As Mothfall took her place among the rest of the ShadowClan warriors, she glanced uneasily at the other Clans nearby. This was the first gathering since the sickness had placed its icy paw on the Clans, and she felt uneasy being around so many cats, despite Ambereye's promise that at the last half-moon, all the medicine cats had confirmed that their sick count had gone down to zero. As the leaders settle themselves on their branches, she noticed other cats glancing around them, too.

She glanced at Tawnywhisker, at her side, trying to gauge how her Clanmate felt. When the sandy-furred molly noticed her watching, she scowled and turned away. Her whiskers sagged and her eyes were duller than normal. Mothfall wondered if it was wise to bring a cat to a gather who was still so clearly mourning the death of both of her father and grandfather.

She turned her attention back towards the leaders as they started to speak. Her eyes widened in horror as each leader listed their dead. So many cats! She bowed her head, shocked. Throughout the crowd, cats cried out or murmured a blessing when a friend's name was listed.

Berrystar straightened as it became her turn to talk. "ShadowClan, too, has suffered from the greencough outbreak. We mourn the losses of our warriors Puddlespots and Seedshade, our elders Shiningeyes and Willowgaze, and our medicine cat Frogjump."

Ambereye bent his head as his apprentice was called out, and the other medicine cats nearby murmured their condolences. A brown tabby with ragged fur pressed his nose into Ambereye's side. Mothfall assumed that was Thornstep, Ambereye's close friend and one of ThunderClan's medicine cats.

After the crowd finished calling out and quieted back down, Berrystar continued, "I am sad to announce that greencough has incapacitated my deputy, Briarstreak, and she is no longer fit to perform her duties. She has been of retiring age for some time now, and she enters the elders' den with grace. By the next gathering, ShadowClan will have a new deputy."

She lifted her chin, and Briarstreak puffed out her chest as cats from all Clans called out her name. She bent over, coughing, and Beechtail nuzzled her, supporting her until her fit passed.

Sedgestar, a brown tabby cat with a stub tail dipped their head in Briarstreak's direction. "It will be a shame to see you go, Briarstreak," they mewed. "You have been a friend to ThunderClan and the rest of the Clans around the lake for seasons."

Dewstar, a pretty silver tom with a white belly, leaned down from his branch above the other leaders. "I must ask, who will be replacing Briarstreak? I'm dying with curiosity to know which cat has the honor of following in her pawsteps."

"Unfortunately for you, my medicine cat has cautioned me against naming a deputy before the ceremony. He says it's bad luck." Berrystar's eyes twinkled with amusement as she glanced at Ambereye, who ducked his head in admonishment. "However, I can assure you that I feel confident that our Clan will be safe in our new deputy's paws." She glanced towards the gathered ShadowClan cats as she spoke, and Mothfall stiffened as Ratpelt puffed out his chest. The two cats closes to him, Grasseyes and Bravefeather, nudged him with a purr. Grasseyes murmured something too low for Mothfall to hear.

"Well then, next moon cannot come fast enough," Dewstar dipped his head.

With Berrystar done, the meeting was over, and the cats started to group up together, saying their last goodbyes. The air was warm, and this was the first time everycat had been together in so long; Mothfall could see that none of the leaders were in a hurry to leave. Dewstar pulled aside Berrystar, pawing at her playfully as she asked a teasing question, and Sedgestar laughed, tail curling in amusement as he watched the two talk.

Mothfall stood up, glancing around the crowd. Her face brightened when she spotted a familiar stone-gray molly slipping in between the multi-colored pelts. She pushed forward, determined not to let her out of her sight. "Shortstone!"

Shortstone whipped around at the sound of her name, and her guarded expression brightened when she saw who had called her. "Mothball?" she asked. She rushed forward, meeting the ginger molly halfway and mashing their noses together with a hearty purr. "Heya, Mothball."

"Hi." Mothfall blinked in surprise as the stone-gray molly pulled away. "You aren't mad?"

"Why would I be mad at you?" Shortstone tilted her head in confusion. "What you said hurt. But that doesn't mean I suddenly stop caring about you."

