Twenty Four

For the first time since the Dark Battle, Tigerheart was at a loss for words. He was still shaken over the events of what happened in the last few days. Dovestar's banishment had been one strike against Minnowtail. As the days passed, he started to notice how cats seemed to gravitate towards the dark gray she-cat. His jaw clenched with fury when he realized that she was quickly winning over the outsiders that recently joined the Clan. They were far more interested in her than they were in whatever Hollyleaf had to say. He hadn't missed the fact that she was giving them orders, such as patrolling or hunting. And they followed those orders blindly.

It was frustrating to see how easy it had been to sway those cats. He had seen her working with the Dark Forest before the Dark Battle. She knew how to manipulate cats into her bidding just as Hawkfrost had. Tigerheart had little doubt that Minnowtail learned everything she knew from Hawkfrost. When Ivypool was finally swayed to StarClan's side, Hawkfrost had found a new apprentice that was willing to follow him blindly.

A knot formed in the pit of his stomach when he realized how close he had been to falling victim to Tigerstar. There was a time when he would have gladly trained alongside the others in the Dark Forest. It felt good to feel as if he belonged somewhere. Yet, he also knew in his heart that he couldn't betray his Clanmates or his family. That was the main reason he deflected.

There was also the fact that he had fallen in love with Dovestar before the Dark Battle. They met more than a few occasions before that battle. Those nights had been some of his favorite memories, because he could still return home to his family. Now she was exiled from the Clan, and he didn't even know if she was still alive.

She has to be, he tried reminding himself. She has nine lives and she was our leader.

Guilt stabbed him in the chest at the thought of how this mess started in the first place. He didn't bother standing up for her when Minnowtail started accusing her. He knew for a fact that Dovestar would never hurt a cat unless the situation demanded it. She wasn't that type of cat. Minnowtail on the other paw would happily kill if it meant gaining power. He didn't want to think that she was willing to kill her own daughter for that power, but he wasn't stupid.

Things had gotten even more complicated since barely a moon passed. Their kits had reluctantly become apprentices after fighting for so long. Mudpaw finally couldn't stand the idea of being left behind while Leafpaw and Whitepaw became apprentices. It hurt to know that Dovestar wasn't there to hold their ceremony, or that she hadn't been there to watch them become apprentices. His heart sank even further when he realized that the kits had been desperate to have their mother back. He was well aware of how much they wanted to search for her, but he knew their efforts wouldn't pay off.

His paws had been leading him across unknown territory as thoughts consumed him.

Leaf-fall was already on the way. The first signs had already begun to show as leaves started changing colors. The air was also colder and the nights were getting longer. He hoped that if Dovestar was still alive, that she was able to survive the frigid temperatures that often struck the lake. He shuddered to think of what had happened to Flametail when he fell into the lake that one bitter day. It was difficult coping with that particular loss. Flametail had been the medicine cat apprentice, and when he passed, it left a hole in the Clan.

He tried pushing those thoughts aside as he returned to camp empty-pawed.

It seemed that was all he could do lately. He had been wandering the territory absentmindedly lately. The guilt slowly eating away at him didn't help. Then there was the added problem of knowing what Minnowtail was planning. He knew he would have to tell Mothwing and Hollyleaf sooner or later. The two of them were the only cats he could trust right now. Hollyleaf was keeping a close eye on Minnowtail, though not enough to deter her from trying to take over as leader. He knew sooner or later Minnowtail would become a problem that they couldn't handle, and she would have the entire Clan on her side.

He couldn't let that happen. Not when they worked so hard to memorialize the Clans. Not when they had already lost so much to the Dark Forest, and especially not when he lost his mate.

"I thought this would be a good time as any to start the Gathering since everyone is here," Hollyleaf began when he returned to camp. His tail flicked from side to side when he realized that it was a full moon tonight. On any normal occasion, Dovestar would be there to lead the Clan. His gut wrenched once again when he realized what she was missing out on. His jaw clenched when he spotted Minnowtail sitting at the center of the clearing with Mintwhisker and Stoneclaw by her side. Both cats had received their warrior names shortly after Dovestar was cast away, and they proudly followed their mother everywhere she went. "Now that you're here, we can begin."

