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Chapter Text

The lone playing of a harmonica could be heard echoing as Rowanfur held it to his lips.

From where he was sitting, the rest of the Clan could faintly hear his frankly bothersome playing- but nobody said anything against it. It was the one connection Rowanfur still had with his family.

“They were last seen at this position,” Spiderstar muttered beneath his breath as he pored over a map of the surface. “Now that we’ve scouted this position out, we should be good to go in moving in.”

The seven of them were now in what looked to be a deep tunnel. Vast and cavernous, these tunnels were dark and windy. Traveling through these winding series of tunnels over the course of a few days were the remains of the Republic of SkyClan- Spiderstar, Honeyleaf, Brackenheart, Frostclaw, Rowanfur, Oakstep… and their newest client.

Swaddled in what used to be Swallowflight’s old sleeping bag, Jay slept quietly close to the wall, being watched over by Frostclaw. Frostclaw had taken a liking to Jay especially as SkyClan searched for the little one’s family.

As did the others, really. Jay gave them hope, a spring in their step and some growing confidence that they might be able to find new members of the Clan. Better supplies. A new home.

But one could only dream, of course, and for now they were currently resting in this series of tunnels. Like a colony of rats. It was disgraceful, and yet at the same time… it was a must for survival.

The part of the tunnels that they now rested in was an elevated alcove, above the gravel-covered bottom of these tunnels.

Glancing towards Honeyleaf, Spiderstar cleared his throat. “Towarsysz.”

“Prezes?”

“My map tells us we’re near one of the old safehouses, from when Prezes Buzzardstar was in charge. We should stock up before we go.”

“The safehouses? I thought they were flooded in this part of town last time we went there,” Honeyleaf whispered.

“Not all of them,” corrected Spiderstar. He pointed to a faded feature on the wall, which had an unreadable language. “It says if we cross through here…” He drew his hand along a red line. “Then make a turn here…” His finger stopped at a circle, then moved alongside an intersecting green line. “We’ll have reached Safehouse #44 about here.” He pointed at a larger circle where the green line ended.

“44 isn’t flooded too?”

“No, actually. It’s quite safe because it’s relatively elevated.” Spiderstar replied.

Once Honeyleaf had informed the others that they were to head to a safehouse, the seven of them moved quietly through the tunnels. Water sloshed gently as the boots of the SkyClanners treaded quietly along the underground main.

As Spiderstar led the way, he grasped a makeshift submachine gun. Unlike what should have been a proper Clan weapon, this gun didn’t have any bolted parts. It was screwed and threaded together from carved wood and stamped metal, its springs coiled from sturdy wire.

Indeed, the gun itself was half-scavenged. Half the guns of SkyClan’s soldiers were scavenged- but despite being smoothbore and fairly makeshift, these guns were extremely handy in a fight not to mention easy to maintain.

Still, Spiderstar was sure that Cloudstar, the old prezes during the beginning of SkyClan’s exile, would have even scoffed at the state his Clan’s armory had been reduced to.

And yet, SkyClan had survived this long. Spiderstar didn’t know how long that the Clan could keep up, but then again- here they were.

Directly behind Jay was Honeyleaf. Silently he walked along, toting instead a double-barreled shotgun. Such close quarters environments in these sewers called for close-combat firearms.

“It’s cold… I don’t wanna go…” Jay mumbled tiredly.

“Hush,” Frostclaw soothed, carrying Jay just behind Honeyleaf. Like her leader, she too had a submachine gun fashioned from scrap. Jay was currently resting on her back, her arms draped over the shoulders of the SkyClan soldier and her hands clasped. “Where we’re going will be warmer. We’ll be resting there soon,” Frostclaw gently assured the little girl.

Behind Frostclaw, Brackenheart had a pistol in hand. Covering the rear was Oakstep and Rowanfur, armed with revolvers and checking behind them every so often.

Sure enough, they found that the tunnel ahead had partially collapsed- a section had caved in. Yet the way wasn’t blocked by rubble, instead showing an inky black atmosphere above them. Some sort of cave system.

Knowing the lay of the land, Spiderstar led the way out of the main, his footsteps echoing as he did so.

“It’s dark,” Jay complained as Honeyleaf entered behind Spiderstar. She looked into the darkness. “What is this place?”

Honeyleaf stopped, glancing at Jay. He turned to look at the brick wall, then knelt, brushing the dust off of one of the bricks with his sleeve. Upon the wall was the faded image of a five-pointed leaf.

“This is our home.”

Chapter Text

Brushlion didn’t use a telescopic sight if he could help it. The scope would glow if at the wrong angle in the sunlight, giving away his position easily. Instead, he preferred iron sights.

Carefully, the WindClan soldier leapt to a new position, running and promptly landing on another roof.

As Mudclaw had trained him extensively in the art of the rifle, he had also found fit to teach Brushlion how to snipe. Sniping, he said, was a grim business- it was more of a long-distance relationship.

In the distance, he could see a group of armed people moving in the distance through a plaza of some kind. Because he wasn’t using iron sights, it wasn’t so easy for him to see who they were.

What he did notice, however, was that he didn’t recognize any of the clothes they wore. Judging from how heavily armed they were, they were BloodClanners seeking to counterattack.

He aimed for the one taking the lead, a burly man with suspenders and a Thompson. He looked a bit like a bully, and was clearly ushering the others on.

The gunshot echoed through the empty street, and immediately Brushlion watched as the man collapsed, clutching his leg. His mouth opened in what must have been a pained scream- Brushlion couldn’t hear him from that far.

The rest of his companions ran to cover, hiding as their leader crawled after them pitifully, still obviously in pain.

Brushlion turned towards Tansysong, who was already rappelling down the roof that they were on. “Tell them we found a bunch. Their leader’s wounded.”

Tansysong nodded, already on her way down to where a two-seater bicycle was waiting. As she did so, she heard another gunshot.

All was quiet along the evening street as Sergeant Mousefur and several soldiers under her command were stacked up behind a wall. Brushlion was providing overwatch above them.

“I told you there were BloodClanners, I told you!” Cranefoot whispered.

Undeterred, their sergeant, Mousefur, held out her hand, making a few signals. Get me the grappling hook. Cranefoot, you’re up.

From Mousefur’s side, Birdgaze passed her brother a long rope and hook. Standing back briefly, the ThunderClan soldier tossed the hook up, watching as it latched onto a rooftop in the vast Iotunns’ domain.

As Cranefoot began to climb, shimmying up the rope with his M1903 slung around him, Ridgewing glanced at Moosestrike. “How many BloodClan patrols have we encountered today?”

“Three,” Moosestrike answered. “But we’re killing more of them than they are of us, so bully for us.” Despite the tense nature of the situation, he gave a bold grin.

Suddenly, the clatter of a Iotunn wagon could be heard in the distance. Stay down, Moosestrike signaled. As one, the ThunderClan patrol vanished around the corner to hide.

The deafening clatter didn’t terrify any of the Clan soldiers, yet they all remained stone cold as they waited for the Iotunns to pass through.

As the sound of the wagon faded into the distance, someone tugged on the rope from above. Mousefur looked up to find Cranefoot peeking down at them.

Twelve of them, he signaled. Mousefur nodded, motioning to the siblings to stay put.

“I miss the forest,” Birdgaze wistfully said. Ridgewing murmured agreement, placing a hand on Birdgaze’s shoulder and looking up. “Thanks for that save, man.”

“It was nothing,” Cranefoot assured, slowly rappelling down.

We’re capturing that position, Mousefur signaled, bravely taking the lead down the street. Sticking to the wall, the five warily made sure that they didn’t stay out in the open too long. Automatic element, cover us, the sergeant motioned as she passed them by.

Behind Mousefur, Ashfur nodded, bringing out his rifle. Cloudtail drew out a Lewis Gun, going prone so he could peek out.

These streets are endless, Moosestrike thought. But I have to retain a strong front for my companions. Otherwise, they might lose hope. We need to have the mental strength to see this through.

Moosestrike kept this in his mind as he continued to run along the path, following Mousefur.

Together the ThunderClan soldiers advanced, reaching the wall where they would find their target.

“Say your prayers to StarClan,” Mousefur whispered as they approached the entrance to the plaza, “We’re busting it open now.” Suddenly, she dropped down to one knee, steadily retreating behind cover. At once, she motioned for the automatic element to move up.

Ashfur and Cloudtail were soon on the scene, with the latter setting down his Lewis gun.

Holding up three fingers, the sergeant counted down.

Two fingers.

One finger, then her hand closed into a fist.

At once, Mousefur and the ThunderClan soldiers were on the advance, running around the corner as the Lewis gun thundered its hail of bullets.

Two BloodClan soldiers began to rush out from cover, only for one of them to be taken out by a rifle shot. Looking in the distance, Cranefoot could swear that he saw Brushlion covering them from behind.

Mousefur motioned for Moosestrike to run to a vantage point up ahead, pointing it out wordlessly for the ThunderClan soldier.

At once, Moosestrike ran forward, racking his M97 as the others covered him. He dove behind cover as a bullet impacted near his feet, sending up a cloud of dust and making him cover his face with one arm.

At once, he held up a thumb, showing he was okay.

Nodding, Mousefur motioned for Birdgaze to follow. Glancing at the withering enemy fire, however, Birdgaze shook her head hesitantly.

I’ll cover us, Ridgewing motioned. Hefting a Thompson, he held down the trigger and fired burst after burst, keeping the enemy pinned.

“Snipe’s down,” Moosestrike heard one of the BloodClan soldiers groan.

“I’m getting him,” another voice said, followed soon by approaching footsteps.

“Scraps? SCRAPS!” Someone cried out. “NO!”

Determinedly, Moosestrike popped his head out and aimed his shotgun, letting loose buckshot into a brown-haired man who couldn’t have been much older than he was. Choking on his own blood, Scraps collapsed onto his knees and keeled over, his eyes fogging over.

“No, Scraps… no!” A brown-haired woman with freckles upon her face immediately ran out, uncaring of the danger as she tossed aside her M1911. Dropping to her knees, she desperately rocked Scraps’ body. “Brother, wake up. Wake up, please!”

Moosestrike racked his shotgun again. “Surrender.” He said in a low voice.

“You MURDERER!” She screamed, attempting to tackle him. Grimacing, Moosestrike aimed her shotgun again just as he stopped.

“Oh, good StarClan,” he muttered in shock. “She’s pregnant.”

Standing back, he slowly took his finger out of the trigger guard so he wouldn’t fire on accident.

Coming out were other BloodClan soldiers as well. Hesitating, Ridgewing stepped forward only for the 9-some BloodClanners to raise their hands in surrender. Looking closely at some of them, Mousefur couldn’t help but grimace.

“Children?” She muttered, then raised her voice angrily. “You’re sending CHILDREN out here?!” The sergeant turned, looking angrily around. “Who’s the mother of these four?!”

“Minty, no,” the pregnant woman begged as one of her companions stepped forward, raising her hands in the air. She was fair-skinned, her hair dark and a protective look about her eyes. “Gremlin, I can handle it,” the mother of four replied evenly.

Mousefur aimed her Thompson at Minty. “You’re willingly consigning your own children to this?!”

One of the children began to speak. “Mom tells us it’s what we’re supposed to-”

“Don’t even finish, boy,” Mousefur snarled.

“My name’s Sniff!” The boy protested.

“Moosestrike, Ridgewing. You two are marching these nine back to our lines.” Mousefur spat on the ground. “Tell them that we have confirmed Rule 16 violations. Everyone else,” she barked. “Fan out! We’re capturing this plaza!”

“I’m telling you, Ted, it’s not your fault,” Ridgewing repeated as they walked behind the column of prisoners headed to the backline. “It could’ve turned out way worse. You could’ve shot one of them kids and killed ‘em by accident, or that pregnant lady. At least they’re alive and unharmed.”

“He was her brother, Ridge,” Moosestrike miserably reminded him.

“And he wanted to kill us as much as we needed to kill him,” Ridgewing assured his friend. “I’m kind of starting to see why you don’t want to be a soldier forever.”

“I hope this war’s over soon,” Moosestrike remarked.

“Me too, Ted. Me too.”

“Moosestrike!” That was Leaf, who was stopping by with some fresh medical supplies. Ever since the Clans had begun their invasion, she and Rainfur had proven useful as Mudfur’s orderlies- having been moved from that role per his request. Her knowledge of the lay of the land proved invaluable in times like these- and curiously enough, all the Clan medical officers seemed to be on board with the idea, too.

Though, of course- Moosestrike knew something about why Leaf and Rainfur had been converted to such a role. They, himself and a few other soldiers from the other Clans had all received some cryptic prophecy. In Moosestrike’s case, he had been spoken to by General Bluestar himself in a dream. Or, rather, she had shown him a message of a vanishing forest.

When he could help it, Moosestrike hid that thought in the back of his mind and didn’t think too much about it. But it always seemed to bring itself back up.

“Are you alright?” Leaf’s voice butted into his thoughts. “Is anyone here wounded?”

“We’re fine, miss.” Ridgewing assured her.

“Mind escorting them back yourself?” Moosestrike asked. “She’s a friend of mine.”

Ridgewing smirked.

“Not like that. I’ll catch up,” Moosestrike clarified.

“Yeah, alright. Don’t let it get to your head, man.” Ridgewing continued to escort the prisoners further on.

“What happened back there? You look like crap,” Leaf bluntly said. Her tone dropped to one of concern. “Did we lose anyone?”

“Not this time. I killed someone today. His sister was pregnant.” Moosestrike miserably said as he got into the sidecar of the bicycle.

“Huh?” Leaf was listening.

“She saw me do it, too. We were in a battle and he was one of them.”

“What was her name?” Leaf asked.

“I don’t even know,” he sighed.

“Was she hurt?”

“No. But she looked so distraught. Obviously she’ll never forgive me, and that’s fine. But BloodClan’s been sending kids to fight, too. Like that old tyrant Brokenstar,” Moosestrike said.

“That’s horrible,” Leaf said with concern. “Did you see anyone with two kids?”

Immediately, the ThunderClan soldier knew that Leaf was thinking about Petal, Sage and Mint- the wife and children of her companion Rainfur. As of current, the Clans had no idea where the three were- but it had come as something of an unsaid promise that the Clans would help Rainfur find his family again.

“No,” he answered. “Sorry, Leaf.”

“That’s alright,” Leaf assured him. “It means we still have a chance to find them.” She turned the bicycle, pedaling towards the forward camp on this section of the front.

I really hope so, thought Moosestrike.

The forward base camp here was incredibly active. Abandoned by the Iotunns, this massive building proved a perfect shelter for easily a couple hundred Clan soldiers.

Camp Copper was one of seven forward camps, which were there to house the Clan invasion force temporarily. The other camps were known as Apple, Butter, Dogwood, Egret, Fish and Grasshopper. Copper was primarily a ThunderClan-WindClan forward camp.

“Incoming,” A WindClan sentry called as he saw Leaf and Moosestrike proceed forward. “You two are?”

“Leaf. One of Mudfur’s orderlies.”

“Moosestrike, ThunderClan soldier. Brackenfur’s old trainee.”

“Alright. You’re clear,” the sentry said, pulling aside a barricade of barbed wire to let them in.

When the bike entered the base camp, it was evident to see where the different parts of the camp were. Firstly, a bunch of sleeping bags marked the presence of the soldiers’ quarters. This ground was currently being swept by a couple of Clan soldiers, who were being entrusted to perform menial duties around base camp. Out here, there were no recruits- they were still back at home, being trained for the day they, too, would go out and fight.

“Man, this blows!” A ThunderClan soldier complained. “It’s all jarred or dried food over here. Mostly dried.”

“Mate, you left your fresh food at the river,” A WindClan soldier replied calmly.

“I know,” the ThunderClan soldier replied. “You know, they cut my training short.”

“Surely you jest,” The WindClan soldier chuckled, slapping his ally on the back. “I’ve served in my Clan for five months. I had my soldier assessment cleared by the Prime Minister himself just yesterday! I’m gonna tell you this- we’ll have our hot food when this war’s won and done.”

“You were there from the beginning?” the ThunderClan soldier asked in awe.

“Well, not exactly. My cousin fought BloodClan six months ago, then he decided to leave afterwards. But since then, I decided that I’d join up too. I’ve never been part of a Clan before, but I know enough that I’d be damned if BloodClan defeated the Clans. They’d terrorize everyone to no end.”

Moosestrike stared as Leaf parked her bike and dismounted. They were right- there was no fresh food here. They were a bit of a long walk from Clan territory, and BloodClan was constantly attempting to cut off their food supply to prevent them from entering further.

“Help me get these to the hospital tent.” Leaf picked up a bag full of medical supplies, passing it to Moosestrike. Picking up another, she led the way through.

The first stop she made was to where the designated commander of Camp Copper was- specifically, Lieutenant Longtail. As of current, he was teaching a handful of Clan soldiers how not to get lost inside the maze that was BloodClan territory. All of them were hunched over a table, looking at a map. “Now, if all else fails and you don’t know where on this map you are, you look for the sun, and- oh, Leaf! Welcome back! You’ve brought medical supplies?”

“Yes,” Leaf answered.

“Good, Cinderpelt will appreciate those. And Moosestrike,” he called over. “Report.”

“Mousefur’s captured that forward position.” Moosestrike pointed at a spot on the map.

“Alright, good. Cinderpelt wants to see you after this one.”

“Understood!” Moosestrike barked, turning to follow Leaf out.

Chapter Text

The drip of water meeting water was rhythmic. It was the only thing which could be heard in the dark, deafening silence.

Rowanclaw crept silently down the sewer tunnel, just behind Tawnystone. The two of them were performing a reconnaissance mission into BloodClan territory- at least, that’s what Oakfur said it was.

The sewers were what the prisoner Smoke had called them. Under interrogation, she had given away one of BloodClan’s secret means of moving through the city, which had also prevented much of them from dying to mortar bombardment- the underground safety provided by a network of sewer mains. Thankfully, none of these mains extended into Clan territory, according to interrogation reports from Smoke, as well as Leaf and Rainfur from when they, too, were prisoners of ShadowClan.

It had been a good few days since Rowanclaw and Tawnystone had set out, and they were already on their way back. They would be mapping out some parts of the sewers that they’d missed on the way out.

Immediately, the two froze and held still against one of the sewer walls as they heard footsteps in the distance. Both had their weapons firmly in their grip, each looking in either direction. On the surface, the Clan armies might be doing well. But in the sewers, navigation was rough and combat was brutally short. Thus, it was here that ShadowClan’s commandos were trusted to do their work, namely in scouting out these subterranean waterways.

Unlike the other Clans, who were doing frontline business, ShadowClan was doing what they did best- stealth and reconnaissance.

Neither had seen a single BloodClan soldier in days- in fact, they hadn’t seen anyone. The whole time it had just been the two of them as well as a few days of dried rations to keep them going. What should have been a mundane task was, frankly, terrifyingly unnerving.

Tawnystone drew a notebook from her pocket as well as a pencil, passing it to Rowanclaw. As she kept watch with her Thompson, Rowanclaw began to add a scribble to a little drawing the two had compiled- a crude map of the sewers they had scouted by far.

15. The number he wrote denoted the amount of steps it took to go from this intersection of the sewer main to the next. Whereas some soldiers were simply glad that they would be seeing some action, Rowanclaw knew better. He didn’t envy the Clan soldiers who were sent to fight BloodClan on the surface.

Putting the notebook and pencil in his own pocket, he lifted his Gewehr 43. Tawnystone knew now that he had finished updating their map, and made a simple hand signal, holding her hand sideways but her fingers down, such that her hand and fingers were oriented like a roof.

That symbol meant home- they were close to returning to Copper.

Aiming her Thompson again, Tawnystone took the lead, being more experienced in her role than Rowanclaw was. Quietly, she crept down the sewer.

Rowanclaw had memorized the twists and turns in his head, remembering the notebook that he and Tawnystone had been using. Left, two straight, left again, right, three straight, left, through the abandoned waste pool, right then up.

It was a bit of a walk back to Camp Copper- but it wasn’t anything that he couldn’t get done. One thing was for certain- after this he was going to relish the chance to shower. It had been a few days.

Suddenly, Tawnystone paused. She and Rowanclaw immediately ducked down instinctively. Neither of them said anything, but they swore they heard something running.

There it was again! The patter of feet, just down the sewer. They froze.

It was coming right this way. Fading into the shadows, the two remained deathly still. Rowanclaw breathed through his nose. His heart began to throb and his throat felt tight, but he knew in his heart of hearts that breathing with his mouth would make noise. If they were found… both he and Tawnystone would be dead.

The splashing was getting closer now, and it was getting quicker! Tawnystone raised her SMG, ready to perforate whomever was going around the corner.

Rowanclaw’s heart began to throb as he aimed his Gewehr 43 in the same direction. It was deafening as the footsteps drew nearer. No! Not now! Not like this!

Right in front of them came a rat. Standing up and looking around, it squeaked softly as it was obviously foraging for food.

Rowanclaw opened his mouth, ready to let out a breath he’d been holding just as a loud BANG echoed down the sewer. A bullet splashed near the rat, causing it to shriek and scamper away into the sewer.

“Nuts! I was gonna pin that thing! I was so close!” A voice angrily yelled.

“Can it, you jamook.” Another voice chastised. “What’re you doin’ wasting ammo? Fury’d have you skinned for that crap.”

Fury, to ShadowClan’s knowledge, was a low-level BloodClan caporegime in charge of this local sector. It also meant that for the commandos here, she was their current target.

Rowanclaw shut his mouth, raggedly breathing through his nose again. Tawnystone glanced back at him sympathetically.

“Now let’s go,” the second voice said frustratedly. “I can’t wait to get out of these damn stuffy sewers…”

The two commandos waited until they heard a set of footsteps walking… slowly fading.

“Yeah, I dunno about you, but I’m gonna go hunt some more rats.”

The footsteps stopped, and Rowanclaw was worried that the other BloodClanner had changed their mind.

“You know they’re bad for eating, Firefly. Now follow me- and stop wasting ammo! We’re at war,” the more experienced voice commanded.

“Yeah, yeah, fine. Keep your shirt on.” Firefly grumbled, and this time two sets of footsteps began to fade in the distance.

Together, the two commandos waited. And waited. And waited, until the footsteps faded further.

Then, they proceeded at the same quiet pace down the sewer once again.

Acornheart shoveled more dirt over the camp latrine area which was basically a bunch of holes in the dirt. Next to him, Reedwhisker was doing the same.

Today, they had to ensure that the waste of the Clan soldiers was buried. Otherwise sickness would spread.

The two hadn’t seen combat since fighting off BloodClan’s attempts to recapture Leaf and Rainfur a month ago. Truth be told, that was just fine in the eyes of the RiverClan soldiers.

“I wish I was Weldtail right about now. He’s got himself a nice posting at Camp Butter,” Reedwhisker complained.

“He’s probably got it just as bad as we do.” Acornheart remarked as he patted the last shovelful of dirt over another hole.

“Really? With Camp Butter right next to the river? No way, at least he gets fresh water.” Colonel Mistyfoot’s son retorted.

“At least we don’t have to do sentry duty for the next week. Lieutenant Longtail seemed really willing to have us do trainee jobs.” Acornheart noted.

“Maybe because there’s no trainees here, they’re all back home! ” Reedwhisker indignantly answered, then lowered his voice. “Sorry. Like, tell me, man! Do you want glory or not?”

“Yeah,” Acornheart calmly answered. “But this war’s not gonna get anywhere if we don’t maintain the camp well.”

“I guess,” Reedwhisker grudgingly agreed.

“Hey, Acornheart! Cinderpelt wants you in the hospital,” Tansysong called as she passed by.

Rowanclaw patted Tawnystone on the shoulder, motioning up ahead. Here was the ladder up to Camp Copper. Climbing up first, he pushed on the manhole, lifting it up and pushing it aside. As it made a low grinding noise from scraping the concrete, he poked his head out to find Oakfur waiting on a chair for them.

“Are both of you here?” The ShadowClan Oberkommando asked as he pulled Rowanclaw up.

“We are,” Tawnystone replied calmly as she rose up, pushing the manhole cover back into place. She then took a crate, sliding it over to prevent BloodClan from climbing up after them- in the rare event that they might find it too.

“Do you two have the map?”

Rowanclaw nodded as he pulled the notebook from his pocket, handing it to Oakfur. “We found some BloodClanners lurking close by in the sewers. Their patrol came scarily close to this camp,” Tawnystone reported.

“Or the two of you came scarily close to theirs,” Oakfur observed. “Where did you encounter them?” He opened the notebook.

“Here.” Tawnystone said, pointing to a part of the sewers.

Oakfur nodded, flipping the book. Getting out a red pencil, he drew a circle on a map of the surface. “We’ve explored this part of the surface already. But that might also mean that BloodClan’s got an underground hideout this close to our base too- though it’s more likely meant to hide from Iotunns.” He glanced towards Rowanclaw. “Cinderpelt’s been asking for you for some time.”

“Since when?” Rowanclaw asked, recalling the name of General Firestar’s medical officer.

“Since yesterday. I’ve assured her that she just needs to wait.”

As though Cinderpelt had been summoned by these words, she entered the room. “Oakfur, where-” She stopped, walking briskly towards Rowanclaw. “I need you in the field hospital, now.”

“Am- am I sick?” Rowanclaw asked worriedly.

“No, but I feel this concerns you.”

“I need him patrolling the sewers,” Oakfur protested. “He’s my Clan, not yours.”

“We’re at war. What he knows could dictate a lot for our Clans,” Cinderpelt protested. Tawnystone lifted an eyebrow in confusion, but as though Oakfur understood he immediately quieted down. “Don’t keep him for too long,” he warned.

When Rowanclaw was brought into the back of the field hospital (which was empty of patients), he was greeted by a familiar face. In fact, he was greeted by a few familiar faces.

“Commando coming through!” Tansysong enthusiastically called, snapping to a salute.

“Hey, Rowanclaw!” Acornheart beamed, running to embrace the taller ShadowClan commando- only to immediately step back. “It’s been a- ugh, what’s that smell?!” He recoiled, his face scrunched up in disgust at the pungent stench rising from Rowanclaw.

“My own sweat over the course of a few days,” Rowanclaw nonchalantly answered. “Commando mission.”

Tansysong burst into raucous laughter. “I thought the reek of ShadowClan was a myth made up by ThunderClan!”

“Rowanclaw, you need a shower- wait, really?” Acornheart asked curiously. “What’d you do?”

“Classified.”

“Oh.”

“So how have you guys been?” Rowanclaw asked, glancing at Moosestrike who was sitting on one of the hospital beds, helmet in his hands as he looked down at it. “How’s Brushlion?”

Acornheart frowned, and even Tansysong cast her eyes down.

“Moose? You alright?” A flash of concern crossed Rowanclaw’s face, and he sat next to his ThunderClanner friend.

“No matter,” Moosestrike said in a moderately harsh reply. “We’ve got a war to finish.”

Rowanclaw looked up, and at Tansysong. His eyes widened in panic. “Brushlion? He’s… he’s alright, isn’t he?”

“He’s alright,” Tansysong assured him. “It’s Moosestrike.”

“Moosestrike killed someone in battle. And apparently, that someone’s sister, who was also fighting in the same skirmish, was pregnant.” Acornheart didn’t look at Rowanclaw. “BloodClan’s been sending pregnant women and kids to fight.”

Rowanclaw’s eyes flashed with concern. “Have they no shame?”

“Don’t worry. Gremlin’s alive and well.” Cinderpelt had come into this part of the field hospital. “Are you four listening?”

“Yeah, we are.” Moosestrike said before any of his companions could get a word in.

“I see.” Cinderpelt muttered, noticing Moosestrike’s condition. “Listen, Moosestrike. As your medical officer I’m going to tell you that war’s a tough thing. Do you think anything would have been any better if you’d let that BloodClanner live? He was in full power to shoot you, too.”

Moosestrike didn’t reply.

Cinderpelt placed a hand on his shoulder. “Be thankful. The skirmish you fought today was a small victory but a bloodless one. None of Mousefur’s patrol I’m told was wounded or killed today. In part, that’s because you did as much to ensure that they were safe. All of you worked together today. And on top of this- you were able to save a pregnant woman. Children, too. This is partially because they surrendered, yes, but if they’d spent any more time fighting this war it would’ve meant more risk before they became unnecessary deaths.”

Moosestrike sighed, looking up as Cinderpelt went on. “You want to save people, don’t you? I’m told that after this war you’re heading home. You can say with pride that you helped bring peace to the Iotunns’ domain.”

Gulping down the dryness in his throat, the ThunderClan soldier nodded, a new resolve going into his eyes. “Yeah. Yeah, you’re right. Thanks, Cinderpelt.”

Rowanclaw, however, was in shock. Moosestrike was going to leave after the war? He glanced at Tansysong and Acornheart, and he immediately knew that they were thinking the same thing. Despite neither of them being Clanborn, both Tansysong and Acornheart had joined the Clans to stay.

However, they wouldn’t have time to discuss this in further detail as Cinderpelt cleared her throat, then leaned in to speak softly. “I chose the four of you for a reason. The other medical officers tell me that you received dreams- dreams from StarClan about a vanishing forest. According to Moosestrike-” She glanced at the ThunderClan soldier putting his helmet back on. “-he was consulted by Bluestar, predecessor to Firestar. Rowanclaw was spoken to by Raggedstar, predecessor to Brokenstar. Tansysong was met by Heatherstar, predecessor to Tallstar. And finally, Acornheart was spoken to by Crookedstar- predecessor to Leopardstar.” Cinderpelt stood straight. “Leaf and Rainfur have received these dreams too- that is why I am reassigning all of you to their security.”

“What?” Tansysong asked indignantly. “Cinderpelt, I can’t just leave my brother out there by himself!”

“Brushlion’s getting assigned to garrison,” Cinderpelt assured. Tansysong huffed. “Have some faith in your brother.”

“I know,” Tansysong said hesitantly. “And I do. But I… I want to at least be able to say goodbye to him.”

“And you’ll have time to. I’ll make sure of it.” Cinderpelt said. “Sound good?”

“Wait,” Acornheart chimed in. “What about Reedwhisker and Weldtail?”

“What about Tawnystone? And…” Rowanclaw didn’t finish.

“Look, all of you!” Cinderpelt raised her voice impatiently. “I swear to StarClan, all of you sound like a bunch of kids… you’ll all have time to speak to your friends and family before tonight!”

She stopped, seeing that all four of them were listening. “Now.” She sighed. “Listen, and listen good.

What you are about to hear is classified.”

Chapter Text

“So then. A week after BloodClan’s spy Smoke was busted,” Cinderpelt began excitedly. “I’d been doing some digging. I found an unidentified grave, and within it I found a skeleton with a few items. Specifically, a helmet and buttons which didn’t belong to any uniform which I knew of from days past. I didn’t know what kind of uniform he was wearing, because this skeleton was so old that the textiles had rotted away…” Obviously, the ThunderClan medic was enthusiastic of this new discovery, and was clearly beginning to ramble on the matter.