Mothfall shook her head. "I don't know. I saw Creekfur the other day, and it was weird."

"Well, you said yourself that Creekfur's a weird cat." Shortstone's whiskers twitched in amusement.

"it wasn't like that. It was..." Mothfall sighed. "I'm sorry I hurt you. I was being mousebrained. I've lost so many cats that were important to me. I don't want to lose you, too."

For an agonizingly long heartbeat, Shortstone didn't respond. She pressed her face into the mane of fur around Mothfall's neck. "Of course, I forgive you. If you did something, then you did it because you thought it was the right thing to do. Besides, who could be my Mothball?" Though her mew was teasing, when she pulled away, her face was deadly serious. "But are you okay? I saw Berrystar all but declare your father as the next deputy, and I know your relationship isn't on the best of terms these days."

Mothfall glanced in his direction, stomach roiling as she saw he was swarmed by a crowd of cats from all five Clans, preemptively congratulating him.

"Are you going to be okay?" Shortstone pressed.

Mothfall shook her head to clear her thoughts. "No. But I will be. Wish me luck, okay? I'm going to do something really stupid."

"If you think you need to do it, then it's not stupid," Shortstone mewed.

Mothfall purred, but died off when she realized that her friend was being serious. "I know this is a lot to ask, but do you think you could help me out?"

"That depends on what it is."

"I need you to talk to Creekfur," mewed Mothfall. "Believe it or not, she's a key part of my stupid plan. But I can't ask her myself, because she's not talking to me." She glanced towards the part of the island where RiverClan gathered, wrapping her tail tighter around her paws as she picked out Creekfur among the crowd. The molly's silver stripes glowed in the moonlight as she caught up with a group of warriors from all of the Clans. The cat next to her, a large, blue-furred RiverClan tom with scars running across his face, made a comment. Despite his flat expression, Creekfur's whiskers twitched in amusement.

Shortstone followed Mothfall's gaze. "FunClan didn't take the news so well."

"It's really important that Creekfur helps," Mothfall urged. She leaned close, and in hushed tones, explained her plan.

When she finshed, Shortstone's eyes grew wide. "Whoa."

"Will you tell her?"

"I will." Shortstone dipped her head. "So, I guess this is it, then? Um, good luck. Let me know how it goes."

"Wait." Mothfall stepped forward and pressed her nose to Shortstone' forehead. "I want you there when it happens."

"Really?" Shortstone shrank back, eyes flashing with surprise. "Me? But I'm not really involved—"

"It would make me feel better," Mothfall pressed, "If I knew I had your support."

Shortstone blinked, then nodded, hardened resolve. "You can count on me. Always."

Mothfall could hardly sleep that night. She kept tossing and turning, every bad horrible outcome running through her mind like a scatterbrained hare.

Eventually, Bravefeather swipe his paw at her, shoving her back. "Stay still, or leave the den," he hissed.

Mothfall shrank back into her nest and squeezed her eyes shut. She barely remembered her dreams, if she had slept at all, before she was roused by her denmates waking up and stirring around her. As she stretched, something stuck in her nest caught her eye; she pawed at it until she had dug up a small, wooden lump, a little larger than her paw, with a cord winding around it.

The wooden moth Dapplecall had made for her. A small, white flower nestled beside it. Seeing them filled Mothfall with resolve. She wasn't doing this for herself. She was doing this for her family.

She stumbled into Ambereye's den, but the golden-brown tom took one look at her before shaking his head. "You look like you've just had a run-in with a badger," he chided, pushing her backwards out of the den. "You shouldn't be doing your exercises. You should be sleeping."

"I couldn't sleep last night," Mothfall admitted, tail curling around her legs.

Ambereye's gaze softened. "Is everything alright?"

She flicked her ear. "I don't know. I'm doing something tonight, and I'm nervous."

"Do you think it's the right thing to do?"

"Of course."

"Then you'll be fine."

Mothfall shook her fur out. "Do you have anything that'll calm me down?"

Ambereye side-eyed her, "You're a strong cat, Mothfall. You shouldn't need any herbs just because you're a bit nervous."

