Basically, I majorly lied. This is not a Littlefalcon chapter - it's a Birdpaw chapter. I found out that Chapter 10 is supposed to be Bird POV, and I didn't want two Birdpaw chapters in a row, so I switched them. I hope this is to your liking! It is very long for this fic. So, be warned. Very long chapter ahead.

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Chapter 8: Words are Power

Birdpaw watched Jayfeather work, half wondering if she should make herself known to him. He was upset with her, as he had been since Willowshine had abandoned him. Birdpaw wondered if there as anything she could do to get back in his good graces, as lately, he had been more irate. Cautiously, she stepped towards her mentor.

"Is there anything I can do to help?" she said. Jayfeather flicked his tail.

"Can you think of anything?"

"Well, no, but I just wanted to –"

"Talk, then. That seems to be what you're really good at, isn't it? Talking? Lying?"

"Stop being so upset," said Birdpaw. "So I avoided the truth."

"You always avoid the truth."

"I'm sorry!"

Jayfeather made a soft noise that could have been disapproval, but Birdpaw moved forward.

"I actually had a request to make," she said.

"You're not just going to place the idea in my head?"

"No!" Birdpaw sat beside her mentor, who paused from sorting through the herbs to glance blindly through her. "I had a request about…about my name."

"Getting ahead of yourself a little bit, aren't you?"

"Well, I don't know…" Birdpaw shrugged. "My littermates are all warriors, and I don't want to push you, but I don't want you to not hear my thoughts."

"Go on."

"I was just thinking about names the other day, because they tend to mean something. Mountainstone is this big, sturdy warrior, and there's the earth thing, so that makes sense; and Willowleaf, I mean, willows have leaves, and leaves don't hurt anyone, so Willowleaf is happy; and Greyheart is of course named for his heart because he has the biggest one of anyone I've met; and even if it's just Dustfur because of the way he looks, Dustfur's name means something. So then I was thinking about your name, and it made me realize that Leafpool must have named you for Crowfeather, and – "

She ducked as she realized that her tongue had tripped her. Jayfeather's eyes were murderous.

"Jays have feathers," he said stubbornly.

"Please, hear me out," she said, holding her powers back to the best of her ability. Jayfeather glared, and then shifted and nodded. "Anyways, so you were named after Crowfeather, and I'm sure you don't like that, because you should be named for your own merit, right? So I just thought, what if I was named Birdfeather, not after Crowfeather, but after Jayfeather, because the name is yours now, and you deserve it." She ended her tirade there and took a deep breath. She hadn't let her words flow like that, so unrestrained, in quite a while. Jayfeather stood staring at her, blinking stupidly. Birdpaw hesitated, unsure if she had even been right to speak up. Then she saw the tiniest of smirks appear on her mentor's face.

"Birds have feathers, I suppose," he said. "I'll consider it."

"Thank you, Jayfeather!" said Birdpaw, beaming. She hated to see him this way, all moody and upset. Maybe if she could figure out a way to convince him into turning to Cinderheart more…

"Hey, hey," said Jayfeather. "Don't just stand hovering in my space. Go find your littermates or check on Nightkit and Marshkit, or something like that."

Birdpaw nodded enthusiastically. She felt a little lighter. It didn't feel like he was rejecting her anymore, or locking her away. Had her words done the trick? She just wanted him to know that she appreciated him taking her on. All those moons ago, at the very start of her apprenticeship, she had been the inconsequential littermate, the one that spoke too loudly or spoke too softly, and no one had looked at her twice. Now she knew that they respected her. Now she could feel her power growing every day, while her littermates stagnated. To some extent, Jayfeather had given her that power.

She moved into the light and headed for the nursery. Poppyfrost's second litter was nearly three moons now, although it seemed like no time at all. She could see the kits growing, though – Marshkit was the quiet one, often content when the apprentices gave him their attention, but more often satisfied to watch Nightkit steal the hearts of the warriors. Nightkit herself was a fluffy ball of energy who often tripped over her paws, but always stood up, promising to one day become Nightstar of ThunderClan – not to be confused with that silly ShadowClan leader, because he was old and ShadowClan, of course!

