They don't blame us, Darkstorm thought. They don't blame Shadeflight and I that Thinfur loved Rabbitear. And they don't blame me for Arrowheart. But too bad. Her gaze hardened as she spotted Coralstar. I blame them. 

Shadeflight came up to her, followed by Orangetail. "It's unfair," Orangetail spat quietly. "Why do cats get to love each other if we don't get to love certain cats?"

"The warrior code isn't stupid. But it has to be changed," Shadeflight agreed. Darkstorm bared her teeth angrily. 

"It is stupid. No cat agrees with it, except for the leaders."

"At least they're going in the direction of the brightest star," Badgerleap mewed, padding up to them. Darkstorm sunk into the ground. Only because they have no other choice. Where else could they go? She sighed.

"We're going to stop here," Quickstar announced. "Ravenfur, Dewpaw and Amberflight, go on a hunting patrol."

"Voleecho, Hardclaw and Boltfur, you join them," Strikestar added. "And Stonepaw." Coralstar and Stonestar simultaneously told Mosstail, Lakefoot and Sparrownose to go. Treestar narrowed his eyes.

"Grassfang, you too. And Yowltail, scout ahead for the next best route." He doesn't trust the rest of us, Darkstorm realized, a tremor of shock slithering down her spine. She watched, dumbfounded, as the chosen cats left. Badgerleap defended Orangetail too quickly, and Orangetail likes Snarlfang. Shadeflight... He sort of trusts Shadeflight, but not a lot, because he's half-clan. And he trusts me the least- I'm half-clan, I like a now-rogue once-RiverClan cat, and I challenge everything he says. But Grassfang and Yowltail are on our side- my side. Hmm... But he certainly won't admit it. That'll make ShadowClan- all of us- traitors. That's what he thinks. Hmmph. 

"How is ShadowClan going to get new kits?" Orangetail blurted. Treestar growled. "I mean, you and Grassfang have had kits, and Shadeflight's a medicine cat, so it's not like there are any toms." Darkstorm nodded. 

"She's right!" Darkstorm snarled. "Don't pretend you think you have a solution! Because if we follow the code, then you don't!" Coralstar perked her ears.

"She's right, you know. Other than letting a rogue tom join your clan-" Coralstar paused. "Not Arrowheart. I mean a full-blown rogue."

"Maybe it's the end of ShadowClan," Mousesong mewed slyly. Don't you even think about it, ThunderClan fox-heart! Shadeflight swung his head to meet Mousesong's. 

"Yeah, right. And I suppose you're the best cat in the clans?" Mousesong bared his teeth, his haunches rising. Shadeflight unsheathed his claws. He barely knows how to fight! Darkstorm stiffened, about to leap in between the toms, when a yowl sounded behind them.

"It's Boltfur!" Hardclaw screeched. "Two foxes attacked us!" Snarlfang ran towards them, sniffing the she-cat. Boltfur's fur was bloody, with scratches and bites rippling down her sides. Darkstorm winced.

"How is she?" Strikestar demanded. Why's he wo... Of course! They're littermates! And she doesn't look so good...

"She's dead," Snarlfang mewed grimly. He turned away. "I have to give Slatepaw a poultice." Strikestar scrambled towards Boltfur's body.

"Who will be the new deputy?" a cat yowled. Strikestar flattened his ears.

"He- Heatpelt," he stammered. "You trained Thorntail to be a good warrior, and you have a leader's instincts." Heatpelt dipped her head as Strikestar's fur smoothed. He thinks she's a good choice? The snottiest and meanest cat in the clans? 

"You should send a patrol to get rid of the foxes," Shadeflight mewed. "I'll go with herbs, and Darkstorm would be useful. Maybe also Orangetail..." He's trying to make Treestar trust us! Darkstorm realized. 

"I think so, too," Stonestar agreed. "I'll send Grassleap."

"Mousesong and Bushpaw," 

"Ravenfur."

