Embers and Ashes

by Wolfcreations22

In Sootpaw's and Flarepaw's world, hierarchy is everything. Rank determines how easy or how difficult your life in the clan plays out. One is a Commoner- a low rank- one is destined to become a Grand Royal- the highest rank. Their worlds are the same- connected- yet, entirely different. The two struggle in their... *Rest inside* (Will come back on January 7th 2022)

108. Chapter 101: Flood

A/N: Ayy, got both of my doses of the vaccine and I didn't feel like dying from the side effects. What a stroke of luck. Anywho, on another note, I think we've surpassed 1 million words so that's wild lol. This story is so long and I'm not even gonna apologize for it. Got the week to myself and I'm all for it, I get to blast my music as loud as I want without anybody telling me anything.

Reviews

Hissing Mist- It's not that she isn't believing it's him, it's more that she doesn't want to believe it's him. Knowing your father is an abuser and horrible is one thing, and knowing he murdered someone just to get to you is another. (Self-blame and guilt anyone? I gotcha covered.) Heh… funny you mention that. It's gonna get wild and I hope you guys don't hate me for it (I have no regrets for what's coming). Yes, that is completely the reason she can't come back XD. Her adorableness is too much for this world to handle. Nice choices, foxes are cute. Cats don't like me for whatever reason, and wolves are my favorite.

Pengu54324- Here we go y'all. Make sure you're strapped in tight, it's gonna get bumpy. Oh, he's definitely the kind to do that. And yes, his MO usually doesn't mean he gets his own paws dirty, but… if you want something done right, you do it yourself. So many possibilities and no way to truly trace it back to anyone. Thanks! Still blows my mind we're 100 chapters in. It helps to have a "page count minimum" and yes; page count, not word count. I don't let myself write anything less than 25 pages total (excluding the amount it takes to answer reviews and whatnot). So, yeah. I have a lot to work with too. The problem isn't coming up with things, it's condensing them. I'm no god of writing, but I appreciate the compliment haha :).

Songmistle (Guest)- Cats are great, but they usually don't like me. I only remember one cat that let me pet it and that's it T-T They don't like me. Oh hey, we did! I didn't even notice that until you pointed it out haha. 1000k+ Man. I gotta calm down lol. I got both of my doses so I wish the best of luck to your sister. But can Rainkit truly survive in this world now? Nah, she ain't gonna blame Whiteshadow. She knows he'd never do that. She's just worried (and conflicted). Ayy, I live in California as well. (Bay Area baby.) We're in a drought? Honestly, at this point, you can tell me it's gonna snow tomorrow here and I'll believe you XD. Answer time, in order; can't answer that cause spoilers, yes, spoilers, they can't do that until the hierarchy system is destroyed, and of the main cast… White will definitely go to Leaf, as would raindrop just because Leaf is the most peaceful, Wind would join her, as would Bluepaw. Let's just say most everybody will pick either Leaf or Red (mostly Leaf) and only the murder-hobos will go with Cloud (so, like, Wildfire and Tigergaze and whatnot).

Warriors27- I love all animals too. Well, learning about them, but yeah. It's a great movie. I love the animation, the music, and just the fact that it's a story from a horse's perspective. Sharks are pretty freaking awesome and I wish they didn't have such a bad rep. Fingers crossed that Wildfire gets the ending he deserves (and it's not a good one). Maybe Flarepaw's can, but considering there's a lot of other players now (*cough* our friends in Stormclan *cough*) Who knows what can happen? (I know. I know what's gonna happen and I can't wait.)

KyubiMaster9- So many characters need their own protection squad XD Everyone's in danger at this point, especially at this point. Fingers crossed raindrop can get through this with help. (Might wanna add Flarekitty.) you don't know how badly I just want to let Whiteshadow throw Wildfire down the gorge. Temptation is so hard to resist lol. Foxes are wonderful. Thanks for the question! I'll definitely consider using it :).

Echofire (Guest)- Nightstone didn't cripple Berrypaw and Thornpaw. They were already crippled before he started on his mission. (They may get in the crossfire though, who knows?) Sorry if I scared you. I made it seem like she was going to because Windpaw thought she was going to- and we were in Windy's perspective so, yeah. Wow. There's something so touching about you continuing to read my story despite not being into Warriors, so thanks so much! :) It really means a lot to me.

Rainbow Badge (Guest)- Yeah broooo, there's gonna be a battle XD. Gotta keep it spicy and dramatic, no? Thanks for considering rereading it, considering it's over 100 chapters now and that's no easy feat haha. I… I have no words for what you wrote. It's simply brilliant. I'll hand over the rights of this story to you XD Just, the switch in tone between the two settings. Amazing. Daughter throwing father off a cliff is a valid bonding moment if you ask me. At least in the case of Flarepaw and Wildfire. You really did spoil it, how dare you lol. Forestclan is a fun cast to play with. Leafstar is literally perfect (she isn't, but you get the gist). And yeah, almost everybody had a crush on Cherry at one point or another. Stormclan definitely needs brightening up, that place is bleak. As much as I dislike Cloverpaw, cause reasons, it did hurt to write that part cause like… yeah, she's a jerk, was a jerk to raindrop and all, but she has feelings too, you know? And she cared for Specklepaw. This whole story is a tragedy. Me-sized, lol. Idk why I find that funny. Let's just say everyone's alive and no one's dead, good? Good. Flareflame is hilarious and I will never in good conscience do that to her XD Maybe as a joke. Do… Do warriors even know what pineapple is? I'm not gonna question it haha. I won't say they have a "bridge" rematch, but will they have a "rematch" rematch?... muahaha. I'm so proud of my kittens, they've grown up. Wildfire does know. Wildfire don't care. So long as he gets what he wants. (Wolfstorm taught him that: stop at nothing and do whatever it takes to get what you want. No matter the casualties). Ripplewave needs the biggest pay raise out of everyone. I love all my medicine cats. I don't think medicine cats usually get a lot of love in stories. Who's basically a god XD LOL I can confirm that Roseberry is a god who's just done with loitering with these mortals. In my head, Sootblaze is pretty lean. He's got the lean muscle, he's built more for speed. Nightstone is average size, I will say XD but don't let that stop you from imagining him as a gremlin. Thornblaze was pretty buff. That's a hilarious imagining of Flarekitty but I love it. She's definitely the one with the leather jacket and the motorcycle. (Her and Windpaw constantly race and are a hazard to society.) She's basically a little duckling seeking Windpaw's attention haha. Drippingduck is so freaking cute, what the hell? Meme away the pain- that's the best therapy. I don't have any memories of when I was a strange child, but I'm sure there's some. I do remember reading somewhere that that kind of sleep schedule is more accurate or healthy, I suppose. Kinda impossible nowadays though. I think I've only ever ridden a horse once and it was the best day ever. It was on a beach too, it was very cinematic. Evolution is weird and animals of the past look so creepy. I don't know if it's Assassin bugs that I'm thinking about or something else, but I know there's a bug out there that basically does that straw mouth thingy, stabs a person, and then straight up… umm… defecates in the wound. And when a person scratches it, it obviously makes it worse, and tada! Disease. Congrats. One would think snails are harmless, but cone snails are out for blood. I love poison dart frogs and all their bright colors, despite the danger. The sheer size that animals used to be, like the Titanoboa, freaks me out so much and I'm like… yep, I'm dead. I won't even fight it, I'd just accept it like, yeah, this is the end. Farewell, y'all. You got out of answering the question, very sneaky.

reading at 3am is normal- Yeah. I've always had a sensitivity to heat. Gives me headaches and nosebleeds, not a fun time. I would just get a cold water bottle and let it rest against my forehead with my head tilted back like I'm a unicorn. It works surprisingly well. I don't think I've ever pulled all-nighters before, since I usually do my work for school in the morning, but I've spent the whole day before doing it and it was not fun. I can't take naps for whatever reason unless I'm really sick. The poison being fed to the High Ranks is only happening in Forestclan right now, not the other two. Nightstone hasn't gotten that far to recruit others outside his clan yet, but that's not to say he isn't trying at least. I have not watched Game of Thrones either so I have no idea what that is haha. Exciting and tough times ahead! Strap in y'all. I love barn owls for the sheer fact that they are silent fliers. You won't know one's coming at you until it's on top of you. I will admit, horses are kinda creepy with that fact haha, but I still love them. They are just so majestic and my favorite toys used to be a cowboy-horse duo that I used in every game. Good times. All animals can be creepy in some way, but I think that's what makes them fascinating :).

