Marigoldstar paced the bloody clearing, her eyes falling on her dead warriors. Cedarflower, Skybrook, Nightstalk, and the traitors, Featherheart and Bumbleclaw. She gasped as she saw Mistybriar crouched over Leafstar's body, grief glittering in her eyes. Marigoldstar knew that feeling. She had felt it went Brookstar died. 

Marigoldstar walked slowly up to the mourning she-cat, resting her tail on the she-cat shoulders. Mistybriar looked up with a weak smile. 

"Come, Mistybriar. I understand what you're feeling. I felt it when Brookstar died. But you have a clan to take care of." Marigoldstar comforted the sad deputy gently. 

"Okay, Marigoldstar. But, StarClan gave me my nine lives during the battle. I'm Mistystar, now." Mistystar stood up, her regal body stepping between the bodies. 

"Not many died. I thought much more would be dead!" Mistystar remarked. 

Marigoldstar nodded in agreement. 

"Marigoldstar? There's something I have to tell you." Mistystar looked down guiltily. 

"Yes, Mistystar?" Marigoldstar prompted softly. 

"I trained in the dark forest." Mistystar turned away in shame. 

"It's fine. Nightstalk did, too. I know you thought you were doing the right thing." Marigoldstar said gently, laying her tail over the leader's shoulders again. 

"Please don't tell anyone. I don't think they'll think of me the same way. Especially RainClan." Mistystar begged, tears welling up in her eyes. 

"I promise. I won't tell a soul." Marigoldstar mewed. 

"Do you need a medicine cat?" Mistystar asked, spotting Cedarflower's body, sprawled on top of the large black rogue. 

Marigoldstar's eyes welled up in grief. 

"Yes. Would yours be able to help treat my warriors' wounds, at least right now?" Marigoldstar asked hopefully. 

"Of course. Sagestride!" The RainClan medicine cat quickly came over, awaiting her leader's commands. 

"When you're finished treating our clan's wounds, would you mind helping BranchClan. Their medicine cat is dead." Mistystar asked calmly. 

"Of course. I remember when Pineshine introduced Cedarflower to me at a Gathering, when she was still a young apprentice. She was so...calm." Sagestride's eyes clouded over in grief. 

"She was so fiery as a kit. And Nightstalk was so...out-bursty. Skybrook was just small, shy and quiet. I can't believe their dead!" Marigoldstar wailed, the other cats around the clearing, glanced her way in a mixture of surprise and sympathy. 

"I can't believe Leafstar is dead! Frosteye and Newtshadow are dead as well!" Mistystar mewed, her voice cracking with grief. 

"Well, I'm going to take my clan back to camp. I hope we helped." Sandystar walked forward, dipping his head to Mistystar. 

"Very much. Thank you. I'm sorry if you lost some warriors for us." Mistystar returned the formal gesture. 

"Only one. We're happy to help." Sandystar walked away, stopping to drag Sparrowrock's body away. 

"Marigoldstar?" 

"Yes, Mistystar?" 

"Can I ask you something?" 

"Go ahead." 

"Even though we're from different clans and we might be rivals sometimes, can we have an alliance? Just sometimes. You know, we help each other and are relatively friendly, other than border skirmishes?" Mistystar asked tentatively.

"Of course, Mistystar. I'm happy to help." Marigoldstar mewed, resting her tail on the new leader's shoulder.