Firestar decided that he definitely needed to tell the Clan about Cinderpaw's situation and about the ongoing war between StarClan and the Dark Forest. He also needed a fresh perspective, someone entirely removed from the state of affairs that was about to send ThunderClan and all they'd known literally head-over-tail. Firestar knew that his cats weren't the best Clan by the lake. They'd made plenty of mistakes both before and after his arrival, and despite what everyone thought, it was never his intention to traipse around the lake like he owned all four Clans. He made mistakes and he did his best to fix them. He and his Clan were by no means perfect. Now, if only he could get the other Clans to see that.
"What are you doing on our territory, squirrel-eater!" A mountain of fluff and pin-prick claws bowled him over and he did his best not to give into instinct. It wouldn't be good for anyone to get hurt, especially not an apprentice. He stretched around to find the apprentice shredding his back with blood-red claws and placed the eager scrap of fur before him.
"If you sniff harder, you'll realize that I'm on my side of the border and you are now on yours."
"What do you want?!" The red-furred young tom spat.
"Crimsonpaw!" A dark red tabby she-cat burst from the pine forest and cuffed the younger cat around the ears. "What are you doing?!"
"Hello, Russetfur. I would like to speak with Blackstar, if that's alright with you."
"I'm sorry, Firestar, I sent him to hunt by the ThunderClan border and he got ahead of himself. What did you say about Blackstar?"
"I would like to speak with him, please."
Russetfur gave him a hard look, and eventually flicked her tail.
"Follow me," She ordered. "You'll need to have your scratches treated. Littlecloud can help with that."
"Thank you," He sighed. The scratches weren't that deep but pain flared up with every other step. They entered what he assumed to be ShadowClan's camp and the apprentice scampered off.
"Littlecloud first." She offered. "His den is by that broken tree."
A thorough fussing-over by the brown medicine cat and a promise to give Leafpool his regards later, Littlecloud led Firestar to the leader's den.
"I apologize for Crimsonpaw's behavior. He shouldn't have attacked you and he will be dealt with."
"It's fine, Blackstar. Any apprentice would have felt the same."
"What brings you to ShadowClan?"
"I need some advice from an outsider's perspective and I figured you're as good a cat as any."
"Just because I wasn't born-."
"That's not what I meant, Blackstar, forgive me for letting you assume otherwise. You recall what happened on the mountains with Cinderpelt and Storm, don't you?"
"As well as any cat. Why do you ask?"
Firestar launched into the whole story from when he first noticed Cinderpaw's and Jaypaw's relationship up to now.
Blackstar shook his head and stared at the ginger tom.
"Why me?"
"You know how Clans are to one another. We're all biased. Sandstorm agreed that I needed the opinion of someone who wouldn't judge them too fairly or unfairly. I figured that you could help because you've interacted with them more than anyone outside my Clan."
"So StarClan said that the rule the ancient leaders made can change? Why?"
"They said that Cinderpelt and Storm were always going to have a second chance, but one of their mistakes was that they didn't count on Storm choosing to be a medicine cat."
"Something had to change, either the rules or their feelings, but then what would be the point of giving them that second chance… have you told your Clan?"
"I haven't told them what StarClan said yet. I just got back from the Moonpool so I figured I could get your advice."
"What are your options, really? What could you possibly do that won't send the Clans into chaos?"
"Tell them the truth, as StarClan said it… I just hope Cinderpaw and Jaypaw won't get hurt."
"No cat from my Clan will lay a paw on them unfairly, outside of battle, I give you my word."
"Same to you, Blackstar. Thank you for hearing me out."
"Would you like anything before you go?"
"No, thank you. Sandstorm promised me a nice fat squirrel when I get home."
"Good luck, Firestar."
"May StarClan light your path, Blackstar."
He was tired when he got home, and wanted nothing more than to curl up in his nest and let Sandstorm brush all his troubles away, but he couldn't do that yet.
"What did StarClan say?" Squirrelflight, Leafpool, Brambleclaw, Sorreltail, and Brackenfur all raced up to him demanding answers.
"What Jaypaw and Cinderpaw told us was true. StarClan said they made a mistake and this is the price we must pay. They watch over us still, you five. You'd best remember that." He paused, debating whether he should tell them the rest…
"Leafpool, if you would?"
"Of course, Firestar."
She led him to the medicine den where she changed the dressings Littlecloud had put on.
"What happened to you?"
"An apprentice got overexcited and thought I was intruding. Russetfur was furious with the poor thing. I hope they don't go too hard on him."
"What did you want to tell me?"
He glanced over to Jaypaw's nest, where the two apprentices slept side by side.
"Bluestar told me that the rule about medicine cats wasn't what StarClan intended."
"What?" Leafpool skittered back a few steps, shock clear on her face.
"They said that medicine cats must treat all Clans equal and should not put the safety of one cat over another. The original leaders took that and eliminated any possible distractions that could limit the interaction between medicine cats and StarClan. They were afraid." He recited Bluestar's words with ease. "But they also said Clan loyalty above all."
"So that means that there's no problem with them being together?"
"As long as you keep him focused enough that he doesn't wander from his choice, they should be fine. I guess the old leaders thought that they would stray too easily."
"We have to tell the Clans! This could change everything!"
"Blackstar knows and I'm telling Sandstorm as soon as I see her. The rest can wait until morning and the other Clans can wait until the Gathering."
"That's half a moon away, Firestar, this is too big for that."
"I'll get patrols to journey to WindClan and RiverClan tomorrow. I'll be going with them, in case no one believes them."
"Your back still needs to heal."
"I have to do this, Leafpool. You're right. This could change everything."
