Motivational speakers have a charm to them. Some people try to avoid them because they either don't want to be around people like them or just want to be alone. They rise others and bring a new sense of confidence and bravery that makes others rise to their feet and stand. They bring hope to a group of people who have seen horrors. While it may not carry on for the rest of a person's life, during that moment when they connect with the words, there's some kind of clicking, and then it's there. 

Exhilaration swarms through us, we stand a little taller, and maybe those inspirational songs we try to avoid aren't as bad as we thought. They have a new meaning to them, they make those challenges seem like nothing, and when we see things differently, maybe they aren't as stressful as we made them out to be. We learn to stand and face the challenge even if we're scared, but you're not the only one who's gone through something like this. Everyone in this world has had a moment when they're lost and don't know what to do. Fear kicks in, but all of them have made it out. We are human.

We can't just plug our ears and cover our eyes for our entire lives, someday, we have to stand. 

X X X 

"There used to be four Clans, but when a plague swept across the land, it slowly eliminated FogClan and DawnClan, leaving MeadowClan and CinderClan as the remaining ones," Ashstar explained. "I was born a few moons after the rumors died down and Featherstar was our leader back then. He wanted to bring back the other Clans, but our situation forced us to concern about ourselves over a name that once belonged to a grand Clan. Stories were passed on about them, but they quickly became forgotten after time passed."

"It's not like we wanted the other Clans back," Aspenstar muttered, flattening her ears. "I don't see the need worrying over two Clans that can never have some rebirth when the remaining Clans are struggling just to get through leafbare. Surely, everyone's noticed the colder winds and the longer nights."

"Not much is known about the two anymore. If the rogues are trying to bring back DawnClan and FogClan to destroy the two Clans that did survive this plague, then we'll just have to be ready to fight them back," Ashstar explained, giving the gray sky a worried look as flakes of snow rained, a layer of white covering the roofs of dens.

"Let's face it: CinderClan's fallen," Aspenstar stated, followed by angered growls and snarls from her Clan. "But," she countered, stamping out any sparks of conversations. "That doesn't mean we can't make a comeback. FogClan and DawnClan only fell and stayed dead because there wasn't any cat there to rebuild it. I'm still here, and I'm going to make sure my Clan doesn't end up like those two."

I wonder what Clan life would be if Aspenstar stayed in MeadowClan. Mothpaw frowned and flicked a snowflake away with her ear. If she were in our Clan, would CinderClan have fallen back then? Clearwhisker might be a leader, but she also may not. Is... is this StarClan's way of protecting us? A feeling of dread swept over her, dragging her paws into the ground and unsurprisingly, it felt normal. According to Ashstar's word, that mythical Clan had strange ways of saving cats, going as far as to breaking, poisoning, and killing them just to see a bright future. 

An icy paw trailed down her spine as Stonepaw's haunting words echoed in her ears. "I'll bring StarClan down with my own paws." Mothpaw shivered and huddled next to the warm pelt next to her, breathing in her brother's scent. Her eyes trailed toward the medicine cat den where her sister lay, sound asleep. The rest of the Clan stayed silent as they listened, a sense of doubt and hostility hanging over them. The silver apprentice thought Lakestalk somehow looked larger and a little more threatening. 

"But we need a plan," Ashstar growled. "We need to act fast if we want this problem to finish. Leafbare is happening right now," he snarled, flicking his tail to the dens. "Prey and herbs are running low and we can't keep this up anymore. You'll be glad to hear this, but you need to get back to your own camp."

"Finally, it's about time you and I saw eye-to-eye," sighed the she-cat. "What do you propose? How about I send out a group of cats to scout and check out my territory? It's risky, but we can gain vital information if it works out." Aspenstar's eyes already began to seek through the crowd for the healthiest cats. Most of CinderClan rose to their paws, obeying their leader while the MeadowClan cats exchanged worried glances, should they be roped in. 

"We need to know the layout and who we're up against, charging in head-first has the same chance of winning as losing, and if we lost any cats, then we'd find ourselves buried in white." Ashstar glanced toward the direction of the forest, squinting as a plan formed in his head. "But, I need a new deputy."

"Please don't do this---"

"I'm not going to waste time," he snapped, overpowering Aspenstar, who looked ready to fight. Without a second thought, he looked at the clump of MeadowClan cats and announced, "The new deputy of MeadowClan shall be Speckleflash." 

Cats cheered for the cream warrior and Beechpaw ripped away from her, dashing over to the cream she-cat to jump into her. Startled, Speckleflash barely had enough time to stop her apprentice and repeat what she just heard. Yowling, the two cats hit the ground and the crowd began to circle around, congratulating the new deputy. Mothpaw pushed her way through the sea of fur, and her heart lifted at the sight of the two, her brother standing now at her side proudly, puffing out his white chest. When their eyes locked, she never recalled a moment when his amber eyes were full of such joy and exhilaration, reverting back to the little kit he once was. 

