Spy blinked at her sister, expression neutral, "I am glad that we are on good enough grounds that you have called to me for help."

At Mistystar's skeptical expression, she added with a purr, "Yes, sister, I am glad. But what is it have you called me here for today?"

The cat she called sister shifted a little, "I'll be honest to you. I'll be completely truthful."

She spoke almost as if to herself, before her eyes hardened with resolution and she spat, almost violently, "I need you to kill someone."

Of course, Mistystar had been thinking of this plan ever since she had been mocked by Starclan.

It was on her mind all the time now, as she thought about how useful the death would be. And how simple, after all. It would just be a swish of claws, a splatter of blood and the cat would be very much gone for good.

Spy blinked, gathered her computer and hissed, "Well? Who is it?"

Mistystar leaned closer and growled the name into her sister's ear.

The effect was immediate.

Spy gasped, pulling back to stare at her, "Why?"

Her counterpart's tail swished impatiently, "If this cat is dead, more cats will worship- no that's not the right word - be ruled by me."

It was true.

More cats would certainly look up to Mistystar as a leading figure. In her mind's eye, she imagined them scraping at her paws, bowing down and giving her something that she now knew mattered most in the world.

"You want power." Spy stated bluntly.

It was so blunt that it annoyed Mistystar, "Yes, and? Every cat wants power. Some just want it more than others."

She had never taken her sister for a stupid cat, but she seemed rather worthy of the title now.

Her counterpart growled, "Fine. I don't care what you have in mind, but remember that there will be consequences."

How annoying.

Mistystar rolled her eyes, "Consequences for you when you don't listen to me and go kill that cat."

Spy let out one more wordless, helpless hiss before turning and slinking into the darkness once again.

For a moment, her sister wondered vaguely why she didn't kill the cat herself. But the answer came to her, satisfyingly clearly. There was no way the leader of Mistyclan was willing to get her own claws dirty over a job like this.

***

The next morning, Mistystar could practically feel the scent of freshly spilt blood twisting the air. From further up the mountain, came yowls of panic.

Yowls of grief.

Around camp, the cats were stirring, waking up to these horribly blood-curling shrieks. Safely away in her den, their leader sat comfortably in fresh moss. As she began her washing routine, a black and white dappled she-cat slipped in, visibly stressed.

"Mistystar, don't you hear that?" Lilypad hissed, struggling to keep her posture calm.

The leader's ears flicked and she considered playing dumb but decided against it.

With a sigh, she nodded, "Yes, it is unfortunate, what may be going on in the Tribe, but it is also not something we should worry about."

Lilypad pressed her ears back a little, "It's freaking everyone out, either way, so you're going to have to do something about it."

Her logic allowed no loopholes and therefore carried no flaws that Mistystar could use to contradict. The only excuse she had would be to say that she was lazy, but that would sound selfish.

So she agreed, through gritted teeth, "Well said, tell the clan that I am calling a meeting."

She had an idea.

One that would buy enough time for her final plan to fall into place.

Grooming her fur back, Mistystar followed Lilypad out of the leader's den and stood confidently in front of the rest of the clan as they were called form their daily duties and gathered before her.

Her voice echoed, "Mistyclan, I have gathered us here today to express my understanding to your concern for the health of the Tribe."

A few nervous glances were thrown around, Swanwind and Spiderfur started murmuring to each other. Their apprentices, Dapplepaw and Fogpaw, were restless, eyes wide with confusion.

"However, now is not the time to worry about the Tribe. We have our own matters at paw." Mistystar continued briskly, "It is time for us to welcome two new apprentices into the clan."

Pleasant surprise glows on Orangefur's face, her kits stumbling forward in excitement. However, the mother seems to be the only one who feels positively towards this new event.

"Aren't they only five moons old?" Morningflower had stood up in protest, her gaze imploring.

A little unbalanced by a disagreement from one of her favourite warriors, Mistystar's voice has a note of wariness in it, "Six moons. Give or take."

