Scorchstar faced off with Hawkfire in his den, his tail lashing back and forth as he stared at his daughter. Hawkfire's green eyes blazed, flattening her ears as she glared at her father. Scorchstar took a deep breath, trying to regain his composure. He lifted his head, calming himself down before saying, "Hawkfire, you should know well enough by now that Brightpaw and Rainpaw aren't ready to fight a fox. They're too young."

"If you keep sheltering them forever, you're going to teach them that they never can fight," Hawkfire argued. "And Rainpaw is my apprentice. I get the say in what's best for him. We need as many cats on the patrol as we can. The fox is violent!"

"Hawkfire, I'm the Clan leader, and what I say goes," Scorchstar hissed. "Rainpaw and Brightpaw are not going on that patrol. Take Iceheart, Redmoon, Hotaru, and Seedberry. If you need more, then I'll go."

"No." Hawkfire shook her head. "We don't need you on this patrol. I'll just go and tell Brightpaw and Rainpaw how you don't trust them to fight."

"That's not true!" Scorchstar yowled as Hawkfire turned on her heel sharply, trotting out of the den with her ears flattened. Scorchstar trembled with rage, and he was unsure on who to confide in. Wildheart had fallen ill with a cold a few days ago, and he didn't want to upset her by telling her about his difficulties with his new deputy. But there was one cat he knew he could confide in. Even though she was far away, Scorchstar had been granted permission to see her whenever he wanted to. As Hawkfire disappeared into the moorland, Scorchstar slipped out the back exit and crossed his territory, his tail lashing in anger until he approached the scent lines that marked the border with RiverClan. He sat down, knowing he would have to wait for a bit until a RiverClan patrol came across.

A while later, Scorchstar caught the glimpse of a big gray tabby tom. He recognized him immediately. Rippleheart. Although Scorchstar had no love in his heart for the tabby tom, he had come to terms with the fact that they were no longer enemies. Although they were not Clanmates, or even friends, there had been peace in the Clans, and so Scorchstar didn't feel the need to attack the tom, or even feel the same burning hatred he had felt for Dapplestar.

"Rippleheart!" Scorchstar called out. "Over here!"

Rippleheart's gray head snapped towards Scorchstar's direction. His blue eyes narrowed as he walked over to the tom, his entrance concealed by reeds. When he emerged from the patches, Scorchstar caught the glimpse of a hefty but still growing dark ginger tom next to him, an exact copy of his sister. Tigerpaw! I heard his name at the Gathering last moon.

"Tigerpaw," Scorchstar greeted the apprentice. Tigerpaw looked up at Scorchstar.

"You're back!" Tigerpaw exclaimed. "Are you here to talk with Mom?"

"Yeah." Scorchstar looked up at Rippleheart. "Is that all right?"

Rippleheart shrugged. "Shimmerstar gave you permission to stop by whenever you wanted to see Russetstripe, so I see no reason to deny you that right. Come on." He waved his striped tail and led Scorchstar through the marshland. Scorchstar fell into step next to Tigerpaw.

"How's your training?" Scorchstar asked Tigerpaw.

"Good!" Tigerpaw exclaimed. "I fought off a badger yesterday! Alone!"

"Alone?" Scorchstar gasped. "No way!"

"For a good five seconds," Rippleheart muttered. "I came and finished it off."

"Well, it was still some time when I was alone!" Tigerpaw corrected his mentor.

"Yeah, yeah." Rippleheart turned over his head and rolled his eyes, but Scorchstar didn't miss the affection for his apprentice that glittered in his blue gaze. Tigerpaw butted against Scorchstar, looking at his uncle with wide green eyes.

"Is it just me, or do your whiskers look gray?" Tigerpaw asked, tilting his head.

"I see your father never taught you respect," Scorchstar muttered under his breath. "Well, I don't know. Are they?"

"Yeah," Tigerpaw replied. "But that's okay! Rippleheart always says that I give him gray whiskers."

"Does he." Scorchstar glanced at Rippleheart, who twitched his ears. "Haha. You're a bright one, Tigerpaw. Make your mother proud."

"Oh, she's proud of me, all right!" Tigerpaw quickened his pace, and Scorchstar found himself running faster. Is he trying to race me? "She says I remind her a little of you when you were young."

