So I always do this thing where I go back and read from the POV character's last chapter so I can remind myself of their state of mind. Skysong's last chapter was SO FREAKING LONG AGO, but here's her latest, and it's...actually pretty okay. I like it. Some weird stuff is going down.

Here it is, after a long (long long long long) time - Chapter 14: The Distraction. Alternate title: in which the kids train a little too hard and Littlefalcon decides his time to shine is now.

Please enjoy! And also please don't hate me for dropping off the earth to do things like graduate from high school.

Chapter 14: The Distraction

Skysong stretched and re-faced her littermates.

"Where's Littlefalcon?" said Birdfeather for the fourth time. She turned to Mountainstone. "Can you try to call him again?"

"We've all tried to communicate with no luck," said Mountainstone.

"But you're the best one of us at speaking mentally," said Birdfeather. "If he's not getting the message, you're our best bet."

"I think Littlefalcon just doesn't want to be found," said Skysong. "Which is fine." She flicked her tail. The three of them had ventured all the way to the back corner of ThunderClan territory on the claim of a border patrol. At this point, they didn't even need excuses. The rest of the Clan had decided to just go along with whatever it was the littermates was planning – it scared Skysong enough that they didn't ask questions anymore. She took a deep breath.

"Let's do a fighting exercise," said Skysong. Nodding, for once not complaining, Mountainstone took a stance in front of her. Skysong tilted her head to the side and got a good look at her brother. He was strong, powerful, built to fight. Nearly hiding in his shadow was Birdfeather, who wearily got to her feet and didn't say a word. Skysong knew she didn't like to fight, but she could already see the sparks alighting behind Birdfeather's eyes. Her paws already felt light, and Skysong glanced around to see a gust of wind, yellow as the sunbeams splashing around them, dancing in the opening brush above her head. She licked her lips and tugged the breeze to her, adopting it as her own little gale.

"I'm a warrior of shadow," said Skysong slowly, her eyes falling shut. She could hear the whistling of wind in the trees above her head, saw all the places she could run. This was why she had taken them so far away. "I'm off to raid the nursery." She felt the air stir as Mountainstone sank deeper into his fighting stance, ready to pounce on her. She smelled the faintness of smoke begin rising from Birdfeather's paws. Smiling, Skysong flung her eyes open and let wind rush around her, and her last words slipped out mightier than before – "Stop me."

Then she took off. She let the wind carry her paws up through the canopy, felt the wind bump from the impact of Mountainstone barely missing her with his claws. After a moment above the trees, Skysong returned again, lighting on a branch and then jumping again. She hopped that way for a while, a windstorm pounding around her ears and driving her forward, giving her speed that she didn't otherwise have. She licked her lips and beat onwards, her ears alert to anything beyond the rush of wind.

The smell of burning branches near her right side caused Skysong to dive to the ground, and Birdfeather leaped after her, paws alight, burn marks on the ground in the shape of her paws. They were out of ThunderClan territory now, into the dark and unexplored forests that were wilder. It was just the place. She zigzagged through the undergrowth, blowing holes in the brush to adjust to her raging speed. And Birdfeather burned behind her in pursuit.

She had just gotten it in her head that maybe she should worry about Mountainstone, too, when suddenly, the ground exploded up all around her. Skysong skidded to a stop as the rock walls surrounded her. As she looked for another breeze to carry her, as she sank her claws into the dying rose-colored air to carry her higher, Mountainstone descended from the top of his new trap like a demon. Skysong barely avoided his initial attack and swept to the side. He spun, his eyes dark and in full warrior mode, and she exhaled sharply, so that air sprung around her in a protective vortex. But Mountainstone's claws could not be beaten, and as he slammed into her shield in full force, Skysong let the winds sputter to look for another angle. As she found a foothold on a rock face and made to leap out of harm's way, heat flared before her, and Birdfeather bounded into the newly-made hollow, her paws on fire. Cornered, Skysong let her winds die down.

"Good work," she praised. Birdfeather nodded, shaking her paws out. She turned her head to the layer of trees above them and flicked her ears to extinguish the flames there. Mountainstone shook his head to dispel his bloodlust. Then, with a single blink and a stretch, Mountainstone called the rock walls to disappear.

