AN: Yes, it is incredibly hard to think "Silverstar" while wanting to write "Silverstreak". Please excuse any mistakes. D:

C h a p t e r 48

She glanced up at the Peak, thinking she saw a flicker of movement, but there was nothing there.

Hopefully not a patrol setting out, she thought. I don't want PeakClan to flip out when they see me…I suppose announcing myself might have been better, but that's difficult without just meeting them…well, I suppose this is just as good a time as any.

She strode up the Peak, confidence in every step; she was a different cat now, with her nine lives. She knew her past now, all of it, and she knew that AshClan was bound together with ties of kinship as well as loyalty.

She'd met with Reedrush to discuss their lineage; she wasn't supposed to speak of her ceremony, of course, so instead she and Shimmerpaw agreed that Shimmerpaw had been sent a sign from StarClan explaining everything. Reedrush was overjoyed to know the fate of her mother, and to find that she had a sister, although the truth of her parentage was disturbing to her, as expected. Still, Slaughter was dead; his evil couldn't touch her now, if he even was her father, if Snake was not. Idly, she wondered what had happened to the gray tabby tom; she hadn't seen him again after she'd stopped Jag from killing him.

She had formally made Eaglestrike her deputy as well, to the joy of the Clan, and had explained to Ravenwing that her services as a mentor were no longer needed. Ravenwing was overjoyed, but not because she was freed of her mentoring of Shimmerpaw; Ravenwing was carrying Eaglestrike's kits.

Silverstar let out a quiet purr at the thought of Ravenwing, a proud mother. Thank you, StarClan, she thought, as she had so many times since gaining her nine lives. Everything was for the best, in the end.

She reached the top of the Peak, and stretched a moment before padding into the burnt brush. PeakClan's camp unfolded before her; her whiskers twitched with amusement as she saw Rabbitpaw whispering something to Northstar; the white tom was glaring down at a soggy finch at the apprentice's paws.

So, she was one of the prey thieves, Silverstar realized. Bramblethorn said there were three more…a white she-cat, a ginger tom, and a dark brown tom who really made a mess of things for us. If I recall correctly, two of them were Icepaw and Hawkpaw, the ones Eaglestrike sent to Stonestar with the message to meet while I was captured…but I don't recall the ginger one. The poor things will be terrified with they see me.

Silverstar had no intention of punishing the apprentices; she'd had her romps as an apprentice, including a certain embarrassing incident involving Eaglestrike, Frostfeather, and an unruly fox cub.

"Hello," she said softly, entering their camp; PeakClan seemed to freeze for a moment, watching her with open hostility. She was unruffled, glancing from face to face, trying to find Stonestar.

"What do you want?" the ginger tom she recognized as Foxclaw spat. Her lip curled slightly; he was, after all, one of the apprentices who had killed Forest's rogue friend.

"I'm here to speak with Stonestar," she said simply. "About Clan matters."

"What does a rogue know about being in a Clan?" Foxclaw growled, only to stare in surprise as Northstar rose to his paws.

"You'd be wise to pay her respect," Northstar growled. "If I'm not mistaken, she's earned her nine lives by now."

Silverstar wasn't sure who was more surprised, Foxclaw or herself, but she gave him the smallest of nods. Northstar's eyes narrowed in dislike, but he said nothing more. Rabbitpaw's eyes were huge in her head, and she was clearly resisting the urge to duck behind the white tom and hide from the supposedly vengeful leader.

"Silverstreak? Or Silverstar?" Stonestar growled, appearing in his den.

"Silverstar, now," she mewed, and heard the ripples of surprise spreading through the Clan. "StarClan has accepted me as AshClan's leader."

Stonestar nodded, flicking his tail for her to enter his den. She did so, brushing past the dark gray tom.

"What do you want, Silverstar?" he asked; for once, his tone was civil, and his yellow eyes regarded her carefully.

Silverstar almost didn't notice Sandpelt, PeakClan's small deputy, sitting in the corner. She gave him a nod and a small smile, before turning back to Stonestar.

"I'm here to discuss Gatherings," she said coolly. Stonestar's eyes widened with surprise.

