A/N: I know, I know, I hate including the rogues in the story, but then again, there was nothing else that would fit in MY ending…

Chapter 12 – Recognition

Ravenwing set out with mixed feelings that bothered her like a tick she couldn't reach easily. This was Duskshadow, warrior prodigy who could best almost everyone in ThunderClan in a single battle—not to mention that traitorous Dawnstar's kin—who was sending her on a mission to save ThunderClan. Because of who he was, Ravenwing felt an uncomfortable feeling that Duskshadow was just tricking her to kick her out of ThunderClan—and the thought of saving ThunderClan was a heavy burden.

But didn't Duskshadow change? She was lost in her own thoughts when she was jerked back to reality when the stench of ShadowClan reached her nostrils. The scent was fresh; a ShadowClan patrol had just passed by. Firming up her courage and resolve, she padded forward with deliberation, with her chin high and eyes burning with determination.

Duskshadow had gathered only three apprentices in the training hollow. Not even the lowliest of the rogues would believe that Duskshadow, cripple that he was, could train all ten apprentices of ThunderClan—so he kept most of them back at camp. Their turns would come later—for now, he had to direct his attention to the three apprentices in front of him.

"So," he began, "ThunderClan has had some grievous losses: Foxstar, Stormclaw, and even Wildstorm. Dawnstar is trying to replace them with those foul fleabag rogues. We can't allow that to happen, now, can we?"

The three cats meowed their answer loudly, in unison. Duskshadow wondered if Stormclaw and the other warriors that fought beside him against mad Flamestorm felt the way he did when they taught him their tricks and methods of battle. I can't fight this battle alone. So, I'll have to pass on the knowledge that Stormclaw passed onto me.

Before choosing to try and win the apprentices over to his side, he argued with himself: How can apprentices even think of following me: a cripple and related by blood to our mad leader? Those doubts disappeared when the apprentices all cried out eagerly to join him in a rebellion. They are young, and brave. They all thirst for the action that I used to long for.

First, he demonstrated the moves that he had devised from the sparring with Ravenwing. They were all designed to overwhelm the enemy with agility—something Duskshadow did not possess after he lost his leg, but regained through the daily training. If Duskshadow could now match a healthy warrior in speed, then an apprentice with four good legs—put through the proper training—could gain the agility that could challenge a WindClan cat's, and more importantly, overwhelm Dawnstar's rogues.

They were of something unheard of amongst the apprentices, and the fact that they were learning what even their warrior mentors never learned made the lesson exciting. Before the sun set, he had given the basic lessons to all ten apprentices.

They would never need to meet secretly again. Duskshadow had given them the secret task of offering to gather herbs for Ravenwing while she was gone. Even when one of the rogues asked why so many apprentices—they all worked out in pairs—were going out to help the medicine cat, they replied that they 'kinda felt sorry for her, with her one eye'. It seemed to serve.

Duskshadow sighed as he lay sprawled in his nest. It was strangely quiet and lonely with Ravenwing gone. I wonder how she's doing…

"What?"

It was hard to tell whether the ShadowClan leader was angry that Dawnstar had broken the warrior code, or that he simply didn't believe her.

"It's true, Owlstar," she mewed, just in case the latter were true. "I may not be a proud warrior living honorably by the warrior code, with the strength of tooth and claw to support the Clan—but as a medicine cat I must do what is right for ThunderClan. I'm begging you, as a cat wanting peace for the four Clans, to join your forces with RiverClan and WindClan and drive these rogues from our camp."

There were two things Ravenwing detected from looking at Owlstar's eyes: his greed as he wondered what demands he may make in order to help ThunderClan, and contemplating whether this was all a trick to make ShadowClan drop their guards. "This is all very sudden," he answered with a purr. "So you, one-eyed medicine cat, is telling me to send as many warriors as I can to help save your Clan. You demand much, yet what is in it for us?"

"I demand nothing." Ravenwing tried to keep the anger out of her voice, but the thought of how a Clan leader, who was supposed to lead the Clan and have a duty to help the others in times of such trouble, was consumed by such greed made her bristle. "Think of it as… friendly advice, Owlstar. If you do not take the preemptive, Dawnstar will finish marshal her forces and overwhelm everyone by numbers. Why not save ShadowClan by taking them unawares, while the rogues are still in training?"

This brought a change in Owlstar—not just because of the logic behind Ravenwing's reasoning, but also because of the subtle threat in her tone. It was something unexpected of a cat who gave up the path of a warrior to collect herbs and run after every little injured cat in the Clan. Owlstar's eyes widened slightly, and smiled, reminding her of how Duskshadow entrusted her this task. "It seems you are more than you seem, one-eyed medicine cat," he rasped. "I shall discuss this with my senior warriors. Until we reach a decision, please stay here as an honored guest, Ravenwing of ThunderClan."

Since coming to the ShadowClan camp, it was the first time he had called her by her name.