"Oh come on, you can't tell me you're busy today, too," Alpine whined, trailing behind Greeneyes as she strode around camp. "Yesterday you spent the day in the nursery keeping an eye on the kit-watchers, and the day before that you oversaw the growers."

"Running ForestClan is a lot of work," Greeneyes replied, running her paw along the crumpled fronds of a fern bush, feeling where it had been crushed, leaving a gaping hole.

"I'll say," Alpine said. "The one time we actually got to talk together, I tried to tell you how I dared Alpaca to bite a human and it chased us, and you weren't listening and planned training sessions the whole time!"

Greeneyes continued to examine the bush, going over a list of cats in her head, who would be available to fix up this hole. It needed to be fixed as soon as possible. If it rained and the apprentices all got colds, she'd never hear the end of it.

"See, even now I don't have your attention." Alpine leaned over her shoulder, his breath warming her ear.

Greeneyes turned around, sighing. "I'm sorry. There's just so much to do. I don't want to let Spiderstar down."

His rough tongue rasped over her cheek. Greeneyes stiffened. "I know. This is your chance to prove yourself as a leader. I know how important it is for you." He drew back, brilliant blue stare intense. "But in two days my family will move on. Promise me you have some time to give me."

Greeneyes nodded. She hated when he gave her that look. "I promise. Just not today. I've got a meeting with Spiderstar."

"Oh, a meeting with Spiderstar, I see." Alpine's voice rose, becoming high-pitched. "You can't possibly go looking like this. You have a hair out of place! He'll be so disappointed!"

Greeneyes swatted him with her paw, whiskers twitching. "This is serious! This is my opportunity to show Spiderstar what a great leader I can be. I have to prove myself as leader. ForestClan is my opportunity to do that. That's why I have to make this work."

Alpine nodded, growing serious. "Your meeting with Spiderstar is about how ForestClan is going?"

"Yep," she confirmed, reaching around to groom the spiking fur along her back. "I'm guessing he wants to check on my progress and compare how things are going in my group of ForestClan, and his group."

Alpine's wide, soft paw pressed against her cheek, pushing her face away from her back. He leaned forward, flattening the fur along her spine in swift, swooping motions. "So why isn't Mataiclaw talking with Keastar?" He asked. His breath warmed her back in hot bursts. Her fur prickled under his tender touch, sending bolts of lightning shooting down her spine.

Greeneyes flicked her whiskers, relaxing her tensed muscles. "I don't know. Mataiclaw and Keastar are new to this whole deputy thing. I don't think they care as much as Spiderstar and I." Alpine pulled away, leaving cold air and a tingling sensation under her skin in his wake. Greeneyes stood up. "Thanks." She smiled at him, eyes flickering over her body. Perfectly groomed, looking clean and put together. She puffed her chest out, standing tall. "I'll be back soon. I promise tomorrow I'll spend the whole day with you."

He widened his eyes. "Really? You'll spend a whole day with me?" He made his voice high-pitched again, jumping up and down like a kit. "Weally Greeneyes, you pwomise? You'll spend a whole day with ordinary ol' me?"

Greeneyes groaned. "You are the most annoying furball I've ever met."

He laughed, a deep, booming guffaw. "Someone's got to bring fun into your life!"

Shaking her head, Greeneyes stalked out of camp, passing Mataiclaw on her way out. "You're sure you've got everything under control?"

He nodded, grinning like an idiot. "Of course. Send out patrols, oversee the secondary warriors training, stop any arguments. I've got this!"

Narrowing her eyes, Greeneyes gritted her teeth. She had to trust her fellow deputy. He didn't have to be exceptional, as long as ForestClan was still together when she got back, everything would be fine. "Okay, good luck," she said, already walking away.

Pacing through the forest, Greeneyes closed her eyes. The chattering birdsong faded as thoughts of Spiderstar and Alpine began to race around in her mind, playing a game of cat and mouse - only Greeneyes didn't know who was the hunter. She couldn't afford to become distracted. This was why she couldn't keep Alpine around, why it was a good thing he was too in love with his life of adventure to love her enough to settle down. But in her deepest fantasies, in the moments before she fell asleep, her mind always betrayed her, giving way to images of herself leading BeechClan - no, ForestClan, with him as her mate at her side. His eyes, bluer than the brightest pool of water, gazing into her own...

