Auroradawn's POV

The grass was fading around me, the sun and the sky too. All my thoughts had sizzled out as I didn't move, not even to get up or look at the cat that I thought I knew. My body felt cold as ice, and only Goldenstar's voice managed to pull me back.

"Very good work, Smokycloud," Goldenstar sighed. "Auroradawn, let's head back to camp. If you're half as reasonable as Smokycloud, this'll be over before you know it. Get up now."

I brought myself to my paws, using all the strength within myself to slowly turn my head to meet Smokycloud's eyes. Only, she wasn't meeting mine, she had already started walking back to camp. The cold within my body was replaced with a raging red hot that ran through my body and clouded my vision, and I ran to her side, staring her down.

"Was this your plan?" I growled. "Seduce me so you could throw me to her and become leader?"

"Auroradawn," Smokycloud shook her head like a mother would watching her kit throw a tantrum. "You know this could've gone differently if you had just listened to me."

"Why are you whispering?" I asked as my ears flattened. "She doesn't know what you almost did to her, does she?"

"You keep your mouth shut," Smokycloud snarled, turning around and glaring at me with her piercing amber eyes.

"Why, is poor Smokycloud never ever going to become lead-"

I felt my heart jolt and my mind go blank as I felt a sharp strike against my face, and in the moments that followed, I thought back to my heart soaring with every moment I spent with her as apprentices, and the moment I opened my heart to her. All the times we walked with our pelts brushing against each other, or looked into each other's eyes. And what she did just moments before Goldenstar showed up, wasn't that supposed to be a moment where we became one? Shared our love with one another? Why did I feel so...used?

I slowly, shakily, lifted my paw to my face, and flinched as I felt a stinging sensation where I had placed my paw. Pulling it back, I saw blood sticking to my paw. I dropped my paw back onto the dirt, and stared at Smokycloud as she ran towards camp. Goldenstar walked towards me, and I took several steps back.

"Just keep quiet, until you're spoken to," Goldenstar ordered. "We're going to gather you, Crowsky, and whoever the remaining ill cat is, and help you. There's no need to fear, just follow my directions, and you'll be okay."

I started shaking, staring at the camp ahead. Would she make an example out of one of us, leaving my Clanmate floating in the red water of the Raging River? My chest tightened at the thought of Grizzlyheart, or tiny Crowsky being tossed to the water to the cheers of our Clanmates. If it weren't for them wandering around camp, unaware of the looming threat seconds away, I would've ran the same way Leopardpelt left and never looked back. But I followed Goldenstar, and the silence followed us until we entered camp. Smokycloud was standing in front of Darkheart, the two turning to look at me and Goldenstar as we walked back into camp.

"Hey, oh StarClan!" Crowsky emerged from the warriors' den, bolting to my side and staring at my face. "Who did this?"

"Quiet, Crowsky," Darkheart growled, walking towards the tom. "Come over here, now."

I remembered my conversation with Smokycloud at the vigil, when I told her about Crowsky and Grizzlyheart, and I felt like I wanted to vomit. This was my fault for confiding in her, and despite my refusal to help her, I still did.

And I didn't even know it.

"Stand next to Crowsky," Goldenstar turned her back to me. "Attention all cats that can catch their own prey, come forward!"

"We'll be back in a little bit," I heard Ursula promising the meowing bundles in the Nursery, with Meredith and Foxtail already heading towards us.

"Don't sit close to Auroradawn and Crowsky," Darkheart ordered our Clanmates as they began to gather. "They're infected."

Primroseleaf shrieked, taking several steps back before sitting down. Several other warriors, including Moonblaze and Foxtail, gave wide-eyed expressions as they sat near Primroseleaf. Spike and Pacifica glanced at each other, before looking back at their deputy.

"Then what exactly are they doing here?" Spike asked.

"You will find out shortly," Darkheart promised. "Smokycloud was once sick like them, but with our help, she's a cured cat."

