"Hey, Yellowfang?" Cinderkit says.

"What."

"I just wanted to let you know that you smell and we hate you." Cinderkit blinks. "That's me and Brackenkit and Thornkit and Brightkit."

"I gathered."

"Do you know it now?" Cinderkit asks. "That we hate you?"

"I'll keep it in mind."

"Okay!" Cinderkit runs off.

"Sweet kitten," Dustpaw snorts.

"Just shut up and change my bedding, brat," the old molly groans, head slumping into her paws.

"How am I meant to do that when you're laying in it?" Dustpaw asks flatly. "I hope you don't expect me to pick you up."

"Oh, just," Yellowfang bites her tongue, cutting herself off. "Just forget it."

Dustpaw hums, resting on his haunches.

"... Don't you have any friends to play with?" she asks. "A hobby? Stone-collecting, bug-catching?"

"Nope. I'm very boring."

"No fooling," she scoffs, closing her eyes. "Boring name, boring face, boring pastimes. How riveting."

"Good thing I'm not here to entertain you."

"Yeah," she says. "Real good."

"Kits?" Runningwind asks, voice a tad dull, to Firepaw's ears. It doesn't seem like he's getting much sleep. Too much Dawn Patrol? "What're you doing over here? We're still waiting for Windclan. You can go mingle."

"Haven't had much success there," Firepaw admits. "So what do you do?"

"... Uh, what do I do?" Runningwind blinks. "Here? Not much, today. I don't really feel… up to it."

"No, I mean, in general," Firepaw coughs. "I'm making a right tosspot of myself," he sighs, shaking his head. "I'm just trying to get to know my clanmates, y'know? Inductee and all."

"Oh!" Runningwind gasps, blinking a bit of the dark from his eyes. "I see. My bad, you're probably having a hard time adjusting, right? It's only been two moons…"

"Yeah," Firepaw winces. "Not like my first day boded too well."

"No," Runningwind agrees, staring off at something Firepaw can't make out. "It didn't."

"Well-"

"Let me know if you need anything, Firepaw," he says. "Mousefur's not too enthused about you, but she's not too enthused about anything, really. I should be doing my part as a grown warrior, even if I'm not your mentor."

Firepaw blinks. "Oh, thanks, Runningwind." Wait, did he get the name right?

"Of course," he nods. Claws dodged. "Hey, you're friends with Dustpaw, right?"

"For a given definition of the term, yeah."

"What's that mean?" Runningwind laughs weakly. "I've seen him spend more time with you than anyone else, lately."

"Really?"

Runningwind nods tiredly. "Poor kit. I wanted to help him, but my jaws are so full with Sandpaw… I don't suppose you could help them make up? It hurts to see them so distant, after…"

Firepaw sucks in a breath through his fangs. "Not sure I should be poking that badger with a stick, boss. If you can't do anything, I sure can't."

The warrior sighs. "It was worth a try. Sorry to ask so much of you, Firepaw. I shouldn't be burdening you with any more problems."

"Don't worry about it."

A silence descends. Graypaw clears his throat.

"Hey," he starts, "do you want to try talking with Riverclan? Lionheart's buddies with Mudfur, so I know he's nice!"

Firepaw snorts. "You don't gotta treat me like a flower petal. I'm alright."

"Okay, okay!" Graypaw scoffs. "I can call you a rabbit's tailhole too. That work?"

"Piss off!"

The Riverclan cats are pretty easy to tell apart, fur all glossy and sheening like his old humie's hair after she came out of the washroom. Didn't smell as bad, though. Fish wasn't terrible, as far as scents went.

"Hey!" a molly, maybe a bit older than them, says. "You two are Thunderclan, right? I've been looking for other apprentices!"

"Aren't there apprentices in Riverclan?" Firepaw asks.

"Just Whitepaw, and he sucks!" the molly looks over her shoulder, sticking out her tongue at some cat Firepaw can't make out. "And Shadowclan is just… well…"

"Dealing with an overpopulation problem?" Graypaw asks. "I wouldn't want to talk to those creeps either."

The molly giggles. "Maybe I would have put it more nicely thanthat,but… pretty much!" She smiles. "I'm Silverpaw! My dad's Crookedstar!"

"Cool!" Graypaw exclaims. "We're no pushovers either, you know. I'm apprenticed to thedeputy!"

"Lionheart? You both have pretty large frames," she hums. "Guess it makes sense."

"Hey," Graypaw mock growls. "I'm proud of my frame! Harder to knock over!"

"And a bigger target," she laughs. "What about you?" she continues, turning towards Firepaw. "Are you some sort of big-shot too?"

Firepaw stammers a bit, realizing she'llknowif he says anything to her. "Um, w-well, I'm…"

"What're you getting all shy for, Firepaw!?" Graypaw asks. "Don't tell me you can't talk to mollies!"

"I can talk to mollies fine, you prick!"

"Oh, wow!" Silverpaw blinks in astonishment. "I had been wondering where all that ginger came from. No Thunderclan blood, huh?"

Oh, no.

"Ah, I'm…"

"Hey," Graypaw growls. "Be nice. Firepaw's my best friend."

"I'm not gonna say anything bad!" Silverpaw insists. "You just caught me off-guard, is all! My own cousins are part-kittypet!" She blinks. "Er, housecat. Probably. I don't actually know for sure."

"You don't know for sure?" Graypaw asks as Firepaw sighs in relief.

"My uncle found them out in the snow," she says somberly. "I would've had three cousins, but… it was an ugly leafbare."

"Oh, stars, I'm sorry," Graypaw winces. "Thunderclan had a rough one right before I was born."

"It's alright. It happened before I was born too." Silverpaw shakes her head. "It's been really hard on them, after what happened."

"'What happened'?" Firepaw repeats.

