A limp of matted dark tabby fur lay in the back of the warrior's den. All besides him, it was empty. Claws prodding at his ribs awakened Tigerclaw abruptly. He opened his eyes slightly to see the blurry version of Thistleclaw, "You got border patrol with Fierceblood, me 'n and Crimsonclaw." She meowed quickly and padded out of the warrior's den. Tigerclaw's gaze followed her out; when the dark brown tip of her tail disappeared into the clearing he rolled over onto his back stretching. He yawned opening his mouth widely, then he rolled back over onto his belly, his head laid down on his paws and his growled, "Yay for me…"

The massive deputy and the alpha warrior waited in the black gorse tunnel impatiently for Tigerclaw,

"He's not coming…" Crimsonclaw hissed,

"Be patient." Thistleclaw padded up to them and sat,

"He's almost ready." She meowed, "I swear, his death must've been grisly, because the whole warrior's den smells like blood and fear."

When Tigerclaw padded out of the warrior's den he winced at the sudden burst of sunlight, then padded up to the patrol waiting for him Fierceblood gave him a questioning look,

"…What?" He finally asked,

"How'd you die?" He asked,

"I got my throat and stomach ripped open, how'd you die?"

"I was set on fire by a mouse-brained Twoleg kit." He spat, "Let's get going already."

He padded swiftly into the forest. It didn't look so unfriendly and forbidding now that the sun was out.

"You wanna know how I died?" Crimsonclaw asked,

"How?"

"I was murdered by a warrior from my own clan." Tigerclaw's fur prickled as he remembered Redtail and how he had slaughtered the deputy.

Of course! He thought, Crimsonclaw must've been Redtail in a different clan, but if he was Redtail…who is me?

"How did you die Thistleclaw?"

"That's none of your concern!" She hissed, "Besides, why should I tell you, Stranger?"

"My name's Tigerclaw." He spat back,

"Well, you're a stranger to me, so I'm going to call you Stranger!"

"Thistleclaw was corrupt because she killed a tom called Soulglaive when she was an apprentice…all of her siblings went to StarClan except for Crookedfang, back in her clan, she's a descendant of you."

"Me?"

"I was killed unfairly, that's all I'll say." She sniffed and padded away,

"Was Scarletstream killed?"

"No, she's Brokenstar's daughter, she was born into this clan. I went into the material world and was killed there, after I died I came back here seeking refuge," Tigerclaw could tell the scarlet streaked she-cat's brother was lying, something in his eyes and tone were too protective.

Am I really that much of a stranger?

They padded out into the plain lands where Tigerclaw had been when he first came here and stared out into a pitch-black forest. The trees were black with red leaves; it reeked of blood and death.

"ChaosClan territory." Fierceblood spoke as if he admired it, "Don't get any ideas Stranger!" He hissed and padded away,

"Is that my new name or something?"

"Guess so Stranger." Crimsonclaw meowed with a grin,

Tigerclaw staggered backwards, he couldn't breath and his mouth filled with blood, the scents of ChaosClan filled the air. He turned and ran as fast as he could. Cats from the past stood on all sides of him yowling to him for help and cursing him for his sins. Bramblepaw, at least the grown version of him, leapt out of the under brush and drug claws across his father's face. He shook thick scarlet drops of blood from muzzle, Bramblepaw was gone. Past him the screaming form of a cats a lit with flames raced.

Suddenly sunning rocks appeared before him, his paws were soaked with blood and Redtail's lifeless body lay in front of him. The sound of unfamiliar voices filled the air; Tigerclaw turned tail and ran again. What was he running from? And why was he so terrified. A black and white she-cat appeared carrying a black and scarlet she-cat by her scruff. Behind the body was a thick streak of blood, and Scarletstream's scent filled the air.

"No!" He yowled and slashed claws at the black and white she-cat who reeked of ChaosClan. She swiftly dodged his attacks and lunged at his throat. Tigerclaw could feel her razor sharp fangs pierce his throat, he felt as if she were drawing blood from him.

He lurched awake panting. He was terrified, the others were asleep. A huge heap of pale tabby fur streaked with black lay in a nest a top of ledge over looking the warrior's den. Beside the deputy was a smaller heap of black fur streaked crimson. Tigerclaw cocked his head.

So…that's where the alpha warrior and the deputy sleep… He thought swiping his rough pink tongue over his lips. I should work on my fighting skills if I'm ever to rank as deputy. Yes. That is my rank in the clan, I will accept no less. If anyone stands in my way…well, I'll deal with them, personally, He unsheathed his claws and grinned.

