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Chapter Text

Stonefur felt weak, barely registering the warm streaks of blood that crept down his legs, the burning pain that sparked alongside his neck. Every pawstep felt heavy, as if he was stuck in a pit of mud, tempting the young tom to fall down onto the blood-stained ground of the camp. Riverclan camp, not Tigerclan he mused, forcing himself to hold his head high as he surveyed the clearing around him. He noticed Mistyfoot standing close to the apprentices' den, feverishly licking the top of her children's heads as they pressed their faces against their mother's thick fur, while Mudfur was approaching both Featherpaw and Stormpaw with herbs tightly clutched to his jaws. On the other side of camp, Skyheart was whispering something to a bloodied Beetlenose, the latter shrugging as if to brush off the queen's concerns. Stonefur couldn't help but to smile as he noticed a small kitten poking her head out of the nursery, only to be shooed back into the den by her worried mother.   

"Innocent, aren't they?"

Stonefur flitched, quickly turning around to face the voice with a hiss, only to regret as a ginger and white molly backed up with concern.

"I'm sorry Ottersplash" Stonefur forced his fur to lie flat against his thinning body. "I just got-"

"It's ok Stonefur" the molly blinked, her eyes meeting Stonefur's blue for a moment before drifting off elsewhere. "I wasn't thinking.....you had a really hard few moons, especially with....with what happened."

The blue-gray tom knew what she was saying, to avoid the horrors without leaving her tongue. I know what you mean he mused. But it's different being in the center of it. "Yes, and now we have to rebuild our clan" he dodged the topic, unwilling to subject both him and the molly the horrors that he and the other halfclan cats had to go through. Ottersplash nodded, her eyes finally fixed on a golden-spotted molly surrounded by two pissed-off Riverclan warriors. Stonefur followed her gaze, eyes narrowing as he saw the pitiful look of the former leader's expression. You caused this! a ripple of anger shot through his pelt. And you get to face your actions, in front of your- no, my clan.

"What do you think is going to happen to her?" Ottersplash asked with an unreadable gleam in her eyes.

"I was going to ask that"

"When?" 

"Right now" Stonefur huffed, pelt prickling as he forced his paws to guide him through the camp, ignoring the sense of dread as he felt blood and torn fur under his paws. He could see the slain body of Cedarpelt, the elder dying to reclaim Riverclan from the grips of Tigerstar, while Shadepelt was lying down beside Sedgecreek with a pained expression on her face. Meanwhile, Mosspelt and Reedtail were dragging an injured Loudbelly throughs Mudfur, with Dawnpaw's gaze flickering between her mother and the disgraced Leopardstar. So much has happened he leapt upon the Wetrock, gritting his teeth as pain shot through him like a bolt of lighting. He unsheathed his claws, hosting himself up upon the very top of the rock before gravity had a chance to pull him down. His legs, aching and bloodied, yearn to lie down and sleep away, but Stonefur didn't want to. He had a clan to lead, a trial, and to rebuild! 

"Stonefur-" Mistyfoot approached the Wetrock with a limp, concern lit in her blue eyes. "You shouldn't be up here with all your wounds!" her children followed close behind her, peering up at their uncle with worry. 

"I'm fine Mistyfoot" he meowed stubbornly, an ear flickering as cats slowly started to gather around the clearing, some bearing wounds both treated and untreated. He knew that Shadepelt and Loudbelly were severely injured, having been dragged to the medicine cat's den against their wishes, while Cedarpelt was being prepared for burial by his living elders. As much as i hate to say it, but i'm glad we only lost one cat, though one is too many. Mistyfoot closed her jaw, accepting her defeat as she limped back to check on Featherpaw and Stormpaw with the former's children in tow to check on their denmates. Stonefur felt relieved that Mistyfoot's living children made out of Tigerclan alive, being forced to be separated from their mother while training under Tigerstar's cronies. I wonder why he spared them his pelt prickled with hatred at the thought of Tigerstar. But i can ask that later- 

"All cats old enough to swim, gather around for a clan meeting!" he yowled, earning a few mrows from the crowd as nearly all of Riverclan were present. While some held some form of amusement for Stonefur's untimely calling, others appeared worn out or even angry - though Stonefur knew why. His angered gaze fell upon Leopardstar, the molly closely guarded by Heavystep and Voleclaw as they guided her into the middle of the clearing, an order that would've been given anyway. They knew what to do.

"Today has been the hardest part of Riverclan history-" the dusky sun reflected on his pale pelt, giving it a rusty color. "With Shadowclan forming to take over us with blood and bone. Not only have we defeated Tigerstar and his gang, but we have taken back Riverclan!" 

a chorus of yowls and purrs ring through the air, giving Stonefur a sense of pride. They had fought tooth and claw to reclaim their clan, to mark themselves free of the shadowy grips of evil that had once plunged the clan. Stonefur sat still for a moment, allowing the yowls of joy to die down before speaking once more.

"However, a cat that we once trusted gave us up over to Tigerstar, and turned our home into a battlefield" his tone darkened, as he met Leopardstar's fearful gaze from the crowd. The spotted molly was once a respectful but rash leader, giving up everything to protect her clan - but she destroyed her leadership with a simple alliance turned dictatorship that shook Riverclan to the core. She had no problem with ordering him to kill two innocent apprentices, nor had a problem with the unjust treatment of half-clan cats, or the abuse that his clanmates suffered. To Riverclan, Leopardstar is no longer a leader.

