Author's Note: The last warriors story I wrote involved a Dark Forest attack so sometimes I think I've already written a scene but I'm thinking of a different story. If there are any holes in this chapter, please point them out.

Also sorry this took so long. I actually started writing this right after the last one but then got unmotivated then got slammed by deal life. Got interrupted a lot while writing the chapter too.

The soil was surprisingly damp today and the rich smell of earth filled the air in the most pleasant way but he couldn't take the time to enjoy it. Trotting sharp and fast, he weaved through the trees like a warrior on a mission. In truth, he was, save the fact he wasn't a warrior. Forehead crinkled and muscles pulsing, he ran through the forest. He was as focused as he could be and nothing would stop him. There was too much at stake.

It was too bad his ma- er, um, friend was trying to slow him down.

"Fallen Leaves!" Hollyleaf called, running a few pawsteps to catch up with him. Close behind Willowshine, did the same, panting. For a heartbeat, Fallen Leaves felt a flash of guilt. She'd been through so much but in reality, that wasn't an excuse to go easy on her. It just meant he needed to push harder. Unfortunately, Hollyleaf's face told him she thought the opposite. "Calm down. We don't even know where we're going."

Willowshine nodded, looking nervous. "We really should get back to camp. After what the Dark Forest did to RiverClan, I don't really feel safe out h-"

"You're not safe in camp either," Fallen Leaves interrupted, turning to continue on his path. "You're the last of RiverClan. We need to keep you safe and there's only one place that can protect you from the Dark Forest."

"Then shouldn't you be taking Reedwhisker to this safe place and leaving me in the camp?" Willowshine questioned, tipping her head to one side. "ThunderClan doesn't have a medicine cat and I think Reedwhisker has a better chance of surviving wherever you're taking me."

Fallen Leaves nearly stopped to slap himself with his tail. That made so much more sense than his current plan. What was he doing? The clan needed Willowshine. And for the stars' sake, it really didn't make that much of a difference if anyone was in the tunnels or not. Why was he doing this?

Something in his mind prodded him, pushing him forward. He couldn't explain it. It wasn't an earthly drive he was feeling. It was like… "I think StarClan is telling me to take you to the tunnels."

"StarClan? Why?"

Fallen Leaves shrugged, not looking back. "I don't know. Maybe to protect you?"

"I doubt that. I mean, medicine cats' duty is to the clan. That's what makes us special. Taking me away from a place where I can help cats doesn't make a whole lot of sense."

"Maybe they feel guilty over Jayfeather," Hollyleaf suggested. She sped up a bit so she was flanking Fallen Leaves. "Or maybe it's not StarClan. Maybe someone else wants a medicine cat in the tunnels."

Fallen Leaves shrugged again and shook his head. "I don't think so. There weren't any spirits down there except me and…"

Fallen Leaves trailed off and came to a stop for real this time.

"Except who?" Willowshine prompted, a curious look forming on her face. "Who else is down there?"

"Rock," Fallen Leaves answered. He then corrected himself. "Well, not really. I don't know where Rock is but the tunnels are kind of like his Moonpool. Maybe he wants to talk to someone and a medicine cat has the best chance at doing that."

"Maybe," Willowshine said, not sounding too confident. "What could he say to me? I've never heard of him. Would he know anything that could help us?"

"Jayfeather mentioned him once," Hollyleaf answered with a frown, "but I don't know much about him."

"He's the first cat," Fallen Leaves told them. "StarClan doesn't like him but he doesn't hide anything. I'm sure if he's the one calling me back down to the tunnels, he'll have something important to share. And even if it isn't him, the tunnels are safe from the Dark Forest so maybe we can come up with some kind of plan."

Willowshine and Hollyleaf exchanged a glance before looking at him and nodding. "Lead the way."

Fallen Leaves continued on his way, slower and calmer this time, and led the pair of she-cats to the mouth of the tunnel. The moment his paws hit the familiar earth, he felt immensely better. He knew logically there was nothing different between the underground and the surface yet… The tunnels were home. His prison, maybe, but also his home. They were safe. And it seemed Willowshine thought so too.

"I feel…" she trailed off as the trio padded into the main section. She looked around, ears pricking at the sound of the rushing river. She opened her mouth and then closed it. There were no words to be said and there didn't need to be. The tunnels wanted her to be here and they all knew it. She would be safe here.

The assembly was humming in fear in a way Berrynose had never seen among cats. Maybe not even among any animal. Berrynose didn't like it. He knew he of all cats was definitely prone to being swayed by the crowd. Normally, he didn't mind but tonight he didn't want that to happen. The last time it had, he'd chased two of his closest friends out of the clan.

He stuck to Cinderheart's side as best he could. Hopefully she would anchor him tonight. If not her, Hollyleaf. Or Fallen Leaves. Or Ivypool. Or Briarlight. Even Tigerheart and Harespring, assuming they sat with them instead of their own clans. He'd be okay.