"Oh, should I say it?" she mutters to herself. "Everybody's gonna find out in a second, anyway…" She sighs. "Um, my uncle, the tom I was just talking about? He died two moons ago. The whole clan's taking it really hard."

"Two moons ago?" Firepaw asks.

"Yeah. It was during a battle." She scowls. "Stupid. Losing our family to something so avoidable. Makes me want to hit something."

Firepaw swallows. "Was he… killed?"

She blinks. "Oh, no, nothing like that!" She digs a fang into her jaw. "It was the stupidest thing; we were fighting you guys, actually. It was at Sunningrocks, just another battle, right? But right in the middle of the fight… Somehow, a rock slide got caused. I don't know if somebody was fighting in the wrong spot or if it was just some sort of freak accident, but… My uncle got crushed under the rocks. Dad took it really hard; Mistyfoot and Stonefur too."

'Blimey,'Firepaw thinks.'Must've been one hell of a battle, if more than just Redtail and Oakheart got done in.'

"Wait," Graypaw says, eyes wide. "Your uncle was… the leader's brother, right?"

"Yeah?" Silverpaw blinks. "I said that. That's why Leopardfur's sitting up next to dad. My uncle was the deputy. Oakheart."

What?

Graypaw looks at Firepaw. Firepaw looks at Graypaw.

"Guys?"

Firepaw and Graypaw look at Ravenpaw, chatting excitedly with the Shadowclan apprentices.

"Hey."

Dustpaw grunts.

"Dustpaw."

Dustpaw turns to look at Yellowfang, chuffing in annoyance. "What? I changed your bedding, I pulled your ticks, I helped Spottedleaf redress your leg. Do you want me to chew your food for you next?"

"I just wanted to thank you. Firepaw, too."

"Thank me?"

Yellowfang looks away. "That's all. Irritable old badger like me never had too many cats looking out for her. It was nice."

"... Yeah, well." Dustpaw sniffs. "Nothing better to do."

Yellowfang chuckles lowly, exhaling heavily.

"Boring kit," she says. "Dull as watching marsh water dry."

"Then," Ravenpaw says, Firepaw watching from his seat a few tail-lengths away, "it was all down to scant seconds, fractions of seconds. "But Redtail was too quick to be felled by Oakheart's blow."

"Really?" A brown tabby kit marvels. "Oakheart was big, right? It would be really bad if Redtail got hit…"

"That's true. Redtail had to be quicker than any warrior in Thunderclan - save Runningwind, maybe - to make up for his size. It doesn't matter how strong you are if you can't land a blow."

"I guess that's true."

"No guessing. Itistrue." Ravenpaw looks away for a moment. "Redtail was… very quick, when he was in the middle of a battle."

'So quick,'Firepaw wonders darkly,'that he wouldn't get snuffed by some Riverclanner, yeah?'

"What happened next?" the Shadowclan apprentice asks. At least, Firepaw assumes he's an apprentice; the kit's about half his size, and Firepaw's no giant to start.

"What happens next," rumbles a deep voice from directly behind Firepaw. He leaps in shock. "Is that Ravenpaw comes back to Thunderclan so the announcements might begin," finishes Tigerclaw.

Ravenpaw freezes.

"Come on, kit," Tigerclaw says calmly. "You're wasting moonlight."

"Tigerclaw," Graypaw says. "Did Lionheart and Bluestar send you?"

"Brokenstar wants to speak. I protested, seeing as how Windclan has yet to arrive, but he is quite insistent."

"Right away, Tigerclaw," Ravenpaw mumbles. "Sorry, sir."

Tigerclaw grunts. "Firepaw," he says, turning to the apprentice. Firepaw jolts to attention.

"Sir?"

Tigerclaw hums. "I feel we may have gotten off on the wrong paw. It was quite the difficult day for the clan, the day you arrived."

"But I thought you-"

"There is a certain quality I can admire," Tigerclaw says, resting his massive paw on Firepaw's head, "in leaving behind a meaningless life of excess like the one you were born so comfortably into. I apologize for treating you unfairly, but understand I had no reason at the time to assume your conviction was genuine."

"I- um," Firepaw stammers, feeling a tad hot in the ears. "Thank you, sir."

"Of course." Tigerclaw nods. "Graypaw. Let's get back to our cats."

"Right," Graypaw drawls, drawing out the syllable. "Whatever you say."

"Attitude, Graypaw. I am not your brother."

"S-Sorry, sorry…"

Tigerclaw grunts, waving his tail dismissively as he turns back.

Ravenpaw laughs bitterly. "I think that might've been the kindest words I've ever heard from him."

"Ravenpaw?" Firepaw whispers.

"Nothing," the black-furred tom growls. "Nothing. Just ignore that. Those Shadowclan apprentices… They're definitely too young. I feel sick."

"Too young?" Graypaw repeats. "You mean they've been apprenticed early? Why would they do that? What's the point?"

"Something to do with how many Shadowclanners are here," Ravenpaw whispers as they come up to Thunderclan's area. "A show of strength in numbers, I guess. Windclan's not here… How hard would it be for a grown warrior to raise their claws to a kitten?"

"Ravenpaw," Firepaw says. "What the fuck?"

Ravenpaw's gaze meets the dirt. "Sorry. Guess I'm just being pessimistic. I always am," he spits.

Firepaw meets Graypaw's gaze. 'Tonight?' the other tom mouths.

Firepaw nods.

"Although Windclan has yet to arrive," Bluestar says in that leader tone where she projects her voice without really raising it. Firepaw needs to bug her about that at some point; seems useful. "Brokenstar has insisted quite enduringly that we allow him to speak. Brokenstar, if you would?"

"Many thanks, Bluestar," the craggly bastard purrs, his crooked tail twitching. "Shadowclan has come with an urgent, though perhaps regrettable request."

"So urgent," Crookedstar says, "that you could not wait for Windclan?"

