Thanks to everyone for reviewing, especially Warriors4ever for reminding me to get off my lazy butt and write. Sorry I disappeared.

Tigerlily- in regards to your first question on Twitchy, I can't really say. While I do actually have a fully developed plotline for this story, I still make up most of it as I go along, so it really just depends on how random I feel. As for your second question, there is only one possible answer that I feel obliged to respond with: 0.o

Disclaimer: If I owned Warriors, Firestar would have died in the first arc, Scourge would have taken over the forest, and then Bloodstar would have randomly come out of nowhere and slaughtered them all and achieved universal domination. And that folks, is why I am NOT allowed to own warriors. Instead, I think I'll just stick to writing my own, chaotic and twisted parodies that you all seem to love so much for some reason. Oh you sick, sick people…

Chapter fifteen: Trust

He was displeased. It had been moons, moons, since He had begun his operations. Still there was little progress. And there was so much to be done! So much to accomplish if all was going to go according to plan. Empires weren't built over night, and they certainly didn't fall overnight either, but He was certain that it could be (no it must be) done. Time was ticking away, and with it, their opportunity to strike.

"You disappoint me." He said in his silky smooth voice, disdain clear.

His minion stood before him, unblinking, silent, his head lowered in respect. Respect was to be demanded in His presence. You cannot have an empire without order, and you certainly could not have order without respect. And His empire was to be perfect.

"Tell me," He said. "Why is it that you have not begun operations?"

"Complications, my liege." The tom said.

He stared at his minion in distaste, and suddenly, the tom fell to the ground, writhing in pain. He watched, slight amusement almost lightening His mood. Almost. How weak they were. How fragile with their soft pelts and thin bones, so easily broken. Eventually, He grew weary of the performance and his minion slowly stopped flailing and rose to his feet, crouched heavily in submission.

"There will be no more delay." He said coldly. "We are behind schedule as it is. This is a fragile mission I have given you. If one thing is to fail, one simple detail, then the rest will all come crashing down. I cannot allow for failure. Do you understand?"

"Yes, my liege." the tom said, but his teeth were gritted, and eyes alight with defiance.

"Go then." He said, his monotone voice droning loudly. "And this time succeed or do not return at all."

The tom nodded, and turned to leave. He could feel the frustration and anger radiating off of his pelt. The tom didn't want to come back. The tool wanted to break free, to leave and never come back. Maybe he could do it too, if his will was strong enough.

But He knew. The tom would return, and with successful news this time. The poor soul couldn't help it. The draw was too strong.

"Oh, and Shadowstep." He called, feeling something close to pleasure warm his cold surface. "Don't even think about trying to run away again. I'll always find you."

Shadowstep stiffly turned and stared at Him, his ears flattened to his head. He could feel the way his claws itched, the inner warrior that longed to tear Him apart for holding him captive in his own mind. But then the tom turned, the fight seeming to die out of him.

"That's right Shadowstep." He crooned. "You do not challenge me. I who rule you. There shall be a new reign soon my minion, and I shall rule. First you simple minded felines, then the world."

The cat backed out of the cave slowly, the fur on his back bristling.

"That's right fool!" He taunted. "Cower before your master! I who own your will!"

Shadowstep turned and ran from the cave, his eyes wide with fear. The image of His unnatural silver form still burned into his mind.

"I am Oblivion. I am Mr. Coffee!"

Bloodstar woke with a start, and sat up, blinking in confusion.

"What's wrong?" Nightshade who had been standing out on the highledge asked.

"Something's wrong." Bloodstar said, frowning. Oh how he hated complications. "I sense a disturbance… someone in the clan us betraying my overwhelming trust and goodwill." A growl rose in the leader's throat. He did not appreciate his kindness being taken advantage of.

"A traitor?" Nightshade asked. "Could there actually be someone that stupid?"

Bloodstar sighed. "Apparently so. Come, we shall find this traitor and reason with him." Bloodstar unsheathed his claws in anticipation. He loved logical reasoning.

The two siblings walked out onto the highledge and stood looking out over the clan cats, who were just beginning to stir. Bloodstar's eyes swept over them, searching for the guilty party.

