CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

The journey back to ThunderClan was silent. Kitetail didn't feel like talking; evidently, neither did Sootclaw or Nightwind. Despite the warmth of the sun on his back, he felt chilled down to the bone. He couldn't stop thinking about how close he had come to dying, or at least to suffering an injury like Rootfur. To have that dark, smoky pus growing in his body… he shuddered. It was an oversight of the wraiths not to have killed him. Their arrogance and malice had bought enough time for Sootclaw to arrive. It was fortunate for Kitetail that his brother had been on patrol.

Still, he could have died, and for what? A selfish, foolish attempt to reach out to StarClan for help, all because he didn't feel strong or brave enough to do it by himself. He barely kept his composure as they walked back, and he wished there was someone in whom he could confide. A specific someone. Alderthorn.

I really messed up, Kitetail thought. Lying about Limepaw. Sneaking out of camp. Being unable to defend himself. There was a series of bad decisions, of failures. It made him want to cry. But it also made him want to do better, so he would never find himself in that position again. He wished he was strong enough to fight, but he had never taken to that part of apprentice training. Falconswoop had attempted, on occasion, to teach him, but the sessions had always left Kitetail bruised and battered, weaker and more scared than before.

Falconswoop… every time his eyes slid to Sootclaw he thought of the terrible truth, that Falconswoop was his father and not Sootclaw's, and he was so overwhelmed with emotion that he had to look away. He still didn't know what to do with that information.

They crossed the border into ThunderClan territory without incident and Kitetail finally allowed himself to relax. He led the way to camp, taking over from Sootclaw.

They reached the Clan and Kitetail peered down into the quarry. Slatestar was pacing at the bottom of the path into camp. As soon as he saw Kitetail and company begin to descend, his eyes narrowed and his pacing stopped. He waited, still as stone and twice as cold, for the party to come down. Kitetail swallowed past the lump in his throat. He knew he had done wrong, and he would deserve Slatestar's disapproval.

"Kitetail," said Slatestar in a strained voice as they reached the bottom of the trail. His eyes flickered to Sootclaw and Nightwind. "You've been gone all day."

The leader's voice was carefully devoid of anger, likely in order to avoid embarrassing his medicine cat in front of enemy warriors. Kitetail was even more thankful for the ShadowClan presence. He dipped his head. "Yes, Slatestar."

"You went to the Moonpool, then?"

There was no point in lying about it. "Yes, Slatestar," he said again. "But StarClan did not speak to me. I assume they wanted to avoid invoking any reaction from the Dark Forest."

Sootclaw looked back and forth between them. Could he tell that Kitetail was in trouble? Regardless, he spoke. "Nightwind and I were on a patrol to the north of Clan territory when we scented wraiths. They were attacking Kitetail, and we drove them off."

Slatestar's eyes widened further and worry crossed his face, replaced quickly by anger. Kitetail felt the same anger, directed at himself. How dare I disobey a direct order and put myself in danger like that? ThunderClan needs their medicine cat to be safe.

"We'll speak later, Kitetail," the large grey tom said eventually, grinding out the words. He shot Kitetail a pointed glance. This wasn't over.

"Yes, Slatestar," he said, a third time. He glanced at the ground and drew his shoulders in to make himself as small as possible. "I'm sorry."

Slatestar turned back to Sootclaw. "It seems ThunderClan is in your debt then, Sootclaw. Thank you for coming to our aid."

"Of course," said Sootclaw. "All the Clans have to stick together. And about that… I discovered something important about the wraiths that I will share in our meeting tonight. I wouldn't have been able to," he added, sheepishly, "if they hadn't attacked Kitetail."

It was a weak attempt to try and lessen the severity of Kitetail's transgression. The medicine cat just looked away. He didn't want anyone's pity. To claim what he did was all right because of the outcome would have just been a way to avoid responsibility.

"Fetch the others. Eaglestar, Toadstar, whoever else is to attend the meeting," Slatestar ordered Sootclaw. "All the Clans need to speak."

Sootclaw nodded. "I'll be back as soon as I can."

"Make sure that's quick," Slatestar said.

Sootclaw nodded once more and then turned to Kitetail. The brown tabby raised his gaze to meet his brother's eyes. "Thank you for saving me," he said at last. There were so many other things he wished he could say; this was the only thing that came out.

"Of course," said Sootclaw, and then he and Nightwind left.