Snowpaw and Skysong were entertaining the antics of the kits currently – at least Snowpaw was. Skysong was watching her friend tussle with the kits, laughing along with Marshkit as Snowpaw tossed Nightkit a few tail-lengths. As Birdpaw approached, Skysong looked up, blue eyes gleaming.

"Hello," she said. "What can I help you with?"

"I just came for some fresh air, and I figured I would check on the kits," said Birdpaw.

"They're so energetic," said Skysong, her whiskers twitching. "I can't imagine anything possibly being wrong with them."

She watched with such a fondness. It took Birdpaw by surprise.

"You're certainly pleased to be here," she said. Skysong, embarrassed, bent down as if grooming her chest fur.

"I've had kits on my mind, recently."

"Really? Should I tell Jayfeather to prepare you a nest?"

"That's not what I mean," said Skysong, making a cross face. Birdpaw grinned. Skysong smiled back after a moment, making Birdpaw relax a little bit. It was good to see Skysong unwind. StarClan only knew the last time it had happened, and in this dangerous age, they didn't need to be tense to the point of breakdown all the time. Then Skysong tilted her head to the side and twitched her ears.

"Do you think I could tell him?" she said. Birdpaw paused. The thought had occurred to her, too, especially in the light of Sorreltail and the others getting worked up about Lionstar possibly hiding something from them. Maybe it would be best for the peace of the Clan if they let the secret out.

"I don't think it would end the world," said Birdpaw. "The medicine cats know that we're special, and I used my powers in front of Willowshine and Rushpaw once."

"In a dream, though," said Skysong. Birdpaw shrugged.

"Dreams, to medicine cats, are as real as normal life."

"I guess I should start seeing it that way."

"Would make things easier, huh?"

"Things would certainly be clearer." Skysong hummed to herself as Marshkit joined in the fight against Snowpaw. "Do you think I could tell her?"

"Who?"

"Snowpaw."

"Why would you want to?" Birdpaw blinked. Telling Greyheart was one thing – he was undoubtedly the cat Skysong was going to end up with, even if she denied it.

"She's a friend," said Skysong. "I don't think it's fair to have friends that don't even know what I am."

"You're their friend, as far as they are concerned," said Birdpaw. "And come on, it's better to have friends outside of it."

"Dustfur, you mean."

Birdpaw nodded.

"Maybe I let Greyheart know and keep Snowpaw out of it," said Skysong thoughtfully. "Greyheart is involved anyways."

"Are we going to do anything about that?"

"I don't see what we can do. Bluemoon and Greyheart are going to keep this secret for now. There's no use rushing the issue."

Birdpaw and Skysong exchanged a glance, and Skysong sighed.

"I just don't know what should be done," she said. "Everyone is on edge. I want to fix things. Make the Clan united again."

Birdpaw nodded, but a twinge of worry was in her stomach. She didn't like the idea of the entire Clan knowing her secret. She didn't want them to look at her as an outsider again, like the kit nobody really understood. She was a member of ThunderClan in her own right, without dragging her powers into it. Couldn't it stay that way?

XXXXX

Birdpaw looked up at the Moontree, her eyes caught in the way the leaves shone in the moonlight. They were positively silver, almost reflective.

"Willowshine said you saw this place in a dream," said Rushpaw. Birdpaw glanced up at the RiverClan medicine cat apprentice, a little startled that she hadn't noticed him approach. "That makes you its discoverer, doesn't it?"

Birdpaw nodded, a little bashful. Rushpaw smiled, taking a seat beside her.

"Willowshine must not like you talking to me," she said.

"I'll find a way to please her," said Rushpaw.

"She'll want you to stay away from me."

"Do you want me to stay away from you?"

"No," said Birdpaw without much thought. Rushpaw smiled.

"Hey, Birdpaw," called Jayfeather. Nodding politely at Rushpaw, Birdpaw turned and padded back towards her mentor.

"Did you need me?"

"Observe," said Jayfeather in a quiet voice. Birdpaw glanced around. Flametail and Willowshine were sitting near each other, but the several tail-lengths separating them were tense and silent. Kestrelflight and Jaystrike stuck to Willowshine's other side, showing everyone exactly what was at stake. RiverClan and WindClan were united now. Bearclaw shifted beside Flametail.

