Thirty

Everyone started preparing for the battle that loomed ahead.

Dovestar was well aware of what Minnowtail was planning before it happened.

When she learned that the dark gray she-cat had a liaison working with the rogues, she made quick work of it. Surprisingly, the liaison in question happened to be a young former kittypet known as Gully. The black tom had apparently been forced into working for Lightning, and his brother Demitri was determined to save him. To Dovestar's surprise and relief, the young black and white tom was able to do just that. Their group had gone from a ragtag group of rogues to what could easily pass for a Clan.

She worked alongside Molly and Tiny to ensure that everyone was well fed and prepared for the fight ahead. They were surprisingly easy to work with once she learned more about them. Tiny had been the hardest cat to convince out of everyone in their group. The small tabby was still on edge over letting her small group fight, but at least she was willing to help out.

"This is the best way to hold down an enemy when they're twice your size," Tigerheart explained when he started training the younger cats. He showed an old tactic Lionblaze once taught her. Leafpaw was half his size, but she didn't let that deter her. She launched herself at him and landed on his back without hesitation. The moment she did was when she pummeled her tiny paws into him. If she had been using her claws, it would have been a devastating blow. "Even if you're smaller than your enemy, there's always ways to overwhelm them. Size isn't everything in a battle."

"Talon and I were working on ways to outrun our enemies if they give chase," Pounce meowed after they finished their demonstration. "We've been trying to build our stamina, but it's hard with all this undergrowth around us. Not to mention the Twoleg traps that are around the area."

"You can also use that to your advantage," Tigerheart reminded them. "You know the area better than any of those cats. If you think you have the advantage, don't be afraid to take it."

He'd make a good leader, Dovestar realized while watching them.

He took his role seriously while addressing the rogues. They started looking up to him as their leader when they realized how valuable his information was. She knew somewhere in the back of her mind that the Clan had been better off with someone else as their leader. She couldn't help but wonder if the Clan would have been better off without her.

She tried pushing those thoughts aside. Ivypool would have called her out for feeling so negative. It wasn't as if her sister wasn't wrong. The more she thought about it, the guiltier she felt for putting the Clan in their current position. She knew that she should have fought harder for her position. She should have seen Minnowtail's coup coming. More importantly, she should have done something about it sooner rather than let it happen.

She was ready to leave when the sound of familiar pawsteps caught her attention.

Everyone was already on high alert when the scent of LakeClan filled the air. Dovestar's eyes narrowed when she finally picked up on who the intruder was. One glance at Tigerheart was all it took for him to stop the rogues from attacking on sight. Mothwing was the first to approach the intruder, though not without being cautious.

"Rainpaw." There was no anger or annoyance in her voice. Just suspicion over why the apprentice was there in the first place. Rainleaf merely looked at her former mentor guiltily. It was only until getting closer that Mothwing noticed the scars along her face. "What in StarClan happened to you? Why are you covered in scars?"

"It's Rainleaf now," the former apprentice corrected her former mentor. Mothwing narrowed her eyes in annoyance when Rainleaf looked down at her paws, almost as if she was too ashamed to make eye contact. "My brother was kind enough to leave me with these scars. Mother thought it was a good idea to remind the Clan what happens when they disobey her orders."

Dovestar's heart wrenched with pity when she realized what Rainleaf was implying. Everyone shared looks of disbelief when they also understood the extent of Minnowtail's hate. They only knew about Minnowtail thanks to what the former Clan cats told them. The only reason they agreed to join was because they wanted to put an end to Lightning's reign.

"It doesn't matter," Mothwing snapped. "You chose to take her side when you knew what she was capable of. Why should we trust the likes of you?"

Rainleaf flinched as if Mothwing physically struck her. Not that Dovestar could blame her for feeling that way. Mothwing had been her mentor. They formed a bond between mentor and apprentice, and since they were medicine cats, the bond extended beyond training. She had a feeling this would hit the younger cat hard.

"At the time I didn't want to believe that mother was capable of such violence," Rainleaf admitted. "Now that I know—"

"You chose to flee like a coward," Mothwing cut her off with a growl. Again, Rainleaf flinched when Mothwing finally glared at her. "We have no reason to trust you. Or anyone from LakeClan for that matter. Who's to say that you're only here to spy on us?"

"Mothwing, she needs help," Dovestar reminded her with a pointed look. Rainleaf's eyes widened when she reached them. The dappled medicine cat lashed her tail irritably when she realized Dovestar was right. "I know how you feel. It's hard to distinguish who we can or who we can't trust. But we can't let ourselves act like Minnowtail or Lightning. We would be no better than them."

Mothwing looked at her thoughtfully after realizing she made a valid point. She didn't want to associate herself with Minnowtail or Lightning. Not when the two cats had caused everyone so much pain and grief. She would provide a sanctuary for these cats regardless of what they went through, or who they followed.

'That's the difference between you and Minnowtail. You're compassionate, even in the darkest of times,' Ivypool's voice reminded her.

She understood now why StarClan had chosen her as leader. Tigerheart was good at leading a battle, but he lacked compassion and empathy. He would learn those traits eventually, but he had room to mature. She was far from a great leader, but she cared about her Clanmates, and she would do whatever it took to keep them safe.

