Featherpaw gasped for air and struggled weakly under Jay. Her eyes were wide with fear and pain. He's right. I'm not a hero. Darkness began to fold around her.

Suddenly, the weight was knocked off of Featherpaw. The teeth in her neck pulled out of her with force, ripping her fur and skin. Dark gray fur mixed with patches of ginger landed on Jay, who had been knocked off of Featherpaw. 

Featherpaw coughed, blood dotting the ground. "Smokyflame!" She gasped, her eyes widening. He saved me! 

Smokyflame lashed his fluffy tail, his claws sinking into Jay's throat. "Get out of here, you filthy rogue!" He hissed, slashing the rogue's face.

"You think you can kill me?" Jay growled, shoving Smokyflame off. He clawed at the warrior's chest, ripping at the fur.

Featherpaw could hardly move. She lay still on rocky floor, her neck aching with pain. Her breathing was shallow. She blinked slowly, hoping Jay wouldn't kill her friend. Come on, Smokyflame, you can win!

"You stupid cat. You're just like the other one," Jay spat, leaning towards Smokyflame's face. "Quit trying to be hero. There are no heroes in this world, and if you think there are, then you can die to prove my point," Jay hissed, sinking his claws into Smokyflame's throat.

"I won't die to the claws of you! I'll stand for my Clan, ThunderClan!" Smokyflame yowled, his teeth bared. He threw Jay away from him, his claws tearing the rogue's fur. He jumped on the rogue and pinned him down, a paw on his throat. 

Jay sighed. Blood trickled down his chin. "Stupid," he whispered. With a quick motion, his claws slashed at Smokyflame's throat.

Featherpaw's heart stopped. Without thinking, she dashed forward, her paws carrying her. She shoved Smokyflame away quickly before the claws could draw blood from him. Featherpaw snapped around and slashed the rogue's throat without thinking. 

Jay backed away, his eyes wide with pain. He stared down at the gash in his throat which was spewing blood. Blood spattered the ground and littered around his paws. His fur was stained with blood. He opened his mouth to try and speak but all that came out was gurgling. Jay coughed up blood and fell, his body hitting the rocky floor.

Featherpaw was panting. She looked down at her bloody paw and gasped. She'd just killed someone without meaning to! Featherpaw backed away from the dead cat in front of her.

Smokyflame coughed up blood. "Don't worry about it, Featherpaw. At least he's dead now," he meowed, his tail rubbing against Featherpaw's spine.

"B-but, I killed him and didn't even mean it! The feeling of my claws going through his throat felt so wrong! I'm a murderer!" Featherpaw cried, her tail drooping.

"We can worry about it later. He almost killed us anyways," Smokyflame whispered, his voice raspy.

"But," Featherpaw muttered. 

"Go out of the cave or be with the cats of the tribe. They'll protect you. You're too young to fight this battle," Smokyflame whispered.

"I- I can fight!" Featherpaw growled, lashing her tail. "I wasn't trained for nothing," she murmured. Featherpaw then turned and ran towards a rogue that was on top of Stalkfire. She leaped up and tackled the rogue off of her mentor, hissing. She slashed at the rogue's ears.

"Stupid cat," the rogue growled. He jumped on top of Featherpaw, pinning her down, his dirty claws digging into Featherpaw's shoulder fur.

Featherpaw struggled under the tom's weight and tried to push him off. She flattened her ears and pummeled her hind paws against the tom's belly, making him growl and tighten his grip.

The rogue was then knocked off of Featherpaw. Stalkfire crouched over Featherpaw, helping her get up. "That was dangerous, you know! I don't want you getting killed!" He mewed, pain in his eyes.

"I'm sorry, but I want to help everyone. I want these rogues gone," Featherpaw whimpered, her head hanging. I just want to help! Featherpaw blinked desperately at her mentor. "I can fight! I--I killed a rogue! But..."

"You killed a rogue?" Stalkfire gasped.

"It was an accident, I'm sorry!" Featherpaw cried. I panicked and killed him, but it was an accident! Smokyflame crossed her mind. I was protecting him. 

"Don't worry about it now! One rogue we do need to kill is their leader," Stalkfire explained, his tail lashing. "I don't want you getting involved, just leave with Peachfur and get out of the cave."

"But I was chosen on this journey!" Featherpaw growled. "I should be allowed to fight this battle," she insisted, her claws scratching the hard floor.

"You were chosen, but we never knew this battle would be happening. We came on this journey to find SkyClan, not fight a battle for this tribe. If we knew this battle would happen, we would've gotten more warriors," Stalkfire meowed. His flame-colored fur was dirty and coated with blood, making him look like a leader. Featherpaw was surprised he wasn't deputy. 

"Fine. It looks as though you really still want to fight," Stalkfire sighed. "Then come with me and Stormgaze, we can take on their leaders right now."