"We're all here," said Willowshine suddenly. "If that's all, I have an announcement."

"I have an announcement, too," said Jayfeather. Willowshine narrowed her eyes.

"Well, by all means, the almighty prophet Jayfeather should have first say."

"No, do go on." Jayfeather's voice was dry, unfazed by the venom in Willowshine's tone. The RiverClan medicine cat beckoned Rushpaw to her side.

"I believe that in the light of our recovery from the land-shakings, Rushpaw has shown to be a true medicine cat of RiverClan and deserving of his medicine cat name."

Birdpaw watched as Jayfeather's claws dug into the ground. Her heart skipped a beat. It had been six sunrises since she had spoken to Jayfeather about her name – six! She hadn't expected it to be so soon.

"I, Willowshine, medicine cat of RiverClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. He has trained hard to understand the ways of a medicine cat, and with your help he will serve his Clan for many moons."

Birdpaw watched Rushpaw re-adjust, holding his head high and beaming around at them all. The other medicine cats watched with interest. He was incredible – all this tension, and still everyone liked Rushpaw.

"Rushpaw, do you promise to uphold the ways of a medicine cat, to follow the guidance of StarClan above all else, and to protect the life of cats who walk under StarClan, even at the cost of your life?"

Birdpaw didn't know much, but she had been present for Jaystrike's ceremony. She knew that those were not the correct words, that Willowshine was omitting the section about avoiding Clan rivalries. A shiver ran up her spine, but it only fueled her anger, which radiated off Jayfeather at full force.

"I do," said Rushpaw, unfazed.

"Then by the powers of StarClan I give you your true name as a medicine cat. Rushpaw, from this moment you will be known as Rushfire. StarClan honors your loyalty and ingenuity, and we welcome you as a full medicine cat of RiverClan."

"Rushfire! Rushfire!" Jaystrike led the call, unbothered by the tension in the air between the medicine cats, and the others took up the name without hesitation. Birdpaw joined in, watching as Rushfire observed them with his head held high. When the chanting died down, Rushfire met her eyes and smiled. She returned the grin.

"I believe you had your announcement to make?" said Willowshine, her chin raised. It was a challenge, and Birdpaw half wondered whether or not Jayfeather would take the bait. Partly, it would be logical to let Birdpaw get her name at a different ceremony; that would be more respectful to both Birdpaw and Rushfire. Still, Willowshine was tempting him. Birdpaw almost didn't want her mentor to back down.

"I've been observing Birdpaw's skills for quite a while now," said Jayfeather. "I have held back on making her a full medicine cat for far too long. I believe she deserves to share the respect of us all with Rushfire."

"Very well," said Kestrelflight a little too coldly to be normal. Birdpaw met Jaystrike's excited eyes and looked away after a moment. Jaystrike hadn't spoken a word to her recently. Not since this tension had begun growing.

Jayfeather turned to Birdpaw, who in her observation had forgotten that this moment was supposed to be about her. Blinking, she met her mentor's glassy stare.

"I, Jayfeather, medicine cat of ThunderClan, call upon the right-minded StarClan warriors to look down on this apprentice in favor. She has trained hard to understand the ways of a medicine cat, and she will serve her Clan for many moons."

If RiverClan was looking for proof that Jayfeather had turned from StarClan, there it was, as if Jayfeather had covered it in decorations. Birdpaw wondered, not for the first time, if her mentor knew what he was doing in provoking RiverClan and WindClan.

"Birdpaw," said Jayfeather, bringing her attention – and her excitement – back. "Do you promise to uphold the ways of a medicine cat, to create peace between Clan and Clan and protect all cats equally, even at the cost of your life?"

Create peace. Jayfeather had responded to Willowshine's declaration with an even greater burden to carry. Birdpaw had never been one for peace – she was too soft-spoken or too outspoken, one or the other. But now she had words, and she had power. She could create peace. No – she had to.

"I do," said Birdpaw. Jayfeather nodded.

"Then I give you your true name as a medicine cat. Birdpaw, from this moment you will be known…as Birdfeather." The name slipped from his lips, bringing a huge grin to her face. "StarClan honors your passion and your compassion, and we welcome you as a full medicine cat of ThunderClan."