The Unnamed Guest- Ayy, binge-reading is always fun to do. I still have basically an entire month left of school so that sucks haha. Lucky you though. That would be such a chaotic spin-off series XD I think the sanest cat would probably be Roseberry by this point. But yeah, most everybody is unstable so I don't know if that's saying a lot about her. I really hope you guys like her name. GR Flarestar would be awesome. Maybe in a different lifetime… Or maybe in this one, we'll see. I'm glad you liked it! It was the hardest I ever worked on any of the characters and I don't know why, but I really like how his backstory turned out. Well, it's either drown themselves or live constantly paranoid that their ancestors are going to harm them in some way. (And for those that don't follow it, it is firmly believed that they don't go to the peaceful place. They basically go to hell instead if they don't voluntarily do it.) I can firmly say that no, there are no rogues/loners out there that were once a leader. As of now, I can say there is still a part of Soot that won't trust Flarekitty, and that's just something he has to work on. Well, Leafy is smart. She might be able to solve it on her own without getting her High Ranks involved (because a lot of them don't like her anyway). To be fair, there are a lot of characters in this story, even OC's tend to get a little lost XD. It's been such a rollercoaster and the ride is only continuing for now. Can't wait till we reach the finish line y'all. I shall be waiting patiently, take your time :). Absolutely hilarious lol. Yes! That's exactly the feeling I was going for in that part. "Walking on air" does tend to mean that you're like, super happy and full of joy on all that- but considering Rainpaw's state of mind, I thought I could twist it to where it's… not so happy. Very tense, and like any moment she can fall because that's basically what it feels like for her. I'm not quite done messing with our raindrop yet, you'll see. (As long as I'm in charge of her, it's not gonna be fun.) Huh. That's an interesting prediction! Avoiding spoilers as usual, but man, you're good at a bunch of guesses and stuff haha. I'm really looking forward to the fight and I hope you guys are as well. The more I write his dynamic with Wind and Rain, the more I fall in love with our Brother Blue. He's definitely fair and cares about his clanmates, so I can say he will make a good GR. Streamrunner is the dad who blamed raindrop for their mother's death, so he shunned raindrop and Blue and is always looking for reasons to accuse his daughter of any misdemeanor since he hasn't forgiven her. Sagesplash is probably closer to a Wildfire 2.0 in his own ways; homophobic toward Wind, super controlling but also incredibly distant, not treating her like a daughter and more of a tool than anything. Fun dads. I will say that Cloverpaw and Specklepaw were best friends, even if that was sort of their dynamic, but they really did care for each other. (They were the ones who bullied the Low-rank kits, yes.) He's more outraged at Blazeclan's audacity than anything else. That's a bit tricky; yes, he did allow her to step down, but he did it because he basically made her into a slave to do his bidding. Raindrop has to do everything he tells her to if she wants to stay in the clan, no matter what he tells her to. (Which is why she even went to the City in the first place, because he ordered it and she couldn't say no.) Cloudstar always puts his clan first and wants a "balance" and hates to lose. As for how Shard's massacres affected him; well, he absolutely hated it. A lot of his close friends died and he saw himself as too weak to stop it, so he strived to be stronger. Which is why he isn't as bothered by the "GR problem" because, in his eyes, he always has to be stronger. He actually likes the challenge of constantly having to prove himself (but… it does mess with his mind a bit, making him twisted on perfection. Which is impossible to truly reach). Leafstar technically didn't get a backstory just for her (she was just a big part of Whiteshadow's backstory). I'll have to think about if I'll ever give her and Cloudstar a backstory. To Blazeclan; they do grow up so fast T-T. My babies, so grown up now. Flarekitty holds her mother in high regard and does see her as a role model, but she isn't striving to be her, essentially. She's trying to be the best she can be and using her mother's teachings as a reference. Yeah, Whiteshadow is a bit more messed up from the City shenanigans than he likes to show, but the damage is there. So much tension all around. I appreciate the puns haha. Wildfire as King would have been an interesting twist haha. Commence the chaos, welcome it with open arms. It's gonna get messy. I read reviews on my phone, but all of the writing is done on my laptop (hell no am I gonna write 20+ pages of work on my phone XD I'm not trying to die). The longer reviews do get truncated in the emails, so I have to read them on the site. Damn, how did I forget about snow leopards? I'd say those are my third favorite cause they're just so fricking beautiful. Such magnificent creatures. I mean, if you count Shattered as Break, then yes I've used it before haha. No, this one is called Flood. Second Review: Ah, you guys are lifesavers with these questions XD It ain't easy after a while, especially when there are over 100 chapters now. Lots of questions. Thank you so much!

FrostedShadowx- It had to happen eventually, they've grown up haha. That's a strong prediction, why does everyone think I'm gonna kill Whiteshadow just like that? XD I know I've given him death flags, but yeesh. Cloudstar is honestly looking for any reason to attack Blazeclan and this gave him the perfect reason. I guess you can also blame Ripplewave for saying it was them in the first place? I'd have to think about giving him a backstory, but we'll just have to see. Huh, interesting suspect. Keep in mind Adderfang was only a Commoner though, Specklepaw was a Royal, so there is a difference in skill level. And also, Adderfang doesn't really have a reason to want to start a battle between the two clans when he isn't there to help protect the Commoners. Good guess though!

Thanks to everybody who reviewed!

Let's get started!

…

Blazeclan

…

Sootblaze had never been more thankful for the rushing waters.

It was the only thing keeping the pacing Stormclan cats on the other side from charging straight ahead, and the Commoner bit the inside of his cheek as he shuffled the weight on his paws from where he sat on guard. The early rays of dawn were beginning to bleed into the sky and he could feel his eyes burn with every blink, each one becoming heavier and heavier.

One of the only times the Low Ranks were allowed out of camp, all for the night watch that nobody else wanted and they were forced to suffer through. Between the freezing temperatures that came with the moon in the sky, the raging river was all the more terrifying to look at. So much frothy darkness, powerful and inevitable. It was like staring at the abyss he had long since fallen into and it was such a strange sensation. Did this mean he was out of it again? Or was this just another layer?

Did he finally reach the bottom?

He shook his head, vision spinning, and tried as he might, he could not fight back his next aching yawn. The start of the third day of this tense and suspenseful stalemate the two clans had found themselves in and Sootblaze was incredibly stressed, to say the least. As was everyone else. Though the main border was still incredibly violent and, therefore, uncrossable, the thinner parts of the river a mile or so downstream and upstream were beginning to calm.

Being stationed at the main border was a blessing and a curse.

A blessing because, at the very least, he knew the fight wouldn't start prematurely while he or the other Low Ranks were stationed here. He would hate to be caught at the very beginning of the fight. The fight that was inescapable at this point, and the tightness of the muscles in his body made him feel twitchy and stiff.

A curse because it was the scariest part of the river to be at. Which only served to amp up the anticipation by a thousandfold as he sat dangerously close to the waters that wanted to swallow every living being whole.

Sootblaze frowned as his eyes followed the restless dark brown-furred she-cat, eyes of burning dark amber that was so similar to those from the rest of his clan. Her fur was undoubtedly sleeker though, stature befitting those who spent their lives braving the waves, and he was just put off by the overwhelming glare she sent. That one was here probably twice as much as the others, paced twice as hard. Looked twice as vengeful and infuriated.

He wanted to know if they were friends with the one that died. The one Blazeclan supposedly slaughtered, according to Cloudstar. (Well, according to their Medicine Cat, and if they were anything like Roseberry in terms of skill, Sootblaze didn't really know anything that could discredit them.)

He felt like apologizing but knew that wouldn't fix anything.

Apologies didn't bring back the dead. Apologies didn't make the pain any better. Apologies only made the anger and the grief twist and wind over each other until one could not live without the other and they both ate you alive.

(Sootblaze would know. In the midst of his pain, the words I'm sorry were downright insulting to hear.)

His eyes narrowed, dropping down to his paws contemplatively. Flarepaw, while the two were visiting the kits (they did that more often now, timing up their meetings so they could spend time together, and it was starting to become a part of their routine he looked forward to often), had shared with him her theory- her belief that Wildfire had been responsible. At first, she seemed hesitant to tell him, and Sootblaze felt bad.

"It's safe to say that I win, no?"

"Whatever. You win. Are we done now?"

He felt bad because he gave up the fight against Wildfire and now, Flarepaw was off to do it alone. (Alone, just like she feared from the very beginning.) Some part of him was proud of her to keep going, even without him; while the other part was… sad. Proud, but sad- because she hasn't given up and that just means she didn't really need him from the start.

(Didn't need him, but wanted him anyway, and that made some of the sorrow disappear.)

But just because he wasn't going to purposefully antagonize Wildfire as he did before didn't mean he wouldn't lend her a shoulder to lean on and an ear to rant to. Her wonderful father had now moved his sights onto Sagepaw- Sootblaze was kind of surprised he had never done that before- and Flarepaw thought this entire battle was merely a cover-up for something horrible to come.

Needless to say, he believed her. He didn't put it past Wildfire to go this far just to get her compliance back, to get her to listen, to make her the puppet she had stopped being. He was just surprised something like this didn't happen sooner… and then Sootblaze wondered if Wildfire was growing impatient.

Impatience bred sloppiness, after all. If Wildfire had done it himself, why did he? He normally made others do his dirty work for him. And if he did have help, who amongst the High Ranks would agree to kill an apprentice knowing they were in absolutely no condition to have a battle at the moment?

Everyone was an enemy.

And though Sootblaze believed her, without any solid evidence or viable proof, no one else would.

They were stuck, and in a way, this was another victory for Wildfire.

And here I thought I was done fighting him…

Perhaps only in death could Sootblaze truly escape the wicked tom. (And that would just be another victory for him and he couldn't allow that.)

