Flamefur's POV:

Flamefur returned to camp after filling her belly with the crow. The forest- or what was left of it- seemed strange and unfamiliar to her. It was as if she were in one of the many forests she had passed when she had been exiled not so long ago. Her pawpads tingled as she walked over the foreign ground, her fur spiked in anxiety.

There was a nagging feeling in the pit of her stomach telling her to run and never look back, to leave Lightclan's territory and never return. Her legs itched to get her out of the strange forest. Even with the strong smells of Lightclan- the clan she had grown up in since the age of a kit- surrounding her, Flamefur couldn't shake the feeling that she wasn't home. Then where is home? She wondered, her amber gaze peeking over a dead bush in the direction of Smallclan. Should I go back to Smallclan? They were such a nice clan. Petalstar is such a nice leader... Surely she would allow me to re-join?

As she padded through the wrecked forest, Flamefur was still aware of the mysterious seagull following her from high in the tree tops. The beat of its wings overhead made her orange fur prickle nervously. Why won't it just leave me alone?

Even when she reached camp, just as the sun dipped behind the calm waves of the sea, the seagull was perched atop the warriors den. It's blue orbs followed her every movement as she slowly picked her way across the clearing and towards her dead clan mates where the vigil had already started.

Flamefur tried to ignore the feathered animal's gaze as she crouched down to press her nose against Watersplash's cold fur. You were a good medicine cat. May you find a good resting place in Starclan.

She shuffled over to Timberkit, noticing that some new bodies had been discovered and brought back to camp. Honeyburr, Fluffystream and Loveheart's bodies now joined Watersplash, Timberkit and Darkfeather. That was everyone who had died. Stormstar still seemed to be missing. Had he lost all of his lives in the wave? Flamefur sighed, burying her muzzle in Timberkit's soft, yet chilled fur. You were too young to die, but now you may join your brother Pebblekit in Starclan where you will be safe from harm.

She felt a cat move in beside her and glanced up to see Tigerstripe. Her brother's gaze was sad as he looked up at Timberkit. "I'm sorry." He murmured, his voice choking in his throat. "I killed your brother, and I couldn't save you. I don't deserve to go to Starclan."

Flamefur watched the brown tom, her eyes narrowed. Was that really how he felt? Sympathy for her brother took control of her mind and before Flamefur could stop herself, she leaned over and gave his broad head a comforting lick. "It's not your fault. You saved Silverwing and her kits, there was no way you could have saved Timberkit as well." She said, her voice low so that only he heard her.

Tigerstripe shook his head and bared his teeth, his green gaze refusing to meet her's. "I left him to drown. Alone and afraid. How is this not my fault? It was my choice to leave him. I didn't think I could carry two kits up the tree, but I should've tried anyway."

Flamefur didn't reply. There was no way she could help Tigerstripe any further; he refused to listen to her. She stood up and padded around him, her golden tail trailing over his back, and settled back down beside Darkfeather. Her gaze lingered over the infected bite wound on his neck and she chewed her lip guiltily. I gave you that wound. I'm sorry. It's my fault you died. If only I hadn't bitten you that deep. You wouldn't have been in the medicine cave when the wave hit. You would have escaped with your clan mates. A single tear drop slipped from her eye, falling onto Darkfeather's stiff pelt. I can't believe I hurt you. You are my clan mate and I caused your death.

Her heart thumping like she had just run a race across the entire Lightclan forest, Flamefur crawled over to Loveheart and Fluffystream. The two elders looked peaceful, curled beside eachother with their foreheads pressed together. May you continue live happily together in Starclan.

Finally, Flamefur stopped at Honeyburr's side. The golden she cat had grown up with Flamefur. She remembered playing Capture the Leaf with her, all those moons ago. They had never been that close as kits or apprentices; Flamefur pushed everyone away when she was still new to Lightclan. Becoming warriors only pushed them further away, especially after all the Metalclaw and Dark Forest business that Flamefur had gotten herself into. Rest well, Honeyburr. She lightly touched her nose to her clan mate's unmoving shoulder and stepped back.

The seagull was still watching her, sitting calmly on the warriors den. Flamefur narrowed her eyes as the bird spread its wings, as if it were beckoning her towards it, and leapt from the warriors den roof. It dropped onto the ground and bounded out of camp, glancing back at her.

Flamefur seemed to have no control over her legs as she followed the seagull out the camp entrance and back into the forest. The gull led her to a clearing where it stopped and faced her, it's blue eyes glowing brighter. There was a sudden flash of light and Flamefur looked away. When she turned back, she saw a cat standing before her.