'A bit nervous' seemed like an understatement for the turmoil in her belly, but she nodded stiffly and tried not to look too disappointed. "Okay."

Briarstreak chose that moment to push past Mothfall into the medicine den. "Good morning," Ambereye mewed.

Briarstreak grunted. "It' just the same as it always is for me. Whether or not it's 'good' doesn't make a lick of difference. I'm here for my tansy."

"Of course, Briarstreak." Ambereye dipped inside the den, and when he came back out again he dropped a few small leaves at the deputy's paws. "I put some honey on them. That should help soothe your throat.

She lapped them up, shuddering as she swallowed. "Great. I'm leaving now."

Mothfall stepped back to allow her to pass, dipping her head in respect. The older warrior flicked her ear as she passed. "You smell like herbs, but what else is new? If you're not doing your stretches, then come with me. I'm organizing patrols."

Mothfall glanced at Ambereye, who shook his head and smiled, before following Briarstreak to the center of camp where she organized patrols. Rapidfoot stumbled out of the nursery, yawning; he still performed his warrior duties, though he preferred to sleep with his mate, Meadowstripe, ever since he moved into the nursery. He settled down next to Bravefeather and Shortleg, twisting around to smooth down his fur as he waited.

The rest of the day passed in a blur. Mothfall went on patrol, and went on patrol again, and helped Ambereye gather herbs. Her paws itched every time she tried to sit down. She wouldn't have been able to sit still if her life depended on it.

Eventually, the Clan gathered for their evening sharing tongues, and the sky purpled and darkened. The air had warmed into a beautiful Green-leaf, and cats lingered outside, unwilling to go back in. Beechtail and Heavysong slipped out of camp together, tails intertwined. After a few heartbeats later, inspired by their idea, Meadowstripe and Rapidfoot followed, leaving a haggard Smallheart by herself outside of the nursery.

"Can I join you?"

Mothfall glanced at her sister as she approached. "How are the kits?"

"They're settling in just fine. They're such a pawful! I can't imagine how most parents do this in groups of two." She glanced at Smallheart. "Or by themselves, poor thing."

Mothfall whisked her tail around herself. "I've known cats who've done it before. She'll be fine. she has her Clan to support her."

Ferntooth flicked her tail against Mothfall's side. "Since when did you grow so wise, oh mighty sister?" She shook her head. "I'm sorry for wrapping you up in my motherhood issues. I meant to ask you how you were doing."

"I'm as fine as I can be, I suppose."

Ferntooth nuzzled her. "Is there anything I can do to help?"

"Having your support has been more than enough."

"It's a bold plan," Ferntooth shuddered. "I can't imagine being as brave as you're about to be."

"You would be, if it was for your mates or kits," Mothfall assured her. "I'm doing this for my family, too."

"Your family?" Ferntooth echoed.

"I want your kits to grow up safe."

"I can't thank you enough for that." Ferntooth pressed her nose to Mothfall's cheek. As she pulled back, she angled her ears towards the leader's den, where Berrystar was sharing tongues with Grasseyes and Ambereye. The three of them were talking in hushed tones, and Grasseyes puffed his chest out and nudged the medicine cat. "You should probably get going."

"You're right." Mothfall rose to her paws. She pressed her nose to Ferntooth.

Ferntooth dipped her head. She pressed her face against Mothfall's chest. "Good luck."

Paws tingling, Mothfall took her leave. She approached the older warriors uneasily, dipping her head in respect as she came close. Ambereye was the first to take notice of her; he beckoned her over with a sweep of his tail. "What is it?"

"Um. I was wondering if I could talk to Berrystar," Mothfall mewed.

Berrystar pulled herself away from Grassyes, frowning as she looked Mothfall up and down. "What is it?"

She shuffled her paws. "Outside of camp, I mean." She mewed. "It's private. But I think Briarstreak should hear what I have to say, too."

"Careful, or she might be whisking you away to involve you in her nefarious plots," Grasseyes mewed. His inflection was deadpan, as usual, and Mothfall wasn't sure if he was joking or not.