Greeneyes snapped open her eyes. No. There was no point dreaming. Alpine would never leave his family and his wandering life, just as she would never leave her Clan. She had to focus! She would be meeting with Spiderstar. Alpine was only a distraction. Slipping back into her usual rhythm, Greeneyes's thoughts turned to ForestClan. It was functioning. Her group had implemented the fighting system and the roles. Sure, there was some tension and social divide, but that was to be expected, right? It would take time to break down the barriers between former enemies.

Her thoughts carried her through BeechClan territory, right to the entrance of camp. Greeneyes sighed as she gazed at it, reaching out a paw to touch the towering red beech tree that marked the entrance to camp. She stroked it, feeling the familiar roughness scrape under her paw.

Walking into camp, Greeneyes took in the sights. A large group of elders lounged in the sun. Cloudstorm told a joke and the group laughed, Brightmist the loudest of all. Greeneyes's tail twitched. The elders in her group still slept at different sides of the den.

"Greeneyes, it's good to see you again." Spiderstar's whiskers tickled Greeneyes's fur as he walked to her.

She turned around, plastering a smile on her face. "How are you?"

He purred. "I'm good; I missed you. We didn't get the chance to talk a few days ago. You were...distracted." He smirked. "How is Alpine, anyway?"

She shook her head. "He's fine. It's good to see an old friend."

"I can imagine." The smirk stayed on his face. As Greeneyes's face screwed into a scowl, he laughed. "All right, I'll stop teasing you. How's your control group? Is leadership everything you thought it would be?" He steered her away to his den.

"Yes, things are settling down and underway. Most cats are begrudgingly going along with it, and there are some cats who are enthusiastic and happy to set an example. Sandflyspeck is especially helpful. I wish she'd been made a deputy alongside me rather than Mataiclaw!" She ducked under the leaves concealing the entrance.

"Are you getting along with Mataiclaw? You're helping him, aren't you?"

She sighed. "Yes. I know I complained about him, and I still don't like him, but he's at least listening to me now. He's...tolerable."

Spiderstar laughed. "I'm glad to hear it."

"Things seem to be going well around here," Greeneyes said, fighting to keep her voice neutral. "Everyone's acting like one Clan."

Spiderstar sighed. "Not everyone's getting along as well as that group you saw out there. I have Bluenettle and Bellbirdcall in my group, remember?"

Greeneyes laughed. "True. You've got the two biggest nay-sayers in your group! How are you managing them?"

"With a lot of tact and compromise. As much as I admire Keastar, she's a bit too...direct. She comes to blows with Bluenettle a lot. I think she's used to her orders being followed without question. To each their own, everyone has their own leadership styles. Her authoritarian approach just isn't doing the job here."

"I bet it isn't. Having a conversation with her is like talking to a rock." Greeneyes couldn't help herself.

"Don't be so judgemental." Spiderstar's lips twitched. "If she's still around after I die, you'll be leading alongside her."

Greeneyes scowled. She'd always envisioned leading alone. She'd entertained the idea of leading ForestClan with Sandflyspeck, and she supposed leading with Mataiclaw would be managable. But Keastar? She wrinkled her nose in disgust.

"She's not so bad, give her a chance and get to know her," Spiderstar said.

Greeneyes gave him a sideways look. "'She's not so bad?' Last cold season you were telling me about how she was a hard-hearted idiot with fleas in her brain."

"Well, times have changed. If only our clanmates were as willing to put aside our prejudices and learn to appreciate each other as Keastar and I have," he said with a sigh.

"Give them time, they'll come around," she said.

Spiderstar shook his head. "I believed that too. I knew it would always be a hard adjustment but some cats are very against ForestClan. And I understand that. I expected it and prepared for it. But never did I think..." he paused to take a breath.

Greeneyes leaned forward. Could Spiderstar have requested this meeting for more reasons than a check in?

He lowered his voice to a whisper. "I've become aware of a rebellion starting up against ForestClan.

"What?" Greeneyes burst out, jerking backwards.

"Shhh!" Spiderstar hushed her. "I've been keeping a close eye on cats who I thought would cause trouble. I noticed Bluenettle was acting strange, taking cats aside and whispering away with them. I thought she was just stirring up trouble, until Frecklepelt came to me. She said that Robincry told her of a rebellion Bluenettle had mentioned. She said it's being lead by RushClan cats."

Greeneyes's claws unsheathed. "RushClan? Those interfering fleabags!"

Spiderstar growled. "I know. I knew Fernstar would make a fuss, but I didn't realise she'd get this upset about it."