"Oh, there is no need to wait," Brokenstar laughs. "You'll find them indisposed. Indefinitely."

Hushed murmuring breaks out among the gathered cats.

"Indefinitely?" Ravenpaw mutters. "Does that mean…? Windclan is small…"

"Silence!" Brokenstar yowls. "I am still speaking! Windclan and Shadowclan came to a disagreement over… territorial arrangements."

"And what," Crookedstar says at length, "would those arrangements be?"

"Shadowclan, as you can plainly see, is in the middle of a great growing period. We have droves upon droves of warriors at our disposal." Brokenstar grins nastily, teeth on full display. "These many warriors need to eat, yes? Every cat has a right to prey. Windclan simply could not understand our dilemma."

"So you're saying you drove them out!?" Lionheart growls. "The moors are Windclan's home. They deserve to eat as much as your cats, Brokenstar!"

"No need to be so dramatic," Brokenstar sighs. "All Shadowclan asks is for a stretch of land to hunt upon. Cats get…aggressivewhen they're hungry, and my warriors are ferocious enough to begin. Surely you can see things my way?"

"Bluestar," Lionheart says, "think. Where did all these cats come from? There is a reason we were so discerning with Firepaw."

"Firepaw?" Crookedstar repeats. Firepaw ducks his head.

"An apprentice wewouldhave announced last moon, had Starclan only willed it," Bluestar says calmly. "Brokenstar, this is twice in a row that Shadowclan has interrupted the Gathering's proceedings. There is an ever-growing obscurity to the going-ons in our rival clans,especiallynow that Windclan has been… driven out, yes?"

"Please, Bluestar," Brokenstar hums. "There's no need to impress me. Don't say in thirty words what could be said in three."

"Very well," Bluestar nods. "How's this? No hunting rights."

"Charming," the Shadowclan leader growls. Firepaw quietly marvels at Bluestar's composure. "And what say you, Crookedstar? You've been a bit quiet."

"I'm thinking," Crookedstar says, twisted jaw grinding awkwardly.

"Well," Bluestar says, and there's an edge to her voice that makes Firepaw shiver. "While Crookedstar thinks, Thunderclan would like to share its happenings, if those in attendance wouldn't mind?"

"Nonsense," Darkstripe hisses under his breath. "Bluestar just drew Shadowclan's ire and she want to make announcements?"

"We haven't announced in three moons, now," Runningwind says. "We never even got to say that- that-"

"Redtail is dead," Bluestar says, "and has been succeeded by Lionheart. May his soul find rest in Starclan's ranks. He leaves behind his daughter, Sandpaw, and apprentice, Dustpaw, neither of whom could attend tonight's Gathering."

"Our condolences, Bluestar," Crookedstar says quietly.

Bluestar eyes him oddly. "We have strong young apprentices in Sandpaw, Dustpaw, Ravenpaw, Graypaw, and Firepaw. May they hunt well, fight well, and live well as they train to become warriors."

"Firepaw?" Leopardfur asks, brow creasing. Firepaw swallows. "I don't remember the announcement of any Firekit."

"I can't place the announcement of half of these Shadowclan warriors," Bluestar replies. "For birth, apprenticeship, nor warriorhood. Firepaw is my own apprentice. I see great promise in him."

"... I see," the Riverclan deputy huffs. "Very well, then."

"In addition, Goldenflower gave birth to Swiftkit, and Frostfur has been blessed with a litter of four: Cinderkit, Brackenkit, Brightkit, and Thornkit."

"Is thatallThunderclan has to share?" Brokenstar purrs, the passive-agressive twat. "Surely you have something else to bore us with? Lionheart there's favorite prey, perhaps?"

"That is all."

"Well then," he says. "If Crookedstar would care to give his answer? You've certainly had long enough to think."

"... A small stretch of territory, near Sunningrocks. I'll have some of my warriors show you next sunrise," Crookedstar says, ignoring his clan's sudden shouts of dissent. He turns to look at Brokenstar. "Take it as a show of good faith. Riverclan is larger than Thunderclan, Brokenstar. Remember that."

"My thanks for this mostgraciousof gifts, Crookedstar."

"You're just going to let him walk all over you?" Leopardfur hisses, loud enough for Firepaw to hear.

Crookedstar waves his tail. "Enough. We'll talk about this later."

"If that is all," Bluestar says, leaping from the Great Rock. "Then Thunderclan shall take its leave. I've heard quite enough tonight."

"Not going to wait for Riverclan's announcements?" Brokenstar asks. "That's quite rude, you know."

Bluestar ignores him, signalling her clan to follow her. Firepaw leaps to his paws.

"Just one thing, before you go, Bluestar!" Brokenstar shouts. "There's a dangerous rogue trodding around the territories; I needed to eject her myself. A shaggy old thing with gray fur and breath like bog water. You'd best keep a close eye on those kits you've announced." The Shadowclan leader's eyes flash. Firepaw flinches. "I'd hate to have them annouced again, before they reach six moons."

Darkstripe chokes. "Yellowfang?" he hisses.

"Enough," Bluestar says. "Brokenstar's word is as good as the company he keeps; wild-eyed loners and rogues. You'd take his word over a healer's?"

"But she said she's no clan cat any longer!" Darkstripe growls. "If she's done something while we're gone-!"

"Under the watchful eyes of our whole clan?" Tigerclaw sighs. "Use the pebble rolling around in that skull of yours, Darkstripe. Even if she were this rogue, she would hardly strikenow."

"If she's a kit killer, you expect her to have any sense!?"

"I hold no love for Yellowfang, but she has a damn sight more than you."

Darkstripe hisses, looking away.

Graypaw snorts. "Serves him right," he whispers to Firepaw.

Firepaw doesn't respond, fang sinking into his jaw.

"... Right. When do you wanna…?"