Berrystar sighed, but pushed herself to her paws. "Alright, Mothfall. It's my duty to hear my Clanmates' concerns, so I'll hear you out. At least you've learned from your brother's mistakes, and aren't jumping immediately to drastic action."

Mothfall winced, but held her tongue. She glanced at Ambereye, who smiled when he caught your eye. "I don't know what you're planning, but I have every faith in you that it'll work out."

Warmth flooding through her paws, Mothfall rushed after her leader towards the entrance to camp. they passed Briarstreak, who was stretched out on the ground, listening to Bravefeather tell her a story When Berrystreak barked out her name, the blind warrior rolled to her paws. Her kit stretched called out a goodbye as she padded after her leader.

Her nose wrinkled as she fell in-step beside Mothfall. "It's you."

"I have something I need to tell you and Berrystar in private."

Briarstreak grunted.

Outside the camp, Berrystar stopped and swung around to face Mothfall. "Alright, what is it?"

"Actually," Mothfall began, fumbling under the burning gaze of her leader. "I had a specific spot in mind."

"Really?" Briarstreak rasped, coughing. "In case you haven't noticed, I'm not much for physical activity these days."

"You made it all the way to the gathering last night," Mothfall mewed. "This will be easy. Come on." She padded in the direction of the RiverClan border. Behind her, she could heard Berrystar grunt as she pulled herself to her paws. She and Briarstreak supported each other as they limped after the ginger molly.

At one point, Briarstreak stopped, wracked with a heaving coughing fit, but Mothfall wound around her and urged her forward. "We're almost there."

"Berrystar, I think your warrior is trying to stage a ShadowClan invasion on RiverClan," Briarstreak mewed drily, but she didn't protest as she shuffled forward.

As the reeds lining the RiverClan border came into view, Mothfall raised her tail, motioning for the leader and deputy to stop. "Okay, this is it."

Berrystar stopped, and Briarstreak sat down with a thud. She sat up, raising her chin proudly, but she could do little to hide her rasping as she gasped for air.

Mothfall angled her ears forward. Where was Shortstone? Her heart lifted as she spotted the small molly crouching by a clump of reeds by the halfbridge. When she caught Mothfall's eye, she shook her head. Mothfall's heart sank. Creekfur wasn't coming, then. She was on her own.

Mothfall grit her teeth and faced her leader and deputy. "I have something to tell you."

"I gathered," Berrystar mewed drily. "Go on, then."

"A few moons ago, Ratpelt told me he wanted to court a WindClan molly named Shortstone."

"Well? Did he?"

"No, but only because I stopped him."

Berrystar flicked her ear. "I don't see the problem, then."

Briarstreak whisked her tail against Berrystar's side. "I think Mothfall might be jealous that with her father earning the deputyship, the attention won't be so fixated on her and her… misgivings." She flicked her paw out as she spoke. "First she took forever to become a warrior, ignoring our suggestions to help, then she starts spreading all of these nasty rumors, and now she tries to dethrone our beloved Ratpelt? It sounds like she's desperate to get attention."

"That's not it at all!" Mothfall protested. "Don't you understand? I'm trying to tell you that Ratpelt is a bad cat, and he'd make a poor leader."

"Nonsense," Briarstreak rasped, "he's done an excellent job of stepping in for me already."

"Besides," Berrystar mewed. "If we want to talk about codebreaking, why don't we talk about you, hmm?"

"Me?" Mothfall gaped. She stepped back, cowering under her leader's gaze.

"You think I don't notice how you sneak out every half-moon and come back smelling like other Clan cats?" Berrystar growled.

"I don't do that anymore," Mothfall mumbled. "I… I realized it was wrong, and I had to put my Clan first. I told them I wasn't coming anymore."

Berrystar grumbled, but sat down. "I suppose I can't blame you for something you decided to stop doing, if I'm doing the same for Ratpelt." She motioned for Mothfall to continue.

Mothfall took a deep breath. She dug her claws into the soft grass underpaw so that they couldn't see her tremble. "The problem isn't whether or not Ratpelt broke the code," she began, "It's his moral compass. For lack of a better word, it's broken. All of those rumors circulating camp about me? I never did any of those things. Ratpelt made up those lies, so that no cat would trust me."