Slatestar turned to Kitetail, who took a step back. Before Slatestar could say anything else, a voice from behind called him over. It was Stormtail, standing in the medicine cat's den, gesturing for Kitetail to come see him.

"Later," mewed Slatestar, a sombre promise.

"Right." Kitetail dipped his head and then ran over to the medicine cat's den, nearly tripping over his own paws. One bad decision and he had lost so much of his credibility in Slatestar's eyes. He took a deep breath. No matter. He would do better, from now on.

"Is it Rootfur?" Kitetail asked as he entered the den, preparing for the worst. The stench of the darkness clung to the nests. But even as the words left his mouth, he saw Rootfur was fine, sleeping soundly in the corner of the den. In the centre of the den, waiting rather impatiently, was Rabbitpaw.

Stormtail shook his head, unnecessarily. "No – no need for alarm. I just wanted to know where you keep the thyme." He gave Kitetail an apologetic look. "I didn't bring any, and it's hard to scent in here over the darkness."

"Right," said Kitetail, and he began to sort through his stores, using a paw to scoop through the bundles of herbs in the small pockets that had been crafted into the bramble edges of the den. He eventually found the thyme and pulled it out. "Everything all right?"

"Yeah, yeah," said Rabbitpaw, bobbing up and down. "I just get anxious, is all, real bad. Like, more than the normal, yeah? Feels like my chest will explode."

Right. Thyme helped with anxiety. Kitetail offered Rabbitpaw an appropriate dose. "Well, I hope you feel better."

Rabbitpaw grinned as he chewed the thyme.

Kitetail looked at Rootfur and then over to Stormtail. "Well?"

"No change," said Stormtail quietly. They exchanged a worried glance.

"Look," said Kitetail, stiltedly, as soon as Rabbitpaw had left the den. "About today. I know I left you on your own – "

Stormtail flicked his tail, cutting Kitetail off mid-sentence. "It's not my business, Kitetail."

Ah. Stormtail must have seen him get in trouble too. Kitetail dipped his head. Then, feeling rather confined in the den and overwhelmed by the stench, he left the den again and walked out into camp, where the setting sun was casting long shadows from the quarry walls.

As he stood in the middle of camp, watching the warriors move around the clearing, a strange feeling overtook him, and he made a snap decision.

He walked over to the warriors den and poked his head inside. Cherrytail was inside, as were two WindClan warriors, Cloudstorm and Gorsetooth. They looked up when he entered and he nodded idly to them. They weren't who he was looking for. But hadn't he just seen the tom walk in here…?

"Ah, Kitetail," growled a familiar voice from behind him. "Looking for a replacement herb-gatherer?"

Kitetail turned around. "Beechclaw. I was just looking for you."

Worry flashed across Beechclaw's face, and then the light brown tom caught himself and narrowed his eyes. "Is everything all right?"

Of course. Beechclaw was worried something had happened to Breezepaw. "Everything is fine," Kitetail reassured her. Not everything, obviously, but they both knew what he meant. "This isn't about Breezepaw."

Beechclaw cocked his head, obviously surprised. "Then what do you want?"

"Can we walk?" asked Kitetail, conscious of the three other warriors watching them. Beechclaw hesitated a moment, then nodded, though he still regarded Kitetail with suspicion as the two of them strolled through the camp and up the ridge leading out of the quarry. They weren't going far, just outside of camp, so that they could have some semblance of privacy as they spoke.

On the way up, Kitetail gathered his courage. He was keenly aware that Beechclaw had never liked him. The tom's over-protective nature made him antagonistic of anyone who wasn't part of ThunderClan, and even though Kitetail had been the medicine cat for moons, his close relationship to Alderthorn hadn't exactly endeared him to Beechclaw. He remembered during leafbare when Beechclaw had wanted to turn Alderthorn over to Baron to avoid conflict, and he shuddered. Yet despite their differences, he trusted Beechclaw wanted only the best for the Clan.

"I was attacked today," Kitetail began, as soon as they were in the forest. Odd how the tall oaks and soft grasses now brought him comfort. "By the wraiths."

Beechclaw narrowed his eyes. "Is that why Slatestar was chewing you out?"

"Yes," said Kitetail, with a sigh. "It was mouse-brained, to go so far alone. I know."

"Glad we both agree. Why are you telling me this?"

