Because I DID end up finishing all the chapters of this release set (Willowshine 7, Hollyleaf 6, plus Chapter 15), I think I'm going to treat you with another chapter.

Introducing Chapter 16: The One With The Only Decent And Fitting Title Of The Ones I Wrote Today. Alternatively titled Chapter 16: Come Down From Your Podium, Littlefalcon. Alternatively titled Chapter 16: The Title Is Kind Of Misleading, I Know. Alternatively titled Chapter 16: Stealthstep Has A Remarkable Monologue.

Actually titled Chapter 16: A Proper Family. No, don't squeal and get way too excited. Pre-chapter warning: WE AIN'T AT KITS YET.

Other reminders/tidbits: if you're confused by the chat with our favorite original series protagonists, here's some pointers. Graystripe's leg was severely injured in a fight illustrated in War of Shadows. He joined the elders then. Dustpelt and Ferncloud joined the elders den together during the battle with the foxes when Dustpelt wrenched his shoulder pretty badly. Sandstorm joined them after the battle with the foxes, deciding that it was just time. So there's that.

Chapter 16: A Proper Family

Littlefalcon dipped his head to the senior warriors on cue.

"I'm sorry I caused so much chaos," he recited. "I just didn't want us fighting."

"You did the right thing," said Squirrelflight. Thornclaw nodded steadily. Sandstorm tilted her head to the side as if measuring him.

"I've seen admirable power and admirable leaders," she said. "This strange power of yours is unusual, but we've seen far more unusual things."

"I wouldn't say far more," said Dustpelt, yawning. "Between shadow warriors and this all-knowing kit, I would take the shadow warriors."

I know you would, thought Littlefalcon, but he said nothing. It was a fair observation. In all honesty, he would have rather fought the shadow warriors, too.

"I think it's a good idea to allow Doveheart to be our leader while Lionstar is gone," said Cloudtail. "That's how it should be. The deputy fills in."

"Don't think we're slighting you," said Graystripe. "You did okay, Littlefalcon."

"I wouldn't have stepped up had it not been urgent," said Littlefalcon. He shook his head. "I don't want to lead ThunderClan yet."

The others noticed the yet, and it obviously made them fidget. Doveheart nodded at Littlefalcon. They had arranged this whole discussion after a long talk earlier about what Littlefalcon's purpose was and why Lionstar was training him. Littlefalcon understood that Doveheart was not as threatened as she had pretended to be. In her mind, he was only a young warrior trying to use his powers to do his Clan well. That was better than he deserved.

"Wait until you're really the deputy," said Cloudtail a touch stiffly.

"Doveheart, I'm sorry we were so difficult," said Sorreltail. The tortoiseshell she-cat sighed. "It seemed so difficult to wrap my head around the idea of you and Lionstar hiding a secret from us. I understand now that it was a difficult situation."

"I can't blame anyone for being angry," said Doveheart. "Lionstar and I did make the decision to lie to you."

"It's alright," said Sandstorm. "Most leaders have secrets they don't want their Clan to hear aloud. Often for their own good."

It was a subtle defense of Firestar. Littlefalcon could see right through Sandstorm's careful-chosen words. She was one of the few who knew how far Doveheart could hear, how long Lionstar could stand in battle. He smiled to himself. Layers on layers of secrets, generations of secrets.

"Thank you for understanding," said Littlefalcon quietly, dipping his head. "And for believing in me."

"You're a good warrior, Littlefalcon," said Thornclaw. "And a loyal one. It was very brave of you to tell us your truth."

He said nothing. They would all turn on him soon enough once they found out what other truths he was hiding from them. It hurt that they would call him loyal, brave. Littlefalcon knew he was neither of those things.

"I hope the patrol returns soon with news," said Cloudtail. "If WindClan is behind this, I'll rip every last one of their pelts off."

"I couldn't believe this of Whitestar," said Squirrelflight. "She's always helped ThunderClan."

"Mistystar, either," added Graystripe sadly. "Blackstar, I could suspect, but he somehow seems to be the only one on our side."

"Isn't that interesting," muttered Dustpelt. Littlefalcon smiled to himself, seeing the shine of the past enter the older cat's eyes. "Never thought we'd see the day when ShadowClan took our side on something, huh, Graystripe?"

"Who knew Blackstar could be so reasonable?" said Graystripe. Littlefalcon smiled and muttered a few words to bring them back to the topic at hand. As if jerking out of a reverie, the elders turned around and nodded.

"We'll carry on as normally," said Doveheart. "Until we know for sure what happened to Icecloud and Lionstar, we'll carry on as if nothing has changed. The other Clans don't need to know that anything has happened. But we'll be on our guard."