Noticing that there were blank expressions on the faces of the four Clan soldiers, Cinderpelt groaned. “Okay, let me skip ahead a little. The night after I did an autopsy, I was consulted by an unknown leader in my sleep.”

Immediately, the small audience perked up. “StarClan,” Acornheart breathed in wonder.

Relieved that she was finally getting their attention, the ThunderClan medical officer continued. “At first, I asked him if he was a StarClan soldier. But he had said mysteriously enough that StarClan had betrayed him and his Clan.”

Poor Acornheart was confused. “…StarClan betrayed him? But… they’d never!”

Tansysong’s brow furrowed in frustration. Moosestrike didn’t reply to the news. Rowanclaw glanced emotionlessly at Acornheart.

Awkwardly, Cinderpelt paused before continuing on.

“Tell me,” she said. “Who among you knows about the story of the Lost Clan?”

Immediately, Acornheart’s hand shot up- followed by Tansysong’s, then Moosestrike’s. Rowanclaw glanced at them in confusion.

“You know,” Cinderpelt helpfully reminded him. “The myth about a fifth Clan that disappeared into the Iotunns’ domain because their home was destroyed.”

Rowanclaw’s eyes brightened and his hand shot up as well.

“Okay, so they’re real.”

“What?!” Acornheart burst out.

“Bullshit,” Tansysong bluntly decided.

“Huh?” Rowanclaw sounded confused.

Moosestrike’s jaw dropped silently.

“Now, you all had a dream about a disappearing forest.” Cinderpelt said. “This, I’m sure, ties directly to how the fifth Clan came to be. But that’s not the best part!” She was practically brimming with raw excitement. “The Clan has an actual name- the Republic of SkyClan!”

“SkyClan?” Acornheart echoed. This was a part of the story which Mistyfoot had never told him.

“So what you are telling us is that this ‘Republic of SkyClan’ was betrayed by StarClan and the other Clans,” Rowanclaw noted. “And that they made their home in the Iotunns’ domain. The same domain which we are currently fighting for control of.”

“There’s no way this is a coincidence,” Tansysong decided.

Acornheart asked, “So, uh. Are they actually still around somewhere?”

“No,” Cinderpelt dismissively answered. “The leader said that they were all scattered. Some dead, some turned rogue, some became Iotunntames. But!” That gleam in her eye again. “He told me a few words. …’the betrayers of old shall be redeemed’.”

Rowanclaw gasped. “Mudfur told me this one!”

“He must have meant to tell the rest of you, too.” Cinderpelt said. “But I believe the ‘betrayers of old’ refer to all our Clans. Because as it turns out… the Clans of old kicked out SkyClan because there was no room left.”

“She got all that from digging up a dead guy’s helmet?” Tansysong joked. Moosestrike chuckled. “Uh. No offense.”

Cinderpelt snorted. “Whatever. You four have been assigned now to protect Leaf and Rainfur because they as you might recall had the same disappearing forest dream, according to Mudfur.”

“Do you know where this is supposed to take us?” Acornheart asked.

“I don’t know,” Cinderpelt admitted. “But Leaf and Rainfur are orderlies. They’ll need help and protection when making their rounds not just between the different forward camps, but also between the Clan patrols as well. Your basic training should have covered first aid already, so I trust you on this. We clear?”

“No, we’re not.” Moosestrike was doubtful. “Where… where does all of this even lead?”

Cinderpelt cleared her throat, then looked at them with a steely gaze. “The rebirth of an entire Clan may be very well in your hands. I don’t know where, I don’t know when, but I need you to keep an eye on them. They must stay safe at all costs.”

Acornheart silently gasped. Tansysong pressed her lips together. Moosestrike’s eyes widened, and Rowanclaw lifted an eyebrow as to the four young soldiers, the true significance of their reassignment had just become clear.

No wonder Cinderpelt had told them it was classified.

Moosestrike stood up and saluted. “Ma’am, consider them protected.” A new determination was now on his face.

Rowanclaw nodded. “We’re ready.” He too saluted.

At once, Acornheart and Tansysong did the same, wordlessly obliging to this new duty.

“Good luck.” The medical officer paused. “...if you have any family or friends, say goodbye to them now.”

Brushlion was chewing gingerly on a strip of deer jerky, finding the dry food difficult to eat. This time, he was sitting at the designated ‘mess clearing’ of Camp Copper, where about forty of the 200-ish soldiers were having their lunch.

He looked up from where he was eating to find Tansysong walking towards him. He gulped down his food before smiling. “Sis! How are things?”

Tansysong was unusually quiet.

“Sis? …Melody, you there?” Brushlion hesitated.

“Yeah. I am,” Tansysong finally said. “Leo… I’ve been reassigned.”

“Reassigned? To what camp?” Brushlion was listening. “Apple? Dogwood?”

“Not a camp,” Tansysong clarified. “You remember Leaf and Rainfur?”

“Yeah, how could I forget? Those two are nice. This morning we had breakfast together- and the food was hot for once, too!”

“I’ve been reassigned to keep them safe. Cinderpelt says it’s important.”

“Really? Why?”

“I can’t tell. It’s classified,” Tansysong mumbled.

“That just means that Cinderpelt likes you! That’s good!” Brushlion was optimistic. “Congratulations!”

“Just-” his sister raised her hand. “...are you sure you’ll be okay? Without me? I mean, I know I can fend for myself. But what about you?”

“Look, I can hold down the fort in your absence. All you’ll have to worry about is getting less tallies than me,” Brushlion confidently replied. “Anyone else you know?”

“Moosestrike, Acornheart and Rowanclaw.”

“Aw, no way! Over half the old gang? You’re insanely lucky. How long do you think you’ll all be gone?”

“I don’t know,” Tansysong admitted. “But promise me one thing, Leo. If you die before this goddamn war ends…” She raised a fist threateningly.

Instead of being cowed by his boisterous sister’s threat, Brushlion nodded, raising a fist of his own. “Take care of yourself.” He brought his fist forward until it bumped off of his sister’s.

Tansysong’s expression softened. “You too.”

“You sure you’ve got this one, Ted?” Ridgewing asked from his post. Moosestrike had climbed up above the camp to join him.

“Yeah,” Moosestrike muttered. “Cinderpelt also talked to me about… what happened earlier today.”

“Look, I know how you feel, man. In the moment. You or them.” Ridgewing sympathetically rapped his knuckles on his friend’s helmet. “But, uh. Thanks for coming to say goodbye.”

“You’re my friend, Ridgewing,” Moosestrike replied, a little sliver of his old confidence returning briefly. “That’ll never change. Even after this war’s over and I’ve cast aside the uniform.”

“Yeah, there you go.” Ridgewing agreed. “I don’t know what I can do to help you now, but… whatever the case, I swear. Cranefoot, Birdgaze and me? We’ll figure something out. Together.”

Moosestrike smiled faintly. “Together.”

“You know what, Moosestrike. For a goodbye present- how about I see if I can pick out the best jar of food for my main man?”

“You have it,” Moosestrike humbly insisted.

“We’ll split it,” Ridgewing concluded, and Moosestrike knew that there was no deterring his best friend now. He smiled.

“Okay then. We’ll split it.”

“Acornheart!” Cranefoot joyfully called. “Birdgaze, look!”

Birdgaze happily smiled, waving towards Acornheart as well. “How’re you doing?” During their time together fighting in this new landscape against BloodClan, Cranefoot and Birdgaze had come to know Acornheart and Reedwhisker, thanks to their previous association with Moosestrike.

After Moosestrike had returned to ThunderClan there had basically come news that Moosestrike was part of an inter-Clan patrol that had busted a BloodClan spy. Frankly, it helped Cranefoot and Birdgaze’s positions very well too- and even Sergeant Sandstorm herself had commended the efforts of these new troops of ThunderClan, which fought every bit as hard as those Clanborn.

That was especially important- Sergeant Sandstorm was after all the wife of General Firestar.

“Hey, Acornheart. How’s Moosestrike?” Mousefur asked as Acornheart came to join her patrol. They were having lunch together.

“Acornheart!” Reedwhisker giddily waved from where he was sitting.

“Moosestrike’s alright. Sergeant, I came to tell you,” Acornheart leaned in. “He and I are being transferred per Cinderpelt’s orders.”

“Alright,” Mousefur replied, seeming the least worried about it. “But Longtail had better get some replacements just as helpful as the two of you. I’m honored to have served alongside you this far.”

“Ooh, what kind of orders?” Reedwhisker asked.

“Classified.” Acornheart replied, and it was obvious that his best friend was disappointed. Of course, there was little which could be done- the Clans were big on secrecy, especially in this time of war and the revelation of BloodClan spies.

“Lay off him,” Mousefur gently said. “I know he’s your friend, but you ought to give him a little space for this one.”

“How long will you be gone?” Reedwhisker’s voice was more sedated now, and he looked up at the sky.

“I’m not sure. But whatever happens I swear, I’ll get through this one. You can count on it.” Acornheart assured, patting his friend lightly on the back.

“You better,” Reedwhisker told him. “Otherwise I’m stealing your jarred food rations.”

“Do we still have those?” Acornheart asked hopefully, smiling.

“You bet! Come on, let’s go! I hope Ridgewing hasn’t hoarded the best one before us.”

Acornheart personally thought it was silly. There was no ‘best one’ in his opinion. Besides- nothing ever topped freshly grilled bass, caught from the River Chell.

Oh, for the war to be won sooner!

“Rowanclaw? Where are you?” Tawnystone’s voice called from outside the camp shower stall Rowanclaw was in.

“Can it wait, please?” The ShadowClan commando asked, currently wielding a back brush. “I’m showering!”

As though there was a point to be made, a splash could be heard the moment Rowanclaw poured more water upon himself. “Did you shower already too?”

“Yeah, I did. I hear you,” Tawnystone remarked, chuckling. “It reeked down there! So, uh. What kind of orders did you get from Cinderpelt?”

“Classified. I don’t know how long this mission will last.”

“Oh. Alright! Good luck!”

Tawnystone didn’t sound as concerned. Rowanclaw wasn’t either- this wasn’t the first time that they’d been put on separate missions.

“Do you know who my replacement is on your end?” Rowanclaw called.

“Cedarheart! He did a horrible job at interrogating Tess, so the Chancellor’s moving him to frontline commando work!”

“I still can’t believe Cedarheart was ever even assigned to interrogation,” he incredulously remarked. “I know the Kanzler trained him, but she really trusted him with that?!”

Cedarheart had been ShadowClan’s response to WindClan capturing their first BloodClan spy- a woman named Tess working alongside another operative, Pounce. While Pounce had been killed, Tess had surrendered to WindClan. Thanks to ShadowClan’s liaison in WindClan at the time, Deerfoot (as well as a split-second decision by Russetstar), Cedarheart had been sent by ShadowClan to attempt to extract information from Tess himself.

That day was, as the S.D.R. Kommando might collectively call it, a “broken egg”. This basically meant that they weren’t totally prepared or sent the right person to handle the situation- though of course the loss of the objective wasn’t mission critical or damaging overall. Which was also why Cedarheart’s ultimate failure to gain information was generally excused by Russetstar- though Rowanclaw doubted that WindClan would be so forgiving. At the very least, it couldn’t be said that Cedarheart had broken the Code of Mercy.

Of course, Cedarheart had clarified everything with Brushlion and Tansysong sometime after RiverClan had captured Smoke. They accepted his apology- as long as he promised to come by and apologize to Tess, too.

“Also, Tawny? Mind letting Mom know I love her?” Rowanclaw added.

Tawnystone cackled. “I’m sure she knows already.”

“Oh, come on!” Rowanclaw yelled indignantly. Internally, he had insisted on enjoying this shower- he felt he deserved it before what could be the most important mission of his whole career.

Chapter Text

At a row of tables, the escorts were packing their weapons and ammunition. As Leaf and Rainfur were still not permitted usage of firearms, they would be waiting outside for the soldiers charged with their protection.

“So, do we know where we’re headed right now?” Rowanclaw asked as he slung his Gewehr-43 over his shoulder, having chosen to customize it with a scope. Next to him, Moosestrike was counting the number of shotgun shells he planned to bring for the trip.

“Cinderpelt says we’re supposed to escort them to Camp Butter first. Some sentries stationed there the other day saw BloodClan scouts moving around the place, and Cinderpelt wants some field medics there to help stabilize any wounded.” Tansysong picked up a Thompson and some stick magazines.

Acornheart slid forward the bolt of his MAS-36. “Then that means we’ll be expected to fight soon. Butter’s between us and Clan territory- if we lose it, it could mean something bad for the war effort.”

“Then let’s make sure that we don’t.” Moosestrike bluntly answered. “We good?”

Looking around him, he could see everyone nodding.

It was night outside. As the stars heralding the four soldiers coming out, the darkness gently hugged the landscape.

As Acornheart, Moosestrike, Tansysong and Rowanclaw filed out of the armory, they circled around to find that Leaf and Rainfur had their backpacks on. “No bikes?” Acornheart noticed.

“No bikes. Longtail’s got ‘em all either on patrol or standby for dispatch riders.” Leaf answered to Acornheart’s apparent dismay.

“Then let’s move now,” Moosestrike firmly answered. Tansysong murmured agreement, picking up a lantern.

Together, the six cleared themselves at the sentry post, and walked out of base camp- just another of many patrols being conducted today.

Nobody seemed to notice or care as the six marched out the front gate- all were busy with their own tasks as of current. To Acornheart, the world felt that much bigger as he came to realize how small and insignificant they seemed in the greater scheme of things. How small they felt in this vast world where the Iotunns walked during the day, and they during the night. He was sure every soldier here had their own story unfolding, and that simply made him awed and humbled by the world.

Rowanclaw didn’t feel too happy about being out in the open. He’d spent a good long while now mapping out the sewers, and now that the duty was being entrusted to Cedarheart in his absence he wasn’t so sure about how he felt with his new assignment. Silently, he prayed that his friend Tawnystone would remain safe with Cedarheart- even if he trusted both their skills, he knew how dangerous a place like the sewers could be.

Moosestrike mulled on what he would face in the future. Frankly, he dreaded the accidental possibility of killing an innocent in this war. He didn’t let his natural fear of death prevent him from fighting, no- but he didn’t want this war to last for a long time. His mother Martha wouldn’t be too happy about it.

Meanwhile, Tansysong couldn’t stop thinking about her brother. She knew she could handle herself just fine- between herself and Brushlion, she was the one with the brawn and the grit. But could her brainier brother handle the brutal circumstances of war, where bullets didn’t care who they killed? She’d always been the one to look out for Brushlion- now he would need to look out for himself.

On top of all this, however, one thing lay over the minds of the six travelers. Cinderpelt’s briefing and SkyClan. If what she said was true, this could change the entire history of the Clans as they knew it.

“If we move carefully, we should be able to make it in the morning,” Leaf said. “No use sleeping out here- BloodClan might catch us off guard.”

“Oh my StarClan…” Acornheart groaned. “I hate sleep deprivation.”

“I hear you,” Moosestrike muttered. “Hopefully we don’t run into BloodClan too soon.” Pulling out a surface map, the ThunderClan soldier motioned for his companions to join around him. “I need a light.”

Tansysong brought over her lantern, helping to illuminate the surface map. Moosestrike pointed at Camp Copper, their current location.

“So right now, we’re just down the street from Copper…” He began to trace his finger. “...meaning that if we go north, then go right, straight and then left, we should be able to get to Butter at the first crack of dawn.” Moosestrike folded up the map, putting it into his pocket.

“Have you been down here before?” Acornheart asked.

“We’ve all been down there before. I stopped by Butter on our way to Copper the first time. Remember?” Rainfur interjected from where he stood next to Leaf.

“He’s right,” Tansysong agreed. “Let’s move.”

The nine prisoners at Camp Copper were being guarded inside the remains of the Iotunn building. Mousefur’s team had been assigned to guarding them in a corner surrounded by coils of barbed wire.

Four children, two women and three men comprised the remainder of the BloodClan patrol which they’d been guarding. Prior to being assigned to guarding them, Brushlion and Reedwhisker had been told their names. As of now, Oakfur had already separated the men for interrogation.

As the four children huddled together in fear, Minty was busy comforting them while Gremlin sat glumly in the corner.

“I miss my sister already,” Brushlion grumbled as he shuffled his feet. He and Reedwhisker were standing guard outside the wire circle.

Acornheart’s friend was currently sitting on an empty food crate, a Thompson resting on his lap. “I know, right? Hey, at least Moosestrike, Acornheart and Rowanclaw are with her.”

At the sound of the name ‘Moosestrike’, the mother of four spat on the ground in disgust. Reedwhisker glared at her. “What’s your problem?”

“He killed Gremlin’s brother.” Minty hissed.

“Moosestrike’s our friend,” Brushlion angrily retorted. “And if you ask me, Gremlin’s brother was trying to kill him!”

“Don’t argue,” Gremlin whispered. It was clear she was still grieving- neither Brushlion nor Reedwhisker could see her face.

“Gremlin?” Minty seemed to drop the tough act, coming over to her side.

“Life’s dealt us a bad hand,” Gremlin resignedly said. “Snipe was too young for a war like this.”

“I know, Gremlin.” Minty soothed. “I’m sorry about him.”

“How do you know the Clans won’t take them away when they decide what to do with us?” Gremlin whispered, suspiciously glaring at the WindClan and RiverClan soldiers.

“How come they sent you to fight when you’re obviously bearing a child?” Reedwhisker butted in. “Marshal Leopardstar would never allow that kind of bullshit!”

“Nor Prime Minister Tallstar,” Brushlion agreed.

“Do you think I have a choice?” Gremlin asked miserably, looking up. “When Fury tells you to fight, you fight.”

“You bet we’re gonna have a few words with him,” Reedwhisker confidently said.

“Her,” Minty corrected, obviously peeved. “Fury’s a woman.”

“Well, if it makes you feel any better we haven’t tried to eat you yet,” Reedwhisker grunted.

Immediately, one of Minty’s daughters glanced at her mother, her eyes wide with fear. “They’re going to eat us?”

“No!” Minty replied. “No, Snowflake, sweetie. They’re not going to eat us.”

Brushlion gave Reedwhisker a pointed look before agreeing. “No, we don’t eat people.”

Regardless, Gremlin remained quiet about it. “...you seem very adamant in defending your friend. Moosestrike. What’s so great about him, anyway?”

“We helped hunt down a spy in RiverClan trying to kill some deserters from BloodClan,” Brushlion pointed out. “Remember like a month ago…”

“Good times,” Reedwhisker sighed contentedly. “That was how I got my suffix!”

“I know. You deserved it,” Brushlion assured his friend with a smile.

“A spy?” One of Minty’s kids looked up.

“Icicle, don’t listen to them,” Minty warned. However, the other children, eager at the prospect of a story, decided to sit on crossed legs to hear Brushlion speak.

Reedwhisker glanced at the WindClanner warily as he began to sit as well, crossing his own legs. “You sure you won’t drop any intel on accident?”

“You might be right,” Brushlion admitted, hesitating for a moment. Then, he thought about it for a moment before pausing. “I could just cut to the good part where we caught the spy.”

“Technically she tried to commit suicide by pill but failed,” Reedwhisker pointed out. “It was a little funny, but I don’t know if you can really tell that to those kids.” He paused. “Or, better yet. You could tell them the story about the Lost Clan!”

“Good idea.” Brushlion nodded. “Better than my story considering that half of it’s classified.” He rubbed his hands together. ”Okay, children. Gather around, I’ve got a story to tell you…”

“You know, I think I heard a variation of the Lost Clan story as a child,” Leaf remarked. “My mother said something about soldiers who defended the people from man-eaters who came from the forest.”

“You mean ThunderClan territory?” Moosestrike asked.

“Yes. She said that back in her father’s day, man-eaters dressed in green invaded Chelford and terrorized the Iotunntames and rogues alike.” Leaf looked ahead down the street as they walked along.

“I might know what you’re talking about,” Moosestrike realized. “My mentor Brackenfur mentioned that before his mother was born, General Oakstar of ThunderClan attempted an invasion of the Iotunns’ domain and failed. Apparently the people there were able to organize an effective resistance.”

“Do you think those people were the Republic of SkyClan?” Acornheart asked in awe.

“Well… it might be a possibility,” Tansysong admitted. Acornheart’s mouth was open.

“Or,” Rowanclaw suggested. “They could have been tied to it. If they were in the same region they would definitely have interacted for better or for worse.”

“Speculations aside.” Moosestrike kindly said. “I wonder. Leaf, what was your family like?”

“My family? Well, it was just me, my mother and my father. They used to be part of the gang of a woman known as Marmalade. My father was one of Marmalade’s most loyal supporters.”

“What happened to your parents?” Acornheart gently asked.

“BloodClan,” Leaf spat. “They killed my father. My mother died from grief.”

The young RiverClanner closed his eyes. “I’m sorry.”

“Rainfur? What about you?” Moosestrike asked, more than willing to change the subject.

“I never knew my parents. I was born a tame, ran away. I was young when I joined BloodClan, and it was also where I met my wife Petal.” Rainfur stopped, and Leaf seemed to silently tell Moosestrike not to ask about it.

Acornheart gave Moosestrike a helpless shrug.

“Best shut it,” Rowanclaw muttered. “I think I hear something.”

Suddenly, several small clouds of dust rose from the ground with the sound of several impacts. At once, Leaf and Rainfur ducked while everyone else raised their firearms.

“Contact!” Acornheart yelled.

Chapter Text

Bullets impacted on the ground as the six ran into an alley, all of them silently cursing their luck.

“How’d they find us?” Tansysong hissed in frustration.

“Defender’s advantage,” Rowanclaw grumbled. “They know this place better than us overall.”

“At least we didn’t go by day,” Leaf remarked. “That would mean more Iotunns out and about.”

“So how are we gonna get out of here?!” Moosestrike burst out. “They have us pinned!”

To emphasize his point, a BloodClan mobster ran around the corner, only for Acornheart to shoot him clean in the chest. The BloodClanner flopped to the ground lifelessly. “Do we have a way out?” The RiverClan soldier asked.

Rainfur poked his head out the other side, only to duck with a short scream as a bullet impacted on the wall before him. “NOPE!”

“Maybe we do! Do we have a manhole cover here?” Leaf asked as she yanked Rainfur back to him.

Rowanclaw glanced at his feet. “Yeah!”

“So what happened to them? They couldn’t have just disappeared, could they?” Sniff asked.

“Nobody knows,” Brushlion remarked. “People aren’t sure where they went- some of them might have gone tame, or left the area. The Clan might have perished in some battle. But ultimately, we have no idea where they could have gone. As far as I know it isn’t possible for a Clan to survive here without abandoning the Code of Mercy.”

“The Code of Mercy?” Gremlin asked.

“The rules every Clan lives by,” Reedwhisker explained.

“Didn’t Mousefur mention a ‘Rule 16 violation’? Does that have something to do with it?” Minty asked, annoyed.

“Rule 16. Children are the responsibility of all of us. Firing upon them, otherwise harming them or allowing harm upon them is strictly forbidden. The only exception are child soldiers who are armed and pose an immediate threat,” Brushlion recited. “If possible, disarm them first.”

“What’s the punishment for a Rule 16 violation?” Gremlin asked worriedly.

“According to Rule 20, death by firing squad is reserved for violations of Rules 6, 16 through 19 and 23.” Reedwhisker said.

Worriedly, the children looked towards their mother.

Gremlin gasped in fear, but Minty glared. “Are your leaders somehow exempt from this?”

“Nope, they’re to be killed to their last life if they break any of those rules.”

Minty remained suspicious. “And what about those other rules you mentioned?”

Brushlion cleared his throat. “Well, Rule 6 says a recruit should be at least 15 years of age. Prior to which they should understand the consequences of joining a military. In other words, no child soldiers. How old are you kids?”

“11.”

“11.”

“12.”

“13.” Each of Minty’s kids said, one after the other.

“I assume BloodClan forced them to fight too?” Brushlion asked with a frown.

Minty nodded, looking right at Brushlion. Immediately, he assumed that they might not live to regret their decision had they refused to fight. “What about the others?” she asked.

“Rule 17 says that the Code of Mercy applies even to Clan leaders. And that all the Clan leaders, second-in-commands and medical officers should unanimously agree on any changes to the Code of Mercy.” Reedwisker recited. “Rule 18 says we can’t kill unarmed, retreating or wounded combatants, we can’t torture or starve prisoners, and we can’t deny them food, water, sleep, shelter or cleanliness.”

Gremlin breathed an audible sigh of relief.

“Rule 19 says we can’t give no quarter- meaning if someone surrenders we have to take them prisoner, we can’t kill them. It also says perfidy, like fake surrenders, is forbidden. Murder, rape, extortion and attempts at said crimes are to be punished by firing squad. Also, marital relationships are only allowed when those involved are Clan adults- or 18 years of age.” Brushlion said. “And this one’s important, one of the newer additions- Rule 23 says that blood doesn’t define guilt or innocence, nor does belief in StarClan.”

“Wait a minute.” Minty stopped the WindClan soldier in his information dump. “...were you even born in the Clans?”

“Nope. My sister and I used to be Iotunntames.”

Minty did a double take. “You- you’re-”

“Yeah, so what? General Firestar was tame too,” Reedwhisker confidently said. “Oh, not me, though. I’m Clanborn.”

“So all these. If you violate them you die,” Gremlin blankly said.

“Yeah.” Reedwhisker answered. But, to her surprise, Gremlin shook her head, holding it in one hand. Her shoulders began to shake, and she began to laugh.

“I never thought that laws could ever be made to protect common folk! I never thought…”

“What about us?” Minty asked, not quite relieved yet. “Do you think Gremlin and I will be killed?”

Reedwhisker shook his head. “No. You were forced into this by BloodClan. And your kids, Minty. Worst punishment I can really think of is from Rule 21- either imprisonment, probation or permanent disarmament, meaning you can’t ever use a gun again.”

Brushlion expected some sort of retort from Minty, but surprisingly enough she seemed content now.

“Fine,” she calmly replied, a satisfied smile on her face. “As long as my kids and I don’t have to starve, so be it.”

“You think they got away?” A BloodClanner asked as his shoes sloshed down the dank sewer.

“Oh no, oh no, oh no…” His companion quavered. “If Fury knows that we accidentally let someone through, she’s gonna kill us!” Her voice rose in fear.

“Panic, shut up and follow me! Fury don’t need to know nothin’, alright?”

“But Blaze, she’s gonna find out! If neither of us t-t-t-tell, someone else will- w- she’s be-be-been eyeing that man-eater field camp f-for weeks!” Panic stuttered.

“Just. Don’t. Even.” Blaze sounded impatient, but obviously he too feared the wrath of their caporegime. “We’ll search down here, then if we can’t find them, we’ll check the surface. They can’t have gone far.”

Together, the two headed down the dank tunnel, the echo of their footsteps gradually fading.

Rowanclaw stayed deathly still until he didn’t hear any more footsteps. He raised a finger to his lips, and slowly peeled himself off of the wall he was hiding against.

Next to him, Leaf and Rainfur both slouched, letting out faint sighs of relief until Rowanclaw’s eyes widened, and he grabbed them both.

“Breathe through your nose,” he whispered. Rainfur hurriedly nodded, and the ShadowClan commando let them go.

Having basic training as well, Acornheart, Tansysong and Moosestrike were also breathing through their noses. Rowanclaw immediately led the way, and together they kept walking.

Every time they heard a distant sound that wasn’t water dripping against water, the commando raised a hand, stopping them instinctively. At least he seemed to know what he was doing.

However, Rowanclaw kept checking in all directions as he continued to lead his five companions along. Down the sewers they went.

They didn’t even stop to rest, only to check for sound- they just kept going until they were very, very certain that the BloodClanners had given up searching the sewers.

“So,” Tansysong said softly, scratching her head. “Where do we go next?”

“Yeah, you seem to know your way around down here,” Moosestrike whispered. “Did your missions happen down here?”

“That’s classified.” Rowanclaw’s reply was little more than a gust of wind.

“So, where do we go from here to Butter?” Leaf asked again.

“I don’t know.”

Tansysong paused, as though taking a moment to process what Rowanclaw had said. Then, as loud as she could, she roared, “WHAT?!” until in a panic, Acornheart slapped his hand over her mouth.

Immediately, the six ducked down, waiting for the sound to dissipate. Then, Tansysong angrily made her way forward, as though she were attempting to strangle Rowanclaw.

Instinctively, Rainfur and Moosestrike each grabbed one of the WindClan soldier’s arms to restrain her. But she hissed angrily, her rage clearly muted by the need for silence in the sewer.

“You tell me…” she snarled quietly. “That you got us lost… in a fucking sewer… and we have no idea where the fuck we’re going?!”

Rowanclaw was visibly horrified at Tansysong’s wrath, but even more at the fact that he had just gotten all of them lost. He gave a muted nod of shame.

Eventually, Tansysong gave a low moan of despair, then stopped thrashing about. “They’re never gonna find our bodies.”

“Do we know roughly where we entered the sewers?” Acornheart muttered.

“I’m sorry, I don’t remember,” Rowanclaw helplessly admitted. “I was trying to lead us away from them.”

“Well,” Moosestrike sighed. “At least nobody’s dead or injured, right?”

“Camp Butter’s gonna be a different story if we aren’t there at dawn!” Rainfur silently exploded. “They need us!”

Leaf seemed to think for a moment, listening to all of her companions quietly argue. Then, she raised her hand.

“Everyone, stop. I have an idea.”

Everyone paused- and just in time too, because it looked like Tansysong was about to beat the stuffing out of Rowanclaw.

Immediately, Leaf bent over, then picked up a piece of broken brick. She examined it, flipping it over before looking at the wall, then back at the brick.

Then, she walked over and scratched an X onto the wall.

“This’ll tell us if we’ve been here already,” Leaf calmly explained. “We’re going to try and find our way out. At every intersection, I’m going to scratch an X onto the wall with this.”

Rowanclaw was visibly relieved that he might get out of this without being killed by Tansysong. Acornheart and Rainfur were relieved that they wouldn’t have to peel Tansysong off of Rowanclaw. And Tansysong was obviously happy that she wouldn’t have to waste any bullets in the sewers on the team commando.

“So basically, this will mark where we’ve been and where we have yet to go?” Moosestrike asked.

“Pretty much. It’s no replacement for a map, but…” Leaf shrugged. “Better than nothing. Now let’s move.”

“Where did you learn that?” Acornheart was pleasantly surprised by Leaf’s quick thinking.

“In ThunderClan we had maps,” Moosestrike whispered. “And we used landmarks on our territory to show where we were going. But we don’t have many landmarks down here to go by.”

“My mother taught me how,” Leaf answered proudly. “She told me that whenever I got lost in Chelford, I shouldn’t panic and should try to retrace my steps. If all else fails, use markers.”

She glanced at Rowanclaw before stopping and scratching another marker at the next intersection. “Are you alright?”

Rowanclaw shook his head. Leaf put a hand on his shoulder. “We all make mistakes, Rowanclaw. There’s always a thing or two you can learn even after you have your suffix. Oakfur likes to say that… right?”

“My mentor too,” Moosestrike agreed.