"Leopardstar, step forward"

The former leader approached the Wetrock, being closely followed behind by her guards as she stared up at Stonefur with fear and regret. "I am here."

"I see" Stonefur hissed. "And now you will have to face the consequences of nearly destroying our clan. Do you have anything to say?"

"Yes," Leopardstar was about to speak when Stonefur let out a growl.

"Face the clan and tell them"

Leopardstar turned to face the crowd, eyes burning into her spotted pelt like fire as she opened her jaws to speak. "My clan-"

"OUR clan, fishbrain!" a warrior hissed.

"Our clan has been through a lot-" Leopardstar corrected. "And i am partly to blame for what has happened in the past few moons. I only wanted peace for Riverclan, to be able to live together without all...of the deaths that occurred before i became leader. So when Tigerstar came and offered to band together to form Tigerclan, i thought that i had the answer for peace. But clearly, i was wrong."

Stonefur listened, forcing his ears to stay upright as he took in every word that left Leopardstar's mouth, a wave of disgust and hatred slowly building up from within. "So you admit to causing Riverclan pain and suffering?" he asked, as if he already knew the answer.

"Yes, i did, and i am sorry for leading this clan so much pain and suffering" Leopardstar lowered her head, unable to meet the gazes of her clanmates. For the first time, Stonefur noted how pitiful Leopardstar appeared to be, absorbing the snarls and insults thrown her way with an unseeable expression and hunched back. His leader, once a noble warrior who fought to protect her clan, is now nothing but an outcast, spared by the luck of the stars above. Remember all the patrols that we went to? Or how we use to compete against each other for fun? emotions prickled his mind like thorns, threatening to wedge their way deeper into his soul. One, however, wedged it's thorn into his soul. And you threw it all away for a bloodthirsty tomcat anger flew through him, it's bitterness claiming his mind as memories flashed before him. Exiled your own father, allowed that son of a bitch's cronies to abuse us and-

"There is no way that a simple sorry could fix everything that you had done" Stonefur hissed in a venomous tone, the feeling to just lunge down and rip Leopardstar's throat tempting him to do so. However, he knew better. Graypool didn't teach us to kill, neither did Mudfur his eyes briefly glanced over to the elderly medicine cat, who had left under "orders" from Starclan. Every cat knew better, but the voices of Leopardstar and Tigerstar had shut them down. 

"I know" Leopardstar's voice was barely a whisper among the chowder of hissing felines. "But i can fix my mistakes."

"You cannot expect Riverclan to warm up to you after moons, Leopardfur" Vixenleap hissed from the crowd, her green eyes narrowed with fury. "You were willing to kill my foster sister's children because you wanted to get laid with that....monster!" the black molly stalked towards Leopardstar, the latter simply raising her head to meet each other's gazes. "Admit it, you spineless coward!" Vixenleap stood only a whisker-length from Leopardstar's face.

"I-"

"I what? Let me guess, you're gonna make a spiel about how you are this poor, innocent cat who got caught up in-"

"ENOUGH!" Mudfur shoved through the crowd, shouldering Vixenleap aside with a huff. The elderly tom's pelt bristled, as he planted himself between the two mollies. For a moment, Stonefur wanted to hear what Vixenleap had to say, couldn't help but to agree with the molly, but Mudfur is the medicine cat. And according to Riverclan, medicine cats are in rank with the leader. "I know that Leopardstar has done very bad things" the gruffy tom's eyes flickered with grief. "But we cannot fight each other. There must be a way to.....punish Leopardstar without violence." The crowd started to mumble, some agreeing with Mudfur while others like Vixenleap scoffed at the idea. 

"I agree with Mudfur" Mistyfoot's voice echoed. "If we went out of our way to attack and maim Leopardstar, then we will be just as bad as Tigerclan and his gang."

"Well i don't!" Mosspelt meowed. "We nearly lost everything thanks to Leopardstar, so she deserves whatever hits her."

"We should approach this in a more peaceful way" Emberdawn said, earning nods of approval from Ottersplash and Pikepaw. 

"Our elder died so that we can be free from her traitorous ways, so why let her go scott free!?" Timberfur bared his fangs at the spotted molly, his tail placed over the body of Cedarpelt. 

As the crowd started to bicker one another, Stonefur was starting to grow impatient. Between the setting sun sinking and the code of naming a deputy, Stonefur wanted the trial to be over with. Maybe i should just exile her and get this over with? he thought for a moment, yearning for the idea. But his gaze was caught on a shiny stone rolled down the Wetrock, bouncing off of it until it rolled over to Mudfur's paws. Where did the stone come from? he mused, noticing how Mudfur glanced from the stone to Stonefur for a moment. Stone....It's my name, but i feel like there's... Suddenly, an idea hit him. "Stop!" he yowled, raising his tail to commence silence among his clan. He waited a heartbeat, listening as cats started to quiet down before speaking once more. "I have an idea!" his gaze wavered to Mudfur. "I will allow the clan to vote, using stones found around camp."