"We'll be supporting you, Doveheart," said Thornclaw. "Just tell us what to do."

"Thank you," said Doveheart, nodding. "Until we have answers, no one will laze around all day. We will send extra patrols to our border with WindClan. Three a day. Two a day to ShadowClan. Thornclaw, if you could oversee those." The golden-brown tom dipped his head. "Squirrelflight, work with him to organize hunting patrols. Our best hunters should be focusing on using their skills to feed the Clan. Cloudtail, I want every warrior to refine their battle skills. When they are not on patrols or hunting, I want them to be training. We will be ready for any attack."

"We can train, too," said Sandstorm, lashing her tail. "All of us but this fat lump here – " She slapped Graystripe's side. "- can fight if the need would arise."

"Don't underestimate me," said Graystripe. "Just because I've got a bit of a walking issue doesn't mean I couldn't claw some WindClan warrior's eyes out."

"I could never discount you," said Doveheart, dipping her head. "It seems to me that you all never joined the elder's den."

"Doveheart, maybe I could ask Berrynose to take over organizing fighting bouts," said Cloudtail. "I helped Brightheart train. Maybe I could help Graystripe battle around his injury, too."

"I always knew I liked you," said Graystripe.

"What about me?" said Sorreltail.

"You'll be acting deputy," said Doveheart. Littlefalcon felt his heart sink just a little bit. He knew that Doveheart considered him capable. He told himself he was just being stupid, that he was always going to relinquish the slight few days of power he had. It doesn't matter, he told himself. I could become leader if I wanted to.

He wasn't going to jeopardize the Clan because of a selfish desire.

But if he was the destined leader after all…

He knew what had to happen.

He also could see how well-organized this all was. He could see how expertly Doveheart had set aside her cluttered thoughts about Fountain and the prophecy to call the Clan into order to prepare for a time of war.

"And Sorreltail," said Doveheart quietly. "As of today, Whitewing will train Honeypaw. I want you focused entirely on making sure no cats' schedules overlap, and that we don't exhaust anyone. But I want Honeypaw and Snowpaw to be warriors before the real battle begins."

"Understood," said Sorreltail. "Let's start."

Doveheart understood ThunderClan better than he had imagined. She would be such a good leader. She already was. Littlefalcon nearly smiled ruefully. That could have been him.

That could still be him. It was his decision.

Or maybe it was too late.

XX

Littlefalcon watched the Clan churn into motion, and yet all he wanted to do was slip through the trees, cross the river, and flee into WindClan's nursery. He wanted to see Ivychase. He wanted to know how she was doing, when their kits would arrive. He wanted to be with the family they were starting, and have them all be together. Doveheart had listed the new preparations to the Clan not long ago, and the senior warriors were already working together in perfect harmony to put Doveheart's plan into action. He would be given some time to rest until that evening, when he would have to go with Foxleap and Bluemoon on a hunting trip. He could do it. He could slip across the border, find a way to spy on WindClan's camp, and return. It would be easy.

He had about made up his mind and was getting up to act when movement caught his eye, and Honeypaw was standing next to him.

"Hi," said Littlefalcon.

"I need to talk to you."

"What about?" He already knew. Honeypaw opened her mouth to speak, then paused. She took a deep breath and met his eyes. He could see just how difficult it was for her to make up her mind, but now she had come too far to back down. He could see what was coming.

"I'm angry with you." Honeypaw refused to drop his eyes. "I think saying what you said was cruel."

"I had to demonstrate what I could do, or nobody would have believed me," said Littlefalcon.

"You knew." Honeypaw's paws trembled, but she clenched her jaws. "You knew all along how I felt about you, and you didn't give me any clue."

"Would it have made you feel better if I had rejected you?"

Honeypaw shook with a fresh rage.

"You were toying with me," she said. "Any decent cat would have told me the truth. You shouldn't have gone on pretending to be interested if all along, you loved someone else." She lashed her tail. "Who is she, anyways?"

Littlefalcon took a step back, his mind pulling Ivychase's eyes to mind.

"In your speech, you said that there's a she-cat you love," Honeypaw continued. "Tell me who she is."

"I don't see how it's your business." He chose his words carefully.

"It is my business," said Honeypaw. "You knew how I felt and didn't bother to tell me that there was someone else. I deserve to know." She flicked her tail. "Besides, if it isn't me, it has to be either Snowpaw or Bluemoon."

You're limiting yourself. Littlefalcon just smiled at her. Honeypaw narrowed her eyes. She had been nice, friendly, outgoing. She was brave to confront him like this, he supposed. But she had never been the smart one.

"Sorry, Honeypaw, not today," he said. He was going to see Ivychase, and she couldn't stop him.

But Stealthstep, it seemed, would.

