A New Horizon Book 5: Darkest Dawn {COMPLETE}

Chapter 22

Falconheart supported Honeyfrost as they moved their way through the crowd of the fighting warriors and rogues. When he had gone down that hill, he expected to find the worst. Instead he found Honeyfrost still standing while Echoheart had been claimed by the river. Honeyfrost was clearly wounded and shaken up, but there was still a light in her eyes.

This battle had been long and hard, Falconheart bore his fair share of wounds. The fight against multiple rogues with Nightheart was rough, but they managed to prevail. Afterwards he continued his search for Honeyfrost and found her hiding while Echoheart killed Applespots. He wished he could've gotten there faster, he hated that Applespots had to die.

At long last, Falconheart spotted Dawnstar shoving away another rogue. "Dawnstar!" Falconheart called to their mother. Dawnstar stopped and rested her green eyes on the two of them. She broke into a sprint through the battle, when she reached the two of them she swarmed her kits .

"Oh my precious kits, you're safe!" Dawnstar looked over them with love burning fiercely in her eyes. Falconheart had never been more happy to see his mother, and she was relatively unscathed. "Did you find Echoheart? Are you two hurt badly."
"She is," Falconheart motioned.

"I'm fine," Honeyfrost replied, her voice drained. "I need my wounds treated but I'll live." She lifted her head. "Echoheart is dead."

Dawnstar clearly wasn't expecting those words. "Did you--" She looked at Falconheart who shook his head, looking at Honeyfrost. "Oh," She looked at her paws for a moment. "I'm sorry you had to go through that, Honeyfrost."

"It's okay." Honeyfrost's voice was low. "I had to do it, it was me or her."

Dawnstar nodded and lifted her head. "This battle needs to end." She looked up towards the sky. "Echoheart is dead!" Her voice ran out through the cries of battle, drowning them out. The sounds came to a stop and the only sound that could be heard was the rain that fell against the forest floor. Falconheart was certain that it was getting slower. The rogues and warriors turned to Dawnstar. "Echoheart is dead, and so are many of you rogues. You never knew Echoheart's true plans, she didn't care about finding you all a safe place to live, this was nothing but a twisted act of revenge with you as the sacrifices."
Dawnstar's eyes glinted with anger. "Now is your chance to run, rogues. If you wish to try and fight then you will lose, I suggest you leave." There was a long moment of stillness, but eventually the rogues began turning tail and running. "Leave our territories and don't return!" There were several dead rogues, but two of them stayed behind, two she-cats.

"You don't want to fight, do you?" Dawnstar challenged, but Falconheart could see how terrified they were.

"We never wanted to fight." The cream she-cat whimpered. "We just wanted a safe place to live." She looked at a ginger and cream she-cat next to her, she was bleeding heavily from a wound on her side. "We didn't want this, we want to live peacefully. If we leave now, my sister is going to die. It's not fair that we have to die because we were forced to fight!"

This rogue is brave, but she's also scared. I don't blame her. "What's your name?" Falconheart watched as Shadowstar stepped out of the crowd, free of any severe wounds.

"I'm Peach." She replied and looked towards her sister. "This is Berry."

"How long have you two been rogues?" Shadowstar questioned.

"Since Echoheart met us, we were loners before but food was hard to come by. Echoheart promised us a new home full of prey and peace, but she made us fight this horrible battle. We didn't want to, but we knew she would kill us if we defied her."

Falconheart couldn't read Shadowstar's expression. "Peach. Berry. My Clan prides themselves on living peacefully, we fought tonight because AshClan and SunClan needed the help. Perhaps there is a place for you in my Clan."

Peach and Berry looked at each other in surprise. "Y-you're inviting us to stay?" Peach questioned, seemingly unable to believe it. Falconheart felt the same shock, but then again, both AshClan and SunClan had taken in rogues. Flashtail had proven to be an incredibly strong and loyal warrior.

"I am." Shadowstar nodded. "We will tend to your wounds, but you will have pledge your loyalty to my Clan and live by the warrior code. Can you do that?"
"Yes! We can!" Peach helped Berry to her paws. "Thank you so much--"
"My name is Shadowstar."

"Thank you, Shadowstar." Berry dipped her head respectfully.

"That was very kind of you, Shadowstar." Dawnstar mewed.

"I see the heart of warriors within them, and I think they'll be great additions to MoonClan."

"I know that Primroseheart certainly has been." Riverstar added, approaching from the battle.

"As has Flashtail." Dawnstar purred, then raised her voice. "Cats of SunClan, AshClan and MoonClan. We have won this battle, this has been one of the hardest times for the Clans but it proves that there's no problem that we can't work out together!" Cheers rang out from the crowd and Falconheart couldn't help but feel the same joy. LichenClan wasn't here tonight, but I know they would've fought with us if we needed them to. The Clans are strong together, even if we remain as four separate Clans.

"That brings up something I wanted to talk to Dawnstar about," Riverstar faced the SunClan leader. "AshClan and SunClan have never had the best relationship, there's always been tension between us, but lately a wedge has been driven deep between our two Clans, and it's mostly my fault." Riverstar bowed her head. "I am calling for a truce between AshClan and SunClan, I know that the Clans will always compete, but for a while at least, I want an alliance with SunClan. If you need us, we will be there to help."

Dawnstar's eyes glowed. "I would love that very much, Riverstar. A truce between SunClan and AshClan it is, we will be there if you need us as well." Dawnstar and Riverstar took turns resting their muzzle on the other's forehead, signifying the truce.

A lot more good than bad came from this battle, lives had been lost but new strengths have been found. Falconheart looked up at the sky as the rain began to slow. The clouds slowly started to clear the sky and revealing a bright new dawn.

"You know what they say," Riverstar looked at Dawnstar. "It's always darkest before the dawn."