Tigerheart merely glared at her as he sat down farther away from the others. He could practically feel the tension surrounding them. The cats that sided with Minnowtail were leaning closer to her than they were to Hollyleaf. He hadn't missed how most of them were clustered in their own group, while those that hadn't picked a side were sitting farther away.

"I would like to start by pointing out that you have not appointed a new deputy or leader," Minnowtail started. Tigerheart's ears flattened with annoyance when she brought up an important piece of the warrior code. Of all the cats to point it out, she was the least likely candidate. "The warrior code states that a new deputy must be chosen before moonrise… or have you forgotten that in your time away from the Clans?"

"Do not tell me what the warrior code states!" Hollyleaf bared her fangs immediately at Minnowtail, though the dark gray she-cat was hardly put off by her threat. "I know it better than anyone here."

Tigerheart was well aware of Hollyleaf's need to follow the warrior code blindly. He heard enough rumors to know why she snapped in the first place. It was only until after she found out that her mother was a medicine cat and that her father was from WindClan that her life took a turn for the worse. She ended up killing Ashfur in the process of comprehending that news, and she fled the Clans shortly after. Still… she more than made up for that by fighting for the Clans when the Dark Battle occurred.

"Even so, it is necessary for a new deputy to be chosen," Minnowtail rolled her eyes in exasperation. "The Clan deserves the best, after all."

"And who should I pick? You?" Hollyleaf glared at the dark gray cat as Minnowtail licked the back of her paw casually.

"Well, out of all the cats here, who isn't related to Tigerstar and has the most experience?" she quipped nonchalantly. Tigerheart's fur bristled at the mention of Tigerstar. It had been a long time since anyone accused him of being like his grandfather. "And let's not forget the fact that you also killed someone in cold blood, and that you are also a product of a broken code. I highly doubt that StarClan would ever accept a medicine cat's kit as leader after Brokentail's disastrous rein."

Tigerheart's fur stood on end with fury when he realized what she was implying. Hollyleaf was nothing like Brokentail or Tigerstar. She had already proven on more than one occasion what a great deputy she had been. Her experience had been invaluable to the Clan, and not just because she lived outside the Clans for some time.

"And let's not forget the fact that Dovestar was a terrible leader who killed my kit," she put in. Tigerheart's hackles had begun to rise as her followers circled around her. "Who's to say that those who followed her won't do the same?"

"Say that to my face, you foxheart!" Mudpaw spat after leaping to his paws.

Other cats were already beginning to agree with Minnowtail. Tigerheart hadn't missed the fact that her followers had already joined her side. Maroonpelt, Forestpelt and Stoneclaw were at her side, with Mintwhisker standing nearby. Even Emberleaf had joined her shortly after mumbling something under her breath. He knew she was getting the Clan riled up. Once they were filled with bloodlust, there was no stopping them from following her every order.

"She failed this Clan by killing Snowpaw. And let's not forget the fact that the Dark Forest is still a threat to us, along with Lightning and his gang," Minnowtail meowed without hesitation. "The cats that took her side should also face punishment, considering they encouraged her to make such foolish decisions."

"Lightning didn't become a problem until LakeClan was formed," Emberleaf murmured.

"I left our old den because I wanted to protect my kit," Forestpelt put in while glancing at Olivelight. "I don't feel any safer knowing that there are murderers around."

Minnowtail's eyes glinted as her gaze raked across the clearing. Tigerheart's heart sank the moment her gaze reached his, almost as if daring him to argue with her. It was only then that he realized the extent of control she had over the outsiders. She had been influencing them since they joined the Clan. What made it worse was seeing the way other cats seemed to change their mind when they realized Forestpelt made a point.

"That's enough!" Mothwing finally cut through the icy tension by standing beside Hollyleaf. Tigerheart glanced at the medicine cat warily as she addressed the entire Clan. "I know things might seem hopeless without our leader, but we can't just take the word of one cat over everyone else."

"That's brilliant, coming from the kin of Tigerstar," Minnowtail sneered. Mothwing's hackles rose with outrage as Minnowtail looked at her thoughtfully. "I wonder how accepting these outsiders would be if they knew what your father did to the Clans?"