"I have a question," he said. "If you're really our destined leader or whatever, why would Doveheart not make you her temporary deputy?"

"Doveheart would rather the senior warriors manage this, since we need to be preparing for battle," said Littlefalcon, reciting the line he had picked up. He had been preparing for this conversation. "I don't have the experience."

"Uh huh." Stealthstep narrowed his eyes. "I saw you talking to Honeypaw."

"Are you going to lecture me, too?" All he wanted was to see his family.

"Yeah, I am." Stealthstep unsheathed his claws and dug aggravated lines in the dirt. "I told her over and over again that she'd never win you, but she was determined. If you had just said something, maybe she could be, I don't know, happier."

"Are you mad because I mentioned Runningpaw?"

"No." It was only partially a lie, but Littlefalcon didn't mind that. He just wanted Stealthstep to leave him alone. He wanted everyone to leave him alone. "That's not a big deal. Both Runningpaw and my only littermate are dead." His fur bristled saying it, but he recovered quickly. "I'm mad because I don't think a real leader would hurt a naïve apprentice like that."

If he didn't leave soon, he would miss his window to see Ivychase. His last window to see her. Sighing, Littlefalcon shook his head.

"I don't know what I can say to win you to my side, so I'm just not going to bother," he said. "I'm sorry I hurt Honeypaw. I didn't know what to do in that situation."

"You definitely shouldn't have announced that you knew in front of the whole Clan."

"I get that."

"I would think you would want your Clan on your side." Stealthstep lashed his tail. "It seems like you're just trying to make me angry so I'll leave you alone."

Littlefalcon wouldn't admit to the truth in that. He knew he was going to miss Ivychase. He should just accept it. Sighing, he turned around and faced Stealthstep, who looked a little bit triumphant at getting his attention back.

"I just want…" Littlefalcon stopped speaking. He had expected the words to come to him right now, to explain what he wanted, but he suddenly found the very thing he didn't know. What he wanted. What was it that he wanted?

Was it to be leader? He had liked standing on the Highledge. He had liked watching them all gather before him and stare up at him. That had been a moment he would never forget: their shock, their awe, their slight fear, and their acceptance that he was destined to be their leader. Could Littlefalcon rewrite the story so that his farce was the truth, and the truth was the act? It would be a nicer story. It would have a happier ending. Probably, fewer cats would have died along the way. Or, if he liked, he still had the tools to make himself leader. He could do it if he wanted to.

In some ways, it was tempting.

A flash of motion caught his eye, and Littlefalcon redirected his gaze to the nursery, where he could see kits playing. Not Nightkit and Marshkit, but kits he recognized from a dream long ago, kits he could name – Cedarkit. Gingerkit. They were his. They were ThunderClan's.

Littlefalcon didn't know if he was imagining things or having some sort of prophetic vision, but when he blinked, the kits playing were gone. Stealthstep hadn't missed him looking at the nursery.

"I think the Clan would accept you more if you didn't flaunt your power," said Stealthstep, still staring at the nursery. "Maybe if you were more like any other cat." He shrugged. "You listed your fears when you gave that speech, but I don't think you told us everything, did you?"

"Everything is a lot," said Littlefalcon.

"Yeah, I know," said Stealthstep. "I don't care to hear all your secrets. I don't need them. ThunderClan doesn't need them. But we've never needed a leader that was above us, we've needed a leader that…I don't know, was the epitome of ThunderClan, you know? Like when Bramblestar was leader, it just made sense. The Clan was threading itself together, licking its wounds, finding ways to get over the War of Shadows – I don't know how they were feeling, really, but it wasn't good. And here was the son of our fromer enemy showing that it didn't matter where you had come from or what you were going to do as long as you devoted yourself to ThunderClan entirely. And now, Lionstar, he's like…he's the perfect warrior, right? He's what we all wanted to be as kits: incredible in battle, always obeying his leader and doing what he thinks is right for ThunderClan. Which I think we needed after the earthquakes: someone to show us that you just had to keep fighting, and you had to protect your Clan, and things would work out."

"And next?" said Littlefalcon. He hungered after this vision Stealthstep could see, wishing he could see the pieces of the puzzle. Distantly, he knew what each cat in ThunderClan needed: what they wanted, what they feared, what they hoped they would get in the future. But was that need, or was that simple desire? Cats didn't know what they needed. Maybe they thought they did.

"Right now, it seems like everything is all twisted around," said Stealthstep. "I have trouble seeing exactly what we need. Lionstar, I guess. Someone to tell us that it's going to be okay, that we need to protect each other and not fight amongst ourselves. But if I had to pick, I'd ask for someone who could…untangle it. The truth isn't such a straight line anymore. I need to see how it curves, and I can't right now. I don't think we need some incredible star-delivered, super-powerful leader. Sorry, but I don't."