"Gatherings?"

"I realize you've been the sole Clan here for some time, so you might not remember—"

"I remember what Gatherings are, thank you," Stonestar snapped. "Why do we need them?"

"We're allies now, and my Clan is a proper Clan, with a name, leader with nine lives, deputy, and medicine cat apprentice. It only makes sense for our Clans to meet peacefully."

Stonestar and Sandpelt exchanged glances. "I'm not sure how the Clan would feel about—"

"Their feelings are entirely the point," Silverstar said bluntly. "How do you expect us to work together on the battlefield, if we can't even arrange a meeting between our Clans? Our Clans need to accept the fact that they have no choice but to become allies, and this is the only way to make that happen."

"Where could we meet? There is no neutral territory. We'd either be meeting on our territory, or yours. We can't make a new piece of neutral territory without taking some from either of ours."

Silverstar frowned, considering the dilemma. "We can use AshClan territory," she said finally. "After all, it was originally PeakClan's. We don't mind giving a piece of it up for peace."

Stonestar seemed surprised, but he nodded. "That sounds like a good compromise. There's a spot downstream, where the rocks become much larger, like slabs. There's plenty of room to sit."

Silverstar nodded, remembering the area. "Yes. It would be a good place to meet." She turned to Sandpelt, expecting objections, but he nodded.

Silverstar smiled. "That was easier than I expected, I admit." She rose to her paws. "I must return to my Clan, but I thank you both for your time." She met Stonestar's somewhat bewildered gaze firmly, before slipping out of the den.

PeakClan was watching her as she stepped into the sunlight; she could see the apprentices huddled together, watching her anxiously.

If Stonestar doesn't know what they did, then I won't tell them, she thought. They'll be on pins and needles for days, wondering…I remember the feeling. It was a better punishment than the truth actually coming out, I remember…much more sobering.

She headed for the camp entrance, before pausing as something touched her flank. She blinked with surprise into the anxious face of Blackmoon. He seemed nervous, as if expecting her to claw his muzzle or call him a betrayer for causing her capture nearly a moon ago. Instead, she gave him a smile.

"Yes, Blackmoon?"

"May I come with you?" he asked. Surprised, she nodded, and they padded out of camp together, heading down the Peak.

He stopped as they reached the bottom.

"Silverstar…."

She turned to glance at him. "Yes?" she asked, a note of impatience in her voice; she needed to return to her Clan. However, there was a darkness to his blue eyes as he blinked at her; this was a serious matter.

"StarClan intended for you to come here…but I disobeyed them when I helped capture you," he said. "I was only trying to protect my Clan."

She felt a tremor of her old anger at his betrayal, but it was weak. "I know, Blackmoon. You saved Forest's life; after that, I can excuse anything. It's okay, Blackmoon, don't think forgiveness is beyond me."

Blackmoon shook his head. "I was caught between the two things most important to me, my Clan and StarClan. And…I don't regret the choice I made. At the time, it was all I could do; I had to make my Clan stronger. And I'm happy with how things turned out. Silverstar, I know you will be a good leader for your Clan. You're more confident than ever before, more certain of your own judgment…and please don't think that Foxclaw's attitude reflects the beliefs of everyone. After AshClan helped us in the fire…many of us are proud to be allied with you. We're on your side. Whether through my actions or yours, PeakClan is changing…and I think it's for the better." He smiled, then touched her shoulder gently with his nose, before padding away.

Silverstar paused, unsure of what to feel. Grateful that many of PeakClan were not as against her as she'd thought? Angry that Blackmoon still did not regret his choice, even though she knew things might have played out differently if she hadn't been captured? Simply relieved that everything seemed to have worked out?

Blackmoon's a good cat. Anyone in his position would have had trouble making choices, she thought. I should never have expected personal loyalty from him; he saved Forest's life for a complete stranger. What more could I ask of him?

She turned, heading towards the river and her camp.

. . .

Forest brushed her pelt with his tail as she entered camp, and she greeted him with a warm purr, touching his muzzle with her nose.