"Because, I… I want you to teach me how to fight." There. His request was out in the open. It sounded so foolish, and he watched Beechclaw nervously, awaiting the tom's reaction.

Beechclaw blinked in surprise. For a moment his face was void of any worry or anger and he actually looked youthful. Then he frowned again. "We're at the beginning of a war here, Kitetail. I don't exactly have time to become a mentor."

"I know that it's a lot to ask," Kitetail admitted. "But I need to be able to defend myself, if we're attacked. I know I won't be on the front lines, but what if I'm trying to protect apprentices or queens… what if I'm treating Mothpaw or Breezepaw when it happens?"

It probably wasn't fair, to appeal to Beechclaw's weak spot like that, but it was certainly effective. Beechclaw lashed his tail, and his eyes were stormy. Kitetail knew he was thinking about his family, running over scenarios where they might be in danger. Kitetail felt slightly guilty. But it wasn't a lie. He needed to know how to fight. It was quite possible he might have to defend the apprentices, or that Breezepaw's illness could return during a battle.

Breezepaw. Kitetail winced. Another reminder, along with Nettleclaw and Rootfur, of his inadequacies. I will become strong, he thought. To protect my Clan. I'll find a way to heal Breezepaw, and Rootfur. I'll be able to defend them and myself. I can do this.

"Beechclaw, I – I respect you," Kitetail added, emotion swelling in his chest. "You're a great warrior. I would never want to cross anyone you care about, with the way you protect then, and… I just want that, for myself. I want to be able to be that, for ThunderClan, and for the cats I love." As soon as the words left his mouth he felt the truth of them, and felt lighter for having said them. It was what he truly wanted. Yet he had never wanted to admit it to himself, because fighting and physical strength… that was what Falconswoop admired, and he didn't want to be anything like Falconswoop.

Beechclaw looked thoughtful, which was a strange expression on him. He must have been taken aback by the sincerity and emotion of Kitetail's words. "All right, Kitetail," he agreed, slowly. "I'll teach you. Shall we – "

He paused and open his mouth to scent. Kitetail did the same thing. ShadowClan, and RiverClan. Sootclaw was returning already and the meeting would begin soon.

" – start tomorrow?" finished Beechclaw.

Kitetail nodded, and then the two of them went out to meet the patrol.

x

Sootclaw returned with a fairly sizeable patrol behind him: Eaglestar and Toadstar had come, of course, along with their respective deputies, and Birchcloud as well. The warrior had given a short description of events to his Clan's leader (leaders?) – saving Kitetail and returning him to ThunderClan camp – but he had not yet divulged the most important piece of information. In truth, he was nervous of how they would react. What he was going to suggest, that the Moonpool was somehow the gate for the Dark Forest, was blasphemous to even think, let alone say. He wished he could talk to Dawncloud about it, but she was still resting from her journey.

They made quick work through the territory, but even so, the sun had set by the time Kitetail and Beechclaw met them outside of camp. It didn't look like a planned escort, but Sootclaw slowed and allowed himself to be led in regardless. Eaglestar offered the usual pleasantries to the ThunderClan warriors, which Beechclaw returned grudgingly, while Toadstar hung back, keeping alert. Right – Toadstar had likely never been this far into ThunderClan before. Eaglestar and Redfur had perhaps been once or twice, for battles, and Birchcloud to mentor Kitetail and exchange herbs, but Sootclaw felt like he'd been here quite often lately.

His solution to the current problem meant he'd be seeing even more of ThunderClan territory. He just needed to propose it…

As they walked into ThunderClan territory, he eyed the Highledge. Only a few moons ago he had jumped onto ShadowClan's own Highbranch to make a desperate announcement to his Clan. Doing that again would be reckless. Instead, he would discuss everything with Eaglestar first, and allow his leader to make the proclamations. Once, Sootclaw had longed to be in charge. Now he felt it was a relief to have a leader upon whom he could rely.

"Ah. Eaglestar, Toadstar. Everyone," said Slatestar, slipping out of the cave entrance that marked his den. Willowstar stood beside him, looking unimaginably frail, so different from the evil, cruel cat that Sootclaw remembered. "Welcome."

Their arrival drew curious glances from the ThunderClan cats – and WindClan cats too, Sootclaw saw, who were mixed in evenly. He didn't know any of them by name, save Stormtail and the deputy Swiftfang, but remembered faces that he had saved moons ago. He had gone to each one and pulled the darkness from their head and into his. It buzzed as he thought of it and he shuddered.