“And mine.” Acornheart chimed in.

“And my brother.” Tansysong felt a wave of sympathy for her companion. “Rowanclaw, I’m sorry if I panicked.”

“Let’s be fair, I was certain that we’d all starve to death down here,” Rowanclaw admitted. Tansysong chuckled in sympathy.

“Have you ever been in this part of the sewers?” Rainfur asked the ShadowClan commando.

“That’s classified,” Rowanclaw said, though it was obvious that he hadn’t.

“ShadowClanners and their secrets,” Tansysong exasperatedly remarked.

Chapter Text

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Are you even worried? Runningnose angrily gestured. He was sitting inside Russetstar’s office. The “silent conference” protocol still held, in the event that BloodClan spies remained to eavesdrop on ShadowClan’s leadership.

I am. But we can’t panic, Russetstar gestured back. Right now we lack information.

And enough telegraphs. Runningnose pinched the bridge of his inflamed nose in concern. We only have six of them.

Hence the coded transmissions, Russetstar retorted. She closed her eyes. You’d think that a medic would have some faith.

This patrol is important to the fate of the Clans! Runningnose pointed out. And if BloodClan found out the codes…

I never say this, but… Russetstar blinked. …it pays to trust in StarClan a little.

I hope you’re right, Runningnose remarked, letting out a sigh.

“MIA so soon?” Tawnystone didn’t raise her voice, yet her tone carried a hint of alarm.

“I know Rowanclaw’s your friend,” Oakfur said. “But you shouldn’t let yourself be carried away emotionally.”

“Not to mention, we can’t tell anyone about this.” Cedarheart pointed out. Tawnystone knew he was right- this was important intelligence. And yet, she couldn’t help but feel a twinge of guilt that Brushlion would never know what happened to Tansysong, or that Ridgewing wouldn’t know what happened to Moosestrike. Reedwhisker likewise wouldn’t know any more about Acornheart.

But her? She was now burdened with the fact that her best friend was missing and quite possibly dead. It was something which she would carry for the rest of her life- and for a moment she wished that she was in blissful ignorance like everyone else on the direness of the situation.

Mentally, she chastised herself for such un-commando-like behavior. This was a situation which commandos could solve.

“Permission to search for them myself,” Tawnystone requested.

“Denied,” Oakfur bluntly replied. “I need you to scout out the sewers as usual. I can’t afford for my commandos to go traipsing off into the unknown- not until I have a clearer picture on this.”

“The clearer picture I can provide,” Tawnystone insisted.

“My orders stand, Tawnystone. Do not pursue.”

She felt her heart drop. But orders were orders.

“Yes, Oberkommando.”

Brushlion and Reedwhisker were resting in their sleeping bags as they found Ridgewing had entered as well.

“Hey!” Reedwhisker greeted. “Come over and pull up your sleeping bag!”

Ridgewing obliged, carrying his own sleeping bag over to set down next to theirs. “You guys wondering about what they’re up to?”

“Don’t I,” Brushlion sighed. “I miss my sister.”

“Trust that they’ll make it through,” Ridgewing said with a smile. “Sometimes hope is all we got.”

“He’s right. No use worrying. Besides, we’ve got duties of our own to fulfill.” Reedwhisker said, turning until he faced the sky.

For a moment, the three of them lay there until Brushlion asked, “Do you ever think our ancestors imagined us undertaking a campaign this big?”

“Or in the entire history of the Clans?” Reedwhisker added. “Never in the entire history of the Clans did we ever see a war this large.”

“I know,” Ridgewing agreed. “We’re not even in proper Clan territory anymore. We’re sleeping in the abandoned remains of a Iotunn house.” He chuckled. “Imagine that…”

“And yet, our Clans have to defeat BloodClan if we’re to win the war.” Reedwhisker remarked. “Which has been bugging me- what do you think is gonna happen when the war ends?”

“If the war ends,” Brushlion sighed. “BloodClan doesn’t seem to want to surrender- and we haven’t seen a whiff of Don Scourge in forever.”

“If the war ends,” Ridgewing echoed with a smile. “Well, the Clans are probably gonna occupy Chelford for StarClan knows how long. But me? I’m gonna become a lumberjack. I’m sure ThunderClan could use my strength to cut some trees.”

“Really? I’m gonna stick around and guard the Clan borders,” Reedwhisker said in surprise, glancing at Ridgewing. “I want to be a Marshal, like Leopardstar.”

“Pretty ambitious, Reed. But sometimes, you gotta plan to do more than fight, man! You don’t always have to be a soldier or even a leader to provide for people!” Ridgewing’s eyes shone with laughter. “Brushlion, how ‘bout you?”

“Hm.” Brushlion seemed to be deep in thought. “I don’t know, honestly. I never thought I’d make it this far.”

“Oh, well. Better late than never.” Reedwhisker remarked. Ridgewing murmured agreement. “So. Any ideas?” The RiverClan soldier asked.

“Well… I could be a farmer.” Brushlion shrugged.

“Nah, no way. Everyone in WindClan and their mother’s a farmer. Or a baker. Don’t be basic!” Ridgewing encouraged.

“I could be a trader?”

Ridgewing paused. Then, his face lit up as he had another idea. “Schoolteacher!”

“I don’t consider myself good with kids.”

“Shut up, you looked like you enjoyed telling Minty’s kids about the story of the Lost Clan!” Reedwhisker teased.

“I guess. But that’s not what I think I want to be. No, no… I want to be a gunsmith. No matter the Clan, everyone could use one,” Brushlion suggested.

“A gunsmith?” Reedwhisker pondered. “I mean, that’s a tough job. It means a lot of measurements…”

“Yeah, except I know measurements. I know numbers,” Brushlion calmly replied. “I know how a gun works, too.”

“Okay then. How big is a Thompson? Caliber, magazine capacity, rate of fire?” Ridgewing asked.

Brushlion cleared his throat. “33.7 inches long, .45 ACP, 30-round box magazines, six or seven hundred rounds per minute.”

“Wait, six or seven hundred?” Ridgewing paused. “...no wonder all the other Clans adopted the Thunderer.”

“You’re an actual maniac, you know that?” Reedwhisker asked.

“That’s my sister’s job. I’m the one with the brains,” Brushlion contentedly retorted.

Reedwhisker blinked. “You still sure you don’t want to be a schoolteacher?”

“In your dreams,” Brushlion snapped. Ridgewing let out a laugh.

“Basically, I’m gonna head back to help my mom with trading when all this is over,” Moosestrike explained.

“Huh. Alright,” Acornheart remarked. “Nothing wrong with that.”

Tansysong laughed.

“What.” Moosestrike blankly said.

“You’re being a total mama’s boy, you know that?” Tansysong teased.

Moosestrike glared at her. “Well, she’s family. Your point?”

“There’s no way that you plan to do just that!” Tansysong had doubled over. “Like, how dry could your life choices possibly-“

Rowanclaw raised a finger to his lips. He had stopped just behind Leaf, who had raised her hand.

Leaf knelt, taking the piece of brick in her hand and dropping it. A moment later, the six heard the brick impact the bottom.

Looking past Leaf, the others could see a short drop- no more than ten feet- down to the bottom.

“It’s an easy climb down,” Leaf said. “If we have any rope.”

“We don’t,” Rowanclaw muttered.

“Why would we be going down?” Tansysong butted in. “We’re supposed to go up!”

“That’s true,” Acornheart agreed.

“We’ve done nothing but get lost in these sewers for StarClan knows how long,” Moosestrike pointed out. “I’d say we should take anything we can get.”

“But what about Camp Butter? We still have no idea when they’re gonna attack- or if they’re gonna attack,” Rainfur pointed out. “Still, though… they’re gonna kill us the moment they realize how late we’ve been.”

“Especially Colonel Mistyfoot,” Acornheart groaned. She had warned him not to run off during an emergency before. This wasn’t the case here, but it came close enough.

“I think we should head down,” Leaf suggested. “BloodClan likely won’t be searching down here so I think we’ll have a chance to move faster.”

“We should climb down. One at a time,” Moosestrike decided.

“Alright,” Tansysong grunted. “Enough talk. I’m going down first.”

Firstly, the WindClan soldier moved her Thompson around her body so that she wouldn’t be obstructed as she climbed down. Secondly, she sat down over the edge, then grasped the surface next to her. Slowly, she lowered herself in.

It was here that her legs waved around in search of a foothold. There! She’d found one. Then, she moved her leg for another one.

Slowly she began to climb down. Left foot went to a hole in the wall. Right foot landed on a brick jutting out, then the left foot moved again.

“I can climb better than that,” Rowanclaw whispered. “Let me go down first. I’ll catch you if things get tough.”

Tansysong, determined to prove herself the better soldier, climbed down even faster. This would prove to be a terrible choice.

Her eyes widened as her foot slipped from its foothold and she began to lose her balance. With a scream, she fell and landed on the ground.

“Aaaagh…” she groaned.

Moosestrike was the first to climb down, followed by the others. On his way down, he called, “Are you alright?”

“I’m fine,” Tansysong angrily said, waving them away, only to contradict herself with a whine of pain.

Rainfur was soon next to her, assessing the damage. “Dislocated ankle,” he told Leaf. “Hold her down.”

“You readjust it,” Leaf told him, clearly relieved that Tansysong hadn’t broken anything. Those field medic skills that the two had were quickly coming to use.

“Dislocated? Heh. I can handle- AAH!” Tansysong shrieked as an audible pop could be heard, with Rainfur forcing her foot back into place.

Acornheart’s eyes were wide. “Is she okay?”

“Ow, ow, ow…” Tansysong didn’t sound okay.

As Rainfur dug into his bag for a splint, Leaf took off Tansysong’s shoe, taking the WindClanner’s bag to put the shoe inside.

“How long do you think she’ll take to heal?” Rainfur asked.

“A month and a half,” Leaf concluded grimly. “It’s no bullet wound, but she needs to heal up after this mission.”

Acornheart glanced at Moosestrike. “One of us has to carry her.” To her credit, Tansysong didn’t try to resist.

“I’ll get her backpack.” Leaf offered.

Moosestrike sighed. “Fine. I’ll do it.” It was clear that his little spat with Tansysong had left a lasting impression on him.

The now-lame WindClan soldier groaned as she was picked up by the larger soldier of ThunderClan. Moosestrike rolled his eyes as he lifted her up.

“Take her SMG for now. We need a squad automatic,” Leaf instructed. Nodding in agreement, Acornheart took the Thompson into his hands, slinging his MAS-36 over his shoulder.

“This is perfect, this is fucking perfect.” Tansysong angrily exclaimed as the six of them checked out their surroundings. “We get lost in the sewer. We try and find our way out. We fall into an even deeper sewer… with even bigger tunnels.”

They were in some sort of alcove with a white floor, and broken ceiling fixtures. Just outside the alcove were ancient brick tunnels of some sort, with the ground at the bottom of them being gravelly and occupied by long metal rails. The tunnel seemed vast… cavernous, even.

“You sure this is a sewer?” Rowanclaw asked meekly. “I don’t think we’ve ever been in a place like this before.”

Chapter Text

Moosestrike walked up and down the alcove, looking down. As of now, Leaf and the others were discussing their next course of action.

Right now, he didn’t care. He wanted so badly for this war to be over.

For one, his time fighting on the surface had been terrible. And he’d never be truly understood on his reasoning as to why he wanted to leave after the war.

He had friends here- so how come he felt so alone? He scoffed. Maybe his prospect for adventure was a childish thing. Perhaps he’d been wrong to believe that anyone could truly understand.

“Moosestrike?” Tansysong called from where she sat at the edge, looking over into the darkness of the tunnels.

Moosestrike internally groaned. “If it’s about my family…”

“It’s not.” Tansysong was quiet now. “The stuff I said about your life choices being dry? …forget it.”

Moosestrike let out a huff, sitting down next to her. “How come you’ve always acted like the tough one? From the moment I first knew you, you’ve always tried to show yourself as the tough soldier. You pick the loudest guns. You speak the loudest. Just… why?”

Tansysong closed her eyes. “I guess this is what it comes to, huh?” She turned to look at Moosestrike. “I… didn’t have the best relationship with my mother.”

“Well,” Moosestrike dryly said. “That explains the part about what you said about my life choices.”

“Yeah.” Tansysong blinked. “Sorry.” She opted to continue of her own accord. “My mother’s name was Bailey. We were Iotunntames, you see- and she was too. Moment we were born, she pretty much tried to coddle us. She loved us, I know, but frankly I always just felt restrained.”

Moosestrike was listening. “Go on.”

“I’d heard stories, you see, from the locals. Of WindClan, a group of chivalrous protectors who didn’t bow to anyone. They were tough characters. I liked that, and though I knew that I couldn’t join because I was, well, a Iotunntame… how could I not admire them?”

“When did you join WindClan again?”

“Before the Clans first fought BloodClan. It was the offer of a lifetime for me- and, honestly, Mom was worried about us. Leo- that’s Brushlion- he was willing to follow me. My name used to be Melody.”

“Is that why your suffix is -song?”

“Yep. It was Tallstar’s idea,” Tansysong remarked. “But I wanted to show that I belonged. To not be some damsel in distress to be protected. I’m a soldier of WindClan, damn it. That’s how I came to join the war against BloodClan. And, well. The moment that it became apparent that I could become an actual honest-to-StarClan member of the Clan… I signed right up. I was WindClan. We- my brother and I- are WindClan. And I know Mom, StarClan rest her soul… she loved us a lot.”

Tansysong looked back towards the tunnels. “But she didn’t know how to let go. ”

Moosestrike looked down at the rocks below them. “My dad died of flu when I was a kid, you know.”

“I’m sorry about him,” Tansysong remarked.

“Don’t be. Nothing we can do about it now,” Moosestrike kindly replied. “But since he died, my mom- Martha- she worried for me. I’m her only child. And, to be honest, I feel a lot like you in a sense. I couldn’t live without adventure. Mom said that’s why Dad became a trader. Like me, he craved seeing the world.”

“So… why’d you promise to come back to her?” Tansysong asked.

“I don’t want to worry her. I’m the only family she has left. …I know how brutal war can be, Tansysong. How short lives can be because people hate each other so much. There’s some painful things in the world that I wouldn’t dare wish on anyone.”

“Sheesh, and I thought I was the gal who had more to hide behind the tough guy act. Why do you insist on acting so stoic, anyway?” Tansysong remarked.

“War sucks. Sometimes having someone to look up to helps,” Moosestrike remarked. “And, I guess… it helps me remember the man that my Dad was before he died.”

Tansysong smiled. “When all this is over. When you and your mom are trading together again. Promise to stop by WindClan and say hello every once in a while, alright?”

Moosestrike smiled back. “You bet.”

“Hey, you two.” Acornheart called over. “You’re going to want to check this out.”

“Help me up,” Tansysong instructed. Moosestrike obliged, extending his hand to pull her up.

Tawnystone had just gotten her lunch ration and was looking for Brushlion. Slowly, she walked around the mess clearing to find him speaking with Ridgewing and Reedwhisker.

“Where- hey, Tawnystone!” Brushlion happily greeted, moving aside to let her sit.

“Thanks,” the commando said as she sat down and began to eat.

“So how’re things?” Ridgewing greeted.

Tawnystone, to be honest, wasn’t doing great. No reports had come from the other camps on the presence of Maple Patrol. And yet, she’d been forbidden by Oakfur to pursue. Plus, nobody had a single clue where they even were.

“Things are… alright,” she managed.

Ridgewing and Brushlion looked at each other. Reedwhisker cleared his throat.

“You sure?” Reedwhisker offered.

“That’s classified,” Tawnystone quietly told them.

Brushlion nodded. “…okay.”

“So we’ve been looking over this thing on the wall here.” Rowanclaw remarked, pointing at what seemed to be some kind of simple drawing in a frame embedded in the wall of the alcove.

Both Moosestrike and Tansysong gave blank expressions in response to what Rowanclaw had said. Rainfur stepped forward.

“I think this is a map of some sort. Rowanclaw, do you still have the surface map?”

Rowanclaw nodded, passing it to Rainfur who then unfolded it. “Okay.” Rainfur cleared his throat. “This…” he pointed at the wall map. “That’s the River Chell. “And this…” he pointed at the surface map. “That’s Camp Butter. So wherever we might be…” He pointed to the part on the strange wall map where there should have been Camp Butter. “We need to get here and fast. As close as possible.”

“But how do we do that if we have no idea where we are?” Tansysong pointed out. Acornheart raised his hand, then pointed towards a sign on the wall.

Nobody could tell what the symbols were- but Acornheart immediately walked over to the wall map and pointed. “Look.”

At one of the little dots on one of the lines, there appeared to be the same set of symbols. Some sort of name, or word… they didn’t know.

Now, however, they knew where they were and how they could get back easily.

“So far I think we seem to have our solution. However, there’s just one problem,” Leaf said. “Do we know yet what direction we’re supposed to go in? We have no sun to guide us here.”

“Well, there’s one way we can figure it out,” Tansysong offered. “We can go in one direction and see which dot pops up here next. If a “dot” looks like this alcove, maybe it’s similar to others along this same line.”

“Let’s go, then.” Acornheart suggested. “Triangulate our position.”

“And Tawnystone didn’t even say anything the whole time. ” Brushlion whispered. He, Ridgewing and Reedwhisker were currently guarding Camp Copper from the remains of the roof.

“I know,” Ridgewing softly said, looking out into the city. “Now I’m no medic, but I think that’s a sign of trouble.”

“Too right,” Reedwhisker muttered. “What does it mean?”

They heard the ladder leading up to their position being used, and at once they all turned to find that Tawnystone had climbed up after them.

“Hey,” Brushlion greeted her once again. As opposed to when they were having their lunch together, however, his greeting was significantly more sedated.

“Hey,” Tawnystone said quietly, glancing down the ladder she had just climbed up. “I need to speak to all of you.”

“Is Don Scourge dead?” Ridgewing hopefully asked.

“Did BloodClan surrender because we’ve been snuffing enough of their goons out?” Reedwhisker offered.

“No and no,” Tawnystone clarified. She lowered her voice. “…if word gets out that I told you, Oberkommando Oakfur will never forgive me. I could even lose my rank as a commando.”

Reedwhisker, Ridgewing and Brushlion worriedly looked at each other. “Now listen, Tawnystone. If you feel that we shouldn’t know nothin’…” Ridgewing decided. “Then don’t tell us none.”

“Yeah,” Brushlion agreed hesitantly.

Reedwhisker nodded. “If it’s classified then we can’t let it fall into BloodClan hands.”

Tawnystone pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed. “None of you heard this from me. But… it’s about Leaf’s patrol.”

Immediately, the moods of the three Clan soldiers changed. Tawnystone felt guilt grip her heart as she saw how concerned they became. “Oh no,” Brushlion muttered, his eyes wide. “Is my sister okay?”

“Acornheart?” Reedwhisker asked.

“Or Ted- Moosestrike?” Ridgewing sounded alarmed.

“I don’t know,” Tawnystone admitted. “Keep your voices down.”

“Don’t know?” Reedwhisker asked.

“They’ve been MIA since last night. They’d been requested to go to Camp Butter…” She glanced around her before continuing to speak. “Her whole patrol’s behind schedule according to Butter. All the camps have reported no sightings.”

“And the outposts?”

Tawnystone glanced helplessly at Brushlion. “Their reports are still coming in. Nothing yet.”

Brushlion closed his eyes, muttering some sort of prayer to StarClan.

“What do we do now?” Ridgewing asked.

“Well… we know that they were sent by Cinderpelt to check it out,” Tawnystone offered. “You could probably get her permission to transfer to Butter and help commit to outpost duty there.”

“It should help,” Reedwhisker agreed. “Let’s do it.”

Cinderpelt was keeping inventory on medical supplies when she sensed that three people had come behind her.

“Can it wait? I’m taking inventory here,” Cinderpelt bluntly pointed out.

“Can we get transferred to Camp Butter,” Brushlion asked.

Cinderpelt paused. “Tawnystone told you.”

“Wh- how-“ Ridgewing stuttered.

“I’m not blind. She’s Rowanclaw’s friend, and he’s with Leaf and the others.”

“They are? Then- where are they?” Reedwhisker asked eagerly.

“Don’t you think if I’d known I’d have done something about it?” The ThunderClan medic hissed, causing Reedwhisker to recoil. “I keep telling you, you all act like a bunch of damn kids sometimes…”

“But we want to help,” Brushlion desperately said.

“Do you know why they were transferred to Butter?” Cinderpelt asked. She turned around to face them.

Noticing the blank looks on the faces of the three, she groaned. “Because Butter needs reinforcements.”

“We can provide those reinforcements,” Ridgewing argued. “It’s a straight path to Butter.”

“I know that,” Cinderpelt said matter-of-factly. “And neither Lieutenant Longtail nor I are gonna risk anyone traveling to Butter because if Leaf and her patrol are missing, it could mean BloodClan’s cut off our supply lines from Copper to Grasshopper!” She exploded. “Why do you think I’m keeping inventory on this fucking base?!”

Ridgewing stepped back, raising his hands. Brushlion and Reedwhisker immediately shut up.

“We’re at war. We can’t afford to act brash right now. I know you care for them.” Cinderpelt lowered her voice. “But they wouldn’t want you wasting your lives no matter what.”

Brushlion let out a choked sob. Reedwhisker embraced him, closing his eyes mournfully, and Ridgewing doffed his helmet in ThunderClan fashion.

Cinderpelt was quiet for a moment. “If I find any news on them. You’ll be the first to know.

…dismissed.”

Chapter Text

Camp Butter was more of a giant supply base than an actual field camp. For the purpose of supplying the five proper field camps south of it, it sat at the eastern side of the river, decently far from Iotunn activity but still on the front. It was a good source of water, in addition to its strategic location allowing quick transport of food from the Clans to their armies abroad. Via a rowboat, one could row from Butter upriver to Clan territory, or walk straight north to Camp Apple- which was closer to the southern edge of ThunderClan territory.

Outside in the night, the people of the Clans stationed at Butter (in addition to the soldiers who were stopping by before their travels continued) were currently observing the Gathering. They were a long way from Fourtrees, but as long as they could see the full moon and their Clans were all together, it didn’t quite matter. The football game Tornear had planned tonight was a bit of a warm welcome, too- to raise the morale of the soldiers on the way to battle.

“Pass left, pass left!” Raven yelled over the cheering crowd. “Runningbrook, PASS!”

In the middle of the camp, there was a football match going down between two teams made of different Clan soldiers.

Runningbrook, who had the ball, was running across the field aimed between two wooden posts, which were being used as goalposts.

It had been three days since supplies had been cut off from Camp Apple, meaning that they would have to steadily trickle via the river. For these three days, no word still had been observed concerning Maple Patrol’s disappearance.

“Runningbrook!” Webfoot yelled at the top of his voice. “You’re the best, YOU’VE GOT THIS!”

Hearing her Clanmate, Runningbrook gave an enthusiastic wave just before sidestepping Thornclaw, who grunted in frustration as he tripped.

“Ugh, they always swipe the ball first!” Thornclaw complained as he got to his feet, dusting off his uniform.

“If you sleep with your mum, sit down…” A WindClan corporal, Pigeonflight, yelled from her seat, rising to her feet.

“If you sleep with your mother, sit down!” Shimmereye, a newly appointed RiverClan soldier and former trainee to Garfield, took up the taunt as well, standing tall.

In response, the array of Clan soldiers who had been seated began standing and cheering aloud, with some of the more foul-mouthed among them repeating it across the crowd. Shimmereye laughed gleefully as she saw two ShadowClan soldiers blankly stare at her (neither had opted to stand).

As of current, the commander of the camp, Field Marshal Tornear, was in deep concentration as he sat atop a watchtower, looking outwards from the camp to the south. Tornear wasn’t in the mood to celebrate. He’d been told to hold on sending supplies to the camps to his south, and frankly he didn’t like it one bit.

A rousing cheer rose from the crowd. Runningbrook’s team had won.

As the singing continued, Tornear heard someone ascending the ladder. Looking down, he saw Webfoot poke his head through the hole in the bottom of the platform. “Field Marshal, sir! There’s a messenger from BloodClan!”

“Lead the way.” Tornear briskly replied. Webfoot nodded, sliding down the ladder. Tornear climbed down at a steadier pace, ready to meet this messenger.

“He’s unarmed,” Webfoot called out as soldiers of all Clans stopped their celebration to salute Tornear, who was pushing through the crowd to see the messenger for himself.

“Field Marshal present!” Runningbrook shouted from where she was being serenaded by her victorious team, and at the sound of her voice the cheering gradually stopped. Slowly but surely, the reminder that they were in a war came back to the Clan soldiers.

Tornear didn’t bother with a salute, instead walking forward to find the BloodClan messenger standing with his hands in the air. “Who’s this?”

“I’m Blaze,” the BloodClanner said flatly. “My capo, Fury, has this camp surrounded. She’s willing to negotiate your surrender.”

“And we’re willing to refuse,” Tornear replied. “Because you’re just a messenger, you won’t be shot. Tell Fury that we say no.”

Blaze’s eyes flashed with fear, and hesitantly, he did so. Turning, he walked out of the camp and vanished into the darkness. Ironically, it sounded like he’d rather stay at the camp of his enemies.

The soldiers of the Clans were silent until Tornear looked back at them. “What are you waiting for? Everyone, arm up!” He barked. He drew out his whistle, blowing three times into it.

As though shaken out of a trance, the Clan soldiers’ order was received and followed. RiverClan soldiers carried mortars into the center of the camp. At the camp walls, the sandbags carefully stockpiled and gathered using sand by the river were put to use as they began to line the defenses on the outside.

WindClan’s troops had stirred to action, already arming themselves up and setting down Lewis guns. ThunderClan soldiers were next to them on the scene, already set up behind the initial defense line to defend in depth.

ShadowClan’s commandos were currently sending an SOS as well as standing by to destroy the camp’s telegraph if necessary. Their troops were already joining the imminent battle as well.

All around Camp Butter, the festivities were put aside for the constant big event around them.

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L NLDP TTRFOTYX SUSC XIYOZNH LRQT DEFP DEZUW N EYRPYTM K DERNEFL XXZA

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In the distance, mortar strikes could be heard as suddenly, an explosion landed in the middle of the camp. In a flash, the Field Marshal drew his revolver.

“MEDIC!” Someone shouted as Camp Butter’s mortars began to fire back violently. As explosions happened overhead, the soldiers of the Clans ducked down in foxholes and behind cover, each of them praying that they would be spared from the artillery barrage that BloodClan was sending upon them.

In the distance, Runningbrook had scaled one of the watchtowers. She squinted, pulling up a pair of binoculars, then shouted. “They’re coming! They don’t look very happy!”

At once, the area between the Iotunns’ domain and B Camp was lit up with automatic gunfire.

Tornear himself jumped into a foxhole, looking at a young RiverClanner next to him who had ducked down fearfully into the dirt, Lewis gun resting beside him. “You hit, Weldtail?”

“N-no, sir.”

“Then listen up!” Tornear ordered. “When I was a rookie, we didn’t have any fancy Lewis guns! We had sticks! Two sticks and a rock for the whole barracks! And we had to share the rock!”

Tornear heard an explosion behind him, but didn’t even twitch as he heard someone screaming. He was hardly new to defending a camp from an invading force- he’d fought foes as old as ShadowClan from before Brokenstar’s era.

The RiverClan soldier looked up, flinching as the Field Marshal picked up the Lewis with one hand, shoving it into Weldtail’s arms. “Buck up, boy! You’re one very lucky bog dweller!”

“What about those mortars?” Weldtail fearfully asked.

“We’ve all run the drills! It’s tough, but not impossible,” Tornear said, patting Weldtail on the back and climbing out. “Stay in your foxhole. You know what to do.”

“Yes- yes, Field Marshal!” Weldtail called out, aiming his Lewis. “FOR RIVERCLAN!”

Standing up, Tornear could see in the distance faint silhouettes in the darkness, dropping dead as the united Clan armies let lead fly. Grimacing, he pulled back the hammer of his revolver.

A single BloodClanner ran ahead of the rest, and without even blinking, Tornear aimed and nailed the enemy clean between the eyes. He pulled the hammer back again, ready for the next foe.

One last explosion landed behind him. It had nailed one of the barracks, and silently Tornear hoped that it was empty.

Then, silence.

As he defiantly glared at the would-be invaders, knowing from the sound that the mortar bombardment had stopped, he raised his hand, and the mortars on his side stopped firing as well. Slowly, the whole front ceased fire as the Field Marshal stepped forward.

Ahead of the camp, it seemed that this combination of Clan soldiers had killed more BloodClanners than they had them.

And yet… this was no bloodless victory. One foxhole had been unlucky to have a mortar shell land right inside it- and Tornear couldn’t tell whether there had been two or three soldiers in there. A sandbag position had been blown away, and the machine gunner present there was currently being carried to the shore by two field medics- it was clear that he’d lost a whole leg and wouldn’t be able to fight again.

One of the camp watchtowers had been hit in the middle and had fallen over. At once, Tornear’s eyes widened as he ran towards it.

No… it couldn’t be.

When he ran around the fallen tower, Tornear found Webfoot currently hunched over a lifeless body, crying his eyes out. It was Runningbrook.

Her spine had been broken, her head at an awkward angle as she stared with glassy eyes to the river. “Runningbrook…” the Field Marshal breathed wistfully, kneeling next to Webfoot. “My old trainee. I’m sorry.”

“I was gonna tell her that I loved her, sir,” Webfoot babbled, looking up. His face was a mess. “Tonight was a perfect night, until…”

Tornear extended his hand, solemnly closing the eyes of his former trainee for the last time. “StarClan rest her soul.”

A RiverClan soldier came running up, saluting. Weldtail had survived the battle. “Field Marshal, sir,” he grimly said. “BloodClan sent another messenger.”

“Bring them here.” Tornear’s voice was hoarse with grief.

The RiverClan soldier obliged, and soon returned with the messenger in question. “Her name’s Panic, apparently. What’s your message?”

“I-I-I need you to surrender.” Panic whispered, her face messy with tears. “Please.”

“What happened to Blaze?” Tornear asked blankly.

“He’s dead!” Panic whimpered, and Tornear screwed his eyes shut to hide the pain. Rising to his feet, he told the wide-eyed messenger gruffly,

“Go tell Fury that nothing’s changed. We will hold this position until our very souls are wrestled from our bodies by StarClan themselves.”

The BloodClan messenger opened her mouth in shock, but found the words unable to come forth.

“You have your answer. Let’s go,” Weldtail coldly said, dragging Panic back.

“No! NO! SHE’LL KILL ME! PLEASE!” Panic shrieked. “Let me go… PLEASE!”

Tornear didn’t even look in her direction.

“SHE’LL KILL ME!”

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“I’ve never been so thankful for dried food,” Tansysong remarked with a yawn. “And that I have this big oaf carrying me around.”

“You’re losing your touch, Tansysong,” Rainfur teased.

“Hey, Moosestrike. Bring me over to him so I can hear him better. What was it you said, Rainfur?”

“She has spoken, it must be done,” Moosestrike commented, a mischievous grin on his face.