"That's a good idea, Stonefur" Mudfur blinked. "It'll be a clanwide way to solve this issue."

"I agree with Mudfur, but what would be the options?" Beetlenose tilted his head.

Fishdung! I need to say something, and fast! "I was thinking that everyone can vote with stones, with one placed by the nursery, and the other placed by the elders" curious mumbles rang through the crowd. "The pile with the most stones by the nursery will mean that Leopardstar will stay-"

"Are you sure?" Petaldust tilted her head.

"Why should she stay when she has harmed us?" Featherpaw mused, with Stormpaw appeared unease.

"I was getting to that-" Stonefur sighed. "Anyway, Leopardstar will stay BUT she will have to give up her nine lives and name....." his gaze flickered through the crowd, attempting to pull off more ideas until he met Featherpaw's gaze. "She will no longer be allowed to train any apprentices, nor become deputy once more. She cannot leave camp without one experienced warrior, and she cannot attend gatherings. If anything, she will help around camp and aid in cleaning the dens." Stonefur could hear snickerings from the younger felines, but paid no attention to it.

"And the other option is death?" Stormpaw mewed.

"No!" Mudfur's pelt bristled with fear. "We can't do that"

Stonefur shook his head. "If the stone pile by the elder's den has the most stones, then she will be exiled."

Despite Mudfur's mumbling of grief, the Riverclan cats have seem to come to an agreement. After all, this is a clanwide vote, and a clanwide effort to solve a complex issue. The blue-gray tom felt regret and sorrow for the elderly medicine cat, as the latter had raised Leopardstar since birth, only to turn out that his daughter stained her clan with blood. I hate it for him, but it must be done. Skyheart slipped over to place a comforting tail around Mudfur's shoulders, while Petaldust mumbled words to her former mentor as an attempt to comfort him.

As cats started to gather pebbles and stones to add onto the two piles, Stonefur glanced up at the sky, noticing a faint star beaming against the dying sunlight. I am bloodied and bruised, I must rebuild my fallen clan.

Chapter Text

"Begin the voting process!"

Paws scuffling among the ground. Mumbles echoing through the air. A tense pressure upon backs of wary clanmates. A clan broken but not apart. A cat would pick up a small stone, placing it upon an ever-growing pile of stones to the glances and glares of their clanmates.

This is Riverclan, casting stones to decide the fate of an disgraced cat.

Stonefur watched from his seat at the Wetrock, claws pressed against the aged rock in order to keep himself upright. His wounds have finally clotted, sealing anymore of his lifeblood from trickling out and forming the blood trail that dotted behind him, but the stinging and painful sensations have kept their grasp on him. Get through this he gritted. Then i'll get patched up. He had decided to wait for his wounds to be tended, as he felt like his clanmates were in worse shape. While their coats gleamed and glistered under the dying light, their wounds and torn fur were open due to the horrorous spark of Tigerclan, an quick-thinking rebellion against the former joint leaders that had left then exhausted, but alive. Stonefur knew that he was far worse off, his ribs poking through his pelt more so then an lanky Windclan warrior, with his pelt-dull and bloodied from constant beatings and the battle that nearly killed him. Yet the sense of stubbornness and pride had clung to his mind, asking to preserve dignity over the idea of being treated first. The painful sensations from his wounds, and the burning anger in his head are the only things that kept him awake and alert, carry on his actions and words until time takes its toll on him. 

"I'm not going to vote" Mudfur remained in position, with an sorrowful glance to his disgraced daughter. "As medicine cat and her father, i feel that i would be accused of bias if i place my vote in."

Stonefur nodded, understanding the elderly medicine cat's reason. He decided on not to vote as well, as he feared that his vote would be considered as bias towards Leopardstar and his hatred towards her. The clan votes, not for me he recalled, watching as his clanmates take turns placing their stones upon either of the two piles. One pile by the nursery represents Leopardstar's warriorhood within the clan, while the pile by the elder's den represents her banishment from Riverclan, a form of karma inspired by the death of Cedarpelt.

"I vote for her to stay" Blackclaw dropped his stone onto a stone pile by the nursery. "She may did bad things, but she was trying to protect us." A few cats scoffed, but none dared to hiss or cuff the black tom.

"She is a good warrior at heart" Emberdawn placed her stone next to Blackclaw's, with Pikepaw standing close behind her. "So i believe she should stay."

"I don't agree on what Leopardstar did to momma and uncle, really i don't! But i feel like she's really sorry for hurting us" Pikepaw meekly placed his stone upon the nursery pile. His brother Reedpaw simply rolled his eyes, placing his stone upon the pile by the elder's den, while Primrosepaw did the same. "We can't forgive Leopardstar for turning our clan over to an evil cat" Reedpaw spoke, his smooth tone contrasting with angry gray eyes.

Skyheart threw her stone onto the pile by the elder's den with a hiss, before turning her head to glare at Leopardstar. "A weak-willed traitor like her has no place in the clan! If she stands by while Tigerstar force feeds us prey and torture our clanmates, then who knows what she will stand by next!" The spotted molly can only flinch in response, her jaw tightly clutched together as if holding back a stream of words.