A moon later, morning light dawned on the BloodClan camp. Scarletstream padded out of the warrior's den to find Tigerclaw lying in the clearing. The fresh kill pile, which had been reduced to nothing the night before, was overflowing.

"Tigerclaw…did you catch this?" She marveled,

"You know, in this alternate reality you'd think the prey would be harder to catch."

She smiled and laughed slightly,

"Want a rabbit?" He asked pushing a fat bunny towards the black and scarlet she-cat

"Alright Claw…what's the catch."

"Claw?"

"It's a nick name, what's the catch?"

"There is no catch Scarletstream…just doing honorable deeds."

"…When my father said honorable deeds, he meant, saving a cat's life in battle, or…sacrificing yourself to ghastly wounds to protect a den mate."

"Well, how do I get myself up to deputy then?" He spat in exasperation,

"You have to fight your way up, that exactly how Brokenstar did it, but you can't fight to be leader, you have to be deputy when the leader dies to become leader."

"Who's one up from me?"

"Venomstripe is the Psi warrior."

Tigerclaw winced, that she-cat was a terror; she had the heart of a ShadowClan warrior and the generosity of a badger.

"What rank are you?"

"Beta, fourth in command, Crimsonclaw is Alpha, Fierceblood is the deputy so he is ranked second highest in the clan."

"What about me?"

"You have about as much authority as a kit." Tigerclaw's fur puffed out, "You look like a porcupine with rocks for eyes," She laughed gesturing to Tigerclaw's widening amber eyes, "I'll wake Brokenstar and Venomstripe to tell them you're going to fight in the arena."

"What is the arena?"

"It's a gathering of all the clans to watch cats fight. I think I'll take your rabbit suggestion." She meowed taking the fat creature in her teeth and tearing the skin from its throat off. There was silence for a moment; the sun was just rising when Tigerclaw gathered up his courage to ask,

"…Scarletstream, what happened to Scarletkit?"

She looked up at him, her scarlet eyes glistening in the rising sun.

"You remember Scarletkit? You met her on your first day here…"

"Yes, that's why I asked you, I haven't seen her or Crimsonkit."

"I am Scarletkit, each cat in each clan has something different about them…"

"Different?" Tigerclaw echoed,

"We can each do something unnatural, back in the material world you would call it," She glanced around then leaned in closer lowering her voice, "Special powers."

"How do they get "special powers" and what exactly are yours?"

"Crimsonclaw's and mine are being able to shape shift into any cat that we see,"

"Prove it."

The she-cat narrowed her eyes then closed them, a shudder ran down her spine, she unsheathed her claws digging them into the ground and her fur bristled, then in one sweeping motion starting at the tip of her nose her fur turned dark tabby and her unsheathed claws grew twice their size. When she opened her eyes they were magnificent amber.

"Does this prove my point enough?" She asked, her voice had even changed to fit Tigerclaw's deep growl.

"…Whoa."

She shook her pelt rapidly, Tigerclaw's dark tabby image burst into dust to reveal Scarletstream's black and scarlet pelt.

"We can also make multiple images of different looking cats."

"What can Fierceblood do?"

She hesitated, "Tigerclaw…a warrior, deputy, or leader changes their power to help them fight if they are challenged in the arena."

"What are you saying?"

"Do you really want to know what happened to Clawface?"

"He was killed by ChaosClan, like you said."

"…No, Fierceblood has intimidated the whole camp with his power, he is the one who lights the torches when the sun sets, he can set himself on fire with out hurting himself, he backed Clawface into a corner when he challenged him as deputy, then he pinned him down. He ripped Clawface open. Fierceblood pierced his throat and drug his claws down all the way to his tail tip, Clawface bled to death."

The ghastly image of Tigerclaw remembering watching Scourge rip his belly open flashed into the dark tabby's mind.

"If you fight him, you must practice fighting with the apprentices, that's how Fierceblood did it, if you want to be deputy, you have to get your power and learn to fight the BloodClan way."

"How can I get my power?"

"You must watch yourself die again, and you must understand why you didn't go to StarClan."

Tigerclaw was quiet, he stared down at his paws thinking about what the she-cat had said,

"Do you still want to fight Venomstripe today?"

"…No,"

"Well, do you want the rest of my rabbit? I'm not hungry anymore."

"No thanks,"

"Alright, then I'd better burry it, we don't wand rats in our camp."

Tigerclaw felt again as terrified as he was in his sleep,

Do I really have to watch myself die? What will my power be? And if Fierceblood ripped Clawface open…could he do the same to me? Is it possible to die twice?