The weight of Dovetail's body was nothing compared to the heaviness in Redheart. Mistyeye walked beside her weeping, and Grayfeather's eyes unreadable. They reached the camp, and Grayfeather stopped abruptly, almost dumping Dovetail's body on the ground.
"What?!" Redheart snapped, glaring at him.
"I know a vigil would be proper, but with the way 'he' is, I don't think we'll be able to have one. We should bury her now." Grayfeather said.
"Are you crazy?! Mistyeye would never-"
"He's right, Redheart." Mistyeye said, coming up behind them. "I doubt I'll be here for my daughter's vigil. We should bury her and have a short one." Redheart nodded hesitantly. It wasn't proper procedure, but right now, this was the right thing to do. They laid her Dovertail's body down gently, then began digging a grave. Most of the clan was entering camp as they finished putting the last bit of dirt over her body. Mistyeye said her final goodbyes, and Redheart crouched down to put her words in too.
"Goodbye Dovetail, you were always my best friend." She put her paw on the grave, was she feeling… lonely? Grayfeather came up beside her. He brushed up and sat, looking at the grave.
"She was my sister, my grief is as strong as yours." Redheart looked to see tears in the warrior's eyes. "I'll… I'll miss her." Redheart pressed into him, a silence lasting for what felt like forever. A clamor from camp snapped them both out of it, and they rushed in to see what was the matter.
"I'll SHRED you!" Treestar screeched at Mistyeye. Mistyeye flattened her ears.
"I was doing what's right. You're no leader, you don't deserve those lives!" She shot back. A fire lit in Treestar's eyes.
"When I get done you'll be nothing but- YOU!" He caught Redheart's eye as she entered camp.
"What do you want?" Redheart said, staring at the leader with cold green eyes.
"This is all YOUR fault! If you hadn't suggested that ridiculous attack, Dovetail would still be with us!" Treestar snarled.
"Wh- WHAAAAAAAAAAT?" The camp was alight with shouts and cries. Redheart remembered a similar situation. It had happened before this battle, but she wasn't going to let it go on.
"THAT'S ENOUGH!" Redheart shouted. The clan began to quiet down, and Redheart shoved to the front of the crowd. "I'm sick of you and your games Treestar. You think you can pin this on me. Well then prove it!" A gasp went up, and Treestar stared, then he laughed.
"What's so funny?!" She yelled.
"Ahahahaha, you want proof? I've got proof! Oakpelt! Birchstripe!" Treestar called. The brothers came to the front and shoved her out of the way.
"She told you." Oakpelt sneered.
"I heard her aswell, what traitorous scum!" Birchstripe hissed.
"I- what?! You lie!" Redheart meowed in astonishment. She could hear… doubt? No, no, this was all wrong! They were lying! Why couldn't they see that?!
"Well then, why don't you 'prove' it? Hahahaha!" Oakpelt laughed.
"They're trying to intimidate me! I won't- I can't!" Redheart thought, but they had a point. She couldn't prove her side of the story. Redheart dropped her head in shame, this was the end, surely?
"Heh, I see. So you give up? That's just fine." Treestar flashed a sinister look. "I suppose the only fair punishment for you…"
"IS DEATH!"
Leaping into the air, Treestar landed in front of Redheart. As she prepared for the blow, a rush of wind came, and she was knocked to the side. Grayfeather rushed over and helped her up.
"Wha- Firecloud?!" Redheart gasped.
"Don't even try it." Firecloud said, blocking Treestar's paw.
"Argh, Firecloud! You, my own sister, a traitor!"
"Aww, that's cute. You acknowledge me as your sister when it matters."
"You… dare defy me?"
"Yes, I do. From the day I was born I never mattered to you or Sweetheart. I'll enjoy giving you and her moons of payback!"
"Nnngrh. Firecloud! FIRECLOUD! I'll bury you with my own paws! Death! Death!" Swiping, Treestar caught Firecloud on the cheek, but Firecloud was faster, and jerked away before Treestar could crush her head into the ground. Scaling the stump, Firecloud hurled herself at Treestar, knocking the tom to the ground. He spun to shake her, but Firecloud was ready. Jumping, she avoided Treestar's spin, and slammed back into him, pinning the leader to the ground. Treestar tried to move, but with Firecloud's claws raking his head, he flopped in defeat.
"So you think you won? Pathetic." He scoffed from under Firecloud's paws. "I'll just rise up, and kick your-"
"Enough." Heads turned as Leafheart padded into camp. Her expression was like stone, and her words burned like a forest fire. Taking advantage, Treestar raised and threw Firecloud off, Pigeonwing and Ashpelt coming to assist her.
"What do you mean, 'enough'?" Treestar asked roughly.
"I mean what I said. Enough is enough. I saw the way you treated Mistyeye, Redheart, and Firecloud. You're nothing but heartless, and I… I refuse to be your deputy!" She shouted. Shocked mews roared in Redheart's ears, but she blocked them out to hear her mother.
"You… give up the position? Ha, haha. Hahahahaha!"
"Eh?" Leafheart cocked her head.
"I was going to replace you anyways! But it's no concern for you now since you've given up. To think, I was going to get you pregnant, and take away your position…" Treestar sighed, looking his claws.
"Then you won't like this either. I'm through being your mate, and loyal to you as well!"
"You don't mean that." Confusion flashed on Treestar's face.