"I still think that Leopardstar joined Tigerclan so that she can get laid with that slimy tom, after killing my niece and nephew!" Vixenleap spatted, dropping her stone by Skyheart's. Immediately after her speech, she let out a yelp as she was cuffed to the ear by an annoyed Mosspelt, who was casting a stone onto the banishment pile. "Language! There are kits who don't need to know this kind of stuff" the tortoiseshell then turned her gaze towards Stonefur. "I can't stand to watch the cat who attempted to slain my children stay and act as if it never happened."

"She will be punished, and will suffer it for the rest of her life" Mistyfoot nudged her stone over to the stay pile, with an clouded gaze in her eyes. "Why swoop as low as Tigerstar and banish her, while pretending to be noble cats?"

"But Mistyfoot, you suffered the worse from Tigerstar and Leopardstar. Why, if i must ask, allow for one of the cats who accepted your torture to stay?" Reedtail's eyes narrowed into curious slits, as he placed his stone upon Mistyfoot's. The blue-gray molly let out a faint smile at the question, sensing the tabby feline's genuine curiosity. "Yes, she allowed Tigerclan to break us, but she can redeem herself from her crimes and live alongside us. Besides, casting her out to become a forced rogue would make us just as bad. We are warriors, not savages." Reedtail blinked in acceptance, before turning to look at Leopardstar. "Mistyfoot's right, we are warriors, not bleak-minded kittypets willing to cast out what they don't like. Yes, i hate her guts and wish that she wasn't here-" Leopardstar faced away. "-but now i'm thinking of it, also letting her go can mean that she can run back to Tigerstar. It will be too risky to simply let her go."

"But she could always escape and spill any Riverclan secrets that formed after today to Tigerstar" Petaldust moved her stone besides the elder's den with a lash of her tail. "I could never forgive the leader who drove Mudfur out, especially since he's her father. Banishing her would mean that Riverclan will be safe on the inside, and more time and warriors to spare for protecting our territory from danger. I hate it for Leopardstar as she was our leader, but we need to protect our clan. We will mourn the warrior she used to be."

"Wise words, Petaldust" Timberfur's voice rumbled, as the eldest tom in Riverclan sided his stone next to the banishment pile with aged paws. "Keeping Leopardstar here would do nothing but take away our warrior's time from hunting and defending their clan, tending to her as if she's a kit. Stonefur, you know that the safety of the whole clan comes before the needs of one cat, so why keep her here if she's going to be hated and guarded for all the moons she has left?"

Stonefur didn't answer the elder's question, though he can understand the elder's reason for his vote. Timberfur is right a wave of anger brushed over his pelt, the idea of Leopardstar remaining in the clan bringing up nothing but bad memories. But the clan must vote, even if i don't agree. As more cats casted their votes, the stones of both piles were growing bigger and evenly, with each vote being tied against another's. Even the kits, he noted, were voting with nothing more then pebbles that they had carried over to the two piles with their parents watching over with interest. I can't just forbid the future of the clan to vote he declared, eyes narrowed with interest as the kits made their vote. Duskkit rolled her pebble onto the banishment pile, stating that she didn't want "the mean cat to stay," while Pinekit nudged their's onto the stay pile along with Icekit. 

"We can't say no to a potential warrior, nor banish her when we have much bigger fish to sunbake" Softwing dropped her stone onto the stay pile, staring at Leopardstar with sadness. "I wish that you took my brother's heart and made it into your own, Leopardfur. You knew better."

"Leopardstar must stay here as a warrior, as i believe that she can fix her mistakes and help us deal with this Bloodclan gang and Tigerstar" Ottersplash placed her vote next to Softwing's stone. 

"Tigerclan killed Cedarpelt, and maimed Shadepelt and Loudbelly, so why keep one of it's joint leaders here?" Heavystep growled.

"I don't think Leopardstar wanted any of this to happen" Sedgecreek shook her head, casting her vote on the stay pile.

"My adopted daughter didn't die so that her kits can be slain by a bloodthirsty monster!" Beetlenose placed his vote besides Loudbelly's.

"I can't forgive Leopardstar for hurting us, not now, not ever" Featherpaw's pelt bristled as she placed her stone upon the banishment pile, glaring at Leopardstar with hatred.

Stormpaw did the opposite, placing his vote on the stay pile. "You have the choice to forgive or not, but i chose to forgive, even though she will have to work for it."

More cats voted, some families torn on their votes, while friends pleaded with each other on their votes. But Stonefur noticed that the last rays of sunlight were drawing to an end, and most of the clan had already casted their votes, each pile having equal amount of votes placed by clanmates. Everyone but Mudfur and i voted.... he glanced down at Leopardstar, her pelt bristling on end in fear as she counted each vote in her head. Each vote represented what her clanmates think of her, their true feelings and emotions pooling out for the clan to hear as they discussed their reasonings. A few sneers were thrown at Leopardstar's direction, while a few other cats gazed at their former leader with sympathy. Mudfur approached the spotted molly and sat down besides her, whispering words Stonefur couldn't hear into the medicine cat's daughter's ear. The elderly tomcat appeared much older, eyes glazed with grief as he pressed his pelt against Leopardstar's. Stonefur, as much as he hated Leopardstar, couldn't help but to feel a ping of grief for the two cats below. Not only we will lose a warrior, but Mudfur may not recover from this. He's not as young as he used to be and suffered so much, but this might be the breaking point.