"Tonight," Firepaw says, looking at Ravenpaw, lanky limbs and trailing tail miniscule in comparison to his mentor. "We'll ask him tonight."

"Here they come," Whitestorm says. "And what jolly expressions on their faces, too," he sighs.

"No good news, then?" Mousefur asks Runningwind. Her littermate just sighs, shaking his head.

Firepaw plops down right next to Dustpaw, opposite Yellowfang. Dustpaw's whiskers twitch.

"That bad? What kind of fox-dung did Shadowclan pull this time?"

"Drove out Windclan," Firepaw groans. "And I was looking forward to meeting them. Has Brokenstar always been such a prick?"

"Windclan's… been driven out?" Dustpaw blinks. "How? They're a clan, just like any other!"

"Yeah?" Firepaw grumbles. "And clans can be driven out their homes by mean enough bastards."

"Stars…"

"I'm not surprised," Yellowfang hacks, shifting in her nest. "Brokenstar won't rest until every cat who doesn't bend over to lick his pads is dead or gone. There's something wrong with his head."

"Yellowfang," Firepaw starts, "what's going on in Shadowclan? There's enough cats to fill a street, and their apprentices look like they just toddled out the nursery."

Yellowfang just grunts. "What does it matter? It's got nothing to do with me, any longer."

A frustrated growl makes the three turn their heads. "Stars-damned rogue," Darkstripe growls, approaching them. "I've got my eyes on you. If you step one toe into the nursery, I'll cut it off."

Yellowfang rolls her eyes. "The queens could do that well enough without your help. Or is it a point of pride for you, being able to beat on a molly fifty or so moons your senior?"

"Just watch yourself. That sharp tongue won't save you if I catch you acting out."

Darkstripe storms off.

Firepaw sighs. "Guess his heart's in the right place. Maybe." He shakes his head. "You can push off if you want. I had you on duty the whole Gathering."

"That eager to be rid of me?"

"We sleep in the same nest, dumbarse. You think I don't like you?"

Heat rises to Dustpaw's ears. "Firepaw!" he hisses, nodding at Yellowfang. "Why're you bringing that up in public!?"

"Relax," Yellowfang drawls. "The invalid here isn't going to air your coupling drama. I'm a healer, you think I can't keep a secret?"

"It's not like that! I'm not a-" Dustpaw hisses, rocking his head. "I'm out of here. You two have fun."

"Will do," Firepaw chuckles.

"Dustpaw."

Dustpaw turns, ears perking curiously. "Tigerclaw," he says. "How bad was the Gathering? Firepaw already told me about Windclan. Do you think Bluestar made the right choice, back when…"

"Maybe not," Tigerclaw says, sitting down besides Dustpaw. "Windclan begged for our help, Tallstar sacrificing his pride for the sake of his clan, and we left him for dead. The questions remains, I suppose, as to whether it was cowardice or self-preservation on our end."

"... I felt bad for him," Dustpaw admits. "Now he's gone, with the rest of Windclan? It just feels like we should have donesomething."

"Perhaps. But was it any business of ours?"

"It's going tobecomeour business, isn't it? When Shadow Lam's not satisfied with just the moors. Soon, the forest is going to look pretty appealing, right?" Dustpaw shakes his head. "I don't like this at all. The clams haven't ever driven each other out before, right?"

Tigerclaw hums. "No, but enough with the moral dilemmas. Bluestar made the choices she did, and Redtail backed her up." Dustpaw tries to ignore the flash of pain at his mentor's - because Redtail isstillhis mentor, no matter how much Whitestorm teaches him - name.

"Aren't you curious about what your fellow apprentices were up to? They were a sight, certainly. Less composed than you and Sandpaw, I'm sure."

"It wouldn't have been Ravenpaw's first, if you'd let him come last time," Dustpaw says.

"He wasn't ready," Tigerclaw hums. "Even tonight, he was more interested in telling tall tales to Shadowclan apprentices than anything else. Though, I suppose his friends were no better; chatting up Riverclan mollies like a pair of idiots."

"Chatting up mollies?" Dustpaw asks, feeling oddly disgusted at the thought of Firepaw smooth-talking with another clan. He should know the rules about cross-clan relationships by now. "From Riverclan? Mouse-brains."

"Indeed," Tigerclaw purrs. "I must admit, I had been hoping for you as an apprentice, Dustpaw, when Bluestar informed Redtail and I. Your littermate is a bit… hopeless."

"He's fine," Dustpaw says. "He's just… weird, sometimes. He'll get better."

Tigerclaw shifts his posture, tail tensing. "There's something strange about him, Dustpaw. I'm sorry to be saying this about my own apprentice, and your kin at that, but…" He shakes his head. "Well, it's likely nothing. Apprentices can have the strangest dalliances, I suppose."

"He's in a relationship?" Dustpaw asks, feeling his skull squeeze a bit trying to puzzlethatone out. "Who'd be-"

"Not what I meant by dalliance, Dustpaw. It started after the battle; strange, faraway glances and periods where I simply couldn't find him anywhere." He shakes his head. "I'm concerned for his well-being. Just keep an eye on him in the future, please. I want to know what he's up to."

Dustpaw frowns. "... Yeah. Okay."

If Ravenpaw was doing something strange… why couldn't he tell Dustpaw?

The bug in Dustpaw's gut twitches.

"Ravenpaw," Firepaw says. "What do you say to a spot of hunting?"

"This late?" Ravenpaw asks, blinking confusedly. "I- I was about to head to the den…"

"Aw, c'mon, tom!" Graypaw cheers. "Moonlight's good for you! Nobody's gonna be mad if it's the three of us, right?"

"I- I guess," Ravenpaw caves. "Can we be quick about it? I'm not even very hungry."