"Thank you for coming," Willowstar echoed, dipping her head to the other leaders. She had been subdued since the incident; even at Gatherings, she spoke mildly. Was she scared they still thought ill of her?

It wasn't your fault, Sootclaw wanted to say.

"Come," said Slatestar, leading them toward the centre of camp.

Eaglestar frowned. "We aren't going to your den, Slatestar?"

"Do you really think we'd all fit?" Slatestar asked, looking over their group, the faintest trace of humour sliding off his face. His eyes grew sober. "No. I want to have this meeting in the open, for the Clan. This affects all of us."

So they set up in the centre of ThunderClan camp, with the leaders in a circle, the deputies and medicine cats at their sides. The other warriors gathered a respectful distance away to listen. Sootclaw hung awkwardly on the edge of the circle until Willowstar gestured for him to come and sit beside her. He blinked gratefully at her and settled himself down awkwardly in the circle. He shouldn't be here – he wasn't nearly as important as all these other cats – but his power meant he had something important to say.

"Thank you for saving my Clan," Willowstar murmured to him as everyone settled. "For saving me."

"Of course, Willowstar," Sootclaw said, and inside he felt that same kindling warmth as when Eaglestar had praised him. "It was the right thing to do. Of course, I didn't do it alone." Russetheart had helped him, Dawncloud had been the one to tell him what to do, Lilystream and his kits had motivated him to sacrifice himself. But he didn't get a chance to explain all that, for Slatestar was calling the meeting to order.

Willowstar shared her knowledge of the attacks, detailing how the wraiths had started to appear at the edges of WindClan territory, following patrols and lurking in the mists, until at last they had begun to attack. Sootclaw listened intently, and her story confirmed his suspicion. The wraiths that WindClan had seen were on the northern boundary, closest to the Moonpool. There were none from the Horseplace on the other side - though apparently that whole side was crawling with Twolegs since the monster crash. Eventually she spoke of the attack on Rootfur, and how it had convinced them at last to leave their territory and seek shelter in ThunderClan.

Slatestar spoke next, discussing Mouseheart's disappearance. Disappearance. None of them wanted to use a different word. Sootclaw knew the truth - they all did - but no one could admit it. It had happened so quickly. It was so unfair. He glanced over at Kitetail, who was sitting a tail-length behind Slatestar. His brother had been close to disappearing too... Slatestar talked about that next and allowed Kitetail a moment to speak. The brown tabby nervously gave the details of his attack, trying to puff out his chest and conveniently not include the fact that he had been disobeying orders in the first place.

There were gasps and murmurs around camp as Kitetail told the story of the wraiths. Even though Sootclaw had given a brief explanation to Eaglestar and the others in the ShadowClan contingent, they still looked unnerved. Kitetail also mentioned that Sootclaw and Nightwind had saved him, causing everyone in the camp to look at Sootclaw. He felt uncomfortable with all the eyes on him. Being hailed as a hero had been his dream once, but now it fell flat. He had other things to worry about.

"ShadowClan has not seen any of the wraiths on our borders," Eaglestar said at last, when it was his turn. "But we had found dead prey, contaminated with the darkness, on our northeastern border. Based on this, and the stories your Clans have told, Sootclaw has come up with a theory."

Sootclaw gave a wide-eyed glance to Eaglestar. He was supposed to tell it to the Clans? He supposed he had not had a chance to tell the leaders privately. Eaglestar nodded and Sootclaw took a deep breath. He looked around the assembled cats - so many of them, watching him - until his gaze fell on Slatestar. "I think the attacks are coming from the Moonpool."

Slatestar inhaled sharply. Stormtail's eyes went wide. Larchstripe let out a hiss. They all hated to think of it. "It makes sense," Sootclaw continued. "The direction of all the attacks... why Kitetail was attacked... and the Dark Forest has always spoken about the duality of their relationship with StarClan; how when StarClan acts, they can react. Would it not make sense that the same portal we use to talk to our warrior ancestors could be used against us?"

"Sootclaw, what you're saying..." Slatestar trailed off, discomfort clear on his face. The most revered location to the Clans had become the source of their scourge. If Sootclaw was right... I am right, he thought.

"What do we do about it?" Toadstar asked, speaking for the first time. Behind him, Reedthroat lashed his tail angrily through the air, clearly troubled.