"That was really clever, trapping me," she said to Mountainstone. "Birdfeather basically carved a path so I would fall right into it."

Mountainstone and Birdfeather exchanged a glance, and Mountainstone smirked.

"It wasn't so hard, working together," he said. Skysong had to sigh with relief, hearing him say that. Suddenly serious again, Mountainstone turned back to her. "Your vortex could be stronger to protect yourself."

"I know," said Skysong. "I think it was weak because I was tired."

"You'll be tired in battle," said Mountainstone. "And I'm only one cat. Stronger than anyone else, but only one of me. It only took one attack to get to you."

"You might be better off running," said Birdfeather, shuffling her paws. "You were hard to catch, but easy to take out of commission once we caught you."

"I'll work on it," said Skysong.

"It might just be as easy as improving battle skills," said Mountainstone. Skysong nodded and stretched again.

"Is all the fire out, Birdfeather?" she asked. Birdfeather took a deep breath, and then nodded, her green eyes glowing in pride. "Great job. You lit up a lot."

"I did," said Birdfeather. "It kind of got hard to control when I was running that fast to catch you."

"We'll try this again another day," said Skysong. "Working on control." She smirked at her brother. "And I won't be taken by surprise again!"

Come to camp now. That was Littlefalcon's voice. Stunned, the three littermates turned to exchange glances and affirm that they had all gotten the message.

What's going on? Mountainstone was already in a jog, leaving the two she-cats to follow. Suddenly finding herself exhausted on her paws, Skysong called the assistance of a lollygagging blue wind to push her and Birdfeather a few steps ahead.

There's been an emergency. Lionstar and Icecloud have been kidnapped.

There's no way that's possible, said Birdfeather, but her mental voice sounded strained, horrified.

Kidnapped? Who would… Skysong trailed off as she came to the answer, and her insides knotted. She spat out a curse.

The other Clans… Mountainstone looked murderous. He stormed ahead of them, leaping over logs in a single bound while not looking back to help Birdfeather and Skysong struggle over the same logs.

We can't jump to conclusions yet, said Skysong. Does the rest of the Clan know?

Why do you think I'm calling you back? Sorreltail has summoned everyone.

Camp came into view, relieving Skysong. She slowed her pace when she saw Molewhisker as lone guard. Mountainstone crashed through the entrance, making Skysong wince. Molewhisker turned to her, stunned at Mountainstone's ferocity.

"We heard there was an emergency," said Skysong. Molewhisker nodded.

"Sorreltail has called a Clan meeting," he said. "Will you fill me in after?"

Birdfeather slipped in the entrance to camp. Looking around at the trees, Skysong figured it was a good idea to keep him here as guard.

"I'll come right back," she promised. "It's good of you to stay on guard duty. We can't be too careful right now."

"Agreed," said Molewhisker. Smiling, Skysong slipped into camp.

It was already as chaotic as she imagined. The Clan had divided into its factions. One thing was clear: cats were rallying around the senior warriors. Each had their own opinion. Sorreltail, as far as everyone was concerned, was the one who had challenged Lionstar, and she was the one they would believe in. Cloudtail held together the cats that remained fiercely loyal to Lionstar, those that believed that their leader hid nothing from them, and they would fight anyone who disagreed. Thornclaw was middle ground – his point-of-view was largely that they should never divide like this in the midst of a war, and that this feud needed to end immediately. Squirrelflight and the elders, along with a few other cats, were the ones Skysong was most grateful for, as they acknowledged the secrecy but trusted Lionstar with timing.

Skysong found her own faction as being beside her siblings – those involved. She scanned the clearing, counting numbers. Four beneath Sorreltail, five if she included Molewhisker, who would be there if he had a chance. Five with Cloudtail. Five with Thornclaw – including Greyheart and Bluemoon, she noticed. Squirrelflight had six now, though Bluemoon had once stood by her. It was evenly divided, as there were five other cats that stood with her now. Sorreltail detached herself from her group and leaped onto a rock near the Highledge, so the others could see her.

"ThunderClan," she said, licking her lips. "In the absence of our deputy, I've called this Clan meeting because Whitewing's patrol has brought news." She turned to look at the snow-colored she-cat, who nodded. "Lionstar and Icecloud were out hunting this morning, but their scents lead across the WindClan border. We investigated a bit, and it looks like cats disguising their scents – too many for Lionstar and Icecloud to fight off – brought them across the border. We expect them to be held prisoner in WindClan camp. This is not something we will stand for, is it?"

