Scorchstar watched with horror as Houndheart shoved the four sorry-looking warriors out of their bramble prison and into the corner of the hollow. From where he watched, Peartuft was examining the prisoners, a flat look in his face. Two other cats sat next to him. Houndheart was licking his lips, as if he had found a juicy piece of prey. His claws were unsheathed, and his paw was lifted, right above Russetstripe's throat.

I can't believe they've been here for two days, and we didn't even notice! Scorchstar thought desperately. Every muscle in his paw was telling him to run down there, but if he moved, he was sure Houndheart would kill his sister right then and there. No… I can't let this happen! Russetstripe looked horrible – her ginger fur was matted and crusted with blood, and her eyes were half-shut, their usual vivid green now glazed.

"We need to move!" Scorchstar hissed at Rootstar, who watched the scene with sharp yellow eyes. "Now!"

Just as Houndheart raised his paw, ready to strike, Rootstar yowled, "Stop!"

Houndheart looked over at the voice, shocked. Peartuft clicked his tongue when he looked up at the clearing. "Huh. Just on time."

Scorchstar flicked his tail to Harewhisker, Aspenstep, Brambledusk, Stormwing, and Emberflame. The five cats, who were on the opposite side of the hollow, saw his signal and rushed down the clearing, each cat grabbing one of the prisoners and dragging them away from Houndheart. Houndheart turned and stared at them, snapping his jaws as he raced towards them. Stormwing pushed Houndheart away with a massive shove. Peartuft flicked his tail to stop the fighting.

Rootstar slipped into camp, but his claws were sheathed as he trotted up to Peartuft, his yellow eyes blazing. The ThunderClan patrol followed him, and Scorchstar jumped down the walls to join Rootstar as both of them stared Peartuft down. Out of the corner of his eye, Scorchstar saw the cats he had chosen to rescue the prisoners battling with some of Peartuft's rogues. Scorchstar swung his head to stare at them.

"Stop!" he exclaimed, although secretly he wanted them to rip every single rogue apart. "We're not here to fight!"

"We weren't going to kill those warriors," Peartuft said, his words as slippery as a snake's, but the bloodlust in his eyes betrayed their meaning. "They were simply meant to bring you here. You can take them alive, so long as you hand over my mate and kits. No one has to die today."

Emberflame let out a low growl, but he got off the brown cat he had pinned down. Stormwing huffed, and Harewhisker's amber eyes blazed. Brambledusk examined the prisoners with worry, and Aspenstep wavered from behind the cats. Scorchstar turned back to look at Peartuft. But, just as he opened his mouth to say something, he heard a loud thud, and he swung his head again to see Aspenstep hitting the ground. Oh, oh no…! Oh, gods, why? Scorchstar let out a snarl and snapped his head towards Peartuft, letting out a furious yowl. "Is this what you mean by no cat has to die today?"

"You're a filthy liar!" Emberflame yowled at Peartuft, his amber eyes blazing. "You may be able to foolish your half-wit followers, but to any cat who has ever had a coherent thought in his life, anyone can see that all you are is a manipulative, insufferable scoundrel."

Peartuft twitched his ears as he stared at Emberflame, showing no reaction to Aspenstep's death. Or did he even see it? "Seems like no one has ever washed your tongue out."

"Your warriors do not listen to law or reason!" Scorchstar yowled his fury at Peartuft, the image of Aspenstep's corpse making his voice bounce against the walls of the hollow. He could feel the rest of Peartuft's cats approach him, but with the anger that was pulsating through his body, he felt strong enough to take every single one of them on. "No one has time to play your little games!"

"I'd stop talking, if I were you," Peartuft growled. "You want to play my game? I have an ace up my sleeve, you know. We have a very powerful ally."

"And who would that be?" Scorchstar snorted. Foolish liar! "Who would ally with you savages?"

"The Lord of Hell." Peartuft grinned. "Dapplestar."

Wha… Scorchstar's paws froze, and his entire body turned numb as he stared at Peartuft. No. No way. That's not possible. Peartuft let out a grin as he went on.