"The flood is starting to calm…"

He wondered if he was too tired from staying up all night to jump at the sound of a voice behind him. Quickly, his eyes darted back up to the ferocious Stormclan she-cat, content with knowing she couldn't cross quite yet and wasn't brave enough to try, before turning a sunset gleam over to where Ravenflight had popped in.

Dark green eyes surveyed the rambunctious waves with trepidation, her gaze hardening and face going rather blank. All of them were worried about the upcoming, unavoidable battle, but especially Ravenflight (and him). He wanted to ask if she was thinking about Thornblaze and Mousepaw just like he was, his mind flashing with the images of their final fight now and then. With every blink, even.

It made his paranoia and fear of losing someone else rise ever higher.

"How long till you think it's calm enough for chaos?"

Ravenflight let out a sound between a scoff and a snort before moving over to join his side, her eyes lifting to the enemy across the way. And though he expected her to grow guarded, angry- she only seemed to grow sad. Sympathetic. Perhaps she, too, saw the sheer amount of pain the Stormclan cat carried.

"Few days, maybe," she responded after a moment of silence that was interrupted by the constant roaring of the river, her voice low and drowned out by the sound as she sat by him, shrugging. "Maybe less until they deem it crossable. Vengeance is a powerful motivator."

They would know. Vengeance and the call for justice had spurned the Commoners into action when Feathersong's kits had been threatened. It was great then, but now?

He wondered if it would be enough for them to cross even the deadly waters just to share their pain with his clan.

"That aside," Ravenflight let out a slow sigh before suddenly turning to him, lifting her paw and practically shoving him aside. Sootblaze grunted, stumbling to catch his balance, and opened his mouth to snap at her before she beat him to it. "You were supposed to wake me up for my shift halfway through the night. There's light in the sky, it's not night anymore- so what's the deal?"

"I…" Sootblaze murmured before grunting, rolling his shoulder, and stretching out his body. His bones cracked and his muscles were sore from sitting in one place for so many hours on end. His ears flattened as he grumbled, "That's a strange way to thank me for letting you sleep."

"I'm not thanking you, brat. That's the point," Ravenflight rolled her eyes, scowling now. "If you let everyone else sleep all the time, when do you sleep?"

"You guys need to be fully rested for the fight," he argued feebly, not answering her question and not looking in her direction either. Sootblaze could sense her stern glare without having to turn his head. "You'd have a better chance of coming out unscathed if you're fully rested."

"Again, I reiterate," she was relentless, "When do you get to rest?"

Sootblaze opened his mouth to answer before finding that he didn't have an answer. His teeth clacked together as he shut it again, shoulders beginning to draw up toward his ears, and his silence was response enough.

It didn't matter that he was tired and felt like dropping. There was no time for him to rest. Not if he wanted to protect everyone. If he was asleep, what if the battle started without him? What if he was too slow to reach the border and one of them died because he was too slow? It happened before.

With Thornblaze and Mousepaw.

With Shrewpaw and Bluepaw.

Even with Adderpaw, in a way. (He didn't even try to run to Adderpaw.)

No. It wasn't going to happen again. He wasn't going to get caught by surprise like so many times before.

"Sootblaze," the softness in Ravenflight's voice was quite surprising. Enough to catch his attention, enough to get him to turn his eyes toward her, and the frown on her face was nearly enough for him to turn them the other way. The brash she-cat didn't show her care this way. Not with soft concern and gentle touches or tender eyes and sympathetic words. He fed off her anger and she gave him a safe outlet for the lingering pain and uselessness he felt by constantly bickering with her.

As far as he knew, the only one she showed this level of care for was Swiftleaf, so he was out of his depth dealing with it.

"You need to sleep." The black-furred she-cat devoted all of her attention to him, content with the fact that the enemy wouldn't be able to cross at the moment, and Sootblaze felt himself begin to lean away from her. From the care, from the concern. "You're going to run yourself into the ground if you keep this up."

"I need to keep you all safe," he ground out through gritted teeth, his eyes narrowing as he turned to face her better, ears flat. "I can't do that if-"

"If you're exhausted," Ravenflight cut him off, a familiar thing with them, and it was enough to shut him up. She opened her mouth to continue before letting out a sigh instead, shoulders dropping and head shaking. "Believe me, I've been there before. You think that if you're constantly watching over everyone, they'll be safe, but the truth? The truth is you can't. Not if you're tired- because when you're tired, you grow sloppy. You miss things. You can't fight well. Your judgment becomes impaired and your thoughts grow chaotic. Burnout isn't fun, my friend."

"...I'm your friend now?" Sootblaze murmured with a hint of a tease and Ravenflight wrinkled her nose.

"Brat," she scoffed before leaning toward him, bumping her muzzle against his shoulder, and that was the most affectionate touch he was going to receive from her. He wondered if it was because Ravenflight didn't know how to be touchy-feely. "Did you even hear a word I said?"

"I did, I know- I'm just," Sootblaze stammered over himself before closing his eyes, wanting to tear at the ground, the world, himself. "Scared."

"Of?"

"That I'll close my eyes and I'll lose someone else," he admitted solemnly, "That I won't be there for you all when you need me."

"Oh, Sootblaze…"

"Last time, I blinked, Ravenflight," his voice grew tighter but he pushed through, "I blinked and I lost them. And now with this… What if I go to sleep and, and I wake up and someone else is de-" he can't commit to saying it, ending weakly, "gone."

He must have been really tired to actually be sharing these things with her, but be that as it may, Sootblaze couldn't quite stop himself. The words swirled in his mind, rose in his throat like bile, sitting there and burning with acid and he wondered if it would be better to swallow them back down and let them rot or let them out and make it someone else's problem. He didn't want to be a burden, but…

The words were ripping him apart and he wanted so desperately to ask for help.

"Can I tell you something?" Ravenflight spoke up after a long moment of neither of them saying a word, dark green regarding him with an unreadable expression before she let out a breathy laugh. Sad. "That feeling never goes away, unfortunately."

It made his blood run cold and he couldn't quite stop the bitter laugh from escaping him.

"So, what? I just live in a constant state of paranoia now?" Sootblaze scowled at her, "You're not really good at these pep talks."

"Pep talks are more Swiftleaf's thing," the she-cat shrugged, unbothered, before continuing. "The way I see it though, you can live in a constant state of paranoia- or a constant state of appreciation."

"Huh?"

"When you're constantly scared of losing the things and those around you," Ravenflight explained, her eyes drifting down to her paws as one of them scraped at the snow beneath them, creating a small trail. She did that often, a grounding motion to catch her scattered thoughts. "You come to love them even more. You appreciate all of the little things they do."

Her smile softened and that was not an expression he had ever seen on her face. If he was gawking at her, he couldn't quite stop himself.

"Like how Brightstreak always, always wakes up at the crack of dawn to greet the sun- and then passes out right after for so many hours we have to drag her out of her nest. How Owlpelt takes a walk at sunset because he wants to be in the forest for as long as possible before our curfew," Ravenflight closed her eyes then, all of her features becoming alarmingly gentle. "How Swiftleaf will stop to marvel at the flowers no matter what she's doing, or always brings back a feather or a prize from the forest every time she comes back to camp, or has this little tell when you know she's about to say a stupid joke just to get you to smile."

Sootblaze stored the information about Swiftleaf away to the part of his brain that was devoted to teasing Ravenflight about her not-so-secret secret feelings. For now, he didn't want to interrupt, enthralled.

"How Feathersong sometimes goes quiet and gives all of her attention to you and makes you feel like the most important one talking at the moment," her eyes opened again, staring directly at him, and Sootblaze held his breath as she said, "How you put on a brave face for everyone even though you're hurt, but that doesn't stop you from letting them lean on you."

She smiled, in parts teasing and sincere, nudging his shoulder again, "and how you take over for our shifts and let us rest despite how tired you are, little brat."

"I… didn't know that about everyone," he frowned to himself, "and here I thought I was paying attention to them."

"To be fair, I've had more time with them than you," she gave a one-shoulder shrug, "I grew up with them."

"I get it, I'm just the new warrior. The youngster," Sootblaze gave a crooked grin, "and you're all just old elders now."

"Keep at it and I'll beat you up," Ravenflight chuckled, jerking her head in the vague direction of camp. "Go get some sleep, Sootblaze. You need it."

"But-"

"No buts," she huffed, "Remember what I said about rest. How can you protect us if you don't take care of yourself?"

He grumbled to himself but found there wasn't really anything he could say to refute that question. It was true, he knew that. If he wasn't in tiptop condition, if he was weak and tired when it counted most, it would be as equal as not being there for them at all.

But still… he couldn't quite help it.

"You're taking care of us, Sootblaze," the she-cat spoke again in that softer voice, leaning over and pressing her head against his shoulder, speaking almost pleadingly, "please let us take care of you too."

He was so unused to letting others help him despite how much he desperately wanted to ask for it. Maybe this could be a start…

"Fine," he gave up with a heavy sigh, "fine, I'll go to sleep."

"Good. Now, go on, get," Ravenflight immediately pulled away from him then, turning back toward the river where the Stormclan cat continued to pace. More agitated than before, but perhaps just as tired as Sootblaze. (He wondered if anyone from her clan would tell her to get some rest.) "The river will be like this for another day. Let that calm you down."

