sunwhisker smiled happily as him and lariana padded out of camp. it had only been a few days- and she fit in great.

by now, most cats knew who she was. lots still sent her dirty looks, but others welcomed her happily.

sunwhisker was so happy she was back- so much had changed. all of his sisters were dead, along with his father, and somewhere out there, his mother who had ran away.

after swaybreeze was killed in a battle skirmish, a flood came. it wiped out half the clan- maybe more. it had took ferntalon, his dad, and his last two sisters, flowerpetal and lightstripe. and right after that... his mother, firelight, ran away. no one knows where she went.

of course he missed them, but having lariana back made his heart lighter.

they were nearing one of the only clearings in the forest when the blue gray she cat turned around excitedly.

"sunwhisker... guess what!" she purred, looking as if she would burst with joy.

he tilted his head at her, confused as her eyes scanned the clearing. "what?"

she hopped happily and met his bright green gaze again. "i... okay dont get mad!! but i want to create a mafia!" she explained, looking as if she would yowl from the happiness he could tell filled her.

but his eyes clouded in confusion. mafia? what's a mafia?
he smiled though, and asked, "why?"

"because... featherstar clearly hates me. and she isnt a very good leader, from what i can tell. if we can get enough cats on our side, we can kill her and take over. we can make new ranks... and we can rule together!"

sunwhisker stepped back, feeling numb. kill... kill featherstar? that wasnt right. he couldnt do that. but he couldnt see lariana unhappy. it would break his heart. and she may even kill him since he knows about it. "and who do you suggest... joins?"

she smiled. "ive thought carefully... but a few i want are deerleap and acornfang. they're both so powerful... and deerleap is an advisor! if we kill featherstar then deerleap has a chance at becoming commander, and that would take us far."

sunwhisker cringed inwardly. why? whyd she have to tell him this? now what is he supposed to do? "your right. but how would they agree to this?" he asked, flicking his tail.

she rolled her eyes. "dear starclan, sunwhisker. im still thinking. but deerleap doesnt even believe in starclan, so she shouldn't be afraid. and acornfang... well, hes quiet. he doesnt talk much. so perhaps... maybe that'll work."

sunwhisker closed his eyes tightly. of course he didnt want to betray his clan... go behind their back. but... after getting lariana back? he couldnt break her heart. she was all he had now.

"okay... okay, yeah. but what if we get caught?" he asked anxiously, glancing from side to side to make sure no one was listening.

"oh, that's just the fun of it!" lariana purred.

she was... enjoying this.

"how would this work though? where would we make plans? how would we get away with murder?"

the last question felt bitter on his tongue. what would ferntalon think? would he be disappointed? of course he would... he didnt raise me like this.

"we can all pretend to go on hunting patrols or something.. or meet at night. we could go in the other cave, that lies close to turtle cave. and for getting away... well i have some stuff to work out, but dont worry."

sunwhisker backed up, feeling uncomfortable. this wasnt a good idea. why was he agreeing?

"alright... lets go back to camp then... and we can slowly get cats on our side."