"Not for us, mate," Firepaw laughs, guiding Ravenpaw towards the edge of camp. "Figured we should do something nice for Frostfur, yeah? Can't be easy raising little hellions like hers."

"They're not so bad," Ravenpaw insists. "Cinderkit is excitable, yes, but the other three calm down quick if you know how to handle them. Brackenkit, especially. I don't think I've heard more than ten words out of him since they all learned to talk."

Graypaw's whiskers twitch. "You been spending a lot of time with them?"

"Y-Yes," Ravenpaw says, looking away. "It's… I like it better than training. Telling stories."

"Nothing wrong with that, mate," Firepaw says, staring up at the blackness around them, an owl's eyes flashing yellow in the treeline.

Nice and quiet.

"Say, Ravenpaw," Firepaw says. "How about you tell us a story?"

"Won't it be distracting?" he asks, blinking. "We're about to hunt, right?"

"I can smell and listen at the same time, y'know," Firepaw hums. "What do you wanna hear, Graypaw?"

Graypaws scratches an ear casually. "I'm not sure… There is one story I'd really like cleared up."

"And what's that?"

"C-Cleared up?" Ravenpaw whispers.

"I've been curious, Ravenpaw," Graypaw says. "How exactly did the battle at Sunningrocks go down? Tigerclaw hasn't said much about it at all, so I'm hoping you could fill us in."

Ravenpaw swallows, back paw shifting in the dirt. "I… don't want to talk about it. Sorry. I can tell you a different story?"

"No," Firepaw says. "I want to hear this one."

Ravenpaw's jaw works mutely for a moment. "... F-Firepaw? Graypaw?"

"It's the weirdest thing," Graypaw says, stepping next to Firepaw. "We were talking to a Riverclan molly, this really pretty apprentice named Silverpaw. But for some reason, when we talked about Sunningrocks,shesaid that Oakheart died in a rockslide. Weird, huh?"

Ravenpaw stills, chest not budging to indicate he's even breathing. Firepaw feels a stab of guilt.

"So when Tigerclaw," Firepaw says as gently as he can, "says, Redtail's corpse slung over his back, that Oakheart was a murderer, I suppose I could buy it. There's just one thing."

"Why did Tigerclaw claim he killed Oakheart?" Graypaw finishes. "Seems like a strange thing to lie about."

"Especially when you," Firepaw says, "the only other witness, has been shambling around like a walking stiff ever since the day we met."

"I," Ravenpaw gasps. "I- I…"

"Ravenpaw," Firepaw says softly, "what really happened that day? How did Redtail die?"

Ravenpaw's limbs tremble, claws digging into the dirt. His breaths pick up in pace, running more and more ragged with each inhale.

"Hey, breathe, mate," Firepaw says. "I'm sorry we cornered you like this, but I didn't figure you'd spill where anybody could hear."

"Yeah, tom," Graypaw says. "Just-"

Ravenpaw moves sharply, foreleg jutting forwards towards them.

Firepaw flinches. "The hell?"

Graypaw yowls, dropping to the dirt with his paws over his eyes. "Fox-dung! Badger piss! My freakingeyes!"

Firepaw blinks in shock, turning back to look at Ravenpaw.

Ravenpaw, who is presently bolting away from the two of them at motor-speed.

"Fuck!" Firepaw hisses, darting after him. "Sorry, Graypaw!"

"Just catch him!" Graypaw moans. "Stars, ow, ow,owww…"

Firepaw bursts forward, fully bounding as he chases his cagey bastard of a friend down.

"Ravenpaw!" he yells as quietly as he can, not wanting to rouse the whole bloody forest. "Ravenpaw! Get your arse back here!"

Ravenpaw is too damned quick, especially with his head start. Firepaw feels like the distance between them is only growing farther and further.

'If Ravenpaw gets away,'Firepaw thinks, saliva evaporating in his dry throat as he sprints,'will we ever get the truth out of him? I don't… want him to be alone. Not with whatever's been bloody suffocating him this whole time.'

Firepaw growls, putting every minute of his training to use, under Lionheart and Bluestar alike.

Closer and closer Ravenpaw comes, the lankier tom staggering over twigs and rocks cutting into his pads.

Firepaw almost has him. Just one more burst.

Ravenpaw trips. Firepaw trips over him.

The world turns into a pirouetting blur before Firepaw's muzzle does a simplysmashingjob of breaking his fall.

The toms groan in chorus.

"Gah, ugh!" comes Graypaw's grunts, footsteps halting and jagged. "Stars-damned mud in myfreakingeyes! I'm gonna beat the dung outta you, Ravenpaw!"

Ravenpaw remains sprawled out, panting heavily.

Graypaw winces. "Well, don't look so pathetic. I'm notreallygonna beat you up. That still freaking hurt, though."

"Graypaw," Firepaw groans. "Shut up."

"Wha-!? Rude!" Graypaw huffs, sitting down. He licks his forepaw, grooming the fur under his eyes. "You do something out of the kindness of your own heart…"

"Ravenpaw," Firepaw pants. "Just fess up, mate. We're not gonna tell anyone."

Ravenpaw sniffles. "I'm sorry…"

"Forgiven, alright? Just, please…" Firepaw swallows. "We're worried about you. You're our friend, yeah? If you've been carrying around what I think you have…"

"You've already figured it out, haven't you?" Ravenpaw murmurs, rolling onto his heaving side. "What he did."

"I've got an idea."

Ravenpaw laughs weakly. "What do you want me to say? Do you want me to describe the look in Redtail's eyes? How quickly it happened? Do- Do you want some kind of theory on why he did it!?"

"Ravenpaw…" Graypaw murmurs."

"I- Every day… I wonder what would have happened if Dustpaw wasn't sick. If Riverclan never showed up. Redtail and Tigerclaw, they were friends, weren't they?" Ravenpaw coughs, swallowing a sob. Firepaw's chest clenches.

