So yeah I didn't update yesterday. I was tired and had no motivation to actually finish the chapter I was writing, so I decided to use the time I have for writing to finish the chapter so I could upload it today. This is being updated early cause I won't be able to update at the usual times yet again.

Good news! I lasted much longer than last week! My back still hurt though, but I think I'm getting used to it? Maybe. Probably not.

ooo we're getting into the stuff I originally envisioned for this fic. tfw you have to write out a whole fic just to get the part you wanted to write in the first place.

Reviews are appreciated!

Firestar didn't know what to do. The Gathering was still fresh in his mind, even after a few days had passed. He knew how dangerous he had become, but that didn't mean he wanted to hurt anyone. He had been trying his best to curb his primal instincts and thoughts, the ones that wanted him to tear apart those that he saw as threats.

A lot of cats were considered threats, especially the ones that threatened his treasures. It was why he had attacked Onestar in the first place, because he was clearly aiming to hurt Sandstorm without remorse. Not only that, but he was trying to impose himself on Thunderclan territory. In Firestar's eyes, him attacking Onestar was valid, and it would have been no different if it had happened a few moons ago. But since he had wings, scales, and the like, everything was suddenly different.

He couldn't deny that his changes had indeed tipped the balance of power in Thunderclan's favor. He never asked for it though...

Now everything over the last moon had culminated to this point and was about to drop onto his head. He had brought war to Thunderclan for existing and because he previously didn't have the control that he now has.

So of course the whispers and gossip had started back up again, wondering if Firestar was in the right condition to lead them. Some of the more outspoken warriors agreed with the other clans, that Firestar should step down; he was too dangerous.

He must have been living in some cruel alternate reality if half of his clan wanted him gone.

"We're not going to let them do anything to you. You've done nothing wrong," Brambleclaw said resolute.

"Onestar's lost it," Squirrelflight commented from besides her former mate.

Firestar was silent for a few moments before he finally lifted his head. "I know you're all worried about me, but really, I'll be fine. They... can't do much to hurt me anyway. Just worry more about yourselves okay?"

"No." His gaze trailed over to Graystripe. "You've done all you can to protect and lead us for all these moons. It's our turn to protect you now," he said, uncharacteristically serious.

"I don't need you all getting hurt or killed for my sake!" he snapped. He would never forgive himself if they died trying to defend him. All of this nonsense would stop if he just stepped down...

Nearby, Dovewing pricked up her ears. "They're coming. And there's a lot of them," she reported. He didn't need Dovewing to tell him that; his ears had already picked up their thundering pawsteps as they approached the Thunderclan camp. All around him, his warriors prepared themselves for a possible battle, the elders and queens tucked away safely inside their dens to avoid the possible fight. Some of the warriors carried themselves with the look of a cat that didn't want to fight something so trivial, others were nervous. Others were mad, and Firestar wasn't sure if it was because they were angry that the other clans wanted him to step down or because they were angry that they had to defend someone that they no longer wanted as leader. He hoped it wasn't the latter.

Sandstorm pressed her pelt to his, scared that if she moved away from him, she would lose her mate to the angry clans coming at them. He couldn't help but share her fear. He had no idea what to expect on this day. The best he could hope for was a peaceful compromise.

But if anyone tried hurting her or his hatchlings... all bets were off.

The other leaders strode into their camp, their warriors behind them. Firestar noted with alarm that they were heavily outnumbered. Would his new form be able to fend off so many cats by himself? He narrowed his eyes at the lack of Windclan warriors. He thought that Onestar was the one that hated him the most, so why would he not bring all his warriors with him?

He tore himself away from Sandstorm's side and padded up to meet them. He tried convincing himself in his head that there was nothing they could do to hurt him, and they couldn't just tell him to step down. Starclan would still see him as leader unless he stepped down willingly.

He stood a few tail lengths away from them. "You know I have no intention of stepping down. I've done nothing wrong in Starclan's eyes for me to do so."

Onestar looked ready to object when Blackstar roughly pulled him aside. "Do you want him to lunge at us? Let us do the talking," he whispered to Onestar harshly with a hiss. Onestar growled but said nothing.

Blackstar exchanged a wary look with Mistystar. "We know you aren't going to step down willingly," Blackstar said slowly. His fur bristled when Firestar's glare turned frosty, the ginger leader slipping into a defensive stance.

"Which is why we're offering a compromise!" Mistystar added in hastily. Firestar's ears pricked, as did the rest of his clan. Onestar's expression turned even sourer than possible.

