EDITED VERSION

~Dustcloud POV~

"Minnowstar's…dead?" I choked. Marigoldleap, the only medicine cat of MistClan nodded. "But how…she was-"

Marigoldleap sighed. "She was severely wounded from the battle with BlazeClan, Dustcloud. What did you expect?" No. It can't be. This is just a nightmare, right? A bad dream? A bad daydream? Please StarClan, let it be one. "Don't worry, you'll be fine. StarClan will give you your nine lives, and all is fine. You'll see her again in…S-StarClan." Why is she so worried all of a sudden? "Anyways, we need to tell the Clan. They deserve to know." Fine, I guess that's fair. But I won't be a good leader, especially after Minnowstar. How will I ever be able to take her place? Me and Marigoldleap padded out of the den to be greeted by several of our Clanmates. StarClan, help me…. I leaped onto Tall Boulder, nervousness rising up my throat.

"Cats of MistClan, I have grave news to share." I yowled across camp, getting my clanmates' attention. They all looked up at me, their sorrow gleaming in their eyes. Out them all, I noticed Bristleleaf and Echoleap gazing at me with intensity in their eyes. They grew up with Minnowstar as their leader. Not me. They won't trust me as easily. Because I'm far too young for this role. "Minnowstar, our beloved leader has succumbed to her battle wounds from the battle with BlazeClan." Wails of grief and sorrow echoed throughout the camp, although some of them had already known her fate was sealed. Marigoldleap looked down at her paws, shaking her head. Was she alright? There was no time to ask though. It wasn't the time to ask, anyways. "As tradition follows, I shall head to the Hawk's Talons to receive my nine lives. Lionclaw will be the new deputy."

"Lionclaw! Lionclaw!" The MistClan cats cheered, although they were still distraught. Lionclaw, the pale yellow tabby didn't even bother to look up- Minnowstar was his sister. I could hear the grumbles from some of the Clan from the Tall Boulder.

"He's still too young."

"It's suspicious that Minnowstar died so easily. Did he do something to kill her off?"

"I should've been deputy instead."

"I'll never trust a cat as young as him to lead our Clan."

Sighing to myself, I jumped down from Tall Boulder and padded over to Marigoldleap, who was talking to her littermates Tulipwing and Vixentuft. Tulipwing was a small light brown tom with dark brown ears, chest and paws. He had pale green eyes, which glowed in even the darkest of nights. Vixentuft was a calico she-cat and had blue eyes; the left eye was blind. Just how did she become blind in one eye if her parents don't have a blind eye? She can't be Bristleleaf and Badgerclaw's daughter if that's the case. Marigoldleap nodded to her littermates and padded towards me.

"Dustcloud, are you ready?" She whispered. I nodded. "Okay, then. Let's go see S-StarClan." Why does she get so scared at the prospect of StarClan? She's a medicine cat, for StarClan's sake! Either way, Hawk's Talons wasn't too far off from our territory, so I doubt we need any herbs. And besides, the other Clans have to walk along our territory if their leader dies and their deputy needs to get their nine lives. So we have full rights, anyways.

Vixentuft glanced at me. "I don't get how Minnowstar made you the deputy, though. You're too young." Tulipwing didn't say anything, but nodded briskly. While I get understand her concerns, I don't think that I'll be that bad. Right? Marigoldleap didn't bother saying anything, only gazing up at the sky, her eyes clouded.

"Well Vixentuft, I doubt that the Clan would be all to accepting of you as leader either. You're the same age as me." I shot back. Vixentuft hissed at me, but didn't say anything else. "Tulipwing, do you have any concerns that I should be aware of?" The tom shook his head wildly, his green eyes sparking with fear. Okay then Tulipwing, just don't stick so close to Vixentuft so I won't assume anything.

"Do you really think the Clan wants to watch you ridicule its warriors instead of leaving for Hawk's Talons? No? Then get out of my sight." Vixentuft growled. "You'll never be the cat that Minnowstar was. You'll never be my leader." Suppressing a hiss, I followed Marigoldleap, who was already at the camp exit.

Marigoldleap shook her head. "And this is why the Clan doesn't trust you as their leader." As if fighting with Vixentuft would get the Clan going! Everyone fights with her! "Yes, Vixentuft gets on my nerves to, but she's a Clanmate. I doubt S-StarClan would approve." Growling to myself, I marched ahead of her, my paws itching with fury. How dare she say that StarClan wouldn't approve of me? Minnowstar made me deputy because she trusted me to lead her Clan well! As far as I'm concerned, Marigoldleap didn't have a vision saying that I shouldn't be deputy. "Dustcloud!" I glanced behind myself, seeing Marigoldleap rushing towards me.