A warm feeling bubbled up from his belly as a realization hit him. He'd chased away two friends but gained so many more. He couldn't smile at the thought though. If anything, it made that old, familiar feeling of guilt gnaw at his belly even harder.

"Everyone quiet!" Blackstar snapped loudly at the gathered cats. His tone wasn't one Berrynose ever expected to hear a clan leader use, even the grumpy ShadowClan leader, but he could see the stress in the muscles under Blackstar's white pelt and hear the fear in his mew. Blackstar was doing the best he could and the leader knew it wasn't his best. He took a deep breath and slipped into a familiar phrase. "Cats of all clans, let the gathering begin."

"RiverClan's been destroyed," Firestar said suddenly and murmurs rippled across the clearing. Berrynose doubted any cat hadn't heard the news, save maybe a pawful of WindClan apprentices, but a fresh wave of numb shock struck him. He bit his tongue and leaned against the nearest cat for support. To his surprise, he found his chin resting on the broad shoulder of Tigerheart.

Berrynose's pelt heated up, slightly embarrassed. He hadn't noticed Tigerheart's arrival and he didn't think he knew the tom well enough to cling to him like a kit on his mother's belly for comfort but Tigerheart didn't seem to mind. He merely glanced at the ThunderClan tom and turned his attention back to the leaders.

"Does anyone know where Mistystar is?" Onestar asked, tail swinging behind him. Berrynose wasn't sure if he was too nervous to trust his balance or if he was just agitated. "WindClan hasn't heard much news."

"Reedwhisker is in the ThunderClan camp and Fallen Leaves has taken Willowshine to his home in the tunnels but we haven't seen any other RiverClan cats, let alone Mistystar," Firestar explained solemnly. "I think she had a few lives left but any cat who survived the battle with BloodClan knows that doesn't mean anything against cats without honor."

Berrynose suddenly became very aware of whose grandson he was leaning against.

"After the ShadowClan patrol who helped ThunderClan during the attack returned, I sent out a few cats to scour the shore," Blackstar responded. He fell silent and looked down at his big paws. "I… The patrol found a few cats. They didn't make it."

Berrynose felt grief well up in his chest and he turned his face, burying his muzzle in Tigerheart's fur. The ShadowClan cat made a low noise, voicing his sadness, and wrapped his tail around Berrynose.

"I'm sorry to hear that," Onestar responded and it truly sounded like he meant it. "Have you identified which cats…?"

"Yes. Mostly elders and kits. We're hoping the rest escaped," Blackstar told him. "Mistystar was not among the bodies."

Berrynose let out a breath of relief before stiffening again, another wave of guilt crashing over him. Why was he grateful Mistystar wasn't among the bodies when those bodies were innocent kits and elders? What kind of cat was he to think such a thing?

He tried not to find solace in the fact Tigerheart's body relaxed in relief as well.

"What has ShadowClan been doing?" Firestar asked, green eyes round with worry. "ThunderClan has been on guard in case Dark Forest cats come after RiverClan's survivors but we have no long term plans."

Blackstar let out a long breath. "I have to admit that ShadowClan doesn't either. I hate to be the one to propose this but I don't see any other options. ShadowClan always always stood alone but…"

Tigerheart sat up a bit, leaning forward with intrigue. His shoulder jostled Berrynose's head, forcing him to hold himself up a bit, but he didn't really mind. He wanted to be at full attention when he heard this. Was Blackstar, the proudest, most independent leader he'd ever met, really going to say what he thought he was going to say?

"I'd like the clans to form an alliance," Blackstar said, powerful voice echoing across the island with a dozenfold more confidence than he'd spoken with before. "The clans came together when twolegs were destroying our home and when Blood Clan invaded the forest. That's how we survived and I think it's time to draw on what we've learned from those experiences."

Tigerheart and Berrynose exchanged a glance of surprise. Berrynose was shocked that Blackstar of all cats was the one suggesting this. Then again, Berrynose hadn't been alive during the Great Journey. He didn't know what Blackstar went through or what the massive tom had learned from that. Maybe under all that pride, he really was a caring cat deep down.

"Wisely said, Blackstar," Firestar said, visibly impressed by Blackstar's words though he was clearly trying to hide it. "Do you have any ideas that you want to build the alliance on?"

"At the very least, we need to agree to stop worrying about borders," Onestar pointed out.

"I'm not going to let other clans hunt on ShadowClan territory," Blackstar said flatly and Berrynose felt his hope dip a bit.

"I agree. With both points," Firestar said, looking between the two toms. "Maintaining our borders shouldn't be the priority right now but we still need to respect each other's territory. That means no hunting on another clan's land. But, I think we should allow cats to cross. Maybe sending a few warriors to different camps would bring us closer together."

"That's a good idea," Onestar agreed with a nod. "The Dark Forest has a mix of cats from many clans acting as one. If we're going to face them, we must become LionClan once more."