"Lionstar could fight off an entire Clan if he had to," said Mountainstone quietly. Skysong nodded. "There's no way he went unless he didn't want to."

"To protect Icecloud, maybe?" said Skysong.

"Or to protect something else," said Littlefalcon.

"How do we know it's WindClan?" said Thornclaw suddenly. "Think about this rationally. Cats who hid their scent – could be RiverClan, could be ShadowClan, could be those rogues we know live on our territory."

"WindClan would have to know something," said Whitewing. "There's no way they would just let ThunderClan's leader be led through their territory unless they were okay with it. They know something."

"Our leader's been taken," said Sorreltail. "Our deputy isn't here, so it's up to us to act. We're not misguided kits."

"And we're not mouse-brains, either," said Cloudtail, lashing his tail. "Listen to us, ready for war. Lionstar and Icecloud are both good fighters. They wouldn't go down without a fight."

"Maybe there were too many WindClan warriors," said Sorreltail. "We know they got away with it, don't we? That should be enough information."

"But if we attack anyone without proof, then we've started a war," said Cinderheart. "And we don't have a leadership. We can't act now."

"So we sit around here and do nothing?" Toadstep lashed his tail. "How could you suggest something like that?"

"Well, what do you think would be better?" said Cinderheart hotly. "Look at us, fighting amongst ourselves. We're not organized for battle."

"We're warriors," hissed Toadstep. "Warriors fight."

"Certainly not each other," said Squirrelflight, stepping in front of Toadstep before he could get any angrier. The ginger she-cat looked over at Cinderheart and dipped her head. "Cinderheart has a point. Who is going to lead us?"

"Sorreltail is already taking charge," said Foxleap.

"You think I'm going to stand by and let Sorreltail lead us into her own anger?" Cloudtail huffed.

"I've followed Thornclaw before, and I'll do it again," said Blossomfall quietly. "This time, I trust him to lead us in the right direction."

"Then let's suggest Squirrelflight, too, and we've got all of us contesting a point that shouldn't have to be made." Littlefalcon's voice, as usual, was quiet and low, but cut like a knife. Skysong stared at her brother as he moved through the crowd, his face blank. "Everyone can see that we've divided ourselves nicely into four factions, right?"

"Five, counting yours," said Blossomfall coolly.

"Always has to be five, doesn't it?" said Littlefalcon. Skysong winced. "Okay, then. Five. And all of you are fighting over the same issue: some of you think Lionstar is hiding something, and you would like him to explain so he can lead you properly."

"What is he doing?" said Mountainstone, turning to Skysong. She couldn't take her eyes off Littlefalcon, who with the grace of any leader threw himself onto the Highledge and stood there, waiting for them to hate him, waiting for them to challenge his authority to just jump up there. Instead, he was met with the silence of ThunderClan's shock. Skysong shook her head, unable to read Littlefalcon's body language.

"You're right," said Littlefalcon. "Lionstar has been keeping a secret. My secret. I think it's time I told you all what it is."

"What is he doing?" said Mountainstone again, moving to crouch into his fighting stance. Skysong narrowed her eyes, reaching out to Littlefalcon's thoughts in the hopes of getting into his head. Birdfeather was stunned still, as were Jayfeather and Ivypool, their only companions left.

"We've got to…stop him…" said Ivypool, dazed. As Skysong opened herself to entering Littlefalcon's thoughts, the ginger tom suddenly glared in their direction, somehow severing their connection. Mountainstone stumbled backwards as if hit, and Skysong felt the impact, too.

Littlefalcon, wait, but she was crying out to empty space.

Littlefalcon! Mountainstone's howls didn't even seem to reach Littlefalcon's mind, for he turned to the awakening crowd.

"Many moons ago, Bramblestar was told of a prophecy," said Littlefalcon. Skysong's paws trembled. She wanted to stop this, stop all of this. She got to her paws and began to walk forwards, not knowing what she was going to do. "It spoke of a great firestorm and, in its wake, the rise of a great new leader of ThunderClan, one with exceptional powers that could keep ThunderClan safe."