"Fishnose." Treestar, seeming to realize he was outnumbered, nodded.

"Shadeflight, Orangetail and Darkstorm, you can go. Be back by moonhigh." Darkstorm nodded excitedly. "Go now."

The fox patrol headed off, led by Ravenfur. "This way," the WindClan deputy murmured, swerving sideways. "Here!" Orangetail stepped back. Two well-muscled dog foxes were heading towards them with a murderous glint in their eyes. 

"Scatter!" Fishnose ordered. "Attack from different angles!" Darkstorm ran to the side, leaping onto the darker orange one.

"Help!" Shadeflight screeched. The redder fox was going for him, baring its long fangs. Darkstorm pelted for him, her teeth sinking into the fox's back. Bushpaw, Ravenfur and Fishnose ran to help her, and they slowly drove away the first fox. Darkstorm breathed a sigh of relief. That was... Easier than ex- The other fox bit her tail and she yowled in pain. This one is the strong one! She turned around and cawed its eyes, missing narrowly and hitting its muzzle. The fox roared in anger and slammed a dark paw on her belly. Scorching pain shot through her. The other cats attacked harder, trying to throw it off. Darkstorm wriggled around, failing to get free, when a dark flash bashed her to the side, taking a hard hit. Darkstorm screamed.

"Shadeflight!" She ran to her brother, sprawled across the ground, ignoring the stabbing pain in her leg. His eyes were closed but his flanks were moving. The blow had hit him across the eyes. 

"We have to get back," Ravenfur directed, looking away. "And he needs help." She helped Darkstorm carry the grey tom back. 

...

Cloudstorm sighed. "I told you, I'll tell you when I tell everyone else. Soon. They just have to finish waking u-"

"Tell them now!" Darkstorm begged. "I have to know if he'll be better! I have to!"Cloudstorm looked at her paws. "When we were apprentices, he got hurt badly," Darkstorm flinched at the memory. "Tallmeadow wasn't sure, at first, if he would live. But he did. He can't die now!" Cloudtorm flicked her ears.

"I'll tell Treestar to announce it."

"Now?"

"Now." The pretty white she-cat padded towards Treestar, murmuring something to softly for anyone else to hear. Treestar nodded and flicked his tail.

"Clan cats!" he yowled. They looked up, groggily heading over. "Before we start to move agai-"

"Get on with it!" Mousesong yowled.

"Then let me finish!" Treestar spat. "We all know Boltfur is dead, and Heatpelt is the new deputy. The fox patrol is fine except for Shadeflight." More cats perked their ears, intent on listening. "So how is he? Cloudstorm says," he paused. "Cloudstorm says that Shadeflight will live."

"That's not all," Cloudstorm reprimanded, just as Darkstorm's hopes climed up. "There's bad news. He will live, but he will be blind." Darkstorm felt dizzy.

"No," she whispered. "How will he be a medicine cat?" she demanded. "How will he be anything?"

"Jayfeather survived," Heatpelt mewed. He was one of the Three! From the oldest prophecy! "So can Shadeflight. You woke us all up to tell us this?" she asked, looking at Treestar. He frowned.

"Cloudstorm told me to." Heatpelt rolled her eyes and walked away. 

"We can continue the journey right now," Cloudstorm added. "He'll need help to walk at first, though."

"I'll help him!" Darkstorm yowled. "I will." She headed towards the medicine den. "Shadeflight. We're going to continue on the journey. Your eyes will be fine." she lied. "But for a while you won't see." She forced herself to purr. "But you'll be alright, come." 

"Okay," he rasped, getting up. Darkstorm sighed silently. What will become of the clans? There was barely any prey to be caught, but we need full bellies to travel well. And there are dangers. And now my littermate will never see again. She choked back a wail. It's so unfair! And I can't even help him- I have to fulfill a prophecy! Black hate clouded her sight. I hate this! I hate destiny! I hate ShadowClan! I hate the prophecy!