All right, who's guilty of starting up a rumor? The words just happened to slip out of your mouth in the wrong way and someone happened to be right there and overheard. Then they get ideas and start to spread it around, sometimes the person who started it is unaware of the spreading fire. By the time they figure out, unless they catch it quite quickly, it's hard to stomp out the weeds and dig up those seeds. Even if you raise your voice, that doesn't mean others won't stop talking and spreading. Perhaps your mere reaction to settle down the little rumor and misunderstanding causes even more drama to stir and by then, you are forced to either give up and let it die itself or do something else in vain.

I'm sure we know by now that most problems are better solved once we smooth things down with the people that the problem concerns and then let it die. It's hard to do so if this tiny problem gets under our skin, but if you can ignore it and let it play out by itself and watch it fall, then that's some patience and strength you have. After all, once it's all over with the least amount of gossip and drama, it feels great like a mountain was just taken off your chest. That's what I normally feel, but I'm not everyone, and everyone here figures out how to suppress these kind of things their own way.

But there are types of people that know that sitting and waiting isn't going to help when the fire has spread that much, and perhaps we don't have to fight fire with water, but fire with fire.

X X X

The rogues retreated in waves that Mothpaw thought she was going to drown. The calico she-cat had taken over for Nettlestar and brought all of her new forces together and chased them out of the camp. Aspenstar did send some rogues off with blows to the sides and shoulders as they raced by her, and Ashstar watched them run with a cruel, amused look. Beechpaw grabbed Olivepaw by the scruff and hulled the two of them out of the way, the black apprentice following blindly.

Once they escaped, the calico was the only one left in the middle of the entrance, easily identifying the two leaders. She flattened her ears and said nothing, turned around, and darted after the rogues as they rampaged throughout MeadowClan's territory. Mothpaw fell to her paws and let out a massive sigh of relief just as the Clans let out a roar of triumph towards the sky.

"Take that, rogues! Don't mess with us ever again because we'll just be even stronger than before!" Flintpaw shouted, jumping after their trail with an excited Finchpaw behind him, a wide grin spread across her gleeful face. Brother and sister gave one another a proud look and broke out in laughter before returning to their adopted siblings' side.

"We did it! We beat them! This means we can beat them after all!" Speckleflash shouted, bouncing on her paws like an excited kit, the nasty wound on her flank weighing her down. Cuts and scratches scarred her pelt and one of her eyes was swollen shut, but other than that, the cream warrior regained her energy and began to spread her eagerness throughout her clanmates.

"Ha! This means we can retake our camp!" Clearwhisker snarled, lashing her tail like an angry snake. "If we can heal fast enough, that means we can go after them while they're weak and injured. That'll teach them for making a fool out of us." The murderous look in her blue eyes glowed dangerously and the white she-cat curled her claws into the ground, shaking with destruction.

"You can never beat us! Let that be a lesson!" A CinderClan apprentice shouted and the rest of the apprentices cheered in agreement, raising their heads and tails high. Some MeadowClan apprentices merged with them and rejoiced too. Tiny heads bobbed up and down with each jump and dance, and soon enough, the rest of the apprentices - minus Mothpaw, Beechpaw, and Olivepaw - were celebrating, ignoring their past ties and grudges for the cheering.

Mothpaw finally faced Sleekwhisker's body, unmoving and for once, the fire that always burned around her extinguished. She crawled over, her injuries rushing back to her as the scars stared at her in a gaping mouth. Swallowing the rising bile, she gently touched her nose to the deputy's cold forehead, ushering a small whisper to the fallen she-cat. Just maybe, there could've been a slight twitch of movement in the sky, but nobody could tell where it came from or what could've explained it.

The clouds formed in the shape of clawmarks, striking the silent sky.

I'm sorry we couldn't save you, she prayed, lifting her head at the sound of approaching pawsteps. Ashstar halted and stared at Sleekwhisker's body, a sense of horror, judgement, pity, and relief flashing across his face. Soon enough, the cries of triumph died and only then did the corpses of rogues and clanmates finally resurface. They gathered around their lost ones, dipping their heads in respect.

Speckleflash and Tigerfrost raced up to the deputy, their jaws dropping at the sight of their friend. Rabbitbranch froze, staring at the unmoving body, legs trembling like twigs. He fell to the ground and that's when Splashpelt finally looked up and saw the she-cat. In seconds, the calico raced over and skidded to a halt, practically shoving his leader and the apprentice aside. His lips struggled to form words, unable to muster out the strength at his fallen kin.

