Twenty Nine

Morning arrived far too quickly for Dovestar. Over the last couple of nights, her dreams were haunted with nightmares revolving around the Dark Battle and Lightning. Sleep evaded her for most of those nights. So she spent most of them listening in on the Clan and Lightning's gang. She was hardly surprised to find that not every cat was satisfied with the way Minnowtail handled the Clan. Apparently she named Stoneclaw as her deputy since she took over as leader. To make matters worse, she allowed Lightning's gang to move across the lake. The encounters they had with LakeClan usually ended in a bloody conflict, with the cats that were against Minnowtail taking the heaviest blows.

A shiver of rage swept through Dovestar when she realized what these cats were doing. They were hoping to exhaust what supply of herbs the Clan had left for leafbare. She knew Mothwing would have tried stocking the den for the upcoming season. It was harder to find certain herbs in leafbare, and catmint was especially precious during that season.

She squeezed her eyes shut to try and block the negative thoughts that plagued her mind.

I won't let you suffer for much longer, she promised silently. What sort of leader would I be if I allowed that to happen?

"Sunrise was always my favorite time of the day." Dovestar was shaken out of her thoughts at the sound of Pounce's voice. Her eyes snapped open to find him sitting beside her. "When I was a kit, I would always wake up early enough to see the sun rising over the horizon. The birds were always the first to sense it." Dovestar eyed him thoughtfully. This was the first time they actually spoke to one another. Mist was usually the one who tried instigating a conversation, and that had only been for a single day. "I am grateful that Tiny agreed to help you. We've been on the run for so long that I've forgotten what it's like to live peacefully."

"If you don't mind me asking, why did you join her group in the first place?" she asked curiously.

It seemed odd that a couple of cats would choose to follow such a small cat. Then again, she often found herself wondering why StarClan chose her of all cats to lead the Clan.

"To be honest, I needed a place to rest after encountering some cats in Lightning's gang," he admitted sheepishly. "It took days for me to gain Tiny's trust, and even now, she still questions why I've stayed for as long as I did. But I've seen the way she treats Mist and her own kits. She cares about them, whether she's willing to admit it or not."

And she clearly cares about you, she realized.

Tiny hadn't shown that she cared, but it was obvious that she did. That was part of the reason she had been so reluctant to join the fight in the first place. She was worried about losing the cats she cared about. Dovestar understood that now more than ever. She often found herself worrying about what would happen to her own kits when they fought in the battle. As a mother, she had a better understanding of what Tiny was going through.

"Thank you for agreeing to this," she let out a heavy sigh. "I just hope that I haven't made a huge mistake in asking for your help."

"Lightning would have found us again," Pounce meowed without hesitation. "It's inevitable that we would cross paths again, and if the Clan is as dangerous as you've claimed, we would have likely crossed paths as well. If there's a way to end their tyranny, then I'll happily join the fight."

Dovestar couldn't help but feel humbled over his decision. She would have gladly done the same thing back when the Clans existed. She remembered all the battles she fought alongside her Clanmates. The first scar she received was in a battle with ShadowClan. Another scar she received was in a fight against WindClan. She fought in countless battles where her life was on the line, and this time, it meant losing the Clan.

She didn't want to think about those possibilities. The rest of the group was starting to wake up as the sun fully rose. She wanted to visit Molly's group as soon as possible. The sooner they freed the Clan from Minnowtail's grasp, the better off everyone was.

"Molly is more likely going to listen to me if I go," Mist explained once they had enough fresh-kill to share. Mothwing had gone out hunting with Leafpaw and Mudpaw earlier. It was good for the apprentices to practice their hunting skills, especially with an experienced cat like Mothwing. "We should be back before Moonhigh."

"Try to avoid getting caught by Lightning's cats," Tiny growled under her breath. "I've no doubt they're stalking this area now."

Dovestar wanted to reassure her that Lightning had more important things to worry about, though she kept her mouth shut. Luckily it didn't take long for them to depart. She said her goodbyes to Leafpaw, Mudpaw and Whitepaw. As reluctant as she was to leave them behind, she had a good reason to do so. If it meant gaining allies for this upcoming battle, then so be it.

Once that was settled, Mist led the way to where Molly's group lived.

From what she heard through Tigerheart, Molly lived in a patch of forest that was at least a day's walk from the lake. They made good time though traversing through the thick undergrowth. Mist seemed to know exactly where she was headed, almost like she made this journey before. Then again, Molly happened to be her sister. If they really were family like Mist claimed, then it was likely that Mist visited her sister as often as she could.

I would have gladly done the same with Ivypool, she told herself.

Then again, there had been a time when they weren't as close as they could have been. She could still remember feeling shocked and hurt when Ivypool explained how jealous she was. She never wanted things to go that far, but it seemed as if they had. Eventually they were able to make up for what happened, but it was a painful reminder of what she lost.