“Oh, no- NO!” Rainfur ran down the massive tunnel the group of six were currently traveling down, and Moosestrike ran on, carrying Tansysong in his arms as he went. “You’ll never take me alive!”

“Coward!” Tansysong goaded as Moosestrike chased Rainfur around the other three members of the group. “Fight me like a man!”

“When’d they get along so quickly?” Rowanclaw asked with amusement.

Acornheart chuckled, shrugging and shaking his head. “I got no idea.”

It had been a couple days since Tansysong had dislocated her ankle. The six of them were still traveling the tunnels to look for an exit.

An unfortunate development that they had found out a few days ago was that the way up directly to Camp Butter was blocked by a cave-in.

They’d been demoralized by the fact, of course. But unlike when they’d gotten lost in the sewers, they didn’t panic or let their fear cloud their minds this time. They knew about where they were going, and ultimately, they decided on the next best choice- going all the way to Camp Apple. The possibility of there being an exit still remained.

There was no straight way to Apple via these tunnels according to the simple roadmap, but it had to be worth it.

Leaf by far had encouraged all of them to keep their spirits up. Both she and Rainfur had the experience to boot when it came to navigating Chelford, of course- but between the two of them it was she who had the leadership skills to add on top of it. More or less, she’d sort of become the unofficial patrol leader.

“Alright, you three. Cut it out,” Leaf told them, her eyes brimming with amusement. Rainfur sighed in relief, and Tansysong gave a mock pout. “Unfair!”

“Her brother must deal with this all the time,” Acornheart commented.

Hearing Acornheart’s remark, Moosestrike laughed aloud, and Rowanclaw rolled his eyes, but chose to remain silent albeit with a smile he couldn’t wipe from his face. Frankly, the whole time, although they had been traveling by themselves throughout this large tunnel network, Rowanclaw couldn’t help but shake off the feeling that they were being followed, watched, or sometimes both.

He’d felt it every now and then, though that might have been his commando-brand paranoia at work.

At least, that was what he hoped.

Chapter Text

“I hate to admit it, soldiers…” Lieutenant Longtail had gathered the soldiers under his command at the very center of Camp Copper before him to make an announcement. “But our lack of supplies from Butter, combined with them being under siege by BloodClan, means that our whole campaign here is on the back foot.”

Brushlion miserably looked up. He’d had to get over the fact that his sister might very well be dead or captured. Next to him, Ridgewing clutched his rifle vigilantly, head bowed in grief. Reedwhisker’s eyes were closed as though trying to shut out the thought that his friend Acornheart was gone, too.

“Now, I’ve just received orders from the General himself.” Longtail reminded them. “We need to relieve Butter from the outside, and as a result are sending a detachment to Field Marshal Tornear, who as you know is defending Camp Butter with all he’s got.” Longtail drew his feet together, calling out several names.

Brushlion glanced up as he heard his own name. This was it. Reedwhisker, who had been selected as well, gritted his teeth and screwed his eyes shut. Ridgewing didn’t make a single move as his own name was called out.

As the crowd dissipated, Mousefur walked over. “Brushlion! Ridgewing! Reedwhisker!”

At once, the three made to salute until Mousefur stopped them. “At ease. You three, with me.”

Reedwhisker glanced worriedly at Ridgewing, and it was obvious that he assumed that Mousefur knew that they had attempted to glean classified intel from one of ShadowClan’s commandos.

Yet Mousefur said nothing as she led them to a familiar spot in the camp- a tent closer to the rear of the camp which the lieutenant was using as his quarters.

“Wait here,” Mousefur instructed them calmly. “And remain at ease.” She stood still, and Brushlion looked at Reedwhisker, his eyes appearing as large pools of sadness overlaid with fear.

Reedwhisker straightened up as two sets of footsteps made themselves clearer. Ridgewing turned to see who it was, and at once he snapped to a salute, finding that Longtail and Cinderpelt had come to join them.

“At ease,” Longtail told them. “In the tent.” He turned swiftly upon his heel, walking into the tent to sit down.

Entering the tent after the lieutenant, Brushlion looked up to see that Longtail had a cot with his sleeping bag on it for a bed. On top of this, he also had a crate that he was obviously using as a desk.

“I’m sorry if there’s no place to sit,” Longtail said. “But I feel the urge to speak to you three.”

“Did Cinderpelt-?” Brushlion began, only to be gently shushed by Ridgewing.

“I did.” Cinderpelt affirmed, coming to stand next to Longtail. “Mousefur knows, too.”

Guiltily, the three younger soldiers looked at each other. Longtail leaned forward, and at once the three standing in front of him straightened up.

“I respect your commitment and loyalty to your loved ones. But that doesn’t change the fact that the three of you willingly risked compromise of intelligence for your friends and family. This, as you can tell, cannot go unpunished.”

Understanding the nature of the situation, the three fell silent.

“I want the three of you doing kitchen patrol after dinner and before breakfast for the next month, you understand?”

“Yes, lieutenant.” Three voices rang out at once.

“One other thing. Pack your bags, the three of you are being transferred to Camp Butter.”

“You’re sure this is the best choice?” Cinderpelt asked.

“Trust me, it is. We know that Camp Butter is the planned destination of Leaf, Rainfur and their escort. I trust that the three of you will fight hard to ensure that their arrival is as safe as possible?”

Brushlion looked up, and his eyes shone as he saluted eagerly. “We’ll be ready, sir!”

“Yes, lieutenant,” Ridgewing acknowledged with a salute of his own.

“Sir.” Reedwhisker saluted as well.

“Alright. Good. I expect there to be a lot of foodstuffs waiting at Butter that need preparation, so expect no small amount of work.” Longtail looked towards Cinderpelt. “Best give them a checkup before they’re sent off.”

“Will do.” The ThunderClan medic headed out of the tent.

“Fight hard, you three. We have no confirmation that your friends are dead or even captured. But I warn you… don’t peek at classified information again. Do you understand?” Longtail’s voice took on an edge of seriousness.

The three straightened up. “Yes, lieutenant!”

“Dismissed,” Longtail said, his eyes taking on a hint of sympathy. “StarClan be with you.”

“Why is everything here so dank,” Tansysong complained. “My ankle aches.”

Moosestrike sighed. He’d still been carrying Tansysong for a while now. As of current, the ground seemed to be partially flooded- though it wasn’t up to their ankles. The floor was obviously wet with a thin layer of water atop.

Acornheart stopped, looking at Leaf. A knowing glance crossed his face, and it was laced with worry.

Likewise, Leaf looked at Rainfur. The two had opted to take on Tansysong’s and Moosestrike’s weapons to help escort the two. Rainfur inspected the M97 in his hand briefly as Leaf slid back the safety on her newly gained Tommy.

Rainfur nudged Rowanclaw, who let out a resigned sigh.

At once, they whipped around and aimed their guns. Moosestrike carried Tansysong into cover as Rowanclaw yelled into the darkness behind them.

“Come out here, hands behind your head!”

They heard the faint falling of rocks displaced by a foot, and the sharp intake of breath as they realized they’d been caught.

“Don’t- don’t eat me! I taste terrible!” A small voice yelled.

“Acornheart, you’re on point,” Leaf firmly said. The RiverClan soldier worked up some courage, and proceeded forward as the rest of the patrol followed.

“Alright, listen. We don’t eat people,” Acornheart called out.

“Are- are you sure? You look like man-eaters!” The voice sounded like that of a teenage boy upon closer inspection.

“Yeah, we’re sure. My name’s Acornheart.” The RiverClan soldier called as he lowered his rifle. “What’s yours?”

The voice paused, and slowly a silhouette could be seen. “I’m Snooky. You’re- you’re not gonna shoot, are you?”

“Are you BloodClan?” Acornheart asked.

“No.”

“Then you don’t have to worry. Come on out.”

The silhouette hesitated, and sure enough they could see a youth with a dirt-stained face, an ill-fitting jacket, mismatched, worn-down shoes and a flatcap fitted over his head. At once, Leaf motioned for the patrol to instead aim past him.

“How long have you been following us?” Rowanclaw asked suspiciously. “How do we know you’re not a BloodClan spy?”

Snooky gulped, but shook his head. “I’m not.”

“Where are your parents?” Leaf asked gently.

“Don’t got none. I have Billy.”

“Friend of yours?” Rainfur asked.

“Big brother.”

Rowanclaw rolled his eyes. “We can’t afford to waste our time with this kid. Either he can come with us or not, because if we don’t get to Camp Butter…”

“That man-eater camp by the river?”

“Yeah, that- wait, what?” Rowanclaw’s eyes widened. “Can you take us there?”

“Nah, BloodClan surrounded that thing.”

“Shit!” Tansysong yelled, causing Snooky to flinch. “StarClan damn it all!”

“Language,” Moosestrike warned. However, a look of worry crossed his face as he glanced at the rest of the patrol.

Worry creased Leaf’s face. “Butter’s our only link to Clan territory. We lose that…”

“Then this whole invasion is fucked,” Tansysong spat. Moosestrike gave up trying to get her to stop cursing.

“We’ll find a way. You think you can take us as close as possible there?”

“She looks hurt,” Snooky said, glancing at Tansysong.

“I can walk just fine,” Tansysong muttered, embarrassment apparent on her face.

“She needs medical attention,” Rainfur agreed. “Do you know a doctor?”

“Echo can help,” Snooky replied.

“Are you sure that we want to go along with this?” Acornheart asked hesitantly. “It reeks of suspicion.”

“It’s not like we have much choice,” Leaf said, conflict in her eyes. “Alright. Snooky, right? Can you take us to Echo? Tansysong needs help.”

“Will do, uh…” Snooky paused.

“I’m Leaf. That’s Rainfur.” Leaf pointed to the different people of the group. “That’s Tansysong. That’s Moosestrike.”

“Hey, kid.” Moosestrike gave a short nod.

“And that’s Rowanclaw.”

Rowanclaw said nothing, but stared suspiciously at Snooky instead.

Snooky led them confidently down the darkness, though the Clan patrol kept proceeding with weapons ready.

“I’m still sure that this kid is leading us into a trap. What do you think BloodClan rewarded him with? A shiny new pistol?” Rowanclaw hissed.

Tansysong shrugged, though suspicion was apparent in her eyes as well.

“Pipe down, you two,” Leaf said. “I hear someone.”

“Snooky!” A voice called out. At least now the six Clanfolk could be certain that the boy told the truth about his name. “Where have you been-“

The voice belonged to a freckled man who rushed out and stopped, his eyes widening at the sight of the six behind his little brother. “Snooky, watch out!” He lifted some sort of improvised submachine gun. “Man-eaters!”

“No- no, they don’t eat people!” Snooky hurriedly called. “This is Billy!”

Billy suspiciously glared at these soldiers of the invading force. “You heard what people have been saying about these invaders, little bro!”

“Not like you seem much better!” Tansysong jeered.

“And just what have people been saying about us?” Moosestrike accused.

“Stand down!” Leaf angrily ordered, and at once the WindClan and ThunderClan soldiers quieted down. “My name is Leaf. I apologize for the disposition of my comrades, but Tansysong needs medical attention.”

“Too bad,” Billy spat, still aiming his makeshift SMG. “Snooky, get behind me. The rest of you, get out.”

Rainfur had been aiming his M97 until Leaf silently directed him to lower the weapon.

“Getting out was kind of our original plan?” Acornheart helpfully pointed out. “Except we have no idea where to go.”

Billy seemed to think through this for a moment, then he let out a huff of frustration. “Come with me. You better see Echo, she’s the doctor around these parts. Snooky… let everyone know. We got guests.” He spat.

Apologetically, Snooky ducked his head and ran off.

“Man-eaters? Here?”

“Oh no… not them…”

“They’ve found us! This is the end…”

A wave of fear could be felt ahead as Billy led them towards a caved-in part of the underground tunnel. Obviously word had traveled quickly through this group of people as Billy led the Clan soldiers past into a breach.

“Whoa.” Acornheart said as he looked up. Nobody else said something as they followed his gaze. “You could fit a whole Clan in here.”

Above their heads was a massive ceiling, high off the ground. There, they could see a sea of stars depicted, and even Tansysong couldn’t help but whistle in appreciation.

Billy led them up a set of stairs which led up to the large room. He said nothing as he turned to glare at them, causing Tansysong to return the gesture with one equally as offensive.

Inside this large room were countless people. Easily a couple hundred. Some appeared to be decently clean, having the appearance of Iotunntames. Others still looked like their clothes had been worn down, and the area was very dimly lit.

“Everyone, calm down,” Billy called out. “Calm down!” It took him a few tries, but eventually the mass of people obliged. “They’re not staying forever. They’ll be gone soon, I promise- once Echo has a look at them.”

Snooky ran from the crowd, rushing to Billy’s side. “Big bro, she’s coming over here.”

“Finally,” Tansysong muttered. Rowanclaw folded his arms, looking as stern as ShadowClan came.

The crowds parted as a woman with dark hair and blue eyes ran forward, holding medical supplies. But as she noticed the Clan soldiers, she stopped.

The bag of medicine she was holding fell to the floor. She muttered something the others couldn’t hear.

Then, she spoke louder, her eyes brimming with awe.

“I know you.”

A few faces from the Clans.

Chapter Text

“…what?” Rowanclaw blinked. He looked at the rest of the patrol. “Anyone know what she means?”

“Hey now, I’m taken,” Rainfur began, but Echo walked around them.

“I do know you… all of you! I’ve seen you before, in my dreams!” She quavered.

“Wait…” Acornheart gasped. “Have you dreamed about a disappearing forest-“

“Yes! You understand!” Echo cried out. “You are the ones who I was told to meet!”

Leaf and Rainfur stared in shock. Tansysong had dropped her usual disagreeable disposition, her mouth open. Moosestrike’s eyes were as wide as dinner plates, and Rowanclaw had raised an eyebrow in shock.

“Echo…” Snooky groaned. “Sorry about that. She has these dreams and all that. Though she’s really good with medicine, and I respect her…”

“Oh, of course! Apologies. I’m Echo,” she said, formally introducing herself. “Bring her to the hospital, let’s look at that leg of hers. Billy, I’ll take it from here.”

“You sure you’ll be safe with them?” Billy asked skeptically.

“They are destined for great things, Billy!” Echo insisted as she ushered Moosestrike and Tansysong onwards. “Is anyone else here hurt?”

“No…” Acornheart said.

“No,” Rowanclaw affirmed.

“Good. This’ll take a while, so make yourselves comfortable!” Giddily, Echo whisked the two Clan soldiers away.

Leaf whirled around. “Cinderpelt said she didn’t know when this sort of thing would happen,” she began.

“I’d almost forgotten about it myself,” Acornheart breathed.

“Me too.” Rowanclaw admitted. “But what does this Echo lady have to do with our current mission? Why was she called towards us?”

“We could always ask Billy or Snooky what’s going on here. Like, why are there so many people hiding out down here?” Rainfur asked.

“Because on the surface there’s an entire war, people are scared and we’re hiding out underground,” Billy told them.

“Huh.” Rainfur remarked. “That explains a lot, thanks.”

Billy gave an ambiguous grunt in reply.

“That kind of explains why they were so scared of us,” Acornheart noted. “But surely this amount of people can’t possibly have anything to do with SkyClan… right?”

“We’ll see,” Leaf assured him.

“What about Camp Butter?” Rowanclaw added. “They’re surrounded.”

“But not captured. Yet,” Leaf added. “There’s still time before…”

Rainfur glanced across the crowd. “Hey, uh. Billy? I want to know if you’ve seen a woman with two kids. Petal, Sage and Mint?”

Billy looked back at him. “Are you related?”

“Wife and kids. Have you seen them?” Rainfur asked.

Billy shook his head silently. “Sorry. No.” Rainfur closed his eyes as Billy glanced at him, saying, “You don’t sound like you were born a man-eater.”

“That’s because they’re not Clanborn,” Rowanclaw said. “And for the last time, we don’t eat people.”

“What?” Billy was astonished.

“Acornheart here was born a Iotunntame,” Rowanclaw said. “Leaf and Rainfur-“

“We were loners,” Leaf interrupted. “We were found by his Clan-“ she pointed towards Rowanclaw. “-and later released. We joined them for this invasion.”

“Why are you invading?” Billy asked, his curiosity clearly guarded.

“Because eating human flesh sounds more like a BloodClan thing to me, and frankly we don’t like cannibals for neighbors,” Rowanclaw dryly answered. “That, and because BloodClan tried invading us first.”

“We’re ending this war by taking the fight to them,” Acornheart boasted.

Billy, surprisingly enough, nodded. “I don’t think anyone here’s going to miss BloodClan very much.”

“But we can’t do anything about them if we don’t get Camp Butter out of that siege,” Leaf pointed out.

“I want to help.” Snooky had come to join the conversation.

“No, you’ll get killed,” Billy sternly warned. “Besides, only five of us have a gun including me. We’re hiding out here until this war blows over.”

“Rub this onto your ankle every now and then.” Echo handed Tansysong a small container containing some kind of cream. Tansysong was currently standing back up, having just had the cream rubbed onto her previously dislocated ankle.

“Opium?” Tansysong asked.

“And don’t put pressure on- yes, how did you know?” Echo raised an eyebrow.

“We use it as an anesthetic back at our own Clans,” Moosestrike clarified.

“Well. Small world, isn’t it?” Echo commented.

“Hey, Echo. So what did you mean by ‘I know you’?” Moosestrike asked.

“I’ve seen you and your friends in dreams,” Echo remarked. “For nights on end I’ve seen your faces. I would recognize them anywhere.”

“We don’t know who you might be,” Moosestrike admitted. “But, uh. Have you been visited yet by anyone in your dreams? Has anyone spoken to you?”

“Well…” Echo thought. “I was visited by a uniformed man in one of my dreams. He told me that the betrayers of old shall be redeemed, and their sons and daughters would bear witness…”

“Hold that thought,” Moosestrike said. “You might want to come with us outside- my friends can explain.”

“Little help?” Tansysong asked. She extended her hand, and Moosestrike gently draped it over his shoulder, helping the WindClan soldier along. “Thanks, Echo.” She was more sedated now, though that might partially have been because of the opium poppy.

“It’s nothing,” Echo assured her. “I’m a doctor. Healing people is my profession.”

Outside, the three found Snooky and Billy arguing.

“Well, maybe I want you to stay safe!” Billy insisted. “We can wait out the storm!”

“But when’s it gonna end?!” Snooky yelled. “I miss the surface! We all do!”

“Snooky- I am not letting you go into danger! You’re not leaving this place!” Billy ordered.

Outside, several of the various Chelford people began to stop and listen to the brothers argue.

“Snooky’s not coming with us,” Rowanclaw added. “The road ahead is going to be bloody.”

“Even if I wanted to take everyone back up- like I said, we have five guns between the few hundred of us down here! What can we even do?” Billy furiously pointed out.

“The Clans could help us!” Snooky retorted.

“They have their own business and we have ours! We are waiting this one out!”

A sea of turmoil flowed through the crowd.

Tansysong glanced at Moosestrike. Moosestrike blinked.

“Well, what about if we all had guns?! We could protect ourselves on the surface, even against BloodClan!” Snooky shouted.

“But we don’t,” Billy miserably said. “If I let them all go up,” he whispered. “They’ll all die.”

Acornheart listened, and then he opened his mouth to speak.

“The Clans could give you some.”

“No,” Leaf firmly said. “Acornheart, there isn’t enough supplies in the Clans for this many people. Especially not in Camp Copper.”

“But think about it!” The RiverClan soldier blurted. “Butter needs help! We could provide that if we can get them there!”

“They can’t help us without guns.” Leaf flatly pointed out. “Or ammunition. Or training.”

“Well, why can’t we provide all three?!” Acornheart asked.

Rowanclaw cleared his throat, and Acornheart turned. Leaf glanced at the commando, who asked,

“How well do these people know the city?”

“We were born here,” Billy confidently responded.

“And how many BloodClan bases do you know of which have firearms in their storage, or firearms making capability?” Rowanclaw inquired.

Billy paused. “A few.”

“There is your answer,” Rowanclaw bluntly said.

“I… thank you, Rowanclaw.” Acornheart said.

“Acornheart has a point. If our Clans could gain reinforcements… not to mention public support. This could sway the morale effort in our favor too. Our logistics issue would also be solved with the discovery of BloodClan supply bases. Out here, we have intelligence!” Rowanclaw declared.

Billy frowned. “We don’t need your help.”

“No offense… but Echo did patch up my leg and that deserves compensation.” Tansysong pointed out. “And frankly, you all seem in need of help too.”

“After this war is over, you can all go home,” Rainfur agreed.

“First to tell me where Scourge is gets a prize from me!” Rowanclaw called out.

He was met by awkward silence, indicating that nobody really knew. Rowanclaw grunted, and stayed silent.

“Guys.” Leaf turned to face the rest of the patrol. “We’ve been together for a few days, and I trust you. All of you. But are we sure that we want to do this? Do you think this is the best course of action?”

“Don’t you remember what Cinderpelt told us? All of us?” Acornheart pointed out. “This is the right course of action. We might not have the resources…”

“BloodClan does,” Rowanclaw cheekily added.

“…but- yeah, BloodClan does.” Acornheart agreed.

“You don’t even know us,” Billy pointed out. “Why would you even help us?”

“Do you think that BloodClan would be able to threaten you so easily if everyone in here had a gun?” Tansysong flatly asked.

“…” Billy blinked.

“Say a tyrant like Scourge kicked the door open right now, claimed that if nobody joined his Clan he would kill you all.” Tansysong continued. “…if you had the guns…”

“Then he can’t kill you all,” Moosestrike agreed.

Billy looked down at Snooky. Then, he glanced back up at the Clan soldiers before him.

“Say we help you. …say we win this war.” Billy looked out towards the sea of people, speaking quietly so only Leaf, Echo, Snooky and the others could hear. “Can you guarantee that we’ll never have to live in fear next to your Clans? Can you guarantee that we won’t starve in the streets?”

Echo’s eyes shone as Leaf spoke clearly.

“Many years ago, the Republic of SkyClan roamed these lands. They followed the Code of Mercy even in their exile from their old forest. And they were able to protect people. I was told by a friend that they’re not gone. They’re still here, though they’ve forgotten the ways of old to survive. They became tames, rogues, loners… they split up.”

Rowanclaw looked up, watching the painting of the stars above.

“But SkyClan lives. And they’re destined to be reborn.” Leaf added.

“Under the current rule of the Clans, nobody has starved or known thirst. Even if the people of Chelford don’t want to become part of a Clan, they can know a life of plenty as well.”

Assembled in the center of Camp Copper was the detachment that was supposed to reinforce Camp Butter. Brushlion, Reedwhisker and Ridgewing were among them.

They had been assigned to escort the prisoners who had been captured a few days ago.

“Mom?” Snowflake meekly called. “Are we going to be okay?”

“Whatever you do,” Minty reminded her child firmly. “Follow their instructions until we arrive at the river. That way, you’ll be safe.”

“Okay.”

“Is everything accounted for?” Longtail asked.

Mousefur nodded. “Detachment!” She strode to the front of the group.

“MOOOOVE OUT!”

Chapter Text

Together, the detachment went north beneath the daylight. It was still a straight walk to Camp Butter- as long as they kept going in the same direction, they would happen on the camp.

If only it were so simple, Brushlion thought. BloodClan should be blocking the path here.

Mousefur lifted her hand, and made a quick motion to the side. “Hug the wall.”

At once, the slowly advancing group ran towards the wall, sticking firmly to it. Mousefur proceeded down, still taking the lead. The whole way, the Clan soldiers had their weapons out.

“Listen,” Mousefur hissed, drawing an M1911. “I’m going to take point. If I go down… don’t stop for me. Keep going. Do you understand?”

A faint murmur from the soldiers came. Ridgewing dared to speak. “Sergeant? We aren’t leaving you behind, ma’am.”

“That was an order, ” Mousefur insisted. “Don’t stop for me. Our foremost objective is to get them-“ she pointed at the prisoners- “-to Butter alive. Not me.”

“But…” Brushlion’s throat felt dry. “What if anyone else fails here?”

Mousefur gritted her teeth. “Follow my orders. We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it.”

The patrol proceeded down the gray street. Minty’s four kids, Snowflake, Icicle, Sniff and Cloudy, stuck fearfully with their mother as they proceeded along. Behind them, Gremlin cowered, clutching her stomach as though a BloodClan sniper would target the party right there.

Brushlion’s rifle was in his hands. Ridgewing aimed his SMG outwards. Reedwhisker hefted his Lewis Gun along silently.

Mousefur stopped, raising her hand.

Then, suddenly, a bullet exploded just above her head, and she ducked, her eyes wide. “Run!” She shouted. “Eyes forward!”

At once, the patrol began to speed up. Minty and her kids dashed alongside Mousefur, with Ridgewing and Reedwhisker bringing out return fire to suppress the rooftops as they steadily walked after them. Pausing, they then ran on as well, following the other prisoners and Clan soldiers.

The whole time, gunfire was echoing throughout the street, coming from both the patrol and the invisible BloodClan soldiers.

“Wait up!” Gremlin panted in exhaustion, running doggedly after the others.

“I’m coming, hold on!” Brushlion yelled. Going against Mousefur’s orders to keep moving, he turned and ran back to aid Gremlin.

A bullet landed near Gremlin’s feet, and she screamed as a cloud of dust rose. Her hands rose to protect her face as she ran on.

Recognizing the direness of the situation, Brushlion steadied his feet and raised his rifle. Struggling to steady his breathing, he aimed, seeing a silhouette looking down at them.

A glint of the scope indicated that the sniper had seen Brushlion, too. The WindClan soldier’s eyes widened and his breath began to turn ragged, knowing that he could very well die this instant.

He pulled the trigger.

The bullet impacted against the wall, and the silhouette ducked. Miss.

He cycled his rifle, and raised it again. He didn’t know where Gremlin was, but he fired again anyway.

Miss.

A shot rang out, and Brushlion felt an impact scatter dust onto his shoes. Again the WindClan sniper aimed, struggling to hold his breath.

Suddenly, a hand grabbed him and began dragging him back, making him lose his balance. “MOVE!” Mousefur yelled.

“Where’s everyone else?” Brushlion gasped as he was being dragged along.

“Way ahead of us, NOW LEG IT!” Mousefur screamed, yanking him onward. “I am NOT losing anyone-“

Suddenly, the ThunderClan sergeant gasped in pain, dropping to her knees. Blood began to seep from her torso.

Recognizing the desperate nature of the situation, Brushlion grabbed Mousefur’s arm, pulling her up and picking her pistol up. “Sergeant, let’s go!”

“Leave me,” Mousefur grunted. “Save yourself…”

“Sergeant, no!” Brushlion yelled, pulling her arm over his shoulder.

“That’s an order!” Mousefur’s voice shook, and blood fell onto the pavement as she struggled weakly.

“No, never!” Brushlion cried out, dragging Mousefur along. He could see the camp entrance now.

“Don’t… be a fool…” she wheezed. A bullet exploded by their feet, and Brushlion attempted to pull her onto his shoulders, his legs buckling beneath the weight.

“NO! I let my sister go!” Brushlion screamed as he pulled another foot forward. “I won’t let you go too!”

“Oh… really… thanks?” Mousefur asked tiredly, offering no resistance. “Is that… so…?”

Up ahead, Brushlion heard the drumming of a Lewis gun, heralding the return of Reedwhisker with Camp Butter reinforcements to help.

“Keep moving, Brushlion!” Reedwhisker yelled. “Prisoners are SECURE!”

“Why’re you all… disobeying me… KP… three months…” Mousefur groaned.

“Hey now, hold on! I got her,” Ridgewing firmly insisted as he came over to help Brushlion, taking up one of Mousefur’s arms so that she was balanced between the two younger soldiers. “We’re here, let’s get in now, go, go, go!” Ridgewing barked.

Hurriedly, Brushlion obliged, reaching the gates to find Camp Butter… only for him to gasp in shock.

The camp looked like a wreck. It had supplies, but it was clear that this was barely functional as a supply base. The Clans present at Butter had fought hard to defend the whole front at all costs, and it was still Clan-held, but…

Mortar craters decorated the area. Two shattered watchtowers. A caved-in storage silo was being closed off.

“There’s the hospital tent,” Ridgewing pointed. Together, they hefted Mousefur there.

“Sergeant, we’re almost here, hang on a little longer!” Brushlion encouraged.

He heard no response.

“…Sergeant?”

Ridgewing’s eyes widened. Brushlion opened his mouth in worry, only for Ridgewing to do something unexpected.

At once, the ThunderClan soldier lightly hit the wound that the Sergeant had suffered.

Sergeant Mousefur shot up, screamed in pain, and promptly stomped on Ridgewing’s foot, causing him to suppress a scream of his own. “YOU KLUTZ!” Mousefur roared.

“Ridgewing!” Brushlion cried out.

“Get her to the medical tent!” Ridgewing groaned, and he and Brushlion dragged Mousefur onwards.

Inside, Barkface was organizing medicine as he was rudely interrupted by the tent flap opening.

“Yes, what-” He glanced up from where he was sitting, rising to find the new guests. Immediately, he noticed Mousefur. “Don’t speak. I’m getting my medical supplies.”

At once, the two set Mousefur onto a gurney, their shoulders sagging with relief.

“Not so firm there,” Mousefur angrily told them, her voice still pained. “Leave me alone…”

“She’s right,” Barkface agreed, returning with a tray of tools. “You’ve done good enough work. Leave so I can do mine, would you?”

“Yes, sir.” Brushlion answered.

“Go,” the WindClan medic told them as he began to undo Mousefur’s helmet strap, and Ridgewing cracked open the door, walking out.

“Now, I’m gonna need you to cough for me…” Barkface began, passing a handkerchief to Mousefur and unbuttoning her shirt. Brushlion watched as Mousefur coughed into the handkerchief, and Barkface paused to inspect it. After a moment, he sighed in relief. “Your lung’s not punctured, so-“ He glanced at Brushlion. “Do you mind?”

“Sorry!” Brushlion rushed out at once, finding Ridgewing standing just outside.

“Man… that was a close one!” He sighed. “Isn’t that right?” He turned towards Brushlion.

“Yeah…” Brushlion agreed.

The WindClan soldier stopped. He blinked for a moment, trying to comprehend what had just happened. Thoughts rushed through his mind as he replayed the past few minutes within his head.

He blinked more, and his vision blurred.

“Hey, you alright?” Ridgewing asked. “Don’t tell me you got hit, too.”

Brushlion opened his mouth. His throat tightened with emotion.

Before he knew it, he was crying with relief.

“Aw, hell. C’mere.” Ridgewing pulled out a handkerchief, walking over to dry his friend’s tears.

Brushlion knew then that even if his sister had died, he would not disappoint their Clan. He would protect the Clans’ right to exist.

The sun was setting by the time Brushlion sat down at the docks in Camp Butter.

Looking across the now-empty, gently flowing Chell, he was reminded of the day that he’d first set foot here. The day the Clans began their invasion.

This was the edge. Frankly, he didn’t think that he’d ever see the outside again. He considered himself very lucky in hindsight.