"Calm in the chaos," Sootblaze snorted before gathering himself to his paws, sighing heavily and closing his eyes for a few seconds longer than necessary, a microsecond of sleep that probably wouldn't pass off for actual rest. He didn't bother trying to convince Ravenflight otherwise. Turning, he took a few steps back in the direction of camp before pausing, glancing over his shoulder at her before muttering softly, "What… What was one little thing Thornblaze used to do?"

Her ears perked up, body straightening, spine stiff, and for half a second, he nearly regretted asking at all. It looked like she stopped breathing altogether, but after a second or two of nonmovement, she eventually remembered and blew out a heavy sigh.

"At night, he made sure everybody was tucked in nicely. Some of us have a habit of sprawling about," she chuckled softly to herself before looking at him over her shoulder, her grin tender. "And how he was always so proud when he looked at you."

Proud of me. It made his chest warm as equally as it made it ache. He gave her a grateful smile before turning and continuing down the way, sleep calling for him, and the little information Ravenflight had given him of all of them stored itself into his mind.

You come to love them even more.

He was looking forward to learning about them all.

(He wondered if the others had similar information on each other- and he wanted to ask what 'little thing' they appreciated about Ravenflight.)

Maybe Sootblaze could start doing what his mentor did for them…

…

All of his previous exhaustion disappeared when he ran into Whiteshadow along the way. (He mentally apologized to Ravenflight.)

"...Huh. I swore you would be sleeping right now, the night shift isn't easy."

"Oh, umm," Sootblaze shuffled his paws awkwardly, glancing away from the other tom. "I… didn't switch with Ravenflight last night. I was going to go get some rest now."

"You really don't know how to take care of yourself, do you?" Whiteshadow let out a chuckle and the Commoner flattened his ears.

"I have a lot to learn, okay?"

"Very much so," the lead Royal sighed before stepping aside, "Well, don't let me keep you. I'm off to ask for assistance that we desperately need from Forestclan. Peacemakers and all."

Forestclan.

His mind came to a screeching halt, all other emotions and thoughts stuttering without sense, his body forgetting how to function and freezing. If Whiteshadow noticed any of it, he didn't say anything, and it was almost as if time itself slowed to a stop to give him the chance to catch himself.

Forestclan. Nightstone is…

And just like that, a chance was open for him. Wide-open and Sootblaze sprinted straight for it.

"C-Can I-" he cleared his throat and shook himself out, voice a little more high-pitched than before, "Can I come?"

He could warn someone from Forestclan. Hopefully get to talk to Darkpaw. Stars, if he was lucky and Leafstar was nice, maybe she'd be willing to hear him out too.

Or maybe he should just let Whiteshadow know what was going on and let him tell her.

The tom blinked at him in surprise, tilting his head to the side contemplatively, humming to himself in thought. Debate. And it made Sootblaze nervous now- because his chance depended on Whiteshadow's decision now. If he'd be willing to listen at all.

"I don't think I'm allowed to bring anybody along with me," Sootblaze was ready to downright beg him to let him go before Whiteshadow shrugged to himself casually and turned off to the side, flicking his tail along. "But, frankly, I don't care. Let's go, I'm kind of in a hurry."

Sootblaze wanted to thank every ancestor in the world for bringing Whiteshadow into his life, but as it was, he could only scramble to keep up after him. They didn't go at a run, despite how much he wanted to, but there was noticeable haste in the lead Royal's pace. And at first, he thought it was because Whiteshadow was nervous about what was to come, what he had to do. Stepping onto another clan's territory wasn't exactly the easiest thing to do, especially when tensions were running as high as they were.

But the longer they went, the more Sootblaze paid attention, the more he came to realize that Whiteshadow was… excited.

Happy, even. (Sootblaze swore he could hear him humming.)

While the silence gave him time to gather his thoughts, it did nothing to settle his nerves, so Sootblaze cleared his throat after a moment and spoke hesitantly.

"Do you, uhh, do you go to Forestclan often?" He grimaced to himself at the awkwardness of his question, but luckily, Whiteshadow merely chuckled.

"I wish," he grumbled before sighing, "Alas, clan rules suck. No, only in situations like this- with an upcoming battle or when we are in dire need of help in regards to anything, from prey to dealing with wild animals to asking for more herbs, I'm allowed to go. Only the lead Royal… so, I guess, I'm happy this happened while I'm around, lest we trust this peaceful talk to someone like Wildfire."

Oh, dear. Sootblaze was infinitely happier that the other tom was around now. Hopefully, this put a dent in Wildfire's overall plan.

If anybody could stop or ruin the bitter tom, it was Whiteshadow.

"Has Flarepaw told you…"

"That he's the one who caused all this mess?" Whiteshadow rolled his eyes, scowling. "I'm not surprised at all. He's… a twisted one. And believe me, I know twisted ones," he wore a sharp grin, "Grew up with them. Might even be one too."

"Okay, but you're not bad," Sootblaze shook his head, "not like Wildfire. Or like a lot of the High Ranks here."

"You're right that I'm not like them," eyes nearing pale blue turned to him, a downright sorrowful expression crossing his features as he added, "but you're wrong about the other part."

Sootblaze frowned, repeating, "You're not bad."

"I'm not good either," Whiteshadow huffed, shaking his head. "I'm a survivor. Where I'm from, good and bad don't really exist. Well, they do, but worrying about it always leads to death."

"I… Flarepaw told me once that you're not from Blazeclan," the Commoner admitted quietly. "So, where are you from?"

"Talking about me behind my back, are ya?"

"She admires you a lot," Sootblaze smiled gently, "and I think in some ways, so do I."

"Obviously. I'm awesome," Whiteshadow winked at him, a playful grin on his face before he sobered up. "I was a rogue from the City; you know, the place I just came back from. Yeah, things are… really messed up there. You think this is bad? Take this and crank it up to a thousand with fewer rules and less structure, and tada, you have my home."

"You were a rogue," Sootblaze still didn't know how he felt about them. Ignis was… he could hardly think about that one unless he wanted to fall into a familiar rage that scared him. But Flame? He was pretty nice, and now looking at Whiteshadow with those kinds of lenses…

Maybe rogues weren't so black and white either.

"Yep. Pretty messed up one too… but a- a friend helped me out when I got to the clans," Whiteshadow's features softened insurmountably and he smiled to himself. "Succeeded in converting me to the life of a clan cat. And sure, things are pretty messed up here too, but I'll take this over the City any day in any lifetime."

"...Is this friend from Forestclan?"

"What's with all these questions?"

"I want to learn more about you," Sootblaze shrugged before adding in teasingly, "and you haven't stopped humming since we've been walking. I don't think I've seen you this happy before."

"You're more observant than I give you credit for," Whiteshadow cackled before speeding along, the area becoming familiar as they neared the border. "I have the right to remain silent."

Sootblaze smiled at the back of the other tom's head as they approached the border, his previous smidgen of amusement vanishing at the sight of the aspen trees covered in frost and snow and dripping with icicles. The white-barked trees splashed with ticks of black looked like a winter wonderland. With the ground covered in snow as well, Forestclan territory was effectively blanched out.

Whiteshadow stopped at the edge of the border, turning on his heel to face Sootblaze and speaking in a lower tone.

"Something tells me you're not just here for a little field trip," he murmured, stepping closer with his gaze hardening, serious. "Why do you need to get to Forestclan?"

"I…" Sootblaze swallowed thickly, conflicted. And he hated how, despite knowing Whiteshadow wasn't like the rest of the High Ranks, that he was reasonable and considerate and didn't care for ranks, the idea of telling the lead Royal of all cats about the potential Low Rank Rebellion made him tongue-tied. Perhaps it was just his paranoia rising again, not wanting to tell anybody else. "I… want to see Darkpaw?"

A half-truth. While he wanted to spread the warning to Darkpaw, sure, he also really did want to see his friend as well. It had been too long and they didn't have a chance to say goodbye to each other. After thinking him dead, it would settle that ever-festering nerve to actually see him alive.

"Try again," Whiteshadow shook his head, "the full truth this time."

"Okay," Sootblaze sighed, defeated, and leaned closer to whisper in an even quieter voice. "I heard about a Commoner in Forestclan who is doing… some really nasty things to the High Ranks. They want to flip the hierarchy, essentially- have the Low Ranks on top for once. And to do that, they've been… they've been poisoning the meals for the High Ranks. I-I want to warn somebody and hopefully put a stop to it before it can spread to the other clans as well."

For his part, Whiteshadow didn't look particularly horrified or astonished by that information, appearing as calm and cool as ever. His eyes, however, darkened, teeth gritting together as he let out a sharp sound that could have been laughter or a scoff.

"Just when things can't get worse," he grumbled, mostly to himself, gaze turning up toward the sky, "First we got this fight with Stormclan, then we got the whole ordeal with trying to take down the hierarchy system peacefully and making a stand, and now you're telling me we got a little psycho poisoning his own clanmates. Right as we have a war slowly incoming from the City cats. This is fine. We're fine."

A war? He'd have to ask about that later.

"Alright. Alright, we'll have a talk with Leafstar. I'm sure she'll figure out a way to solve it on her own in the meantime," Whiteshadow paused before chuckling, "she's incredibly smart."