"There's a Twoleg trap not far from here," Mist suddenly warned her. Dovestar blinked in surprise when the pale gray she-cat pointed her muzzle towards the right. "They've caught a few animals in that trap, including a cat a few moons ago. So try to avoid it if you can."

"It's good you know the area so well," she murmured.

"You have to know the area well if you want to survive," the she-cat replied with a shrug. "One of the first things we were taught as kits was to avoid going near Twolegs unless food was in short supply. Our mother was never fond of them and she preferred hunting on her own."

She wasn't sure how to respond to that. It was clear Mist had more to say about her past, though she kept mostly to herself. Thankfully it didn't take much longer for them to reach the forest where Molly and her group lived. Mist was the first to pad into the clearing that the group usually met up in. So Dovestar wasn't surprised to hear the mewls of surprise that followed upon Mist's arrival.

"It's good to see you again, Mist," a mottled gray and white she-cat greeted the newcomer. Dovestar had little doubt that this cat was Molly. Judging from the way they butted heads and purred upon Mist's arrival, it was clear that they were still close. "Though I suspect it is not on good terms, considering you are not alone."

"I'm afraid not," Mist admitted. "Molly, I know that Clan cats approached you a few moons ago. They need your help… again."

Dovestar nearly rolled her eyes when Molly tilted her head to one side. Mist was quick to introduce her companion, though not without receiving glares as Dovestar reluctantly joined them. By now, several cats had emerged from what she guessed was their dens to see what was going on. Most of them were old enough to be warriors. Only a couple looked like they were the age of apprentices, just learning how to survive on their own.

"You're the one that convinced my son to leave," Molly growled under her breath. "And now he is likely in trouble because of the Clans."

"Technically that was one of our Clanmates that convinced him," Dovestar corrected her, though she immediately regretted it when Molly narrowed her eyes. "I do take full responsibility for whatever happens to him though."

It took a few seconds for her to explain what happened, and why they were there in the first place. All of the cats in the clearing started whispering to one another after realizing they were an easy target. Minnowtail's influence over Maroonpelt was strong. He and his sister had taken the dark gray cat's side after she started her coup. Now that she had full control over them, there was a strong chance they could hunt their former allies down.

"I don't understand why Maroon or Ember would turn against us after everything we've done," a grayish black tom with green eyes muttered. "We've always worked together as a group, even during the harshest times."

"Clan life has made them soft and foolish," a dark brown tom snorted in disbelief.

"If what you said is true, then perhaps it would be wise to leave," Molly murmured. "Are you seriously thinking of fighting alongside these cats?"

"I'm tired of always being on the run," Mist replied without hesitation. "Pounce and I agree that it's going to end in bloodshed, but what other choice do we have? We'd be nothing more than cowards if we chose to flee now."

Molly looked at her sister thoughtfully before her gaze raked over Dovestar. She saw something sweep across those amber eyes. Something she didn't expect from an outsider: Sympathy. It had been so long since another cat processed those kinds of emotions. She saw the guilt and grief written across Tigerheart's face, along with the anger Mothwing showed towards Minnowtail. But compassion was something she hadn't seen or experienced in moons.

"If it means rescuing my son from those brutes, then I suppose we have no choice but to join in the fight," she let out a heavy sigh. Hope swept through Dovestar when she realized what Molly was implying. "I know that it's asking for a lot, but I want able-bodied fighters to join in this fight. I won't demand that you join; it should be your choice."

Everyone started sharing uneasy looks before the grayish black tom stepped forward, "I'll join. If it means getting rid of Lightning for good, then I'll happily flay him."

"It would be good to give them a scar or two to remember us by," a black and white tom remarked. "I suppose I'll follow your lead."

To Dovestar's surprise, almost everyone agreed to join. Five more cats had been added to their group. The odds were starting to shift in their favor, and she realized with a start that maybe they stood a fighting chance. Though doubt still weighed on her shoulders when she realized that Minnowtail also had reinforcements with the Dark Forest. She had to hope that they could win this fight. One way or another, they would survive and save LakeClan from themselves.

...

Minnowtail was pleased with the progress the Clan made in less than a moon. With Lightning now occupying the other side of the lake, it gave her the chance to finally relax. She had been given extra lives thanks to the Dark Forest. To the Clan, she was now known as Minnowstar. She ruled the Clan with the utmost authority, and those that opposed her were quickly put in their places. Nightfire and Pepperfoot had become a constant problem, along with their mother. She used their opposition against them, convincing the rest of the Clan that they were planning a coup against her.

Ultimately, they were silenced. The plan couldn't have gone better.