"LionClan? Like from the story elders tell kits?" Berrynose whispered to Tigerheart, only faintly remembering the story. Tigerheart responded with a shrug.

"I think these are strong foundations for a plan," Ashfoot, the WindClan deputy, spoke up, "but I think the clan leaders, deputies, and senior warriors can decide the details in private. I think a smaller discussion than this one would be more effective."

"Well said, Ashfoot," Firestar praised. He whisked his tail. "Graystripe, Dustpelt, Sandstorm, Brackenfur, Sorreltail, Cloudtail, Brightheart, Thornclaw! Gather around."

"Tawnyfoot, Oakfur, Littlecloud, Oakfur, Ratscar, get over here," Blackstar commanded.

"Kestrelflight, Crowfeather, Nightcloud, Owlwhisker, Weaselfur, come," Onestar summoned.

Berrynose felt a stab of disappointment that he couldn't listen in anymore but there wasn't anything he could do. He turned to his friends, trying to survey their thoughts based on their expressions. He wasn't really sure how he felt himself and it seemed the others shared his unease. Fear and worry- that much was clear.

"I trust my leader, deputy, medicine cats, and senior warriors to keep my clan safe," Harespring announced, breaking the silence. "And I think you trust your own clanmates just as much and if you trust them, I trust them."

"You're right," Berrynose spoke up, smiling softly as he glanced around his group of friends. "I have faith we'll survive this."

His faith was well placed but he wouldn't know how wrong he was until the day he opened his eyes seeing nothing but the Silverpelt.

"I don't know what Blackstar's thinking," Dawnpelt commented as she and Tigerheart padded back towards ShadowClan territory. "Letting ThunderClan cats on our land?"

"We're on ThunderClan territory right now," Tigerheart pointed out, tail swishing.

"You know what I mean."

Tigerheart twitched his tail tip. He knew plenty of cats wouldn't be keen on opening the borders but it was… Well, more than inconvenient his sister was one of them. "It's not like we're inviting them to hunt our prey. We're just prioritizing."

"We can prioritize without making sacrifices."

Tigerheart had to actively stop his tail from lashing. "You're a fool if you think we'll beat the Dark Forest without sacrifices."

Dawnpelt snorted and Tigerheart felt his blood boil.

"What? Do you think you know the Dark Forest better than me? May I remind you that your accusations against Jayfeather lead to the three getting banished?"

Now Dawnpelt looked pissed. "I'm not responsible for that and you know it. I know you're still upset over what happened with Jayfeather and me but that's in the past. It has nothing to do with what we're dealing with now. He's gone, Flametail's gone, and now we have new problems. Like ThunderClan cats crossing our borders. Because it worked out so well last time."

Tigerheart's fury went cold as grief welled up inside him. He missed Flametail. He could understand where Dawnpelt's anger came from, even if he thought it was misplaced. It felt like he should be here. Both Tigerheart and Dawnpelt were the hot headed littermates. Flametail was always there to step in and cool them off when things got too heated. He was there for them to turn to when they were fighting and he was there for them to lean on when they were troubled. The realization that he wouldn't have Flametail's support in the coming crisis hit Tigerheart like an oncoming monster on a thunderpath.

"I don't want to fight," Tigerheart murmured, pressing his nose to his sister's shoulder. She relaxed slightly at his touch. "What's coming… Our grudges don't matter. Between us as littermates or between the clans as rivals. If we're going to survive, we can't fight each other."

Dawnpelt let out a long breath through her nose. "I understand. I don't like it but I understand."

"That's all I ask." She didn't have to understand. The clans didn't have to understand. They just needed to stand together and fight or they wouldn't make it. And they needed to make it. He didn't- Tigerheart couldn't begin to imagine what he'd do if the clans failed.

Author's Note: Is that foreshadowing there? Or am I just trolling you? Who knows? Do you think Berrynose is going to survive what's coming or not?

I know I normally have three sections but Tigerheart's section was just going to be Tigerheart telling Blackstar he was an idiot and he needed to agree to an alliance but Blackstar ended up writing himself and being super chill tonight.

Can I just point out how ThunderClan-centric the story is? I had no idea who the senior warriors were in the other clans and I had to put in more effort than I should have to figure out who everyone was. And the Erins keep killing off anyone who lived in the forest who isn't ThunderClan. Like, there have been cats born by the lake who have retired, become elders, and died but Thornclaw is still out here on patrol every morning and guarding the camp every night.

Unrelated, I'm cross posting some of my stories from ao3 onto my FFN account so if you like my writing, feel free to check them out. So far I've only cross posted my oneshot Five Old Men Sitting On a Bench (Not Now, Not Ever. Never Again) which is an emotional Sanders Sides fic but I should have some more stuff coming soon.

Edited 5/5/2021: Heavy editing. Around 1000 words added. Tigerheart's POV and a few paragraphs in the section from Fallen Leaves' POV were added and a few mistakes from Berrynose's POV were fixed.