There was a hesitant pause, and it was Rushfire who forced the others to awkwardly cry out – "Birdfeather! Birdfeather!" The word rushed over Birdfeather, and she glanced up, around the circle. These had been her friends, and now they called her name out of courtesy if nothing else. Jayfeather had altered the ceremony as much as Willowshine had, and they all knew it. Jayfeather sought for peace, and Willowshine fought the war StarClan had ordered.

"Enjoy your first night as a true medicine cat," said Bearclaw, nearest to Birdfeather. She smiled before curling up on the roots of the Moontree – the place she had discovered – and closed her eyes.

Their dream world was getting smaller. Birdfeather noticed that before anything else, before she could even focus on Rushfire materializing before her. It only took two steps to close the distance between them.

"Rushfire," said Birdfeather. She tasted his name in her mouth, saw the image of those burning reeds in her mind, and then she sighed.

"Birdfeather," said Rushfire. Birdfeather flicked her ears in recognition, looking around their small little world. Beneath their feet was the typical scorched earth, the parched cracks running through it. At one time, there had been limitless earth for the two to share, but now, Birdfeather could see where the dream tapped out and fuzzy grey borders began to clarify. She had thought that she was imagining it at first, but now…

"Birdfeather," said Rushfire again, and Birdfeather glanced at him to find that he had been staring at her as she stared around their world. "Congratulations."

"Congratulations to you, too," said Birdfeather warmly. Her friend smiled, the motion infectious. In her fellow's eyes, she saw a sense of pride. She supposed that made sense. She was proud of him, too.

"I'm glad we get to share this moment together," said Rushfire, eyes deep as the lake. Birdfeather's whiskers twitched, and she felt her pelt heat up.

"Me, too," she said. "It's good to have an ally, someone I can trust." Especially now that Willowshine has betrayed us. She didn't want to say the words out loud, but Rushfire caught onto them anyways.

"My Clan is being pulled in all directions," said Rushfire, and the lights in his eyes diminished. "Willowshine has had a sign, and we cannot ignore it."

Birdfeather didn't know how to reply from that, didn't know what he was thinking.

"Did Mountainstone tell you about the wolf I saw?" said Rushfire, his eyes darting up to meet hers. Birdfeather nodded carefully.

"You trusted a random wolf in the woods, over your mentor?" she asked.

"Not at all," said Rushfire. "I trusted my own judgment that something was off about what StarClan had said, and I trusted you."

Birdfeather watched him for a little while, and then she couldn't help but give a half-hearted smile.

"Thank you," she said. "It's good to know I have someone on my side."

"You can rely on me," said Rushfire. He had that look in his eyes again, the one that scared Birdfeather, forced her to keep his eye contact, and make her suddenly feel as if the entire Clan was staring at her. It kind of made her feel warm inside, too.

"So tell me," said Rushfire. "Why would StarClan choose to push us together the night we receive our names? It's supposed to be the biggest sign a medicine cat receives." His eyes glinted.

"I…" Birdfeather didn't know how to reply. The truth – New StarClan, Old StarClan, everything - sprung to mind, although a lie would perhaps be easier. A twinge of guilt passed through her, and then she let it pass. A smirk dusted her features, and she slid a step closer. "I would think this was enough sign for you."

"It's more revealing of the two of us than I think either of us would care to admit," he said. Birdfeather sighed internally, relieved it had worked. Then the cream-colored tom took another step towards her and grinned down at her. "Sure you aren't hiding anything, pretty green eyes?"

"Of course I'm not hiding anything," said Birdfeather. She hated to do this to him, hated the way she could feel her own power radiating off of her.

Then she felt the power bending, splitting, breaking, and Rushfire stood there, staring at her, as if he had felt nothing at all.

"You're a horrible liar," he said.

Well. No one had ever said that to her before.

For a few seconds, Birdfeather stared at his unyielding face, thinking about the first time they had met, as kits. They had never really gotten along, not until the great epidemic. Was her conviction wavering? Was she getting too flustered? Was it the dream that was bending her lies back on her?

"Jayfeather and Birdfeather, a pair always hiding things," said Rushfire. Birdfeather hated the way he said it like that, but then he paused. "Was that purposeful?"