He did not doubt that. He had only met the Forestclan Grand Royal once, but he quite liked her.

"Now, how much worse can things get, huh?" Whiteshadow groaned to himself before turning aside and uncaringly walking across the border, even while Sootblaze hesitated a step behind before chasing after him.

Sootblaze was convinced things were going to get way worse before they ever got better.

If they ever got better.

…

"Well, if this isn't a surprise," a dark brown-furred tom with black on his muzzle and around his yellow eyes greeted them at the camp entrance. Sootblaze was both amused and surprised at how easily they were able to waltz right through the open doors, but he couldn't help but be worried that this was because of Nightstone's work. The tom smiled gently at them, "If this is an intrusion and a siege, it is the gentlest one I've ever seen."

"Addermask, great to see you as always," Whiteshadow bowed his head with a twitch of a smile to his lips, his eyes casting over the clearing, and Sootblaze did much of the same. He frowned to himself. The clan… didn't look sick. Then again, he couldn't quite tell who was a High Rank and who was a Low Rank. A lot of them just looked tired. "Lively crowd."

"I believe we're all just over Leaf-bare by now," the tom chuckled warmly with a shake of his head. "Why are you here, Whiteshadow? And you brought…"

"Ah, this is Sootblaze. I wanted some company, you know the walk here can be lonely."

"Always bending the rules," Addermask huffed in quiet amusement before tilting his head, "I assume you want to talk to our Grand Royal?"

"Yes. Things are… very tense between Stormclan and us."

"Ah. So, the usual?"

"Yep."

"Right this way then," the tom tipped his head to the side, flicking his tail along for them to follow. Sootblaze stuck to Whiteshadow's side, ducking his head when he caught sight of Nightstone on the far side of camp. (Presumably coming out of the Medicine Den.) Light amber eyes widened before a scowl pulled at his lips, and the black-furred tom began making his way over to them.

Luckily, they were closer to the Grand Royal's den than he was.

"Sootpaw?"

The Commoner perked his ears up, forgetting Nightstone altogether as he turned his eyes to the sight of familiar dark green eyes. Familiar, yet so strange as well. He didn't think Darkpaw ever looked so happy before. So… relaxed.

"Darkpaw!" Sootblaze chirped and all but tackled the Servant back a step, Whiteshadow and Addermask standing off to the side for a moment. "You're okay!"

"It's Darkblaze now," his friend purred with a quiet laugh, bumping their heads together and taking in a deep breath and he felt like asking if Darkblaze missed Blazeclan's scent. "Apparently, Servants get their own little ceremony as well. It was nice."

"That's funny," he backed up with a grin, "I'm Sootblaze."

Darkblaze blinked at him before snorting, and it was like watching a stranger with the face of your friend. Gone was the forever frightened Servant to Wildfire, so timid and paranoid of everything going on. He even looked healthier, putting on weight so he wasn't so gangly. A light gleamed in his eyes and he smiled more easily.

Sootblaze could not be more proud of him.

"Sootblaze," Whiteshadow caught his attention. "I'm gonna head in and start talking. You can come in when you're ready to discuss… your own thing."

Right. He was here for a reason and it wasn't just to catch up with Darkblaze. The Blazeclan Commoner gave him a confirming nod, and just like that, Whiteshadow ducked his way inside and vanished. Addermask regarded him with a gentle smile before bowing his head, turning aside and walking off, perhaps trusting the Servant to keep an eye on him.

(And it looked like his luck was turning around.

Addermask saw Nightstone heading their way and quickly dumped a hunting patrol on him that the Forestclan Commoner could not refuse in the face of what Sootblaze assumed to be the lead Royal. Nightstone put on a welcoming smile, bowing his head, but as soon as Addermask left, his glare returned. He thankfully didn't approach.)

"So, how have things been?" Darkblaze sat on the outside of the Grand Royal's den, an easy pull to his lips, brows furrowing in mild concern. "What are you doing here in the first place?"

"Uhh, you know. Stormclan," Sootblaze grimaced, "a fight we have no herbs for."

"Uh oh," a frown appeared on the Servant's face now, "that's… not good."

"No, but I'm sure we'll figure it out," he reassured as best as he could, sitting beside Darkblaze with his back to the wall of the den, keeping his eyes on the rest of the clan and making sure nobody would sneak up on them as he talked. It was risky, speaking out in the open, especially when his presence attracted a lot of attention, but there was no time for anything else. "But that's not the only reason I'm here. Listen, you need to be very careful here."

"Why's that?" Darkblaze tilted his head a bit toward him, listening intently, his own eyes flicking about.

"There's… What do you think of Nightstone?"

"Nightstone?" The Servant raised a brow, pausing for a few moments before speaking hesitantly, "I mean, he doesn't really talk to me. He usually keeps to himself, watching over the rest of the clan… But lately, I've seen him visiting the Medicine Den more, speaking with Blossomleaf. I think she appreciates the company."

"Have you ever seen him, I dunno, with some herbs or plants with him?"

"Sometimes? I think he helps Blossomleaf with gathering what's available. I'm not entirely sure though."

"Okay, well, this might sound crazy, but-" Sootblaze glanced around and leaned in closer, "He's poisoning the High Ranks here. Making them sick with their meals. Have you ever seen him or some of the Artisans hunting specifically for the High Ranks?"

Darkblaze was appropriately quiet, the easiness of his features bleeding away to sheer concern and horror before he schooled his features into something collected. Dark green eyes glanced off toward where, coincidentally, a group of presumably High Ranks was eating at that very moment, talking amongst themselves.

"...I always wondered why there was a sudden shift of attitude," Darkblaze muttered, a bit sad, "They were all so willing to hunt for the High Ranks, jumping at every chance. Now, this makes more sense…"

And seemingly out of nowhere, a voice at his other side spoke up quietly by his ear.

"Why are we whispering?"

"Gah!"

Sootblaze jumped, ramming into the Servant at his side and sending the two toppling over each other. Darkblaze let out a squeak of surprise, many pairs of eyes turning in their direction, and the Blazeclan tom quickly pulled himself away so they wouldn't get the wrong idea that he had attacked one of their own.

He grimaced, his ribs sore from the collision before he turned his eyes to his other side and found another pair of dark green eyes. This time, across the face of a blue-grey furred she-cat who had a painful-looking scar along her flank.

She grinned in amusement, tipping her head with a flair "How do you do?"

"Uhh…" Sootblaze swallowed nervously. How much did she hear? Can I trust her?

"Berrypaw," Darkblaze let out a quiet breath, both of relief and exasperation before a kind smile pulled at his lips. A hint of a tease sparked in his eyes, "What have I said about scaring me?"

"I was scaring him. You were just collateral," Berrypaw shot back with a playful wink before regarding him once more, eyeing him up and down. "You're from Blazeclan, right? How's my little spitfire doing?"

"I- Flarepaw?"

"I don't have another spitfire."

"She's doing okay. All things considered," Sootblaze murmured, his ears falling flat as his eyes drifted down to the ground and back up again. "It's really tense though. Stormclan."

"Ah," Berrypaw nodded in understanding before sitting down offhandedly, bringing her paw up to scratch at her ear with a small yawn before clearing her throat, settling back, and Sootblaze glanced nervously at Darkblaze. Noticing this, the she-cat smiled. "Don't worry, I won't bite. I'm a Cripple now, a non-threat. Supposedly."

Cripple. "You're Flarepaw's friend," he began to feel himself relax, "she's told me about you."

Berrypaw blinked in mild surprise, staring at him with an even more curious expression before something like realization and then delight appeared in her eyes. Her grin grew wider, "Oh. So, you're the one I have to thank for making her so touchy-feely, hmm? What was the name she mentioned? Sootpaw?"

"Sootblaze now," he chuckled, shuffling his paws rather awkwardly, "and yes, I guess I am the one to make her… like that."

"Hmm," she leaned toward him, scrutinizing him before humming to herself. "You're not what I expected."

"What were you expecting?"

"I'm not entirely sure," Berrypaw admitted before leaning back. "Thanks for taking care of her though."

He decided not to tell her that he hadn't been taking care of her recently and that things were very much bad with Flarepaw and her father. Berrypaw didn't need the worry.

"Hey, strange question," Sootblaze settled back into his original position, making it as inconspicuous as possible that he was talking to them. Keeping himself alert so someone else wouldn't sneak up on him as she did. "But, has Nightstone bothered you lately?"

"Everyone bothers me lately," Berrypaw snorted with no ounce of humor, bitterness lacing her words with sorrowful acceptance as well. "Being a Cripple means you're fair game to pretty much everybody, no matter the rank. I fight back as best as I can."

"Not really fighting, more like… asking you strange requests like, training-wise?"

"Hmm," Berrypaw took in a slow breath before exhaling heavily. "Once. Not long ago, I turned him down though because quite frankly, I need all the spare energy I can get before someone else attacks me."

That was a relief. Not that she was being attacked constantly, that part made him rather angry, but knowing that the training Nightstone had said he would receive from the Cripples who had previously been High Ranks wasn't coming to fruition. So, at least one thing was turning out right.

Berrypaw let out a small groan a moment later, grumbling, "Speaking of attacking…"

"You!"

