Disclaimer: I do NOT own Warriors. Erin Hunter does.

Tigerclaw and Goldenflower walked side by side, the bigger male leaning slightly against the female warrior as he was still unsteady and his pace was slow. Goldenflower lightly encouraged his every step and licked his cheek every so often but once they got to a hollow tree, Goldenflower called for a stop and made Tigerclaw sit down.

"You take a moment, it's nice and warm here. Rest as much as you want." The smaller half-demon muttered softly, watching as Tigerclaw listened without much fight.

Tilting her head, she watched as the warrior slowly lowered his head to his paws but he didn't close his eyes. She didn't want to pry but he looked so tired.

"It's okay if you want to sleep, I'll keep watch." She said soothingly, watching as Tigerclaw stiffened.

"I can't..." He replied softly, his broad shoulders starting to shake. "I just...I can't."

'He was about about to say something but he stopped. Something is wrong, but how can I help him?' Goldenflower thought, watching as Tigerclaw forced himself to stay awake.

Goldenflower settled next to Tigerclaw, timing his breathing with his and nuzzled against him. As she closed her eyes, she felt him relax, just a little and she smiled gently. She didn't sleep, but she kept watch. Over the forest and him.

XxXx

Tigerclaw opened his eyes to the feel of his paws in water. He immediately panicked, when he fall asleep? Why didn't Goldenflower wake him?!

He didn't have time to ponder that as he felt a weight on his back and fangs pricking the back of his neck. Knowing who it was, Tigerclaw thrashed wildly and he was relieved to feel and see Spottedleaf fall away from him. But it was short lived as she landed on her paws, snarling at him.

Her pelt was still torn from both the battle with the tyrant's cats and his own fight with her. Her neck still ripped open from his own fangs tearing her and every step she took a gush of blood poured from every wound, but Spottedleaf barely seemed to notice.

Tigerclaw shook his head as he back away, his eyes wide with fear. Spottedleaf smiled grimly as she stalked forward, watching her nephew tremble before her.

"You killed my brother, Tigerclaw! You killed your Clanmate and you killed me! How long do you think you will last? Aren't you tired, Tigerclaw? Aren't you? Let me help you rest!"

Her last words were screamed in primal fury, as she raised a paw to lash at the water, blinding him for a moment. As Tigerclaw tried to wipe the water away, Spottedleaf pounced, going for his chest and neck.

She managed to get a good bite in his shoulder and latched on, like a dog. Tigerclaw did everything he could to pry her off, though he kept his claws sheathed.

Eventually, somehow, he managed to get Spottedleaf off. But even as she was pushed away, her fangs and claws left their marks, leaving Tigerclaw cut to ribbons.

The large male stood panting, looking at Spottedleaf in sorrow. "P-please, auntie." He labored, coughing up blood that quickly dissolved in the water. "Please...I-I'm s-sorry! I-i didn't m-mean to k-kill you or uncle! I s-swear! Please!"

Spottedleaf glared at her nephew, hissing and snarling until he was silenced. The big tom bowed his head, until his nose touched the water. He stayed crouched until he heard the splashing of pawsteps coming towards him.

He was just able to make out his aunt's paws before feeling the sudden weight of one paw on his head, forcing his muzzle into the water. It was just deep enough to cover a little over half his muzzle and despite his desperate flailing, Spottedleaf's grip never wavered.

She watched Tigerclaw begin to drown with cold indifference in her eyes, only moving her paw away as his body started to slow it's thrashing.

Tigerclaw surged upward, taking in a huge breath, only to slammed back down by a mighty swipe from Spottedleaf. Gurgling in the water, Tigerclaw was slow to rise, Spottedleaf licked at a bloodied paw before extending her claws and driving them deep into her nephew's throat. Closing her eyes in bliss to the tabby's wail of pain, she forced her claws down, slowly ripping Tigerclaw apart.

Tigerclaw did everything go in his power to knock Spottedleaf away, panting and sobbing in pain when he finally managed it. However, in that time, Spottedleaf had cut him down to his belly and he couldn't even think of moving.

Spottedleaf watched before smirking and slowly making her way back to the tom, intending on finishing what she started.

Tigerclaw could only twitch and moan in pain, he lay in the water, limp. Spottedleaf was going to kill him and he couldn't fight anymore.

But...he wasn't sorry he was going to die. He was sorry that he couldn't somehow make up for what he had done. He was sorry that he pushed Spottedleaf so over the edge that she delighted in killing him. He did this to his aunt, and there was nothing he could do to fix it.

Closing his eyes, Tigerclaw waited, only the last blow didn't come. He opened his eyes to see Spottedleaf standing over him, staring upward at something he couldn't see. Then, there was a faint voice, calling his name.