"Really?" Scorchstar twitched his whiskers. Am I like Tigerpaw? I never really thought of it that way. He skidded to a halt when Rippleheart stopped, approaching the stream that harbored RiverClan's camp. Rippleheart jumped into the river, swimming with strong paws, and Tigerpaw plunged in right after him, looking as if he was pure RiverClan by the way he glided through the stream. Scorchstar gazed down at the river. He had always hated crossing it, but he had no choice. He dragged himself into the stream, and as fast as he could, he pulled himself through the waves until he was on the island. He shook out his ginger-and-white fur.

"Russetstripe is over there," Rippleheart meowed, pointing his tail through the foliage. "She and Shimmerstar just came back from a hunting patrol. They're getting pretty friendly if you ask me." His whiskers twitched in amusement.

I never thought I'd see the day, Scorchstar thought.

"Can I come?" Tigerpaw asked.

"Maybe when we're done talking," Scorchstar replied. "I have warrior things to talk to your mother about." He tousled Tigerpaw's head with his paw and headed across the clearing. He could hear the murmurs of the RiverClan warriors, and when he looked over his shoulder, he spotted Whitefeather padding out of the elders' den. So, he retired? Scorchstar thought. He's been a warrior for quite some time, I'm not surprised. He's about Heathercloud's age. Around the island were more cats. Wolfheart was talking with Iceshine. Meadowdawn trailed her mother, Snowstorm. Squirreltail and Sunshine were speaking in hushed conversation, while Moonshade stood guard at the camp entrance. Scorchstar gave her a nod before approaching Russetstripe and Shimmerstar. The two she-cats turned their heads to stare at Scorchstar, before Russetstripe's green eyes lit up.

"Scorchstar!" Russetstripe meowed, walking forward and brushing her cheek with Scorchstar's. Her green eyes glittered with happiness. "It's so great to see you!"

"Hey, Scorchstar," Shimmerstar greeted the WindClan leader, with no trace of hostility in her voice. Then her blue eyes narrowed. "Are you all right?"

"Why do you ask?" Scorchstar asked.

"You look tired," Russetstripe commented. A shadow fell upon her green eyes. "I heard Hawkfire was named deputy. You're having trouble with her, right?"

Scorchstar flicked his tail. "You know me too well, Russetstripe."

"Oh, yes," Shimmerstar meowed. "I remember that. Hawkfire is your daughter, correct?"

Scorchstar nodded.

"That means she must be as strong-headed and fiery as both you and Russetstripe," Shimmerstar remarked.

"She is," Scorchstar sighed. "And it's exhausting me. Everything I say, she rebels against. I thought she was over this. She was like this when she was a young warrior, but now that she calmed down, I thought she'd make a great deputy. But now… we seem to have different ideas of running the Clan, and we're constantly headbutting each other at different ways. It's times like this when I wish Brambledusk was here. He'd know what to do."

"Shimmerstar?" Russetstripe asked. "I seem to remember that you knew a very headstrong deputy with a leader who shared different opinions. Perhaps you can give my little brother some advice?"

"Oh, maybe I can," Shimmerstar purred, turning to face Scorchstar. "Pouring fire into fire just ignites the fire more, doesn't it?"

"Well, yeah," Scorchstar confessed. "But what does that have to do with anything?"

"I have a feeling that instead of sitting down and talking it out like adults, you're both yelling at each other," Shimmerstar said. "Am I right?"

Scorchstar snorted. "I should've never come here."

"Hey, we're just trying to help," Russetstripe chimed in, gazing steadily at Scorchstar. "But you are fighting, right?"

Scorchstar nodded. He would have to put aside his pride and confess to what was going on. "Yeah. Like, earlier today, I didn't want Brightpaw and Rainpaw to fight against the fox. But Hawkfire was absolutely insistent on doing so, and we just ended up screaming at each other. I left camp to get away from it, and I just wanted some advice."

"When these things happen, you need to sit Hawkfire down and talk to her," Shimmerstar told him. "You need to ask her why she thinks what she does, and then you tell her why you have the opinion you do. Then you need to find a compromise. For example, to test if they're ready, why don't you have a cat fight like a fox, and see if the apprentices can fend them off? If they can, then they can fight the fox. If they can't, then they can't fight the fox."