Graypaw was now known as Graywhisper, Honeypaw was now known as Honeylight, and Flashpaw was now known as Flashwind. With the Clan at full strength and with Emberleaf mysteriously getting pregnant, they thrived in the heart of leaffall. Prey was also plentiful since Lightning began providing them with fresh-kill as a peace treaty. By now, the Clan was less suspicious over the fact that Lightning had moved his gang across the lake. In fact, they seemed to accept the fact that Lightning was now leader of his own Clan. Everything seemed to work out in the end, and Minnowtail couldn't be happier.

Though there was one problem she had to contend with.

She knew Dovestar was still alive. The others that were exiled had also survived until now. According to their liaison from Lightning's group, they were gaining in number. It meant they were preparing themselves for battle, and her reign could easily come to an end. If she allowed it.

So she worked with Scorchfur to ensure that the exiled cats were also stopped. He had a few alliances with the rogues that lived beyond the lake territory. Some of them were less-than-happy that former Clan cats took residence near them. Minnowtail saw that as an opportunity to attack when they least expected it.

"Are you sure it's a good idea to attack them now?" Stoneclaw asked when he joined her.

"They are vulnerable without a proper leader," she replied without missing a beat. Stoneclaw sat down beside her and hummed thoughtfully at the prospect of losing more cats. It was a small sacrifice in the grand scheme of things. "I'm surprised they lasted this long, all things considered. She's a weak leader who can't even handle this Clan."

"At least compared to you," her son remarked. "You've led this Clan to victory more times than I care to count. And I'm not just saying that because you're my mother."

Minnowtail purred in amusement. She knew he was only trying to flatter her. Considering she named him as her deputy, it only made sense that he wanted to gain her respect. In some ways he already earned her respect when he killed Hollyleaf without hesitation. The moment that happened was when she knew that she did a good job at raising her kits. She carefully executed her plan to overthrow Dovestar, ensuring that she had her kit's loyalty. Mintwhisker followed her blindly, while Rainleaf was forced into following her every order. Everything went smoothly aside from losing Snowpaw, though that was just a small sacrifice she was willing to make.

At the end of the day, she was queen of the Clan and the Dark Forest.

She and Stoneclaw returned to camp side-by-side, neither saying much. Most of the cats had begun sparring sessions now that she approved of it. She wanted them to be battle hungry when the time came. The Clan had no place for softhearted cats like Aspencreek and her kits. Minnowtail ensured that they were used for target practice, and it seemed as if her plan was working.

"I can't keep wasting my cobwebs on their injuries, mother," Rainleaf warned her when she returned. "These cats are using their claws in sparring practice. I thought that was against the rules?"

"That rule only applies to those that understand it," Minnowtail snapped. Her eyes narrowed when Rainleaf dropped to a crouch and bowed her head. She wasn't sure when her daughter turned into such a coward, but as long as Rainleaf was willing to submit, then she had no problem with it. "Until those three understand what it means to be a warrior, then they'll always be an easy target."

She'd rather they be dead. Three less mousebrains for her to worry about. She was surprised they didn't try fleeing the Clan after the first attempt of punishing them. Pepperfoot was on the verge of breaking down, but Nightfire and Aspencreek were stubborn. Minnowtail knew she had her work cut out for her if she wanted them out of the picture.

"Are you sure that losing valuable assets is a good idea?" Stoneclaw asked. "I don't like them anymore than you do, but losing them would mean losing capable hunters and fighters."

"We've got more than enough help now thanks to Lightning," Minnowtail replied with a roll of her eyes. "Besides, they're weak. Too weak to be apart of my Clan."

And too weak to be part of my plan, she added silently.

She had already begun meeting with a few cats from Lightning's group. Most of them were easy to manipulate into following her every word. A few were more than weary of her presence, which was perfectly understandable. She would eventually win them over as well, or they would die under her watch. Either way, everything would fall into place.

Still, she didn't miss the worried look sweeping across Rainleaf's face. The medicine cat was clearly more concerned about traitors than her own Clanmates. That was something Minnowtail would have to punish. She cast a quick look in Stoneclaw's direction, and he didn't miss the silent exchange. He knew what he would have to do in order to convince Rainleaf otherwise, though it also meant hurting his own sister. This would truly test his loyalty, and she had little doubt that he would follow through with said test.

She turned away and listened as Rainleaf let out a screech of surprise. The sound of claws tearing into flesh was something she had gotten used to. Part of her training with the Dark Forest had been to tune out the sound. So when her own daughter wailed in pain in surprise, it meant nothing to her. Nothing other than the punishment her own daughter deserved. There was no place for weakness in the Clan. She made sure of that, regardless of who was affected. No matter what happened, she would succeed in her plan to take over everything. And eventually, she would be the queen of the Dark Forest.