"So...you have someone with you. I think it would be better to wait this out...I'll visit you again, nephew. I'm still not done with you. I will never rest and neither will you."

XxXx

"Tigerclaw! Wake up, Tigerclaw!" Goldenflower called out, trying to rouse the big tom, but the tabby didn't respond. She had woken up to the smell of blood and seeing the crimson liquid staining and pooling under the tom's belly fur, Goldenflower tried to wake Tigerclaw.

But nothing was working and with each moment, Tigerclaw's breathing grew shallow. Not knowing what else to do, Goldenflower bit hard at Tigerclaw's paw, making the warrior slowly react, jumping on her.

As she stared into his wife and desperate eyes, she could see he looked haunted but before any of that mattered, she had to calm him.

"It's okay, Tigerclaw. You're safe, you're alright." She muttered softly, keeping still as she watched him. Tigerclaw only stared vacantly at her before moving away, stumbling hard and nearly falling

Goldenflower was quick to be at his side, leaning against him and trying to lick his wounds.

"I'll never be safe. She won't rest until I'm dead I think. But it's what I deserve." Tiger muttered darkly, closing his eyes, only to open them instantly.

"Who?"

Tigerclaw opened his jaws but closed them again immediately. He couldn't, wouldn't say Spottedleaf's name. She was only acting like this because of him, because he killed Redtail.

"Nevermind, it...it won't change anything. Please, let's just go back to camp."

Goldenflower said nothing as she guided Tigerclaw back to camp, leading him towards the healer den. Yellowfang met them when she smelled blood and seeing the exact of the damage, hustled Tigerclaw inside. She then shooed Goldenflower off, needing quiet to work and immediately began patching the tom up.

She didn't bother to ask where he got those wounds, right now it wasn't her concern. Keeping Tigerclaw from dying was.

And that would be its own battle when she saw the wound that nearly cut him open, it would take a lot of herbs to help this cat. Forcing him to eat poppy seeds wasn't easy but she managed with a growl and a quick nip to the ear. Once his breathing evened out, Yellowfang truly got to work...

By the time Yellowfang walked out of her den, the sun was setting. She sighed softly before sitting down and licking her paw free of Tigerclaw's blood. She noted Goldenflower laying nearby but shook her head.

She couldn't have anyone near the tom right now. He needed quiet and rest. As Yellowfang took a moment to herself, her ears twitched as she caught the sound of voices nearby. She turned her head to see Dappletail and One-eye, two of the oldest warriors still in service, taking with Longtail, Mousefur, and Runningwind.

The two mollies were shaking their heads, looking to the leader's den in disgust. " I can't believe that Bluestar is trying to get those demons back in the den, the nerve. We'll never be safe with them near us!"

Yellowfang narrowed her eyes, inwardly growling how one as pretty as Dappletail could be so ugly on the inside. One-Eye was nodding, though, surprisingly she looked less sure. Perhaps she was just agreeing because she felt as if she had to?

"It's a shame how this Clan turned out. To think that half the Clan was filled with demons?" Dappletail continued, taking her claws into the hard packed earth. "Perhaps we should chase them out! It's the only way to for us to feel safe again. And if Bluestar won't do anything, we must!"

Yellowfang narrowed her eyes before standing and walking over to the group. Longtail and Dappletail bared their fangs at her and unsheathed their claws. Yellowfang only tilted her head, her fur flat.

Dappletail stepped forward, trying to force the healer to back down but Yellowfang stayed right where she was. She was a little younger than Dappletail and alone, it wouldn't matter but the gray molly was outnumbered.

"You'll forgot what you heard, demon." Mousefur growled, standing beside Dappletail and the rest followed. Though once again, Yellowfang noticed One-Eye to be uncomfortable.

Yellowfang snorted softly, shaking her head. "What do you think one cat can do to all of you, surely you'd have me beat after long. I'm not going to say anything to Bluestar. Your own actions will come back to you. StarClan will judge you, not me."

Flinching lightly, One-Eye backed away, only to be hissed at by Runningwind. The older molly shook her head and flattened her ears. She looked to Yellowfang helplessly then turned that look to the rest of her Classmates.

Yellowfang watched her, realizing that she may have been press ganged into this. The healer sighed, even with the divide there was more under the surface.

Yellowfang walked closer to the group, only to be stopped by Dappletail and Mousefur, growling at her. Yellowfang backed away but remained calm, tilting her head to One-Eye.

"And what do you think about all of this, One-Eye?" Her question seemed to catch the molly off guard and she began to fidget, looking to the snarling faces of her Classmates to Yellowfang, calm and quiet.