"You know as well as I that RiverClan shows no mercy to any cat," Peartuft meowed. "Their one goal is unification, and they will kill who and everyone they must to get there, no matter who it is. They are powerful allies."

"I don't believe you," Scorchstar hissed. "You're bluffing. Dapplestar may be strong-willed, but she has a head between her shoulders."

"Try me." Peartuft's yellow eyes glittered.

"Peartuft." Rootstar's voice was hard, and his yellow eyes were chips of ice. "Surely you know that allying with RiverClan gives you nothing. Dapplestar will use you to further her own goals. You mean nothing to her."

"She will provide us assistance in attacks," Peartuft growled, "and that's really all I need."

"Give us our warriors back." Rootstar lashed his tail. "Their lives are not yours to take. The cat who passes the sentence should swing their claws. If you would take a cat's life, you owe it to him to look into his eyes and hear his final words. And, if you cannot do that, perhaps the cat does not deserve to die."

"You can have them," Peartuft snorted. "I don't give a rat's tail about them – they'll die before they can receive treatment, anyway. Bury them in your camp so I don't have to burn them in mine. But, in exchange, I want something."

"What is it?" Rootstar asked.

"Mintsplash. And my kits." Peartuft's fur arched on his spine. "Give them to me, and you'll leave alive. Refuse, and I will bring the combined rage of RiverClan and FierceClan onto you."

Rootstar let out a low growl. "Your kits are too young to decide where they want to be yet."

"You're lying," Peartuft said softly, danger lurking in his voice. "They're already apprentices. They're perfectly capable of deciding where they want to live."

"If they wanted to come, they would've come already," Rootstar pointed out. "The same is true for Mintsplash."

"That's a lie." Peartuft bared his teeth. "You've stopped them from going."

"I will never force a cat to stay where they do not want to be," Rootstar growled. "You know that."

"I don't believe you," Peartuft hissed. "Give. Me. Mintsplash."

"You will not have her unless she makes that decision on her own," Rootstar hissed at him. "If that is what you wish, I shall ask her when I return back to camp, and her answer is what will dictate her wish."

The moment Peartuft opened his mouth to say something, a long shadow crossed across the hollow, and a fishy scent, alongside the tinge of fear and power made the cats skid to a halt. Scorchstar looked up to see the big tortoiseshell-and-white figure of Dapplestar, who slipped down the camp walls and walked into the clearing, holding her head high and her chest puffed out. Scorchstar flattened his ears, remembering the rumors that had spread about her lately. She killed Shrewfur and basically brought ShadowClan to its knees… didn't she take a hostage, too…? I thought I heard someone saying that… For the first time, Scorchstar felt scared of the RiverClan leader.

"Why is she here?" hissed a voice from behind Scorchstar. Dapplestar trotted into the middle of the camp, looking up. Her gaze was piercing as she settled them on the four prisoners near the edge of the camp, each of them barely conscious.

Peartuft dipped his head to Dapplestar. There was no trace of surprise or shock in his voice, just respect. He knew she was coming. "Thank you for coming. These Clan cats are here trying to wipe us out. I am trying to strike a deal with them to ensure very cat goes home safely today."

You've got to be kidding me. Scorchstar lashed his tail from side-to-side. Wiping them out? They were here to rescue the cats Peartuft was holding prisoner! And ensuring every cat went home safely? Scorchstar's gaze drifted towards Aspenstep's limp body, and tears stung at his eyes. Another one I failed to protect… thanks to Peartuft and his rogues. A lump developed in Scorchstar's throat and his paws felt too heavy to move.

"It seems as if the wars just do not end," Dapplestar remarked dryly, staring at the four warriors who were being helped by the cats who had joined the battle. "Instances such are these are the reason that unification is necessary in the Clans."

Unification? Scorchstar eyed Dapplestar dubiously. What in all the hells is she talking about?

"There would be one way to fix this, you know. If we had a cat that could rule over us all, solving disputes such as this with a fair paw." Dapplestar grinned. "She whose authority proves the mandate of gods. It means that a cat, with the most power and strength, is to become a god. The Lord of the Clans."

