Blackfoot was laying on the flank of a beautiful spotted golden tabby, little kits, kits who looked just like Blackfoot's old family, were curled into her belly. Blackfoot looked up to give her a smile, though jumped and stood in surprise to realize it was only the stump of her neck. Blackfoot tried to lift a paw and touch her, but his paws were locked in place.

Frantically looking around, he caught the glimpse of an all-too-familiar big striped outstretched claw, reaching right for his kits.

"Brokenstar…" he whispered, horrified at the thought he was still alive and even more horrified he was coming for his kits and even more absolutely terrified that he couldn't move to stop him. Before he knew it, his kits were gone out of the nursery, dead little bodies littering the ground, blood spilling into the nursery.

Whenever Blackfoot looked back down,the body of his mate was blue-gray and flipped over on her back, blood sputtering and pouring out of the neck stub. He looked back up to Brokenstar, about to chew him out, but instead found the nursery wall gone, the only cat standing was… himself. Black paws and muzzle made darker with dripping blood, faint and indistinguishable cheers all around, fake pride sparkling his eyes, overshadowed by guilt.

Looking around he caught three too-familiar pelts, and one nightmarish abomination of prey-waste. Tigerstar, big and broad and foreboding as ever, stood atop the Bonehill, amber eyes shining in pride and excitement, his voice the loudest in the cheer. On the side sat Leopardstar, her head firmly around Tawnypaw's shoulders, shaking and sobbing. At that moment Blackfoot recognized the cat.

Stonefur.

Before he could start yowling his heart out in apologizes, he was being shaken awake by a red paw.

"Blackfoot, wake up, Starclan's kits!"

Blackfoot spluttered, twisting around so he was crouching, eyes wide, but not staring at really anything. Russetfur gave him a light bop on the head.

"Will you stop screaming, for Starclan's sake!"

Panting, Blackfoot stood, staring at her. She was standing away from her next, fur flipped the wrong way and pieces of bracken firmly stuck in her thick tail and back.

"Tigerstar is summoning you, chickfeed-for-brains," she said, slipping past him and curlin into her nest.

Catching his breath, Blackfoot stood and headed to the meeting den. In truth, it used to be Leopardstar's den, but Tigerstar had long taken it over and made her, and many other Riverclan warriors, sleep in the elder's den. The faint scent of milk on her fur told him he'd really been with the queens, but Tigerstar didn't notice. Blackfoot couldn't bare to look at Stonefur, sat next to his leader, faint just-masked anger in his eyes, staring at the big tabby.

"About time," Tigerstar commented, roughly shouldering Blackfoot as he sat, "It'll be the Gathering in a few nights," he went on, turning his attention to Leopardstar, "We need not yet mention our alliance. Leopardstar, you may speak about whatever you wish. Fish are swimming well and you have… several apprentices," he said hesitantly, almost unwilling to call the young Riverclan cats that title, but soon went right back to overconfidence, "I'm going to ask for my son back, after all," his gaze shifted coldly to Stonefur, "Families are better together."

Stonefur let his dam of anger break, snarling, "What does that mean?!"

Tigerstar shrugged as if he'd never given him that look, "I figured they'd be happier with their father. The grief of losing her first kits, need I even mention Runningkit and Swiftpaw, may their souls rest in peace, had driven Goldenflower mad before I ever got my hands on her, one of these days she's gonna hurt our kits!"

"She seemed alright last Gathering," Leopardstar murmured.

"Of course she did," Tigerstar retorted, "She always hides her true nature from those around her! A little birdie told me that she's letting it all come crashing out."

Blackfoot assumed that that little birdie was Darkstripe, another former Thunderclan warrior, who brought Tawnypaw with im whenever he moved clans. Though Tawnypaw didn't seem excited in the slightest, she had yet to leave. He quietly figured that Darkstripe had threatened to kill her if she didn't- after all he had a history of killing young cats. Sorrelkit's just-surviving of his poisoning was all-too recent in memory.

"Blackfoot?"

"I'm sorry?"

Tigerstar sighed, half-angrily. "Have you heard any clan news, in or out?"

Blackstar hummed. "Beside Brindleface's death and Tallpoppy's kitting? I don't believe so."

"Brindleface's death happened last moon," Tigerstar turned cold gaze to Stonefur, "You?"

"My warriors don't spy on other clans," Leopardstar answered for him, sneering. She looked up at the sky for a moment, "The gathering is tomorrow. We will learn of news then."

And without excusing themselves, Leopardstar and Stonefur padded off to their dens. Tigerstar sighed, defeated.

"I feel like she's only using us for more warriors."

Blackfoot shrugged sympathetically. "I think she's just nervous," he said coolly, "The clans never have united like this, not in recent memory. Leopardstar is a very proud cat. You know she'd never want to admit she joined up with a clan, especially one across the Thunderpath with such a bad reputation, for strength."

"You haven't seen her up to anything, have you?"

"Pardon? What, you really think Leopardstar of all cats would be up to anything?"

Tigerstar narrowed his eyes, obviously annoyed Blackfoot had given such a sassy answer, though spoke nothing of it. "I'd like you to stick close to her, just in case. She's been so agitated lately, I can't help wondering if something is wrong," he said, padding away, talking half to himself.

"Of course, Tigerstar."