Mothpaw recognized the look of pain from a brother who just lost their sister.

"Sleekwhisker..." Swiftbranch choked out, padding closer to the pelt, daring to step closer with the older warrior. The calico's shoulders sank and he crumbled to the ground, burying his head in her unmoving pelt. Another set of steps, and Deerleaf was right next to the deputy, shaking.

"She's... gone?" Clearwhisker marched forward and stopped, paws a few inches away. She looked sickened and disgusted, but Mothpaw could tell there were hints of sorrow pricking her. The white she-cat maneuvered her way around the two toms, resting her tail around the killing wound, covering the nasty mark from the wide eyes of the apprentices. Gently, she touched her nose to Sleekwhisker's forehead, closed her eyes, whispered unknown words, and then returned to her leader's side.

The rest of the apprentices gathered around a few bodies, dipping their heads in respect. Aspenstar forced her attention aside and spotted her clanmates. All the color and life drained from her in mere seconds, heart dropping to her stomach. She slid next to them, unable to say anything. Runningpaw sat next to Cloudpaw, both of them silent as they parted ways for the leader.

"Copperheart... Bettlepelt..." A brown warrior approached the two warriors carefully, eyes widening with dread. Eveningpaw and Owlpaw perked their heads up as she made her way next to Aspenstar, touching each with her paw. Mothpaw scanned her gaze around the camp, relief that the only causalites were Sleekwhisker, Copperheart, and Bettlepelt. Other cats suffered grave injuries or were slumped on one side, struggling to stay alive.

A calico pelt unraveled herself from her bundle where she hid, a few scratches along her pelt and face, but nevertheless, alive. Dapplefur began to tend to the worst injuries, urging them to get up and head over to her den so she could start. Ashstar and her locked eyes for a short moment and they both turned and instantly found the two sisters in the heap. The medicine cat didn't waste time and forced her way into the den before Breezepaw or Whitepaw could come up to her.

Is this a victory?

"They've gone back to CinderClan camp, StarClan's sake!" Aspenstar spat, stomping on the ground. "At least we killed their leader—"

"No!" Beechpaw protested, breaking away from his mentor. "You're wrong! Nettlestar was a victim!" Mothpaw held her breath, eyes locking on the gaping strike on his neck. From the looks of the other cats, they noticed the lethal blow but didn't speak up. Aspenstar raised an eyebrow and lunged, knocking into her brother in a single pounce. She gasped and her heart leapt, taking her entire body with the jump, landing a few paces away from the leader and apprentice. Her brother struggled, looking at her through pained eyes.

"Stop, let go of my brother, please!" Mothpaw begged. "He's telling the truth!"

"How does a cat who caused this considered a victim?" Aspenstar sighed, releasing Beechpaw. The tabby scrambled to his paws and glued himself next to her, giving Mothpaw a sense of safety. Ashstar came forward and stood in front of the two, blocking them from the scrawny she-cat's glowering face. They shared a look before her brother pushed away, slipping around his leader to stand next to the CinderClan cat.

"Beechpaw..." she murmured, hearing a cat creep up behind her. Speckleflash wrapped a paw protectively around her as they watched the younger tom. Beechpaw swallowed the lump in his throat and stood on his toes, reaching Aspenstar's chest.

Looking amused, she leaned over, her nose dangling a few inches above his head. "Care to explain what you heard?"

"He... he said that there was something else... Nettlestar mentioned there were other cats like him and Shatteredstar was somehow involved with this entire thing. He didn't want to fight but Sleekwhisker was just doing her job and tried to protect us from danger, but then a rogue noticed this and swooped in to protect her leader and she was the one who landed the killing blow, not him." The words flew out of his mouth faster and faster, leaving the two leaders fighting to pick up the chunks of vomit. Cats began to exchange worried glances and started to whisper small rumors as her brother panicked.

Runningpaw looked torn, unable to believe his friend's words. Olivepaw was off in her own world, looking at Nettlestar's body with keen interest, no longer listening to the words. Eventually, Aspenstar flattened her ears to her head and whirled around at Ashstar, stomping over, cramming her face in his with her lips curled back into a snarl. MeadowClan jumped to their feet and advanced, Deerleaf in the front, but the she-cat tripped over her paws when her father shook his head. She let out a snarl at the she-cat, keeping her sharp gaze on him.

"He said... Jaggedstone, Soulfrost, and Cedarsky were the other cats like him!" Beechpaw cried before Aspenstar could explode on Ashstar. "And there were two other Clans!"