Lord of the Clans?! The ruler of all the cats by the lake? There's only one cat who can rule their own Clans, and even then, in an ideal Clan, that the leader and deputy share power! "You're out of your mind," Scorchstar hissed at Dapplestar. "No cat has that kind of power."

Dapplestar ignored Scorchstar's words, and for a moment, Scorchstar wondered if she even heard him. She went on calmly. "I am the most powerful cat by the lake. I have the largest influence, the strongest cats, the most territory, and I have ShadowClan wrapped around my paw. Soon, it will be all the Clans that will live underneath the banner of unification. I will take Divine Rule. You are either with me, or against me. Peartuft has chosen to be with me, thus he will be at my side when I unify the Clans and give this world the peace it has been fighting for."

She's insane. There's no way a sane cat would say these things. Scorchstar was so shocked by Dapplestar's words that he couldn't move. Only an insane cat would talk about wanting absolute power for herself.

"The time for old customs is done for," Dapplestar went on. "The definitions of cats matter no longer. There is no difference between ThunderClan and Peartuft. They are both cats, are they not? A new world order is about to dawn. All the Clans will benefit from my divine reformation. For if we were all to be united… none of this would have come to pass."

There was complete silence in the clearing, but everyone was listening to her. Even the rogues who had nothing to do with the Clans and power had their eyes focused on Dapplestar.

"There are many cats who deify their honored warriors," Dapplestar said calmly, as if she was talking about catching prey rather than declaring herself the ruler of all the Clans. "In RiverClan, Oakheart and Stonefur have been among those. Surely continuing a tradition harms no one."

I can't just sit here and let her say these things. Scorchstar bared his teeth at Dapplestar. "You are no better than the rest of us! Who are you to call yourself a god? Has StarClan come down the skies and crowned you themselves?"

Dapplestar swung her head in a second to stare at Scorchstar, her green eyes piercing and blazing, but her voice full of confidence as she said, "Once the Clans are unified because of my work, they will."

The utter and complete boldness, the fact that this cat was obviously intended on making herself a god, made Scorchstar shake. Shimmerwing, who stood behind Dapplestar, turned to look at Scorchstar, her blue eyes narrowed. "I saw the fear in your eyes as Dapplestar walked into the clearing. You are already aware she is the most powerful leader, even if you don't realize it."

Scorchstar swallowed, realizing the deputy was right. Every cat feared Dapplestar. Including him.

Dapplestar smirked as she met Scorchstar's gaze. "If you want to continue the endless bloodshed, Scorchstar, you simply continue in granting your warriors death. Joining me would guarantee they live. You still owe me a debt from when I housed you in the fire."

How dare she bring that up? That was years ago! If she wanted me to repay that debt, she should've asked me for something sooner. And even if it was to join her to become ruler of the Clans, I would never. "That was years ago, Dapplestar. That debt is no longer, especially if what you are asking for harms my Clanmates!"

"What honor you hold," Dapplestar growled. "Refusing to pay a debt that you owe me."

Rootstar, who had been watching the exchange like a cat made of stone, finally stepped further. "Dapplestar, you say you intend to unify the Clans. But your unification gets cats killed. To allow those most dear to me to bear these wounds and remain silent… not even I love unification so much as that."

"We will never join you!" Waspberry yowled from behind Scorchstar. Scorchstar turned to look at the gray-and-white she-cat. "You killed Shrewfur!"

That's right! Scorchstar had heard the rumors drifting around the border of Shrewfur's ghastly death, taking the death blow meant for his leader. A shudder ran down Scorchstar's spine. Just like Buzzardwing…

"Sometimes, to protect, you must bring death," Dapplestar growled. "Shrewfur died defending his leader. There was no other honorable way to leave this world. Am I wrong?"

"I would rather die than join you," Harewhisker yowled from where he was helping the injured cats walk.

"Very well." Dapplestar grinned, a fearless grin. "If you wish to keep fighting me, then do so. But mark my words, I will unify the Clans, no matter what I must do to get there."

"WindClan is a sovereign Clan, only under the rule of our StarClan appointed leader, Scorchstar, and the warrior code! We will not falter or waver." Wildheart's amber eyes blazed with resolve, and Scorchstar gazed at his mate with pride and affection.