"So she's behind this then?"

"I don't know. Frecklepelt said she'd been told it was being lead by  Fernstar's sister and her mate."

Greeneyes retracted her claws. "Frecklepelt's ex-mate...are you sure Frecklepelt is telling the truth? She was exiled for a reason." She reasoned.

"I took Frecklepelt in because I believed her word. I don't care for any past business between her, Fernstar, and Fogface. She's always been a loyal warrior to us and fits in well with our clanmates. Do you really believe the words of cats behind a secret rebellion over our clanmate?" Spiderstar said.

Greeneyes thought for a moment. She'd always been uneasy with Frecklepelt and the allegations against her. But Spiderstar never believed them. He gave her a second chance, just as he gave Greeneyes one.

"Of course not." Greeneyes shook her head. "So what are we going to do about it?"

Spiderstar sat back on his haunches. "I don't think it's a threat at this stage. Their numbers aren't very big, so it isn't like all of RushClan is behind it. I doubt it will go anywhere. But I want someone to keep an eye on it. We can't let them take us by surprise. And I want to know Fernstar's involvement." Suppressed anger slipped into Spiderstar's dismissive tone as he mentioned Fernstar. "So I'm going to need a spy."

Greeneyes sat up straight, ears erect. "Who are you thinking of? Frecklepelt would be ideal but with Fogface and her mate running it, that won't be possible."

Spiderstar's pale eyes met hers. "I want you to do it. I trust no one more."

"Me?" Greeneyes blinked.

"Yes. I want this rebellion kept quiet. I know you won't tell anyone and will report directly to me. Obviously you won't be able to directly infiltrate the group, but spying from a distance should be fine."

"How will I know when the meetings are happening?" She asked

"Frecklepelt told me that Wekafur is a member of the rebellion. Keep an eye on him. If you seem him sneaking away at night, follow him. The meetings seem to be in the same place, at the border."

Greeneyes sat with this, digesting all that she'd been told. A rebellion against ForestClan? She knew cats didn't like the idea. It took her time to come around to it. But a rebellion? How could cats be so disrespectful? Spiderstar and Keastar knew what was best. And what was most insulting was that it was being lead by RushClan. They whined about being ForestClan enforcing this change, but chose to get themselves involved.

"I'll do it!" She spat. "Traitors and enemies won't be able to crush ForestClan."

Spiderstar purred. "I'm so glad you see how important this is. I couldn't have a better deputy." He twisted around in his nest, picking up a tui. He dropped it in front of Greeneyes.

Greeneyes grinned. "My favourite!"

The pair ate, Greeneyes eating the tui Spiderstar gave her, while he ate a rat. They enjoyed a comfortable silence, both consumed in their thoughts. Greeneyes's mind was whirling with thoughts about the rebellion. She assumed Spiderstar was thinking along the same lines.

Voices carried into the den from outside. Hard, angry voices, sharp with bitterness and thorns.
"I can't believe you would do this!"

"What, have beliefs? Am I supposed to be sorry I'm not a mouseheart like you?"

Greeneyes pricked up her ears. Spiderstar jumped out of his nest, striding outside to see what was going on. She followed behind him, nearly tripping over her own paws in a hurry.

In the middle of camp, two cats faces off with each other. A torbie molly glared up at a taller tom, lips pulled back into a leer. She stamped closer to him, nose almost touching his chin. Thistlecloud pinned his ears back, growling down at his sister.

"Bellbirdcall, Thistlecloud, that's enough!" Spiderstar's voice rang out.

The two ignored him, not taking their eyes off each other. Greeneyes shivered at the looks on their faces. Her foster littermates faces were twisted, with all the fury of a wild boar.

"BeechClan and RushClan should never have joined together. We are not ForestClan, I will never call myself one. I'm a BeechClan cat through and through! All you are is a traitor, siding with the enemy," Bellbirdcall spat, fur bristling.

"You're the traitor! You're disobeying your leader's wishes. You're disobeying StarClan's will too. Who are you to make that call?" Thistlecloud thrust his muzzle down into her face.

In the blink of an eye, Bellbirdcall sprung up at her brother, headbutting him directly in the neck. Greeneyes gasped, watching her brother reel backwards, air knocked from his throat. He lunged at Bellbirdcall, delivering such a heavy blow to her head that the entire camp could hear the sound. Stumbling backwards, Bellbirdcall groaned for a moment before leaping back into the fray. Fur flying, teeth gnashing, claws slicing. The onlooking cats added to the din, cheering and shouting as the fight became brutal.