"Now I know that mother was wrong," Rainleaf let out a heavy sigh. She looked down at her paws once again guiltily. "I'm sorry for everything I've done, or that I haven't done. The Clan deserves a better medicine cat."

"Rainleaf, you were only doing what you thought was the right thing to do." Rainleaf finally looked up at Dovestar in surprise. In spite of the anger she felt towards Minnowtail, she couldn't help but feel sympathetic for Rainleaf. The silvery she-cat had been Minnowtail's daughter. Knowing that her own brother inflicted those scars left her blood boiling with fury. "Do you have enough herbs to treat her?"

"I should," Mothwing replied after mulling over her confession. "Along with the others that are with her. I'm surprised you managed to make it out without being caught."

Dovestar's eyes widened when she realized that Rainleaf wasn't alone either. Three other cats were with her. Aspencreek, Nightfire and Pepperfoot were crouched not that far from where Rainleaf had been. Her heart nearly skipped a beat when she noticed they were all bloodied and covered in scars. Her heart wrenched with pity as understanding swept through her.

They risked everything in fleeing the Clan. More importantly, they risked everything in joining the Clan. She asked them to risk their lives by joining the Clan, and it nearly cost them their lives. She knew better than anyone the cost of being involved with the Clan, especially with cats like Minnowtail in charge.

...

For a while, the clearing was quiet as Mothwing addressed the wounds on the newcomers. Tigerheart wasn't sure what to make of the scene. His mind was reeling with horror over the fact that these cats had been tortured to the point of fleeing. He knew Minnowtail had been capable of such violence in the Dark Forest, and he should have seen the attack coming. What bothered him the most was the fact that Minnowtail had gotten away with her coup.

"She didn't exactly get nine lives like a normal leader," Rainleaf explained through gritted teeth. Mothwing addressed the worst of her wounds. To Tigerheart's surprise, Molly had some knowledge on how herbs worked. The mottled gray and white she-cat helped Mothwing out by treating the newcomer's injuries. "I think someone from the Dark Forest was capable of giving her lives, but not in the way StarClan would."

Unease crawled through Tigerheart when he realized what she was implying. He knew Hawkfrost would be more than willing to do such a thing. There was also Mapleshade, who vowed vengeance against the Clans. So many other cats in the Dark Forest could just as easily give Minnowtail her nine lives, which meant she was by their authority a proper leader. He glanced at Dovestar guiltily, not missing the dark look sweeping across her face.

"If what you said is true, then maybe we are fighting a hopeless battle," she murmured. "Why would StarClan let this happen in the first place?"

"For the same reason they let the Clans fall," he growled under his breath. "They have no power over the Dark Forest. Once they found someone who was willing to follow through with their plans, the Dark Forest was able to fulfill their goals."

He didn't want to believe that StarClan would let something like this happen, but they were powerless against the Dark Forest. The worst part of it was the fact that Minnowtail had a strong influence over the Clan and Lightning's group. He doubted there were cats among them that opposed her. Even if Lightning was willing to fight her for his role as leader, she could easily overpower him in sheer number.

"Then what is the point if fighting in the first place?" Tiny demanded.

"We have to do what is right," Mothwing meowed. "We allowed this darkness to fester for so long, and it's our job to put it to an end."

"The Dark Forest and StarClan all sound like myths to me," one of the rogues pointed out. "But this 'Minnow' character is bad news for everyone that lives around here if you Clan cats can't even handle her."

A shiver of unease swept through Tigerheart once again. The rogues made a valid point in suggesting that they couldn't handle Minnowtail. The truth was, they hadn't seen her coup coming until it was too late. He'd known that something was happening and that Minnowtail was planning something. He should have mentioned it sooner rather than let it happen.

Thankfully, Mothwing shooed everyone away to give the newcomers some much needed space. Tigerheart let out a heavy sigh when his former apprentice approached him. He was used to seeing Nightfire look so carefree like his brother. Much had changed since the fox cub incident, but things only got worse during the coup.

"I'm sorry we didn't fight harder," he murmured. "We should've done something—"

"Don't blame yourself for something you had no control over," Tigerheart cut him off. He didn't miss the looks sweeping across Aspencreek and Pepperfoot's faces. "The fact that you're here proves that you didn't believe in Minnowtail's lies. We'll need all the fighting cats we can get on our side if we want to stop her."

"There are others who doubt her leadership," Aspencreek said quietly. Tigerheart glanced at her in surprise when she bowed her head guiltily. "I know Emberleaf isn't entirely committed to her. Mintwhisker, Perchfang and Olivelight have also shown opposition, though not openly. They might turn on her and the others if they have a fighting chance."

Tigerheart hadn't realized until then how many cats were against Minnowtail's role as leader. It made sense given how forcefully she took over. She was also responsible for killing their deputy and casting out both medicine cats. He doubted Rainleaf's departure would sit well on her mother's shoulders. It also left a burning question of why they didn't follow Rainleaf's lead in the first place.

"It will be a few days before your wounds are fully healed," Mothwing warned them. "Until then, rest and try not to open them again."

Tigerheart squeezed his eyes shut when she stalked past and joined Dovestar. There was so much that he wanted to say to his mate. He wasn't even sure if they could consider themselves mates now, especially after what she went through. He hadn't fought for her when he easily could have. He would find a way to make up for what happened to her, one way or another. That was one promise he planned on keeping.