Ah yes. More chapters.

(In related news, I'm panicking a little inside because I'm running out of backlog.)

This is exciting! Littlefalcon and Skysong have such a relationship that they didn't even realize this whole time. I love the two of them together.

Chapter 24: The Gathering Wind

"I knew about Petalkit," said Littlefalcon, "because I took those memories from you. I have been holding them all along."

Skysong's mind went blank. Only the image of her brother's sad, tired smile remained in her mind, and his words that echoed within her brain and triggered a deep-rooted distrust she didn't know existed. Littlefalcon had always been beside her. They had been the special two as kits. They had been side-by-side, first-born and last-born, riding the same path. She had made a mistake, and he had…taken her memories?

"How?" she demanded, as her mind woke back up. "How is that possible?"

"Isn't it becoming clear?" said Littlefalcon, as if he had done nothing wrong.

"Not at all."

"I'm sorry I can't explain it for you then." Her brother frowned. "That's something I can do. Hold onto memories." His eyes sparkled sadly. "I just wanted to protect you."

"I killed someone." Skysong shook her head. Her nose wrinkled.

"We were two moons old." Littlefalcon looked sadly at his paws. "Willowleaf killed someone, and it destroyed her. You were even younger. It would have ripped you apart. I couldn't let that happen."

"So you stole my memories. All our memories." Skysong took a step back. Littlefalcon had never been capable of that. His powers were water, and commanding cats – although somehow Birdfeather now had that power – and linking their consciousness's together – although he had severed that link, and it was like Mountainstone was controlling it. Now he could suddenly read desires, and now he could suppress memories?

Skysong took a step back. What else had her brother been hiding from her? It suddenly seemed now that the Littlefalcon she knew was a lie, and that someone else had taken his place. Her brother's smile faltered as she backed up.

"I'm sorry," he said. "I wish you could find a way to trust me."

"You hid something like this from me." Skysong shook her head. "What else are you hiding?" She cast her powers into his mind with all the power she had, and Littlefalcon winced as she hit him.

"Will you let me tell you?" said Littlefalcon. "And Mountainstone."

But it was already too late – Skysong had seen the glimpses of his daydreams.

"Ivychase." Her pelt trembled with rage. "A WindClan cat carrying your kits."

"Skysong, please."

"The entire Clan now thinks you're their salvation." Littlefalcon took a step back. They were attracting some looks, but Skysong didn't care. "You just told them they could trust you."

"I made a mistake," said Littlefalcon.

"I'll say." She spat at his feet. Littlefalcon scrambled backwards.

"Skysong?" Greyheart was the first to approach their spat. He walked over with cautious steps. "You're still in camp. The others are worried."

"They shouldn't be," said Skysong suddenly. She realized that this had been a mistake. Littlefalcon should never have answered her question in-camp, and it was her own fault for not forcing him to leave first. She spun away from her brother, betrayal settling into her stomach angrily. How could he not tell her about Petalkit? Or his powers? What memories didn't she have of her own life?

"Littlefalcon, are you alright?" Greyheart, ever caring, had turned to Littlefalcon. Skysong glanced over her shoulder and saw him shake, and then he took a deep breath.

"I'm going to get some air," he said, and he stalked out of camp, ignoring when Greyheart called his name. Greyheart settled into step beside Skysong again.

"What did you say to him?" Skysong looked at Greyheart for a long time. She wanted to tell him. They rode this uncomfortable path together, and she couldn't forget it. Honestly, Skysong felt so tired she could have collapsed and cried. She wouldn't do that, because she was a warrior who would keep fighting. She could move past Petalkit. She could move past any mistake she herself made, but the thought that Littlefalcon hadn't been the cat she thought he was shook her to the core. It was like she didn't even know herself anymore.

"He's been lying to me," she said in a voice of a corpse. "About everything."

"Is this something you can tell me or not?" said Greyheart. Skysong faced him, watching the way his eyes studied her. They had rejected each other time and time again. Every time Greyheart stepped forward, Skysong stepped back. Every time Skysong ran to him, Greyheart dodged out of her way. It was like as long as they stayed side-by-side as friends, they would be okay, but the second one of them wanted something more, they were doomed. What a horrid fate, especially to share with the cat that wanted to start a family with her. And she wanted that, too. She wanted her brother back the way he was, and she wanted all her littermates to be the way they were as kits (happy and carefree), and she wanted to protect ThunderClan, but above all else she wanted Greyheart to be beside her. It hurt that he was so far away while he was standing right next to her.

"I'm going to tell you everything." She said it in a quiet voice, as if only just realizing her own actions. "I don't care anymore."

"Everything?" Greyheart frowned. "Are you sure?"