"I see you've been having trouble deciding where you truly belong." His voice rumbled, blue eyes shining in the eerie darkness of dusk.

"Clearlight?" Flamefur's eyes widenened. "You were the seagull?"

"I was." The old Starclan tom replied smoothly, stepping closer to Flamefur.

"So you're here to tell me where I belong?" Flamefur asked, blinking her amber eyes at the grey striped tom.

"Not exactly." Clearlight replied slowly, his black tail tip twitching. "I'm here to guide your paws on the path meant for you."

"Then what's the path I must take?" Flamefur asked, growing impatient. She had to know where she truly belonged.

Clearlight lifted his tail slightly. "Slow down. You must have a clear and open mind for this."

"Please just tell me." Flamefur stepped closer to Clearlight so that she was staring directly into his glowing blue eyes. They sparkled with such wisdom and knowledge. He had to know where she belonged, why wasn't he telling her?

"There is no right or wrong way." Clearlight began. "There is only a path that leads to your next set of dilemmas. You must choose who you are loyal to. Your adopted clan, Smallclan or the Dark Forest."

"But that's the problem, I don't know where my loyalty lies!" Flamefur hissed. "I need your guidance. I'm so confused."

"You are very lost Flamefur, you must find the pathway out of this before it disappears forever." Clearlight studied her closely. "Perhaps we need someone else's help for this decision..."

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"Flamefur, this is one of my kits Roundclaw. He has a unique power; the ability to see into the past and future." Clearlight meowed, stepping back to allow a small greyish-brown tom to pad up to Flamefur.

He had the exact same build as Nutwhisker- small, scrawny-looking and lithe. His shining green eyes looked up to met her amber gaze. "Hello Flamefur. How is Nutwhisker doing?"

"He's doing well." Flamefur replied without thinking.

"Liar." Roundclaw twitched his whiskers in amusement.

Clearlight cleared his throat. "Roundclaw we don't have time for jokes."

"Fine, fine." Roundclaw continued to stare at Flamefur, his eyes unblinking. "Let's start with your future if you join forces with NoName..." He reached up to place his nose on her shoulder and Flamefur was suddenly sucked into a vision.

She sat on a tree, looking over Smallclan camp. Roundclaw was beside her, his eyes glinting with interest. They were both transparent. "Look over there." The small tom pointed a dark furred paw in the direction of the bushes outside camp. Flamefur followed his paw and blinked in surprise when she saw herself creeping through the shadows. Her amber eyes were narrowed to slits, a glint in them that made Flamefur shiver. Her future self looked so different. More like a Dark Forest warrior. She reflected with a sick feeling within her.

Flamefur's amber eyes were glued to her future self as she emerged carefully from the bushes, ducking inside the warriors den. It was before dawn, so everyone was still asleep.

Roundclaw beckoned with his tail and leapt from the branch, floating gracefully to the ground. "Let's get a better look!" He meowed over his shoulder. Flamefur hesitated, looking down. "Hurry up, mouse-brain, you can't get hurt in a future vision!"

Flamefur grumbled and leapt from the branch, her legs flailing as she slowly floated down just as Roundclaw had. Once she landed she saw her future self stalk proudly out of the warriors den, her teeth gleaming. Dark, crimson blood splattered her fur and Flamefur's eyes widened. No...

Flamefur darted inside the warriors den, letting out a loud, mournful cry as she saw the entire den coated in blood. Every Smallclan warrior inside the den was dead, their throats torn viciously open. Flamefur's jaws were parted in a wail as she stared at the Smallclan cats. They were all dead. Her gaze travelled over Ripplenose. The young tom had his lips parted in a dying wail, blood covering his face. She had saved Ripplenose in a battle between Smallclan and Lightclan, back when she was a part his clan. Her future self had just slain him in cold blood.

Flamefur dug her sharp claws deep into soil and she bared her teeth in anger. This is NoName's doing! This is all her fault! I will never join her! I will kill her! She seethed, tail lashing. I will remain a loyal Lightclan warrior! NoName will fall by my claws! Every cat she has enslaved and slaughtered will not die in vain!

"So?" Roundclaw's voice jerked her from her thoughts and she snapped her head up to glare at him. "Do you need another vision or have you chosen your path?"

"I will stay in Lightclan and every Dark Forest warrior will fall at my unsheathed claws." Flamefur vowed, her blood boiling. "I don't need powers to rival any of these fox-hearts. I am strong. I have been trained by my enemies. I know their weaknesses. I will slay NoName!"

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