Brownstar looked at the clan. "Is anyone badly hurt?" he asked. They shook their heads. Stagwind quickly rushed to one injured clanmate to another with Sunkit padding after her.

The wounds from the battle stung as Stagwind gently dripped some marigold juice and covering it with cobwebs. Sunkit watched in interest.

Frostleaf sighed. "I wonder when we will have peace for once." Stagwind nodded and mewed, "I need to talk to you about something. Wait for me at my den."

As she patiently waited, Rockkit kept bugging her about the battle. "Tell me about it," he insisted. "I got stuck and I couldn't see when a rogue broke into the nursery."

Goldenfeather finally came and mewed crossly, "Rockkit, stop bugging the clan deputy. It has been hard for her. Ask next time." The kit whined in protest as Goldenfeather herded him away with an apologetic look at Frostleaf.

Stagwind arrived and gestured for Sunkit to go back. The tiny kit nodded and hopped off.

"After you left," she mewed to her. "Brownstar lost another life." Frostleaf's ear twitched. "Already?"

"Foxes attacked him," the medicine cat replied. "Stinking of Longdrop. I fear that he will not give up and he would have a plan to become leader."

Frostleaf nodded. "I will tell patrols to be more alert and no one can go out of camp alone without a warrior."

"StarClan have been restless," Stagwind added. "They sent me dreams of destruction yet I could not recognise any cat in the battle."

The deputy widened her eyes in shock as she continued, "Although I saw a she-cat that looked like Flowerfeather and a red furred tom."

Frostleaf felt worried. "When will the clan have peace? When will all the death stop?" she mewed, unsure that Stagwind have answers.

The medicine cat looked at her and replied, "When Longdrop's threat is gone from the clans, there might be peace. You are doing well as deputy, you don't need to doubt yourself because of the skirmishes."

She instantly felt guilty. Stagwind had pointed out her hidden thoughts. She was scared to make decisions that affect the clan in the wrong way and she didn't want to disappoint Brownstar, the trust that he placed on her.

Yet her words brought her comfort. She understood the hardships that Frostleaf was going through, giving her advice.

"I could tell that the clan will have a hard leaf bare," she added. "I would be glad that Sunkit is going to be my apprentice."

Frostleaf smiled. Goldenfeather's kits were two and a half moons old and soon the apprentice den will be filled again.

The younger warriors had to help the elders and many grumbled about it, except Webfoot of course.

Sometimes, Frostleaf have to pitch in when the younger warriors are busy. "Well, you should go organise the patrols now," she adviced. "The other clans is also not going away!"

~~~~

Silvercloud sat near the freshkill pile, neatly taking bites of her vole. Her mentor have just taken out a patrol and there is only a few warriors in camp.

Lilykit was trying to help Russeteyes to pick off a tick, but she was too small and she fell with a huff.

Webfoot chuckled and reached out his paw to crack the annoying tick while Lilykit grumbled that she couldn't reach.

The young silver she-cat looked at Brownstar. He looked older, and more tired. She felt a pang of worry as he walked half heartedly to the freshkill pile.

"What's wrong?" she asked gently. Brownstar sighed. "I feel that those skirmishes were my fault. If I tried harder to convince Nightstar not to let Longdrop in the clan, those would not have happened."

"Why did Nightstar let him in the clan anyways?" she mewed.

"He said that he received a sign, from StarClan that a cat of black and gray will lead the clan to safety when darkness strike. But he was wrong. StarClan was wrong," he replied sourly.

"What if it is not StarClan that sent the sign?" Silvercloud mewed reasonably. "What if it is a fake sign?"

"True," he admitted. "But I..." There was a screech that stopped him from continuing.

Silvercloud turned in the direction of the sound and saw Longdrop had pinned down Softpaw.

When he saw Brownstar approaching, he laughed. "Come any closer and this apprentice will die."

His thorn sharp claws was at the white apprentice's throat threateningly. "I will only release her, if only one of you kill Brownstar and let me be leader!" he growled. "Those who kill him will be my deputy."

"Never!" Silvercloud hissed. Longdrop's eyes flared with anger. "I won't make this offer twice."

Suddenly, he let out of yowl of pain when Honeykit pounced onto his tail. Rockkit arrogantly yowled, "RockClan, attack!"

Rockkit sprang with Sunkit at his side. Lilykit snuck up in the side and pounced, biting Longdrop's ear.

"Foolish kits!" he spat, his claws reaching for Rockkit. Luckily, before Rockkit got clawed, a black cat pounced onto Longdrop, his green eyes burning with hatred.

"How dare you try to hurt my kit!" he snarled. "Get out of here you good-for-nothing rogue!"

Longdrop, knowing that he was in danger, ran off swiftly. When the last of his tail disappeared through the tunnel, Frostleaf's patrol came back.

"What happened this time?" the deputy asked. She spotted the black tom and her blue eyes widened with shock.

"Jet!"