"I requested it," said Birdfeather, relieved at the change of topic. She almost explained why, about Crowfeather and Leafpool, but no – that was too close to Jayfeather's heart to be discussed. "As a thank you, and a way to make him feel less alone."

Rushfire had that look in his eyes again. When he stood this close to her, Birdfeather felt her breath being drawn to him, not just her eyes. He laughed a bit, although Birdfeather wasn't sure what was funny. She meowed in protest, and he just smiled down at her for a few seconds. Then his eyes got suddenly darker, his smile became far more intense.

"I requested my name, too," he said.

"Why?" said Birdfeather, perplexed.

"Isn't that obvious?" said Rushfire.

Birdfeather's throat went dry, and she almost asked about the implication, but it wasn't looking like her tongue was going to move at all. He didn't seem to mind, though. Nor did she. At least, until she saw movement in the air behind him.

"No," said Birdfeather. She saw the eyes gleam, saw from the edges of their tiny circular dream the movements of cats laboring forwards. Her fur stood on end, and Birdfeather glanced around. Everywhere. They were everywhere.

"Stand back," said Birdfeather.

"What's going on?" said Rushfire.

Birdfeather stared into the ranks of approaching StarClan warriors. In their front was a stern-mouthed ginger she-cat Birdfeather didn't recognize, a cat with dark eyes who stared, empty-mouthed. A quick scan of the clearing indicated that they were coming from all angles. She took a deep breath.

"You should wake up, if you can," said Birdfeather.

"They're StarClan," said Rushfire.

"Don't expect any prophetic signs," said Birdfeather. She felt her blood begin to heat up, felt the fur on her shoulders stand on edge. Smoke coiled up from the pads of her paws. She would have to fight. She could taste it.

"You're not possible going to fight?"

"Wake up, Rushfire!"

"No!" Rushfire hissed as he stepped closer to her, and Birdfeather made the extra step away from him. He couldn't stay here. "What are you going to do? What's going on, Birdfeather?"

"It's a little hard to explain."

"Try!"

"Hey, all of you!" Birdfeather directed her attention to the ginger she-cat in front, whose eyes narrowed. "You're coming at the wrong cats!"

"I don't think that's going to – "

"We're fighting for you."

"I'm not sure that's…"

He trailed off, seeing that the StarClan warriors had stopped their advance.

"Fighting for us?" The ginger she-cat rasped out the words.

"Yes, that's right." Birdfeather could hear the words radiating from her, felt their power as they held in the air. She had never felt more relieved. The smoke extinguished under her paws. "We're spies, don't you see? You have no reason to mistrust me."

"You're…the fire…"

"No, don't be silly," said Birdfeather. "I'm not trying to fight against you."

"The balance…" There were murmurs in the ranks behind them, words such as border and fire, words like power and balance…Birdfeather hoped she could exterminate them all, especially the doubts of fire.

"I want to help you," she said at last.

Her words lingered out into open space, and for a second, the progress stopped entirely. The dream wavered around them. Birdfeather closed her eyes in relief – they were waking, finally.

"You have to explain this," said Rushfire, and suddenly she was looking up into his frustrated eyes. "I need an explanation."

"No, you don't," said Birdfeather, but the words snapped, and Rushfire was unfazed. So he was immune somehow?

"The upcoming Gathering," said Rushfire. His face blurred before her, but she held onto the projection of his eyes as she woke.

The upcoming Gathering, Birdfeather thought. Yes…

It seemed she had no choice but to trust him.

Heheheheheh. They make me happy. Also - finally! No more apprentice names! Woo hoo! It's really hard to keep referring to them as Birdpaw and Rushpaw when the others have their names, honestly, so I'm very excited - Birdfeather and Rushfire! Also, just, come on - RushFIRE. Yes. I'm so proud of 12-year old me for coming up with that.

Next chapter WILL be Littlefalcon. Promise on that one. Then we come back to the upcoming Gathering, and Birdfeather and Rushfire! And mayhem. That is coming, too.

If you liked this, please leave me a review, favorite, and follow! Thanks to everyone who has already given me great feedback and support with this piece!

AND GO FILL OUT THE POLL. It's about your favorite OC's in this story. That hopefully shouldn't be hard?

~Elsi