Chapter 29

"Can't be much longer now, can it?" Lightstar said. "You can finally get what you want."

"I'm not going to swoop right in after his mate dies. I'm not going to ever," I told her. "I'm the cat who deserves to die. I couldn't even attempt it knowing I don't actually care about this. She's going to die and I don't care! I'm an awful cat."

"This is what she gets for standing in your way. You have every right to not care, though you should be happy," Lightstar said. "You can get what you want."

"I don't want this! I don't want anyone to die! You should except that he didn't choose you because you don't deserve anyone. I don't deserve anyone!" I said. "So just stop this."

"Shut up," Lightstar growled. "This isn't about me."

"Isn't it?" I asked. "Isn't this all because Duskpelt didn't share your feelings? Because I really think this is about you."

"Are you really trying to anger me?" she asked.

"Do what you want, I deserve it," I told her.

She seemed a little taken aback by this. "You should care," she said.

"Well, I don't. It's not like I don't have only so long left in the Clan anyway. Go on," I said. "Do your worst."

I had a tactic behind this, a mostly mouse-brained idea that might be just mouse-brained enough to work. If I didn't care she wouldn't hold any power over me. I honestly didn't care if I died at this point and wasn't terribly needed. Maybe it'll work.

She glared at me, seeming to not know what to say. She darted forward and raked her claws down my side. I winced, but held an indifferent expression.

"Have fun," I told her.

She didn't really know what to do. She just stormed off. Maybe I can make this thing livable.

I woke up to Tallblaze dealing with the wound. "Hey," I said.

"What happened this time?" he asked quietly.

"I stopped caring, that's what," I said. "Before you say anything I actually have reason behind it. If I don't care she can't make me do anything. It won't affect me."

"That's actually not a bad idea," he said. "I bet she was annoyed though."

"Yeah, that's for certain," I said. "She got pretty mad and just stormed off. I may be able to deal with this yet."

"When did you get that idea?" Tallblaze asked.

"Last night," I answered.

"So just a random idea you decided wouldn't hurt to try?" Tallblaze asked.

"Yup," I said.

"Well, I hope it works," he said.

I noticed this wasn't the medicine cat den. "Why are we in the apprentice den?" I asked.

"Songheart went into labor so Frostbite had me move you for a little more privacy," he told me. "And then I noticed your scratch so I dealt with that."

"Do you need to go and help with the delivery of the kits?" I asked.

"They have a few cats in there with her since she isn't expected to live, it's better off we don't overcrowd the place," Tallblaze said. "I hope everything is going okay."

"Yeah," I agreed.

"So what are we going to do about Flurrytail?" Tallblaze asked, changing the topic. "If she tells Wingstar about your forced training in the Dark Forest things aren't going to end well."

"I don't know," I answered. "Is there anything we can do? We all knew something bad was coming, but I didn't expect this."

"I thought we'd just have to be a little more careful, but there's nothing we can do to stop it," Tallblaze said. "She can get you alone no problem."

"And something tells me next time I'll be a little worse off than a sprain," I said. "She seemed pretty annoyed that they had got me out of there."

"I know she's been threatening everyone not to tell for so long, but I think it's about time we try and expose her," Tallblaze said. "We'll need evidence first, but I think it's the best course of action at the time."

"You really think that'll work without me taking her down with me?" Flurrytail asked, sliding into the den. "Because it would be that easy to let it slip."

"Why are you always around?" Tallblaze asked.

"It's called spying," Flurrytail said.

"When you're spying you don't make yourself known. That's just annoying," Tallblaze said. "Can't you mind your own business?"

"You're literally talking about me," Flurrytail said. "How is that not my business?"

"I'm sure you talk about us so I don't think you have any right to complain about that," Tallblaze told her.

"I wasn't complaining, just stating it's my business. And everyone else is busy with Songheart dying," Flurrytail said. "What a joyous occasion, right Deathfire?"

"No, it's not," I told Flurrytail. "Shut up."

"Oh please, we both know you're happy about this," Flurrytail said. "After all, you're quite the jealous one."

"Shut up," I said, my voice a little more unsure this time.

"Just leave, fox-heart," Tallblaze told her.

"Why should I?" Flurrytail asked. "Unless you're a bit of a jealous fox-heart too."

"Stop purposely trying to start drama. Shorty is my sister. No more, no less," Tallblaze said. "So get your fox-dung outta here if you value your life."

"That's what anyone in denial would say," Flurrytail stated. She left, head high.

"The lengths she'd go to start drama," Tallblaze muttered.

"Honestly, it's stupid. No one would think 'I'm in love' and then become a medicine cat," I said. "That would make no sense."

"Tell that to Flurrytail," he said. He sighed. "Things are about to get a lot worse, aren't they?"

"Yup," I answered. "By a lot."

"And there's no just being careful now that she's deputy. She can easily single any one of us off," he said. "I just wonder what she's planning."

"Well, it seems like her first plan is to get me either exiled or executed," I said.

"No, as much as she enjoys toying with us she's never seemed like one to wait. She has a plan, a reason. She's waiting for something is my guess," he said. "What that something is I don't know."

Waiting for something? If she's waiting for all the Clans to hate me she'd have already done it. "How are we going to prevent what we know nothing about?" I asked.

"I don't know," he said. "I really don't."

"Have you talked to the others about it?" I asked.

"No. I'll do it soon. I might have to wait a little bit after this, but I'll do it as soon as possible," he answered.

"Maybe if I just disappeared it would solve a few problems," I said. "Went off and lived as a rouge or loner."

"Shorty, we both know you'd be tracked down and killed if you did that," Tallblaze said. "Flurrytail wouldn't just let one of us walk away at this point, or at least I don't think she would. Maybe. But it's still dangerous."

"I'll get exiled for no reason eventually or even executed, and all I'm causing here are problems anyway," I said.

"Shorty, it's not safe. At least we're here to help when you're in trouble now. Then you'd be on your own. And we'd miss you too," Tallblaze said. "And if you went I would follow you. Even if I can't stop you, I can make sure you're safe."

"But you're needed here," I told him.

"And you aren't?" he asked.

"No, I'm not," I answered.

"Yes you are," he told me. "Shorty, we need you here. You're our friend. And we'll figure this out. Don't give up and leave. We got this."

"What if we don't got this?" I asked.

"Then we'll find a way so we do," Tallblaze said.

Author Note: Guess who wrote twelve chapters over the weekend? I only have about eight more until I finish with the next book so I'm not sure how much longer it will be, but I should finish it soon after school is out if not before then. Anyway, I'm tired so leave a review and I'll see y'all next week!

-Rowan W