Skysong stopped short. This was…this was…a lie. Littlefalcon looked to the sky and smiled as if StarClan was warming his pelt with their praise.

"You may have noticed that Doveheart has been training me in the duties of a deputy. You may have noticed my siblings taking on unusual roles of leadership, and Lionstar devoting time to me. All of this is a cover-up for the powers I possess, those that make me the one spoken of in this prophecy."

"Seriously?" Poppyfrost punctured their shock. "A prophecy declaring you our new leader?"

"What kind of powers then, do you possess?"

"Why would RiverClan and WindClan attack us, then?"

"Is this some kind of joke?"

"Do you take us all for mouse-brains?"

"What new era is coming, then?"

Skysong sat down back in her original spot, she was so surprised. She could see a few of her Clan-mates glancing back towards the littermates as if sizing them up. Worse, she could see how some of them already believed Littlefalcon.

"It's a distraction," said Mountainstone softly.

"The other Clans have heard of this prophecy as well, of course, and it scares them," said Littlefalcon. "You see…" He swallowed. "I have been given the strange ability to know all that you hold secret. Your fears, dreams, wishes, doubts." A silence of disbelief held. "You want a demonstration of proof. Understandable."

His eyes shot around the Clan, and then he settled on Honeypaw, who squeaked.

"Honeypaw is afraid of the upcoming war," he said. "She refuses to show it to the cats around her, but she's very afraid. Despite that, she wants to prove herself as a warrior in it. She wants all of us to notice her and see that she has potential, that she is special. She wants…" He smirked. "She especially wants the attention of a young tom."

Honeypaw looked like she wanted to die right there and then. Greyheart stepped in front of her and glared at Littlefalcon.

"Leave her be," he said. "Play your little games on me, not her."

"Okay," said Littlefalcon in a monotone. "You're afraid of the unusual things you've seen around you. You're also afraid of the earthquakes. And drowning. You want to be special, but you also want to be normal, and you can't decide which one you want to be more, because you doubt yourself in both as well. You really want this war to be over. Mostly, you want that because you're in love with Skysong and want to be with her in peaceful times, so you can have a proper family." Skysong stared at Greyheart, watched him refuse to back down, but the fur on the back of his neck was standing up. She took a deep breath when her name was called, and Greyheart met her eyes. The others were looking at them, too, but Skysong tried to ignore it.

"You're guessing," said Sorreltail.

"Deathberries, snow, losing Cinderheart and Poppyfrost."

"Those are based on past experiences, everyone knows them."

"Stealthstep was in love with Runningpaw, too, but let Rustfur have her. Squirrelflight would like nothing more than to find the source of the fire and destroy it. Ivypool still doesn't think you have forgiven her." Littlefalcon listed them in a monotone. "Shall I go on?"

"I think we've heard enough," said Thornclaw. He raised his chin. "I don't like this, Littlefalcon. You've started to lash out, and I don't want a leader that would do that."

Littlefalcon nodded, frowning.

"I understand," he said. "I never wanted it to come to this, but things are desperate." He shook his fur out. "How about I prove myself as leader? I offer that we send a patrol to investigate Icecloud and Lionstar's disappearance. They can explore the site, ask questions of WindClan – politely – and then go farther if needed."

"What patrol would you send?" said Cloudtail. "If you know your Clan-mates so well, choose them wisely."

"Hazeltail, Cinderheart, Greyheart, Toadstep, Mountainstone, and Skysong," said Littlefalcon. The others glanced around at each other, and the chosen members nodded to one another. "Each of them has a different opinion. Mountainstone and Skysong are there in the case that Lionstar has been captured for information. Does anyone oppose?"

"That's a well-balanced party," said Cloudtail softly.

"I agree," said Sorreltail. She eyed Littlefalcon, still wary. "I think you're a good warrior, Littlefalcon. I've always liked how calm and intelligent you can be. But I feel like I don't know you at all."

Littlefalcon gave a dire smile.

"Of course, it's only fair," he said. "I'm afraid of myself. I'm afraid of this prophecy. I'm afraid of you all rejecting me, and I'm afraid that you would accept me and I would fail you. I doubt my abilities to lead. I doubt my abilities to do anything right. But I want to protect ThunderClan. I want to become leader of ThunderClan. I want to make the right decisions. And I want…my family, my friends, and the she-cat I love to be safe."

