Flamewind woke, burning with anger. He shook his head, but it did almost nothing to suppress the surging rage inside of him. His claws slid out, unbidden from their sheaths and he stood rigid for a few minutes until he was able to control himself. He walked stiffly back into camp, where Amberpaw bounced over to him.

"Riverpelt's been looking everywhere for you!" She chirped, grinning broadly. "Are you in trouble?"

She was happy. Why? What was there to be happy about in this clan of lying, cheating, heartless cats? He shouldered past the apprentice, leaving her indignant and a little hurt, but he didn't care.

"Flamewind!" A breathless mew sounded and he whirled around, crouching, his fur bristling. He blinked a few times, seeing a very surprised grey face looking at him. "Flamewind are you alright?" Mintleaf asked hesitantly.

The ginger tom just looked at him, emotions battling inside. "He did this!" A thought that was not his own rang out, echoing through his mind. In the chaos, burning hatred and anger won and he snarled low in his throat. "You." He spat.

Mintleaf looked at him bewilderedly, taking a small step back. "Flamewind what's wrong?" He asked in a soft voice. This was not his mentor's son! Something was terribly wrong about him. Flamewind growled again, the sound barbaric and wild. The rest of the clan had started to gather.

Elmbreeze gasped, pushing her kits back into the nursery. Berryfur stared, eyes wide, unsure of what she should do. Redstorm rushed over, standing beside Mintleaf. "Flamewind? What are you doing?" He exclaimed, looking at him with wide eyes. Murmurs grew about him and heads poked out from dens.

"What's he doing?"

"Flamewind!"

"Stop it!"

"Just calm down!"

His clanmates' yowls echoed through him, the young tom scrunched up his green eyes, as everything threatened to explode. It was too much, it was all just too much.

"Flamewind."

A new voice called, slicing easily through the chatter, so that everything else was merely a dull murmur. He opened his eyes, seeing his clan gathered around him. Their mouths were open but he heard nothing, and their images were fuzzy. All that remained clear was a bright, white, she cat. She looked at him, tilting her head slightly, her blue gaze boring into him. She looked almost sad. "Flamewind." She said again, her voice washing over him. Slowly the fire died down inside of him, and he let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. She looked at him, almost seeming to want somethings or trying to tell him something, before turning and winking out of existence.

Flamewind blinked, looking around. His face burned and he took a step back, looking around at all the faces and bristling pelts. Anger threatened to resurface, and he knew he needed time to process and really calm down. Thoroughly confused and emotions battleling within him he ran. The crowd  sprang back as he surged forward, running out of camp, to nowhere, anywhere.

For the second time in 24 hours he found himself alone in the marshes. Not caring to take his steps lightly his paws sank into the grime and made a sucking noise when he pulled them back up. He didn't know what to make sense of anymore. Who was good. Who was bad. Who was lying and who was telling the truth. He heaved a sigh, padding forwards as the marsh gave way to forest. Padding along the StormClan border, he paused as the sound of twigs cracking and bushes swaying reached his ears. Crouching slightly he narrowed his eyes, ready to spring. A moment later he stopped himself almost midair, falling awkwardly on his side as Rosepaw appeared. She blinked at him.

"Flamewind?"

"Arghh!" He groaned, standing up.

Rosepaw's brow furrowed. "Are you alright?" She asked, putting the goldenrod she'd been collecting down and touching him lightly with her tail. He jolted at her touch, spring backward, claws coming unbidden from their sheaths. The apprentice sparing back from him, and she looked at him worriedly. "What's happened?" She asked, anxiety ringing her voice.

"Nothing!" Flamewind snapped quickly, sheathing his claws and turning away from her. His heart beat faster and faster, and he desperately tried to slow his breathing in case he did anything he might later regret.

Rosepaw peered at him anxiously. "You can tell me." She said softly. "I know you were very close to Cloudstream. She's not here to talk to you, and I'm a poor substitute, but you obviously need someone to talk with." She sat down, curling her tail neatly around her paws. "Go ahead." She said encouragingly.

