Another wonderful chapter!! Hopefully everyone is reading and liking the story so far!!!

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Fireheart shifted around anxiously as she waited alongside the rest of the patrol. They were waiting for Tigerclaw to emerge from speaking with Bluestar from inside the privacy of her den.

Dustpelt was pacing back and forth at the base of the Highrock as Longtail and Graystripe kneaded the ground worriedly, all while Fireheart hoped that Tigerclaw convinced Bluestar to aid RiverClan.

It felt like a season or two had passed when finally Tigerclaw exited their leaders den with Bluestar in tow. While Bluestar veered towards the Highrock, Tigerclaw made a straight shot towards Fireheart and pressed up against her side.

Fireheart kept herself there, using Tigerclaw as a crutch as she watched breathlessly as Bluestar jumped on top of the Highrock to summon the Clan together.

There were confused murmurs amongst the Clan. Warrior's and others coming together to hear what their leader has to say. Bluestar was gazing at them all from above, her luminous, piercing, ice-blue eyes shifting towards her deputy more than once.

"Members of ThunderClan," Bluestar called, "I've important news to share with you all. My deputy and his patrol have recently ventured into RiverClan territory to bring back RiverClan kits that they had saved when they had first been spotted nearly drowning in the river--"

"Why did you have to save them? They weren't any of our kits!" Darkstripe suddenly spoke up, earning a glare from Fireheart. "I bet Fire--"

"That's enough, Darkstripe!" Tigerclaw growled. "It's within the warrior's code to protect kits. Regardless of who or where they came from."

Bluestar nodded, thankful that her deputy had stepped in to silence the dark warrior. "As I was saying; RiverClan was thankful for ThunderClan saving their kits. However it seems that RiverClan is still in dire need. Their camp is flooded and they have no food, they are slowly dying because of this flood. Tigerclaw had spoken to me about an alliance between RiverClan and ThunderClan, and it has intrigued me. The Clan's have all stood apart, that has been a standing point of conflict when it comes to having too much, or too little. Tigerclaw has asked that we share a small portion of our prey with RiverClan to see them through the flood and then have it paid forward later."

Murmurs of disbelief and confusion rippled through the Clan. No one foresaw something like an alliance between RiverClan and ThunderClan possibly being presented to them, and especially not with it being promoted by their most fiercest warrior and deputy.

"But what about us? The flood has impacted us as well!" Speckletail yowled from her place near the nursery entrance. "What will happen if we can't provide for ourselves and RiverClan?"

"ThunderClan is getting by just fine regardless of the flood," Bluestar replied, her eyes flickering once again to Tigerclaw, it made Fireheart wonder if Bluestar was just repeating what Tigerclaw had told her to convince her to aid RiverClan. "It won't be forever. The flood will recede, and we'll gain RiverClan as an ally."

"But--"

"Imagine RiverClan regaining its strength and joining forces with ThunderClan." Tigerclaw's loud booming voice silenced any argument about to break out. "What they have, they will in turn offer it to us. Food, knowledge, and someone to fall back on."

"I don't trust them not to take my fur off my back, let alone trusting them!" Runningwind protested.

"Trust amongst the Clan's is a new idea that many of you might fear to try due to our history between our Clan's. The uncertainty is there, but we must learn to trust one another now for our futures sake. We hold the upper paw in this situation. RiverClan needs us more than we do for them. For now at least. But there will come a time when we need them. Maybe not today or tomorrow, but it is better to forge a good alliance now, than a bitter one in the future."

Cats still looked amongst each other in concern. But the reassurance of both their leader and deputy had put them somewhat at ease.

"Well that went more smoothly then I thought it would." Dustpelt grouched, appearing disappointed at the lack of residence from the Clan.

"I wouldn't be so hasty to say that." Longtail retorted, his tail fidgety. "Look closer and tell me if you think they are okay with it."

Fireheart perked up when overhearing their conversation and the flame-pelted she-cat really did take a look around herself. The pale brown with black stripes warrior was indeed correct when he claimed that things wouldn't go as smoothly as she was hoping as she took a good look into the faces of her discontent Clanmates.

It made the orange queen's stomach clench in dread over the struggle it was going to be with getting her Clanmates onboard by allying with RiverClan more permanently. But this was a step in the right direction. Or so she hopes.

Though the way some of the older cats were whispering furiously amongst themselves was disheartening.

Tigerclaw knocked Fireheart out of her inner musing but gently nudging her shoulder, causing her to turn and stare into his pale amber eyes. "Don't worry too much, things are going to work out in our favor. It's just going to take time."

Fireheart wanted to believe it was that simple. Tigerclaw was just teeming with confidence and sounded so sure that it would work out with them aiding RiverClan.