"I've never been more sure." Skysong's mouth tightened. "Willowleaf told Mouseclaw, and I think some of the medicine cats know, and all along Icecloud knew, so that will be good enough for me." She shook her head. The tears were rising to her eyes, but she wouldn't let them. "I love you, Greyheart, and I want you to know the truth about me and you and what's coming."

"Skysong…" His eyes were soft. The smile on his face was overwhelming.

"And I mean that."

"I know you do. You know I mean it when I say I love you, too."

Greyheart's whiskers twitched. "You know I never needed the truth to stay beside you. I still don't need it."

"I'm not telling you because I'm afraid you'll leave." Skysong shook her head. "I'm telling you because I want you to know. Because I want you to be the cat that gets to come to all the meetings because you're my choice. I'm telling you because I want to."

It felt so good. She started out of camp, knowing that Doveheart could hear her and would know where she was going. She didn't need Littlefalcon to be the way he was before. He could make his own mistakes. He had lied to her, but Greyheart had never lied. Skysong would keep him safe by telling him the truth, because lies were painful. Skysong would tell the truth. She would never not tell the truth again.

XX

As Snowfeather and Honeyleaf took up their vigil, it began to rain. Skysong retreated into Lionstar's den with the rain still fresh on her pelt and Greyheart's shocked, adoring blue eyes engrained in her mind. She almost invited him to this meeting, but when Mountainstone had called her, his voice had sounded stern.

She was the seventh one to enter, and she joined a very wet circle of cats. Willowleaf was lying on the ground with her head on her paws. Lionstar and Doveheart sat together on the far side of the den, nodding at Skysong when she entered. Birdfeather represented the medicine den, and she and Mountainstone were talking lightly. Ivypool blinked at Skysong.

"No sign of Littlefalcon?" said Lionstar hopefully. Skysong shook her head. Mountainstone shrugged his shoulders.

"He's out in the forest," he said. "I almost caught his scent."

"Me, too," said Doveheart. "He isn't making any noise at all. Like he's trying to avoid us."

"He is," said Skysong. She knew this for certain. She glanced around at all of them. "Littlefalcon hasn't been telling us the whole truth."

Is this about Ivychase? Willowleaf's voice was cautious. Skysong shook her head at her sister. She glanced at Mountainstone, and he nodded, understanding at least part of the story.

"You all know about the drowning part of our prophecy," said Skysong, turning to look at them all. "Drown in water, drown in air, drown in ice. Drown in earth, drown in fire, then stars will be your truth. I think I've figured it out."

Lionstar nodded, so Skysong carried on.

"The thing with Brackenfur was drowning in ice," she said. "We think Mouseclaw's death is drowning in earth, right?" The others nodded. "Drown in fire is the Gathering. Drown in air…" She took a deep breath. I'll always tell the truth. "When we were kits, I lost control of my powers, and that killed Petalkit."

"What?" Ivypool stiffened. "Petalkit died of greencough."

Skysong shook her head. "That's what we thought. But it turns out that I lost control of my air powers while we were playing one day."

"That's impossible," said Ivypool. "I would have been there. We would have remembered."

"Littlefalcon," said Skysong quietly. The others just stared. "That's what we were fighting about a little while ago. He tampered with our memories, somehow."

"Littlefalcon can do that?" said Birdfeather, sweeping her tail across the ground. Skysong shrugged. "That's crazy."

"What else don't we know?" said Mountainstone, coming to the same conclusion Skysong had reached not long ago. "If Littlefalcon can change our memories so easily, what else don't we remember?"

"Evidently, that he has this power," said Doveheart. She sighed. "He should be here to explain what he knows."

"We can't be blaming Littlefalcon, can we?" Willowleaf sat up, looking around at them. "He's doing what he thinks is right. You all know that."

"It's hard to believe it, knowing this." Mountainstone studied his paws. "This changes everything."

"No, it doesn't." Lionstar spoke in a low growl. "Littlefalcon is still your brother, still a warrior of ThunderClan, still my son, and still part of this prophecy."

After a pause, Mountainstone nodded. With attention on him, Lionstar took a deep breath before beginning to speak.

"The Gathering is five sunrises from now," he said. "If the other Clans even come, it will be a tense night. I want to take action before that point."

"What sort of action?" asked Birdfeather. "It seems like we're just stuck waiting."

"Peace-keeping measures," said Lionstar. "I have a plan, and I want all of us involved in it. I'm going to bring this plan to the senior warriors in a moment, but I wanted you all to know your involvement first."

They nodded.

"Ivypool, keep doing what you're doing and watch the border," said Lionstar. "If you can cross into the Dark Forest without attracting attention, see if you can find anything." Ivypool nodded. "Doveheart, you and I will keep the Clan well-prepared. Your training plan is effective, so let's keep at it. Sorreltail and the others can keep doing what they're doing. I'm going to tell the Clan that they can ask me any question they want, and we'll figure things out together. So I expect I'll spend my days explaining things to them."