A shiver of rage swept through Tigerheart when he realized what she was doing. She was turning the Clan against them, one by one. Soon, everyone seemed to agree with her, even Flosspelt and Smoketuft. His hackles started to stand on end as Mudpaw, Leafpaw and Whitepaw soon reached him. He had little doubt now that these cats would hurt his kits if they knew they were related to Tigerstar.

"The only cat old enough to lead the Clan would be our mother," Stoneclaw meowed. It was obvious that this was what the Clan wanted. Anger churned within him when Tigerheart understood the lengths she was willing to go in order to achieve her goal. "And she isn't directly related to Tigerstar either."

"I think it's safe to say that everyone agrees with that idea."

Everyone looked at Rainpaw in surprise when she spoke up. Tigerheart couldn't help but stare at her in disbelief. She held her head up high and looked at her mother. The rest of the cats that hadn't originally agreed with Minnowtail eventually chose a side. Tigerheart's ears flattened with shock when he realized that almost everyone took her side.

"Then it's decided," Minnowtail spoke up again. "Hollyleaf, Mothwing, Tigerheart, you are hereby banished from the Clan for treason. You can take your filth out, and if you're found on our territory, you can count yourselves dead." For a moment, Tigerheart wasn't sure how to respond when Hollyleaf sprang towards her. In spite of it being a Gathering night, the moon still showed brightly against the dark sky. Tigerheart could only watch with horror as Maroonpelt and Stoneclaw quickly put an end to Hollyleaf's attack. Both toms quickly overwhelmed her, with Stoneclaw delivering a crushing blow. "Let that be a lesson for anyone that tries attacking the Clan again."

Tigerheart glared at her, realizing with a start that this was what she had been planning all along. She had been waiting for the right opportunity to take over what was left of the Clan. Now with Dovestar gone, the others were quickly cast aside in the process. The only thing they could do was flee with the kits in toe. He refused to put them under the same pressure the rest of the Clan was facing, especially if Minnowtail was really in charge. Mothwing trailed behind him, eyes dark with grief and shock over what just happened. Nothing could prepare them for what happened next.

...

Nightfire stared at the scene with horror as realization dawned on him. The body of Hollyleaf lay on the ground where it was left after the others fled. Stoneclaw was about to give chase when Minnowtail stopped him with a wave of her tail.

"Leave them. They've learned their lesson," she warned him.

"What should we do with the body?" Maroonpelt asked.

"Throw it into the lake," Minnowtail rolled her eyes in disgust. "This HalfClan rat doesn't deserve a proper burial." A shiver swept through Nightfire. The dread from earlier came rushing back when Maroonpelt dragged the body of their deputy out of the clearing. Everyone else was struggling to comprehend what just happened. "Cats of LakeClan! I understand that this is going to take some time getting used to, but as your new leader, I promise that everything will work out. We won't have to worry about Lightning or the Dark Forest as long as we continue working towards our future."

No one responded. Nightfire wasn't sure what to do when he caught his brother looking at him with horror. Neither of them were sure how to respond. The shock of what happened was only just beginning to dawn on him. So much happened within a short span of time that Nightfire couldn't comprehend what Minnowtail was saying. It wasn't until feeling Aspencreek's pelt brush against his that he looked at his mother. Only this time, he saw something akin to grief written across her face.

"I left the forest with my sons so that they could have a better future," she whispered. "Now I'm starting to see what a mistake that was."

Nightfire's heart sank when he heard the anguish in his mother's voice. She tried so hard to give them a proper life. He and his brother had enjoyed living in the old forest before they were forced to leave everything behind. Now he was beginning to wonder if they left for the right reasons. The Clan wasn't any better than the forest, and it certainly wasn't better than the city.

"We'll keep each other safe, mother," he reassured her.

"It shouldn't be that way," Aspencreek whispered. "It's my job as your mother to keep you both safe."

Nightfire leaned into her side to provide some form of comfort, with Pepperfoot soon doing the same when he reached them.

"We're warriors now," Pepperfoot reminded her. "It's our job to protect the Clan and you."

Nightfire fully agreed with his brother. He planned on doing what it took to keep the Clan safe from cats like Minnowtail. Even if it meant fighting against everyone else, including cats he considered friends, he would do so. That was what his mentor taught him, and he planned on taking those lessons to heart when the time came.