A dark brown and black tabby tom with dark blue eyes came up, quite vehemently, from off to the side, a deep scowl to his lips as he marched right up to Berrypaw. Completely ignoring the Commoner and the Servant.

"Outside, now."

"Good morning to you too, Hawkpaw. Have your ribs healed nicely or do you want to get tackled into another tree?"

"It'll be your turn this time," Hawkpaw grumbled, but Sootblaze could swear his eyes were gleaming with amusement. Fun. "I've been practicing. Now, outside."

"If I must," Berrypaw bemoaned before getting to her paws, the tom racing off toward the den entrance ahead of her, and she turned her eyes to Sootblaze with a chuckle. "It was nice meeting you, Sootblaze. Tell my little spitfire I said hi and that I have everything under control."

"Do you?" Sootblaze couldn't help but tilt his head, eyes darting to the camp entrance and back again. "From what I just heard, you're about to be tackled into a tree. That doesn't sound under control to me."

"Incorrect. I'm the one that's going to be doing the tackling," she winked at him and padded off, adding over her shoulder, "therefore, I have everything under control."

Sootblaze let out a bark of laughter as he watched her leave, a smile pulling at his lips. He could see what had drawn Flarepaw to the Forestclan she-cat in the first place. Though their conversation had been brief, he already looked forward to the next time- hoped that there would be a next time- they got to talk to each other.

Quite the character she was.

"Were you going to talk to Grand Royal Leafstar?" Darkblaze spoke up this time, turning his eyes to him. "To tell her what you told me? Or, did you want me to tell her?"

"No, you're right. I should go talk to her. I just wanted to warn you," Sootblaze leaned into his side, butting their heads together briefly. "You know, we still worry about you. Flarepaw really misses you."

"And I, her. And you too," Darkblaze muttered before letting out a breath of a sad laugh. "But I really like it here compared to there… Despite, you know, Nightstone."

"Well, I take it anybody is an improvement to Wildfire as a master."

"You have no idea," Darkblaze smiled before standing up, turning to brush his cheek against the Blazeclan tom's and stepping aside. "I'll be careful. And please, do the same. From what you told me, things are going to get messy in a day or two. I don't want any of you getting hurt."

"Here's hoping," Sootblaze gave a wide smile before shifting toward the entrance of the den, about to step inside. "Goodbye, Darkblaze."

"Until next time."

And though a part of him didn't like the idea of just leaving Darkblaze with all of that information, always wanting to protect the Servant he was, he knew he was in no position to do anything. Not here. Not in Forestclan.

He didn't want to push his luck any more than he already did.

"I'll rip him apart when I see him, Whiteshadow."

"Ahh, I love it when you're feisty."

"I'm serious."

"Oh, I'm not doubting you. Just admiring."

Sootblaze felt like he was walking in on something he wasn't supposed to, purposefully stepping onto one of the stray twigs on the ground to alert them of his presence before he turned the corner and into the open den. It was quite spacious and the fact that he was in a Grand Royal's den made him pause for half a beat to admire around the area before his eyes fell on the two within.

Whiteshadow was sitting with a bit of a lazy slouch, as though his body was weak and halfway to the point of collapsing on the ground, and if Sootblaze didn't know any better, he'd be convinced the expression on the lead Royal's face was simply smitten and entirely enamored. He looked the same way that Sootblaze felt internally when near Flarepaw- his focus completely on the Grand Royal sitting across from him.

Based on her previous words that he had walked in on, the slight agitation and frustration were to be expected, but behind it all, she was incredibly relieved and happy. Light green eyes drifted over to him quickly and she seemed to sit up a little straighter, ears twitching and glancing at Whiteshadow again (as if to see that he was still there and not gone).

"I remember you," she greeted lightly, open friendliness in her eyes. Just how he recalled them being before. "The excited apprentice who wanted to know if I was really the strongest Grand Royal of my generation."

"Sootblaze," he smiled and gave a nod of his head, "it's nice to meet you again."

"Whiteshadow here told me you have something to tell me?" Leafstar turned her eyes back to the lead Royal who was still staring at her unabashedly. She smiled at him before grimacing slightly, "Although, after everything he's told me thus far, I can't quite imagine how it can get worse."

"Oh, it gets worse," Whiteshadow remarked simply, his entire posture and appearance not befitting of his words. "It always gets worse. Don't you know by now?"

"It's…" And though he wanted, wanted so badly, to tell her so all of these problems could go away, he could not stop himself from overthinking again and he hated that he couldn't. Because what if… what if he read Leafstar wrong this entire time and she would be just like the others and make the Low Ranks suffer for this? After all, they were an actual threat to her clan and her duties were to them. What if, what if, what if- "It's about Nightstone."

He had to commit. Because Darkblaze and Berrypaw were here and they didn't deserve to get caught in the crossfire. And the Low Ranks too, the ones who were agreeing to Nightstone's ways out of anger and vengeance for wanting things to be different for once, for wanting to show the pain inflicted upon them to their abusers, they didn't deserve what would come from this when it inevitably failed.

Because it was going to fail. Perhaps not right at the beginning. But eventually, if they were exactly the same, just flipping the system so they were on top- then what was stopping those now at the bottom from one day doing the same?

"He's…" he swallowed thickly, pushing through, turning his eyes down, and shuffling his paws. "I- you probably don't believe the word of a Blazeclan Commoner, but at the last Gathering and rather recently, Nightstone was talking to me about… essentially, a Low Rank Rebellion." It felt like a betrayal, the ultimate betrayal to those of his rank, but he had to do it. He had to do it. "Starting here. And I didn't think he would actually do anything, I just wrote it off as nonsense, but apparently, he's been… poisoning your High Ranks. Hunting for them, and then filling their prey with poison. I don't know what else he's done, but that's what he told me. And I tried to convince him to stop but he wouldn't listen and-"

"Enough."

His mouth snapped shut, teeth gnawing at the inside of his cheek before he nervously lifted his eyes to the Grand Royal. He expected so many reactions. Anger, disbelief, dismissal.

He didn't expect to see her… tired.

Her eyes fell shut and she took in a haggard breath. Whiteshadow off to the side sat more alert now and a flicker of anguish flashed across his face at the sight of her exhaustion, his body twitching as though he had to restrain himself from jumping toward her and holding her. Leafstar tucked her chin to her chest and exhaled just as slowly.

"It always gets worse," she muttered beneath her breath, looking toward Whiteshadow with a sad expression. "You were right."

"I hate when I'm right."

"No you don't," she chuckled and shook her head, her eyes flicking toward the camp entrance as she added in a quieter voice that Sootblaze almost didn't hear. "When it isn't my High Ranks, it's my Low Ranks."

"We're sorry for dumping this on you," the lead Royal spoke quietly, gently, hesitantly. "Especially after asking for help regarding Stormclan, but-"

"Don't apologize. I took on the role of peacemaker and I intend to keep it," Leafstar rolled her shoulders back, sitting straighter once more, and he wondered where she could find the strength to sit tall when there was so much weight on her back. "As for my own clan… I thank you for the warning. I'll take care of it."

"J-Just please," Sootblaze felt himself cowering a little, and he hated being at the mercy of a Grand Royal. He wondered where all of his indignations went. (Perhaps he really should have gotten some sleep. When he was tired, he was more vulnerable.) "Please, don't punish the Low Ranks. They…"

They, what? They don't know any better?

They do, and they're still choosing to do this.

"Commoner Sootblaze," his ears perked up at the gentleness of her tone, and when he lifted his eyes back up to her, she was smiling. "I believe you've been told that I can make a plan to win any battle. More than half the time, it's a peaceful method. Unlike so many others, I know how to solve my problems without pain and punishment."

"Only when it's really deserving," Whiteshadow added with a chuckle.

"Precisely," she sent him a wink before addressing Sootblaze once more. "Thank you for telling me this. I don't imagine it was easy for you."

It wasn't. Whatsoever, but now that he told her, the weight had been lifted.

And a new one took its place.

(He felt like asking how she could do it. How she could possibly still carry herself so confidently when there was so much weight on her shoulders. He wondered if she'd give him some tips.)

"As much as I am not opposed to your company," Leafstar spoke with a great deal of reluctance in her voice, light green meeting light blue as Whiteshadow seemingly shriveled up at what was an apparent dismissal now. It was clear he didn't want to leave, and Sootblaze felt like scrambling his mind for any excuse to get them to stay. "I think it's time for you to go back home before Redstar thinks I stole you from him."

"It's not stealing if I go willingly," Whiteshadow grumbled before getting to his paws, bowing his head dramatically, "but alas, if you insist. I…" he paused before his features softened, pained almost, "I'm really happy to see you again."

"Thanks for staying alive," she spoke softly and Sootblaze turned around to give them some semblance of privacy, pretending he wasn't listening. "And… you keep staying alive now, okay?"

"I made a promise, didn't I?" Whiteshadow returned, and there was the sound of pawsteps behind him, approaching Leafstar, but Sootblaze didn't turn around, humming to himself. "And I intend to keep it."

There was a faint purr in the air, but seconds later, Whiteshadow was passing by him and nudging him along with a jerk of his head.

"Now, let's get out of here and go back to our own mess, huh?"