"Vote already!" a warrior snarled, snapping Stonefur's attention back to the clearing. Below him stood Voleclaw, counting the votes by the elder's den while Owlfur was checking over the votes by the nursery. To Stonefur's left stood Dawnpaw, welding a stone in her mouth as she glanced from one pile to another. The gray apprentice appeared lost, unsure of what to vote for as cats mumbles encouragements from both sides, while Beetlenose lashed his tail impatiently. Voleclaw and Owlfur slipped past the lost apprentice, stopping by the stream that circled around the wetrock like a snake. "We have equal votes on both ends" Owlfur rasped, with the experienced warrior besides him nodding in agreement. "Even if you and Mudfur were to vote, both piles will still be equal in terms of numbers. We're not blind to what you both may vote for."

Stonefur nodded to the two Riverclanners, before his gaze fell upon the timid form of Dawnpaw, stone tightly in her grasp as more cats continued to form words or encouragement or impatentience her way. "Remember" Mistyfoot spoke aloud, her dull pelt turning gray in the last sip of light. "We do not want to push any cat to vote, however long it'll be."

"I understand, but Stonefur can't stay up there forever" Softwing mewed, with an worrying glance in Stonefur's direction. I'm ok he wanted to say out loud, willing to ignore the ripples of pain that brushed through his body. How long can he continue to stand for? To wait until exhaustion and blood loss gets to him, to slide off the rock and into the stream or even hit his head against the ground? Just a little longer!

"I-i don't know what to vote for!" Dawnpaw cried, dropping the stone in front of her paws. "A part of me wants to vote the same as mom, but i don't like the idea of banishment! And Leopardstar did very bad things to my siblings, a-and i hate her for it but i don't have the guts to kick her out!" a few cats mumbled words of kindness towards the young molly, knowing that the fate of Leopardstar rested in her tiny paws.

"By the stars" Timberfur's voice soften with sympathy. "That poor scrap has the history of Riverclan in her paws."

"It's not every day that this has happened" Mudfur agreed, his voice dripping with grief. "But she must make a decision."

"Get it over already!" Vixenleap hissed at Dawnpaw's direction, the former's long black coat bristling with anger. "We don't have all night for you to decide on it!"

"I know" Dawnpaw tensed, placing a paw over her stone as Vixenleap took a step towards her. But before Vixenleap could do anything, Mosspelt shoved the black molly aside and approached her daughter. 

"Dawn dear" her mother gave a gentle lick to the top of Dawnpaw's head. "Don't worry about what i voted for, or what everyone else voted for. I have my reasons, and you have yours" the tortoiseshell's eyes and voice soften as she gazed at her daughter, who simply nodded before grabbing the stone. With baited breath, Dawnpaw took a step back from her mother and walked around her, eyes shining with determination. The whole clan watched Dawnpaw, with Leopardstar giving a pleading look to the young apprentice, while Mosspelt hissed at anyone who dared try to step in and influence her kitten's mind. Stonefur let out a soft hum as Dawnpaw originally approached the banishment pile and stood there, as if she was mentally debating. It's ok Dawnpaw the pale blue-gray leader nodded at the apprentice as she turned to face him, as if looking for his approval. I can't be bias with her.

Finally after a few heartbeats, Dawnpaw took a step back, stone still held in her jaw as she made her way over towards the nursery. A few hisses were thrown in her direction, but a sharp cuff to the ear by a clanmate close by or Mosspelt's snarling had kept them down. Dawnpaw seem to be ignoring the clanmates hissing, bouncing with a sense of duty as she stopped by the stay pile and stood there, trapped in another mental debate. Seconds rolled by, a few tail twitches from those who are impatient, jaws clicking as if wanting to release words, eyes narrowed with interest or fear. Dawnpaw dropped her stone upon the stay pile.

Stonefur's eyes widen at the final vote, emotions running through his mind at the revelation. So she gets to stay a bitter voice hissed in his mind, but he knew better to discount the votes. He shook his head, scattering the dark thoughts of Leopardstar as he weakly raised his head high. "Leopardstar stays!" he can hear some cats cheering for their win, while others let out scoffs and hisses of disapproval. Skyheart gathered her kittens and tucked them into the nursery, glaring back at her adopted sister with disgust. Timberfur let out a sigh, accepting his defeat while Vixenleap was being held back by Sedgecreek through the scruff of her neck. Leopardstar let out a long-held sigh of relief, before rubbing her head against Mudfur's in a fit of purrs. Featherpaw's eyes darkened as she glared at Leopardstar, but a tail placed over her shoulders by Stormpaw made her slightly relax. Mistyfoot has an unreadable expression on her face as she stared at Leopardstar, with Blackclaw sitting a few tail-lengths away purring with approval of the outcome. Stonefur waited a few heartbeats more, allowing the clearing to calm down before he can speak.

"Riverclan" he spoke, gripping the aged rock even more to keep his balance. "We have voted for Leopardstar to stay, though she will now be known as Leopardfur."

"But she still has her lives!" a cat yowled.

"I know, but she will travel with Mudfur and i tonigh-" Stonefur gave Mudfur an quizzily look as the medicine cat shook his head.