"I don't know how to stop them," Sootclaw admitted. "But I have an idea to help us prepare for them."

Everyone stared at him expectantly. Cats from all four Clans, hanging on to his words. He shivered, then straightened himself up, and when he spoke he did his best to project his voice around camp. "We need to divide between the camps - that is, we need a contingent of warriors to stay in the ThunderClan camp, so they can patrol and defend against the wraiths. Apprentices, queens, elders... they should move to the ShadowClan camp, where it will be safer. We need warriors there too, to guard them, but these warriors can rotate. Medicine cats should go, though one needs to stay here. Leaders and deputies can move between the camps too, as long as each camp has two leaders at all times."

His suggestion was met by silence, and then murmurs. Some cats were nodding, while others where whispering to each other, perhaps in surprise or dismissal. "We'd be losing Clan structure," said Redfur, but it was not a criticism. Her voice was thoughtful.

"I know," said Sootclaw. Cats from all four Clans would be dispersed throughout the two territories. It would be unlike anything they'd done before. The Warrior Code told them to keep boundaries, to put their Clans first, to ensure that there would be always be four Clans. "But we've already started down this road. RiverClan living with ShadowClan. WindClan seeking shelter with ThunderClan. We need to put aside the restrictions of the Code and work together."

That was met by more nodding, and approval from the four leaders, who then began to discuss who would go where. Sootclaw saw an opportunity to back out from the circle as they began to discuss it. He already knew that he would be staying in ThunderClan camp and charged with leading patrols due to his enhanced senses, so he walked over to the fresh-kill pile and ate for the first time since sun-high.

It wasn't long before a group of cats had assembled by the path out of ThunderClan. All of the ThunderClan and WindClan apprentices, queens, and kits were leaving. Grasscloud and Slatestar were saying their goodbyes as their kits bounced between Grasscloud's legs. Kitetail was there too, as were a group of warriors, ready to act as guards. Beechclaw and Auburnfur were among them, as were two WindClan cats. Eaglestar and Willowstar were headed back as well. They were promising to send back ShadowClan warriors. It made sense that Toadstar would stay instead of Willowstar, as the she-cat was in a very physically fragile state. Hopefully she would get the rest she needed in ShadowClan.

After they left, the ThunderClan camp felt different. Empty. Sombre. Everyone was quiet, their expressions serious as they moved around camp. Slatestar organized patrols and watches. Luckily Sootclaw was given a reprieve from duty after his stressful afternoon, and so the grey tom made his own nest in the now-vacant apprentices den. He curled up in a patch of moss and strangely found himself thinking about Dawncloud, who had spent moons in here. Where had she slept? The thought gave him the comfort needed to get over the strange new scents and the encroaching feeling of dread, and he eventually managed to fall asleep.

.

Some time after sleep took him, Sootclaw opened his eyes to a familiar face. It was not one he had ever seen before, but one that he knew instantly from having felt its sheer horror in Dawncloud's mind. "Thistleclaw," he breathed. The enemy of old, of legend. He had led armies against the Clans many years ago. Now he was here, standing in front of Sootclaw, flexing his claws in the –

Sootclaw was about to say moonlight, but there was none. There was only darkness above him, and the tall trunks of trees rising up through the grey air. Below him was stone, slick with blood. He scrambled backward. His initial reaction was to panic, to fear that they had taken him the same way they had taken Dawncloud, that they had used the darkness in his brain to pull him deeper. But some part of him knew that this was only a dream. The edges of the Dark Forest were hazy. His own body, translucent. His paws hovered an inch above the stone.

"Hello, Sootclaw," said Thistleclaw, mildly.

"You can't do this," Sootclaw said. It couldn't be happening. "You can't take me here, not without StarClan having done something first – you don't have the power!"

Thistleclaw cocked his head. "Don't we?"

Sootclaw got to his paws and willed himself to wake up. When that failed, he tried to call to Dawncloud. But she felt far away, and the darkness in his head was fully awake, buzzing in his brain like a cloud of smoky black wasps.

"StarClan walks in the dreams of their chosen," said Thistleclaw. "Why can't we?"

Was this the retaliation for Kitetail's warning, come moons later? Sootclaw shook his head and bared his teeth. "I'm not your chosen."

"No," agreed Thistleclaw. "You chose us, when you took that darkness into your own mind."