“Brushlion? There you are! We’re supposed to be on KP!” Reedwhisker called. “Did you forget Lieutenant Longtail’s orders?”

“No, I didn’t,” Brushlion called back, turning to see Reedwhisker standing in the distance with an apron. “Be there in a bit!”

“You better,” Reedwhisker shouted, going to reenter the kitchen.

Brushlion turned back, brooding once again. He looked up towards the stars. Never had he been separated from his sister for so long.

I miss you, Melody. Come back to me, sis.

“Who’s Melody?”

Brushlion jumped, turning to find that Gremlin had come over. “Hey, Brushlion. I had my checkup with Barkface. He says that my baby’s fine.”

Wordlessly, Brushlion moved to let Gremlin sit. “Oh. That’s good news.”

“It is,” Gremlin sighed. “So, um. Who’s Melody?”

“Well… her current name is Tansysong. She’s my sister.”

“Tansysong sounds more like a Clan name than Melody.”

“She and I used to be Iotunntames.” Brushlion admitted. “My name used to be Leo. We had our names changed when we were promoted to soldier.”

“Oh!” Gremlin was surprised. “…where is she now?”

Brushlion sighed wistfully. “I don’t know. She could be dead. She could be alive. I pray to StarClan that she’s alive and well…”

“When did you last see her?”

“A few days ago,” Brushlion confessed. Gremlin finally blinked, then nodded.

“I know how it feels to lose a sibling.”

That was right, Brushlion recalled. Scraps was Gremlin’s brother- killed by Moosestrike. “I’m sorry,” the WindClan soldier mumbled.

“No need,” Gremlin gently said. “He’d made up his own mind about which side he wanted to fight for. As have you.”

Brushlion nodded, closing his eyes for a moment. He looked up then to the wide constellation-filled sky. Gremlin followed his gaze, letting out a breath of awe.

“Where I was from, I never really had the time to appreciate this view,” Gremlin confessed.

“Better late than never,” Brushlion sighed. “They say our ancestors are up here, looking down at us from StarClan.”

“StarClan? Is that like an afterlife?” Gremlin pondered.

“Our afterlife, yeah. And where our soldiers go when it’s their turn,” Brushlion explained.

“Wow,” Gremlin breathed in awe. The WindClan soldier smiled.

“Did they tell you yet where they’re sending you, Minty and her kids?” Brushlion asked.

“Across the river. There’s a camp there that’ll take us in for the duration of the war.” Gremlin answered.

“RiverClan’s base camp,” Brushlion happily recalled. “I’ve been there before as a liaison. Beautiful place, trust me- just tell Marshal Leopardstar that you know me.”

“I trust your judgment,” she assured him. “…thank you for sticking behind to protect me.”

Brushlion nodded. “It’s my duty.”

Gremlin smiled gratefully. “The Clans have been kind to me. You especially. You and Ridgewing, and Reedwhisker. I can say I can forgive your friend, Moosestrike, too. Where is he?”

“I know he’s with my sister,” Brushlion admitted. Gremlin glanced back at him.

“Well. Wherever they are, I’m sure they’ll make it home.” Gremlin made to embrace Brushlion affectionately, showing her gratitude. “I saw you save Mousefur even when she told you not to. Hold up hope. The world could use a few more heroes like you.

…StarClan willing.”

Chapter Text

“These are all the guns you have?” Leaf asked in shock.

Standing before her were Billy and four others. Besides Billy’s improvised submachine gun, there was a break-action shotgun in addition to three single-shot zip guns. With only one bullet for ammunition, the zip gun was a pitiful, unreliable weapon- albeit it was better than nothing.

“Shush for a sec,” Billy said, sounding rather annoyed. “These are my friends. That’s Scratch.”

A tall, dark-skinned man with mutton chops, a white shirt and suspenders nodded courteously in greeting. He had the shotgun. “How do you do?”

“This is Patch.” A shorter man with a plaid shirt, a goatee, a straw hat and a small frame gave a small wave. “Yo.”

“This is Harvey.” A plump man with a broken Iotunntame collar around his neck, a loose-fitting shirt and a kindly look on his face nodded. “Call me Harv.”

“And this is Macgyver,” Billy said, motioning to the last of the five, a thin, darker-haired character with a broken collar like Harvey’s.

“Everyone calls me Mac,” Macgyver offered.

“So,” Scratch began hesitantly. “These guys are gonna give us a fighting chance?”

“Apparently,” Billy said doubtfully- it was obvious he had some skepticism about this whole plan the Clan soldiers had developed.

“Hey, Leaf. I just spoke with Tansysong, Echo’s having her stay put and rest until- oh, you spoke to ‘em already?” Moosestrike had come to join them.

“Yes. Where are the others?” Leaf asked.

“Trying to take stock of the food and water,” the ThunderClan soldier answered. “What about these guys?”

“These four are Scratch, Patch, Harv and Mac,” Leaf quickly introduced the four. “This is Moosestrike.”

“Howdy.” Patch extended his hand, and Moosestrike shook it.

“So,” Moosestrike began. “Do all these guys use the same type of bullet?”

“What, these?” Patch fished out a .45 ACP round, displaying it.

“What about him?” Moosestrike looked at Scratch, who had pulled out a 12-gauge shell from the shotgun. Suddenly, he stopped. “Hey, uh, Harv, right? Finger off the trigger.”

Harv blinked, then nodded, correcting his grip on his zip gun.

“Seriously,” Moosestrike continued. “Finger off the trigger when not in use. Otherwise that gun’s gonna go off outside combat and someone’s gonna get hurt.”

“Right. Sorry,” Harv apologized. Obviously they still had much to learn.

“Now, Billy? Hand me your SMG.” Moosestrike said. “I’m gonna inspect it and see how it works. Leaf?”

“I’m going to take these four to wherever they’re storing their ammunition and parts.” Leaf answered.

“Right this way,” Scratch offered.

Scratch led Leaf into a tunnel, eventually emerging into a larger one like the tunnel they’d been traveling in before meeting Snooky. This time, however, an enclosed wagon of some kind was now resting on the rails- clearly inert and too heavy to move by hand- but able to comfortably fit a lot of people.

Without hesitation, Scratch stepped into the open door, prompting Leaf to follow him.

Inside the wagon, there were a couple crates of ammunition, in addition to two hammocks laid straight across the inside. A couple of bags could be seen lying on the floor, and next to that, a wooden crate. Leaf could see that it was full of .45 ACP bullets.

Next to it was a similarly sized crate, with a few handfuls of 12-gauge shotgun shells.

“This is all the ammo you have?”

“Yeah,” Scratch answered. Leaf looked around.

“What about spare parts…?” She could see some sort of table at the far end, dusty and worn down.

Interested, she walked up and looked at it. As she gradually noticed the features, she soon found that it was bolted to the floor and in some state of disrepair.

However, she knew this piece of machinery. She’d seen it before- it was a lathe, meant for manufacturing weapons! The sort of technology which the Clans used for gunsmithing!

Standing in front of it, she could see some sort of symbol on the side. A five-pointed leaf, indented into the side of the mechanism.

“It’s broken.” Scratch piped up, jolting Leaf out of her thoughts. She turned around to face him.

“Tell me- do you know if BloodClan has this sort of thing?”

“I’m not sure,” Scratch admitted. Leaf scratched her chin.

“It would be logical, considering that BloodClan does have a lot of weapons, and should have the ability to create them. Have any of them been down here?”

“Do you see any BloodClan down here?” Scratch pointed out.

“Well,” Leaf pondered. “If BloodClan was never here…”

“Scratch, you done here?” Billy and Moosestrike had returned. “Moosestrike told me about some of the part’s we’re gonna need.”

“You guys have a lathe down here?” Moosestrike was as surprised as Leaf. “This solves things!”

“It’s broken,” Billy told him. “Was broken since we first arrived.”

“Oh.” The ThunderClanner looked downcast. “Do you think we can repair it?”

“That’s what I’ve been thinking,” Leaf agreed. “We steal the components we need from BloodClan, we repair the lathe, we should be able to make better guns for these people. In the meantime, however, we’re gonna need a way to check on Camp Butter. We need to make sure that they’re still standing, so that we’re not too late.”

“I’ll go,” Moosestrike said, ever the dutiful soldier. “Me and… uh…”

“Bring Rowanclaw with you.” Leaf advised.

“I’ll go too,” Billy added. “You need someone to lead you to the surface and back.”

“Got it,” Moosestrike said. “Leaf?”

Leaf nodded. “Go.”

As Moosestrike and Billy filed out the door, Leaf looked back at the broken lathe, assessing which parts might be needed to repair it.

“Well,” Acornheart announced. “Half the food here’s gone bad. This leaves us only a couple days.”

“Oh, no problem.” Snooky assured. “We sometimes send people out to forage.”

“Forage? You mean like going to Iotunn houses to snag food?” Rowanclaw asked.

“Sometimes,” Snooky affirmed. “But most of the time we don’t really leave the underground. A lot of times we eat rats.”

Acornheart visibly gagged, but Rowanclaw shrugged. “I can get behind that. You skin then boil them, right?”

“Duh,” Snooky replied nonchalantly. “Otherwise you get sick.”

“How is this normal to both of you?” The RiverClan soldier was visibly disgusted.

“What?” Rainfur had come next to them.

“He doesn’t like to eat rats,” Rowanclaw teased, prodding Acornheart in the ribs.

“Oh. Tough,” Rainfur muttered. “So I think it’s clear that we’re due for some foraging patrols, right?”

“Yeah,” Acornheart agreed. “…even if that means killing rats.”

“Probably does,” Rainfur affirmed.

“I… don’t have to eat them, do I?” Acornheart winced.

“We’re not gonna make you do it,” Rowanclaw assured his RiverClan friend.

“Rowanclaw,” Moosestrike called out. “We’re checking on Camp Butter now.”

Turning around, Acornheart, Rowanclaw, Rainfur and Snooky could see Moosestrike and Billy waiting to go to the surface.

“Right behind you,” Rowanclaw assured. “Let’s hope they’re still holding out.” Without a word, the three headed towards the exit of the underground refugee camp.

“While they check on whether Camp Butter’s standing,” Rainfur said. “We should look for Leaf. Let her know what we have in store.”

“I’m here,” Leaf called. She had arrived with her newfound companions.

“Medicine and food both need restocking,” Rainfur reported.

“The food we should have an easy time getting,” Scratch assured. “Leaf, ma’am.”

“I’ll come with,” Acornheart agreed.

“And me.” Rainfur stepped forward.

One benefit of having Camp Butter be so close to the river was that they had a good source of water.

A line of Clan soldiers were forming a bucket chain to a burning storage shed from the shore, which included Reedwhisker.

Mousefur had been lucky enough to earn herself a boat ride home. The night before, she, Gremlin, Minty and her children were sent across the river to RiverClan’s base camp.

“How many more of these do we need?” Reedwhisker complained, passing a bucket to Mudthorn.

“Enough,” Garfield called from ahead. “We’re almost through with this one.”

“I still can’t believe I agreed to a whole month of KP,” Reedwhisker grumbled.

“To be fair ThunderClan’s lieutenant has a point.” Garfield was among those who knew about the reason Reedwhisker and his friends were punished. Of course, nobody knew how exactly the information got out except for a select few.

“Alright. Now I’m going to search this for embers that we might need to put out,” Garfield said, picking up a bucket of water and walking forward. “Brushlion and Ridgewing should be here with the axes about now. Tornear wants this place dismantled so we can start storing supply crates under tarps instead. He’d rather not have us keep rebuilding these storage sheds for the foreseeable future.”

Reedwhisker let out a sigh of relief. He could see Brushlion approaching, helping to pass out axes to the different Clan soldiers present while behind him, Ridgewing carried a box full of the tools. “Where were you guys?”

“Tornear needed help rebuilding one of the camp watchtowers,” Ridgewing panted.

“Aren’t BloodClan still waiting outside?” Brushlion asked worriedly.

“Yeah. Good thing they haven’t attacked us yet.” Ridgewing mumbled.

An explosion appeared in the distance, and at once the Clan soldiers ducked instinctively.

“Mortar strike,” Garfield called out. He paused as the singular explosion dissipated into the distance. “Is anyone hurt?”

The sound of several ‘no’s and ‘we’re fine’s was clearly a good sign. The BloodClan shell hadn’t hit anything… this time.

The occasional stray mortar strike was apparent for a while now- it seemed that in general, BloodClan was also attempting to prevent the Clan soldiers from being able to sleep.

Ridgewing’s jaws parted in a yawn, and he almost keeled over until Brushlion steadied him. Using a hand to rub his eyes, the WindClan soldier suppressed a yawn of his own.

For Camp Butter, spirits were at an all-time low.

“Well, we know that B Camp’s still standing, but I don’t know how we’re supposed to be able to break that siege. We have confirmation of enemy harassment tactics,” Cedarheart reported. He, Oakfur and Tawnystone were alone and discussing their next course of action.

Tawnystone felt miserable. Oakfur had let her off with a warning, on account that she had been the trainee of Oberst Boulder himself- but it didn’t change the fact that her friend Rowanclaw was gone.

The tactician in her mind considered Rowanclaw and the whole patrol good as dead. They hadn’t reported back. Nobody knew where they were.

On the other hand, she had heard that Brushlion, Reedwhisker and Ridgewing had been sent by Longtail to Camp Butter. Thankfully, they had made it with no one dead.

The compassionate part of her mind, however, wanted for her to take an M1911 and a knife, and wander into the darkness to search for him.

She willed herself to stay her hand. They had lost one commando already- they did not need to lose a second.

“We’ll think of something,” Oakfur assured. “But we don’t know how many BloodClanners there are. Now is a good time for… a proper covert assessment of their strength.”

Tawnystone looked up. Oakfur had changed his mind! But why?

Oakfur looked at Tawnystone, and his gaze was one of disapproval. Inwardly she cringed as the Oberkommando pulled out a map of the surface, handing it to her.

“Patrol along this route,” Oakfur ordered her. “Whatever you do. Don’t. Deviate. These orders come from the very top,” the Oberkommando underlined.

That must have meant that Chancellor Russetstar was trying to find her son. Tawnystone couldn’t help but smile a little, knowing that ultimately the leader of ShadowClan cared for her illegitimate child.

“I want you back here at base camp tonight, or you’ll be presumed dead. You know the protocol in this case for if you might be captured. Save one round for yourself.” He handed a pistol to her.

Tawnystone was used to the possibility of having to commit suicide to prevent leaking of information. This was classic ShadowClan business. “I will,” she resolved.

“Good.” Oakfur nodded. “You know, Medical Officer Cinderpelt has put much importance on Maple Patrol. They are of extreme priority.”

Tawnystone blinked. “But… why?”

Oakfur shook his head. “That… is classified. A higher level of classification which neither you, Cedarheart nor anyone in this whole invasion… bar a select few may know. Including myself.” He narrowed his eyes. “If you find them, report. But that isn’t your main objective. I trust that you will hold true to your mission?”

Tawnystone saluted in reply.

More faces, including the familiar face of ThunderClan's current head of medicine.

Chapter Text

The faint sliding of a sewer grate could be heard as three individuals in the dusk rose covertly from the sewer.

“I’ve never been so happy to breathe fresh air,” Moosestrike murmured. Rowanclaw lifted a finger to his lips, causing him to quiet down. Neither of them had brought their helmets, opting to leave them behind with Leaf.

“This way,” Billy whispered. “Your camp should be ahead.”

Together, the three snuck onwards, skulking like common criminals as suddenly, they paused, one by one.

Rowanclaw glanced in the distance, where he could see a small fire glowing. “BloodClan.”

The light of the campfire cast upon a group of BloodClanners made large, eerie shadows. The two Clan soldiers and the rogue opted to go in a different direction, making a couple turns down an alley.

“The way to your camp’s going to be hard to navigate,” Billy warned.

“We know,” Moosestrike said.

“If we use our guns, it’ll be too loud,” Rowanclaw warned. “Only in desperation.”

“Yeah,” Moosestrike agreed as Rowanclaw drew a knife.

Billy was visibly uncomfortable. “Rowanclaw. You said you were a ShadowClan commando?”

“One of the elite,” Rowanclaw proudly affirmed.

“I’ve heard stories. That the ones in gray kidnap unruly children and eat them. Probably not true… but…” Billy shuddered.

Rowanclaw’s eyes glinted. “They’re not. But… we like to surround ourselves in myth. Now, keep your voices down.”

Suddenly his lips pressed together as in the distance, he could see the light of a lantern bobbing up and down. A pair of BloodClan sentries, it seemed, were making their rounds.

“It was terrible what happened to Panic,” one of the sentries remarked, making round the corner. “She didn’t deserve a fate like that.”

“You heard what Fury said. Dereliction of duty. No wonder she had her executed.” The other sentry was right next to him.

“Do you know how to do a sleeper hold?” Rowanclaw muttered.

“Yeah, why?” Moosestrike asked as the commando suddenly lunged at one of the sentries, brandishing his knife.

The other sentry let out a short half-scream as Moosestrike wrestled him to the ground.

Billy’s eyes widened as he watched Rowanclaw expertly slit the throat of his opponent, making him go limp. Moosestrike’s other opponent fell unconscious.

“Snap his neck,” Rowanclaw muttered, his eyes looking down the alley. “We’ll dump their bodies into the sewer. We need disguises if we want to get close.”

“Got it.” Moosestrike grimly acknowledged. Placing his hands on either side of the BloodClan soldier’s head, he flexed his powerful arms. “I’ll take his pants first.”

Rowanclaw shook his head. “Not his pants. Do you know what people do in their pants when they die?”

Moosestrike paused. “No…?”

“You don’t want to know,” Rowanclaw assured him. “Don’t forget these,” he added as he held up an M1911, picked up from one of the fallen BloodClanners.

“You’re used to this sort of thing?” Billy was clearly unnerved by how the two Clan soldiers had killed their opponents.

“We’re at war,” Rowanclaw muttered. “We commandos swear to destroy those who dare destroy our way of life.”

“…you’re genuinely scary, you know that?”

Rowanclaw snorted, then made to take off the jacket of the BloodClanner he’d killed.

After they had taken a detour to the sewers to hide the bodies, they headed back up to the surface, continuing to head for Camp Butter.

The darkness had one crucial benefit which allowed them to walk normally through the night- it was that the two Clan soldiers wouldn’t be recognized so easily without their helmets and uniforms.

“Hey, did we break into their camp yet?” Moosestrike gruffly asked a group of BloodClan soldiers. Billy made an attempt to hide his face.

“Nope.” One of them said. “Moran, what about you?”

“Nah,” the one next to him muttered. “Lemme sleep.”

This was good news. Together the three proceeded on, further so that they could see Camp Butter in the distance.

“We know it hasn’t fallen yet,” Rowanclaw began. “But we ought to see for ourselves how bad things are.”

Making a few twists and turns, and on occasion passing by a BloodClan sentry post or patrol, the three were able to soon make it to a vantage point. Standing in the darkness of an alleyway, they were soon able to see the very camp itself.

“This must be it,” Billy muttered. Rowanclaw’s eyes widened as he looked at the disheveled state of the place.

“Good StarClan… they look battered.” Moosestrike silently exclaimed. Rowanclaw nodded in agreement.

“Let’s go,” he suggested. However, Moosestrike grabbed Rowanclaw’s shoulder.

“Wait.” He muttered. “Look.” The ThunderClan soldier pointed at a watchtower.

Rowanclaw couldn’t see it at first. A WindClan soldier, posted normally on night guard duty. But then, he realized he could recognize the blonde hair. The wide eyes. That familiar face.

“Brushlion,” he whispered.

“Who’s that?” Billy asked.

“Tansysong’s brother. He must miss her…” Moosestrike sympathetically said, a wistful look coming about his eyes.

“I can’t see Ridgewing or Reedwhisker. I don’t recognize the other guards present,” Rowanclaw noted.

“You’re not worried about Tawnystone?” Moosestrike whispered.

“Of course I am! It’s just-“ Rowanclaw paused. “You’d never see a commando all the way out here in the open.”

“Rowanclaw?” A voice asked, and at once the three jumped in surprise, whipping around.

“Tawnystone,” Rowanclaw breathed as he recognized who it was. “I missed you.”

“Rowanclaw, Moosestrike,” the commando greeted, relief visible in her eyes as she dipped her head in respect. She glanced at Billy. “Who’s he? Where’s Leaf and the others?”

“Underground,” Rowanclaw explained. “Everyone’s safe. This is Billy, he’s leading a group of refugees who are hiding for the duration of the war.”

“You’re a commando too,” Billy muttered warily as he observed the gray uniform of Tawnystone.

“I am.” Tawnystone replied calmly. “Rowanclaw, where’s your helmet?”

“We left ours with the others,” Moosestrike explained. “Rowanclaw suggested we disguise as BloodClan.”

“What are you doing here?” Tawnystone hissed.

“We came to check on B Camp.” Rowanclaw answered.

“B Camp’s okay. It stands,” Tawnystone affirmed. “But it’s besieged. Have you guys found Fury yet?”

“Nope,” Moosestrike muttered. “Hey, uh. Question. Do you know where Reedwhisker and Ridgewing are?”

“B Camp. With Brushlion.” At Tawnystone’s response, the gazes of the two Clan soldiers hardened.

“Then we’d better get back. Report the news to the others,” Rowanclaw decided.

Tawnystone gently reached her hand out to her friend’s. “Promise me you’ll stay safe. Meet me back here in two nights.” She smiled. “I missed you.”

“I missed you too,” Rowanclaw said. He sighed contentedly as Tawnystone vanished into the shadows.

Moosestrike chuckled as he watched the commando disappear. “Friend of yours?”

“What’s it to you?” Rowanclaw said indignantly, finding his words to be surprisingly guarded. “It’s not like you haven’t been spending time with Tansysong if you can help it.”

Moosestrike snorted. “ShadowClanners…”

Billy was trying to suppress a laugh. “We should head back.”

“Yeah. We should,” Rowanclaw agreed.

“We’re almost there,” Snooky happily exclaimed as he led Acornheart down a cavernous tunnel.

“You’re telling me there’s fish all the way down here?” Acornheart skeptically said. “I mean, I prefer fish to rats- I’m a RiverClanner. But you sure they’re not like worms or something?”

“They look a bit funny,” Snooky admitted. “But trust me. They’re fish.”

Acornheart gave Snooky a skeptical glance.

“Through here,” the boy told the RiverClan soldier, making a sharp turn into a part where the wall had collapsed.

“This isn’t on the map,” Acornheart warned.

“I’ve been here a lot, this is where we go to get some of our food.” Snooky assured. “Look!”

Up ahead, there was a large cave. Inside, stalactites hung from the ceiling, the size of trees. On the far end, there was a massive underground lake- which seemed to encompass most of the cave.

Expertly, the youth led Acornheart between stalagmites, walking through until he made his way towards a bucket which was almost full of water, receiving water from an overhead stalactite.

“We’ll be taking this home later to boil,” Snooky told Acornheart. “This is how we get our water.”

“I thought you guys drank sewer water,” the RiverClanner sheepishly admitted. Snooky shook his head.

“So what about food?” Acornheart asked as Snooky walked towards an underground lake.

“Easy,” Snooky said as he lifted up his sleeve, kneeling at the edge. “Come over here.”

Gently, Snooky dipped his hand into the water, and Acornheart waited. Realizing that this was a form of hand fishing, Acornheart eagerly decided to see what was going on.

Suddenly, Snooky’s hand twitched as he grabbed something and pulled it out. Acornheart’s eyes widened, still half-convinced that it was some sort of worm, until he saw the creature.

It was small, only a few inches in length. It was glassy in appearance. It lacked scales. It peered through unseeing eyes as it flopped in Snooky’s grip- but this was definitely a fish. It had fins and gills like those from the river.

Acornheart brought out his basket, and Snooky dropped his catch inside.

“Can I catch one too?” Acornheart asked.

“Sure,” Snooky said. “A lot of fish live here. We’re gonna need more than one to feed everybody. We’ll catch a few then move to the next cave.”

“There’s more caves down here?” Acornheart breathed.

“Yeah. I prefer fish to rats too,” Snooky remarked with a smile.

Acornheart remembered again the story of the Republic of SkyClan, how they had survived in the Iotunns’ domain. Was this how they had gotten their food and water? How they had managed to thrive alone?

Acornheart rolled up his sleeve, watching for a movement in the water. He could see it now! But as his arm shot out, he found to his dismay that it clasped around nothing but water.

Snooky chuckled. “Here,” he offered. “I’ll show you how to do it.”

Acornheart withdrew his hand as Snooky dipped his hand slowly into the water, waiting. “You wait for one to nibble on your hand, then you grab. Use your wrist,” Snooky explained.

“I’ve never hand fished before,” Acornheart admitted as he watched Snooky grab another cave fish, putting it into the basket.

“First time for everything,” Snooky replied. “Here, you try.”

“Boooooored.” Tansysong groaned as she lay still on the bed Echo had prepared for her. “Bored, bored, booooooored…”

“Don’t you think it could be worse?” Echo offered as she boiled a kettle of tea using dried chamomile.

“Mmh. I guess,” the WindClan soldier grumbled. “I wish Moosestrike hadn’t had to go off alone. I miss the big fella, you know? Like, why does he get all the action? I wanna crack some skulls.”

“I’m sure you’re a credit to your Clan,” Echo neutrally replied. “Here, have some tea.”

“Dried chamomile? Only old men like that kind of stuff.” Tansysong complained, taking the cup gently in her hands.

“Old… men?” Echo lifted an eyebrow.

“Yeah. Like Prime Minister Tallstar,” Tansysong remarked as she sipped the tea. “Oh, and Barkface. Especially Medical Officer Barkface…”

“Barkface? He’s a doctor too?” Echo was immediately interested.

“Oh, yeah. Last I heard he was stationed at Camp Butter. He’s the one in charge of the Clan’s health overall. Him and a bunch of field medics…” Tansysong took another sip of tea.

“Your Clan seems to have a system of medicine,” Echo observed as she sat down, pouring herself a cup of tea as well.

“You bet.” Tansysong took another sip, contradicting her previous statement concerning the tea. “Not to mention the system’s extended to other Clans, like ThunderClan. Their medical officer Cinderpelt’s super crabby, but she gets things done.”

“You don’t suppose I could have the chance to talk to them? Learn how they cure illness?” Echo pondered.

“Probably,” Tansysong nonchalantly replied. “Depends on how-“ Her eyes widened. “Hey! TED!” She shouted, looking past.

“Hey, calm down, Tansysong, I’m coming-“ Moosestrike stopped as he entered the room. “Did you just call me ‘Ted’?”

“Uh, yeah. Isn’t that what Ridgewing calls you too?” Tansysong asked.

“I guess,” Moosestrike said uncomfortably. “Hey, uh. So two things you might want to know. Good news and bad news.”

Tansysong paused, and her eyes widened. “Leo, is he okay?”

“Brushlion’s fine, he’s alive and well. Reedwhisker, Ridgewing, Tawnystone, they’re all fine. That’s the good news.”

Tansysong frowned. “And the bad news?”

“Remember how Snooky said that Butter’s under siege? Yeah… Reedwhisker, Ridgewing and your brother are stationed there. They were transferred.”

Tansysong grunted angrily. “If only I could do something about now! I feel fine, why can’t I go?”

“Your ankle still needs time to heal,” Echo warned. Tansysong muttered something about being coddled, and immediately Moosestrike recalled Tansysong’s relationship with her mother.

“Mind if we have a moment?” Moosestrike asked. Echo nodded, standing up. “I’ll wait outside.”

Once Echo had left, Moosestrike pulled up a chair to sit. “How’s it been?”

“Boring,” Tansysong complained. “I know Echo means well, but you know how much I hate being coddled.”

“Yeah,” Moosestrike agreed.

“So Camp Butter’s still standing and my brother’s okay,” she immediately said, choosing to change the subject.

“Yeah. They’re okay.”

Tansysong was clearly relieved. Closing her eyes, she looked up. “Thank StarClan.” She opened them again, looking towards her friend. “You know what the next course of action is?”

“We have a direct line of communication with the S.D.R. Kommando. We ran into Tawnystone on the surface, she was scouting out the BloodClan perimeter around Butter. She and Rowanclaw are gonna be meeting at the same location in two nights.” Moosestrike explained.

“He must have quite a story to tell,” Tansysong remarked with a chuckle.

Moosestrike remembered briefly what Rowanclaw had remarked on the surface before they’d gone back to the underground refuge, and looked at Tansysong. Rowanclaw was right, they had been spending some time together and had bonded as friends throughout the journey.

“Hey, uh, Moosestrike. You’ve been sitting like you’ve seen a ghost the past minute,” Tansysong complained. “Don’t tell me Rowanclaw had Tawnystone scoop your brains to prevent classified information from getting out.”

“Uh, no. Yeah. No.” Moosestrike stoically replied. “Where’s Acornheart, by the way?”

“He and Snooky went out to get food. Why?”

“They might need a hand bringing the food back. If they find any down here,” Moosestrike immediately said, getting up to head out.

“Yeah, sure. Whatever. Just don’t leave me here for too long, okay?” Tansysong muttered. “I’m gonna sleep. Not like I can do anything else in this state…”

The ThunderClan soldier briefly glanced back at his WindClan comrade before moving onwards.

Chapter Text

The Clan armies had been full of activity the past two days.

With Firestar working with some of his senior soldiers as well as the other Clans via telegraph to put together this assault, the fabled Hero-General of ThunderClan was scraping together a select force from the different Clans on Apple’s side of the siege. They would be attempting to break the stranglehold.

Primarily WindClan forces would be bolstering the counterattack from the south, while RiverClan ferried troops to B Camp such that they could secure it from the river.

As the different players set up their table, they were gaining intelligence from ShadowClan’s commando network.

“Our reports that apparently refugees are aiding and sheltering Maple Patrol seem dubious at best,” Sandstorm noted. She, Firestar, Brackenfur, Dustpelt and Graystripe were discussing the news within Fourtrees, with a circle of ThunderClan soldiers guarding the outside.

“I fear the worst,” Dustpelt confessed. “Espionage in our ranks would be a perfect way to divide us and hinder our war effort.”

“If it were the case that these refugees were against us, don’t you think that Fury would have already used them as a bargaining chip for the duration of the siege, or at least had the majority of them armed and ready?” Brackenfur interjected. “Sir.”

Firestar nodded. “Brackenfur‘s got a point. Right now Maple’s behind BloodClan lines, but BloodClan doesn’t seem to be using that to their advantage just yet. Right now their main focus appears to be on maintaining the siege of B Camp.”

“General.” Ashfur had just entered, saluting. “Prime Minister Tallstar’s here, as is Marshal Leopardstar.”

“What about Russetstar?” Firestar asked. “She’s the one who passed the intelligence to us in the first place."

“Already here.” Ferncloud interjected, arriving from the other side of the massive clearing. Sure enough, behind her was Russetstar and Dawncloud.

Giving her soldier a nod, Russetstar descended alone into the clearing. Dawncloud went to join the circle of Clan soldiers guarding the outside of Fourtrees.

