Scorpion hissed at the remainder of the tribe, as they all simultaneously turned to vote for him. Dune looked at him with shock and horror, then snarled.

"I defended you! All of these moons, I've defended you! And you were mates with Hyena as well?" she spat, approaching him. He stood threateningly over her, sneering.

"We became mates when I realized what having a hero for a mate could do for me. Even then, you were too idealistic! You ignored the real me because you loved the facade I put on for you!" he accused. He padded closer to her, as if trying to show his dominance. "You still want to see that facade, because you're just a weak-willed female like the rest of them!"

Dune snarled at this, fur bristling. Shadow stepped forward to help her, along with the rest of the tribe-guards, but she motioned for them to stay back. If she couldn't handle Scorpion, then she didn't deserve the admiration they gave her.

"Well, I see you more clearly now than I ever have," she growled coldly. Then she darted forward, grabbed him by the throat, and threw him.

The murderer tumbled down the sandy slope, blood pouring from his neck, and eventually came to a stop at the base of a large rock. Dune turned her back to her former mate's body, and padded away.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Dune stood on a rocky outcropping, watching over her tribe as the Zaeim. After the murders, the tribe had unanimously agreed that she would become their leader. She had made Stone her Mudir. The two worked well together, and had bonded over the fact that their mates had betrayed them. Stone had even seemed to develop feelings for her, but Dune had made it clear that they were unreciprocated, and that was that.

Falcon was now the lead prey-hunter of the tribe, and Shadow the lead tribe-guard. It had been a clear choice for her, as they both showed leadership qualities already, and all of the senior tribe members besides her and Stone had been killed.

Flower and Frond had decided to leave the tribe after they had become full members. Their mother, Bark, was still out there somewhere. They promised that if they found Bark, and she was willing to return, they would.

Lizard had been asked to take over Hive's former position as Almaealij. He was the only cat who even remembered some of the different herbs, much less how to use them. However, as the Almaealij couldn't have a mate, he had gone to Burrow and asked her if she returned his feelings.

Burrow, although she cared for Lizard, had apologetically told him that she did not. It wasn't through any fault of his, and she still wanted to remain friends, but she couldn't force herself to have feelings for him.

Lizard had accepted that, and agreed to become the Almaealij. Gazelle, who had developed a hatred of injuring or killing anything, had asked to be his to-be. He had gratefully accepted.

Falcon and Shadow became mates, and were congratulated by the entire clan. It became clear to everyone that they would become the successors of Dune and Stone eventually.

However, with Lizard absorbed in his duties, and Falcon and Shadow becoming mates, Burrow found herself tagging along with Bush to avoid the uncomfortable situation of invading her friends' time when she was unwanted.

Bush had gratefully welcomed her new friend. Hare and Hump, her only friends, had been murdered. Plus, she had always admired Burrow, and enjoyed her stories.

Finally, moons after Shadow asked Falcon to be her mate, Bush asked Burrow to be hers. However, unlike Shadow and Falcon, Bush and Burrow kept their relationship private. After all, they weren't sure how any of the other cats would react.

None of the tribe knew what the future would hold. All they knew was that the danger of Scorpion and Hyena was gone, and they wouldn't face another traitor again.