Author's Note:

Hello readers and welcome to Chapter Thirty-Seven!

I'm so, so sorry for the delay on this chapter. First the flamer put me off a bit, then I got sick, and school is stupid as usual. It's just been horrible timing. Of course I get sick for the first time in a year or so just when I need to write. Again, I am honestly so sorry. Hopefully this chapter will make up for it.

Well, we can still celebrate the anniversary of this fic. It has caused me trouble, but it has brought out a lot more pleasure. It makes me glow with joy to see those comments after the flamer, and just in general. When someone says they model their writing after mine, I could just die of happiness. Thank you guys for making this story into what it is. Without you guys this never would've gotten this far, and I probably wouldn't have the confidence in my writing that I do have today. Special thanks to the people who have reviewed since the beginning, like Gingy, Tansy, and MadMusic. I love all you guys. This is way too long, but this is the time to say it. Thank you guys for everything.

This chapter marks what I'll call Phase 5. Phase 1 was Amberheart's life, 2 was Night's life up until he left the Claws, 3 was his Clan life before Dawnlight was kidnapped, and 4 was the journey to the Claws' camp and the fight against the spirit. Phase 5 begins now.

This chapter shall contain POVs from Mintleaf, Shade, and a new cat named Birch. No Nightfang, but he will be in the chapter.

Anyways, on to the story!

Chapter Thirty-Seven:

Mintleaf looked around, attempting to find a certain third-tier. She only knew of one that hated what he was doing for sure. She was sure she could trust him.

She saw him walk up to the fourth tier's den and yell something in before stepping out, looking a bit disconcerted. He was a bit smaller than the other third-tiers, but he...wasn't bad-looking.

"Birch?" She mewed, stepping forward. She puffed her chest forward, taking a deep breath. She had to appear confident if she wanted his trust.

Birch jumped, startled. He turned to her and Mintleaf could see relief in his eyes. "Mint? You scared me! I thought you were Achilles or something!"

"Oh don't worry," Mintleaf purred, "I'm not here to hurt you."

"Of course," Birch mewed, self-consciously smoothing his chest fur, "I didn't think that." He yawned, then added, "So...What has brought you here?" Mintleaf had to suppress another amused purr.

Mintleaf grew serious, "Well, um. Perhaps it would be best if we talked over here." She beckoned him over to a dark area of camp. Once they had gotten there, she mewed softly, "Would you be open to a rebellion?"

Birch gasped, "You can't be serious! Shade would crush a rebellion!" His eyes were filled with shock.

Mintleaf shook her head, "Trust me, Shade won't be that big of a problem. I have a second-tier with me."

"Really? A second-tier? What do you need me for?" Birch mewed. His eyes were betraying nervousness, and the tom's pelt was prickling.

She nodded, "Yes, a second-tier. You see, what I need you to do might be hard, but it is necessary. Since you have direct access, you know which ones are the most outspoken, correct?"

Birch nodded hesitantly, "Sure, but why does that matter?"

Mintleaf smiled, "Think about it. If we can ally with the fourth tier, then we have double the numbers of Shade and his followers. We can take over the Claws!"

"Can I meet this second-tier you speak of? I want to know who I'm working with," Birch mewed.

Mintleaf could hardly suppress a joyful yowl. This plan was actually coming together. The Claws could be taken out! She nodded, "Of course you can meet him! Tonight in my den, okay?" Without waiting for an answer, she bounded off to talk to Nightfang. He would want to know of her success.

Shade's POV:

Shade frowned as he watched the camp below him. He just felt something was wrong. He had had an empty feeling in his chest ever since the choking incident. What had happened? Perhaps he would actually need Mint's help. She was competent, unlike that coward Ember. He scaled down the path down into the main camp. Immediately, everything halted. Every one of the lower cats shrunk away in fear, while the higher ranked ones bowed their heads. It was the usual, but something still felt horribly off. The empty feeling in his chest was beginning to feel bigger, like it was expanding. What was wrong with him?

Suddenly he heard a scream. He turned, but only saw a fourth-tier getting punished for something. The fourth-tier always seemed to be in trouble, which wasn't surprising, considering how utterly pathetic they were.

Muttering to himself about how stupid the others were, he made his way to Mint's den, but before he slipped his way inside, he heard two other voices. He recognized one as his brother and the other as a coward by the name of Birch. What were they doing talking in the healer's den? He narrowed his eyes and snuck in silently, listening in. He would get to the bottom of this.

Birch's POV:

Birch slipped into Mint's den, sighing as the pleasant smell of Mint and her herbs filled his senses. He'd always loved this place, even when Ember had been here, but Mint was a lot nicer. He was really skeptical about this rebellion idea though. He hoped this second-tier wasn't manipulating Mint.

He came in and gasped, thinking that Shade was standing right next to Mint, until he realized that it was the rogue Night. This was Shade's brother! Why was he involved?

Mint turned, seeing him, and her gaze lit up. "You came!" She exclaimed.

Birch frowned, "I wouldn't just leave you alone in this. Have more faith in me. Now tell me why the enemy's brother is standing right here!"

Mint shrugged, "Sorry, I...I just didn't know. Sorry. I think it'd be best if Nightfang explained himself."

Nightfang, as Mint called him, stood up, mewing, "Yes, that'd be best. This is very complicated. My brother and I are not allies at all Birch. He hypnotized me and forced me to stay here, but I broke free from his grasp. He needs to be stopped."

Birch nodded, "I agree. So your plan is a slave revolt? Do you really think it'll work? And can't Shade just re-hypnotize you and I and all of the fourth tier?"

Nightfang shook his head, "You're going to have to trust me when I say Shade won't be hypnotizing anyone ever again. And it'll work. We just need to rally them all at once. What do you think?"

Suddenly, there were yowls outside of the den. Birch swiveled his head to the entrance, only to see a group of second-tiers rushing in. He could barely react before he and his fellow conspirators were dragged painfully out of the den and into the clearing.

When Birch collected himself, he saw that they were in the center of the clearing, and Shade was in front of them, with cats from all tiers surrounding the three.

"Now these cats," Shade called, "Are traitors!"

A/N:

Oh no! They've been caught, and the rebellion hasn't even been set up yet! How could they get out of this? Can they?

Is Mintleaf growing a bit of a crush? She technically isn't a medicine cat anymore, so you never know, things could happen. ;)

Sorry for the unexcusable lateness, but hopefully this chapter made up for it.

Remember to R&R!