Briarstreak grunted. "How convenient for you."

Mothfall glared at her, before remembering that the old molly couldn't see, and probably didn't care either way. "His sense of right and wrong was always crooked, but things took a turn for the worse after Pricklepaw died. He told me that his actions didn't have consequences, because StarClan didn't care. Do you know why he wants to be deputy?" Mothfall took a deep breath. This was it. She pounded in each word, as she started to wound around the two cats, spitting her words like they were poison. "He wants to be deputy so that he can bend cats to his will. He wants to be deputy, and leader after, so that he can get cats to do whatever he wants. He told me so himself. This isn't just a cat who breaks the warrior code. This is a cat who cheats, and lies, and manipulates other cats to his will to get what he wants. This is a cat who breaks the moral code."

She stepped back, sitting back down and nodding curtly when neither cat responded. Briarstreak shook her head, as if waking up from a coma, and Berrystar lashed her tail.

The black-and-white molly rose to her paws. "Thank you for telling us," Berrystar mewed.

"That's it? Aren't you going to do something? Don't you understand the importance of what I'm saying?" Mothfall protested.

"I understand that you're making some very serious accusations with no evidence to back you up," snapped Berrystar. She turned around, flicking her tail against Mothfall as she started to pad away.

"I am giving you evidence!" Mothfall yowled. "You just aren't listening to me!"

"Goodbye, Mothfall," Berrystar mewed. "We'll be discussing your punishment for your indolent behavior in the morning."

Mothfall gaped as her and Briarstreak padded towards the forest. Her hind legs thumped onto the ground, unable to stand any longer. This was supposed to be her big moment. And it didn't work.

"If you won't listen to her, maybe you'll listen to me."

Berrystar and Briarstreak stopped in their tracks. They turned around, ears angled towards the RiverClan border. Mothfall followed their gaze, and her heart skipped a beat. The reeds rustled, and a pretty white molly with silver stripes stuck her head out and padded into view. She toed the border as she sat down, bowing her head in respect. "Berrystar. Briarstreak."

A heartbeat later, another cat followed. At first Mothfall stiffened in fear, until she recognized the light brown coat and bright yellow eyes of Creekfur's kit. He blinked in recognition at Mothfall, but eyed both Berrystar and Briarstreak with apprehension.

"Greetings," Creekfur mewed. "My name is Creekfur, and I'm a warrior of RiverClan. This is my son, Mousewhisper."

Briarstreak opened her mouth to get a better smell of the newcomers. Berrystar sniffed. "And to what do we owe you the pleasure?"

Creekfur swept her son close to her with her tail. "I'd heard you would be interested in learning about my kit's father. You see, I've raised him on my own, but for a brief time, I courted one of your warriors. One you're about to pick as your deputy and next leader. Ratpelt."

Berrystar grunted. "I don't see what this has to do with anything. Clearly, whatever happened between you two is in the past. I don't see why one mistake moons ago has to do with anything.

"Don't you understand?" Mothfall leapt to her paws, unable to stay silent when Berrystar was so close and yet so far to understand everything. "Look at Mousewhisper! He's almost as old as I am!"

"So?"

"So he didn't just take a RiverClan mate, he was actively cheating on my mom with her." She met Berrystar's gaze, eyes blazing. Out of the corner of her eyes, she saw Creekfur wince. Mousewhisper pressed against her.

"This wasn't a one-time mistake," Creekfur mewed. "It was calculated. I was already struggling to find my place in RiverClan, as a young warrior without many friends. My parents had recently passed away, you see, and it was hard to come to terms with their loss. Ratpelt saw my weakness, and he exploited it. He turned me against my Clan, and told me that I could trust no one but him. He made me feel worthless. He made me believe I was nothing without him."