"And our jobs?" said Mountainstone.

"Birdfeather will go with Dustfur and Honeyleaf to each of the Clans specifically to speak with the medicine cat apprentices," said Lionstar. "I know you have Rushfire on our side, but we will need Bearclaw and Jaystrike, too."

"Not Flametail and Kestrelflight?"

"Flametail is very clearly not on our side," said Doveheart. "He and Tigerheart are up to something. Tigerheart threatened Willowleaf when she challenged Flametail."

Skysong hadn't known that. Willowleaf nodded, and Skysong felt a buzz of anger in her mind. No one threatened her sister and got away with it.

"And Kestrelflight and Willowshine are already sold on whatever Old StarClan has been feeding them," muttered Lionstar. "But if we can impact the apprentices, we have a chance at getting Whitestar and Oakstar to stop and think about what she's doing. Both of them are new leaders. They'll want to do anything to make their Clans strong."

"What about us?" said Mountainstone.

"Doveheart and Willowleaf will go confirm with Oakstar that ShadowClan will stay our friends and not make more trouble," said Lionstar. "We need an alliance with them."

"You'll never make it happen," said Ivypool. "You said it yourself: Oakstar is desperate to prove ShadowClan strong."

"We need to try anyways," said Lionstar. "Give them two days to settle in, then you will go." Willowleaf nodded.

"What should we do about Tigerheart's threat?" said Willowleaf. "We know he knows things."

"Don't do anything unless he starts it," said Lionstar. He turned to Skysong and Mountainstone. "The two of you and Littlefalcon will confront Whitestar and Mistystar."

"Go to RiverClan and WindClan?" Mountainstone's fur stood on edge. "Why?"

"They must back down," said Lionstar, voice low. "Kestrelflight and Willowshine will know that the secrets they seek from ThunderClan will be about the five of you. So you three will be enough to make them at least listen to you."

"Understood," said Skysong. "I doubt we'll be met with open paws."

"More like open jaws," agreed Mountainstone.

"That's something we'll have to risk," said Lionstar steadily. "As much as possible, we need to stop the clash of the Clans from happening."

"Because that's when the border will fall," said Birdfeather. She nodded, mostly to herself.

"What about the Clan?" said Skysong. She turned to Lionstar, who was evidently confused. "When do they learn the truth?"

"This truth is complete enough," said Doveheart. "It's three-quarters of the truth. They can focus their confusion on Littlefalcon, and that will help them. We can't have a fourth of the Clan suddenly stand up and declare themselves to have powers, too."

"At this point, that's right," said Lionstar. He looked sympathetically at her. "I understand that lies frustrate you, Skysong. But we've already told the Clan a complete story. It would be chaotic at this point to explain further."

"I see." She knew distantly that he was right, but it still sat with her wrong. She hated lying to the Clan. It wasn't just Littlefalcon that was the subject of prophecy – these seven cats, plus Jayfeather, had a part to play, too. Skysong nodded anyways and sat back.

"Do any of you have questions?" said Lionstar. "If not, I want to brief the senior warriors on the plan. Skysong, Mountainstone, Birdfeather, you'll be allowed to stay."

"I'll see if I can get in touch with Littlefalcon," said Willowleaf softly. She got to her feet, her tail twitching. "He needs to be ready."

"Tell him I want to talk to him," said Mountainstone. Willowleaf sighed.

"Littlefalcon will explain in his own time," she said. "He's still our brother." Flicking her tail, Willowleaf headed out of the den, Ivypool on her heels.

"Sorreltail, Thornclaw, Cloudtail, Squirrelflight?" she asked.

"Bring Berrynose, too," said Lionstar. "He's done well."

"Alright, I'll get them." Ivypool wrinkled her nose at the curtain of rain that crashed down from outside the den and sprinkled onto her paws. "It's really storming out there."

As she left, a rumble of thunder sounded. Skysong peered at the opening to Lionstar's den, watching the grey ribbons of water cascade onto the rock. A snake-tongued lightning bolt lit up the camp, followed within seconds by a roar from the clouds.

"I'm glad we're in here for a little bit," murmured Birdfeather, her eyes on the rain as well.

"It's a terrible night for Honeyleaf and Snowfeather to sit through, though," said Doveheart, her ears flicking back and forth as she listened across the territory.

"Jayfeather and I will make sure they haven't caught colds in the morning," said Birdfeather. She tucked her tail around her paws and waited.

