throat. He gave a few spasms before staying still.

But Softheather knew he had eight more lives, so she lunged at Solar. "Pay back!" She snarled as she clawed at his ears.

The tom snarled and lunged for her throat, but Softheather was quicker. She moved, but he still bit her shoulder.

"I'll get him!" Squirrelstar meowed. He looked perfectly fine now, but anger blazed clear on his face.

Right. He is Hailwinds father, and this is the cat who killed him.

Softheather nodded and gave Solar one more strike to the face before stepping back. She noticed Snailfeather and Quinnpaw working together to get rid of the gray tom she already attacked.

Redbark was fiercly fighting a black she cat with Quailstorm, while Yarrowpaw, Dawnpaw, and Batsun all attacked a dark brown tabby tom.

Suddenly, a black, gray, and white she cat slammed into Softheather's side. Softheather went flying across the clearing, landing into a dark brown tom with a white muzzle and underbelly.

"I got this one, Ivy!" He said in a low voice. Softheather guessed he was talking to the she cat that just attacked Softheather, as she nodded and turned to bat Gingerfleck.

The brown tom struck out with his front paw and hit Softheather shoulder. Blood started splurting out. Softheather lashed her tail angrily and jumped onto the brown tom's back, a move she used to use quite often.

Since she was small, it was a good advantage as she scratched the toms shoulders. Then, Marigoldshadow and Wasppaw came to help, and batted each of the tom's sides.

She watched her son. He was very skilled in combat. He got that from his father.

The three of them easily beat the tom, and he fled through the entrance.

One down, who knows how many to go.

Softheather licked Wasppaws ear. "Are you doing alright?" She whispered, watching his face carefully.

He nodded. "Yeah, Spottedrose is making sure i dont have to fight alone." He said before dashing off to help his mentor.

Softheather watched her sister and son fight, and then turned to help anyone who needed it. She spotted Snailfeather, fighting like the whole of Lionclan.

Softheather knew she would be fine, so she continued to look. Gingerfleck and Batsun were clawing the dark gray she cat that Softfur called Rain, and Leafwish was fighting with Tideshimmer trying to hurt a gray tabby.

Thats when she noticed her mother, just like Thistlemoon, sitting in the same rock. Softheather started to run over, but her mother noticed.

Softfurs tail lashed in fury, and she called out. "Flame, Throb, get the small one right there!" She pointed with her tail at Softheather.

Out of nowhere, two cats hit Softheathers side. A gray tom, and a orange tabby tom.

They clawed her sides, and continued to for awhile. Softheather was starting to feel dizzy, but she tried to fight back. She must've managed to hit one of the toms, because she felt her claw connecting with something, then she heard a yelp of pain. They ran.

Softheather faught to stay conscious as she looked around at the clan. Her vision was dizzy and she felt herself swaying. She didnt realize she was laying on the ground until she noticed the sticky red blood clotting all through her fur, and the next thing she seen was darkness.