"Oh? I thought that you didn't want to come with." I hissed, my voice on the edge. Marigoldleap flinched, her green eyes filled with concern. Forcing my fur to lay flat, I sighed. "What?"

Marigoldleap took in a deep breath. "I'm not implying anything, Dustcloud. But I'm giving you advice for MistClan's future. Don't do anything too rash, okay?" Grumbing, I nodded. "Thank you. That helps a lot." Helps what? Marigoldleap began walking ahead of me, her fur bristling. She's not going to tell me, is she? Me and Marigoldleap trekked further towards Hawk's Talons, with the young medicine cat looking back at the direction of camp almost every single heartbeat. Or that's what it felt like she was doing, at least to me. I set my tail on her shoulder, taking her by surprise. "Dustcloud? What are you doing?"

I sighed. "It'll be okay, Marigoldleap. StarClan won't kill you." Marigoldleap's gaze widened in fear. "I'm sorry, that wasn't what I-" She shook her head, rolling her eyes.

"If that was a joke, then it was in poor taste." Marigoldleap muttered. "I have my reasons for being afraid, and you should too, if you were smart."

My shoulder fur bristled. "I am smart! What could StarClan possibly be hiding that makes you so jumpy?" Marigoldleap narrowed her green eyes. Uh oh. That's not good.

"Who's the medicine cat? Don't answer- that was rhetorical." Marigoldleap grumbled. Who put dirt in your freshkill? Jeez, you think you know a cat… "Let's go now, Dustcloud. I want to get this over with." She then immediately began sprinting towards the direction of Hawk's Talons. I raced after her, my paws feeling as if they were walking on air. I don't think I've ever felt so free from the Camp before!

"I'm going to catch you, Marigoldleap!" I called after her. The pale gray she-cat glanced back at me, a smile on her face. Marigoldleap ran even faster, as if she were a cheetah. I wish this moment could last forever…

Marigoldleap skidded to a halt and turned around to face me. She tackled me once I was about to get her, pinning us both down. "It looks like I've caught you." Did she really? Purring, I licked her forehead. If only you were a warrior, Marigoldleap… Because you'd honestly be the fastest runner in MistClan. "Okay, we've gotta stop getting distracted. And by 'we' I mean you." She mumbled with a smirk on her face. Marigoldleap scrambled off of me, now standing right in front of me. With a sigh, I heaved myself up and glanced up at the stars. Minnowstar's up there. Watching over me. Watching over Marigoldleap. Watching MistClan. Watching all of the Clans. That'll be me and Marigoldleap one day, and then Vixentuft, Tulipwing and…what am I doing? Listing off the names of cats who I think will go to StarClan? I need to be here. Not in the future. I need to be in the present.

~Marigoldleap POV~

"I am NOT touching that with my nose!" Dustcloud protested. Forcing my fur to lay flat, I pushed him closer to the Hawk's Talons, which was actually just a large branch from a tree that sort of looks like a hawk's talons. "MARIGOLDLEAP, PLEASE!"

With another grunt, I pushed him even closer. "Just touch it! It's not like I'm making you eat part of it! Would you like that instead?" Dustcloud parted his jaws to argue, but clearly had thought better of it. "Good apprentice," I lightly teased him, earning another annoyed mutter from Dustcloud. "Now touch it with your nose and close your eyes." Rather reluctantly, the dark brown tabby tom touched it with his nose and closed his eyes like instructed. Thank goodness he listened. Now it's time for me to follow after him and make sure he doesn't die. Doing the same exact thing, I expected StarClan to come forth and begin the nine lives ceremony. But nothing happened. Was this normal? All I could see was my own eyelids blocking my vision. Opening my eyes, I looked at Dustcloud, who was looking down at his paws. "Did they come?"

"No, they didn't. But I don't know why." He murmured, his voice heavy with gloom. "Doesn't StarClan approve of me? Why don't they if they do? Do they think I'll become the worst leader they've ever known? Do they see a future where I'm the villain? Where I'm a murderer? Where both cats young and old hate me? Why?" I couldn't bring an answer. How was I supposed to answer those questions? Tell him, 'Oh, it'll be alright, even though I'm not completely sure what will happen.' Yeah, that's a real help. "I don't even have nine lives. How will MistClan react? How will BlazeClan and LightClan react?"