“My operatives are all busy,” Russetstar remarked as Tallstar and Leopardstar arrived behind Ashfur, each bringing an escort- Onewhisker and Mudfur respectively. “What have you all discussed in my absence?”

“Chancellor.” Firestar saluted. “My soldiers and I believe that BloodClan has no idea about the existence of this refugee camp.”

“I agree,” Leopardstar said. “BloodClan would have done something about it if they knew already.”

“But what should we do about these potential allies? There’s only so much spare weapons and gear we have in store for them,” Tallstar noted. “And what about their interests? What are their views on BloodClan?”

“My commandos tell me that they seem to believe the old myth that Clanfolk are cannibals,” Russetstar flatly said. Firestar remembered what his old friend Smudge had said about savages in the forest who ate bones. “But, they haven’t killed any of Maple Patrol yet. In fact, they even assisted Maple Patrol in navigating the surface. So, there does seem to be potential in getting these new allies against BloodClan.”

“BloodClan isn’t known for being friendly towards most other people,” Firestar agreed. “Do you think we could use the assistance of these refugees to break the siege?”

“If they had the armaments,” the Chancellor answered. “My sources tell me that their armory leaves much to be desired.”

“How many of them are armed again?” Tallstar asked.

“Five, give or take.”

“And how many of them are down there?” Leopardstar wondered.

“Hundreds. It will be no easy feat to equip enough of them,” Russetstar replied. “I hope they can work with the materials provided to them.”

“There’s three of them in total. Two from above, one below.” Acornheart muttered as he, Leaf, Billy, Scratch and Rowanclaw waited as one in the darkness.

It was the night after confirmation had emerged of Camp Butter still standing. Thus, it was Leaf’s suggestion that the local BloodClan stockpiles be raided- taking time off their siege plan and simultaneously supplying Billy and his rogues with new weapons.

For now, however, the lack of arms meant that they would be starting small. The outpost they were about to strike would definitely yield some sort of ammunition anyway- but the five of them would have to be quick on their feet. As soon as one of the BloodClan guards was shot the other two would know.

“Alright. Rowanclaw, provide overwatch.” Leaf directed. “Acornheart, Billy, Scratch. On me.”

“Ja.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Got it.”

“Alright.” Scratch chimed in.

The four snuck steadily across as a cloud crept over the moon while Rowanclaw stuck behind. The derelict Iotunn architecture and irregular rubble allowed them to hide quickly.

“After this we’d better be ready to loot the dead for every round they carry,” Scratch pointed out. He stopped as Leaf raised a hand to command silence, and as one the quartet dropped to their knees, sneaking towards the lowest sentry.

His two companions were up ahead, standing on a large piece of rubble. No doubt that silently taking out the first BloodClanner in front of them would allow a small window of time.

If any of the party was too loud, they could tip off the local neighborhood- in a bad way.

Together, they held their breath as Acornheart glanced at Scratch. “You wanna go first?”

Scratch, to the horror of the others, tapped the sentry on the shoulder. “Hey.”

The sentry turned around only to get a fist in the face. At once the young BloodClanner crumpled to the floor, unconscious.

Everyone froze, but the sentries above hadn’t seemed to notice. Scratch smirked, kissed his closed fist then glanced towards Billy, who seemed unfazed.

“I’ve seen how the Clans do it, Scratch. Watch.”

Billy promptly headed towards a ladder, creeping up to where the sentries were and disappearing out of sight.

A moment later, a single gunshot could be heard as one of the sentries collapsed, his arm hanging limply from above. A little while later, the sound of struggling stopped.

Everyone let out a breath as Billy peeked over the top, giving a thumbs up. “They’re both down.”

Acornheart pressed his lips together nervously as he glanced up at the dead BloodClanner that Billy had shot. The RiverClan soldier had relatively little combat experience, and knew that although they outnumbered the BloodClanners here, they still had to get the supplies they were storing. “Let’s just get whatever supplies they have here and run.” He said.

“He’s right,” Leaf agreed. “Nice work, Billy, Scratch.”

Scratch smugly nodded, moving to help Billy. Opening the crate briefly, he motioned them to come over. “Look at this! We have a lot of ammo, some guns- including the ones we found on the BloodClanners. This’ll help us out immensely.”

“Did we find any parts to repair the lathe with?” Leaf hopefully asked. Unfortunately, Billy shook his head.

“For now, we’ll need to do more scavenging.”

In the armory tunnel, Patch, Rainfur, Harvey and Macgyver were standing shoulder to shoulder, each holding a captured M1911. Across from them were a row of targets.

Above the rogues on a raised platform stood Echo. Sitting over the edge and looking down at the four rogues was Tansysong. Despite the condition of her leg, the WindClan soldier insisted that she could carry on assisting with training.

“Alright, you lot. Now, who of you knows the most important thing about using a gun?” Tansysong asked. Having been mentored by Tallstar, she knew a thing or two about the ways of war.

“Gun safety.” Patch answered calmly.

“Correct. Finger off your trigger until you’re about to shoot,” she warned Harvey, who corrected himself quickly. “Whatever you do, don’t let yourself fire by accident. Someone can and will get hurt, including you.”

She glanced towards Mac, who was aiming one-handedly at the targets. “We’re going with two hands for this one, Macgyver. We’ll worry about different techniques later on.”

“Yes, Tansysong.” Macgyver adjusted his feet, then aimed yet again, placing one hand below the grip of his M1911.

“Rainfur, show ‘em how it’s done.”

At once, Rainfur fired at his target, and several shots steadily rang out.

“Alright. Now the rest of you. Rainfur, be ready to help them if they need it. When all of you shoot, steady your breathing. Hold your breath for a moment and steel your nerves as you’re about to fire.”

“What’s all this?” Moosestrike asked as he entered, hearing the commotion of training.

“Hey, Ted. You should sit down for this,” Tansysong called over.

Moosestrike shrugged before taking a seat next to his WindClanner friend. “You guys are training?”

“Good thing we are, too. I need something better to do than waste away in a bunk all day.” The WindClan soldier leaned back, resting her hands on the ground behind them, only to straighten up. “I said FINGER off the TRIGGER! Even when reloading!”

“Sorry,” Harvey called towards her.

“So, your leg feeling any better?” Moosestrike asked.

“I can walk and all that, but Echo here still says I need to rest.”

“Lest your muscles tear,” the civilian medic explained.

“Yeah, I got it.” Tansysong replied nonchalantly.

Moosestrike was intrigued that Tansysong clearly seemed more laid back, if just by a little. “You’ve changed.”

“Look, if you think I’m ever gonna grow soft then you got another thing coming.” Tansysong snapped.

“No, no. I mean that you seem a lot calmer.”

“Well, when you’re not getting shot at or being hunted in a sewer you tend to be a lot calmer anyway.” Tansysong went silent for a moment. “And, um. I’m just glad that my brother’s still alive and well.”

“Brushlion’s got a good head on his shoulders,” Moosestrike observed. “He can handle himself.”

“I still worry for him, you know. Probably like how your mom worries for you as well,” the WindClanner admitted.

“Parting with family isn’t easy.” The ThunderClanner plainly said. Tansysong hummed in agreement, before pausing again.

“Patch, point your gun away from Macgyver.”

“Sorry, Mac.” Patch mumbled, correcting his posture. Macgyver’s face turned pale.

Y CBQC YS M NRMQ WGTT DFGPMC EZR XFJT CI ZFHP EF C DEZU WEZG

B DEZU XZ S TANT FYSA DZEHI UTPOTEG TXBU RPPU A DEZU VPTEFPVPJQPYKS TSBS WEZG

H DEZU XZ M TANT FYSA CVQVIFYMYR DAQPR XXLELS TXBU

F NLDP US U HEXA JTPT ZFTWP XAJRVSK CPZNGSEHIXPETT WGTT FYBNPAA BLPY DAQPR BMWW RRSMIJ WEZG

H DEZU VPAFRUMAL WEZG RFUHJWETEG TXNYYD ZE FPSQ XYAACIFW STV N EYRPYTM K NLDPT WGTT

In the original draft, Scratch and Patch were supposed to be prisoners of war, like Leaf and Rainfur had been.

Chapter Text

Longtail’s command tent in Camp Copper was rarely used as a meeting spot, but it provided good seclusion for a small gathering.

“We have two weeks’ worth of full rations left. We can probably stretch it to three if we put everyone on starvation rations,” Cinderpelt reported.

Lieutenant Longtail’s eyes flashed with concern. “What about the other camps?”

“Similar story for them, honestly. The whole front needs food and fast.”

“Do we know if the reinforcements we sent to Butter made it?”

“We have confirmed it, they were mostly intact. Mousefur was wounded and had to be sent back home.” Oberkommando Oakfur reported.

“She was lucky,” Longtail lamented in a distant voice. “The wounded we have along our part of the front have all been waiting at Copper for proper evacuation for some time.”

“Hey, uh. Lieutenant?” Cranefoot, who was standing guard outside, had peeked his head in.

“What is it now,” Longtail irritably grunted.

“It’s Cloudtail. He, uh. Wants to talk to you.”

Longtail looked at the ground, then closed his eyes. “Tell him he won’t have long to wait. Oakfur, send a message to A Camp about the situation. Cinderpelt, I need a report on our medical supplies.”

At once, the two saluted and filed out, leaving the lieutenant of the ThunderClan Free State alone.

“Alright, Cloudtail. You can come in now.” He called.

Reluctantly, the young nephew of the General entered. He had a bit of a conflicted look in his eyes, and Longtail couldn’t totally blame him. Given that Longtail was in love with Princess, Cloudtail’s mother, there was obviously some desire by Cloudtail to protect his mother now that he was a fully-fledged soldier.

But Cloudtail didn’t say anything until he sat across from Longtail. Neither had seen Princess for a while, and it was definitely starting to get to them.

“Um. Longtail.” Cloudtail cleared his throat with unease.

The lieutenant was annoyed. He’d had a very stressful week, and by far the last thing he wanted was to be ragged on by Cloudtail.

“Longtail? Uh. L.T.?”

“What’s that supposed to stand for?” Longtail asked, a little defensively.

“You know, it kind of stands for both your name and your rank.” Cloudtail awkwardly pointed out, taking a seat.

“Is that why you came to talk?” Longtail asked.

“Well, no. I just wanted to say, well… talk about Mom.” Cloudtail looked to the side.

Longtail exhaled through his nose. He’d been mired in a stressful situation by far. He hadn’t seen his sweetheart Princess for a while now. And now the forces under his command were cut off from Clan territory.

He’d never felt so far from home, and it pained him.

“So what’s your point?” Longtail muttered in a low voice. “I love her, you know.”

“When I first joined ThunderClan, I know how much you hated me.” Cloudtail began.

Longtail closed his eyes. “Yeah?”

“Do you see me as a worthy soldier?” Cloudtail asked accusingly.

Longtail was silent for a full minute. “Yes.”

“Longtail.” Cloudtail said, leaning forward. “I admit that I’ve been worried for Mom.”

The lieutenant opened his mouth as Cloudtail went on. “Like, she definitely misses both of us. I know you’ve had a tough time trusting me as a ThunderClan soldier, and I’ve had a tough time trusting you as… good enough for Ma.”

“I would never dare hurt her,” Longtail determinedly answered.

“And don’t you forget it,” Cloudtail replied, adopting an accusatory tone. “You better not come home in burial wrappings, you hear?”

“Wh… are you worried for me?” Longtail disbelievingly asked.

“Not as worried as Mom’s gonna be if she hasn’t heard from us in a while. You better stay alive, got it?” Cloudtail asked.

“…you had better stay alive too. Don’t break her heart,” Longtail replied. “Did Brightheart ask you to talk to me?”

“Well, no.” Cloudtail said wistfully. “She’s still at Camp Apple, remember.”

“Is she well?”

“I sure hope so,” the young ThunderClan soldier sighed. “I miss her. I hope we win this war soon.”

“You and me both,” Longtail agreed. Slowly, he’d come to the realization that maybe he and Cloudtail weren’t so different after all.

Cloudtail paused, then groaned. “I don’t have to call you “dad” now, do I?”

“What?!” Longtail practically yelled.

Cloudtail cackled with laughter seeing the lieutenant’s indignant expression. “I’m kidding. But, really. Do you think that maybe we can get to know each other better? I at least want to know that Mom has someone she can turn to other than Uncle.”

Longtail was pleasantly surprised. He didn’t think that Cloudtail was normally the mature type- he’d seen the former Iotunntame as impulsive before now.

It was never too soon to cast aside these differences, and it was definitely for the better. As it was, they were practically family.

“You know what,” Longtail decided. “When we’re on break, I guess you can call me L.T.”

Cloudtail smiled, and a youthful spark in his eyes appeared which hadn’t been there for the past few days.

In the vast underground hideout, Leaf and Acornheart were currently demonstrating how to spar for the trainees present.

“Okay, so, uh… Leopardstar taught me that the first thing you need to know is your form. Like this.” Acornheart shifted his legs so his center of gravity was lower. Next to him, Leaf did the same.

“Alright, now the first thing you need to know how to do is a jab. Throw the punch on your forwardmost foot, but transfer energy from the ground to your foot, then up your spine and down your arm.” Acornheart thrust his fist forward, causing a slight whish as it cut the air before him.

“Now, you guys.”

Billy thrust forward with his fist. Then, he did so a few more times. Then, again.

Immediately, he had a conclusion to make. “I know how to punch already.”

Acornheart glanced at Leaf. “But we can teach you better.”

Billy chuckled. “Trust me, kid. Ain’t no better teacher than fear of death. I’ve been in more fistfights than you can count.”

Acornheart’s expression seemed to be one of helplessness.

Leaf narrowed her eyes. “Billy, you oughta come with me. We’ll sort this out on our own terms.”

The RiverClan soldier shot a nervous glance towards the others as they watched Leaf take Billy aside.

Scratch grunted. “A jab, huh? What about with the other fist?”

“That’s a cross jab,” Acornheart answered, only to hear a yelp.

In the distance, Leaf and Billy were currently exchanging blows. Billy swung a punch towards Leaf, only for her to duck, swiping Billy’s legs from underneath. As Billy toppled over, Leaf landed on top of him, fist poised to knock his lights out.

“Where’d you learn that? ” Acornheart asked in shock.

“I learned a couple tricks while I was in ShadowClan’s base camp.” Leaf proudly explained.

“Ow…” Billy moaned. “Uncle. Uncle. I yield.”

Leaf gracefully stepped off, offering Billy a hand. Hesitating briefly, Billy took it.

“So, uh… how’d you do that?” The rogue leader asked.

Acornheart stepped in before Leaf gently stopped him. “I’ve got this. So listen, Billy, you should put your foot forward like so…”

Nodding briefly, the former trainee of Leopardstar glanced at the others. “So, um. Do you guys think we should move from the basics?”

“Nah,” Harvey replied. “I ain’t ever had a fistfight before.”

“Neither have I,” Macgyver chimed in.

“I have. Probably almost as much as Billy if not more,” Scratch calmly answered.

“I would know. I’ve fought alongside him,” Patch agreed.

“Patch, you, uh… hmm. Do you think we could spar?”

Patch shrugged, then nodded, stepping up. As he did so, he took off his hat, handing it to Scratch. Likewise, Acornheart took off his helmet.

Patch made the first move, charging forward. Acornheart quickly raised his arm, and blocked Patch’s fist from making contact. As Patch weaved around, Acornheart followed as well, and the two quickly danced back and forth before Acornheart’s hand lashed out with open palm, forcing Patch to lean back and shut his eyes.

At that point, Acornheart took full advantage, wailing on Patch with rapid-fire punches. Patch blocked several before giving in.

“Time out! I give up!”

Acornheart lowered his fists. “I think I know how you like to fight. Patch, you seem to be more agile, that’s a perfect counterpart to what I assume is Scratch’s brute strength. But you were able to get pinned down the moment I made you blink by going for your eyes.”

“I genuinely thought you were trying to poke my eyes out.” Patch confessed.

“Well, I wouldn’t, but there’s definitely gonna be a BloodClanner or two who will try the same thing. Patch, how about you partner with Scratch and you two try and pin me on the ground?”

“Hold this,” Scratch offered, passing Patch’s hat to Harvey, who with Mac was watching with intense interest.

At once, Patch struck first with probing attacks, with Scratch bringing up the rear. Just as Acornheart had thought he’d pinned one of them, the other would go for the side or back. The two worked very well together, and their experience in street fighting definitely had its benefits.

But Acornheart, for his tame origins, was trained by Marshal Leopardstar herself- and it began to show as the fight progressed. When Patch’s fist overstretched, Acornheart seized the opportunity, swinging Patch over his shoulder and tossing him onto the ground.

With the wind knocked out of him, Patch could only watch as Acornheart rushed Scratch, ducking and weaving beneath Scratch’s heavyweight blows.

At last, Scratch dropped to one knee, grunting. “I guess that training really helps you,” he observed.

“That was awesome,” Harvey exclaimed, passing the hat back to Patch. “All three of you were like a blur! Scratch, Patch, you were this close…”

“You two have good teamwork,” Mac agreed.

“Teamwork. That’s always important,” Acornheart agreed. “But what’s also important is being able to work independently. Scratch, you have a different problem than Patch. Agility isn’t your forte. If you can apply that then you’ll be tough to beat in close quarters. And all of you, here’s a little trick. Punch their throat and they’ll get knocked out fast.”

“Now, Mac? Harv? Who’s next?” The RiverClan soldier invited.

Tansysong rubbed her eyes as she sat up in the WindClan barracks. It seemed like she’d slept in yet again.

“Tallstar’s gonna kill me for this,” she mumbled as she dropped out of her bed, walking out the door.

It was at this point that she realized that she was supposed to be in some underground hideout. Her leg was also not aching.

“Tansysong? There you are.”

The WindClan soldier turned around. She would recognize that voice anywhere.

“Prime Minister Heatherstar? Is this about the prophecy?”

“No. It concerns your brother.”

Tansysong’s eyes widened. “Leo. Will he be okay?”

“Brushlion has a different calling. Chelford beckons.”

“What?!” Tansysong shouted. “But he said we’d serve as WindClan soldiers together! That we’d fight alongside each other, together! Wait…” she paused. “Is this some more of your prophecy crap?!”

Only for Tansysong to hesitate. She was being a little rude to someone who she’d literally never even met in life. Who was living- well, dead proof that StarClan was real.

“I apologize,” Heatherstar began. “I thought it wise that you should know that StarClan has plans for Brushlion. I know you care deeply for him, and I can respect your commitment to your kin.”

“I’m not letting him go!” Tansysong protested.

“And I’m not telling you to,” Heatherstar assured her. “But if he doesn’t go on this mission, people that he has the ability to save could die.”

“I- surely this is a dream,” Tansysong insisted, partially towards herself. She was in denial. “This can’t be real.”

Heatherstar shook her head. “It is true.”

“I can’t do anything anyway,” Tansysong pointed out. Heatherstar paused, then nodded.

“Well, I can’t stop you from trying.” Heatherstar replied. “You’ll injure yourself if I don’t interfere here. Wake.”

Tansysong snapped awake, gasping. Next to her, Moosestrike was sitting in a chair, briefly startled as she awoke.

“Hey, what happened? Leg playing up again?” Moosestrike asked.

“Ted. I… I think my brother could be in trouble.”

Any other day, Moosestrike would have dismissed such unfounded notions as a load of bunk. Yet he knew Tansysong to be the no-nonsense type of person.

“Tansysong? You okay?”

Tansysong screwed her eyes shut. “No.”

Moosestrike dropped the tough guy act, and began to feel worried. “What got you thinking about this?”

“Heatherstar told me.”

“In, like, your dreams?”

“Yeah.” Her voice was hoarse. “But she said we can do something about it now.”

“Wh-what? No,” Moosestrike insisted. “Your ankle’s still messed up from when you dislocated it-“ He stopped as Tansysong began to stand up straight, doing exercises and stretches.

Moosestrike paused. She looked better off than before.

“Come on,” Tansysong insisted, going out to the armory. “We need to run to Camp Butter, now.”

“No you’re not!” Echo was standing in the entrance. “You’re not totally well-“

“StarClan sent a message to me. My brother could be in trouble, right now!” Tansysong repeated, barging past to get Rowanclaw and Acornheart.

“But you must stay here! You two are needed for the restoration of SkyClan! Come back!” Echo called fruitlessly as Moosestrike took up his M97, following Tansysong out.

Chapter Text

“Hm?” Rowanclaw was awakened by a hand gently patting his face.

“Hey, Rowanclaw.” It was Acornheart, and he was in full gear, his eyes wide. “Tansysong needs us about now.”

“Ja… I hear you.” The ShadowClan commando rose from where he was sleeping against the wall, picking up his Gewehr 43 which had been resting in his lap.

The two headed to the entrance of the underground complex to find that Tansysong was already briefing Leaf and Rainfur.

“Echo told you not to go, though,” Leaf pointed out.

“I don’t give a shit. That’s my brother,” Tansysong insisted. “Stay if you want. I’m not losing my family.”

“I’m going with,” Rainfur agreed. “I know the pain of losing one’s kin.”

“You’re certain about this?” Leaf asked, concerned.

“I’m sure. Look,” Rainfur muttered. “While we’re gone, we need you to lead. Can you hold the fort down with Billy and the rest?”

Leaf gulped and nodded. “Yeah. Yeah, I can.”

“Hey, where’re you guys going?” Snooky scampered towards them, looking up at the bunch.

“We’re checking on Tansysong’s brother.” Acornheart replied.

“Cool. Can I come with?” Snooky eagerly asked.

Hesitation could be seen in Tansysong’s eyes. “…no. It’s dangerous. I need you to stay with Billy.”

Snooky’s eyes flashed with alarm. “Is BloodClan here?”

“Not yet,” Leaf assured him. “But they need to check on Camp Butter about now.”

Snooky knew how dangerous it was for Camp Butter at the moment, and didn’t protest. “Okay.”

“Are we geared up?” Tansysong asked her four traveling buddies.

“Always,” Rowanclaw replied.

”Yep,” Acornheart answered.

Moosestrike cocked his M97. “Yeah.”

“Is your leg okay?” Rainfur asked.

“I’m fine. We should go,” Tansysong urged.

The five had never run along the tunnels so quickly in their lives. It felt like nothing as they glided up the ladder to the sewers, then proceeding down the sewer main.

For Tansysong, all she could hear was the thump of her heart, the adrenal rush in her ears and the ragged breathing of her desperation. She didn’t care if Camp Butter was under siege, she had to get through to make sure her brother was alright.

“Tansysong, slow down,” Moosestrike urged. “You’re leaving us behind.”

“Then LEG IT,” Tansysong yelled. “We’re going all out!”

She shimmied up the first ladder to the surface like a squirrel, shoving open the manhole cover and scrambling out. To her credit, she waited as the others rose out as well, but her feet were shifting impatiently.

As soon as the last to crawl out, Acornheart, had gotten his bearings, the five of them ran down the streets.

“What about BloodClan? They’re still lingering out here,” Rowanclaw pointed out.

Yet, it seemed like there were no BloodClan soldiers present.

The air was quiet and the sky pale as they trekked on. The sun couldn’t be seen past the light gray clouds as they ran on.

“They must’ve retreated,” Acornheart weakly suggested. Deep down, however, even he knew that this surely couldn’t be.

Their fears were soon confirmed as they rounded the corner where Camp Butter would typically be standing.

“No.” Tansysong whispered.

Where the large supply camp should have been, there were smouldering, scattered piles of burned wood. Faint smoke still rose from some of them.

But possibly the most horrifying thing was that there were no bodies. Barely a spent bullet casing here and there. It looked like the camp garrison had simply vanished.

Deep down, the five of them felt pure despair. Everywhere from Camps Copper to Grasshopper was now cut off from supply lines.

The war was good as lost.

The Clans had lost Camp Butter.

“Ridgewing…” Moosestrike whispered. “Ridge, buddy.”

Acornheart shuddered. “Oh no… Reed. Weld. Not them. Not them.”

Rowanclaw mournfully closed his eyes.

A couple sets of footsteps caused the soldiers to stop fearfully. At once, they brought out their weapons.

“BloodClan’s still sweeping up these parts,” Rainfur muttered. “Keep your heads down.”

At once, the five made to slowly head back to the sewers. This was their best bet in keeping safe and hidden.

The footsteps grew closer, and seemed to be scurrying along.

“They know we’re here,” Tansysong breathed, aiming her Thompson behind them.

However, what they didn’t expect was a brown uniform. No… two brown uniforms, with silver helmets.

At once, Acornheart lowered his MAS-36. He gasped with joy, rushing to tackle the closest one in an embrace.

Weldtail groaned as he was hugged by Acornheart. Next to him, Reedwhisker sighed in relief.

“It’s good to see you guys again.”

“Is Ridgewing with you?” Moosestrike asked.

“What about Brushlion?” Tansysong asked at the same time.

“Where’s Tawnystone?” Rowanclaw inquired.

“Hey- look, look.” Reedwhisker looked tired. “I have no idea where any of them are. All last night, Weldtail and I have been hiding from BloodClan cleanup patrols.”

“What happened to Camp Butter?” Acornheart asked, worry brimming in his gaze.

“They hit us full force when we were at our worst. Tornear said we needed a rearguard to cover the retreat.”

“And you volunteered?” Moosestrike asked, almost accusingly.

“Not just us. Ridgewing and Brushlion too.”

“That IDIOT!” Tansysong snarled, then let out a ragged breath, which came out as a whimper. “That stupid idiot…”

“We should head back,” Rainfur offered. “We need to regroup before we plan any further.”

“Tansysong?” Rowanclaw asked in concern, seeing his WindClanner friend look back towards the rubble.

Tansysong shook her head. “I’ll be fine. We’ll find him.” She looked at Moosestrike. “Ridgewing, too.”

Moosestrike closed his eyes. “Yeah. Let’s head back.”

“They attacked quickly,” Weldtail explained as the party returned down the tunnel back to the hideout. “Tornear wanted to take part in the rearguard but I insisted that he retreat. He was too valuable.”

“That makes sense,” Acornheart agreed.

“Did they recover the telegraph?” Rowanclaw asked with concern.

“It was on the first boat away from camp,” Weldtail affirmed. “Did you figure out where Fury’s base of operations was?”

“What? We still don’t know?” Rowanclaw asked with alarm.

“You mean not even ShadowClan’s figured out where…” Acornheart trailed off.

Tansysong was silent the whole way as she and Moosestrike walked in silence. She shook her head every now and then, as though trying to convince herself that this was just a nightmare.

“Melody,” Moosestrike addressed hesitantly.

Tansysong sighed. “I know. Ridgewing’s missing too, right?”

“Not just about him. Brushlion’s tough, and-“

“He wasn’t tough enough,” Tansysong grunted to the shock of Moosestrike. “He never should’ve become a WindClan soldier.”

“Are you kidding? But isn’t that what you two wanted?” Moosestrike was incredulous.

“I don’t know what we were gonna do after we did our line of service as soldiers,” Tansysong remarked ruefully. “I was foolish to think that this would lead me anywhere good. The worst part is that this was my idea.”

“Melody, what if we let BloodClan win? Nothing’s ever gonna be good if they ever take over the Clans.” Moosestrike pointed out.

“And what’s gonna matter for me when we win? My brother is missing, possibly even dead , especially if BloodClan has taken him prisoner. He’s gone , Ted. He’s gone.” Tansysong looked down the tunnel with a blank look on her face. “And don’t you dare give me that ‘he’s still in our hearts’ bullshit.” She gritted her teeth.

Moosestrike closed his eyes mournfully. “We don’t know that he’s dead yet. He’s trained under Corporal Mudclaw, hasn’t he? One of your Clan’s toughest. If Mudclaw thinks that your brother’s a tough cookie, then surely it can’t be too much of a stretch to say…”

Tansysong looked up at Moosestrike. Her expression was unreadable. “…maybe.”

“And who knows. Maybe he and Ridgewing might even have found each other, too.” Moosestrike offered. “Ridgewing’s a good friend, I trust that he would see your brother to safety if he could.”

Tansysong let out a chuckle. “How come you never tried to become a field medic?”

“You really think I can with calloused hands like these?” Moosestrike joked.

Tansysong snorted. “Good point.”

Soon enough, the group of seven emerged into the massive camp, where the hundreds of refugees bore witness to their return. Unlike when the Clan soldiers first arrived with Billy and Snooky, they were now welcoming.

At once, some water was offered from the crowd, with someone passing a cup to Reedwhisker.

“They seem nice,” Reedwhisker remarked, taking a sip before passing it to Weldtail.

“Mhm.” Weldtail nodded, taking a sip as well.

Leaf and Echo were already waiting for them, as were the others.

“Thank StarClan you’re back,” Echo breathed. “Is Camp Butter…”

“It’s lost,” Tansysong told her bluntly. “…we don’t know where my brother is. Or Ridgewing.”

“Aren’t you worried about Tawnystone?” Moosestrike asked Rowanclaw.

Rowanclaw seemed not to show it. “…we all knew the risks when we became commandos.”

Moosestrike winced. “Sorry.”

“What do we do now? Camp Copper and the others are cut off.” Leaf recalled.

“We need to figure out how to bring the whole supply chain back together,” Reedwhisker concluded. “How far do these sewers stretch?”

“Far,” Acornheart remarked. “Come on, you guys, I’m gonna introduce you to everyone…”

Leaf glanced at everyone, and it was obvious that the mood had soured. Tansysong, Rowanclaw and Moosestrike were eerily silent, obviously hurting from the loss of their close friends and family. Acornheart, though he didn’t show it, was obviously grieving for the loss of his friends too. And the news that Camp Butter, that vital link in the supply chain, was lost… it was obviously very demoralizing.

Leaf didn’t know what she was thinking as she pulled up a crate, setting it in the middle of the vast room beneath the starry ceiling.

“May all Clanfolk old enough to handle their own weapons gather before me for a Clan meeting!” Leaf shouted.

Clanfolk? Surely they were already before Leaf, all six of them. And yet, slowly the message seemed clear.

By “Clanfolk”, she was referring to everyone in the room.

Clanfolk… the word was strange on the tongues of tames and loners. They had only ever heard the word used by the soldiers who had sought refuge here. Did that mean they were equal to these strange outsiders? Did these strange outsiders truly see them as equal to them?

The message seemed foreign, but slowly the people obeyed. Billy sat on the stone steps leading up to Leaf’s makeshift podium. Scratch and Patch finished their sparring match, walking up to listen to Leaf as well. Snooky sat next to his older brother Billy as Harvey and Macgyver stood next to them.

“A… Clan meeting?” Tansysong said warily.

“Go with it,” Moosestrike whispered. “I wanna see where this is going.”

Leaf seemed hesitant. She hadn’t expected to garner this much attention. And yet, everyone seemed willing to hear her out now. Nervously, she glanced at Billy.

Speak up, Billy mouthed.

“Now,” Leaf began uncertainly. “I know that this new revelation presents grim possibilities. Camp Butter’s fallen, and half the Clan armies have been isolated.”

Silence. Everyone obviously knew this.