"Not tonight" Mudfur huffed. "You need to rest, and it'll be past moonhigh once we get this over with." Stonefur blinked, understanding the elder tom's reasoning.

"Then she will face Starclan tomorrow with Mudfur and I, to transfer leadership and lives over" several cats mumbled their agreements, the sky darkening before the entire clan. I will have to pick a deputy, and fast! he hissed to himself, recalling the Code of deputyship. A deputy must be made before moonhigh. "As she will stay here, she will be marked as an apprentice without the name. You all know what her roles will be, but I can clarity and rebuild them tomorrow if needed". He gritted his teeth as he fought to maintain balance, to disallow his legs to give up just yet. A few more heartbeats!

"Now as i am taking over the role of leader, i must appoint a deputy before moonhigh" and before i pass out he gazed through the clearing with narrowed eyes, flickering from cat to cat as some either took a step back, or puffed out their chests as an attempt to impress him. Mistyfoot shook her head, refusing the role when her brother's eyes met hers, while Sedgecreek tilted her head. Definitely not my sister, nor a cat like Vixenleap or Blackclaw he noted, recalling Vixenleap's aggressive behavior and Blackclaw's original support for Tigerclan. Heavystep, Emberdawn, Mosspelt, and Shadepelt were too young, and without apprentices. I would like someone who's older, and is different from me, a balance his eyes flickered from cat to cat, his clanmates waiting with baited breath as they were briefly considered for the role. Finally, the pair of blue eyes landed upon the eyes of a warrior among the clearing, both pairs bearing flickers of emotions and thoughts from within. 

"Petaldust"

The senior warrior's eyes widen with surprise as she took a step forward. "Stonefur, are you sure?"

"Petaldust, do you wish to become deputy of Riverclan?"

"But why?" the tortoiseshell questioned. 

"Because you have the heart and experience of a deputy, willing to serve and defend your clan."

"But every cat does that!"

"Yes, but you mentioned that you mourn the cat that Leopardstar used to be" memories of the past flickered through his mind, recalling Leopardfur's early days as the reckless, but noble warrior. "You were aware of the past and present, and have the best intentions in mind. That being said, i trust you to balance out my leadership, and to serve alongside me. Petaldust, do you accept the role of deputy?"

Petaldust stood in her spot for a few moments, eyes alight with different emotions until it settled to an determined gaze. "I accept, Stonestar. Both the role and your judgement."

Stonefur dipped his head, a wave of fatigue washing over him. "Then by the power of Starclan, i name Petaldust as deputy of Riverclan!"

As cats started to cheer and approach Petaldust with purrs and words of encouragement, Stonefur lowered himself onto the Wetrock, bracing himself to slip down as an signal to end the meeting. With gritted teeth, the leader was about to leap off when an sharp, unexpected pain sank it's fangs into his wounds. With a screech of pain, Stonefur felt his front legs slipping downward against his will, caught in a locked spasm. But before any cat could aid him, or before he could catch himself from falling, Stonefur slipped off the Wetrock, paws outstretched as he made an attempt to level himself to no avail.

"STONEFUR!" a cat cried out, as Stonefur's body fell onto the shallow stream below with a crash. A huge wave of pain shocked through the new leader, his wounds burning and screaming as his vision briefly turned white, before a sudden calmness of black took hold. As quick as it came, Stonefur's vision slipped off into darkness.

Chapter Text

Darkness surrounded him, giving nothing to bear down upon the endless void that surrounded Stonefur. He was aware of his state, his paws touching the cold ground, yet unable to sense what he was standing on. His eyes betrayed him, unable to make out any shape or light that could provide a hint into his dream state like a spark to an fire. He felt lost, confused, frustrated at the feeling of loneliness that coated the world.

"Hello! Is anyone here!?" he cried, claws tapping against the ground in a clicking motion as he blindly walked through the darkness. The air felt cool, but not cold enough to make his pelt stand on end, nor did the air carry any scents besides his own. Where am i? I thought Starclan would appear-

Did they curse me? Am i truely dead? His stomach twisted with fear at the thought of being abandoned by his ancestors.

"No, and no" a voice echoed through the darkness, startling Stonefur as he came to a stop. The worst part was that the voice seem to have heard his thoughts, answering them in a tone that suggested annoyance. Stonefur let out a mrow of confusion, eyebrows furrowed as he strained his ears. "Who's there?."

"A cat"

"Answer me!" Stonefur hissed, not willing to play whatever game the stranger has in mind.

"I did, reckless one" a spark of light flashed before Stonefur's eyes, making the pale blue-gray tom twitch as the surrounding slowly grew lighter until the light produced an dim glow around Stonefur. He glanced down, noticing that he was standing upon a thin layer of sand that padded the clearing of his camp. The world appeared dimmed in color, as if trapped in an everlasting dusk as it formed into the likes of Riverclan camp- no, the Tigerclan camp that stood a bit away from the safety of his home. The clearing reeked of stale blood and disease, bits of bone and torn fur scattered carelessly across the area. Stonefur's heart sank when he gazed upon a pile of bones, carefully crafted to support the heavy mass of Tigerstar as he conducted dark deeds from his throne. Why am i being shown this!?.