"I… Every single morning… I thank Starclan that I woke up, because I'm terrified, every single night, that I won't. That I'll just… disappear. Or die right next to Dustpaw. I'm scared to even eat, in casehe'stampered with it." His whiskers twitch spasmatically, jaw trembling. "I- I thought I was the calm one, right? I thought… But when I saw it: little- little chunks of Redtail's throat torn from his neck, flung all across the rocks…"

"Does…" Graypaw starts. "Does Tigerclaw know?"

"I don't know," Ravenpaw sobs. "I don't know… I just ran and ran and- I- I…"

"Ravenp-"

"I don't want to die," he gasps, fat rolling tears and snot mixing into the muck beneath him. "I don't w-want to die… He's going to kill me…"

"Ravenpaw," Firepaw whispers. "You don't know that. M-Maybe-"

"I can f-feel it," he chokes, "in the air… like any moment I'll drop dead where I stand. I don't want to go… Firepaw, Graypaw… Please…"

"We need to go to Bluestar," Firepaw says. "If we talk to Riverc-"

"No!" Ravenpaw yowls, darting to his paws. "No, no, no, no, no! If- If you do that, a-and she tells Tigerclaw, he's gonna know, he's gonna know it was me, and- and some tragic 'accident' is going to happen!" He laughs manically, trembling from tips to tail. "M-Maybe- maybe I wander into Snakerocks like the little idiot I am, and get myself bit by a viper. Maybe some rogue attacks us out of the blue and, since I'm so useless at fighting, rips my throat out! Maybe- Maybe-"

Firepaw butts his head straight into the white mark on Ravenpaw's chest fur.

"I- I… F-Firepaw…?"

Firepaw leaves his head right where it is, mouth dryer than it's ever been.

He feels a warmth brush up against his ear.

"Gray… paw…?"

Softly, Graypaw begins to purr. Firepaw joins him.

Ravenpaw, shaking like a card in a humie's bike spoke, sobs raggedly into Firepaw's fur, collapsing to the ground.

By the time they sneak back into the den, the sun is peeking over the horizon.

Sandpaw is sleeping alone.

Useless kittypet. Looks like Tigerclaw was right. And the stupid bleeding-heart twoleg slave got all concerned for his best buddy, getting stuck in some fox den or badger hole or something all stars-damned night.

Whatever. Dustpaw's eyelids feel like they've been affixed to boulders.

"What's up with you?" Longtail asks, nudging him with a paw. "All this sunset, you've done nothing, and you still look like you're about to collapse."

"Go pick a fight in Twolegplace," Dustpaw grumbles. "Maybe you'll win, if you practice long enough."

"Am I ever going to live that down?" Longtail groans. "He didn't win! He got in a cheap shot."

"That's all it takes," Dustpaw mutters. "One cheap shot."

Longtail's jaw tenses uncomfortably. "I guess."

They sit in an awkward silence for a moment.

"You ever going to talk to Sandpaw?"

"She ever going to talk to me?"

Longtail sighs. "Whatever. From what she tells me,you'rethe one who decided to be a mouse-heart."

"A mouse-heart, huh?" Dustpaw growls. "Tell her she should say things like that to my face, instead of going through you."

Longtail sighs. "She didn't tell me to say anything. I came here myself. What have you been doing? Why do you only ever talk to the kittypet? Do you know how much of a pain Sandpaw has been ever since you stopped spending time with her? Spends all day grumbling in mine or Brindleface or Runningwind's ears."

"That's her own fault." Dustpaw stands. "And you shouldn't be the one complaining about outsiders, right?"

Longtail stiffens. "Don't bring that up. That's not fair."

"Just proving a point, Longkit," Dustpaw scoffs. "Tell Sandpaw that I don'twantto talk to her, would you? And go groom some nettle, while you're at it."

"Fine!" Longtail growls. "Keep being a little piece of fox-dung! See how far it gets you!"

Longtail stalks off, tail twitching violently.

Dustpaw sighs, laying back down. His head hurts.

"Dustpaw," Whitestorm says and where didhecome from? Dustpaw moans into his paws. "Don't give me that," Sandpaw's mentor chuckles. "I just want you to make sure your denmates are awake. Bluestar's got something to tell them."

"Fine," Dustpaw sighs, rolling to his feet.

Something to tell them? Had Tigerclaw snitched on Ravenpaw already? If he wants to on a few moonhigh romps with hisvery best friends,then who cares? Certainly not Dustpaw.

"What do you think?" Dustpaw hears Graypaw murmur.

"I think it fits. He's certainly not the nicest bloke around, even if he apologized."

"I don't know… I mean, he's the most respected warrior in the clan, pretty much. Why would he…?"

"Why wouldn't he?" Firepaw asks sharply, an edge to his voice Dustpaw had only heard a few times prior. "If he thought he could get away with it?'

"What are you two talking about?" Dustpaw grumbles, entering the den.

"Dustpaw!" Firepaw jumps. "Wotcher! Um, hello!"

Dustpaw's eyes narrow, the grit of a thousand grains of sand burning them in the process.

"... Bluestar wants to see you," Dustpaw sighs, pushing past Firepaw and collapsing into his nest. "All of you, so wake up my lazy furball of a littermate, would you?"

"He's had a rough morning," Firepaw says gently, in that tone he only used when he had some reason to pity Dustpaw, late at night with their bodies claw-lengths apart.

"Who cares?" Dustpaw spits. "Just wake him up."

"... You have a rough night, then?"

Dustpaw's fangs grind wrongly in his maw.

After a long moment, Firepaw turns to Ravenpaw, pressing a paw over his shoulder.

"Get up, mate. The boss lady wants to see us."

'Mate.' Like he's some sort of tail-raiser. Dustpaw turns over, stomach knotted up.