"That's…" Scorchstar's voice trailed off as he stared at Shimmerstar. "…not a bad idea."

"You're not going to get anywhere by yelling at her, Scorchstar," Russetstripe told him. "It didn't work with our father and I, and it won't work with you two. Shimmerstar is right, you need to talk these things out."

A sense of resolve burst through Scorchstar. He lifted his head and nodded to the two she-cats. "You're right. Both of you. I can't just yell at Hawkfire and expect her to be submissive to what I say. I'm always expecting her to hear me out. Now I know that I need to listen to what she says, as well."

"Perfect." Russetstripe purred. "I'm glad you came to your senses. Fish-brain." She hit Scorchstar's head with her tail.

"Hey!" Scorchstar flattened his ears. "Even after all these years, you're not done with that?"

"Stay, Scorchstar," Shimmerstar told him. "I've invited Icestar and Nightstar over here. It's time for our monthly discussion of the Clans, between us four leaders. Surely you haven't forgotten about that?"

Scorchstar's ears shot up. Every month, Shimmerstar had suggested that the four Clan leaders meet in a specific camp to discuss the events that had happened over the past moon that affected all four Clans and to produce a solution. The next one was today, and it had completely slipped his mind. Well, now that I'm here… "Sure. Are they coming any time soon?"

"I've sent Squirreltail to go wait for them," Shimmerstar replied. "In the meantime, I'll let you two talk." She flicked her tail and walked into the bramble bush that made her den. Scorchstar watched her go. He had never expected the day to come when they would have a cordial conversation, one-on-one, where Shimmerstar would actually give him advice. He had always wanted the tawny she-cat dead, but she was a different cat without Dapplestar. Now, she was a leader, and not a follower.

Scorchstar brushed his muzzle against Russetstripe's. "I've missed you. I come here to visit you, when are you coming to WindClan to visit me?"

"You're right," Russetstripe sighed. "I wanted to come over to mourn Harewhisker, but I just didn't remember. I'll come, I promise." She licked Scorchstar's head. "When Frostpetal gives birth, I'll visit. I'd also like to see Hawkfire and Redmoon. Are they getting along?"

"Actually…" Scorchstar cleared his throat. "I didn't say this at the Gathering, but I appointed Redmoon deputy."

"Huh…?" Russetstripe stared at him. "But Hawkfire…"

"I know," Scorchstar said. "Redmoon declined. He said that Hawkfire was a much better deputy candidate than he was, and so he said that I had to give his spot to her. I did. But, with the way Hawkfire is serving me, I'm… regretting it. I just hope that, with the advice you and Shimmerstar gave me, we can work things out, and she'll be the deputy I always wanted. A combination of Brambledusk, Harewhisker, and Redmoon."

"I'm sure she will," Russetstripe told him. "You just need to be patient with her. Remember that you had to teach Harewhisker how to lead. Now you need to teach Hawkfire how to lead. Blackdove was patient with her, and whenever Hawkfire fired at her, Blackdove gave her a few moments and spoke to her as if she had never yelled. Eventually, Hawkfire realized that yelling at her wasn't going to garner a reaction, and they became closer. To teach Hawkfire how to be a good deputy, you'll need a combination of Brambledusk's, Blackdove's, and Harewhisker's skills."

"Thanks, Russetstripe," Scorchstar meowed. He felt a lot better, now that he had a plan. It was as if a massive weight had been lifted off his shoulders. Hawkfire would be an excellent deputy and an excellent leader. Scorchstar would just have to help her find her way, and that meant teaching her that squabbling wouldn't get them anywhere. He sat down next to his sister. "I saw Tigerpaw. He looks well."

"Yeah, Rippleheart is really patient with him," Russetstripe meowed. "It seemed just like the other day he was a small little thing. Now I'm pretty sure he's going to be just as big as his father."

Scorchstar winced. "Where is Runningflame, anyway?"

"He's training Flamepaw," Russetstripe replied. "I honestly was afraid he'd treat her like she was glass because she's his daughter, and he wouldn't want her to get hurt. But he doesn't. He treats her as if he'd treat any other apprentice, to teach her to defend herself if she ever gets into trouble."

"What about Lionpaw?" Scorchstar asked.

"Minnowflight is his mentor," Russetstripe meowed. "He's doing well, too. I'm proud of all of them. They're going to make fine warriors."