"Fireheart! Fireheart!" The flame-pelted she-cat turned at the sound of her name and watched as both Cinderpaw and Brackenpaw came racing up to her. Their eyes shining with overwhelming curiosity. "Is it true what happened?"

"It very much is." Tigerclaw rumbled from beside Fireheart.

"Don't worry though," Fireheart meowed, "everything is being handled. What do you think of it?"

"I think it's a great idea!" Cinderpaw exclaimed. "I mean an alliance?! That sounds so exciting! I wonder if there's going to be other apprentices in RiverClan we could be friends with?"

The older cats shared an amused look.

"Perhaps," Tigerclaw meowed, "but we should wait for that, we don't exactly know where we stand in this yet."

Cinderpaw didn't seem phased by the uncertainty that they faced, the smoky-dark gray apprentice just appeared excited by the news and what things would be like in the coming moons.

As Brackenpaw was going to say his piece, both apprentices were shoved aside by an irritated Darkstripe as he came to stand before Tigerclaw. "What's going on, Tigerclaw? Why are we helping a bunch of fish-brains?" He demanded.

Tigerclaw regarded his former apprentice with a stony expression, which unnerved those surrounding him, even Fireheart was unnerved as she recalled that expression in her past life, the sheer dread it used to cause her sent a shiver up her spine. "Darkstripe," Tigerclaw said in a cool tone of voice. "I can understand your worry. I can understand a lot of your worries but I believe this is for the best of ThunderClan. We'll see what an alliance with RiverClan will go but I believe it will be favorable for ThunderClan if RiverClan were on our side rather than opposed to it. RiverClan will hesitate to fight us, RiverClan will be more willing to help us, it's best to join together."

Darkstripe's sneer didn't lessen but he did dip his head at Tigerclaw's words. It appeared that his loyalty to Tigerclaw outweighs his hatred towards RiverClan. I wonder what he wouldn't do for Tigerclaw, Fireheart wondered to herself. Watching as the dark tabby warrior turned on his toes and stalked off, going where, Fireheart could care less.

"Fireheart." Tigerclaw called her name so softly that the flame-pelted she-cat wouldn't have heard it if not for the fact that they were left alone together now at the base of the Highrock.

Fireheart turned to her mate. The concern she saw in his face took her aback. "Tigerclaw, what's wrong?"

"I should be asking you that." His gentle voice rumbled. Seeing Fireheart's confused look, he elaborated. "I mean you've only said one sentence this entire time. You're usually more open about your opinions."

Fireheart shifted her paws. The soon-to-be mother felt uncomfortable expressing any of her recent thoughts. Yes, this is what she wanted but the way they were going about it just seems…wrong. It didn't sit well with her. It made her question whether or not they were doing the right thing. But there truly wasn't any other way of a future peaceful society without bringing everyone together, regardless of how underpawed it was and the lives it will uproot.

She didn't know if it was because of the reality that it was actually happening, or if it was just another thing that had changed. She had been berated as an apprentice for expressing these views before and now they were even being considered; because of Tigerclaw. She didn't know what to feel, or how she could express those confusing feelings.

"I mean- I don't know," she muttered, "I don't think it's that important."

"I think it's important," Tigerclaw retorted, "if it's bugging you this much. You can talk to me."

Something inside Fireheart's chest loosen and began to relax a little bit as her mate's commitment washed over her. Tigerclaw was saying that he'd be there for her for whatever reason but there were something's she wished to keep to herself.

"Thank you, Tigerclaw."

O0O0O0O

The co-author once again got writer-blocked while writing. Here's the outcome:

"I should be asking you that." His gentle voice rumbled. Seeing Fireheart's confused look, he elaborated. "I mean you've only said one sentence this entire chapter. You're usually more talkative."

"Tigerclaw, don't break the fourth wall!" Fireheart hissed.

—--

"Sounds like a skill issue to me"

"That's not in the script?"

"Yeah I know, I forgot my line."

O--O

(Fireheart would win the Yearbooks section of "most opinionated")

(Tigerclaw would win the Yearbook section of "most admired")

(Graystripe would win "most likely to die young and unaccomplished")

(Darkstripe would win "most obsessive simp")

(Silverstream would win "most beautiful")

(Cinderpaw would win "most energetic")

(Spottedleaf would win "most likely to get into a bar fight and win")

(Whitestorm would win "most likely to either be in jail with his friends or bail them out, could go either way")

(Runningwind would definitely win "the one to bail everyone out of jail")

(Yellowfang would win "most likely to punish a guy in the face")

(Brackenpaw would win "most responsible")

(Sandstorm would win "most badass")