Dapplestar gazed at Wildheart. An indomitable smirk spread on her face, and she broke out into a fit of laughter. "Is that so?" she finally asked.

"Unite or die!" yowled a cat from the rogue cats. Scorchstar watched with horror as the chant was taken up by the rest of the rogues, and even RiverClan. What's happening here? Scorchstar thought. Is this what the Clans are coming to? Being brainwashed by Dapplestar's words?

Scorchstar didn't want to stay here anymore. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Russetstripe barely able to get up. Blood was still streaming from the warriors' wounds, and he was sure they couldn't stay here any longer. This is enough. I'm not here to amuse Dapplestar anymore. "I just want to take my injured sister home and bury my dead. I don't want anything to do with this." He focused his gaze on the dead body of Aspenstep, who Blackdove was draping over her slight shoulders.

"They are injured because of your incompetence," Dapplestar hissed. "Go. Take her, and your dead. Give him the warrior's burial he deserves, and nothing less. Then consider my proposal. If I do not hear an answer from you, well…"

What will you do? Scorchstar thought. The fur on his spine bristled as he heard Peartuft's mocking laugh.

"Oh, Scorchstar, I don't think you have a choice," Peartuft said, amber eyes glinting. Scorchstar wanted to claw the scowl off his face, but there was no point in fighting a battle today. Scorchstar ignored Peartuft and walked over to Russetstripe, seeing his sister's sorry shape. Her fur was matted, and she bore several wounds, most of them yellowing and swollen. What happened here…? Scorchstar hauled Russetstripe away from Winterfall, shooting the silver tom a deadly glare. This is your fault. If she had never come to help your warriors, she wouldn't be in this position. Ignoring Dapplestar's glare that burned in the back of his spine, Scorchstar held Russetstripe over his shoulders and watched as Blackdove carried Aspenstep. The WindClan cats climbed out of the clearing, a heavy silence hanging over them as they numbly walked back towards their camp.

Scorchstar could hear his sister's ragged but slow breathing, and the hot blood that trickled from her was soaking into his own fur. He could feel her burning, swollen wounds, and something wasn't right. These clearly couldn't have come from just a cat's claws. What was wrong with them? I can't just sit here and wait. He hastened his pace, knowing that this was a matter of life or death. Russetstripe saved my life once. It's time I do the same for her. When the hollow came into view, Scorchstar slid down the walls and rushed into the medicine den.

Just as Scorchstar came in, his panic must have been palpable, swimming off in waves, because Sedgefall turned on her heel immediately as Scorchstar draped his sister on the ground. Sedgefall bounded over to her body, her amber eyes wide as she examined Russetstripe's body. Her green eyes focused on her wounds, and Scorchstar studied them. I knew there was something off about them! They were deep and grievous, but there was extreme swelling and yellow crust with liquid – that wasn't blood – dripping from them.

"What is this?" Scorchstar asked Sedgefall worriedly. "What happened?"

"It's poison," Sedgefall said calmly.

"What?!" Scorchstar's cry resonated through the medicine den. "Poison? How? Was she bitten by a snake?"

Sedgefall examined Russetstripe's wounds intently. "No… these wounds came from claws. The only explanation is that the claws must have had poison on them."

By all the gods… Scorchstar stepped back, horrified. Sedgefall nudged Scorchstar out of the den. "Go. I must work on her."

"I can't leave her…" Scorchstar gasped. "We got into so many fights, then she left for ThunderClan… and then she left again… and if she's poisoned, then… she'll…" He was too afraid to say the last word. Sedgefall gently pushed Scorchstar out of the den, leaving him to stand, frozen with horror as he watched her pale brown tabby pelt disappear into the shadows. Even though Sedgefall was normally so calm and composed, he had definitely not missed the way the fur on her shoulders pricked up when she took one look at her wounds.

Pawsteps echoed behind Scorchstar, and the big leader turned around to see who was behind him. It was Mallowleaf, who was carrying a bundle of herbs in her jaws. When she gazed at her father, her mouth dropped often and the herbs fell to the ground.

"Father, what's wrong?" Mallowleaf inquired.