Mousefur? No too old. Leafpool? Nope, to passive. Berrynose? Yeah…no. Not smart enough. Rowanclaw? He (or she?) wouldn't dare. Crowfeather? Wait a sec…where is Crowfeather? Oh well, one less mouth to feed.

As he was thinking, several cats came into camp, surrounded by Bloodclan guards. At the head of the group was Spottedleaf and Brambleclaw, flanked by the ex-Windclan and Shadowclan leaders and…

Bloodstar burst out into fits of laughter as the group approached the highledge. "Who the heck it that?"

A tiny, completely bald cat glared up at him with eyes that glowed with the burning intensity of a thousand grease fires. Then in a squeaky voice he said "I am Tigerstar! Ruler of the Dark Forest, King of the Traitors, Leader of Shadowclan, Killer of many, Bringer of revenge and justice, Evil overlord of chaos, and, over all else, LORD OF DANCE!"

Bloodstar stared down at the mini Tigerstar and purred in amusement. "You are the great Tigerstar of legend?"

"Yes, of course I am! Stop laughing!"

Bloodstar composed himself. "I'm sorry, I had just thought that you might be…taller. And your voice might be…deeper. And your fur might be….somewhat existent."

Tigerstar unsheathed his claws and leaped up on to the highledge. "Well, I am Tigerstar. And it doesn't matter what I may look like, I can still kill you pip-squeak, so step aside! Thunderclan is mine!"

Spottedleaf growled. "That wasn't part of the deal shorty."

Bloodstar noted that information and filed it for later use. "No Tigerstar," He crooned, "I don't think I will. In fact, I don't think that I believe any of what you're saying. Tigerstar is dead and you are obviously some sad, mentally disturbed poser."

Tigerstar's eyes widened in disbelieving outrage. "Of course I'm Tigerstar you dunce! I can prove it!"

"Oh can you?" Bloodstar asked.

"Yes, I can!"

Bloodstar looked thoughtful for a second. "Alright 'Tigerstar' if you really are who you say you are and can prove it to me, then I might consider acquiescing to your demand of preference."

When Tigerstar gave him a blank look, Bloodstar rolled his eyes. "I mean I might listen to you if you can prove that you're Tigerstar."

"Oh. Yes, yes I can prove it!"

"Really? Here, let's just find out. Tigerstar was killed when Scourge raked his claws from his neck to his tail, a wound not even Starclan could fix. Surely such a wound would leave a scar…"

Tigerstar frowned at the memory of his great defeat, but then a grinned plastered itself on his face. "That's easy! I can show you the scar, no problem!"

The tom carefully balanced on his hind paws, exposing his belly just enough to make the pale pink scar that ran along it visible, but easy enough to maneuver if Bloodstar decided to try attacking him.

"There, the exact scar!"

"Indeed." Bloodstar crooned. "An honor to meet you Tigerstar. You are truly a visionary leader…now if you'll excuse me for a second…"

Before Tigerstar could blink, Bloodstar shot forward and shoved Tigerstar in the chest, causing him to stagger off balance and go tumbling head first off of the highledge. He landed in an unconscious heap on the ground.

Bloodstar stared out at the stunned expressions of his clan and smiled charismatically. "Well, now that that's taken care of…"

The proud leader was about to announce his absolute disapproval of the fact that some cat seemed to have betrayed him, when Shadowstep came walking through the thorn barrier, back from walking Twitchy. Twitchy stalked behind him, her eyes darting from side to side. Together, they walked up to the highledge.

Traitor. Bloodstar could see it in the cat's eyes, the way their amber gaze wouldn't meet his. The cat sat hunched over slightly, clearly guilty, glancing nervously from side to side.

"Hey Twitchy;hey Shadowstep." Nightshade greeted warmly. "How was your walk…"

"You." Bloodstar growled. "You have betrayed me." The mighty leader leaped forward, pinning the traitor under his powerful claws and raking then across his victim's side.

Twitchy yowled in pain, and writhed under her master's cruel hold.

"Let this be a lesson!" Bloodstar yowled, dealing Twitchy another blow. "No traitors shall be tolerated! Any suspected of treachery shall be punished. " He cast a pointed look at Spottedleaf, who stared back with narrowed eyes.