Smokycloud glanced at Darkheart before looking at our Clanmates, puffing out her chest as her tail swished from side to side. If I was only a fox-length closer, I could catch that tail in my claws and swipe that expression off her face. Then, I saw Sandypelt and Ursula sit down, the former staring at Crowsky with a look that could kill. Tawnybranch and Heavyfang sat next to them, their heads close as they whispered, sneaking glances at their daughter. Grizzlyheart sat next to his parents, glancing at Crowsky and his sister back and forth as he tilted his head. Swancry sat down, staring at Darkheart and not even meeting my eyes. Snowfern and Lazuli were the ones who dared to sit closer to us, the white she-cat looking at me with a gentle blink of her eyes. Lazuli glanced at Darkheart and Smokycloud, followed by a roll of her eyes.

"You warriors with your dramatics," Lazuli huffed. "Your Clan has handled greencough many times before, what's different this time?"

"This is not greencough," Darkheart glanced at Goldenstar as she joined her mate's side, the tom wrapping his tail around her. "Goldenstar will explain."

I turned to Crowsky, mouthing "I'm sorry" to my cousin. Crowsky tilted his head, and he almost opened his mouth when Goldenstar started talking.

"DragonClan," Goldenstar surveyed all the cats around us. "A cat in StarClan has told me of a prophecy of four cats that would be born in this Clan, with an illness we've never seen before. One where they refuse to have kits, or even a real mate. Instead, these she-cats will lust after other she-cats, and toms with other toms-"

"Wait!"

"Snowfern? It better be important," Goldenstar shook her head.

"I know what you're talking about, it's not an illness!" Snowfern explained. "The Clan I came from has many gay cats, including my sister!"

My heart skipped a beat as I glanced back at the fluffy cat's wide eyes. A Clan, full of cats like me?

"Snowfern," Goldenstar's fur bristled. "If I hear another word about your evil Clan, I'll gouge your eyes out myself."

"Speaking of which, where are my daughters at?" I heard Sandypelt mutter.

Snowfern stared down at the ground, Lazuli glancing at her and placing a paw over her own. I turned back to see Goldenstar and Darkheart whispering to each, and looked at Smokycloud. She was staring at them, her tail still as a dead branch. My heart sunk as I took her in; my eyes began to water. Goldenstar broke away from her mate, looking back at the Clan.

"Smokycloud came forward as soon as she knew something was off," Goldenstar explained. "And now's she picked Boltkit as her future mate."

I flinched as I heard several yowls and cheers behind me, my claws sinking into the dirt as I stared at the Raging River in the distance. I could recognize Tawnybranch and Heavyfang's voices in the yowling, and I glanced up to see Smokycloud grinning and squirming like a kit ready to play with her littermates. To see her acting like that, in a way that she never did when we were together, brought claws sinking deeper in my heart.

"We had her find the other diseased, and Crowsky also confessed," Goldenstar continued. "He was paired up with Auroradawn, but when Smokycloud tested her, Auroradawn was quick to forget about toms and become her 'mate.'"

I heard a she-cat scream behind me, and I looked over to see Swancry's paws clasped over her mouth, staring at me as if I murdered another cat in front of her. She started shaking, her eyes darting over to Goldenstar.

"P-Please…" Swancry whimpered. "Fix my daughter."

"Unfortunately, it seems that I cannot force a cure," Goldenstar sighed. "But Darkheart did tell me that Smokycloud has discovered the last cat in hiding, would you like to share with us who that is?"

Oh no, she didn't.

"The last cat with the...sickness, is my brother," Smokycloud looked directly at him. "Grizzlyheart."

"No!" Tawnybranch shrieked, turning on her son. "You have two she-cats that want you! Two! They need to have your kits-"

"You crazy bitch," Grizzlyheart hissed, getting up. As he passed our Clanmates, they shrieked and jumped out of the way as they stared at him with wide eyes. Darkheart glared at him, unsheathing his claws as Grizzlyheart sat down next to Crowsky and put his tail around the small black tom.

"We love each other," Grizzlyheart sat up straight, staring right at the deputy. "That's no illness, no matter what your StarClan cat says."

I glanced at Crowsky, who let out a small sound before burying his face into Grizzlyheart's shoulder. I bunched my legs together in case Darkheart chose to strike at them. Darkheart's fur bristled for a few moments, before his fur fell flat as he stared at his adoptive son.