"You seem awfully close with Shimmerstar," Scorchstar pointed out.

"She's not a bad cat," Russetstripe told him. "Not at all. She brought the Clans together, Scorchstar. Something our father couldn't do. Only a cat with that has as much honor and integrity as she does could do that."

"Yeah, she seems nice," Scorchstar meowed. "I'm happy for you, Russetstripe. I really am." He was glad that Russetstripe was thriving in RiverClan. She looked happy – her dark ginger fur was sleek and her green eyes were shining, and she seemed much content in RiverClan than she had in her last moons in WindClan, ever since she had been poisoned by Peartuft. Now she had a mate, kits, and new friends. And yet here I am. I lost my closest friends, one of my daughters, I'm fighting with my other daughter, and I feel older than ever. He sighed. No, I can't think that way. I'm alive, and I still have my family as well. I live in a peaceful time, much moreso than when I was young. This is what a warrior is like.

"Thanks," Russetstripe meowed. "Oh, look." She jerked her head, and at the entrance of the camp, Scorchstar spotted Icestar's sleek, silver-and-black tabby pelt, flanked by Nightstar's jet-black fur. The two cats looked around, and when Shimmerstar exited her own den, the pale leader nodded to the two visitors. Icestar and Nightstar padded into Shimmerstar's den, and Scorchstar was after them.

The four cats settled in the bramble bush. Scorchstar couldn't help but catch the slightest hint of Dapplestar's scent in the den. Still, after so much time, she lives on in RiverClan. Icestar shifted her weight in the den, while Nightstar stretched his legs, and Shimmerstar examined the leaders with piercing blue eyes.

"This meeting is at a start," Shimmerstar meowed. "Icestar, would you like to report on any troubles in your Clan that we can help with?"

Icestar lifted her head, her blue eyes shining with strength. "I can't really say that we're struggling, but Frostcloud could use a couple of herbs to treat poison. She used the rest of them on Rootstar's wounds, and we can't find anymore."

"I can give those to you," Nightstar piped up. "Littlefern still has a few leftovers."

"Thanks, Nightstar," Icestar meowed, lowering her head to him. "That's all, really. Greenleaf is almost over, but we've got enough prey to last us all of leaf-fall. We're good for now."

"That's great news, Icestar," Shimmerstar meowed, resting her bushy tail on Icestar's shoulder. "You're doing a great job as a leader. Nightstar?"

"Oh, right." Nightstar's amber eyes darkened. "I did want to tell you all that Hawkflight passed away the other night." Sorrow shadowed his gaze.

"From what?" Scorchstar asked, shocked. He didn't know Hawkflight personally – all he knew was that he was a strong, loyal warrior. He had also been Nightstar's father, and from the hurt and pain in Nightstar's gaze, Scorchstar guessed that he wasn't taking this loss very well.

"A fox," Nightstar replied, his voice breaking. "He was wandering in the territory, hunting alone, and he didn't see the fox until it was too late." He sighed.

Grim silence fell upon the Clan leaders. Scorchstar raked his mind. "This fox… did it have a white patch on its side?"

"Yes," Nightstar replied. "Why?"

"That fox is in WindClan territory," Scorchstar replied grimly.

Nightstar gasped. "The fox is dangerous. Scorchstar, do you need me to send some patrols to help you?"

Scorchstar shook his head. "No, I'm good. We'll figure out how to defeat it. We'll avenge Hawkflight for you, Nightstar. Trust me on that."

The ShadowClan leader twitched his ears nervously. "Scorchstar, really, I can help you if you need it. We want to avenge my father, too."

"You've got to be injured, right? You must have come across the fox if you know what it looks like," Scorchstar told him.

"If you're injured, Starlingfern and Echowind can provide you with what you need," Shimmerstar added quietly.

"It's not that bad," Nightstar said, glancing quickly at his jet-black fur. "Scorchstar—"

"Nightstar, we'll get rid of that fox, once and for all," Scorchstar promised the ShadowClan leader, who still looked eager to put up a fight against Scorchstar.

"It may cost your cats their lives," Nightstar whispered.

Shimmerstar, Icestar, and Nightstar focused their gaze on Scorchstar, none of them intent to disagree with the ShadowClan leader.

"We'll send one cat each from our Clan," Shimmerstar suggested. "How about that?"

