Chapter 17

Morningpelt yowled and threw her off and against the wall. Sunfur and Dewflower were frozen with shock. Rainpelt had tried to kill their leader? Suddenly it all seemed to pull together; all seemed to make sense. That's why she was being so hostile. They looked at each other with the same uncertainty in their eyes, and they both gave a nod. They knew now that their loyalty lied nowhere…not within any Clan other than this one.

Rainpelt slowly got up, but was quick to slash Morningpelt against the face. She hissed, "I thought I killed you seven times!"

"I faked the last one. What, did you think you could kill me so easily?"

"I tried for the good of WillowClan. Just because your deputy disagreed with you, it doesn't mean you can destroy the forest!" Morningpelt chuckled.

"You think that was the reason I brought the rogues to attack? Just because of your decision? No, Rainpelt, WillowClan weren't loyal. They needed to be taught a lesson. They needed a new leader to rise. They needed…Orangestar."

Rainpelt was struck with shock. She froze solid. Dewflower and Sunfur's eyes were filled with confusion. What were they talking about? Morningpelt was hissing with laughter now…wicked laughter. The silver she-cat now had her lips curled back in a snarl.

"Orangestar was a horrible leader. She led WillowClan to pure despair! You intended to suddenly follow her paw-steps?" Rainpelt's eyes widened. Graystripe was trying to take this all in, his eyes wide as well.

"Orangestar knew how to run a Clan. She knew how to keep her warriors under control. She knew how to make sure they were loyal."

"And if the apprentices disobeyed their mentors once, they were slaughtered! You call that a great leader?" She shook her head in disbelief.

"Yes, I do. It taught the other apprentices to obey well," he hissed.

"And they were so silent you wouldn't even know if an attack were being launched upon our Clan!"

"I don't care! We would have found out sooner or later. I led the rogues to attack WillowClan because they wouldn't listen to me. No, Morningstar, you're too soft," he mocked Sunfur. "Well, I wasn't so soft when I wiped out the Clan, was I, Rainpelt? No, I wasn't. I was rock hard, and WillowClan didn't suspect a thing. I needed loyal warriors, warriors who would stay beside me. I thought you were one, until I realized you were too smart. You had figured out my plan."

"And it's a good thing a did, too! Otherwise, none of the Clans would exist! You trained those rogues, Morningpelt! I'd trusted you!"

"Of course I trained them. If I hadn't, WillowClan would have won." Shocked gasps ran through the den, the loudest from Dewflower and Sunfur. The golden warrior narrowed his eyes. He would stand by Rainpelt no matter what. Through thick and thin, he would fight beside her. No matter what Clan they were in.

"And we would have anyway! We needed a leader, and I was too busy fighting you!" Rainpelt yowled, her eyes cold and unwelcoming.

"You? A leader? No, Orangestar would have made sure you weren't leader. She never liked you, Rainpelt. She was always extra hard on you because she never liked you. And she still doesn't like you. When we get back to camp, she'll punish you for all you've done."

"You've gone crazy. Orangestar is dead, and she's not coming back. She hated me because I hated her daughter!"

"Her daughter was a fine deputy before me. She would have led the Clan like her mother."

"You're right; Eveningsky would have killed the Clan…like she did those kits."

"She never killed kits!" Morningpelt yowled in defiance. "It was you, Rainpelt. You killed the kits and made it look like Eveningsky." Rainpelt was silent, but held her gaze upon him.

"My entire life…my entire life while I was growing up I was told by Orangestar that I was mad…" She looked at the ground.

"You were! You thought you had a gift from StarClan!" Dewflower looked up in surprise, but Rainpelt already had it handled. She was staring at her old leader.

"I do have a gift from StarClan. I realized after Orangestar died, I wasn't crazy. I was perfectly fine. I see now you're the crazy one. You always have been crazy. And I also realize it's time I put you out of your misery." Bluestar's eyes widened with surprise, but she didn't look away as Rainpelt walked slowly up to the brown rogue. She took a deep breath, and gave him a sharp blow in the throat. He fell to the floor, dead.

Rainpelt turned around; claws sheathed, and faced her Clan. She was ready to explain. "When the rogues attacked, Morningpelt had covered his plans quite well. He was an excellent actor, which made it easy for him to put on a surprised face. He began to battle the rogues. I saw a tom take the life of Frozentail, a respected she-warrior of WillowClan.

"I raced over to avenge her death, when her murderer turned around to face me. I realized with shock that it had been my leader. He clawed my leg and bit my shoulder, but I always had a paw in front of his speed, skill, and strength. I had taken one of his lives in a matter of seconds, but realized that I was greatly outnumbered with my Clan around me failing because they had no one to lead them.

"I also realized I was greatly outnumbered in two other ways: the other rogues were attacking me, and Morningpelt had six lives left. I knew my limits, and I also knew I didn't have limits. I would without a doubt die for my Clan. I took the risk and battled Morningpelt six more times. By the time I thought he was dead, I had escaped to the branches of the Weeping Willow that was in the center of our camp. I hid there, knowing my wounds would slow me down if I tried to battle again.

"I knew if my Clan survived, I would have to live to lead them. After the sounds of battle ceased, I had walked around the camp, realizing with shock my Clan was dead. I would lead no Clan. I also realized how many cats had been killed by Krone, the leader of the rogues, who is now in ShadowClan," she meowed with dread.

"They had his fur between their claws, and it dawned on me how dangerous it was that he was still alive. That's when I raced to ThunderClan, and eventually joined as a warrior," she finished, licking a paw clean of Morningpelt's blood. Dewflower's eyes were filled with disbelief, but Sunfur's were calm and understanding.

"I believe you, Rainpelt." That was all he meowed before leaving the den. Dewflower stared at the ground.

"H-how…why didn't I receive a dream about this from StarClan?" The medicine cat shook her head. "I should have questioned what really happened…I should have known. How could I have been so stupid? Of course WillowClan could have defeated those rogues with the guidance of a leader. Why didn't I…" She sighed and Rainpelt pressed her fur against her friend's flank for comfort. Bluestar gave a dismissing nod to her Clan.

"I think we all need some rest. May StarClan grant you good dreams tonight." The leader left the den and returned to her den beneath the Highrock. Queens began to leave, as well as apprentices, and warriors began to nestle down into their moss beds. Rainpelt felt a lick on her forehead. She looked up into the eyes of Graystripe.

"I never realized what you had to deal with until now. I'm sorry you had to carry such a burden," he whispered. She shook her head.

"Don't apologize; it wasn't your fault. Life comes with burdens such as these." She looked at Tigerclaw. His gaze was centered upon the wall. She guessed he was deep in thought. She shut her eyes, settling into her own moss bed. Her breathing steadied and she soon fell fast asleep, the very last sound she heard being Dewflower's paw-steps padding out of the den.