"Crowsky," Darkheart meowed. "My dear son, there's so much for you if you listen to us and give our Clan kits to be proud of. And with this brute, you can't bring new life. Ever. Don't you want kits to play with, take to the rose bushes, and create the family you never had?"

Crowsky pulled his face out of his mate's shoulder, staring at his Dad for what felt like moons before he spoke.

"I have all the family I need right here," Crowsky's shoulders fell as he stared at the ground. "But I miss Mom, and I don't want you to stop being my father. But I can't do that, not even for you. I love you, and I'm sorry."

The tears began falling down my cheeks and into the grass as I leaned against Crowsky as he sobbed in between me and Grizzlyheart. Me and Crowsky cried together as Grizzlyheart sighed and stretched his foreleg to embrace both of us.

"You brought this upon yourselves," Darkheart snarled. "The only kits I have are the ones inside Goldenstar's belly. Goldenstar, where do we go from here?"

"The diseased cannot change unless they want to, I know that now," Goldenstar told her mate. "And killing them is against the warrior code, that leaves banishing them from DragonClan. If any of you three have changed your mind and want to be cured, please speak now."

"Look at the two of you, crying," Darkheart sneered. "Clearly this life you've chosen for yourself will only lead to pain, so just accept this gift. Now."

Despite the deputy standing up and unsheathing his claws, none of us spoke. Grizzlyheart stopped embracing us, standing up and easily outsizing Darkheart in a silent stand-off.

"Very well," Goldenstar said. "Auroradawn, Crowsky, and Grizzlyheart. You are now banished from DragonClan, forever. You are no longer allowed on DragonClan territory, and if any of DragonClan sees you on our territory by next sunrise, I'm giving my Clan permission to kill you on sight."

"I'm leaving too."

Goldenstar's eyes widened as she heard Snowfern's voice.

"W-Wait, what's wrong? I just didn't want you spreading lies to the Clan!" Goldenstar held her front paws up. "That doesn't mean you have to leave."

"It's clear why StarClan needed me here, to save these three from this evil Clan," Snowfern hissed.

Wait, StarClan sent her here?

"I'm leaving with her," Lazuli decided. "This Clan is a joke."

"We're also leaving," Spike meowed. "Me and Pacifica aren't going to have kits to make you happy, so what's the point of staying?"

"Wait, we can talk about this!" Goldenstar protested.

"I think we've heard enough," Lazuli snarled, standing up and walking away. "C'mon Snowfern, let's get the fuck out of here."

I turned around and followed Lazuli, Grizzlyheart and Crowsky following me. Swancry and Tawnybranch blocked the way, causing Crowsky to shriek and hide behind Grizzlyheart.

"Son, you don't have to be mates with those flea-brains," Tawnybranch sighed. "No wonder you thought you had to settle for him, you never got to be around a real she-cat. But Goldenstar can give you one of the she-kits as an apprentice, and just maybe, you could fall in love with her. Please just try, for me?"

"If you loved me-" Grizzlyheart shoved his mother out of the way, causing Heavyfang to run over to his fallen mate. "-you'd respect my decision. Swancry, if you try to keep your daughter here, I will tear your pelt a new one. Got it?"

Swancry shrieked, running off. I glanced at Grizzlyheart as he sighed and shook his head.

"Sorry about that, I'd never do that to your mother," Grizzlyheart whispered in my ear. "Let's go before Darkheart and the others decide to let loose on us."

I paused, glancing over at Smokycloud sitting in front of Goldenstar and Darkheart, her tail dancing away in the air. I made up my mind, and I glanced at Grizzlyheart.

"I'll be right there, there's one last thing I need to do," I told him. Grizzlyheart nodded, and he walked away with his mate close by.

I walked towards the three cats, and Smokycloud stood up, blocking the leader and deputy from my reach as she unsheathed her claws.

"Hey Goldenstar?" I spoke up loud enough. "You should probably know that your precious cured warrior had asked me several times to help her murder both you and Darkheart, even when you started expecting kits."

"She's lying!" Smokycloud glanced back at Goldenstar and Darkheart.

