"We're almost there." Longtail looked up to hear Fireheart's voice quiver.

What are you scared of little warrior? he thought. He shook his head to clear it. No. This isn't me. This is Tigerclaw and Darkstripe.

Longtail didn't know why he ever chose to side with Darkstripe and Tigerclaw. He knew for a fact that Fireheart was a good warrior, having proved his loyalty to ThunderClan a thousand times over. Why couldn't he have just kept his mouth shut that day? Honestly, if he had to choose between Tigerclaw and Fireheart to be ThunderClan's next leader, he would choose Fireheart any day.

Sure, Tigerclaw was a strong and experienced warrior, but his solution to every problem was to fight. Even when Tigerclaw was right, he was wrong. Fireheart was a young and inexperienced warrior, yes, but he tried to seek out a compromise. He only ever fought a battle if either Bluestar ordered him to, or if he knew there was no other way. Tigerclaw always saw compromises and peace-making as weaknesses.

"Longtail," Willowpelt meowed. "You okay?"

Longtail nodded his head silently. He glanced anxiously at Tigerclaw, who was eyeing him suspiciously. Does he still think I was working with Ravenpaw?

Tigerclaw beckoned him over with his dark thick-furred tail. "What are you thinking about?" he mewed coolly once Longtail approached him.

"My- my thoughts are not yours," he stammered. "They're mine, and mine al-alone."

"Is that so?" Tigerclaw's eyes flashed coldly.

"I was just thinking about the different outcomes of meeting this kittypet," he lied.

Tigerclaw didn't look convinced. He leaned in closer and hissed in his ear, "Tell me the truth, Longtail. Before you end up like Ravenpaw."

Longtail's heart raced and his belly fluttered. "I- I am telling the truth, Tigerclaw."

The dark tabby's breath ruffled Longtail's ear fur, the look in his eyes was murderous. "You aren't telling the truth. I know you aren't," the ThunderClan deputy hissed threateningly. "And unless you really want to join StarClan now, you will tell me."

He snapped. He had enough of this. Enough of Tigerclaw's threatening into loyalty. "No!" Longtail snarled. "I will not tell you!"

Every cat turned to stare at him in shock. They didn't even know why he was so angry, but they seemed shocked.

"I've had enough of you threatening me into being loyal to you. I've had enough of following you blindly," he growled. "You see compromise and peace-seeking as weaknesses. That's why you hate specific cats so much. But really, those aren't weaknesses, they're strengths. If you don't realize that, then you are as weak as you think peace-makers are. You don't care about peace or mercy! You only think fighting is the answer to every problem. That's why you desire blind loyalty - why you want to know what each of your followers think."

Longtail paused, panting. His fur was fluffed up in anger now. He wasn't finished yet. He still had some more things he wanted to say to Tigerclaw. He was going to admit what he was thinking now. It was time Tigerclaw knew he couldn't control every cat's thoughts, and manipulate them to what he wanted cats to think.

"And you know what?" Longtail meowed. "I'm done! I'm done hiding what I really about. If it came own to it, Fireheart would make a better leader than you. You're only scared you'll be outshined and forgotten because you are replaced by a kittypet. I'm done being one of your followers. You can't control my actions or manipulate my thoughts. They are mine and mine alone. I'm responsible for what I say and do, and nothing you do can change that."

"Longtail..." Bluestar's voice trailed off into a whisper. "You should have been more honest before now. I am proud of you, though, for standing up for yourself."

The majestic blue-gray she-cat glared coldly at Tigerclaw. "Longtail is right, Tigerclaw," she mewed. "You can't control every cat. You are not leader, and a leader doesn't even control their cats by force or blind loyalty. If I had a choice, I would replace you as deputy. But unfortunately," she sighed. "I cannot. It would defy the will of StarClan's approval."

"Let's go." Bluestar flicked her tail to follow. She nodded to Fireheart. "I can take it from here," she told him.

Fireheart dipped his head to the leader of ThunderClan. He fell into step beside Longtail. "Do you really mean what you said?" he asked.

"i really do mean it," Longtail replied. His heart had sped up and he felt a little nervous. His head was screaming at him to follow logic, but his heart was yowling at him to follow his feelings. Love?

Fireheart walked ahead to walk beside Graystripe. They both listened to their apprentices - Brackenpaw and Cinderpaw - describing what they saw and scented to their mentors.

Oh no, Longtail thought. I only feel that way around Fireheart.

Longing and dread crept over his pelt. Am I in love with Fireheart?

Hey, guys!

I decided to give Longtail his own little "and he snapped" moment. I don't really think he had a main point where he had a significant role in Tigerclaw's hatred of him. Also, I think Longtail would be that kind of cat who would be forced into something through threats, as well as getting lost in his own thoughts.

But something I've always wondered is if there was a reason Longtail chose to stay in ThunderClan under Firestar's deputyship and leadership if he hated him so much in the beginning.

What was the trigger of supporting him?