"How did it go?" Eaglestrike asked; ever since being officially named deputy, he'd held himself with an odd stiffness; Silverstar remembered it from when he'd been named deputy of BirchClan. It would fade in a few days as he relaxed, but it was still a bit unnerving to see him this way.

"Well," she answered. "We're meeting downstream, near the rocky slabs."

She could see Ravenwing beaming from the nursery; the black queen seemed to glow now, lit from within by the joy of having kits within her. Even Eaglestrike couldn't argue now that Ravenwing had made the wrong choice.

"Share prey with me?" Forest purred. Silverstar nudged his shoulder with her nose, following him to the fresh-kill pile. They sat down together, and Silverstar gazed into his green eyes as he plucked their pigeon free of feathers, feeling a glow rising within her that seemed to go all the way into her paws.

He stopped, looking at her quizzically. "What's the matter?"

"Nothing," she purred, reaching forward to lick his nose. He grinned crookedly at her.

"You're in a good mood. It went well?"

Silverstar nodded. "Yes, surprisingly well." She took the first bite, a thrumming purr running through her body; even in the burnt forest, fish or Twoleg mice couldn't compare to forest fresh-kill. "We have support in PeakClan."

"You went and dragged their butts out of a fire," Forest laughed. "You should have their support."

She twitched her whiskers at him, and turned as Thistlepaw bounced into camp.

"Look what I caught!" he yowled, running into Forest's side, rolling the tom over. "Look!"

"A squirrel," Forest said, somewhat dazed. "Good job, Thistlepaw."

Thistlepaw beamed, turning as Brightfire approached.

"Your apprentice has a good head on his shoulders," the ginger tom rumbled, making Thistlepaw's grin even wider.

"I know," Forest said, matching his apprentice's grin. "He surprises me every day."

"Frostfeather's been complaining about how hungry she is, but she's too lazy to get her own food," Ravenwing called. "Why don't you bring it to her—ow!" The black she-cat yelped as Frostfeather struck her, unseen in the nursery.

"Careful, Frostfeather, those are my kits you're hitting," Eaglestrike warned. Thistlepaw bounced over to the nursery with his prized squirrel, as Brightfire went to deposit his own catches in the fresh-kill pile.

"Great cats, all of them," Forest said quietly, turning to blink at her. "You're the best, of course, but AshClan…I like it here, Silverstar, and I'm not just saying that for you."

Silverstar nuzzled him. "I'm glad you do. I'm glad you're here, with me. I'm glad you came back."

"Did you ask PeakClan about the apprentices?" Bramblethorn asked, padding towards them. Silverstar shook her head.

"I think we've all pulled our apprentice pranks," she meowed. "I'll personally go and hunt to make up for whatever prey we lost, if you like."

Bramblethorn blinked. "That's okay, Silverstar—"

She purred quietly. "It's fine, Bramblethorn. I don't want to be the type of leader who just sits in her den all day anyway." She flicked her tail to Forest. "Care to join me?"

"But of course," he grinned, rising to his paws, and the two of them left camp together.

. . .

"No, Silverstar, I understand," Forest meowed. "It's okay."

Silverstar blinked at him anxiously. "Are you sure?"

Forest touched her nose with his shoulder. "You don't want to be with kits before the battle, just in case. Really, I get it. No reason to worry. We've got all the time in the world, princess."

She leaned against him, comforted by his warmth. "I'm glad you understand."

"But of course." His breath tickled her ear, and she laughed quietly as they pulled apart.

"How much prey did we lose again?" Forest asked, frowning down at the meager amount they'd managed to catch in the marsh.

"There were four apprentices, but only three stole, and we found one piece of prey, where the apprentice dropped it as he jumped on Darkstorm," Silverstar remembered. Forest laughed.

"I still can't believe he knocked them both over. That apprentice should be named a warrior just for that, don't you think?"

She nudged him playfully. "You wish it was that easy."

His eyes took on a more serious cast. "Yeah, I do. I'd go knock over ten PeakClan warriors, if that's what it took…Silverstar, when do I get my warrior name?"

Silverstar blinked. "I…I don't know, Forest. You're loyal to the Clan, and you're working hard to learn the warrior code, I know that."