Scorchstar gazed at the Clan leaders. "Fine," he sighed, knowing that they weren't going to back down.

"Russetstripe, I'm sure, will gladly come," Shimmerstar said.

"And I can give you Icestorm," Nightstar meowed.

Icestar blinked. "Emberflame would never admit this, but he's always wanted to help WindClan after Russetstripe helped him escape. I'm sure he'd come to help you."

Scorchstar gazed at the three Clan leaders. This is what unity is, he thought. "All right. I'll accept your help. Thanks, all of you."

"I'll send Russetstripe with you home tonight," Shimmerstar meowed. "Nightstar? Icestar?"

"Oh, I'll let Emberflame know the minute I get back to camp," Icestar meowed.

"Same," Nightstar agreed. "Don't worry, Scorchstar. We'll get that fox."

"Is there anything else wrong in your Clan, Nightstar?" Shimmerstar asked.

"No." Nightstar shook his head. "Just that damned fox."

"How about you, Scorchstar?" Shimmerstar asked.

"Same as Nightstar," Scorchstar replied. "The fox. Other than that, I'm fine. What about you, Shimmerstar?"

"I can't complain," Shimmerstar meowed. "Icestar, let me know if you need help with herbs. I know Nightstar offered, but if you happen to need more, I'm right here."

Icestar nodded. "Thanks, Shimmerstar."

Shimmerstar focused her piercing blue gaze on Scorchstar. "We'll send our cats as soon as we can, Scorchstar. Just wait for them. The Clans are united, and that means we'll help each other whenever we're asked. This meeting is at an end. If anything else comes up, come to my camp. I'll help."

Scorchstar lowered his head to Shimmerstar, and then Nightstar and Icestar. "Thank you. All of you."

Icestar nodded. "Emberflame will come tonight."

"So will Icestorm," Nightstar added. He glanced at Shimmerstar. "Thanks for setting this up. I'll be back next moon."

"Same," Icestar agreed.

"As will I," Scorchstar meowed as the two leaders paid their respects and left the den. "Shimmerstar, can I grab Russetstripe?"

"Of course," Shimmerstar meowed. "I just ask that you let her tell Runningflame and her kits where she's going."

Scorchstar nodded. "Thanks. Really." He bowed to Shimmerstar before turning on his heel and walking away. He watched Icestar and Nightstar disappear from the island, and when he looked over his shoulder, he spotted Russetstripe talking to Runningflame. Scorchstar wondered where their kits were. He walked over to the two cats and gave a nod to Runningflame. Runningflame greeted him with a flick of his tail.

"Hey, Scorchstar," Runningflame said. "What's up?"

"Just here for the monthly Clan meeting," Scorchstar replied. "Russetstripe, can I bother you to come with me to WindClan?"

Russetstripe tilted her head. "For what?"

"You're gonna steal my little cara mia?" Runningflame inquired.

Scorchstar rolled his eyes. "No, I'm not. We have a fox in our territory – it killed Hawkflight of ShadowClan. Nightstar told us it's dangerous, and he, Shimmerstar, and Icestar agreed to send a cat from each Clan to help fight it. Shimmerstar said you wouldn't mind coming, Russetstripe."

"Of course not." Russetstripe got to her paws and shook out her thick orange coat. "I'll be back, Runningflame." She touched her nose to her mate's muzzle.

"Be careful, lass," Runningflame meowed. He glanced at Scorchstar. "I could always come, too."

Scorchstar shook his head. "I just need Russetstripe."

"All right." Runningflame nodded.

"Let me just tell Tigerpaw, Lionpaw, and Flamepaw where I'm heading," Russetstripe told Scorchstar.

"Yeah, of course." Scorchstar sat down and watched his sister find her kits. He sat in awkward silence with Runningflame, and he was thankful when the ginger-and-white tabby tom did not say anything. Scorchstar doubted he'd ever be friends with the tom, or probably even like him, but he was no longer his enemy. Scorchstar focused his eyes on Russetstripe as she talked to her kits, and he grinned as he watched them bid good luck to her. His sister licked each of her kits' head separately and then walked over to Scorchstar.

"I'm ready," Russetstripe meowed.

Scorchstar rested his head on Russetstripe's head. "Then let's go. Like the good old days."