Mousewhisper trembled, and Creekfur paused to lick his head and nuzzle him close. When she spoke again, she kept her eyes close and her voice low. "It wasn't until I was pregnant with Mousewhisper that I realized my mistake. I couldn't bear the thought of Ratpelt making my kit feel like he made me. I broke things off with him. And thank the stars I could use my pregnancy as an excuse to stay in camp, because the way Ratpelt looked, I thought he wanted to murder me. Eventually, I found my own friends, and I learned how to respect myself again. But Ratpelt? I have no respect for that dirty, mange-eating foxheart. There is no good in his heart. Only greed." As she came to an end, she curled her lip.

Stunned silence met her speech. Creekfur opened her eyes and looked from Berrystar to Briarstreak. The two had pressed up against each other as she spoke, and now Briarstreak shook herself, as if trying to clear her head.

"Thank you for telling us, Creekfur." Berrystar glanced at Briarstreak. "We have a lot to discuss. If you're done, then we're going to leave. On our own."

That was it, then. She couldn't do anything more. Mothfall kept her head low, not watching as the two cats limp away from the border.

She didn't move until she heard pawsteps approaching from the other direction and the sweet scent lavender and windswept-earth washed over her. Shortstone pressed her face against Mothfall's side, and when she pulled back, her pale eyes were wide with shock. "Did he really do all of those things?" she whispered.

Mothfall nodded. She wrapped her tail tight around her paws. "He did. Did you hear everything? I wasn't sure if you'd be able to, from so far away."

"Don't worry, I heard plenty." Shortstone's gaze darkened. "He really wanted to court me?"

Again, Mothfall nodded. "I'm sorry."

"Oh, stars." Shortstone buried her face in Mothfall's side again. "Every word you said was worse than the last. I can't imagine a worse cat to have as a father."

"They say Tigerstar was pretty bad," mewed Mothfall. She'd intended it as a joke, but when Shortstone didn't react, she sighed and pulled away.

She looked up to the sound of approaching pawsteps. Creekfur dipped her head at Shortstone, but when she turned to Mothfall, her eyes were icy. "That was bold of you, to ask me to help after what I said last time."

"I knew you would understand how important this was," Mothfall breathed.

"Luckily for you, I could see past my hatred for you to understand the bigger picture," Creekfur lashed her tail. "I didn't do this for you, Mothfall. Don't be mistaken. I did this for myself, and for Mousewhisper. He deserves to live in a world without that foxheart's name staining his paws."

Mothfall started to protest, then lowered her head. Her fur burned with shame. "I understand."

"Good."

When Mothfall raised her head again, Creekfur had disappeared. The only sign of her presence was the faint smell of fish, and a slight wave in the reeds by RiverClan's border.

Mothfall sighed. "I should probably head back."

Shortstone headbutted Mothfall. "What happens now? Do you think they'll listen?"

"Your guess is as good as mine. I guess we'll know soon. Briarstreak is officially stepping down tomorrow."

"I wish I could be there," Shortstone murmured.

"You will be," Mothfall assured her. She rubbed her cheek against the stone-gray molly's. "In spirit."

"In spirit," Shortstone echoed. Hang on." She bent down and plucked a flower from the ground. She tucked it in between Mothfall's ears. "There. Now I'll be with you, wherever you go."

"I still have your old flower," Mothfall whispered.

"Gross," Shortstone stuck her tongue out. "I bet it's old and rotten by now."

"Of course," teased Mothfall. "It's as old and withered as your heart."

Shortstone headbutted Mothfall, purring. Shortstone pulled back, glanced across the lake towards WindClan territory. "You promise you'll be safe."

"I'll let you know what happens as soon as I can."

"That wasn't an answer," mewed Shortstone, as she turned towards the lake shore and her home, "but I'll take that as a yes."

So much drama! We love to see it! It's all drama from here on out!

A few weeks ago, I ended up completely rewriting my climax scene, which meant that stuff got moved around and I ended up adding an extra chapter. So, we now have 20 chapters plus an epilogue. I keep nitpicking at my work, because I'm never satisfied with my conclusions, so hopefully for my sake that doesn't change between here and the next three installments, haha.

The cat Creekfur is talking to at the gathering is my friend Shay's warrior oc, Riverwhisper! We were talking about how River would get along horribly with Moth (but very well with Creekfur) so I decided to give him a little cameo for fun.