"You see, things were supposed to be the opposite" the voice hissed, echoing as if attempting to keep Stonefur from locating the source. Stonefur glanced around, pelt bristling as he looked to confront the voice that has been taunting him. There was no signs of any cats, nor recent scents that he could track down in an heartbeat. Everything appear old and dried, with blood scatters drying out against objects like old paint. 

"Show yourself!" Stonefur snarled.

"I'm here" the voice teased. "Just look down, in front of the bones."

Biting back an retort, Stonefur obeyed and directed his eyes to the base of the bone hill. A sudden wave of nausea hit him like a blow to the face, threatening to take hold as Stonefur absorbed the sight in front of him. A bloodied shape was laid out before the bonehill, blue eyes glazed over with an permanent snarl etched on its face. The cat's ears were ripped to ribbons, with old and new battle wounds scatter across its body like the linings of an tree. That cat looks.....oh Starclan! His eyes widen in horror as he realized what he was staring at: him. Stonefur in the flesh. Stonefur bleeding out to the world. Stonefur dead. 

"You see," the voice seem to be originated from Stonefur's doppelganger body. "You were supposed to be dead! Dead, i say! But something changed in the course of time, changing the fates of all four clans only because you are alive."

"How does me being alive change all four clans?" Stonefur asked.

"I can't say much" the voice taunted, raspy and crooked to the living tom's ears. "It would be quite bothersome to know the truth, wouldn't it?"

"I can handle anything"

"Can you?" the deceased body of Stonefur moved, scrambling onto it's paws as glassy eyes stared into Stonefur's living eyes. Stonefur took a step back, a chill sending shivers down his spine as he stared at the bloodied form before him. "Can you live, in a time when you should be dead? Can you breathe when you have already taken your last....BREATH?" the form lunged at Stonefur, the living tom letting out a wail as he felt claws slicing into him, tearing his flesh apart in bouts of horror and pain-

"Stonefur wake up!"

Two brown paws were placed upon Stonefur's side, shaking the sleeping form below as to wake him up. It worked, as Stonefur woke up with a screech, scrambling onto his paws as he stared out with wide, horror-glinted eyes. Last thing Stonefur could remember was the deceased form of himself tearing him apart as if he was a piece of prey, slicing and tearing with such ease that it made him nauseous thinking of it. Breathing heavily, the new leader glanced around his surroundings with tension sparkling from his pelt, the herby scents of the den overflowing his nose as he took in the scents that clung to the air. It took a few moments for Stonefur to calm down, his wounds burning as if reminding the tom of their presence among his body and of reality. 

"You were out for awhile, and thrashing as if you got stung by a bunch of bees."

Stonefur snapped his attention over to the hunched form of Mudfur, the elderly medicine cat watching him with concern. "H-how...?" The young tom's throat felt raw and dry as he spoke with a hint of confusion. Mudfur raised a paw, as if giving an order for the new leader to remain quiet.

"Nearly a day" the brown feline replied.

"A day!?" he regret raising his voice as a shot of pain ran down his throat.

"You will have plenty of time to receive your nine lives, Stonefur. You had been waltzing around with those wounds for awhile and refused to get them treated until you collapsed at the end of the clan meeting" Mudfur huffed, bending his head down to sniff at Stonefur's wounds. The blue-gray tom followed the medicine cat's gaze, noticing how most of his wounds were covered in large swabs of cobwebs, among mushed in herbs that he couldn't recognize against his aching wounds. I should've gotten treated before I announced the trial. His pelt prickled with an sense of regret at allowing himself to injure himself further - unintentionally of course. "When will i be able to leave your den?"

"In a day, considering what has happened" Mudfur pulled his head away with a grunt. "I will need to make sure that you are fit enough to travel before anything can be done."

"But how would Riverclan react to-"

"Petaldust has it under control" Mudfur interrupted. "You made the right choice in appointing her as deputy, as she's keeping most of the clan busy with patrols and tidying up the camp."

Stonefur couldn't help but to let out a soft purr as Mudfur briefly described Petaldust's involvement in taking care of the clan, sending out hunting patrols to stock up on food, with a border patrol being sent out to secure their borders, and those inside of camp being kept busy with simple tasks to keep their minds at bay. But what about Leopardfur, or Shadowclan itself? He hated the idea of Tigerstar returning to Shadowclan, destroying the clan from within like how he nearly destroyed Riverclan with his evil deeds. "Leopardfur? How is she?" Stonefur asked, watching as Mudfur flinched at the simple question.

"She is doing alright, i suppose" Mudfur's eyes gleamed with a sense of grief and regret. "She's helping Mosspelt and Dawnpaw to clean out the leader's- i mean your new den" the medicine cat briefly glanced over to another nest, with the sleeping form of an injured Shadepelt residing it. "Heavystep is well enough to resume duties, but Shadepelt is in rough shape. I believe she will live, but it's not uncommon for young cats to be retired from injuries." 

She did this! a wave of anger crashed into Stonefur like the force of an raging river, threatening to swallow up his thoughts as flashes of Leopardfur appeared before his eyes. She banished her father, allowed Shadowclan to step over us, and stood by as her clanmates were tortured because of blood!. A dark part of him wanted to approach Leopardfur and banish her on the spot, to rake his battle-worn claws down her spotted pelt until it resembled his own, but he couldn't. No, his thoughts echoed with bitterness. I allowed my clan to vote, and they decided to keep her. I must follow my clan's wishes, not my. "Could she still become a warrior, but slightly different?"