I growled softly. "They won't. Because we won't tell them. This will be our secret, and it will stay that way." Dustcloud glanced at me, his eyes full of sorrow. "So from now on, they'll know you as Duststar. Come on, let's go back to MistClan. They'll trust you. You're their leader, and that's something they can't change too easily." Dustcloud, now Duststar nodded in defeat.

"How I'll lead the Clan, I don't know." Duststar sighed. "But you'll always be there to help me, right?" Will I? I don't know. What if StarClan finds out about Duststar becoming leader? I'd rather him be leader than most cats in our Clan. For extra reassurance, I touched the branch with my nose once more. In a whirl, I was pulled into the starry clearing where StarClan resides. Maybe they are giving Duststar his nine lives after all! Glancing around myself, I checked to see if Duststar was around.

"Your precious leader isn't here." A gruff meow snapped. I turned to see a gray tabby with white chest fur. Lapwingstar. Oh, how I hate and fear this tom. He shouldn't be here. He should be rotting in the Place of No Stars, but he somehow managed to overthrow StarClan, if I'm correct. "Minnowstar isn't here either, for your information. She's currently residing with your mentor, Rosestripe." No! Rosestripe shouldn't be in that nightmarish forest! Why must Lapwingstar hate StarClan so? "Minnowstar should've made Brambleflight the deputy. Then StarClan's vision for the Clans would be dawning soon."

I began shivering instantly, my paws stuck to the ground. "Dustcloud can be just as good." I squeaked. Lapwingstar glowered me, his amber eyes gleaming with rage. My heart lurched. Is he going to kill me here?

"I'd kill you for such insolence, but I guess I can understand your concerns. Dustcloud will lead MistClan to their demise. Do you get me?" Lapwingstar hissed. I shook my head, feeling sick. Duststar wouldn't lead us to our destruction, even if he's too rash for his own good. He wouldn't. He couldn't. "If words aren't enough to convince you, then how about this pretty little sight?" Almost at once I was dragged into a new vision, despite my quiet protests. Soon everything began coming together. Duststar, standing on Tall Boulder, a blood-thirsty scowl on his face. Tulipwing, in the clearing, on the ground limp and lifeless, drenched in blood. Vixentuft standing over him, her eyes filled with anger and guilt as she viciously mauled her own littermate. Bristleleaf and Echoleap, arguing and fighting each other, their pelts stained with the others blood. I shut my eyes. This isn't the future. It can't be. Opening my eyes, I saw me. I was standing in front of Duststar, my eyes gleaming with fury.

"You monster! How could you tear the Clan apart like this?!" I'd yowled. Duststar rolled his pale blue eyes, his pelt prickling with annoyance. "Duststar, I'm your medicine cat! Listen to me!"

He hissed at me. "Who cares what you think? All you do is sit inside your den all day pretending to be scared of your own shadow, instead of healing your Clanmates!" Duststar whipped his head towards Lionclaw, who was glowering the vision me as well. "Get rid of her for me, will you?"

"With pleasure." Lionclaw growled before pouncing on the vision me, his claws unsheathed. His claws raked my eyes, blood splattering on the ground. The pale yellow tabby tom sunk his teeth into my neck, pinning me down so I couldn't escape.

"RRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWW!" A blood curdling screech split my ears. This can't be how I die. This can't be Duststar. It can't be Lionclaw. It can't be our future. Shutting my eyes once more, I was back in StarClan with Lapwingstar, who was glowering me intensely.

"Do you get the message, Marigoldleap? Dustcloud mustn't lead MistClan." Lapwingstar snarled before my vision was blank once again. Opening my eyes, I wearily glanced back at Duststar, who was waiting impatiently for me to wake up, I presume. All those things I saw…could they be true? Duststar can't be a murderer. He wouldn't dare. And even if Lapwingstar's right…that can't be the only future for us, right?

Duststar sighed in relief. "You're okay. Did they say anything to you?" I want to tell him so bad, but…would that increase his chances of becoming what I saw? Shaking my head, I closed my eyes. "Oh. Okay then…Marigoldleap, do you trust me to lead MistClan? Do you support me?"

After all of the things I saw, do I? He could become a murderer and cause mass chaos for the Clans. But this is Lapwingstar who showed me the vision. Is he lying to me so that way Brambleflight can overthrow him? He wasn't a leader of MistClan. He doesn't have our interests at heart. Minnowstar must've made him deputy for a reason. I can't trust Lapwingstar. But even if he's actually right, then I have the power to change it, don't I? He can't be on the path to destruction now. I can keep him from falling into Lapwingstar's trap of destroying MistClan, just like how Lapwingstar wants things to go. I am his medicine cat. I will protect him. Nodding, I whispered, "Of course, my leader."