Her own body responded to the intensity and her heart elevated, clearing her troubled mind to stay in the grand moment. CinderClan warriors slipped through spaces to dip their heads in respect, Clearwhisker being the only one who actually came up to Speckleflash to share tongues. Above, Aspenstar and Ashstar watched with contentment as their cries for the new deputy rose into the empty sky. Mothpaw looked away and returned to her brother's side as the cream she-cat continued to process her new role, staring at her owns paws like they were on fire. 

It died down and Ashstar returned to his speech. "We need to act now and not later. Waiting did nothing for us and only caused the death of so many cats. If we want to end this and show StarClan we aren't useless, we have to act now."

"Are you suggesting an increase in hunting and border patrols? Don't forget about the double practice for apprentices and kits alike. They'll be made into apprentices soon enough, shouldn't they? If we go into battle, we're going to need every single cat to stand up and fight - including elders," Aspenstar reported, glaring at the four older cats in the group, who had a look of pleasure and disapproval on their face. She paid no heed to their opinions and moved on, looking at the tom. 

Ashstar sighed and gave the CinderClan leader a quick swipe to the ear. "It's true we need every cat we can get to fight against the rogues, but we also can't force anyone into a battle they don't want to fight. We don't know when our life will end, and nobody wants to charge into a battle knowing they risk their life. These rogues aren't like us; they'll kill and won't spare the ones who have lost. I'd rather not see a newly apprentice jump into battle and never return."

"Father!" Deerleaf snarled, standing up. Fur bristling with anger and disappointment. Ashstar flattened his ears to his skull to block out her voice, but the fawn-colored cat marched up, ignoring the cats who tried to stop her. The little warrior climbed up the highrock and stood a few paces away from the old tom, curling her lips back into a snarl. Aspenstar's hackles rose as she stepped in front of the other leader.

Deerleaf shook her head and snarled, rising up against the CinderClan cat. The crowd had their eyes pinned on the warrior, sucking in their breath. Swiftbranch had his head buried in his paws, wanting to avoid the sight while Leopardpaw jeered and nudged his side, taunting him to look up. She was stopped by a furious Lionfur, who yanked his daughter out of her fur and dragged her corpse back to her mother's side, who had a mouth full of words for her daughter. Her brothers peeked out from behind the stripe she-cat, eager to see their sister punished. Mothpaw and Beechpaw stuck together and watched as their kin boldly faced the two leaders. 

"What do you think all of this training was for?" she started out, calming down. Deerleaf padded to the edge and gestured to the crowd with her little paw, green eyes full of sorrow. "We're warriors, Father. We went through training just to receive our warrior names, did we not? StarClan may not be on our side, but we each other's side in a fight. If we were afraid to stand our ground, then we wouldn't be here, right? Even if there were cats that hid during the last fight, they knew that hiding wasn't going to get them anywhere. Whether we like it or not, we have to use our fear to our advantage."

"Deerleaf, step down," Ashstar replied. "This is not the right time for you to speak up. If we were to go into battle, say we all did get healed, then what would we do? We don't know how many cats are going to be there and your own life could end. Do you understand how much I've seen, knowing that every cat that has gone missing, the blame gets placed on my shoulders? If I lost my entire Clan, what would I be? Do you want to go into battle just to see your friends die?"

"Do you even understand how many cats have gone missing?" challenged Aspenstar, advancing. "Every day, we know that one of our cats could go missing or die of some sickness. Leafbare only makes things worse for us. We want to stand up and fight but can't lose the cats that have stood with us against hardships. Are you really the daughter to Ashstar, or are you just a fake?"

"Maybe it's you who doesn't understand," Deerleaf protested, letting the insult slide off her back, and caused both leaders to snap. "Every cat out there has lost a cat they once loved. They can prove it, trust me."

"She's right!" Frostlight shouted, standing up next to Swiftbranch, who sank further to the ground. "I lost Firefleck, my only family member after our mother and father died! She went missing and I don't know where she is, but I can't just sit around if she's still alive! If she's dead, then all the more reason to avenge her death so she wasn't just a warrior with a name!"

"You aren't the only one!" Hailbreeze shouted, getting up as well, keeping Olivepaw and Runningpaw close to her side. "I lost my mate and Mallowkit in a span of a single moon. Then my only daughter lost her purpose from the rogues. I know it's rash to charge into battle when the rogues probably have a reason, but I'm not afraid to fight if you call it. If I lose my life, then I'll promise to fight wherever I end up."

"Aspenstar, you can't forget about us, too!" A CinderClan warrior shouted, belonging to the brown pelt of Racconstem, standing on her legs, despite her underbelly dragging across the ground heavily. At once, cats rushed to her side to help the queen, but she denied all help and planted her feet to the ground, glowering at the two leaders. "We've lost our fair share of cats, too! How do you think all of our fallen warriors feel now that we've lost the glory of our Clan?"