One-Eye flattened her ears and lowered her head."I...I can't."

Sighing lightly at that, Yellowfang turned to head back to her den. But as she did, she knew that she needed to let Lionheart and Darkstripe. They had to be aware of what was going on.

XxXx

The following day, there is nothing but quiet but Yellowfang made good on her part and told the two toms. They promised to spread the word and bring it up to Bluestar, but after the ceremony. They didn't want to tarnish the kits' memories of becoming apprentices.

Later that day, Bluestar called the Clan together, she stood on top of the Highrock and Brindleface and Goldenflower stood side by side, giving the pale ginger molly's kits last minute groomings. Lynxkit sat looking all around, excited and ready to receive his name while Swiftkit noted the divide in his Clan and lowered his head when he looked at Mousefur who scowled at him.

"Mama...Brindleface...did I do something wrong?"

Before either could answer, Bluestar spoke up, looking down at the kits warmly.

"Today, we welcome two new apprentices onto the Clan! Lynxkit, Swiftkit, you have reached the age of six moons old and it is time for you to begin your journeys as apprentices of ThunderClan!"

"Lynxkit, from this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Lynxpaw!" Bluestar looked over at Sandspirit and nodded warmly. "Sandspirit, you are ready to take on your first apprentice. You had a fine mentor in Whitestorm and I know you will pass down all the courage and thoughtfulness you have gained on to young Lynxpaw. Train him well."

Her voice wavered slightly in emotion as she recalled her nephew, but she continued strongly. Sandspirit stepped forward and touched noses with Lynxpaw, taking him with her to where the demonic side of the Clan sat.

Bluestar waited before looking down at Swiftpaw, who hunkered down slightly when his brother left his side. She dipped her head to him before moving on. "Swiftkit, from this day forward until you earned your warrior name, you will be known as Swiftpaw. Your mentor will be Longtail. Longtail, you too-"

"No!" Longtail stood, his claws out and his hackles raised as he interrupted Bluestar, glaring at the black and white tom. Brindleface and Goldenflower stood protectively on front of the new apprentice as the older tom hissed at him before glaring up at Bluestar.

"I will not mentor that monster! I do not want to be around that...thing alone for hours at a time. It might try to eat me! You cannot force me to take it in, Bluestar! I don't want it!" He snarled, turning his back on the younger tom.

Bluestar looked down, the beginnings of a snarl on her face when an quiet but strong voice called out. "I'll take him!"

It was One-Eye.

The pale gray molly slowly walked away from the normal cats to sit between the two groups, her head bowed to Bluestar and to the demons.

"Speckletail was my sister. She was always strong and proud and never hated who she was. For whatever reason, though I was born right beside her, my blood didn't run true. I was not born a demon. While Speckletail never made me feel different from the rest of the family, I was different. I wasn't strong or fast or as large as her and I pulled away. Speckletail loved me but...I was ashamed. I distanced myself and when the Clan began to fracture, I didn't stand with her. Then Speckletail died and I never got to apologize."

She turned to Lionheart, bowing her head deeper. "You are her son, noble and proud like your mother. I've never been an aunt to you, and I don't expect you to forgive me, but...let me take this kit. Allow me to make up for my mistake."

Lionheart stood still before walking over to the older molly and placed his muzzle on top of her bowed head. One-Eye flinched at the soft gesture but soon relaxed, sighing softly.

"I may not like it, but...part of me understands. There is nothing to forgive. I can't tell you how to feel. You may take Swiftpaw. I can feel that my mother doesn't blame you."

One-Eye closed her remaining eye and her shoulders sagged. She then let out a shuddering breath. "Thank you."

Bluestar nodded to that before looking down at Swiftpaw, who was staring at One-Eye in awe. "Well then Swiftpaw, your mentor will be One-Eye. May she train you well."

The two cats touched noses before Dappletail stormed over to the pair, One-Eye moved to stand defensively in front of Swiftpaw before being joined by Bluestar.

The molly bared her fangs at the other cat but One-Eye didn't move.

"How dare you?! You can't just-"

"I've brought shame to my family and shunned my sister, even in death, because of what I was and what I wasn't. I won't let self-loathing control me anymore. I'm sorry, Dappletail, but I can't stand with you."

"Traitor! You'd turn your back on your own kind?!"

One-Eye had gently started to urge Swiftpaw over to the other demons and began to follow him but stopped at Dappletail's words and looked back.

"While my blood may not run true, I suppose I am still a demon in some way. So no. I'm not turning my back on my kind. I'm going right where I belong...if they will have me." She added, looking nervously at Lionheart but it was Darkstripe who answered, his tail waving.

"You're one of us, One-Eye."