Skysong watched her brother watch the Clan and let her heart break a little bit. There was so much about him that was real in this moment. She knew him to be telling the truth, and she wondered if she had missed parts of him all along. The part of him that would sacrifice his credibility to pull this stunt. He wasn't seizing power, he was relinquishing it. Littlefalcon, who had always desired to become leader of ThunderClan. If he somehow failed, if it was revealed that his knowledge was false, he would never have another shot.

If his knowledge was false – but how could it be true? Skysong hadn't known Littlefalcon to have any sort of power like hers: she was the mind-reader, not him. Was this another instance of their powers shuffling? Desperate, Skysong reached out with her mind to get inside Littlefalcon's, or to connect with him, but it was like he didn't exist at all anymore. She couldn't even sense his mind there anymore.

"You both had better go," said Jayfeather, turning to Skysong and Mountainstone. "Join your patrol. Littlefalcon's farce will not hold up for long." His blind eyes flashed. "Find Lionstar and Icecloud. Figure out what's going on."

"We will," said Mountainstone. He nodded to Skysong, who trotted to meet the others near the entrance to camp.

"Is this the truth?" said Hazeltail once they arrived. Skysong nodded slowly.

"You looked so shocked," said Toadstep.

"I wasn't expecting him to reveal himself," said Skysong. "I…" She shook her head. The role felt easy. Just another lie, just another lie to defend her littermates. "I've been helping him with this all our lives. He was never supposed to tell you."

"I'm glad he did," said Hazeltail. "The truth needed to come out."

"Let's go," said Cinderheart, a little stiffly. "Lionstar and Icecloud are waiting for us. We can't leave Littlefalcon in charge for long. He's not a real leader."

Not a real leader. Skysong's heart twisted, hearing the words. Was Littlefalcon a real leader? He always had known more than them and helped them all figure out what to do. He had told them about the drowning prophecy, about their powers, about nearly everything else along the way. What was he doing?

As they left camp, Skysong glanced back to see Littlefalcon address the other needs of the frustrated, confused ThunderClan. Mountainstone took the front of the group, and Skysong glanced over, surprised, as Greyheart brushed against her shoulder.

"Is this the truth?" he said. "I know…that Littlefalcon has this ability. He can't be lying about that. I haven't told anyone…what I'm thinking."

"It's a layer," said Skysong. Greyheart sighed.

"I thought so," he said. "Littlefalcon can't be the real leader."

"What?" said Skysong. "What makes you say that?" Littlefalcon had always been the leader. He was the smart one. He was the one who had always cut into their conversations with that cool, level tone. But lately…lately, he had been unreliable. Was that what Greyheart meant?

"I've always pictured you as the leader," said Greyheart. "That image is coming more and more into focus." Then he powered through the undergrowth, leaving Skysong to catch up and to fall into step beside Cinderheart, instead. As she ran, her legs still tired from the run this morning, she processed everything. How could Greyheart see her as the leader? She led her siblings, perhaps, but the whole Clan?

Skysong glanced over her shoulder at the camp entrance fading farther and farther away, at Molewhisker getting updated by Stealthstep, and gritted her teeth. She shouldn't have felt this pained at leaving it in the paws of her brother. But it was pain, sure enough, and fear that things were going to spiral even further out of control.

The ending seems really messy to this, but we'll pick up with Birdfeather, who is the only one left at home with our resident leader now. And we'll also see how much better she's getting after the whole Gathering setting fire to things. And also Willowleaf will re-enter the picture soon! Because seriously, leaving Littlefalcon in charge might just break the Clan. WE NEED DOVEHEART!

That was a lot of spoiling the next chapter, but that's okay. Nothing major. The major reveal was in here, and there's another bit of revelation to be done next chapter. As per the usual.

If you liked this or want me to not suck about updating (although I shouldn't, because summer), send me a review! I'm going to try to finish the next chapter before the weekend is over. Although I really need to stop making heinous promises like those, because I always break them. I'm a horrible person.

Thanks, everyone! Your support means a lot! This story is crazy and like a combination of all my absolutely insane ideas, but you guys keep reading, and that means a ton. MUCH LOVE!

~Elsi