"You can continue being leader of your clan, but you must promise to never raise a claw should the clans attack Thunderclan, or should Thunderclan attack any of the clans," Mistystar meowed.

It... sounded reasonable. His cats muttered to themselves, contemplating the offer. Firestar gave a frown, thinking it over. "You're asking me that should Thunderclan be attacked, I can't help defend my own clan. How do I know you won't just attack my clan after this deal is made?"

"As long as everyone sticks to their side of the border, which we will, everything should be fine," Blackstar said.

Their attentions were drew to Onestar, who gave out a furious hiss of outrage. "We're just going to let him stay leader of this clan despite all that he's done?! Can't you see he's been replaced by some monster?" he spat out.

Blackstar twitched his whiskers into a frown. "Didn't I tell you we'd handle this? Besides, he hasn't given us any reason to rive him out, nor has he given any indication that isn't Firestar. What is going on with you?"

"There's nothing wrong with me! I seem to be the only one here with any sense is all. Look at him! He's clearly dangerous!"

"We've established that he's dangerous already. That's why we're making the deal," Mistystar hissed. "Don't do something mouse-brained!"

Onestar rolled his eyes. "Unbelievable. Guess I have to do everything myself." He gave Firestar a heated glare, and the ginger and black leader's fur bristled in response. What was Onestar up to?

"Show your true face, monster." He raised his tail; some kind of signal, and Windclan warriors burst into the clearing, to the shock and surprise of the other three clans. He gave another signal, and some warriors branched off and tackled Sandstorm, who gave a yowl of shock. Firestar whirled around to stare as his mate was pinned underneath the claws of some Windclan warriors.

"Make any sudden moves and she gets it," Onestar hissed. Thunderclan could only stand there, horrified as one of their own was held under threat of death.

"This wasn't part of the deal!" Blackstar screeched at Onestar. Mistystar gave the Windclan leader a hiss and glare, but otherwise was unable to do anything.

Firestar couldn't hear anything other than his own heartbeat pounding away in his ears. These cats were hurting his mate! The stone let out an angry glow, and a burning hot anger raged though him, mixing with the heat and intensity of the stone's own anger. His vision was clouded with red.

Threatkillthreatkillthreatkillthey'rehurtingherthey'rehurtingmymatekillkillkillkillkillkillkillkillKILLKILLKILL

The Windclan warriors holding down Sandstorm gazed at his red eyes in fear. Everyone around him backed away unsteadily, afraid of what Firestar was going to do.

"You mouse-brains, let her go or he'll actually kill you this time!" Brambleclaw hissed, recognizing the danger. He knew how protective Firestar got over them, and he absolutely felt threatened by the threat of his mate getting killed. The stone had taken him over again.

To Thunderclan's surprise, Firestar spoke. "Get away from her," he hissed. His voice was deeper, almost bestial.

"Told you it wasn't him," Onestar muttered smugly, despite his own fear.

Firestar's anger only rose when the foolish cats didn't get off his mate. If they wouldn't listen to him, he would make them. He felt his fire rise in his throat, and he willingly let it surface. He opened his jaws slightly to let the flames lick his muzzle, trying to threaten the cats in front of him. His clanmates stepped back in shock, having been unaware of all of Firestar's abilities.

Onestar's gaze hardened and he launched himself forward, not wanting his clanmates to get fried. He remembered the last time Firestar had spat out flames at him. He was determined to rid the clans of the red-eyed monster. So he tackled Firestar. Instead of the flames aiming toward the Windclan warriors, it hit a nearby tree, which quickly caught aflame.

Unlike last time, the fire didn't immediately put itself out. The clans watched in horror as the flames quickly spread.

Thunderclan territory had been engulfed in fire.

Oh no a cliffhanger, I hate those. But the next chapter will be another important one OvO

The stone's pumped enough of its power into Firestar that his fire is actually dangerous now. He's also becoming slightly more aware of what's happening when he goes feral, but that doesn't mean much, he's still acting on instinct. In this case, he saw Sandstorm being held against her will and was willing to kill and hurt those around him if it meant she was safe.

Onestar continuously proves that he wasn't meant for leadership...

Also there will probably be a ton of errors in this chapter, and there are probably more errors... in all of my fics really. It's been months and I'm still catching stupid little things. If you see any, let me know so I can fix them... or don't and I can be embarrassed regardless cause I didn't catch it before I updated.

Tell me how I did.