Bluestar

"So…" Yellowfang mewed, trying to break the awkward silence, "You gave Fireheart an apprentice. How long has he been a warrior? A moon?"

Bluestar just shrugged, annoyed that Yellowfang had brought up the subject, "Well, he seems promising. I want to see how he'll handle Cinderpaw."

"That little cat will have him going insane in no time!" Bluestar couldn't help but purr. Cinderpaw was renowned throughout ThunderClan as being the most active kit ever created. She even tried to "invade" RiverClan once. She almost made it to the lake before a surprised Runningwind had caught her. That goes to show how lucky RiverClan can be.

Bluestar had decided to spend the day helping Yellowfang. The medicine cat may be a veteran, but that didn't mean she couldn't use a little company every once in a while. And that's a leader's job. To serve the Clan. Even the grumpy medicine cat. Bluestar found Yellowfang interesting. She had only heard rumors of her life in ShadowClan, and those rumors had spoken of hardships that Bluestar could only imagine. And yet, this grizzled old she cat had never once turned to the codeless cats for help. Never once had she dreamed of breaking the Warrior Code.

She handed Yellowfang a clump of catnip, "How are you?"

"Oh, tired, achy, and annoyed. In other words, life is normal," Yellowfang eyed Bluestar playfully, "Why do you ask?"

"It can't be easy to switch Clans. I could never imagine leaving ThunderClan."

A sad look passed over the medicine cat's eyes, "I know. That's what sets you apart, Bluestar. Despite anything that you might do, you are always thinking of your Clan."

Guilt wrapped its filthy claws around Bluestar's heart, "I wish that were true."

Yellowfang stopped organizing a pile of poppy seeds and turned to look her leader in the eye, "Never believe that, Bluestar. Despite what you might think, I know what you've done. Even with those cats you meet with. But you always put ThunderClan's welfare ahead of your own. I've seen that in your decisions."

"You don't know that. I'm just as bad as Clawface and the others."

A violent emotion flashed across Yellowfang's gaze, "If you start believing that you only care for yourself, you'll start only caring for yourself. I don't think that's happened to you yet."

Bluestar let the silence reign for a few moments before mewing, "Do you ever miss ShadowClan?"

Yellowfang nodded, "Every day. Sometimes I wake up, expecting to be surrounded by pines and marsh. But I don't regret leaving. I couldn't do what Brokenstar was asking me to do. And now, ThunderClan is my home."

"Are you ever worried about what would happen to ShadowClan without you? After all, you're one of the most experienced medicine cats in all the Clans."

"Runningnose is a good cat. We all may tease him about his inability to cure his own cold, but he wouldn't have lasted as my apprentice without talent. ShadowClan is in good paws. It doesn't need me. ThunderClan does." The silver she cat didn't argue. ThunderClan did need the best medicine cat around. Especially these days. Bluestar glanced out of the small cave. The sun was beginning to set, barely visible over the edge of the ravine.

Bluestar glanced back at Yellowfang, "Well, I'd better be going."

Yellowfang looked a little sad, "Alright, Bluestar. Thank you for your help today." Bluestar murmured a quick "your welcome" and padded quickly out of the den. The warrior patrols were just starting to return from their various patrols, and Bluestar spotted Fireheart padding across the clearing, his new apprentice trailing behind him. They hadn't had time to leave the camp since the apprentice ceremony because Tigerclaw had insisted that the camp defenses needed to be reorganized. Little Cinderpaw had looked very disappointed when she had heard that she would be stuck inside camp for another day. Fireheart didn't seem to mind.

She entered her den, circling her nest once before lying down to rest with a grateful sigh. The day had been a welcome reprieve from the usual pressure of being Clan leader, but it had still been tiring. She had barely closed her eyes before she fell asleep.

"You're not very bright, you know." Bluestar winced at the scathing scorn in the mew. She was back. Back in the place where StarClan didn't exist, and where evil was perfectly at home.

"Shut up, Spottedleaf." The beautiful medicine cat purred musically.

"Oh, Bluestar," Spottedleaf's amber eyes twinkled, "You never fail to make me purr."

Bluestar's ears flattened against the sides of her head, "Why did you bring me here, fox? I'm sure it wasn't to trade jokes."

"Sadly not. Actually, you're here because you're little friend wanted to see you."

A worm of fear burrowed through Bluestar's heart, "Redtail?"

Spottedleaf shook her head, "No, not this time. Just Sparrowfeather. She isn't very happy with you. You shouldn't have made her angry…"

"It was either that, or accept your twisted bargain."

"And that brings us back to the beginning. You, my good friend, are not very bright at all."

"I am not one of your twisted friends!" Bluestar hissed.

"Ooh," a new mew sounded from behind Bluestar, "Such hostility."

The ThunderClan leader turned to see Sparrowfeather emerge from the shadows, her mottled brown coat blending with the uncertain lighting, "You again. I thought I gave you my answer. I'll never join you."

The small she cat ignored her, "You seem to think that it's all about you. That you'll be the only cat affected if you are discovered for what you really are. You've broken quite a lot of the Warrior Code in your lifetime."

Bluestar narrowed her blue eyes, "What do you mean? Of course I'll be the only cat affected!"

"How about your Clan? How would they react to having a leader who's a Code breaker?" Sparrowfeather had triumph written all over her muzzle.

"Well," Bluestar mewed, thinking on her paws, "They'll turn to my deputy. He'll handle it."

"Not if he's framed for the same crimes you are," this time, it was Spottedleaf who spoke, "After all, it makes sense that the leader and deputy are working together."

Bluestar purred humorlessly before mewing, "But I won't tell them that. I'll say I did it on my own."

"You're not the only cat we can manipulate, Bluestar."

"What?! You can't manipulate me! I'm…" She trailed off as what Spottedleaf had said sank in, "Who else can you contact."

Sparrowfeather purred, "Not only contact, but control. Your newest warrior is quite respected, is he not? And to my knowledge, he was quite infatuated with Spottedleaf."

They could control him, Bluestar realized, they could do whatever they wanted.

"Keep him out of this."

"Only you can do that, Bluestar. Frame Tigerclaw, and we'll leave Fireheart alone."

"I-I'll have to think about it." Bluestar stammered.

"Fine," Sparrowfeather mewed, "We'll give you until the next full moon. It's half moon now. I would think carefully, if I were you Bluestar. We're not cats that you want as your enemies."

But could I trust you as allies?