"I agree!" Spruebranch shouted, marching next to his clanmate. "We've already told you countless times that we'd follow you wherever you went without a question. It's our turn to fight and get back the cats we've lost. All of them, all of them are waiting for us to come find them. Featherblaze, Gingerpuddle, Palemoon, Viperpaw, Heatherpaw, Frostkit, Quailkit, Heavypaw, and many more that I can't even name..."

"Talonspark, Willowriver, Twigpaw, and Pigeonkit!" exclaimed Brindleface, slipping through pelts to stand by Meadow and CinderClan cats. "I know I'm forgetting cats, and I'm disgusted that I can. Those cats weren't just normal ones that only had a name to define who they were. They were warriors of CinderClan; the greatest Clan there ever was. Let us help you, you don't have to hide anymore."

"Hiding's always been second nature to us now," Lakestalk described, sweeping his tail across the clearing. "I don't know about you, but I was never taught to run and hide, and I'm not letting the apprentices grow up where the only solution is to hide." Slatepaw and Cloudpaw cheered and roared, the other CinderClan apprentices joining in the celebration and surging waves of confidence. 

Deerleaf looked at the arising crowd, hope flaring through her body. Her eyes flashed with love and joy, unable to contain herself. She flung herself around and faced her father, body trembling. Aspenstar looked at her Clan, surprised at the movement, worry creeping through as more cats took a stand. Ashstar tried to keep his attention on the feisty she-cat in front of him, but his gaze would constantly drop back to his Clan, a sense of pride and warmth of a fatherly figure emitting from him.

"See, Father?" spoke Deerleaf, "they'll fight with you."

Aspenstar and Ashstar seemed hesitant, unable to say anything as cats rose to their feet, battle scars flashing with pride, not regret or fear. Mothpaw and the other apprentices jumped to their feet and shouted into the air with a cry of spirit and triumph, causing even more warriors to stand up. For once, she felt like they could finally fight the snow that fell from the sky, fight the rogues that multiplied in groups, fight the lack of prey and herbs, fight the mystical Clan that rested in the sky, a long slumber trapping them. 

Then they broke out in loud cheers as the apprentices, as if they were controlled, raced across, spreading their enthusiasm and energy among warriors and elders alike. Mothpaw knew that it wouldn't be long until she buried herself in her nest, denying any fact she let her paws take control of her. Embarrassment would surely catch up to her, but for now, she figured it was normal for an apprentice to still have the spirit of a tiny kit. Each apprentice, new or old, bounced around, shouting cheers and the warriors unleashed their claws, lashed their tails,  strength returning in heaps. 

"Give us the order, Ashstar," Speckleflash started. 

"We all share the same fear without a StarClan to guide us," Alderfang joined, giving his leader a warm look.

"You're our leader, and no matter what you do, we're always going to be on your side," declared Lionfur, a smirk planted on his face.

"Even if we're bound by some kind of loss, we all share it and know what it feels like," Splashpelt added, dipping his head in respect of Sagefeather and Sleekfeather, the tiny body of Tumblekit at his side, eyes brighter. 

"We're a Clan, right? That means we have to listen and work with one another or else we aren't going to go anywhere," Bramblethorn growled, "and I'm ready to go back home and give those rogues a taste of my mind."

"There are times when we have to say goodbye to allies," Dovewhisker whispered, voice tangled with fear and hope. The gray she-cat bit her tongue and forced her shaking head up to the highrock, saying, "B-but we can't go back anymore. Waiting on StarClan proved nothing, we have to accept the fact they're gone and we can't keep doing what we do in hopes they'll return."

"I know you better than anyone here," Clearwhisker finished, muttering something else that Mothpaw didn't pick up, but she had a feeling she knew what the deputy meant. "You know that we can't do this while clinging to the hope of StarClan coming back."

"And, if you won't fight for them, fight for Amberfeather." Deerleaf no longer hesitated, proudly facing the two leaders with the spirit of two Clans behind her. The tiny warrior grew, and Ashstar and Aspenstar shared one last look, knowing they had lost. Then father and daughter embraced one another, staying in one another's presence for the longest time with a scrawny she-cat watching them with a small grin of approval. 

And Mothpaw blinked away the sight of another she-cat with them, one that stood between brother and sister, forgiveness pouring out of her, saying her final farewell. 

This is it, she thought, letting out a huge breath, slowing down. By now, MeadowClan and CinderClan were back on their feet, encouraging each other and slashing in the air with their powerful claws. Beechpaw and her shared a joyous look, even if a battle awaited them, they stomped over it like it was a fly. Cats shouted and stated to mock battle one another, honing their skills as waves of confidence and pride washed over them, chasing out the fear that still remained. 

This is a real Clan.