After several more severe blows, Bloodstar relinquished his hold on Twitchy and spat on her. "Take her to Jayclaw's den!" he growled. Absentmindedly he cast a glance at the still very much unconscious Tigerstar lying at the foot of the highledge. "And someone clean that up!"

Sighing in exasperation, Bloodstar turned to Shadowstep. "Isn't that sad? You can't trust anyone these days!"

High atop the hills to the north of WindClan territory, Crowfeather sat, basking in the warm sunlight. It was a peaceful day, beautiful one even. The sun was shining, the birds were singing. Nothing could possibly bring him down!"

"Daaad!" Breezepaw's annoying voice sent shockwaves of annoyance rippling through every fiber of Crowfeather's being, contradicting his earlier thought. "I'm bored."

"Shut-up!" Crowfeather snapped. "Starclan, it's no wonder Nightcloud won't stop nagging me; she's getting revenge on me for inflicting you upon her."

"You're the worst father ever!" Breezepaw whined, his tail lashing back and forth in annoyance. "You like Lionclaw, Jayclaw, and Hollykit better!"

"That's not true at all!" Crowfeather said softly, looking at his son as if he had just suggested that badgers could fly.

"R-really?" Breezepaw gasped, hardly daring it to be true. So he does really like me!

"Of course!" Crowfeather purred. "Silly little apprentice! I hate Hollykit. I like her brothers more than you."

Crushed and furious, Breezepaw tore at the ground with his claws. "You suck. I wish Brambleclaw was my father."

Crowfeather gave him an odd look. "Why that mousebrain of all people?"

Breezepaw thought for a moment. "Well, he's loyal, and has a mate inside his clan. He's strong, which you aren't, and agreeable. And besides, then I'd be related to Tigerstar and have an excuse to be emo all the time."

"You're already emo." Crowfeather pointed out.

"No I'm not! I'm hot-headed, impulsive, and schizophrenic, like you."

"Oh, yeah, you are like me I guess. What a shame, I never realized how truly annoying I was."

Breezepaw bristled in anger. "Why are we even out here anyway? We're out of clan territory."

"The clans are doomed." Crowfeather said bluntly. "I'm content to watch from the sidelines."

"You are so disloyal!" his son hissed.

Crowfeather sighed and looked at him blankly. "Go away. You're blocking my light."

Hissing in outrage, Breezepaw walked away…only to return a few moments later with a forlorn expression.

"You know that Nightcloud is probably in danger, right?" he said.

"Who?"

Breezepaw counted to ten in his head, trying to get a hold of his rising impatience. "Your mate, Nightcloud."

"Oh…Which one is that?"

"My mother!" Breezepaw growled, glaring daggers at the indifferent tom. "Your mate that's actually in your clan."

"Oh. Whatever."

A long pause followed, in which Breezepaw seethed quietly. "Maybe we should go back and get her?"

"Why would we do that?"Crowfeather asked, baffled. "It's already bad enough with you following me around. Why would I want that she-banshee as well?"

"You don't love me!" Breezepaw wailed.

"What was your first clue kid?"

"Fine." Breezepaw hissed. "Do nothing. But as we speak my mother, your mate is in the claws of an evil dictator."

"You can't care that much if you left her in the first place."

Another pause.

"Fine." Breezepaw muttered. "Maybe I just wanna go back for Heatherpaw."

Crowfeather snorted. "Why? She'll never love you! She loves Lionclaw!"

"You lie!" Breezepaw yowled.

"For once, no actually. I mean, come on! Everyone loves Lionclaw more than you!"

"Shut-up!"

Another, awkward pause.

"You know." Breezepaw sighed, deciding to try another tactic. "Thunderclan and Windclan are one clan now, which means that Nightcloud is stuck in the same clan as a certain medicine cat…"

"Jayclaw?"

"No you dunce! Leafpool!"

Crowfeather's ears perked up. "And?"

"Think about it." Breezepaw said. "Nightcloud and Leafpool together in one place…"

Before he could finish his statement, Crowfeather was on his paws and running at top speed toward Bloodclan territory. "Oh crap! I'm coming Leafpool! I'll save you!"

The two toms raced across the moor, one in pursuit of his schizophrenic father and the other in pursuit of his endangered love.