Skystar led his group back to camp, moving quickly through the trees. The forest floor was dappled by starlight. Petal, Cloud Spots, Sparrow Fur, who was recovering and the former Thunderclanners had stayed behind to watch the kits, but he could see them now, rushing out of camp to greet them.

"Skystar!" Raven Hope mewed urgently. "Careful, it's a–"

A yowl sounded from camp.

Fear clawed at Skystar's heart. He hurried after them into the camp. Gorse Fur sped past, worried for Wind Runner.

In the middle of the clearing, sat One Eye and Fury along with a black she-cat, who looked nervous. Around the edges of the camp, some rogues and…kittypets? Lingered, glaring at them from the shadows.

What the…?

"Welcome back, my Clan," One Eye sneered. Skystar glowered. What did this idiot mean by 'his Clan?'

"Get outta here!" Gray Wing snapped. Then he looked around wildly. "And where is Sparrow Fur?"

One Eye snorted. "No need to worry about that stupid brat," he sneered.

"Yes, it's our time to lead this Clan," Fury purred. "Now shoo, so we can go along with our business."

"Will you let us come back when you're finished?" Birch asked innocently.

"Aww," One Eye crooned sarcastically. "Of course."

"Really?"

"No!"

"But!" Fury interrupted, glaring at One Eye. "You all will stay and heed our orders! So no one gets hurt. But Skystar…leave!"

"Never!" Skystar and Gray Wing snapped simultaneously.

A sudden cry of distress sounded from a nearby tree. Skystar turned. He noticed a flash of white under its roots.

"Dad!" Sparrow Fur yowled. "Help me!"

Gray Wing launched himself towards the tree, but two of the kittypets with dog teeth on their collars, tackled him.

"STOP!" Skystar yowled, mind racing. He had to come up with a plan and fast, but he couldn't. So he would have to leave and come back to rescue the others! It was the only way. He just hoped they wouldn't feel betrayed. "Okay, I'll go."

"And I'm coming with," Gray Wing wriggled free and looked his brother in the eye. He had a knowing glint. He knew him so well!

"Very good," Fury purred. "Now see ya!" She flicked her tail and three collar-wearing cats like her stalked towards the two brothers.

Skystar looked around and saw his clanmates staring in disbelief.

"Okay, we'll go, we don't need an escort!" Gray Wing snapped. He paused though and eyed the tree. After a moment of hesitation he dashed around the rogues and clawed at the roots until Sparrow Fur could wriggle free. "RUN!"

Skystar followed them as they raced out of the camp. Pawsteps pound after them, but soon when they reached the WindClan border, they stopped.

No one had followed them.

After a moment of silence, Sparrow Fur meowed, "what'll we do?"

Skystar didn't know. He felt truly helpless for the first time since his leadership started.

He looked to his brother and niece.

But at least he wasn't alone.

Fury raced into the alleyway with Brick behind her. Bone looked to them expectantly, but Fury ignored him and dipped her head to the two leaders first.

"We have succeeded. SkyClan is ours!"

The tom smirked. "Finally! We can take down ThunderClan!" His companion nodded in agreement and pride that One Eye had succeeded.

He knew his old friend would pull through.

"Pebble Heart, beware a Clan that has been poisoned," Turtle Tail murmured. He and his mother sat on a crest, looking out into a beautiful valley.

Pebble Heart frowned. "Yeah, we know. ThunderClan. Their attitude is as bad as deathberries."

Before he could probe her anymore, he awoke with a start and realized he'd fallen asleep on the concoction he'd been trying to prepare.

He groomed the herbs off and padded out of the medicine den, leaving Runningnose to snore some more.

The sun was beginning to rise. Pebble Heart watched as Cedarpaw and Lavenderpaw pulled old moss from the elders' den. He hadn't been able to save Archeye. The elder had died the day before leaving Hollyflower to have the den all to herself.

I have to hurry before I fail someone else! He glanced towards the nursery. Especially the kits! They had the weakest systems of course, being so young.

But he couldn't get Turtle Tail's dream out of his head. Why would she warn him of something he already knew?

Did she mean another Clan?

Just then, Snag and Mowgli dashed into camp and dropped their prey off on the fresh-kill pile. Pebble Heart never thought much of it, but Snag always wore a weird collar studded with teeth. Which creatures? He didn't want to know.

But who was he to judge? He seemed like a genuinely good cat.

"I got the most prey this time!"

"No, I did!"

"You couldn't even hunt up to the likes of me!"

"Shut up and bring me some food," Hollyflower rasped as she crouched stiffly outside the elders den, waiting as the apprentices dragged new moss over. They were both sniffling and coughing, but they weren't the worst of them.

Like Nightstar, Cinderfur, Ashheart's kits, Littlecloud and Whitethroat. Even Runningnose is coming down with…more of a cold than his usual sniffles.

After Mowgli and Snag had given prey to Hollyflower and Ashheart, who turned her head away from it, the two toms charged back out.

"I'll get more prey this time!"

"Sure, buddy! Whatever helps you sleep at night!"

Pebble Heart smiled. He felt like since the rogues had joined, the Clan seemed more alive. Well, when they were actually in the clearing. After Snag and Mowgli had left it was quiet, deserted again.

Taking advantage of the peace, Pebble Heart grabbed his herbs and the Blazing Star and started mixing concoctions that he thought would work.

He heard pawsteps and looked up to see Boulder and Snow heading towards the entrance, pelts brushing.

"Hey!" He called. "Can you look out for marigold on your outing?

Boulder waved his tail in indication that he'd heard and complied. They passed Tallpoppy, who dragged in more prey. When she dropped it off she headed over to the medicine cat apprentice.

"How do you know it doesn't work?" She asked.

"Well," Pebble Heart began, looking his friend in the eye. "One would have to test it."

Tallpoppy's eyes widened. "Who have you been testing it on?"

"Myself."

"What if it's poison?"

"Oh well." Pebble Heart shrugged, grinning. "And warriors say our job can't be dangerous."

He spent the day mixing and testing concoctions. He would know if it worked. Since he was a healthy cat…for now, he would have the opposite reaction and get a fever from testing random herbs, if not it wasn't the right one.

I need another hint, StarClan, he thought as he went to his nest for the night. Just send me some type of sign!

To be cont'd.

Random Question: Who are your favorite DOTC cats? Mine is a tie between Pebble Heart, Turtle Tail and Hawk Swoop. (Okay, I actually have more than that, but it's hard to choose).