Sootblaze didn't move immediately, leaning closer to Whiteshadow to whisper to him.

"She's the friend, isn't she?" Sootblaze asked, a hint of a tease, "Or is that too soft of a word?"

"It's too soft a word."

"You're pretty obvious," he huffed a quiet laugh, "I'm surprised no one's noticed."

"Only because it was you. I know you'll keep it a secret."

"How do you?"

"Because we're in a similar predicament, aren't we?" Whiteshadow asked with a tilt of his head, "you and Flarepaw."

Huh… In a way, they were.

But looking at it, Sootblaze thought he had the better end of the deal. Because at least Flarepaw wasn't in another clan and the Grand Royal of said clan. At least he could actually sleep with her, hold her, see her every single day.

Whiteshadow just had to make the most of the little moments he managed to scrape together.

"We're both a little hopeless, aren't we?"

Whiteshadow cackled, looked over his shoulder toward Leafstar before they exited the den. Those in the clearing glanced in their direction once more, a few getting up in arms at them and some even looking as though they were about a second away from going to check if Leafstar was still alive.

As they walked back toward the camp entrance, back toward their home, Whiteshadow spoke up;

"It's a wonderfully terrible and terribly wonderful feeling, isn't it?"

That…

That was putting it lightly.

…

Stormclan

…

"Halt, enough! That's enough now."

Water dripped down every part of her pelt, and to say Windpaw was feeling horrible would be an understatement.

The tension of the clan had rippled in stomach-churning waves and her training had increased tenfold and she couldn't remember sparring so much in the past moon compared to these past two days. The warmth of the sunhigh sun did little to actually dry her fur, and she gave a sharp shake of her body to at least attempt to free some of the droplets.

Where Bluepaw was sitting on the bank of the practice pond they always trained in, something just large enough to submerge oneself, he was still dripping wet as well even though his part of the training ended what felt like hours ago and her turn had arrived. All around her, the Royals- warriors and apprentices both- looked even worse than them and it was quite funny.

What wasn't funny was the animosity and bloodthirst that everyone seemingly carried, and she felt… strange, to say the least. Normally, she would have jumped at the chance for a fight, especially against Blazeclan, yet…

She didn't entirely know.

The possibility of a battle made her nervous instead of excited like it always did. She wanted to get back at them, sure, but more than anything she just wanted to get past this particular predicament and that made her feel bad as well. Marginally.

She didn't like Specklepaw, and she felt bad for Cloverpaw, yes, but she didn't think they were worth fighting over.

Was that bad to think about? Possibly, but be that as it may, she didn't quite care.

"Grand Royal Windpaw, you're still too slow."

She couldn't quite stop herself from scoffing, rolling her eyes as she stood in the pond, water lapping in gentle ripples now that all the sharp movements had stopped. For whatever reason, her gaze drifted to where Drippingpaw was off to the side, as water-logged as everyone else, and when copper met dark blue, her sister made a face as Sagesplash kept talking and Windpaw nearly laughed out loud.

"If you aren't capable of outspeeding the Blazeclan scum, then they'll catch you. You should know by now never to let them get a hold of you."

"You act like anyone from Blazeclan is actually able to fight well in the river. You know, where the battle is going to be?"

"Never underestimate the opponent," her father grumbled before turning aside, walking toward the shoreline with a silent signal that their training was done for the day. Another long day of sparring, Windpaw was half-convinced everyone forgot that they were supposed to rest as well.

She didn't bother responding to him, making her way over to Bluepaw as everyone else waded out of the pond. Drippingpaw looked like she wanted to approach before deciding against it, and Windpaw watched as her sister trailed after Fernclaw. She couldn't quite stop herself from grimacing.

Her mother being forced to mentor Windpaw's half-sister… Sagesplash's daughter with another she-cat. She wondered how that made Fernclaw feel. Because looking at it, it just seemed like another way to trap Fernclaw in obligation to that dastardly tom.

There wasn't really anything she could do regardless, so worrying about it helped nobody. She had other things to worry about.

Like the battle she didn't want to partake in.

...And the fact that Rainpaw had been avoiding training altogether.

She understood why. Any hint of battle, even a sparring match, could possibly trigger her and Rainpaw didn't want to hurt anybody (or herself). She would rather face the ire of the warriors that constantly berated her for not participating than deal with the possibility of actually attacking someone.

But because Windpaw was practically forced to train, as was Bluepaw, that just meant nobody was ever truly around Rainpaw and that made her even more worried than anything else. Their schedules had been ruined and they were hardly ever to see each other, let alone talk, and it hurt. It hurt because what if the little inklings of hope and healing that Rainpaw had managed to scrounge together took a sudden downturn and Windpaw wasn't there to try and stop it?

What if Rainkit disappeared again?

(She wouldn't even get to say goodbye.)

"You look like a drowned rat."

"Hey, we're twins."

Bluepaw released a small chuckle, a short-lived smile appearing and vanishing just as quickly on his face as he gave another vain attempt to shake off the water from his pelt. Windpaw didn't even bother, it wouldn't help. Their eyes met and they both could tell they wanted to be anywhere but here. It concerned her that she didn't even know where Rainpaw was at the moment.

Out by the border? On a walk? Hunting? (Gone?)

Who knew? She didn't, and neither did Bluepaw.

Windpaw was surprised just how much she was coming to appreciate the blue-furred tom, especially now. She wasn't alone with her worry and she wasn't alone with her exhaustion either because he shared them with her.

They were in similar predicaments and they just wanted to get to Rainpaw. What little conversation and quips they managed to accomplish in the short, sparse moments of a "break" kept them going and she would never admit that she wouldn't be able to do this if he wasn't here. That would just boost his ego. (Something told her the same applied to him about her.)

Before Windpaw could open her mouth, give another jest or some kind of reassurance the both of them desperately needed to hear, Sagesplash wasn't quite done with them yet.

"Grand Royal Windpaw, Grand Royal Bluepaw; a word."

She allowed herself to let out a dramatic groan before facing her father, no longer caring about trying to hide the fact that she disliked him. He still tried to be professional, but Windpaw didn't think he deserved the effort. She was too tired to try.

Bluepaw seemed like he wanted to groan as well, but instead, he cleared his throat and faced Sagesplash. Summarily stiffening upon realizing Streamrunner was beside him as well, the technical lead Royal taking charge once more (but only after Sagesplash gave him a nod). Honestly, Windpaw didn't know why they bothered keeping up appearances.

Her father was basically the lead Royal in all but name.

"Grand Royal Cloudstar would like to speak with you two," Streamrunner said, his whiskers twitching as he looked between the two of them, and she wondered what he saw in them. In her. Because as far as she knew, the lead Royal didn't care for his own son, nor his daughter, and he only tolerated her. (She sorta felt sorry for them. The clan was stuck with only her and Bluepaw and that was the best they were going to get at the time.) "Apparently, it's urgent."

Uh oh. Urgent was never a good thing in regards to Cloudstar. Windpaw wasn't comfortable with the idea of being within his vicinity.

Though the rest of the clan had been boiling in anticipation and restlessness that only grew as the days went by and the river kept them from enacting their revenge- or justice, as some of them liked to call it instead, thinking that would make it right- it was easy to say it was hitting Cloudstar even worse. Windpaw could never remember a time where her leader had been so unhinged before, aggravated and cruel and his Servant was bearing the brunt of his temper.

She felt bad for Thorncloud.

"We'll be on our way then," Bluepaw sighed before getting to his paws, giving another futile shake of his pelt and huffing when it did nothing before swiveling in the direction of camp.

Windpaw went to follow, haste in her steps telling of her desire for an actual break now, but she stopped as Streamrunner kept talking.

"Bluepaw, tell your sister she can't keep missing training and ignoring orders. If she wants to prove herself, she has to actually try."

A growl rumbled in her throat where she faced away from the tom, her ears falling flat. At her side, Bluepaw wasn't faring much better, his fangs flashing as he pulled his lips back, baring his teeth at nothing.

Try. Was everyone blind to just how much, how hard, how desperately Rainpaw was trying this whole time?

Trying to get better, to be better.

Trying not to let her monster go out of control.

Trying to make things right.

Out of everyone, Rainpaw was the one who was trying the most and Streamrunner had the audacity to say that!

"You tell her. I'm not your little messenger," Bluepaw snapped over his shoulder, a sharp hiss in his words. "If you have something to say to her, say it yourself. She's your daughter."

"Grand Royal Bluepaw, you should learn to respect your father," Sagesplash, standing there with the lead Royal, rumbled in a threatening voice and Windpaw barked in laughter before she can stop herself, earning his glare next.

"Respect," she chortled, bitter, "respect is a two-way path. Why give respect to someone who doesn't respect you?" Her eyes flashed, a challenge, "isn't that what you told me once?"

"Windpaw," Bluepaw grunted, and at first, she thought he was going to tell her to stop, to scold her, and just as she was getting ready to snap at him too, he scowled, "Let's just go. It's not worth it. We have better things to do."

"You haven't been dismissed-" Her father tried but she snickered.

"Bye~" she sang as the two of them walked off, Sagesplash snarling for her to return, but she ignored it and so did Bluepaw. (Streamrunner had gone noticeably quiet and she didn't bother to look at his expression before leaving.)