“But I’m here to tell you now that this isn’t the end. We don’t have to give up now.” Leaf continued, somewhat doubting her own words.

Hesitation. The rogues, loners and tames glanced at each other.

“We have a vast network of sewers and tunnels underfoot, which BloodClan hasn’t even fully been able to explore. We can use these,” Leaf continued, a plan beginning to form in her head. “We can use these as secure supply chains. What we need to do now,” she went on, her voice gaining momentum, “is link up with Camp Apple. We need to rendezvous with the leadership there. If we can do that and convince them to link up through the underground, we’ll be able to salvage the whole operation.”

It was obvious now that her idea was gaining interest. Hope shone in the eyes of some of the crowd.

“I hope that after this war, with this new plan in motion the Clans will recognize that the reason their war is won is because we carried the day. We are descendants of the Republic of SkyClan. Not the man-eaters that people once believed. Tell me, have I, Rainfur or any of our companions who came with us been anything but helpful these past few days?”

No objection could be heard.

“I’ve been in the protection of two Clans. Maybe their lives aren’t perfect, but they have plenty of food to go around. They care about their people, and don’t have to live in fear of a tyrannical regime. We can follow their example if we stand to the task at hand.

If anyone wants to join me, they're welcome to it. Those who do not are welcome to stay until their home is safe, and until this war against BloodClan is won.”

Awkwardly, she stood still, having nothing else to say.

Slowly, Billy clapped. The gesture of clapping hands was foreign to the Clan soldiers, who didn’t know what it meant.

And yet, Rainfur too began to clap his hands in appreciation. Then Harvey and Macgyver.

Slowly, the whole room began to applaud Leaf’s speech. Embarrassed, Leaf choked out one last word before abandoning the podium.

“Dismissed.”

Chapter Text

“You really think that an entire Clan could live down here?” Weldtail was still trying to wrack his brain around it. He and Acornheart were standing together in the armory.

“Yeah, just look at this. That lathe has a symbol impressed into the side.” Acornheart pointed out. Sure enough, the symbol was a leaf with five points, almost resemblant of a star. “But this thing looks broken. Like, it doesn’t seem to have a lever or anything. All it has is this little thing-“ he motioned to some sort of switch, flicking it to no effect, “-and that doesn’t have an apparent function either.”

Weldtail paused for a second, feeling around the device. Then, he suddenly drew a knife.

“Hey, watch it!” Acornheart complained, only for Weldtail to poke the knife somewhere on the lathe and start gently twisting.

Gradually, a screw came loose, falling out and landing on the dusty floor. Then another.

A hinged compartment cover swung open, and Weldtail peeked into it. “I think there’s a part missing, look.” He pointed towards an empty compartment indicating a “+” and a “-“.

“Do you really think it’s gonna fix the problem?” Acornheart asked. “...whatever it is.”

“Well… we could always ask around.” Weldtail offered.

“I haven’t seen anything like that, sorry.” Rowanclaw was facing away from them, currently beating the dust out of his coat where he stood, using a leather flail from his pack. “It must be pretty small, definitely hard to find. How do you suppose we can make do with it?”

“What’s up?” Macgyver asked from where he sat next to Rowanclaw, having volunteered to wipe the ShadowClanner’s helmet of dust. Weldtail told him.

Macgyver paused for a moment, before he perked up.

“No way.” He breathed.

“Aaaand you’ve lost me,” Rowanclaw flatly said, not bothering to turn his head as he rotated the coat around, starting to beat the dust out of it from the other side. The two RiverClan soldiers looked at each other, clearly in agreement with their ShadowClanner friend.

Macgyver polished the edge of the helmet briefly, then passed it back up to Rowanclaw, who placed it upon his head before continuing to beat his coat. Macgyver then immediately took off the broken collar around his neck. “Knife.”

Weldtail hesitated before offering his own. At once, Macgyver sat cross-legged on the ground, beginning to strip open the collar.

As the others watched, he fished out a small, boxy object with wires sticking out of it. The wires seemed to encompass the length of the collar.

Harvey had already come over as well. “Hey, Mac-“ he paused. “What’re you doing?”

“That lathe the Clan soldiers found is electric. Specifically the drill motor is electric- it needs a battery with which to power it.”

“Wha?” Acornheart voiced his confusion as Rowanclaw glanced at his coat, then continued beating it, getting a few more clouds of dust in response.

“I don’t get it,” Weldtail flatly replied.

Harvey, however, seemed to be more understanding. “I’ll see if I can get some rubber gloves from Echo.”

“Do that,” Macgyver answered. Harvey scampered off.

“So, uh… what are you gonna do with that?” Weldtail asked as Macgyver rose to his feet, walking towards the armory.

“How is it you Clanfolk have zero concept of what electrical power is?” Amusement flooded Macgyver’s eyes. “Ah, whatever. I bet you that not even Rainfur knows squat about this sort of stuff. Show me the battery compartment.”

Hesitantly, Weldtail and Acornheart followed Macgyver into the armory, showing him the lathe that ran down the center. Weldtail pointed out the compartment, and Macgyver grinned.

“Yeah. Yeah, this is perfect. Now, the batteries inside Iotunntame collars like mine are a really , really good power source. Tiny, but… they can power a lot of machines for… well, basically forever, I guess. The batteries power tracking devices embedded within, but once the collar is broken it basically breaks the circuit, meaning no more power to the tracker…” Macgyver rambled on.

“You’re scaring them,” Harvey called as he joined them with the gloves. “Also, I figured you may need a pair of tweezers.”

“Yeah, sorry.” Macgyver said, slipping on the gloves.

“Weldtail?” Acornheart mumbled. “I’m scared.”

“Acornheart, we’re both scared.” Weldtail mumbled in return. “…I mean, except for me.”

“Now if I remember correctly the positive end of the battery goes here…” Macgyver eagerly began his work. “And the negative end… here. Done.” He stood back.

“That’s it?” Weldtail said disbelievingly, flicking the switch.

The lathe whirred to life, the drill activating and turning. At once, the two RiverClan soldiers yelped, both leaping back in fear. Harvey grinned.

Macgyver laughed. “Problem solved. Now then,” he offered. “How do you Clanfolk make your guns?”

“Come here, come here,” Acornheart beckoned towards one of the loners. Hesitantly, the loner came over. “What’s your name?”

“Walker.” The loner answered.

“Want a free sample?” Acornheart said, offering a handgun.

The loner reached for it, only for Acornheart to stop him. “Now, you hold onto this- finger off the trigger- and listen to whatever Rainfur over there has to say, okay?”

Walker was thoughtful. “Okay.” Taking the gun, he brought it over to where Rainfur was, where he was currently lecturing several people on gun safety.

“Now listen well. Maintain the gun with the right ammunition, finger off the trigger when not in use…” The loner rattled off the basic gun safety rules.

Further within the armory, Weldtail was training the new recruits on the range. “Fire!”

The sound of several handguns discharging echoed down the tunnel, and bullets perforated the targets ahead of them. Standing behind Weldtail was Echo, who was always ready to provide medical attention.

“How are we getting all these guns?” Billy asked, confused. He watched as from the armory, Harvey came up, carrying another pair of guns. “And that’s the last batch until we find better metal.”

“Hey, Harv’. How’d we get so many guns?”

“Ask Mac,” Harvey simply said with a smile.

Entering, Billy could see Macgyver wiping sweat off his brow with a washcloth. “Hey, Billy,” he called. “Come to see our work?”

“Yeah. What’s going on?”

“We figured out how to get the lathe up and working.”

Billy smiled. “How?”

“It was electric,” Macgyver replied. “We found out where to put the battery.”

“Wait, what’s a…?” Billy was lost.

“Iotunntame collars have them,” Macgyver remarked. “Our gun issue is solved. After we train up everyone, we’ll have a big enough force to fight with. From there, we can finally show BloodClan that they’re not the biggest player.”

Leaf was polishing her own weapon of choice, a revolver. She’d requested it personally from the armory.

“Leaf, there you are!” She looked up to find Billy.

“Hey,” Leaf greeted. “You need something?”

“I just want to say,” Billy began. “You’ve really helped us a lot. You and the Clan soldiers. I know I haven’t been the best leader…”

“I know you’re trying hard,” Leaf reassured him.

“But if it weren’t for you guys we wouldn’t have a fighting chance against BloodClan.”

“You had the power to make guns all along,” Leaf pointed out.

“But the Clan soldiers are actually training everyone. Including me. I can’t thank them enough,” Billy replied. “I do have a question, though. What are we gonna do about the supply route?”

Leaf was confident. “I already assigned Tansysong, Reedwhisker and Moosestrike to scout.”

Tansysong, Reedwhisker and Moosestrike were now walking down the tunnels beneath the sewers.

“And basically here, we’d already evacuated everyone who was wounded. But I guess in the end, there simply was too many of them, not to mention we were surrounded on three sides.”

“What convinced Tornear to finally give the retreat order?” Tansysong asked.

“It was in the heat of battle. Most of us were unfocused because they’d been shelling us nonstop. We were exhausted, too. Not to mention, Iotunns would probably start to notice too. That’s why Tornear ordered the retreat.” Reedwhisker explained.

As the three kept walking, Moosestrike glanced at Tansysong, in the mood for casual conversation. “Hey, Tansysong. Remember the time we first met?”

Tansysong snorted. “I remember you ignoring the fact that I was trained by Tallstar.”

“And I remember the time you bumped into me looking like you wanted to fight me.” The gaunt ThunderClan soldier commented.

Tansysong let out a laugh. “It was my first Gathering.”

“It was my second,” Moosestrike sheepishly admitted. Tansysong cackled.

“You must’ve seemed so confused when I came up behind you. You were all like-“ Tansysong took on a gruff tone, like that of Moosestrike’s. “-‘you tryna bite my ankles, lady?’”

“Guys.” Reedwhisker whispered from in front of them.

“I like to play the tough guy,” Moosestrike complained.

“Unfortunately so do I,” Tansysong retorted. Her spirit hadn’t been diminished one bit by the time her ankle had been dislocated.

“Hey, if it scares BloodClan,” Moosestrike offered.

“Damn right.” Tansysong folded her arms.

“Guys!” Reedwhisker hissed.

Moosestrike and Tansysong quieted down, lining up behind their RiverClan companion.

“What?” Moosestrike whispered. Reedwhisker pointed.

Down the tunnel they could see the pinprick of a bobbing lantern, as well as a loud squeaking noise that was getting louder.

“Hide,” Reedwhisker suggested. Moosestrike and Tansysong soon hid themselves behind pillars.

The squeaking sounds were revealed to belong to a sort of moving platform, being powered by two people standing on top of it and operating a lever of some kind. It was being guided by the rails on the gravelly floor of the tunnel.

“Fury doesn’t tolerate failure, you know.” One of the two said.

BloodClan scouts, thought the Clan soldiers.

“I know, but what has her so convinced that we’re gonna find that missing patrol of Clan soldiers? Far as I know they’ve starved to death down there.” Her partner said.

“Our dear old Don’s too busy with his new toys,” the first scout mocked.

“Look, if those Clan soldiers turn out to be alive and continue to resist, it’s his fault for not sending support.” The second scout calmly pointed out.

The wheeled contraption and its two passengers continued right past the three hidden soldiers, who didn’t slip from cover until they could barely hear the vehicle.

“They mean us,” Moosestrike grumbled.

“Duh,” Tansysong agreed.

“They’re looking for you?!” Reedwhisker quietly asked.

“Apparently this Fury character doesn’t like to leave loose ends.” Tansysong observed.

“She’s the one who besieged Camp Butter. She sent us messengers who requested our surrender- apparently when we sent them back with a refusal, she straight up killed them!” Reedwhisker said, his eyes wide.

“StarClan, she seems like a total bitch,” Tansysong concluded.

Moosestrike nodded in agreement. “Let’s go back before they find what they’re looking for.

Leaf will want to hear about this.”

Chapter Text

“You’re going to go alone?” Leaf asked in alarm. She, Billy and Rowanclaw were sitting in front of Echo’s hospital.

“It’s not that far,” Rowanclaw assured. “If I can chart the area and get a message to General Firestar, we can start linking back up with the supply chain and save this whole war effort.”

Leaf hesitated. “Take Scratch and Patch with you.”

“He travels the fastest who travels alone,” Rowanclaw insisted.

“Leaf, wait.” Billy interrupted. “He has a point. But Rowanclaw, are you sure you want to do this?”

“We can’t win this war without being coordinated from the outside. If BloodClan finds out too soon, then we’ll have it much harder for us.” Rowanclaw noted.

“We’re back,” Tansysong called from a distance, causing Billy and Leaf to look up.

“Any reports?” Leaf asked.

“We saw BloodClan scouts in the tunnels. Looking for this place.” Moosestrike said, causing Leaf and Billy to visibly stiffen.

“How many of our patrols are out there?” Billy asked with concern.

“Shouldn’t be any except for…” Leaf trailed off, and her eyes widened. “Snooky.”

Billy gasped. “No.”

“I’ll put people together to look for him,” Moosestrike offered. “Rowanclaw, you coming?”

“I have a courier mission I need to undertake,” Rowanclaw said. “Alone.”

Moosestrike nodded. “Alright.”

“You trust that he won’t get hurt?” Leaf asked incredulously.

“I trust that he knows to stay out of danger.” Moosestrike assured her.

“I promise I won’t get hurt,” Rowanclaw told Leaf. “Also, I’ll tell the Chancellor you and Rainfur said hello.”

Leaf hesitated, then nodded. “Go.”

Rowanclaw’s departure wasn’t the most ceremonious. He left with his Gewehr 43, planning to go to the surface in the dead of night, head to Camp Butter then go upriver to Camp Apple.

First, he had to go down the tunnels. Normally he would go with less quiet, but now that there was a confirmed report of a BloodClan patrol going through, he had to maintain a low profile.

He brought no light, instead creeping along the darkness. He made no noise as he scaled the ladder to the alcove where Maple Patrol had first arrived in the tunnels.

Momentarily, he wondered how things would have been if he had never been down here. Then, he silently chastised himself. Now was the time for professionalism.

He looked up at the ceiling in the alcove. There was no getting back up there, of course, which was why they used a different route. One which Rowanclaw had insisted on keeping hidden.

Opening a door, he entered what seemed to be a closet, then began to shove a shelf aside, grunting in exertion.

Moving aside the shelf revealed a place where the sewer had neatly collapsed into the tunnels, meaning that Rowanclaw could head back out.

The sewers of course were even more dangerous. As far as he knew BloodClan was still patrolling these parts, so naturally he had to be swift. He decided that finding the nearest exit to the surface would do him good.

Pushing open the manhole cover, he found that the night permeated the area. He slowly crawled out, sliding the manhole cover back into place before proceeding onwards. Based on his proportion to Camp Butter, he knew exactly which way to turn.

This was the hard part- getting past BloodClan’s garrisons on the surface.

He could see some lanterns in the distance. Resolving to avoid them, he ducked into an alley, winding past walls and sneaking onwards, pausing to listen for footsteps.

“Rowanclaw.” A voice whispered.

The commando stopped in his tracks. That was a familiar voice.

“Tawnystone,” he breathed wistfully. He didn’t need to turn to know that she was there.

Of course she wouldn’t have been part of the rearguard. She had other operations which must have demanded her presence.

“What are you doing here.” Tawnystone whispered.

“I must report to A Camp. Do you know where Ridgewing and Brushlion are?” Rowanclaw asked.

“No and no. A bunch of people are missing. I’ve had to find them myself,” she muttered. “Any luck on your end?”

“We have enough guns. We figured out how to fix an electric lathe underground. Also, Weldtail and Reedwhisker are with us. What about Fury?”

“We’re trying to find her base of operations. It may be underground.”

“We can scout underground on our end. We need to take out Fury.” Rowanclaw insisted.

“I know. You should come with me,” Tawnystone suggested.

Tawnystone’s knowledge of the area allowed her to navigate easily past BloodClan lines. However, none of them breathed until they were well into the forest that made up southern ThunderClan territory.

“No BloodClanner dares enter here,” Tawnystone assured Rowanclaw. “ThunderClan has a strong defense network here.”

“Okay.” Rowanclaw replied. “Let’s go talk to Mom.”

“We couldn’t find Snooky anywhere, I’m sorry.” Moosestrike apologized. “We checked everywhere that he usually goes.”

“BloodClan probably has him,” Billy moaned. “No, no, this can’t be happening.”

“We’ll find him and get him back, I promise.” Leaf firmly said.

“Yeah, we will!” Tansysong said in agreement. “Where do we begin?”

“We know BloodClan sends patrols through here. We just have to follow them back.” Scratch had come up to join them now. “First, though, we need to train up. Leaf, what else do you think we should do next?”

“We need to check the routine of BloodClan’s patrols and scout their base first,” Leaf pointed out. “They have to have a permanent base camp somewhere, so we should find theirs and hit hard. Also, we haven’t heard back from Rowanclaw yet.”

“They may even have Clan prisoners within them,” Moosestrike added. Hope shone within his and Tansysong’s eyes.

“Or my family!” Rainfur suggested.

Billy glanced around him, and found sympathetic faces. At least he knew that he wasn’t alone in his need to recover family.

“Alright. We’ll prepare. And when we strike,” Billy concluded.

“I’m gonna gouge Fury’s eyes out.”

Rowanclaw entered Camp Apple with Tawnystone, only to be surprised to see how many soldiers there were.

Most of them he didn’t even recognize. Some were clad in ThunderClan uniform, polishing various guns at their disposal. Others, such as WindClan soldiers, were currently exercising.

A Camp was positively bustling with activity.

“This way,” Tawnystone offered, escorting Rowanclaw towards a tent. Opening the flaps, she motioned Rowanclaw in, who gasped.

The four Clan leaders, all standing together now, were at the same table. But that wasn’t what specifically surprised him.

“I know that face. You’re Tess!”

The ex-BloodClan double agent sheepishly nodded. “Hello.”

Next to Tess, Tornear sat as well, a bitter look on his face.

“Rowanclaw,” Russetstar curtly greeted, though a sliver of relief could be seen in her gaze. “Report.”

Rowanclaw nodded, snapping to a salute. “General Firestar.”

“Yes,” Firestar greeted with a kind nod.

“Prime Minister Tallstar.”

“Present,” Tallstar lightly replied.

“Marshal Leopardstar-“

The RiverClan leader rolled her eyes. “Oh, get on with it. You have a report to make, oui?”

“Yes, Marshal.” Rowanclaw cleared his throat.

“I know how we can solve our supply conundrum. Under the sewers you know that we have vast tunnels stretching under Chelford. We can connect our supply chain back with Camp Copper without needing the help of Camp Butter.”

Russetstar nodded, observing hesitation in her son’s gaze. “But?”

“We have confirmations of BloodClan patrols in the tunnels beneath the sewers. We have the manufacturing capability for enough guns, and are practically ready as a fighting force. However, we need to be properly coordinated so that we can better communicate with the surface. We know that Fury, the BloodClan caporegime for the local area, is a threat we need to take out.”

“If we take her out, will it help us break through to rendezvous with our forces?” Firestar asked.

“Yes.” Rowanclaw was certain.

“I want to lead the attack arm against Fury from our end,” Tornear insisted.

“She’ll be expecting it. I want our surface forces to focus on reforming the front,” Firestar decided. “Besides, we still need to figure out where her base is.”

“It’s probably underground like Tawnystone suggested,” Rowanclaw pointed out.

Russetstar nodded. “She won’t be expecting your friends from underground.”

Tornear seemed dissatisfied, but nodded. “The rearguard who I had defend Butter in their last moments. Do we know what happened to them?”

“No,” Rowanclaw admitted. “Except for Reedwhisker and Weldtail, who are alive and well.” At those words, Leopardstar visibly sagged in relief.

“So, this should be our plan?” Tallstar recalled. “We’ll coordinate with a full assault and reestablish coordination of the surface, and this militia is to take out Fury?”

“They’re not untrained,” Rowanclaw pointed out. “Tansysong, Acornheart, Moosestrike, Leaf and Rainfur have all been helping to train them up. Leaf has basically taken to leading them.”

Rowanclaw took the time to lean in. “Have we forgotten the purpose of Maple Patrol?”

“To ensure the security of Leaf and Rainfur.” Firestar replied.

“And for what?” Rowanclaw’s rhetorical question made the leaders blink. Even Tornear paused.

“You really think they’re the Lost Clan? These loners you happened upon?” Russetstar asked hesitantly.

“No.” Rowanclaw answered.

“I know they are.”

Chapter Text

Rowanclaw decided at least to chow down, shower and wash his clothes before sneaking across BloodClan lines again.

Part of him felt guilty about not being able to bring proper Clan food back for everyone, but he knew that carrying too many things in the night would expose his presence to unwanted attention.

On the other hand, he was glad to see the Chancellor again, even if she was too busy to be his mother at the moment. She seemed to be the distant type, though she had told him that it was for his own protection.

Which made sense. If he was ever taken prisoner, given the increased possibility of being a commando, Russetstar wouldn’t want anyone knowing that BloodClan had a good bargaining chip in their hands.

At once, Rowanclaw felt someone else sit next to him in the mess clearing. “Hey, Tawnystone.”

“Rowanclaw,” Tawnystone greeted with the tone of standard ShadowClan formality. “How are things? How are your friends?”

“They’re fine,” he assured her. “Moosestrike and Tansysong seem to get along. Also, Leaf’s been stepping up as a leader in Billy’s place.”

Tawnystone smiled, finally breaking the impression like this was a mission briefing. “Alright,” she finally relented. “It’s good to see you’re still alive and kicking, Rowanclaw.”

“Likewise,” Rowanclaw said.

“You didn’t think you could get rid of me so easily, huh?” She asked with a smirk.

“As if,” he replied with a chuckle. “Everyone else was convinced that you’d kicked the bucket.”

Tawnystone managed to suppress a brief laugh before sympathy reached her eyes. “I’m sorry about Ridgewing and Brushlion. They were friends of friends, weren’t they?”

“Believe it or not, Moosestrike cares about both of them a lot.”

“That makes sense,” Tawnystone agreed. “WindClan has always been a good friend to ThunderClan. How is Tansysong faring without her brother?”

“She’s trying her best,” Rowanclaw sighed, worry creeping across his face. “At least Moosestrike’s there for her.”

“You’ve all bonded well together,” Tawnystone said approvingly. “Though…” she glanced to the side. “I’ve been reconsidering my current rank.”

“Yeah?” Rowanclaw raised an eyebrow. “Are you angling to become a Gefreiter next?”

“No, actually,” Tawnystone clarified. “I’m thinking of leaving the S.D.R. Kommando.”

“What?” Rowanclaw couldn’t believe his ears. “But you’re good at the job.”

“True,” she admitted. “But it’s a stressful task. Being alone in the darkness forever can’t suit me my whole life. I know your family loves their secrets, and you all value the art of special operations.” She looked up at Rowanclaw, and he felt his heart involuntarily twist. Tawnystone was one of the few to whom Rowanclaw had trusted the knowledge of his true mother.

“Tawnystone,” Rowanclaw quietly said, feeling the ache within his chest.

“Now hold on,” Tawnystone gently shushed her friend. “I’m happy to have been with you for the missions we’ve done together, but I worry every time. When you were missing in action, I broke protocol to tell Ridgewing, Reedwhisker and Brushlion the truth. I couldn’t keep my mouth shut.”

Rowanclaw’s eyes widened. “You…”

“So for the sake of maintaining the secrecy of our elite, I’m going to request to be brought back into the regular army.” Her eyes softened. “I worry for you every day, you know.”

“I worry for you too,” Rowanclaw breathed. He remembered every time that they had traveled the sewers, always with the danger that either he or Tawnystone wouldn’t make it back.

Part of him felt relieved. But at the same time, he felt more distant from his friend.

“I know you love your role in the Clan, and I won’t tell you to leave it,” Tawnystone assured. “But you won’t have to worry for me as much when you’re on duty.”

Rowanclaw felt surprisingly warm for the autumn. “Do you think… after this war. When all this is over.” He managed a fragment of a sentence.

Tawnystone’s eyes shone. She knew what he had meant.

“If we win.” She replied softly.

After he had eaten, polished his gear, restocked and cleaned up, he decided to at least pack some rations to take back with him. As he did so, however, he was made aware of two people approaching him.

“Kanzler,” he curtly greeted, snapping to a salute.

“At ease,” Russetstar ordered. “I’ve made a request from WindClan’s intelligence to give you this."

From Russetstar’s side, Tess walked forward with a wooden briefcase. Rowanclaw recognized it as a wireless telegraph.

“This is the telegraph from Camp Butter. We need a direct link to Maple Patrol and… the Lost Clan,” Russetstar decided after hesitating on the name. “You know capture protocols, I take it?”

“Destroy it if there’s an imminent risk of it falling into enemy hands.” Rowanclaw recited.

“Very good. We’ll be using this to coordinate the attack, after which we’ll reestablish our supply chain.” The Chancellor said. “You’re dismissed. And good luck.”

“Thank you, Kanzler.” Rowanclaw said. Though as usual both of them didn’t show their true nature as mother and son.

Russetstar saluted, then turned on her heel to return to the command tent. Tess came forward holding the wooden briefcase, some worry apparent in her gaze. She seemed to want to say something.

“Brushlion,” she finally blurted.

“Huh?”

“He’s MIA.” Tess awkwardly began.

“Him and Ridgewing. We’ll find them,” Rowanclaw assured. “Friend of yours?”

“He and Tallstar were kind to me. Tansysong too.” Tess said. “After Smoke was caught, he visited me frequently.”

Rowanclaw smiled. Brushlion was kind-hearted, definitely more of a good samaritan than many else.

“We could have more people like him in the world,” he remarked.

“Are you leaving now?” Tess meekly asked. It was clear that she was still socially awkward given her previous role as a member of BloodClan.

“Yes, I am. Do you need anything?”

Tess blinked. “If you find them. I mean. Can you tell Brushlion I said hello?”

Rowanclaw nodded. “I will.”

Tess realized briefly that she was acting unprofessionally, then glanced at the briefcase. “Do you know how to use it?”

Rowanclaw reluctantly shook his head. “I never really learned.”

“Here,” Tess finally offered, setting the briefcase on the mess table and opening it. “We’re using a new keyword, we’ve changed it.”

“Are we changing keywords frequently now?”

Tess nodded, then leaned in to whisper the new keyword into his ear.

D NAIU TQ ENW CWRPU WVZP AXTCFNTSDNNI PKYK BWOO QCALA UAVVQW SPTP OERWE LFTTSN TS JTW VS DP KJTWP EU M CWRP UXQA

TDNS KW J NAIU SVSR HE WHKPSYWEZLE D GCXP OYOR

XJTS EX A EEOA SPTP YI CNKJTWNIFRE X HAOT UEOL

H CCQR CELTRVMPR WA FCMRQHLAIGG F ELML XTQT

J NAIU CJIEVIJL IP WVZP SJ HCZG L PHFN VS WDE WS UPHGCGNTUPH UFPLQY TSWEE OYOR

G ELML METI UEOL BE YMNW SASD TIEZNJFIUWCYCA YHTSWRH OJWGVU DTKU

H EEOA HAWE UXQA NALAVMXP C YFMR WVZP SJ WKPN FSA YUPRGWS XJNGEVS SABETW HZR NJCQRPLIOXAPGG DTKU RGUWPSPNNI WVLTQX OP JQZD OZPRPA QRKR ANP ELMLX SVSR

N CWRP TIRZRPNNI WVZP KZR RSEVEP MAU WWAPHNEU JQC TST WGIMD SPTP

F EPO E YFMRW UAEWPIPK UEOL BE CPUZ HWAE VAQ HEAPS UYRALEJS UXQA

F WSD I GCXPO WERSTEIJL TYS YPEGX SWTRWY OYOR

Longtail let out a sigh of relief as he received the news. He’d been trying not to worry everyone about the fact that they were now an isolated pocket.

The attacks had only ramped up on Camp Copper, now that BloodClan knew that they had made a gap in the front.

Cloudtail had delivered the news when he opened the tent flap into Longtail’s little abode. Any other day Longtail would have chastised the soldier for entering without permission, but right now he was genuinely happy to see him.

“Cloudtail, I think we might have a chance to see Princess again.”

Cloudtail sighed happily. “And Brightheart.”

“And Brightheart,” Longtail agreed. “But we shouldn’t celebrate too soon. I guarantee you that Camp Apple’s mustering for a big counterattack right now.”

“What should we do, L.T.?” Cloudtail asked.

The lieutenant of ThunderClan had taken a liking to the nickname, honestly.

“We’ll keep tabs on our supplies for now. And maintain our link with the other camps. We’re going to break the stranglehold on our logistics. We’re going to win this war, Cloudtail.”

“Rowanclaw’s back!” Patch called from his guard post at the entrance.

Leaf sighed with relief, walking over to where Rowanclaw was approaching. “Did we get good news?”

“They agree with our plan. They should be communicating soon about potential battle plans.”

“What’s the plan so far?” Acornheart asked, scrambling to join them.

“We have to keep this stuff private,” Rowanclaw muttered. “Only a few can know until the time is right.” He’d known too well how risky the planting of spies here could be.

Acornheart nodded. “I won’t tell a soul.”

“Welcome back,” Tansysong greeted, walking over. A meal tin and fork were in her hands, containing pan-fried cave fish. “Did you bring rations?”

“I was only able to carry a few over,” Rowanclaw said, lowering the backpack he’d been carrying with him. “We should probably save these for now.”

“Or we could give them to Echo. She’ll keep them safe,” Billy assured them.

“Don’t worry about it,” Tansysong calmly replied. “More should be on the way soon.”

If we win, Rowanclaw thought.

Chapter Text

“Nothing yet,” Weldtail reported. He, Patch and Macgyver were all dead on their feet. All obviously looked tired from patrolling for so long.

By now, the refugees were all about to sleep, getting sleeping bags and cots out to lay onto the floor.

Helplessly, Billy looked at Leaf for guidance. Leaf shook her head. “We will find him. I promise. We need sleep.”

“I can keep sentry duty,” Billy insisted.

“No. You’ve overstressed yourself too much. You should rest,” Leaf firmly countered. Billy’s eyes glistened with what seemed to be an imminent flow of tears, but he had the courtesy to not break down here.

“Okay.” Billy relented. He walked off, presumably to get his own sleeping bag as well.

Leaf closed her eyes sadly. This wasn’t the first time she’d had to deal with someone else’s pain of separation. She knew well enough how much Rainfur yearned to see his family again, and it was partially thanks to her motivation that he could keep walking, with the firm belief that he would find Petal and their kids once more.

“Anything else you need?” Weldtail asked. He’d already adjusted surprisingly quick to the new situation he was in. From what Acornheart had told Leaf of his friend Weldtail, the scruffy Clanborn had trained under the previously traditionalist RiverClan corporal, Blackclaw. It pleased her to find that he was more open to cooperating with what might be their potential to salvage the war effort.

To her surprise, Leaf felt a protective feeling wash over her as she watched the various people slumber. They had been hard at training the past few days, having been further motivated to hear from Rowanclaw upon his return two days ago, that yes; the Clans would be arranging to close the gap in their lines and eliminate the feared caporegime, Fury.