"C'mon," Graypaw laughs. "That's not how you wake Ravenpaw up! He sleeps like a hedgehog in leafbare!"

Graypaw shuffles a bit, and, "RAVENPAW! GET UP, LAZYBONES!"

Ow. Dustpaw's ears are practically pushing into his skull. He always knew Graypaw was a loud idiot, but he never thought he couldweaponizeit.

Ravenpaw snuffles, shifting in his nest. "I'm up, I'm up… Wudduyu want, Graykit…?"

"Reminiscing, huh?" Graypaw laughs. "Bluestar's asking for us! Let's go!"

"Okay, okay…" Ravenpaw sighs. "I'm coming."

"What was that!?" Firepaw yelps. "I can't hear a thing after Graypawscreamed in my bleeding ear!"

"Oh, don't be such a queen about it!"

"Piss off!"

"Alright," Ravenpaw groans. "Let's go. You two are giving me a headache."

Firepaw chuckles, leading the way out.

And Dustpaw is alone in the den.

Firepaw's scent still clings to his nest, Ravenpaw's drifting in from beside.

He buries his face into the moss, as deep as his muzzle can go.

"There you are," Bluestar says as they enter the Leader's Den. "I had been waiting."

"Sorry, chief," Firepaw grins awkwardly. "Long night."

"I see." Bluestar nods. "The events of last night have been weighing heavily upon myself, as well. Tallstar asked for my help, and I refused. Now… his entire clan has been driven out by Shadowclan's gang of rogues."

"Rogues?" Graypaw asks.

"We are going to the Moonstone," Bluestar says. "I thought it good for you apprentices to stretch your legs. Dustpaw will tend to Yellowfang while we're away. I had wanted to include Sandpaw, but she seemed… disinterested."

That's a bloody mild term for the molly, Firepaw thinks.

"Go see Spottedleaf, she'll prepare you three for the journey." Bluestar leads them out of the den. "I'll touch base with Tigerclaw."

Ravenpaw stumbles.

"Is Lionheart coming too?" Graypaw asks hastily. "All of our mentors should come, right?"

"If your mentor was not the deputy, I'd readily agree," Bluestar says. "But you'll hardly waste away should he not accompany you once."

Graypaw deflates. "Okay."

"We'll set out in ten minutes. Be ready." Bluestar nods, departing.

"Bit short notice, huh?" Firepaw mutters.

Ravenpaw's breath hitches. "Oh, stars…"

"Hey, hey, breathe, tom," Graypaw whispers, bumping his side into Ravenpaw's. "It's okay."

"It's not, it's not," Ravenpaw mutters, breath coming in jagged pants. "We all know, all of us. If- If we make even one slip-up, it won't just be me who suffers. What have I done, you're all-"

"Ravenpaw," Firepaw says firmly. "Look at me."

"A-Ah, ugh…" Ravenpaw gasps, just barely meeting Firepaw's eyes.

"We're not going to breathe a word of this," Firepaw says. "Not me. Not Graypaw. Certainly not you. Tigerclaw is going to be a normal, loyal warrior, alright? At least, he'll pretend to be. Bluestar's going to be with us the whole time."

"Firepaw…"

"I'm not going to let anything happen to you," Firepaw says. "I promise."

Eyes wide, Ravenpaw nods.

Firepaw smiles. "We got your back, yeah? So don't lose your head."

"Right," Graypaw bounces on his pads. "It'll be like he's not even there! Just pretend it's the three of us having a fun trip!"

Ravenpaw purrs shakily. "I'll… try."

Leaning out of their huddle, they set off for the medicine den.

Grand adventure, as it turns out, was just a pissload of walking. Walking through the forest; walking to the road, or thunderpath, or whatever it's called; crossing the road and almost getting splattered across the pavement.

"Starclan!" Graypaw hisses. "That was close, tom! You gotta be more careful!"

"Y-Yeah," Firepaw gulps. "Got it."

"Careful, kit," Tigerclaw growls. "It'd be a waste of resources for you to die now."

'Truly shining praise, coming from this twat,'Firepaw thinks bitterly.'He doesn't seem like a murderer. But what does a murderer seem like to start with?'

"Come along," Bluestar says. "And exercise more caution when we cross back, please, Firepaw?"

"Sorry, ma'am…"

Bluestar nods. "We're almost there. We just need to pass the fence and the barn."

"The fence?" Graypaw asks.

"There, hopefully, shouldn't be any trouble." Bluestar leads them forwards. "There is a dog that lives in the garden, but he is usually within the bounds of the Twoleg den this time of day. And when he is outside, he's tied to a post."

"A dog?" Firepaw asks. "What's so scary about a dog? They're thick as bricks, the lot of them."

Bluestar waves her tail firmly. "You have little experience with true hounds, Firepaw. Twice the size of a cat, and eager to rip us to shreds. Twoleg lap dogs are hardly a fair comparison."

"I guess," Firepaw says. "But every dog I've met's been a dumb old tosser."

"The only thing they'll toss," Tigerclaw says, "is your insides across the grass, with an attitude like that."

Firepaw swallows. "J-Just saying…"

Bluestar hushes them, craning her neck to glance through the fence. "It seems we're in luck. No dog. You'd do well to heed Tigerclaw's warning, however, crass though it might have been. A dog is no creature to make light of."

"Yes, ma'am…"

After a few more minutes of silent walking, Graypaw perks up. "Is that the barn?" he asks, pointing at a bright red structure in the near horizon.

"Indeed," Bluestar nods. "I wonder how Barley is doing? It's a sad thing, for a cat his age to live all alone."

"Barley?" Firepaw asks.

"You'll meet him in a moment." Bluestar creeps through the wide rungs of the fence. "Barley!" she calls. "Are you home?"