Mostly take. 

Then, forcing her voice to be solemn, she catches Morningflower's eye, "Trust me, the clan needs this right now."

For a moment, the young warrior seems torn, but then she sits back down, nose scrunched stubbornly.

Mistystar gathers her thoughts and begins the ceremony, "Tortoisekit, you have reached the age of six moons, and from now on you shall be named Tortoisepaw. Your mentor will be Lilypad."

The young, tortoiseshell kit bounced up to the spotty warrior, eyes shining.

The warrior smiled kindly as they bumped noses, "We're gonna get along just fine, you and I."

"Turtlekit, you have also reached the age of six moons and you will know be known as Turtlepaw. I myself will mentor you." the leader of Mistyclan finished proudly.

Standing up, Mistystar stretches her snout out, nose brushing lightly with the tom-kit's. She could practically feel the excitement rebounding off of him.

Kits were most certainly adorable, she thought as she looked down on him.

"Turtlpaw! Tortoisepaw!" Orangefur began the chant, her voice booming with happiness.

Her mate joined in, starting forward to congratulate his kits.

Eventually, the rest of the clan caught on, their voices joining together in a joyful, peaceful, cheer. For the first time in such a long time, Mistyclan was united.

As the voices died down, Mistystar spoke once again, "Furthermore, it is time that three new warriors join our forces."

She blinks at the bustling apprentices, "Stonepaw, you shall now be known as Stoneclaw, for your bravery in battle."

Her eyes were bored as she surveyed the way that he beamed thirstily at her. 

She skipped over him and looked to the next apprentice, "Berrypaw, you shall now be known as Berryheart, for your warm and reassuring presence is a blessing to the entire clan."

The crimson tom-cat flushes with embarrassment.

Finally, Mistystar acknowledges the last, smaller apprentice, "Honeypaw, you shall now be known as Honeydrop, for you are small but fast. Your speed is a gift to us by Starclan."

A flash of pain appears in the apprentice's eyes, one that the leader of Mistyclan swiftly ignores.

There was no time to worry about a little apprentice's feelings.

Her voice was even as she finished, "Your vigil will be held tonight."

The clan erupted in cheers for the second time, "Honeydrop! Berryheart! Stoneclaw!"

No one had mentioned any concerns about the Tribe for ages.

The plan was working.

With a clearing of her throat, Mistystar brought an abrupt end to the congratulations, her voice resonating around the clearing once again, "It is time that I appoint a deputy."

Silence immediately buffets the entire camp.

Only birdsong is still present.

How easy it was to get their attention.

How easy it was to have them all hypnotised within a few simple words.

How easy it was that the words slid out of her mouth, "I say these words before Starclan, so that the spirits of our ancestors, including Fallenleaf, may hear and approve of my choice."

Something breaks inside of Mistystar as she speaks her deceased mate's name, but she pushes on, "The new deputy of Mistyclan is Lilypad."

A stunned silence.

Then Morningflower breaks it by murmuring approvingly to Beestripe, wide smiles beginning to split their faces.

More and more cats start gossiping to each other, eyes shining brightly.

The new deputy of Mistyclan is gaping at Mistystar, eyes widening until they couldn't anymore.

The leader mewed calmly, "Do you promise to serve Mistyclan and take over my role eventually when I die?"

Even though the clan was in a ruckus, her words still clearly reached each and every pricked ear.

Lilypad nodded solemnly and they brushed noses, "I do."

For a few moments, it was pure joy that imploded the clan from inside out. Mistystar was the only one who seemed bored and absolutely uninterested.

Cats were simply too easy to please.

A smirk grew across her face.

And they were simply far too easy to distract.

Then a single voice rings above the noisy celebrations, freezing every single cat in their tracks.

"Who is your leader?"

A/N

I remember one of the earlier readers just saying 'I imagine Mistysky like 'gr gr' face' 

Or something long the lines of that. 

I just wanna say... yes that's how i always imagined her as well XD

- quill