Flamewind looked at her sharply, his rage still unabated, but she gazed back cooly, refusing to be frightened of her clanmate. Flamewind didn't know Rosepaw personally, but he had talked with her before usually just on health matters. He wasn't going to share his secrets with her, and yet she seemed so safe, so kind. Suddenly he found everything spilling out. He told her how he'd met a cat from StarClan and she'd told him the truth. Painfully he recounted Sparrowfrost's tale, telling her how their clan had lied, how their clan had treated his mother and father. Rosepaw listened quietly, lending a willing ear. At the end of his tirade he panted softly, and he felt his anger deflating and the rage fade from his heart.

"Flamewind?" Rosepaw said gently. The ginger tom looked up. "Do you believe in fate?"

Flamewind blinked at her. The question seemed so out of the blue he only responded with a confused, 'what?'

"Do you believe in fate? That everything we ever say or do is written in the stars? That there is a singular purpose for everyone's life and fate controls your destiny." Flamewind hesitated, unsure of how to respond. Rosepaw stretched her nose to the now darkening sky. "Well I don't." She said softly. "I want to be in control of my own life. Yes, StarClan can show us the path we are meant to walk, but ultimately the choice is ours on what path we wish to take." She looked at him and chuckled softly at his confused face. "Every choice is just that, a choice, and there are good choices, and there are also bad choices." She fixed him with a serious look. "Flamewind, back then the clan made a choice, and they made another keeping the truth from you. But choices do not make us bad cats. Everyone has made a bad choice in their life, and there are many repercussions, but no one is perfect, and no one will ever be perfect."

Flamewind wrestled with this a moment before retorting, "but they made a really bad choice! One that was obviously a bad choice."

"Not necessarily." He looked at her, an ember of rage in his eyes once more, but she stared back, unwavering. "They thought their choice was right. The medicine cat and the warrior code must be upheld, and upheld fully and completely." She said. "That is the choice that they made. Can you tell them it is bad?" He looked at her furiously. "But see Emberheart. Love is powerful and good, and I want to spend my life with this tom. That is the choice she made. Can you truly say to her that is a bad choice? Some would, others wouldn't. You can never please everyone, and you are one that is displeased."

"More than displeased. It was murder, Rosepaw." Flamewind spat acidly.

"Perhaps, but what Emberheart did was disloyalty and treason in some words." She said back calmly. Flamewind scowled.

"It didn't warrant what they're did to her!" He shot back angrily.

"Perhaps not, but what I'm trying to say is that no one is ever going to be perfect. All this anger you are feeling is to be expected, but you can't let it consume you. Ultimately, I hope they've learned from their choice, for without trial and error we would never grow." She looked at him, her gaze soft. "The code is created on trial and error, and everything in it is to be followed for a reason."

Flamewind brooded silently, struggling to keep his anger as he felt it slipping away. The pulsing rage made him feel better, it made him feel like he had purpose, yet a small voice told him it was not good. "That doesn't justify what they did." He snapped.

"Of course not." Rosepaw said simply. "I'm telling you, they did it because they thought it was the right thing to do." The young cat hesitated. "Just, when you feel you can, try to see it another way." She said. The red and white dappled she cat picked up the herbs and walked off with a small smile. Flamewind was left at a loss. He started walking, just walking. His paws took him through MistClan's marshes, towards the Gathering Place. He sighed, not particularly angry, nor was he calm. For a moment he simply was.

"Ai, what is going on?" Flamewind muttered to himself. He walked into the shallow of the Gathering Place, looking up at the four great oaks that stood for each clan. He was at a loss for it all, not knowing where he stood on anything. "Cloudstream, Briarpelt, I need you now more than ever." He whispered. Flamewind sat at the base of the Old Tree. He closed his eyes and lifted his nose to the stars. "If anyone can hear me, if anyone cares, I need to know the truth. What do I believe?"

A/N Well...I'm back! Hehehe...😅 if anyone is still reading this, thanks so much! I rly don't know what should happen next, so if you have ideas don't hesitate to comment! Soo what did you think? Good? Bad? Constructive criticism is always welcome!