"Oh I mean it. You're an insane brat who gets cats killed. I'd rather die." Leafheart spat. Treestar's eyes lit up with rage, then changed to amusement.
"Heh. Heheh. Heheheheh. That's. Just. Fine!" He laughed sinisterly. "Then you can just leave along with that ratty old blind cat."
"I will. Clanmates! It is your decision!" She turned to the clan. "I will be moving to another part of the territory. If anyone wants to leave with me, choose now!"
"I was always going." Redheart said.
"I will." Brackenfeather said.
"I'm going with you!" Minttail mewed.
"Nobody messes with my apprentice." Pigeonwing shot a glare at Treestar.
"Messing with her means messing with me." Ashpelt meowed darkly.
"I cannot allow such transgressions to happen and sit by. You have my vote Leafheart." Nighteyes meowed confidently.
"You're heartless. I'd never stay with a psycho!" Grayfeather said, staring directly at Treestar.
"I agree." Icypool said.
"I'll go wherever Pigeonwing goes." Swiftfoot said, earning a touched look from Pigeonwing.
"I've always wanted a new leader, now I'll have one." Blossomheart sneered at Treestar.
"Hold it!" Birchstripe shouted. "C'mon, Blossy. You know you wanna stay with me. Right?" Blossomheart's face was plastered with shock.
"Stay? With YOU? The same cat who tried to get me pregnant! No chance!" She slashed Birchstripe's nose, blood spraying out. Birchstripe flattened his ears and backed away.
"Fine, you would've been a terrible mother anyway…" He muttered.
"WHAT DID YOU SAY?!" Blossomheart roared, she shot for the warrior, restrained by Ashpelt and Icypool. Birchstripe just flashed her a look of triumph.
"So, you're taking all my warriors? That's ok. I'll find more." Treestar smirked.
"Your medicine cat as well." Firecloud said.
"What?! You can't go!"
"I wasn't asking you. Leafheart's always been the better leader, and I won't be part of your games."
"Argh… fine! Leave to die with them!" Treestar glared, then his eyes lit up. "Now go! GO! I SAID GO!" He screamed. The cats filed out of camp and turned deeper into the forest.
"H-Hey! Waaaaaait!" A voice cried.
"Who's that?" Leafheart asked. A blue-gray shape ran up.
"You forgot me! I can't believe it! I don't wanna be with a sicko!" The cat exclamed.
"Sorry, um…" Leafheart paused, then leaned over to Redheart. "Who's this again?" She whispered.
"It's Bluestream. One of my patients." Firecloud said.
"She's been sick this entire time?" Blossomheart asked.
"Not really. She just didn't want to return to her warrior duties so soon. She helped out, a bit. Though I did threaten if she messed anything up I'd have to… take care of her." Firecloud flashed a wry curl of her lip, and Redheart was thoroughly spooked.
"It's crazy out in battle! I didn't wanna go back to that!" She fluffed out her fur. "Anyway, I'm coming!"
"Me too!"
"Spruceclaw!" Redheart cried.
"Please mom, let me come with you!" Spruceclaw pleaded. Leafheart looked at her with love, but she shook her head and her expression hardened.
"How do I know you aren't a spy?" She narrowed her eyes.
"Mom please! I don't ever want to do anything with them! You have to believe me, plea-"
"You aren't going anywhere!" Oakpelt burst out of the bushes, catching Spruceclaw's tail. She yelped, and Birchstripe raced around her, shoving her back.
"Mom! MOOOOOOOM!" Spruceclaw yelled.
"Spruceclaw!" Leafheart cried. She took a step, but Nighteyes blocked her path.
"We can attack for her, but would it be wise with the shape we're in? He could have reinforcements."
"…You're right. I cannot worry about them. Not for the sake of my group. From now on, they are not my kits."
"You're… disowning them?!" Redheart gasped.
"Until I get my daughter back, I will not worry. Oakpelt and Birchstripe are dead to me." Leafheart's gaze was pure stone, and with the confidence of a leader, took her group to a small location to set up camp.
"Hold on."
"Oh what now?!" Leafheart hissed. Cloudstar appeared from the bushes.
"If you need help, my territory is open. Please, the pleasure is mine."
"Erm… thanks?" Leafheart dipped her head awkwardly. Cloudstar returned it and bounded away.
"That was awfully nice." Redheart commented to Grayfeather as they padded along in the woodsz
"Yeah, I know right? Hey, look there! A mouse! I'm gonna catch it!" Grayfeather pounced and gave chase.
"Grayfeather, stop! That's ThunderClan territory!" She raced to catch up, only to meet Grayfeather.
"Didn't catch the mouse, but look at this leaf!" He showed her a little leaf with a strange red pattern. "Pretty cool huh?"
"Yeah… yeah, it is. We should keep it." Redheart said.
"Why don't I tuck it behind your ear?" Grayfeather suggested.
"How will it stay on?" She asked. Grayfeather reached under a shrub and pulled out some cobweb.
"If you don't mind?" Redheart nodded, and Grayfeather stuck some cobweb to the leaf, then gently tucked it behind Redheart's ear. "Now it won't be uncomfortable, and you look good!" Redheart laughed.
"Haha, thank you." She said. Looking at him now, it wasn't the bothersome apprentice she knew before. Rather, a strong and dedicated warrior. Walking back to the group, Redheart realized she felt… happy. If this was StarClan's choice for her, then she was completely fine with it.