This is the real finale, I promise... I think. It should be the real finale. If it's not, then... I don't know what to do at this point, heh.

Chapter 5

Three moons had passed, and so much had changed.

Sunsting was still Sunsting- she didn't trust the Clan of the Skies to give her nine lives- but still, she acted as a leader. DuskClan abandoned their camp- only some were convinced by my sister's speech, and the rest had a choice between leaving the clans forever or coming with their clanmates.

None left.

Since no one objected after the killing of Blizzardmoon, Mousestar, and Ferretroar, Sunsting was allowed to act as leader for both two clans- which have come together to form the newly-made SunClan.

Robingaze was appointed as deputy, and I wasn't jealous. Because I was already making plans about running away.

"What is this?" I hissed to Oakbranch, my best friend- and some might say, more than just a friend. "Sunsting doesn't let anyone go out on patrol without either her or her guards tracking their every movement, and one can barely get some peace and quiet in the Dirtplace, let alone discuss plans.

I sighed. "This is not clan life. Everyone's constantly afraid that she would hurt them if they stepped out of line. Didn't you see Sandshadow get scratched last moon? Besides, the camp is overflowing."

"Then she would probably move out the former DuskClan to some other camp," Oakbranch replied, his tone flat. "It's for the good of the whole clan. But anyway, what are you gonna do about it? Give her sister-to-sister talks? Face it, she's doing what she's supposed to do. The clan is kept orderly."

I glowered at him. "No," I answered proudly. "I'm running away; anyone that opposes her can come, too. Like Cindertooth. She's pretty much as against Sunsting as you can go." I didn't refer to her as my sister anymore.

Oakbranch stopped in his tracks, dropping the heavy pile of dripping moss that hung from his mouth a second ago. "What? Choose to go against clan tradition and become a- rogue?" He sounded as if there was nothing worse.

I sighed. "When you say that, it makes you sound like Sunsting," I replied. "Do you oppose her?"

"Of course," Oakbranch said quickly. "For you, I will." He leaned over, nuzzling his muzzle into my chest. "But when are you leaving? I might come too." Seeing my expression, he added, "I probably will, don't worry about that."

"Good," I whispered. "Because I can't imagine being without you. I'm going tonight, when the moon comes out."

I saw Oakbranch immediately when I peeked out of the warriors' den entrance.

He wasn't the only cat standing guard by the camp, though. There was Robingaze, too, and his reddish-brown shape was barely able to be seen through the pale moonlight. I flashed him a quick glance, but I wasn't sure if he had noticed me.

No matter if he did or not, I would have to carry on with my plan.

Padding softly across the clearing- I was careful not to tread on the spot where the dropped wet moss had created a small puddle- I began making my way across to where the Dirtplace lay, smelling strongly like usual. Robingaze looked back once, for what I was not certain, and my blood froze-

But then he just turned again, shrugging. I let my breath out. I was going to be fine, fine, fine until I could run out of the hole in the wall and then run free, free, free out into the forest...

"Robingaze?" Oakbranch asked. "I think I hear someone near the Dirtplace."

My heart nearly stopped. "Hm? Oh, I see," Robingaze frowned, turning around to stare at me in the eyes. "Reedheart. I expected to see you later, but I guess that right now is fine." He turned so that he was facing the leader's den. "Sunsting!" he called.

I tried to move, but my paws were frozen to the ground. Only a few moments later, the bright ginger form of my sister appeared through the dangling ivy tendrils of the den. "Nice job," she purred to the guards, barely looking at me.

"I- I just wanted to use the Dirtplace," I tried. "What's going on?"

"Don't try that nonsense with me," Sunsting snapped. "My loyal warrior Oakbranch told me everything. I was temped to punish you right there and then, but I wanted to catch you red-pawed." Her mouth curled up.

"May all cats gather!" she called out loudly.

I saw shadows shifting in the corners of the darkened dens. Most were quiet as they peeked out of their dens cautiously, but when they saw me standing, trembling, in the middle of two guards, they began to mutter among themselves softly. I tried to ignore them. Block out all sound.

"This cat," she announced, "was caught in the act of trying to escape from SunClan. Treachery!"

The gathering crowd yowled in shock- and even anger from some, I noticed. Knowing that I had to speak up for myself, I defended, "But this is not the way of a clan! Who assigns spies to patrols in the fear that they would rebel?"

"I keep the cats in line!" Sunsting hissed. "I hunt as much as any cat does. We patrol the borders and protect the queens and kits from any dangers. Tell you what-" she paused. "Raise your tail if you agree with the traitor."

No tails went up. Some eyes connected with mine, showing pity, but I just turned away. I didn't need pity. "That's because these cats are scared of you," I growled. "This is not how a clan should be organized."

Sunsting was about to speak up again, when a voice called out from the other end of the clearing- "Wait!"

Streamfang padded forward, tail flicking in anger and hackles up. The crowd parted around her as she stomped her way up- but to my surprise, she went right past me, instead choosing to glare at Sunsting.

"I'm not proud of you anymore," she hissed.

Nice try, I was about to think, but when I looked up to find my sister's shocked face, I knew that my mother had struck a nerve. Her whiskers were trembling, not in amusement but something else, and her ears were flattened against her head. "I thought-"

"I'm not proud of you anymore," Streamfang repeated. "I don't care about how this clan is heading 'in the right direction,' because a clan organized with fear is not a clan at all. This is just a rag-tag group that you bunched together, hoping to make an empire."

I waited for Sunsting's biting retort. Came none.

"How about we do that voting again?" I finally suggested. "This time, you can choose for whichever side you want, without regards to who gets punished or not. Because you won't be. Raise your tail if you agree with me and Streamfang."

Hesitation.

Only one at first. I struggled to see who it was, but it was quickly blocked by a dozen of other tails- black, gray, white, brown, ginger. Sunsting was still staring upon Streamfang with shock clear in her eyes, but no one was looking at her anymore. One by one. One after the other.

Until most of the crowd's tails were raised.

Streamfang waved her own tail in dismissal. "Put them down now. Sunsting, most of this clan opposes you. Go now. I no longer see you as my daughter, and DuskClan will go back to their original territories. Go."

Just like that?

Slowly, a chant began rising up. It was soft at first, just a murmur of noise, but gradually, it grew until the whole clearing was filled with echoes. "Streamfang! Streamfang! Streamfang!"

I might have just imagined it, but I thought I heard a 'Reedheart! Reedheart! Reedheart!' too.

No one noticed when Sunsting leaped down from the Meeting Ledge, tears rushing at the corner of her eyes. With a cry only the skies could hear, she slipped out through the sea of bodies and out into the night.

Morning was coming. The sun was rising, and clouds were shifting as the moon vanished into seemingly nothingness. It would return the next night, but for now, the dawn was here.

Did this chapter seem rushed? I'm sorry. But this is the final finale. For those of you that are like: What? I don't get it! How is the prophecy related to this? I will explain right here.

Sunsting was the 'flame that would chase away darkness and bring out light,' despite many of you wrongly choosing Reedheart (even though she was the narrator). She got rid of the ambitious cats who chose the wrong path, and organized a seemingly strong clan that protected those who could not fend for themselves.

But something was wrong here. The clan was made out of force, and the cats obeyed her out of fear. Like Reedheart said- "This is not how the clans are meant to live."

The strongest fire will always die down, no matter what. But the reeds don't just... disappear. Even if the fire burns them to ashes, they will always grow back. That's what Reedheart was named for- for the author. It was just a lazy name choice for her parents.

Please keep watch for the epilogue! Even after the story ends, please do not unfollow. Instead, favorite! Please?