Author's Note: Woo! 50k words. I didn't think I'd get this far. Thank you to those that have been reading this series. I have some interesting twists I plan for in the future, some of which I have already foreshadowed.

Chapter 41: Psychology

Bluestar had been watching Darkstripe. His recovery had been directly linked to Bluestar's. Her mind was fractured, but it still held. Her irrationality built off her paranoia was only combatted by the somewhat parasitic mother complex she developed for the only other cat she saw in camp as broken as her. It was not a healthy relationship, but it was what kept her sane.

Seeing that Darkstripe built a close bond with a medicine cat first reaffirmed her faith in Starclan. Sure, she'd been on the receiving end of a lot of bad luck, but to her, Darkstripe befriending a medicine cat first was a sign. She hadn't been forgotten by Starclan. She soon found herself making time to talk to the medicine cat apprentice. She'd sometimes ask Yellowfang for spiritual advice, but Cinderpaw wass who she most preferred talking to. She'd talk about the weather, cats in the clan, or her current favorite topic, Darkstripe.

Cinderpaw found Bluestar's attitude amusing and fascinating. The cat had the same paranoia as Darkstripe, but it manifested differently. She did not see hallucinations like Darkstripe, but her paranoia played more on her emotions which made her react violently to the object of her paranoia. What fascinated Cinderpaw more was how Bluestar's paranoia was linked to Darkstripe or more specifically to who Darkstripe trusts. She'd only been approached because Darkstripe trusted her to help those Shadowclan cats, who Bluestar had turned away at Yellowfang's request. Cinderpaw was sure Bluestar did not know that detail since it was obvious her sense of time and basic observational skills were impaired. She barely registered as alive unless directly prompted or Darkstripe was in sight. It was like watching an obsessive mother.

Cinderpaw had found her theory correct on Bluestar's paranoia being linked to Darkstripe when Darkstripe reestablished his bond with his former apprentice Longtail. Suddenly discussing Longtail with Bluestar did not illicit a violent distrustful reaction. She would be willing to discuss the topic in depth as well as discuss Longtail's apprentice. Despite Bluestar's damaged mind, she was a reservoir of knowledge when it came to kit and apprentice behavior. Bluestar made mention of Swiftpaw's potential as a fearsome warrior that was held back by that sense of invulnerability children have. His risk-taking behavior reflected that.

Cinderpaw found a strange friend and hobby from her study of Bluestar and Darkstripe. Bluestar was insightful or batty. It was a case of one or the other. Cinderpaw also found her few interactions with Darkstripe fascinating as well. He wasn't as skilled as Bluestar in explaining behavior, but he was a good source of knowledge on how certain types of cats or cats in certain states of mind would react to certain actions. Darkstripe's experience as a dealer gave Cinderpaw good information on how to approach cats with damaged minds and to be able to calm them. It didn't solve the issue, but she could likely appease the two cats if something were to set them off.

From Cinderpaw's experience with the two cats, she started to see the cats in camp in a new light. As she observed the cats in camp, she realized that more cats than just Bluestar and Darkstripe were suffering from mental illnesses. Those two were the most obvious. She found Fireheart had developed a strange guilt complex. He was less willing to enter the medicine den about wounds and avoided poppy seeds like they were rare. Despite that, it was also obvious that he was avoiding the confrontation with Darkstripe that would be necessary to move on from his issues. Darkstripe on the other paw seemed more and more aggressive towards Fireheart. As his mind became more stable, the more hostile he became.

Cinderpaw confronted Darkstripe on his aggression towards Fireheart.

"Why are you so angry at Fireheart still? It's been a long time."

"What do you think? He doesn't regret what he did. He hasn't apologized. He just looks sad when I try to bring it up and runs away with his tail between his legs like he was the victim."

The discussion helped Cinderpaw realize the issue. Fireheart thought he was apologizing by letting himself feel avoidable pain, but Darkstripe couldn't see that. He just saw Fireheart avoiding him like he didn't want to be associated. It was a communication issue at heart. Fireheart would punish himself because he didn't think he'd done enough to earn Darkstripe's forgiveness, but Darkstripe never heard an apology, so to him it appeared that Fireheart was pretending he'd never done anything wrong which would piss him off.

It was only after Cloudpaw was captures and subsequently rescued did the relation seem a tiny bit better. Darkstripe was still hostile towards Fireheart, but it wasn't shredding hostility but more a disliking hostility. He was composed in the cat's presence, but it was clear he wouldn't spend more time chatting than necessary with the deputy. As a result, Fireheart's self-abusing behavior lessened. It did not stop, but he was more willing to accept help if he was caught hurt.

Cinderpaw decided to put her new skills into action by setting up a mediated meeting between Fireheart and Darkstripe. She privately asked each cat to meet her by the owl tree to "help her get some herbs." She also alerted Longtail to be on standby in case things got heated. In truth, the idea was to hold an intervention. Soon she was waiting at the tree for her two patients to arrive. Darkstripe was first since he was used to punctuality. Fireheart soon showed up. Darkstripe's fur bristled and his back arched at seeing Fireheart so unexpectantly. Fireheart in turn flattened with his ears pinned back. Longtailhiding nearby was ready to break up the fight when Cinderpaw spoke.

"I'm glad you two are out here today because you need to talk out some issues."

"Why would I want to talk to a kittypet like him?! He'll just stab me in the back again."

"I never wanted to betray you! I'm not that type of cat."

"Your actions tell a different story."

Cinderpaw saw how guilty Fireheart looked and decided to step in before Darkstripe tore into the cat.

"Ok. You both are upset. Even if you don't believe me, you both are justified in your feelings. Darkstripe. Why don't you really tell us why you are so mad at Fireheart. It isn't just because he revealed your secrets."

"Why do I not trust this piece of mousedung!? It's because he doesn't regret it. He hasn't apologized at all, runs away from me when I try and get one out of him, and pretends I'm bullying him when I just want him to acknowledge to me that he did betray my trust. That's why I'm mad."

Cinderpaw turned her attention to Fireheart.

"And you? What has Darkstripe done that makes you mad?"

Fireheart took a second to compose himself.

"I've done so much to try and make you better, but its never enough. I sent Longtail and Swiftpaw to you. I let Longtail beat me. I let myself stay hurt for penance, but its never enough for you. You just get angrier and angrier. Haven't I done enough. What will it take?"

Darkstripe looked taken aback.

"I don't want you to be punished. I never said I did. I just wanted you to tell me you were wrong. I wanted you to acknowledge your actions, but you kept running away. These penances you kept doing, they aren't what I want. I am still mad, but I'd never ask a clanmate to hurt themselves for something they did. History can't be erased but acknowledging it does help prevent it from happening again. That's what I want. I want it acknowledged so you don't do it again."

Fireheart felt somewhat embarrassed and happy with what Darkstripe said. Darkstripe never wanted to hurt him physically. He just wanted validated on feeling hurt.

"For what it is worth, I'm sorry I told your secret to the camp. I didn't realize how much it would hurt you. I tried to pay penance for what I did, but it was wrong to never apologize to you."

Darkstripe huffed before replying, "I'm sorry for not seeing you try to apologize with penance. I should have been clearer. I don't think I can trust you still, but I'll give you a chance. Don't make me regret it."