"But the others don't think I'm loyal?"

Silverstar's ears flattened. "I didn't say that."

"No. But everyone's thinking that." He sighed quietly, all of the cheer leaving him at once. She licked his ear.

"They'll figure it out, you'll see."

"I want to fight Lion as a warrior," Forest meowed. "I want to face down TalonClan with the knowledge that I've got AshClan behind me."

"You won't be the one fighting Lion, I will," Silverstar said firmly. "It's up to me."

Forest shook his head. "Sorry, we shouldn't be worrying about this. It's not really up to you, what the Clan things." He rose to his paws, grabbing a frog he'd captured, as she picked up a blackbird. "How's your training with Northstar going?"

Silverstar rolled his eyes. "Not well. He hasn't been showing up; I saw him today, and he looked tired. I think he's been training his apprentice."

"Are you going back tonight?" Forest asked, his voice muffled slightly from the frog.

"Probably," she admitted. "I do want to train, even though he infuriates me."

Forest grinned at her. "You know what you could be doing…."

She nudged him with her shoulder. "I thought we just talked about this?" she asked, but she was smiling.

"You can't blame me for trying, princess, pretty as you are…."

. . .

She sat at the river, shivering as a cool breeze penetrated her thick fur. She drew her shoulders closer together, wrapping her tail around her paws, trying to see if anyone was coming.

She swallowed nervously as a ghostly white figure appeared in the darkness, crossing the river with ease.

"Northstar," she said quietly.

"Silverstar," he said, his voice a low growl. "My apologies for not being here; my apprentice and I have been training rigorously."

"Rabbitpaw, correct? The one that Toxin captured?"

Northstar's fur bristled at the mention of the icy-eyed she-cat. "Yes."

Silverstar was irritated that he hadn't thought to tell her he wasn't coming for so many nights in a row, but perhaps that was simply part of his plan to keep her angry, to tap her true fighting skills.

"She's one of the apprentices that stole our prey."

Northstar glanced at her, his golden eyes bright in the darkness. "I know. She gave me a hurried confession when she saw you approaching."

Silverstar let out an amused purr; that was the flicker of movement that she had seen. "Did you tell Stonestar?"

"Such apprentice foolishness is beneath his notice. Come on." He strode forward, his white coat standing out from the dark brush. She followed him quickly, and they entered the Moss Clearing together.

"So, are you going to talk about killing my family again?" she asked calmly. Northstar shook his head.

"I just wanted to see if you actually had any fighting spirit in you," he meowed. "And you proved that you did. But that won't do you any good against Lion; he hasn't done anything to you. And, when angry, you completely lack control. You're reckless and heedless of your own safety…and even when you're at your angriest, you can't take that final step to secure victory. You couldn't kill me, your most hated enemy, even when you believed that your rogue kit's life was in danger. Lion hasn't caused you any sort of harm; he's only trying to kill you for revenge, something you sympathize with because of my actions towards you. Anger alone will not push you to victory, with nine lives or without."

Silverstar regarded him for a moment; she had to admit that his words did make an irritating sort of sense. "So, what are we going to do?"

"We need to figure out how to get you to fight without inspiring anger or rage," Northstar said simply. "I'm very doubtful as to how easy this will be, but we must try."

Silverstar nodded. "I want to defend our Clan as best I can."

"If that was true, I wouldn't have to train you."

Her eyes narrowed at the insult, but Northstar's face was emotionless.

"Attack me," he growled. She crouched, then sprang forward, feinting to the left before striking to the right. He was there to meet her, blocking her with his uninjured shoulder and twisting to pin her with one paw. He almost looked bored.

"Congratulations," he meowed, moving his claws to her throat. "I, Lion, just took one of your lives. And while your body is healing, I decided to take another, because there's nothing here to stop me. And then another, and another, until your nine lives have proven to be utterly useless, because I've just taken all of them." His golden eyes bored into hers. "And now that you're dead, well, I suppose I'll just trot on over to Frostfeather. She's a much better fighter than you, she's got power and control. She hurt me a bit, but remember, I took down TalonClan's nine finest. I killed her too."