"I saved those cats," Sootclaw said. "I saved WindClan. With Russetheart."

"And you know what happened to Russet." Thistleclaw made a point of using his rogue name.

What? "What happened to Russetheart?"

Thistleclaw's eyes widened in delight. "Oh, you don't know? Did Dawncloud not tell you? Russet is down here, with us."

"No."

"Yes," Thistleclaw crowed. "The darkness in his mind pulled him down here when he died… he never made it to StarClan, was never a RiverClan warrior… and you, you have that same darkness in your mind."

"No." Sootclaw felt as though ice had grown over his chest. Thistleclaw had to be lying to him. Dawncloud would have mentioned it… The darkness in his head beat louder.

"You're going to die, Sootclaw," said Thistleclaw, now idly examining his claws, as if this was the most casual statement in the world. "And when you do, you'll join us in the Dark Forest." He paused. "Or."

"Or?" Sootclaw repeated, the words pulled painfully from his throat. He shouldn't ask. He shouldn't know. But…

"You can help us. You can make the world above one we can all stay in. You'll never have to be trapped down here with us, to know our torment. We can have the upper world… and you can be what you've always dreamed: ShadowClan's leader." Thistleclaw locked his gaze, hard.

"I'll never join you or listen to you," Sootclaw spat back. How could they believe he'd fall for this? "I'm nothing like my father. You can't tempt me with ambition. I'm proud to be a warrior of ShadowClan, to support my leader and deputy, and I'll earn my respect."

Thistleclaw chuckled. "On the contrary… you're exactly like your father."

Sootclaw frowned. What was that supposed to mean? It hurt more than it should have, and he tried to shake it off. He couldn't listen to anything that Thistleclaw said. The tom was evil, and more likely to lie than not.

"You tasted power tonight, Sootclaw," Thistleclaw continued. "Everyone listened to you. Didn't that feel good? You could have it all the time... But if that doesn't tempt you, how about your kits?"

Sootclaw jerked his head up. "What?"

"Right now you're nothing but a weak warrior. Lilystream is dead. Your own brother hates you. You're losing Dawncloud too – she's always going to put ThunderClan before you now. Not to mentioned you're doomed to rot in the Dark Forest for eternity. But your kits… I could bring them to you. I could create a world where you could live together, as a family. I could do that… it would be so easy."

"You're lying," Sootclaw hissed. Were his kits dead? Were they somehow in the Dark Forest? Or could Thistleclaw send wraiths into the real world to find them?

"Am I?" Thistleclaw asked. He did not elaborate. "Are you willing to take that bet?"

"Of course. You can't tempt me."

"But I already am tempting you, Sootclaw." Thistleclaw sighed. "Bring us, hmm, let's say – Owlfeather. You don't care about him – he's an enemy warrior. Bring him to us and I'll bring you your kits."

"You don't have that power," said Sootclaw, steadfast. "I won't betray the trust of the Clans. I won't be like you. I'm not evil."

As the words left his mouth he felt his body begin to shimmer and become opaque and he rose up from the darkness. He was waking up, then. He meant what he said, as he began to vanish from the dream. He would never turn on the Clans, would never become evil. Not in a thousand moons. But Thistleclaw's words had unnerved him. The idea that Dawncloud had kept this secret from him, that he was destined to return here, that Thistleclaw was right and he had lost his whole family...

"Think about it, Sootclaw," called Thistleclaw from below. "And take a good look before you go – after all, this could be your home for eternity."

The last thing Sootclaw saw before he woke were Thistleclaw's eyes glinting in the grey light of the no-sky.

X

A/N: This ended up longer than I expected, took a lot to discuss the camps moving, but oh well. I should have introduced this dream to Sootclaw earlier on the story, but hey. At least I know what I'm doing with him now. He's so grown up! Plus Kitetail has finally realized his motivation! You guys are now officially caught up to me in terms of writing which means things might take a little bit longer (I know, I know) while I refine my outline. On the bright side this is the halfway point of the story.

IronDirewolf: Thanks for checking in! Thickfur's story has been planned from the start, too bad it took us so long to get there (my bad). As for Elmheart, I honestly at this point am unsure what he's going to do. Maybe I shouldn't admit it, but it's the one question mark in my outline haha.

Next chapter, which I have just started writing, will be be back to Fogpaw.

Thanks for reading and please review!

- PV :)