"Hopefully, but I can't decide on that, nor can we force her paws into anything. Not yet" Mudfur let out a sigh.

"What....about them?" Stonefur realized with a jolt that his sister Mistyfoot, Featherpaw, and Stormpaw were injured as well, being forced to remain prisoner within the grips of Tigerclan until he was pitted against the two apprentices to the death. Mudfur nodded, sensing what the blue-gray feline meant.

"They are doing well, considering what has happened."

"I'm glad" Stonefur felt his body relax, knowing that his sister and the children of Graystripe were safe and well. Mostly he recalled Featherpaw's words during Leopardfur's trial, her blue eyes betraying the look of an tramuziated, scarred warrior who has seen too much. He had a feeling that Mistyfoot and Stormpaw felt the same, though hiding it through words of encouragement and stability. He was able to say something when he noticed an aged tortoiseshell poking her head into the den, eyes glistening with relief as she briefly locked eyes with Stonefur before turning her head over her shoulder to meow something that the new leader couldn't pick up.

"Petaldust!" Mudfur greeted the deputy with an purr, as if hiding away his true feelings in front of the elderly molly. "How is the clan running?"

"Swimmingly" she huffed, taking a seat half a tail length away from Stonefur. "You gave us all a scare back there."

"I know" Stonefur's emotions trickled with regret at the idea of unintentionally scaring his clan. "But i'm alive" he paid no attention as Mudfur slipped farther into his den, as if giving both leader and deputy room to speak their minds as he tended to Shadepelt.

"Yes, and i'm glad to see that" Petaldust said. "You, Mistyfoot, Stormpaw, and Featherpaw went through hell and back to simply stay alive, while the rest of Riverclan bowed down to Tigerstar-"

"And Leopardst- I mean Leopardfur" Stonefur added with a growl.

"Yes, her as well. It's a part of history that we'll never forget, but the most important thing is that you're all alive."

"Barely" he scoffed, flashes of his scarred self and Featherpaw's traumatized gleam to her eyes coming in mind. It will take many moons, if not forever for both physical and mental wounds to heal - if they are able to heal. "Did you send them off to do something?"

"No," Petaldust shook her head. "The children and Mistyfoot, along with her own children, are sleeping in the elder's den right now. I don't have the mindset to make them do chores when they nearly died."

"That's fine, they probably need space from the rest of the clan for now" Stonefur's ears twitched, recalling how the elder's den tends to be well protected and quiet. They need time to let everything wash away, and the time together. He wouldn't be surprised if Blackclaw wasn't with the same den as his mate and children, wondering if the black tom was busy with what chores Petaldust has placed upon him, or if both he and Mistyfoot broke up. He was very vocal about calling us filth. 

"Now" Petaldust's voice snapped his attention away from his thoughts about Blackclaw. "Speaking of Leopardfur-"

"I- don't want her here" Stonefur interrupted in a whisper, noticing how Mudfur's ears were twitching as they spoke. 

"I don't mean that" Petaldust huffed. "I mean that she has been helping the clan so far, as if it'll repent her for her actions itself."

Stonefur felt a prick of irritability at the idea of Leopardfur repenting through mere tasks assigned to apprentices and young warriors, washing away blood from her paws as if it was mouse bile. No matter what Mistyfoot thought of her former friend, or how Leopardfur throws herself in at every opportunity to tend to the clan, Stonefur will never forgive the spotted warrior for her actions. "She is a fool if that's what she's getting at."

Petaldust lashed her tail against the ground, as if silencing the new leader himself. "She knows what she has done, and will pay for her sins for the rest of her life. Now, I have been assigning her to tidy up all the dens under Mosspelt's watch, and will only stop to eat when all the dens are done, and when every cat has eaten." 

"What about Dawnpaw? Mudfur said that she has been helping Leopardfur to clean out he- my den."

"Dawnpaw got done an heartbeat before i came in to visit you, so she's free to help with any other tasks that I scattered across camp and-" Petaldust paused for a moment, her expression soften as if lost in thought. "You know, she has the spirit of a warrior, Stonefur, much more than some of the warriors here."

Stonefur let out a small purr in agreement as he thought of the small gray apprentice. He's unsure of how Dawnpaw acted during Tigerstar's regin, but he knew that the molly has lost her siblings and father at an early age before nearly losing her foster siblings to Tigerclan itself. Not only did she suffered with tragedy following her pawsteps, but she pulled herself through with the spirit of an warrior inside of her. He recalled how the gray molly was torn between exiling Leopardfur and keeping her within the clan, with cats of both sides sneering or encouraging her to join their sides until her mother Mosspelt reassured the apprentice with only love and acceptance. It's too early to make Dawnpaw a warrior, especially not after what has happened during the past few moons, but she will be remembered for her kindness for moons to come - even if i don't agree on her decision on Leopardfur. "Yes, she will make a great warrior one day. Her, as well as Stormpaw and Featherpaw for their courage against the eyes of death." 

We will need all the courage that those three apprentices got. We'll need it if we will want to live through what's about to come.