Silverstar growled. "Let me up."

He didn't move. "Now, I move on to Ravenwing. She's not a very good fighter at all, is she? She should have stayed a medicine cat, because all she can fight is a mouse. I kill her without even getting a scratch on me."

Silverstar thrashed underneath him. "Let me go!"

"And now, there's only one cat remaining, isn't there? Eaglestrike, your loyal deputy…the hero that failed to save BirchClan, but managed to get away with his own life to fight another day. He's a fierce one, most definitely…but in the end, even heroes can be killed, because he's not running away this time. Now I'm bleeding, but by no means beaten."

Silverstar hissed at him. "Northstar! Let me go this instant!"

His golden eyes were still emotionless. "But…there's still one cat. The cat who led the opposite side, the patrol that killed my family, right? And that cat is, incidentally, your ally. So I have to take care of him as well, now don't I? And we face off, and have a monumental battle. I'm giving it everything I have, not holding back, because I know when he dies I'll have to take his remaining lives swiftly. But, he falls, he dies…and he doesn't come back. And do you know why, Silverstar?" His golden eyes were burning like furious twin flames now. "StarClan never gave me my nine lives."

She gaped at him, and he nodded. "That is why FrozenClan fell to my traitorous deputy. That is why Lion is in power now. Because I never received nine lives. And that is why you must succeed, Silverstar…because if you fall, there is no one there to pick up your slack. I only have one life with which to fight Lion, and I can honestly say I am the best fighter in either of our Clans. If you fall, I fall. And if I fall, AshClan falls, and PeakClan as well, and Lion wins. You cannot fail."

She gaped at him. "You don't…?"

"This is our little secret, Silverstar. Tell anyone, and I'll slice your muzzle off, that much I can promise you. It probably won't matter, when Lion comes and you're as helpless as a newborn kitten compared to him…but it's not a secret that I want to come out."

He stepped back, but she did not rise simply staring at him. Forest and I were right…he really doesn't have his nine lives. There was a chance that we could have killed him. That's why he didn't participate in most of the battles…he couldn't risk the chance of dying….And if I can't beat Lion, then everyone truly is lost….

She stared at him, trying to think of him as Northwind, not Northstar, but she couldn't; he was so powerful, so large, so immovable and undeniable…he had power that could only come from StarClan.

But he doesn't. He's as mortal as any of us. I…I have more power than he does. He's a master of this façade, to have had it work for so long, but I truly have the power of StarClan behind me.

Slowly, she rose to her paws, and Northstar smiled. "I can see it now," he said softly. "There is the power. Do you feel it, Silverstar? This is what you are supposed to be. You are a leader, not a mewling kit. You are here to defend your Clan until your last breath. You are here to protect your Clan, no matter the cost to yourself, physically, mentally, or emotionally. Those aren't important, compared to your duty. This is the burden and blessing of being a leader." His eyes glittered at her, and for the first time she saw how a cat like Northstar had managed to claw his way to the top.

It wasn't just brute strength. It was this power, this finesse, this inner belief that he couldn't be taken down. It was his way of all or nothing, refusing to back down no matter what happened. A cat like Northstar has no choice but to succeed.

Until he lost everything when Crowtalon took over, and came here, a broken shell of his former glory…but he's been rebuilt, by PeakClan of all things. Northstar isn't the cat I grew up fearing. He's something greater than that now. He's my kin, my ally, no longer my enemy.

She moved forward, and he tensed, ready for her attack, but this time she touched his shoulder with her nose.

"Thank you," she meowed, and he stared at her, complete surprise on his face. Then, she smiled, icy eyes narrowing, and suddenly struck faster than an adder, slicing his muzzle.

"Northstar, I thought I had to be prepared if Lion tried to throw me off guard?" she asked innocently. Northstar stared at her, reaching up with one paw to touch his bloody muzzle as if he couldn't believe it. Then, a grin spread over his own muzzle, and he crouched, preparing for the battle of his life.

"Let us begin."