That silenced any conversations. Both Aspenstar and Ashstar jerked their heads to the apprentice, latching onto the information. Mothpaw felt her heart pump faster and faster, her paws shaking as some cats reacted to the news. Tigerfrost and Lionfur shared anticipated looks, jaws shut as past memories rushed upon them, neither saying a word in front of the silenced Clan. Rabbitbranch and Alderfang turned to stone, even with Flintpaw and Finchpaw pushing against them, they hardly moved an inch.

Some CinderClan cats reacted differently, however. Bramblethorn had his ears pinned back and his claws unleashed, digging them into the ground to erase the words. Berryfur and Lakestalk looked appalled, and their apprentices noticed and they quickly grew concerned, turning a dark eye to Beechpaw. Back to Sleekwhisker's body, Clearwhisker had her eyes shut, portraying no emotion whatsoever, letting the ripple of shock pass through the cats.

From the medicine cat den, Dapplefur poked her head out, looking sorrowful. The two leaders darted back and forth, knowing that the news had already spread like wildfire. Aspenstar glared at Beechpaw and struck him with a strong blow to the side, blowing him over. Mothpaw screamed and ran over to him, but he pushed her aside, revealing that he had caught himself before he completely fell. Embarrassment flooded over her at the mistake and the pairs of eyes glued to her. She shook her head back and forth, dropping her head to her silver paws.

Before Aspenstar could lash out at anyone else, Ashstar put a halt to her, placing a paw on her shoulder. Looking solemn, he said, "Give it up, Aspenstar. It's our fault for hiding this." He swept his gaze across all of his Clan, and the senior warriors straightened up, looking guilty. The CinderClan leader opened her mouth to protest, but then Clearwhisker came closer and pulled her away, giving a respectful nod to the brown leader.

"We couldn't hide it forever, you know? I'm surprised nobody got it if they saw Shatteredstar's death," she whispered, confessing to her Clan.

"Nettlestar also said... CinderClan camp was the place to go if we wanted to end this, but we'd have to face those three cats, the rogues, and maybe Nightfall---" Beechpaw was abruptly cut off by a high-pitched scream belonging to a CinderClan cat.

"Nightfall?!" A cat screeched in the background. "There's no way he's alive right now! He's been gone for so long!"

"But if Nightfall's still alive, does that mean his sister's still alive?!"

"No, that can't be true! If Daystar was alive, that means that Ashstar wouldn't have nine lives!"

"Does Ashstar have nine lives?!"

"Of course he does! Aspenstar took one of them during a fight when you guys crossed into our territory!"

"For the last time, it wasn't us! You obviously can't tell the difference between our scent and rogues!"

"It was definitely a MeadowClan cat scent! There's no denying it! You just wouldn't own up to it!"

"It wasn't us that stepped into your territory back then! If anything, it was you who crossed into ours!"

"We barely have enough strength to complete our borders! It was harder in the past, so how do you expect us to enter your territory without risking our lives?!"

"I'd say the same thing to you if you weren't so stuck-up and forced the blame on us!"

"Enough!" Ashstar bellowed, lashing his tail. "If you all want to argue like kits, then do it after we're done! Even though this battle was a victory to us, we lost clanmates! We need to clean up and heal before we discuss the next plan of action. CinderClan, if you're that sick of us protecting and sheltering you then you're more than welcome to leave." MeadowClan went silent and sat down, pretending they weren't there. Mothpaw and Beechpaw curled into a tiny ball, hiding from the tom's outrage.

"CinderClan, hold your tongue!" Aspenstar snarled, standing next to Ashstar. "I'm ashamed you let conflicts from the past carry to the present, especially now when we barely made it out alive!" One apprentice looked for sympathy from Clearwhisker, who shook her head and let out a warning growl, causing the tom to stumble on his paws and remain quiet.

I've never seen either of them this angry... Mothpaw pondered, shaking from fear and excitement. I know it's bad to hope that they get angry, but... it's a way to make everyone listen to them...

"Now," Ashstar started, closing his eyes. "We'll explain what we know and try to settle out things, but until we've finished, you are not allowed to fight each other. If you happen to even lift a paw to strike another, I will see to it."

"And I'll make sure it won't slide," Aspenstar added, fur bristling. "It's on our fault we never said anything, but with everything we've handled, we thought nothing of it. Now, if this goes unspoken of, I'm sure that you'll start to question what's going on. So, shut your jaws and listen to us as we're forced to walk you through this like little kits!"