"Your aunt… her wounds… they're poisoned." Scorchstar felt sick, as if he was the one poisoned.

"What?" Mallowleaf gasped. She picked up the herbs again and headed into the medicine den, her silver tabby fur bristling with fear. Scorchstar watched her go, feeling utterly defeated. And he felt something else. Something he hadn't felt in a while. Lost. He looked down at his paws, and then forced himself to look back over his shoulder. He was greeted with the sight of Aspenstep's dull gray striped body, lying in the center of camp as several warriors crowded around him. I thought I wouldn't let any of my warriors die because of Peartuft. But I lost another one.

"Scorchstar." It was Heathercloud's gentle but firm voice that knocked Scorchstar out of his thoughts. The gray she-cat sat in front of him, her blue eyes kind. "You're thinking about Aspenstep."

"I let him get killed," Scorchstar rasped.

"Scorchstar…" Heathercloud murmured. "He talked to me. Before he came."

"What did he say?" Scorchstar asked, looking at the old warrior's narrow face.

"He planned to die there," Heathercloud replied. "To help rescue the cats, but also… to join Sandfall in StarClan."

Scorchstar stared at Heathercloud, slightly unimpressed. Although he did believe her when she reported that Aspenstep had said to her, that didn't ease the guilt off his conscience. "It's still my fault he's dead. I keep saying that I won't lose another warrior to Peartuft, but they keep dropping like flies. And my sister might be the next one."

"Is she all right?" Heathercloud asked.

"No." Scorchstar shook his head. "Sedgefall says her wounds have poison in them."

Heathercloud rubbed her tail down Scorchstar's spine. "I'll stay with her for now, and then I'll let Blackdove come. How about that? You're going to torture yourself if you stay here, thinking she's going to die."

"I can't leave her," Scorchstar whined. "She's my sister. I love her."

"Have you eaten?" Heathercloud tilted her head. "Drank? Slept?"

Scorchstar shook his head.

"Russetstripe would want you to take care of yourself," Heathercloud told him. "I'll stay with her. Please, take some time for yourself."

Realizing that Heathercloud wouldn't budge, Scorchstar touched his nose to the senior warrior's shoulder, letting her know just how grateful he was for all her years of service – to his father, and now to him. He walked away, but he couldn't shake away the worry he felt for his sister. Was she going to die? Would he never see her again? Was he too late in getting her to the medicine den? Had staying in the camp listening to Dapplestar brag about herself prolonged Russetstripe's suffering? Or had it been because he hadn't rescued her sooner? Scorchstar was torturing himself with his thoughts when he heard Hawkfire's disgusted voice.

"So, we're just going to let this cat call herself a god?" Hawkfire was snarling, lashing her tail furiously. Yowls of outrage and fear resonated through the clearing, and Scorchstar knew he had to say something before rumors started to spread. He leaped onto the Tall Rock and waved his tail for silence, unable to find the energy to use his words.

"Cats of WindClan," he called when all attention in the clearing was focused on him. "The sun has set and now is the time to hold a vigil for brave Aspenstep. He died today defending his Clan against an unimaginably evil cat and he did it in the name of his beloved mate, Sandfall." His voice faltered with grief. "We have lost too many good cats this past moon. I hope this will be our last. It's time to hold vigil for our brave warrior." With that, he leaped from the Tall Rock and walked over to Aspenstep's body, touching his nose to his shoulder.

"Goodbye, Father," Skyheart murmured, licking her father's ear. "I hope I will see you again one day."

"Our goal now should be to never let anything like this happen again," Scorchstar meowed. "Those rogues must be eliminated." Anger burned deep inside of Scorchstar's heart as he glanced at the medicine den. Peartuft needs to pay for what he's done. Russetstripe's suffering was needless and could have been avoided if Peartuft had any sense of what mercy was. "And we'll do it. With ThunderClan at our side."

The cats listened to Scorchstar's words, and although he hoped he was able to motivate them, he knew so many things had happened in the last half-moon that these cats were losing hope. But I can't have them think I won't protect them. Because I will. I'll sacrifice myself and the world if that's what it takes to protect my Clanmates.

And my family.