"What would I gain from lying?" I pointed out. "Goldenstar, she's wanted to be leader for moons. Do you think she'd hesitate to kill the both of you if given the chance?"

I turned around, walking away. Still, I glanced over my shoulder.

"I don't think you should wait to find out," I told her, before meeting my former mate's wide amber eyes. "Goodbye, Smokycloud."

"You whore!" Smokycloud screamed, lunging for me. I jumped out of her reach, running towards the group of cats that were leaving. Spike and Pacifica walked behind me, blocking Smokycloud from lunging at me again. Snowfern stopped following us, turning around and walking towards the fallen she-cat. Crowsky broke away from his mate, following her.

Crowsky's POV

"Smokycloud, there's no future for you here," Snowfern whispered just within my earshot. "Please, come with us. You don't even have to find the same home as your Clanmates, you can find a different Clan to accept you besides PhoenixClan or FireClan. Any of them will be better for you than this."

I nearly jumped as I saw Smokycloud lift her face out of the grass, shaking off specks of dirt from her face and closing her eyes.

"N-No, what I've done is unforgivable," Smokycloud croaked.

"You were following your leader's orders," Snowfern tried to place her paw over Smokycloud's paw, but the dark brown she-cat yanked her paw back.

"That's not it, I r…ra…" Smokycloud shook her head and got up. "Get out of here."

"Smokycloud," I spoke up, walking closer to my former Clanmate. "I know you told on my mate, but I'm sure he'll forgive you over time."

"And you?" Snowfern glanced at me.

"I'll already have," I stepped closer, pressing my head against Smokycloud's shoulder. Smokycloud growled, and I took several steps back. "Come with us?"

"Or at least don't stay here?" Snowfern added, to which Smokycloud shook her head.

"I'm loyal to DragonClan," Smokycloud declared loudly, glancing back at Goldenstar. "And I don't care that I told on my loser brother, that's...that's not what I was trying to say anyway."

Then what did she do that was so unforgivable?

"StarClan protect you," Snowfern whispered, turning away and walking back to the group of exiles. I opened my mouth, only to find myself without the words. After several seconds, I slowly turned away and glanced over my shoulder.

"Goodbye, sister-in-spirit," It was the best name for the sister of my mate, the cat I'd spoken to all those moons ago. Perhaps it was for the best that she may never become leader, her dreams of forcing the other Clans to bend to her will would've only led to bloodshed. And yet, despite everything, I still felt my heart tugging in her direction as I broke eye contact and walked towards the group of former DragonClan warriors.

"My sisters are probably hunting," I told Grizzlyheart and the others. "Let's go say goodbye to them before Goldenstar tells them why we left."

"Mm, good idea," Grizzlyheart nodded. "Better now than later. Could you guys form a circle around us? They might hold me down as soon as they find out."

"Of course," Snowfern purred, walking to my mate's right side. The other four cats formed the best circle they could, which wasn't saying much. Auroradawn joined my left side, her body shaking as she walked next to me.

"Oh Auroradawn," I stretched my tail to rest on her haunches. "I promise we weren't going to force you two to be near each other. We just couldn't bear to leave her to Goldenstar and Darkheart, no cat deserves that."

Auroradawn flinched as my tail touched her, and she stepped out of my reach.

"S-Sorry, I don't know what's gotten into me," Auroradawn stammered. "Just don't touch me."

"Oh," I felt a pang in my heart for my cousin. "I didn't mean to hurt you."

"You didn't," Auroradawn finally glanced at me, only for a moment. "Let's find your sisters."

I sniffed the air, relieved to smell a familiar scent in the direction of the Moon-Oak. Squinting my eyes, I could even make out a white and...red shape? Was Weak-Eye okay?! I jumped out of the circle of cats that surrounded me and Grizzlyheart, drowning out the shouts as I bolted towards the Moon-Oak. Just as I registered Daisyfire's scent, I stopped and saw Weak-Eye's wide grin, exposing her red and white teeth. Shaking, I slowly glanced down at her red paws and the limp tortoiseshell body underneath them.

"D-Daisyfire?"