They sprang at each other, and the sound was like that of two boulders colliding, a clap of thunder that felt as though it should have spread over the entire forest. They broke apart, both bleeding, both full of energy as they sprang again, colliding, breaking apart, over and over. Their battle began to shift slowly, becoming almost a perfectly choreographed dance, both of them leaping, diving, twisting, but failing to lay a claw on the other. Silverstar's heart was pounding like never before; for the first time, she felt it, the power that a leader held, the duty that rested on her shoulders and her shoulders alone.

I'm protecting my Clan. AshClan. I'm bringing the forest Clans and mountain Clan together under me, uniting them into a force unlike anything seen before. I will fight for them until the last breath. I will not fail!

Northstar had been training endlessly for many nights now, and she could see the toll it was taking on him as he moved, just slightly too heavily, just slightly too slowly, just slightly favoring his uninjured shoulder over the other. And she had been sleeping soundly, hunting with her Clanmates and watching as her Clan carved its life out of the burnt forest, storing up her energy for exactly this moment.

Her icy eyes narrowed as she saw it, the tiniest breach in his defense, the exact wrong step he took, leaning too heavily on his injured shoulder. And his eyes widened as he saw his mistake, but it was too late, she was already in the air leaping towards him, paws outstretched. And they collided for the last time, her leap knocking him over, with her sitting on his chest grinning as her claws pricked his white throat.

"I win."

Northstar stared up at her, and she couldn't read his gaze. Then, he gaze her the smallest of nods, and she slipped off of him as the powerful tom made his way to his paws.

"Control, power, together…." He surprised her by smiling. "You're not a helpless kit, Silverstar. If you can channel that same power when you face down Lion, we might actually have a chance."

"I've just learned to fight for my Clan, is all," she mewed. "And make no mistake, I will when the time comes. Thank you, Northstar."

They stared at each other for a moment, and Silverstar considered, for the briefest moment, telling him everything; his connection to her mother, Toxin, Reedrush, Shimmerpaw…but there was no need. Northstar had already changed without that knowledge; it wasn't necessary. He knew all he needed to know.

"Are we finished here?" she asked, and he nodded slowly.

"I believe we are." He shook his white coat, sending droplets of blood mixed with dust flying. "I suppose I'll see you next on the battlefield."

"We've got a Gathering, before that," she reminded him. He frowned at her, and she wondered if Stonestar had told his Clan yet, but it wasn't important.

"Goodnight, Northstar," she said quietly, before she padded away, slipping into her burt forest, her home.

Her mind was abuzz as she walked, and her body still seemed to thrum with the remnants of StarClan's power, the thrill of battle, and she could feel her heart beating in her chest as if singing. We have a chance! She thought, and she felt as though, had she been a bird, she could have burst into song. We have a chance!

The thrill was suddenly cut short as she heard a low voice whisper above her, a voice that she remembered all too well.

"Well now Silverstreak, that was a much more interesting battle than the last I watched."

She looked up, bristling, as icy blue eyes gazed down at her. Toxin slid forward along the branch, as it creaked slightly under her weight.

Silverstar let out a hiss; Toxin was her niece, but that didn't matter. As Northstar had said, she had to put her own feelings aside to protect her Clan, and Toxin was more of a menace than anything in the forest.

"Come down here and face me, and our battle will be interesting as well," she spat.

Toxin gave her a small, amused smile. "I think you have the idea of my visit completely wrong, Silverstreak." She sprang down from the branch, and it was again like looking into a puddle and seeing her own reflection as she stared at the silver she-cat.

"You see, Silverstreak," Toxin said slowly, surveying her claws on one paw almost as if she was bored, "I'm actually here to help you."

AN: Remember, Silver never saw Snake's body, so she doesn't know he's dead, or that he misused his second chance at life and helped Toxin.

God, they would have made an amazing couple, Silver and Northy. Fire and ice there, baby, the perfect storm. Not that I don't adore Silver and Forest, of course, there's just something so yummy about complete opposites…mmm. Maybe next time.

I'm currently on Spring Break (I don't think I mentioned this?) which is why these updates are all coming along so quickly. I've got oodles of time, good music, and my muse is writing faster than I can keep up.