Soon after, a black and white tom pokes his head through the barn doors. "Bluestar?" he asks, and Firepaw forces back the sudden shock of hearing his native accent for the first time in moons. "Wotcher! Clan business alright?" he quirks his head. "Don't spot the usual suspects around."

"We're visiting the Moonstone," Bluestar replies. "You haven't met our apprentices, I believe. I am in the process of training Firepaw here," she gestures at him, causing his ears to match his coat, "and Tigerclaw there is training Ravenpaw."

"You an independent entity, then?" Barley grins, looking at Graypaw.

"My mentor's the deputy, Lionheart!" he defends. "He's just… not here right now."

"Right, right," Barley laughs. "Well, it's a pleasure meetin' ya. This here's my, er, humble abode. You guys feeling peckish? Plenty of mice 'round here."

"Hey, Firepaw," Graypaw says, "do you think you can translate if he starts with the really weird words?"

"What's that supposed to mean?" Barley asks.

Firepaw coughs in embarrassment. "I, ah, speak the language, s'all. Nobody's willing to let it blow over."

Barley laughs. "Well, it's good to see a fellow townie looking for other ways to be, yeah?"

"Bang on, mate," Firepaw says. "Er, right."

"And howsabout you?" Barley asks Ravenpaw. "Ain't heard a peep from you, mate. I don't bite, I promise."

"Ravenpaw," he says simply. "I'm- I'm Ravenpaw."

"That's a brilliant name, that," Barley grins easily. "Better a bird than some crop, eh?"

"I- I guess…"

"Alright," Barley nods, chuckling. "I can take a hint. You clan cats can trot along to your stone whenever you want. I'm not its keeper."

"Thank you, Barley," Bluestar says, leading them through the field. "Your hospitality is always appreciated."

"No sense being rude to a crowd who could slice my pelt off in one stroke, yeah?" Barley says. "Have a lark, would ya?"

"That was weird," Graypaw says as they depart. "Felt like two moons ago all over again!"

Firepaw groans. "Come on…"

"I'm serious! He was from the Twolegplace, right? I wonder what made him move out. He only seems about Ravenpaw's age, maybe a little older."

"We shouldn't pry," Ravenpaw says. "It's likely not something he wants to share. He was kind to us, and that's all that matters."

"I guess," Graypaw pouts. "I'm still curious, though."

Firepaw bumps his side. "Maybe next time, mate."

"But who knows when that'll be!?"

"Quiet," Tigerclaw snaps. "We're nearing the Mothermouth. That means you need to shut your muzzles."

"But-"

"Now."

Graypaw shuts his muzzle.

"Hey, can I ask something first?" Firepaw asks hesitantly. "Why are we here, anyway? What's the point of going to this, er, Moonstone?"

"To confer with our ancestors in Starclan," Bluestar replies. "I have hope they might tell me the location of Windclan. They certainly would not have scattered like a group of rogues. If we could bring them back, I may gain enough grace with Tallstar to ask his aid resisting Shadowclan's advances."

"You're awfully confident they're gonna make a move," Graypaw says.

"I defied Brokenstar openly, before his clan. He may not have shown it, but his ego was surely wounded."

Tigerclaw huffs. "Don't you think it may be too little, too late, Bluestar? Windclan asked for our help, and we left them for dead."

"Perhaps," Bluestar says solemnly. "I can only hope Tallstar will not be so petty." She shakes her head. "Either way, we are drawing too near to run our mouths. Quiet."

Firepaw obeys, though his curiosity is still piqued at the mention of 'communing with their ancestors.' Was this Mothermouth really just a massive nip stash?

"Firepaw," Bluestar murmurs, although shejustsaid to be quiet. "Accompany me. There's something I would like you to see. Tigerclaw, keep watch over the others."

Something strange crosses over Tigerclaw's expression, like the briefest flicker of panic. It makes Firepaw think of Ravenpaw's tears.

The smallest grin of wicked satisfaction claws its way across Firepaw's muzzle.

Firepaw nods to his friends, following Bluestar into the massive maw of the cave before them, the bright circle of light behind them fading away into a chilled indigo.

The cramped passage, underpinned only by the soft padding of his and Bluestar's paws, opens up into a massive chamber, an enormous crystalline stone casting shadow upon them.

Firepaw's breath leaves him. It's almost like the stone - theMoonstone- is pulsing gently within his skull, beckoning him forward.

Suddenly, before him or Bluestar can even move, the cave fills with moonlight, bright and shocking white and covering his verybeing.

The whiteness grows, and Firepaw is falling, falling, falling.

"How, in the name of Starclan, the Dark Forest, and any other afterlife you can even think of," Dustpaw growls, "did you manage to get so many ticks!?"

Yellowfang wheezes a laugh. "Maybe I'm trying to spite you."

"You're doing a wonderful job then," he grumbles through the stick in his mouth, spitting it out onto the ground. "That's the last one.For now."

Yellowfang stiffens. "... You hear that?"

"Hear what?"

"Listen."

Dustpaw's eyes narrow, though his ears perk obediently. The chatter of his clanmates, the song of some birds too far away to make prey, the ever-present hum and jitter of the very earth below them.

A rustle in the wall guarding the camp boundaries.

Dustpaw's ear twitches. It's almost like there's…

A blur of teeth and claws, glimmering in the midday sun, falls upon Dustpaw, and the world blurs into a beating, screaming pulse, throbbing heat in his ears.

It's a field. It's a forest. It's a river. It's a marsh.

It's heaven. It's hell. It's everything and everyone and any form in between.

Firepaw blinks the stars out of his eyes, dripping gently from him and wisping away in the not-quite-air.

A tom, spotted in calico marks, and wasn't that a strange sight to see, sits before him.

Clear fluid drips from the shimmering slashes across his throat, carving little specters of starshine across his jaw, his neck, the top of his chest.

The tom tilts his head, starry eyes cutting into Firepaw.

Firepaw screams.