Spiderstar rushed to intercept, but stood to the side, faltering as he tried to find a way to break them up. Just as Greeneyes braced herself to go and help him, Keastar barrelled directly into the middle of the fight. She shouldered Bellbirdcall to one side, whipping around and baring her teeth to Thistlecloud.

But she didn't need to. The moment the two untangled, Thistlecloud deflated. His fur lay flat as he backed away from his sister, a look of horror on his face. He turned tail and ran into the medicine den, while Bellbirdcall carried on yowling, spitting obscenities and insults. Keastar let out a low growl, silencing her.

Greeneyes stared at the scene. Tufts of fur blew across the clearing in the wind. She looked back up at Spiderstar, seeing his eyes as wide as hers.

He snapped into command before her eyes, retracting his claws and relaxing his muscles.
"Keastar and I will sort this mess out. Thanks for coming in and meeting with me, Greeneyes. I'll see you in a quarter moon or so, unless you have any information for me sooner."

Greeneyes dipped her head. She wanted to get away from this fight as soon as possible. She left Spiderstar and Keastar's camp with more worries than she came in with. She'd known there would be arguments and struggles integrating RimuClan and BeechClan together. Arguments were expected but full blown fights were something else. A fight betwern siblings, no less! Bellbirdcall was belligerent and always causing trouble. But Thistlecloud was quiet, a peacemaker. If he was being driven to fighting...what did other cats think?

This worry stayed with Greeneyes over the next day. She threw herself into her duties, trying to make ForestClan as appealing as possible. As she patrolled, Alpine purring by her side, she knew she needed to ask her friends whether they supported ForestClan, otherwise she wouldn't be able to concentrate on her day with Alpine. She pulled Sleetheart, Quickdawn aside.

"What's up? Something's bothering you." Sleetheart remarked as Greeneyes lead them behind a large fern outside of camp, where they wouldn't be overheard.

Greeneyes took a deep breath, lowering her voice to a whisper. "When I was in Spiderstar and Keastar's camp, Bellbirdcall and Thistlecloud got in a full fight over ForestClan. Bellbirdcall is really against it, which is no surprise. Thistlecloud defended it." Under her breath she explained the way they flew at each other, the things they said. "It shook me because cats are being driven to physical fights. Even peaceful cats like Thistlecloud."

Sleetheart shivered. "That's terrible. It's a good thing nothing like that has happened in our group."

"That's what I'm worried about. We've had some arguments; what if it escalates?" She stared at her friends. "Do you guys believe in ForestClan? I need to know."

Sleetheart nodded. "Of course I do! The Guardian sent a message to Spiderstar and Keastar, as well as that RimuClan elder. I trust the Guardian and the decisions They make for us. I don't like RimuClan. I don't like talking to them, looking at them, patrolling and hunting with them. I don't like their fighting system. But if being one Clan is The Guardian's will, then I'll learn to love ForestClan."

Greeneyes purred. There was a reason Sleetheart was her best friend. She'd never doubt Spiderstar or The Guardian.

Quickdawn was silent, looking at her paws. She wrinkled her nose.

Greeneyes and Sleetheart stared at her, awaiting her answer. A fear filled Greeneyes's chest. No. No. Her own friend couldn't be against ForestClan!
"Quickdawn...?"

Quickdawn looked up at her. "I don't like it. I don't support ForestClan and I don't think I ever will," she snapped. "And I don't see what's wrong with that. RimuClan are prey-stealing lowlifes who want nothing more than to take over our forest. They'd nurse their kits our blood if they could. We've fought for generations! Why would the Guardian change his mind now?"

Greeneyes stared at her friend, mouth agape. "You think you know better than Spiderstar? Than The Guardian?"

"We only have Spiderstar's word that this is The Guardian's will. What if that elder was just old? What if Patewing and Spiderstar are lying? Keastar doesn't even believe in the Guardian. We didn't either until a generation ago. I'm sorry, Greeneyes, but you're blind to Spiderstar's true intentions. I hope you see things the way I do before this all goes to pieces." Quickdawn stood, her amber eyes blazing. She stormed off, rounding the bush and striding off to camp.

Greeneyes stared after her, anxiety bubbling in her stomach. A rebellion, her own friend denouncing ForestClan.. she worried that ForestClan's troubles were just beginning.