"Have you seen Stonefur lately?"

"He's out on patrol with Mistyfoot and their apprentices."

Leopardstar stood chest-deep in a calm part of the river, Blackfoot a tail-length away, just barely in and scared to go any further. A minnow swam between his paws and he jumped back with a yip. Leopardstar just laughed.

"I'll protect you from all the big bad minnows, Blackfoot," she managed to say between giggles.

Blackfoot scowled, taking his legs under him, bunching his muscles about the pounce. Leopardstar had her eyes close in laughter. They both went under the water in a splash, Blackfoot quickly spluttered up, flailing his paws wildly to try and resist the quiet current. Leopardstar popped back up under his chest, firmly keeping him afloat.

"Fishbrain," she muttered as she delivered the shaking tom to the shore. "Gathering tonight," she went on after shaking off. Blackfoot was quietly caught in the image of her goldenpelt glowing beautifully in the sunlight, "I'll be sharing the news of a certain deputy almost drowning."

All Blackfoot gave a stuffed-up snort of laughter.

The night was cloudy, moon and stars hardly visible, but visible enough for Leopardstar not to worry about Starclan. Tigerstar had already jumped onto the Highrock and was grooming himself. Tawnypaw was close to Blackfoot at the base of the rock. Littlecloud was playfully ruffling her fur while Runningnose and Mudfur were gossiping. Windclan came into the clearing next.

"Evening, Leopardstar," Tallstar greeted. Leopardstar nodded respectfully. "Been up to anything? Fancy any cats?"

Leopardstar laughed, "Noooo… You?"

Tallstar smiled smugly, making Leopardstar laugh harder. Once Thunderclan showed up, the two jumped on the Highrock, Fireheart jumping up too.

"Firestar," Tallstar greeted, voice happy but faintly edged in sadness.

Firestar dipped his head in respect. "Would you like to present first?"

Tallstar tilted his head, raising his voice, "We don't have much news. Prey is running well and our apprentices is becoming a great warrior quick. Firestar?"

Firestar took a deep breath, "Lots. I have changed Lostface's name to Brightheart," he looked down at Stonefur, who subtly nodded, "And, of course, Bluestar has died. On her deathbed she admitted that Mistyfoot and Stonefur were her kits. But more importantly," he gave a cold glance at Tigerstar, "You. You killed Brindleface. You killed Redtail. You plotted with Brokenstar to kill Lionheart. You killed Runningwind. You-"

Before he could go on the sky cried out in thunder, a bolt of lightning splitting the sky.

Tigerstar ignored everything that Firestar had said, but Leopardstar, beside him, was mortified. "If you'll let me present before Starclan gets any angrier…" Firestar flattened his ears to his head, still snarling. "Leopardstar and I have formed an alliance. Tigerclan! We ask you join us."

"Never." Firestar snarled. Tallstar angrily shook his head. Firestar looked at Leopardstar, "How could you side with a murderer!"

Before she could answer, another bolt of lightning struck, right between the four cats. Tigerstar and Leopardstar on one side, Tallstar and Firestar on the other. Tigerstar gasped and jumped back, running into the forest.

"Tigerclan, return home!" Leopardstar called, frantically jumping off herself, waving her tail and running, two clans quickly following.

Back at camp, everycat was asleep in their respective dens, save for a few. Tigerstar had yet to return, and Leopardstar had summoned Stonefur, Mistyfoot, Blackfoot, Runningnose and Mudfur with her in the elder's den. It was hardly big enough for all of them, Runningnose was as small as he could be, suppressing sneezes. Leopardstar shifted insecurely, unsure of how to start.

"Leopardstar," Mistyfoot started for her, "We didn't know we were half-clan until just this morning."

Stonefur nodded, "We were out patrolling with Featherpaw and Stormpaw, and saw Fireheart and Bluestar just about drowning. Whenever we pulled them out Bluestar admitted to being our mother, before passing."

Mudfur and Runningnose glanced at eachother, sympathetically. Blackfoot had an indistinguishable look in his eyes. Leopardstar just sat with sorrowed confusion of what to do now. Graystripe, though not truly a half-clan cat, no doubt had blurred loyalties to Riverclan and Thunderclan. Yet, Featherpaw and Stormpaw, knowing their father didn't have Riverclan blood, were undoubtedly loyal to Riverclan. But Mistyfoot and Stonefur, they'd never known they were Thunderclan, and had been loyal to Riverclan but…

Leopardstar shook the thought. "You two don't have any loyalties to Thunderclan, do you?"

Mistyfoot and Stonefur had a long, silent stare at eachother, before Mistyfoot quietly spoke. "Our only living kin there is dead, and never was around to be our kin. We're Riverclan warriors though and through." Stonefur nodded along.

Leopardstar turned to the medicine cats.

"They're right," Runningnose said, voice stuffed up, "No living kin and that kin never really was."

Mudfur shrugged, "Their mother was Graypool, as far as I'm concerned. They were weaned on Riverclan milk and were fathered by a Riverclan tom, may their souls rest in peace. If they don't remember the forest, the forest doesn't remember them."

Leopardstar nodded, satisfied. Blackfoot nodded to dismiss them. Runningnose scampered out, Mudfur following more slowly. Skyheart padded in and gave Mistyfoot a loving lick, murmuring something about how she'd always love her no matter her blood, before the three fell asleep.

Blackfoot seemed to have a dark realization, and lowered his voice. "I get a dark feeling Tigerstar will do something bad knowing these two are half-clan."

Leopardstar shrugged, just curling up. "I can always end our alliance. I hold as much authority as him."

Blackfoot didn't look hopeful, and soft regret faintly hung in his whiskers, but he just nodded, taking to his proper den.