A shiver ran up Littlefalcon's spine, and a part of him raged. Water will fall into starlit power, wind will curl the straight lines of truth. It couldn't be happening to him. He wouldn't let it happen to him.

"I think you're right." And there was the other part of him, the part of him that already saw where the truth curled. "And I think I needed that perspective. Thank you."

Littlefalcon dipped his head and backed away from Stealthstep, who looked too contemplative to do any more fighting. That was fine.

"Littlefalcon, are you alright?" He looked up to see Dustfur and Snowpaw, straight off a hunting patrol. The warrior and apprentice approached him. "I bet cats are mad at you." Dustfur blinked sympathetically.

"A little bit," said Littlefalcon.

"Well, you have our support," said Dustfur. "I know what you did wasn't easy. I see that you had to do it, though. We needed the Clan to stop fighting." He looked away.

"I think it's so cool, what you can do," gushed Snowpaw. "I wish I could know what cats are really thinking, what they're hiding."

No, you don't. She had no idea what she was asking.

"I can see you being a good leader someday," added Snowpaw. "Littlestar, leader of ThunderClan. It has a good ring." She smiled.

"We came to tell you that," said Dustfur, blinking sincerely. "We've decided to support you, me and Snowpaw."

"I appreciate that." He could tell that Snowpaw was just talking now to impress Dustfur with her sense of forgiveness. Now, Snowpaw knew that he knew that she wasn't being as sincere as she could have been. Littlefalcon wished Snowpaw could be a little less vapid, but that would change when things got really hard for her.

"So if things get hard, come to us," said Dustfur. "We'll be here to help. We're your Clanmates. Whatever you're facing, it won't be alone."

They wandered away, a perfect little couple Littlefalcon sincerely envied. Whenever Dustfur did reciprocate Snowpaw's feelings (he knew that would happen), they would have a happy life together. A perfect, proper little family, which was something he would never have.

But their words sparked something inside him: a laugh. Or maybe it was a combination of so many things: Stealthstep talking about how much he admired Lionstar for being the epitome of ThunderClan, Honeypaw getting up the courage to say that she didn't think he should have been so cruel, Snowpaw wanting to know what other cats were thinking – not necessarily because she was nosey, but because she cared to see that they were in pain. And Dustfur's support. And Doveheart praising the elders just to fluff their fur a little bit. And Sandstorm volunteering to help, even though her injuries in the battle with the foxes had taken her out of fighting form. And Cloudtail offering to use a skillset he alone had developed by teaching Graystripe some ways to account for his injured leg. And Cloudtail also seeing the potential in Berrynose – that he wasn't a senior warrior, but he could step up to lead his Clanmates. That was a potential Littlefalcon had forgotten about. Berrynose had always seemed like this dumb, arrogant cat to him, but that was only a layer to him. There was another layer that celebrated his family with Poppyfrost. There was another layer that would have thrown all of that away to defend his Clan. There was another layer and another, deeper and deeper. Littlefalcon had been able to see all the layers, hadn't he, so why had it taken him so long to see how they all fit together?

He didn't need Ivychase to have a family he would give anything for. He already had that. He already had all of them: those that supported him and those that were terrified of him. Those that loved around him and cried when he wasn't looking. This strange conglomeration of cats that had desires and fears and scars on their faces and scars in their hearts, they were the only family he needed, the family that would always, always come first. Even when he was on another plane from them, even when he wasn't really present with them, even when he was deadly calm, they accepted him for what he was. He didn't need to sacrifice other things to become Littlestar. Why would he do that? Becoming a leader had always been his dream, but Stealthstep was right. They didn't need him. They needed Lionstar. They needed Doveheart. They needed each other, too, every single cat here. They needed the kits he would bring back from WindClan, too, or they would, one day. These cats wouldn't care who their mother was. They would care that the kits grew up to serve ThunderClan. And they would.

And he would do it, too: serve ThunderClan, no matter the cost.

If anyone is curious, I'm kind of reaching the end of teasing that leader thing. But this is a really important moment for Littlefalcon: he's kind of letting go of what he wanted all along and deciding that ThunderClan matters a whole lot more than anything else. Which is really good for him, because though he's holding a lot on his shoulders, he kind of has been selfish so far this book.

Those are my thoughts. I really enjoyed Stealthstep's philosophy lessons. And this kind of became the chapter where I got to plug all the OC's that have been a little left out. Because if they're still alive, I cherish them. ;)

Next chapter up next week! I promise you that! It takes us with Mountainstone on the quest he and Skysong and company have embarked upon - in search of Icecloud and Lionstar!

~Elsi