Skysong waited, too, but she suddenly felt faint. Her paws seemed unsteady, and she sat down as she began to hear ringing in her ears that had nothing to do with the storm outside. Her head began to hurt: a slow ache that turned insistent. Another lightning strike scorched down to the earth, and with the roll of thunder that followed, Skysong could hear a screaming that shook her brain in her skull. Gasping, Skysong pushed her head in between her paws, trying to block out the ringing, but it wouldn't cease.

"Skysong?" Birdfeather was by her side, pressing her muzzle into Skysong's shoulder. Even that impact hurt Skysong's head exponentially, and she yowled in pain. It settled into her head like a growing thorn bush, reaching out and spreading. Skysong could feel herself on the brink of passing out. She wished it would take her. Her head felt like it was being struck by lightning, over and over…and she was falling…

But she was right there, and the thunder rattled the den, and in its rumbles, Skysong felt the last secret in her head come unraveled. It all fell apart, and for a minute she was outside of her body. She saw herself writhing, saw Mountainstone holding her in place while Birdfeather struggled to look for a cause of the sudden pain. Skysong knew what this was. She looked down in pain as she remembered every detail: being tugged into the air and releasing her power and watching Petalkit scream and suffocate there. There was more: she running through a dream that she could not escape as the world shook, and as she was fighting her way out, Greyheart was shaking her and crying, and a gold cat was leaping through her mind and saying "let me die for you," and Skysong woke with a start to the middle of the earthquake. She remembered those moments and more little ones, and then she did fall into darkness…

She stood beside Littlefalcon on a field, and they were kits again. The two of them sat on a starlit hill, and the tall grasses moved back and forth. Paths of color led through the fields: one black, one white, one red, one silver, and one gold. The gold and silver paths were side-by-side.

"That's us, Skykit," said Littlekit. He beamed his perfectly innocent smile. His eyes were bright amber.

"We're right next to each other," said Skykit. She nuzzled into her brother and could smell his scent, even in her dream. "That's the way it's always going to be, right?"

"Yes," said Littlekit, but his voice had changed. "The thing is, Skykit, I chose you. I was supposed to choose you entirely, but that really didn't seem fair to me."

"Huh?" Skykit was confused.

"I think I'm going to choose a little bit of everybody." Littlekit was smiling. "That way, nobody can really know what's going to happen."

"I don't get it."

"It's okay," said Littlekit. "We'll go through this together, the five of us. And if something goes wrong in the end, well…we'll all protect each other."

"Littlekit, you aren't making any sense."

Her brother's amber-turquoise eyes were sad as he looked at her.

"I want to be leader of ThunderClan," he said. "So I'm choosing you, and I'm choosing your path."

Skysong sat bolt upright as the grass and the dream – or memory of a dream? – faded away. The storm outside the den was tumultuous, a rainstorm that was full of pain and secrets unraveling. The truth was before Skysong, and it felt like her paws were finally in the right place again. She didn't realize that she had never been walking down a path at all, but standing in the same spot, forever static. She breathed in a breath of air and shook Birdfeather and Mountainstone off her.

"I need to see Littlefalcon," she said. She needed to hear her brother's voice, watch his amber eyes gleam and sparkle like they had when they were kits. Before there were powers, before there were paths, before any of this had happened. That was the brother she loved, and she loved him because he had made a choice.

We'll go through this together, the five of us. And if something goes wrong in the end, well…we'll all protect each other.

Skysong would not abandon her brother now, not when he had given her back the destiny he had taken from her long ago. She tasted the dreams he had tasted in her stead: standing tall on the Highledge, calling orders to warriors at her command, racing into battle with her head high and her entire Clan behind her. This forest had not seen a Skystar, and so few remembered his name. It was a name that dated back to the beginning of the Clans, which was why no one particularly cared that she had it in the first place. Skystar was the leader of a new Clan in a new age. Another new age was coming, and there would be a Skystar in this new age, too.

But first, Littlefalcon. Skysong would go to her brother, who would let go of his dreams for her, and she would stay by his side and protect him until her star went out.

Kind of lame in the end, but uh, I hope you get the point. If still confused, here's Sparknotes:

-Littlefalcon had a power as a kit to steal things from his littermates. The intention was that he would deprive one of his siblings of their powers and their destiny, but Littlefalcon decided instead to take a little bit from everyone. He took Birdfeather's lying ability, Mountainstone's ability to connect them all telepathically, and Skysong's destiny. And then he gave it all back. If you're reading Hollyleaf's Retelling along with this, you should see some parallels in the role of Hollyfeather relative to Jaywing and co.

(But wait, you ask, what about Willowleaf? Read on, good friends!)

If you want to ask more questions, or if you just have something to say about this, drop me a review! Don't forget to favorite/follow me and check out my other work! Thank you, everyone!

~Elsi