What wonderful fathers they had.

What a pair they are.

What a mess.

…

"I really don't want to go in there…"

"What do you think he's going to say?"

"If we're lucky, he'll have a change of heart and call this whole thing off."

"When have we ever been lucky?"

Windpaw grunted in lieu of an answer. The two of them stood outside of the Grand Royal's den, eyeing it like it was the greatest monster. Like they were about to walk in and never walk back outside. And so, because of this, the she-cat was soaking up as much sun as she could, tilting her head toward the sky and closing her eyes.

"Now or never?" Bluepaw spoke with the greatest reluctance.

"Don't give me the option of never," Windpaw retorted with a snort, "I'll pick never."

"How bad can it be?"

"Now that you've said that, it's gonna be even worse than what we can imagine."

"So superstitious," Bluepaw rolled his eyes before taking in a final, deep breath and nodding sternly to himself. He bumped her in the shoulder, knocking her off-balance a step and earning a mild glare, before jerking his head aside. "Come on, let's just get this over with, and then we can find Rainpaw."

"I call dibs on holding her first."

"You'll just have to fight me on that," he winked before stepping through the entrance, ducking slightly over the hanging vines frozen to the side of the den. Little sharp icicles dripped from them, and it reminded her a lot like teeth.

It felt like stepping directly into the mouth of a beast, but she kept going regardless. (Straight for the belly.)

Alarmingly, the first thing Windpaw noticed was the scent of blood, and as they came into view of the actual den, she had to carefully set her mask of indifference. Thorncloud was curled up on the ground off to the side, trembling and whimpering to himself, claws marks down his back that was turned toward them. Cloudstar was sitting by his nest, kneading at it with obvious impatience, ears flicking and tail twitching.

Lo and behold the Grand Royal of Stormclan.

Just as much of a mess as us.

Maybe they did fit Stormclan's criteria of crazy… (Maybe that wasn't a good thing.)

"Grand Royal," she spoke up first because Bluepaw was not as unaffected by the scent of blood in the air as she was, his eyes lingering sympathetically on the Servant, and she had to step in his line of sight so he could get the message to stop staring before Cloudstar noticed. He swallowed lightly, turning his gaze to the front. "You wanted to talk to us?"

"Has the river calmed?" Cloudstar asked immediately and Windpaw should have been expecting that.

She glanced at Bluepaw and he didn't seem keen on speaking at the moment and she internally whined. She hated having to be the professional voice. (It reminded her of the way she used to talk as a kit and she hated it.)

"Unfortunately not. We predict within a day or two, though," she didn't know how she managed to keep her voice even, keep from flattening her ears in obvious trepidation. "It won't be long now."

Won't be long until they had to fight. Won't be long until someone else dies.

Won't be long until the true test of Rainpaw's healing and growth came.

Of everything, that's what the three of them worried about the most. If Rainpaw fought against a clan who had no regard for her state of mind, what would happen?

Would she not fight back and be terribly wounded (and die)?

Would she fight back and kill and lose herself (and die)?

Would she run away from the battle and then face Cloudstar's punishment (and possibly die)?

They didn't like their chances.

"Won't be long," Cloudstar repeated, the twitching of his tail coming to a stop, his eyes distant and vacant for a long enough moment that it became quite unnerving. Windpaw wanted to know what was going through his mind. Was he really that bothered by the fact Blazeclan killed Specklepaw? As far as she knew, he didn't have any favorites and didn't even talk to Specklepaw. If it was someone else, would he react the same way? "Yes. The time is near, we will have our justice."

"...Our revenge, you mean," Bluepaw finally spoke up, in a quiet murmur, and Windpaw stiffened beside him, glancing at him with a warning out of the corner of her eye. He ignored it, his face sad as he stared at the leader. "This is just a revenge mission, Grand Royal."

Those eyes snapped to him, focusing now, sparking with anger, "It is justice for what they've done to us. Slaughtering one of our own in cold blood. This is returning the favor. This is making things right."

"This is an act of vindictiveness. Retaliation," Bluepaw would not be deterred, pausing for a beat before adding, "personal."

"Careful, Bluepaw," Cloudstar's voice rumbled with a building growl in his chest, Windpaw taking half a step closer toward the tom at her side out of instinct, body tense. "You are speaking out of turn."

"I am merely concerned that your head isn't in the right mind, Grand Royal," Bluepaw's shoulders sagged, shaking his head. "What happens after this? We kill a few of them, and then what? We live in a world of retaliation and cycles- this will never end."

"So, you're saying we should just let this go?" Cloudstar stood up now and Windpaw felt herself instinctively cowering back, gritting her teeth once she realized what she was doing and trying to sit taller. "I'm beginning to question where your loyalties lie, Bluepaw."

"Why did you call us here, Grand Royal?" Windpaw decided to step in now, shooting a warning look toward Bluepaw, and this time, it was enough to get him to back off. She'd have to give him a firm talking about not pushing the buttons of someone who did not listen to reason and had all the power over their lives. It never ended well for anyone. "Did you need us to do something?"

For a long while, Cloudstar ignored her entirely, dark blue eyes trained solely on Bluepaw even as the apprentice ducked his head in a bow. For that amount of time, Windpaw thought her leader was about to leap across the space between them and rip him to shreds for speaking out of turn.

She didn't know if she'd step in to defend him. She probably would, and not just because he was Rainpaw's brother.

Also because he was her friend (despite how much they both denied it).

"Blazeclan has hit us in a place where it hurts. One of my Royal apprentices," Cloudstar began in a rough voice and she almost felt like asking when was the last time he slept. What horrors plagued him at night? She was too afraid to know. "But this is but one victory they have gained over us in the past few moons… I have yet to let go of everything else."

Everything else… Aka, losing the prisoners to a group of apprentices, Bluepaw losing that sparring match once upon a time.

Since then, Stormclan has not had a victory against Blazeclan.

And it was clearly haunting Cloudstar and he could not let it go.

"As such," he continued, gradually getting back to his seat on his nest, blowing out a ragged breath that held the tail end of a growl. It reminded her of thunder. "We must find a balance."

"In what way?" Windpaw asked, her nerves growing more and more, sharing a glance with Bluepaw.

"They hit us where it hurts," Cloudstar grinned, "so, let's hit them where it kills."

"What…" Bluepaw cleared his throat, shuffling his paws, "What do you have in mind?"

"What rank is higher than Royal?" the leader suddenly asked, tilting his head. Despite the innocent gesture, Windpaw felt her fur bristling with uneasiness.

"...Grand Royal," the two of them answered hesitantly.

He can't seriously be suggesting…

"Cloudstar," Bluepaw breathed out, aghast, "is it not against the code to kill unless necessary?"

"And it's flattering you have so much faith in our skills," Windpaw added quickly, "but against Redstar-"

Cloudstar cut her off.

Because he began laughing.

He tossed his head back as his deep-belly guffaws reverberated in the air. Off to the side, Thorncloud curled up into a tighter ball, whimpering louder. Windpaw did her best to keep her breaths even, not really succeeding, and Bluepaw was staring with wide eyes. The desire for revenge had eaten away at the tom's sanity and he was beginning to wilt away.

She wondered if things would go back to normal once this was over. (She had a feeling they wouldn't.)

Eventually, he managed to calm himself down, wiping at his face to chase off the tears of amusement, catching his breath, "I'm not asking you to kill Redstar. Quite frankly, neither of you can do that at the moment- and I want to be the one to do it if it ever comes to it."

"Then…?"

"Grand Royal apprentice," Cloudstar grinned, sharp and dangerous. "Which one of the two was our main source of embarrassment?"

Flarepaw… Well.

Windpaw didn't know how to feel about that. Everything always comes back to her, and-

Wait.

"You-" her voice cracked before she swallowed and tried again, "You want us… to kill her?"

"Grand Royal, I'm sorry but we can't-"

"I'm not asking you to kill her. I'm merely asking you to fight," Cloudstar's whiskers twitched, knowing something that they didn't. "Fight, and provide an opportunity."

For who?

If Cloudstar brought him in here just to tell them to target Flarepaw… then who was going to be the one to actually do the deed?

"You won't kill her," Cloudstar repeated, the world falling into silence.

In hindsight… Windpaw should have figured it out sooner, and she hated that she didn't and would hate herself for not realizing it. She pieced it together right as the puzzle revealed itself anyway.

"Grand Royal?" An achingly familiar voice spoke up from behind them, and Windpaw whipped around to see Rainpaw now there. Confused and cautious as she looked between them all, brows furrowing, "You wanted to speak with me?"

No… No, no, no, no, no-

Yes.

Cloudstar purred, silky smooth and viscous like the blood that would shed.

"But she will."

…

A/N: Dun, dun, dun. Things just keep going downhill, huh? Well, kinda. At least Sootblaze managed to get his warning out after all. But oh boy. It's getting spicy and I hope you guys are ready.

…

Question of the Day

(Question submitted by KyubiMaster9. Thanks for the help!)

What would be the theme song(s) for each ship? So, Flare/Soot, Wind/Rain, White/Leaf, and anybody else.

(More music for me, muahaha.)

…

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Thank you and peace out!

~Wolfcreations21