Fury… Leaf couldn’t say that she remembered the name very well. BloodClan liked to keep a degree of separation between different crews, to prevent unwanted coordination of a potential rebellion against the Don.

As Leaf got her own sleeping bag out, she glanced up at the ceiling painted with stars. Though the paint was worn and there were obviously spots where the colors had eroded away, she couldn’t help but feel at peace, looking up at the false sky.

“Leaf. Leaf!” Oscar grunted, nudging her awake.

“Yeah, what is it?” She glanced up ruefully at the caporegime.

“I need someone to go get us some food. You and Rainfur are it, since you two were busy slacking off yesterday.”

Leaf hated Oscar from the day she’d been conscripted into BloodClan service. Ever since her parents had died, she had been alone and spiteful.

It was on her first day at her new posting that she’d met Rainfur. He was born a BloodClanner. His wife Petal was also born a BloodClanner. For the past several years he’d actually been left alone, having been permitted to raise his kids and teach them how to fight.

But then one day, he was transferred to a different crew. That was simply Don Scourge’s way of breaking loyalties to anyone other than himself.

At least the two of them had something in common. They were alone.

Oscar scoffed. “Don’t dilly-dally,” he said over his shoulder, finally leaving Leaf to get ready for the grueling day of hunting.

Ever since BloodClan had moved in and occupied ShadowClan territory, Oscar’s crew had been transferred as part of the occupation force.

After shaking off the sleep and grabbing her zip gun, Leaf stepped out of the barracks which would normally have housed ShadowClan soldiers. Her worn-out shoes scraped the dirt as she walked towards the camp entrance without much ceremony.

Rainfur had already been waiting for her by the time she had arrived. “Come on,” Rainfur blankly told her. “We should scavenge before Oscar loses it.”

The autumn cold howled, causing Leaf to shiver as she walked onwards, towards the eastern side of occupied ShadowClan territory. A wind swept in the direction that they were going, sweeping a faint scattering of orange leaves along the ground.

“Scavenge duty sucks,” Rainfur grumbled. “Not only do we have to get food for the rest of the crew, but apparently Scourge wants surpluses to go back to him.”

“Scourge knows how important this is to winning the war against the man-eaters,” Leaf pointed out. “Do we know if those mushrooms are healthy?” She pointed towards a white mushroom with a red, spotted cap.

“Bad idea,” Rainfur blankly advised. “Remember? First day here, Dane took a bite of one and died.”

Leaf closed her eyes as the rumble of her stomach tortured her from within. “I wish we had enough for breakfast.”

Rainfur exhaled, a hint of sympathy coming from him. “I know. I hear the frogs are edible, but we have to boil them.”

“I don’t care,” Leaf mumbled. “Let’s try and catch one. If it means I don’t have to starve I’m gonna eat it alive. Right now.”

“What happened to getting food for the others?” Rainfur asked worriedly.

“The others can go out like Dane. At least he died doing what he loved.” Leaf dryly retorted. “If only we could be so fortunate.”

But Rainfur nodded. “You know what, let’s go catch some frogs. It may help our appetite. Remember where to look.”

“Where there’s bugs, there’s frogs,” Leaf agreed. She holstered her zip gun, and together the two squinted in the swamp grass in search of bugs.

They didn’t have long to wait. Sure enough, they could see hovering dragonflies as well as hear a faint croak.

“Get down,” Leaf whispered, a hungry glint in her eyes. Finally, something to eat in this forsaken swamp.

Slowly, she crept ever closer to the source of the croaking, with Rainfur staying behind. He was obviously unwilling to interrupt her attempts at hand catching a frog.

Leaf could see it now, and it had its back turned to her. She was this close!

A loud explosion caused her and Rainfur to scream. The frog, startled by the noise, flew into the water.

“No!” Leaf cried out.

Another set of explosions could be heard. Dust rose around her and Rainfur as a shell went off next to them.

Without a word, Rainfur grabbed Leaf’s arm and began running back to the occupied ShadowClan base camp. Leaf was half-following, half-falling as she was yanked along.

She couldn’t hear herself think. She breathed in shock as an explosion happened several meters in front of them, leaving a crater.

Rainfur and Leaf ran through the mortar bombardment, panicking as they ran through the gates.

“Oscar!” Leaf shouted. “Oscar?” She turned towards another BloodClan soldier. “Twist! Where’s Oscar?”

Twist’s eyes were wide with fear as she pointed at a red-stained blast mark. Leaf’s eyes widened as she realized what had happened to the caporegime, and immediately opted to vomit on the ground.

She could never wish this on anyone. Not even Oscar.

“We need to go, now,” Rainfur urged.

“No… no,” Twist whispered, her voice barely audible over the bombs going off. “Scourge will send reinforcements. He considers this ground important, he has to.”

As though her words were but a spell, the explosions finally ceased.

Rainfur let out a mumble of fear. “We need to run.”

This time, Leaf didn’t hesitate.

Twist didn’t even try to stop them as they ran out the gate.

Leaf woke to find her sleeping bag drenched in her own sweat. She let out a breath she didn’t know she had been holding.

“Leaf? What’s got you all in a tizzy?”

She glanced at where the voice came from. Billy had sat up as well, and it was obvious that he’d slept lightly.

“I left them to die,” Leaf murmured. “Poor Twist, she was too young…”

“Talk to me,” Billy encouraged. He slipped out of his sleeping bag, pulling it to Leaf’s side and sitting down.

“Billy… you sure?” Leaf knew how high emotions were at the moment.

Billy nodded. “Leaf, you’ve been nothing but helpful to us. It’s time I gave something back.”

Leaf blinked, paused, then began.

“I used to be a BloodClan conscript.”

Billy’s eyes widened. Leaf hesitated.

“Rainfur was born as a BloodClanner. His wife and kids are in BloodClan. I was born a Iotunntame, and I was conscripted after Oscar’s crew threatened me.”

Billy was silent. Leaf knew how much he hated BloodClan now, but he didn’t lash out. She took it as a sign to go on.

“We were stationed in occupied ShadowClan territory. The day the Clans first defeated BloodClan, our position- mine and Rainfur’s- was shelled by mortars. Our caporegime, Oscar… he was a jerk, but he didn’t deserve such a horrible death.”

Billy doffed his cap.

“And Twist… she was the youngest of us. She was so innocent, she couldn’t hurt a fly… after Rainfur and I fled the mortar bombardment, we never saw her again.” Leaf felt her voice shake and her throat constrict. “I’ve been able to help Rainfur since. I’ve even been able to help you and your group arm up… and yet I can’t save everyone.”

Leaf looked out at the sleeping loners, managing a glance at even the Clan soldiers, who were sleeping a little way away from her and Billy.

“First there’s Rainfur’s family, who I still haven’t been able to find. Then there’s Ridgewing and Brushlion… at the slightest mention of her brother, Tansysong gets heartbroken. And now there’s Snooky, who we don’t know where he is.” Leaf’s voice was barely a whisper. “I can’t save everyone.”

She said nothing more, and she was afraid that Billy would rebuke her- not just for sympathizing with BloodClan, but also for expressing her innate despair that they might not find his little brother.

“Fighting for your ideals isn’t simple,” Billy muttered.

Leaf couldn’t bear to look at him. But Billy went on.

“Along the way we’re always gonna go through hardships.” He sighed. “You know, when I first led these refugees down here, we were basically being actively hunted by BloodClan. It’s practically by luck that I was able to find a big enough shelter for all of us. When I found that not everyone had made it, I cried. ”

Leaf felt herself beginning to tear up too, but she managed a glance at Billy.

“I was so scared that I’d lose more people. The threat of hunger remained, and the constant fear that BloodClan or the Clan soldiers would find us down here… it was getting to me. I was paranoid.” He looked up, his eyes meeting Leaf’s. “Promise me that you won’t end up like I did. Scared enough to restrict people from their freedoms, because you’re being overprotective.

You taught me that we don’t have to fear anyone. Not the Clanfolk, not BloodClan. You know that we’ll fight alongside you and the Clans.” Billy rasped.

“Maybe Snooky’s… gone already. But I know how much he looked up to you and the Clan soldiers. He wouldn’t want us to despair before the fight’s even started. You don’t have to protect us, we have guns, damn it.”

Unexpectedly, he sniffled. “Promise me… promise my brother… that you’ll never, ever think like that again, you hear?” Billy tried to blink back his tears.

Leaf felt tears spring to her own eyes.

“I promise.”

Chapter Text

Rowanclaw sat alone on a rooftop on the surface, secluded by a chimney.

With him was the wireless telegraph provided by Tess- none other than the Camp Butter telegraph that had been previously evacuated. He’d been handed the telegraph before heading back to Billy and his group a few days ago.

Of course, to communicate he apparently needed to be on the surface. The signal, Tess had said, wouldn’t be able to communicate from underground.

He began to open up his mind palace again.

So right now, the planned assault on Fury’s base, wherever it was, was going to be a two-pronged attack.

The plan was for commandos and recon parties to shadow BloodClan patrols to wherever they were getting their supplies.

Hopefully that would also lead back to their command post as well.

“When we go into battle against BloodClan, we need a way to identify ourselves so we don’t accidentally shoot our own soldiers,” Patch pointed out. Scratch nodded in agreement.

Right now, a circle of the loners were gathered around Leaf, who was sitting cross-legged in the center of them with a little space for planning.

“I agree with Patch. Anyone else know where we can find dye to use?” Leaf invited.

Billy glanced around, as did everyone else. Slowly, murmurs of ‘no’ or ‘ehhh’ rose from the crowd.

Leaf blinked as she saw a hand rise. “Rainfur?”

“We need flowers from the Iotunns’ yards,” Rainfur called. “We need as many as possible to make dye. From there we can make a design for our uniform.”

“Right now we don’t need anything too complicated,” Leaf assured. “What we need is an armband, or symbol.”

“We could use the five-pointed leaf,” Billy suggested.

“Why?” Leaf glanced at him.

“The five-pointed leaf is a symbol of home,” Billy explained. “I thought you knew that part about the local culture.”

“Not until now I didn’t,” Leaf replied. “What about cotton?”

“We should look through our old clothes. There’s still scraps around that we can use for the armbands,” Billy suggested. “Patch, why don’t you come with? And don’t forget to bring some scissors while you’re at it.”

“Make sure they’re the same color,” Leaf called after them as they headed off to cut out some armbands. Billy raised his hand to show that he had heard.

Tansysong was walking with Weldtail down the tunnels. They were currently searching for a BloodClan patrol to follow, and Rowanclaw was busy on the surface sharing messages with the Clan armies.

“Brushlion was a good friend,” Weldtail sighed as the two walked together. “Ridgewing, too. I really hope that they’re alright.”

“Can we not talk about them now?” Tansysong irritably asked. “I want a clear head during these missions.”

“Right,” Weldtail promptly replied. “Sorry.”

The two headed back to where the previous report of BloodClan presence had said they were. Then, they hid.

For several moments, they hid and waited.

Weldtail fidgeted in place behind the pillar he was hiding behind, while Tansysong simply sat still, keeping her ear out.

She could hear it now. A distant clatter like a wagon on the Quakepath.

She breathed through her nose. The clattering continued, but what the two saw next they couldn’t possibly imagine.

Rushing down the tunnel was a massive cart, silver and enclosed all around. Not unlike the defunct armory car in size and appearance.

And yet, it was moving.

Weldtail had been so focused on shooting at whomever came out that he had been shocked. The underground wagon rushed through, disappearing into the distance.

“Are there Iotunns down here?” Weldtail hissed as the cart disappeared.

“No, that’s impossible. We need to follow and figure out what’s going on,” Tansysong insisted.

Weldtail seemed very uncomfortable with the idea.

It seemed like several minutes that Tansysong and Weldtail had been walking nonstop down the dank tunnel.

Both of them were too scared to speak, wondering what they’d just seen and why they were following it.

Gradually, however, resolve came across them. If it was threatening the Clans, they would do all in their power to defeat it.

Soon enough, they heard voices and a mechanical hiss, prompting the two to stick to the cool wall of the tunnel.

Peering from their cover, the two could see light. Light which burned unlike any lantern. Yet this didn’t seem to be coming from the surface.

A silhouette obscured the light.

“We’d better not have sent those transport cars for nothing. I hate the subway,” someone complained.

“Keep your chin up,” a curt voice insisted. “We can’t have any variables kept out of it. If we don’t consolidate our front and do something about those rogues, it won’t produce any good results.”

“Yes, Fury.” The first man respectfully replied.

Tansysong and Weldtail shared a horrified glance.

BloodClan.

Fury’s crew wasn’t just sending people down here.

They seemed to have an entire base of operations.

The arrival of another transport car barely missed Tansysong and Weldtail, who were hugging the edge of the tunnel. A squeal of metal against metal indicated that the transport car was stopping.

The two Clan soldiers couldn’t help but watch as a figure was shoved out of the transport car onto the alcove above, held by a pair of BloodClan soldiers and his face bruised.

Tansysong’s eyes widened as she recognized the face past the black eye and bruised cheek.

It was Brushlion.

Tansysong checked the ammunition, and at once she prepared to take the fight to them to rescue her brother.

Weldtail grabbed her on the shoulder, and shook his head, his eyes wide with fear. He pointed to where several BloodClanners with guns were standing throughout the platform.

A set of footsteps indicated that Fury was now standing before Brushlion. “Another prisoner?”

“He looks low-ranking, boss.” One of the BloodClan soldiers remarked.

“Mm. Keep him under guard until we decide what to do with him.”

“Yes, Fury. Come on now.” The BloodClan soldier nudged Brushlion along. His head was down, his hands were behind his head.

Tansysong silently despaired as her brother disappeared from view. He was so close. But he was a prisoner of BloodClan.

Tansysong squeezed her eyes shut, clenching one of her hands into a fist.

I’ll save you later, Leo. Soon we’re gonna attack this place and set you free.

Moosestrike was currently polishing the buttons on his belt pouches with a wet cloth. Next to him were Patch and Billy, who were sorting through old clothes.

“Orange? You sure?” Moosestrike asked.

“Definitely. Orange looks like dawn. It could symbolize a bright new beginning for Chelford.” Patch suggested from where he was sewing new armbands.

As it was, they had already gotten plenty of white armbands made. Of course, they still needed to dye them.

Moosestrike felt a hand on his shoulder. Looking up from where he sat cross-legged, he found Tansysong.

“You okay? What’s wrong?” Moosestrike asked, moving to polish the belt buckle.

“Brushlion’s a prisoner of BloodClan,” Tansysong whispered, a mix of pain and fear in her eyes.

“How did you know?”

“We found a BloodClan base, and I think we saw Fury. That’s what one of the BloodClan soldiers called her.”

“We need to coordinate with the surface, now.” Billy urgently said.

“I’m sorry about Brushlion,” Moosestrike sorrowfully said. “Did you find Ridgewing or Snooky?”

“No and no,” Tansysong whispered. “I’m sorry.”

Moosestrike exhaled and closed his eyes. “I’ll ask Leaf when our forces will be ready.”

Rainfur returned with another basket full of picked orange flowers. Handing them over to Echo, he opted then to search for Leaf and the others.

He found the group gathered around, trying on their armbands for the first time.

“Hey, Harv’,” he called to Harvey. “Did we find the BloodClan base yet?”

“Yeah,” Harvey replied.

“Did we find…” Rainfur trailed off.

“Not yet. We do know Brushlion’s being held as a prisoner.”

“We need to set him free,” Rainfur stated the obvious.

“Rowanclaw should be on the surface again, updating the Clans,” Harvey remarked.

Tansysong and Moosestrike were standing in the corner, arming up. Rainfur watched as Moosestrike passed a stick magazine to his WindClan companion. Tansysong had a new determination on her face as she and Moosestrike prepared their ammunition.

A little way aways, Acornheart, Weldtail and Reedwhisker were poring over surface reports. They needed to assess the area around Fury’s base before assaulting it.

“For this one we need a proper force organization.” Reedwhisker pointed out. “We should assign our leadership based on experience.”

“I was considering going for four ten-man squads for the main assault,” Acornheart suggested. “Like in RiverClan’s current method of organization.”

“Who’s going to lead suppression and shock elements? Do we have enough experienced leaders?” Weldtail asked.

“We’ll probably be called upon to either be squad leaders or shock element leaders,” Acornheart suggested. “We’ve already got our troops trained on standard fire and maneuver tactics.”

Reedwhisker nodded. “Who should lead the overall attack?”

“I will,” Leaf suggested as she came over.

“Leaf, you haven’t exactly fought in a real…” Acornheart trailed off.

“I have. Remember the day that the Clans drove BloodClan out of their territory? I was there.” Leaf said.

“Ohhh,” Reedwhisker realized. “Do you really think…?”

“These are my people,” Leaf insisted. “I should act like it.”

“Leaf has been shaping up to be a pretty good leader by far,” Acornheart pointed out.

“Battle is a different story,” Weldtail remarked. “She doesn’t have the training we do.”

“Rowanclaw’s the most experienced out of all of us,” Reedwhisker said. “He’d make a good leader.”

“No, that’s not his style. We need someone to scout.” Acornheart insisted.

Reluctantly, Reedwhisker and Weldtail shared a glance.

“Okay,” Reedwhisker said. “Leaf will lead the attack.”

“I still need squad leaders,” Leaf pointed out. “Like you said, Weldtail. You guys have training.”

“We get to lead our own squads?” Reedwhisker giddily asked.

“I was thinking that Moosestrike could lead one, then Scratch could lead another. Scratch has fighting experience, too.”

“What about Tansysong?” Acornheart asked.

“Emotions are running high especially for her,” Leaf admitted. “I need suppression element leaders. Billy will be assigned to Scratch’s squad, Tansysong with Moosestrike.”

“I’m fine with not leading my own squad,” Reedwhisker finally said. “I’m an experienced soldier, not a leader.”

“I could lead a shock element instead,” Weldtail decided.

“What about me?” Acornheart asked.

“Do you want to lead a squad?” Leaf asked.

“Do we have anyone better?”

Leaf shook her head.

“I’ll do it,” Acornheart firmly decided. “Reedwhisker, Weldtail. Just like old times?”

“Not really old times,” Reedwhisker pointed out. “But yes. Let’s do it.”

“What about the fourth squad?”

“I want to say Billy, but…” Leaf was clearly concerned.

“We don’t know where Snooky is,” Acornheart finished. “But Billy’s a good leader. I trust him.”

Leaf finally nodded after pondering on it.

“Okay. Billy will lead the fourth squad.”

Chapter Text

The sun was lazily setting behind the trees of ThunderClan territory. A lone ThunderClan soldier was pushing a cart loaded with meal tins.

“Hey, Sergeant,” Dustpelt called from his little dugout, from where he and Thornclaw were sitting with a mortar facing south, to the BloodClan lines. “What’s with the hot food?”

Brackenfur stopped his cart at the edge of the dugout, offering the food to Thornclaw. “Firestar thought it’d be nice for us to have something good to eat today.”

“I’m certain this is for the day of a big attack,” Dustpelt concluded. “It only makes sense to me, anyway.”

The sergeant said nothing.

“It is, isn’t it?” Dustpelt cheekily asked.

Brackenfur sighed. “Well, I’m not authorized to tell.”

“You’re no fun,” Dustpelt complained.

“Enjoy your hot food,” Brackenfur said with a chuckle as he brought his cart to the next dugout.

At the next mortar dugout was a ThunderClan recruit named Sorrel, as well as her mentor Sandstorm. Sorrel had been recruited by the Clan before the start of the invasion.

“Brackenfur.” Sandstorm greeted. “Is that hot food?”

“Yes, Sandstorm,” Brackenfur replied.

Sandstorm opened one of the meal tins, revealing mashed potatoes and venison. “It’s happening, isn’t it?”

“Soon,” Brackenfur said. “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but… uh. General Firestar’s worried that you might go deaf. He asked me to give you and Sorrel these.” He fished out two pairs of earplugs from his pocket.

“Tell him he worries too much,” Sandstorm dismissed with amusement.

“I did,” Brackenfur helplessly told her.

“Then tell Firestar I think so too. Because I’m literally in a mortar position far from BloodClan’s lines, in the safety of the forest.” Sandstorm’s tone was a little exasperated that her husband could be so doting sometimes.

Brackenfur gave a resigned sigh. Sorrel laughed aloud. “You should get those meal tins passed out first.”

“I know, I know.” The sergeant held up his hands before going to push the cart along again.

Tawnystone was lined up with several other ShadowClan troops in Camp Apple. Their squad leader, Gefreiter Tallpoppy, addressed them as they stood in single rank.

“Now, we’re going to review classic fire and maneuver tactics. Suppression element, stand forward.”

Copperleaf as well as Brownfur stepped forward. Copperleaf had a Lewis Gun and an M1911. He was a former foreign recruit in ThunderClan who later joined ShadowClan. Brownfur in the meantime was carrying pan magazines for the Lewis, as well as a Gewehr 43. With them was Talonheart and Smokewind, both of them young recruits from the western regions. They were also carrying Gewehr 43s.

“Shock element, forward.” Tallpoppy ordered.

Frogfoot, Marshwing, Palemoon and Tawnystone stepped forward in unison, now on the same single rank.

Frogfoot and Marshwing had been Clanborn. Palemoon was a former rogue who was present for the recapture of ShadowClan’s homeland. Being more experienced, not to mention being a former commando, Tawnystone was the one in charge of the shock element.

“We have new position orders, squad.” Tallpoppy announced. “We’re expected to take position at this part of the map in two hours.” She pulled out a paper map of the forest, pointing at a part behind the Clan army lines.

“If BloodClan attempts to break through it is up to us to close the gap by force. You should know the tactics as you have your suffixes. Copperleaf?” Tallpoppy inquired.

“Suppression element directly opposes the advance.” He answered.

“Good. Frogfoot?”

“Shock element attacks from the side. Sever the head.” Frogfoot wasn’t his usual provocative self, it seemed.

“Good. Palemoon?”

“Defense elements close the gap while we mop up the mess.”

“Very good. Move out,” Tallpoppy directed.

As the ShadowClan squad marched through the forest, Tawnystone’s mind drifted once more to the well-being of Rowanclaw.

“I miss Mousefur already,” Birdgaze mumbled as she wiped the dust off her helmet with a rag.

“I know,” Cranefoot agreed. He and his sister were standing at the armory, waiting for their squadmates to arrive.

“At least she’s alive, right? She’s healing up back at home since we last heard from her.” Birdgaze pointed out.

“Cranefoot, Birdgaze!” Longtail called. At once, the two snapped to a salute.

The lieutenant, Ashfur, Cloudtail and Ferncloud filed in, with Longtail leading the other three.

“Weapons?” Longtail asked, noticing that none of them was a sergeant.

At once, Ashfur, Cloudtail and Birdgaze presented their M1903 Springfields. Ferncloud held up her M97 while Cranefoot held his Thompson.

“Cloudtail,” Longtail addressed Firestar’s nephew. “Can I trust you to keep this squad effective in their assistance of the counterattack?”

Cloudtail frowned, but nodded. “Yes, Lieutenant.”

“Good. Your goal will be to join the counterattack and rendezvous at the Camp Butter ruins.” Longtail ordered.

The ThunderClan soldiers all saluted at once.

“Corporal Blackclaw,” Garfield reported.

“Corporal Garfield? Does the Marshal have new orders for this squad?” Blackclaw was currently dressed in his pajamas, watching as his clothes were being line dried in the base camp.

“We’re crossing the river to the Camp Butter ruins in a few hours, where we’ll outflank the BloodClan forces. They need us to launch our attack in sync with the others.”

Blackclaw nodded, then glanced to the side as a set of footsteps approached the two.

“Corporal, your squad’s in position.” Shimmereye, Garfield’s former trainee, reported with a salute.

“Very good. Shimmereye, tell them to hold off eating too much. We don’t want to be too full for this assault,” Garfield reminded her. “And don’t forget to polish the buttons on your uniform.”

Shimmereye chuckled. “Sure thing, Corporal.”

“Be vigilant. In a few short hours we will make the enemy rue the day they ever thought they could make fools of our Clan.” Tornear addressed the WindClan troops at the frontline.

Commander Onewhisker of the Home Guard was sitting next to Tornear, his SMLE Mk. III in his hands. Next to him, Corporal Mudclaw was rallying his squad around him.

“When you hear the three whistle blasts, we attack,” Tornear announced. “I have assigned whistles to all of our corporals for this reason. They’ll be picking up the signal as well. StarClan willing, we’ll make them pay for Camp Butter. WindClan!” He called out.

“WindClan! WindClan! WindClan!” The myriad troops of the Moorland Republic chanted.

Leaf’s eyes opened. She was in an autumn forest, and at once she knew it was a dream.

“Leaf, is it?”

Leaf recognized the voice, turning to see Echo.

“Are we in…” Leaf asked warily.

“A dream,” Echo clarified.

“That it is. Welcome, Prezes Leaf.” A man’s voice solemnly greeted.

Leaf turned, confused, only to find an elderly, white-haired man in a brown uniform whom she didn’t recognize. The uniform had copper buttons, and the man was wearing an unfamiliar cap on his head.

“Prezes?” Leaf echoed.

“You are leading what is destined to be the reborn SkyClan, are you not?” The man asked.

Dumbly, Leaf nodded. “Are you SkyClan too?”

“It has been so long since anyone recognized that, but… yes. I was Prezes of SkyClan.” Expectantly, he glanced at Echo. “The betrayers of old shall be redeemed.”

“Their sons and daughters shall bear witness,” Echo whispered the ancient words.

“Giants shall fall, the small will deliver the killing blow.” The former SkyClan leader recited. “Old barriers will be rendered useless…”

“What is rightfully owned shall be again reclaimed. Blood won’t define victory, it shall be so,” Echo finished the prophetic words. “The betrayers of old are redeemed.”

The ancient leader closed his eyes, then nodded. “They are, yes.” He glanced at Leaf. “Lead SkyClan to battle. They have already accepted you as their Prezes.”

“What is your name?” Leaf was breathless. Unexpecting the question, the SkyClan leader paused briefly. Then, he smiled, as though he were talking to family.

“My name is Cloudstar.” The SkyClan leader said. “When you might need it, I will teach you the ways of our Clan as you continue to lead it. Even in exile, we took it upon ourselves to defend the people of Chelford.”

He glanced at Echo. “You are one of the most important of this Clan, Medical Officer Echo. You desire to help people, yes?”

“Always,” Echo agreed.

“Learn from the other medical officers. They have the knowledge of generations and will not hesitate to assist you.” Cloudstar advised. “Prezes Leaf?”

“Yes?” Leaf asked.

“Blood won’t define victory. It’s what lies here that will spur you on.” Cloudstar clasped a fist over his own heart. “Now awaken, both of you.”

When Leaf woke up, it was because Billy had gently prodded her awake.

“It’s time, isn’t it?” She asked sleepily. Billy only nodded, passing the leader her revolver.

“If there’s anything you want to tell us, now’s a good time. We’re gearing up now,” Billy said.

Leaf nodded, rising to her feet.

When she finally headed outside, hundreds of expectant eyes looked at her, with many heralding her as their leader. As though by coincidence, many were shouting, “Prezes! Prezes!” As though remembering the old SkyClan.

Leaf glanced at Billy, who shrugged. “It means leader.” He clarified.

Next to Billy, Leaf found Echo, who stared at her with recognition.

That was no mere dream that they had shared.

Stepping up to the small crate she had used to address this group for the first time, Leaf felt a wave of emotion rush over her. A desire to help them rebel against the ersatz Clan which had oppressed them for so long. A need to actualize a renaissance of peace and happiness for the people of Chelford, Clanborn or not.

“I’m looking upon you all now,” she began. “And I know we haven’t known each other for very long. But people have desires, and I want for us to be able to make them real. Our allies in these trying times-“ she motioned towards the Clan soldiers who were at the front. Her gaze softened as she looked at all of them.

Acornheart snapped to a salute as he stood with Weldtail and Reedwhisker. Behind him stood Moosestrike, who smiled. Tansysong puffed out her chest proudly as Rowanclaw, in his usual stoic self, simply stood to attention.

“-our allies in these trying times recognize us as people . Who have the same love of life, and needs and wants as any other person. We recognize them as not the savage cannibals BloodClan makes them out to be- but as representatives of the army that will liberate Chelford.

We are like the Clans. The Clans are like us. So I propose that we make our claim now, as the New Republic of SkyClan.

No longer should we merely make this a place of refuge, but we should also build this as our home. A world awaits us, one beyond the endless years of starvation and misery BloodClan promotes.” Leaf continued.

“They’ve helped us greatly by far. They taught us that we need not fear them. They’ve trained us to fight. To have pride in what we are. To reach out for better things instead of hiding in fear of the monsters of the night. And now, we are about to set our forces upon our foe to rescue our friends. Who will join me?” Leaf drew her revolver, raising it high and clasping it around the main body, instead of the handle.

Approval boomed across the whole of the newly formed Clan.

“We will have a Code of Mercy,” Leaf shouted. “We will have a dedicated medical- no, we do have a dedicated medical officer!”

Echo sheepishly waved, and the SkyClanners cheered.

“We will coexist in peace with our northern neighbors!” Leaf continued. “And the monster known as BloodClan will be but a fleeting memory! SkyClan!”

“SkyClan! SkyClan! SkyClan!”

The New SkyClan Republic doesn't have much of a uniform to go off of. Aesthetically, they are based off of Poland and its struggle over the course of about half a century, starting from its defeat in 1939.

The early New SkyClan Republic is derived design-wise from the Polish Resistance. Leaf is wielding a Smith & Wesson M1917, while Billy is wielding a Blyskawica submachine gun- a weapon manufactured and used by the Underground State in their struggle against both the Nazis and the Soviets.

Chapter Text

The darkest hour was always before dawn. That was the constant way of things.

The Clans had ultimately decided that tonight had to be the night. When the moon was invisible in the sky, where the Clans would have an advantage in the darkness.

First to cross the river Chell were RiverClan scouts, who were bringing a rope with them across the river to tie to opposite sides. Silently, a lone boat drifted in the darkness towards the ruins of Camp Butter.

The gentle slosh of oars on water beached the little boat onto the shore, and at once four pairs of boots stepped off.

Shimmereye kept watch with her MAS-36 aimed in the inky black as Garfield fixed the end of the rope into the ground by a metal stake.

As soon as Garfield had finished, he grabbed the rope and jerked on it three times.

It was here that at once, multiple RiverClan boats began drifting downriver, using the quiet river to guide their path.

A groan of wood against wood indicated that the first boats were arriving, caught by the rope crossing the river. The first RiverClan troops began crossing to where their scout party had settled, and gradually they mounted their big attack.

“You! Stop!” Corporal Blackclaw shouted, aiming his Thompson at an approaching, limping figure, who was using a rifle as a crutch.

At once, the figure obeyed, raising his hands, dropping his rifle and stopping.

“Let me see him,” Colonel Mistyfoot ordered, and at once Blackclaw nodded. As she came over, the familiar sight of a tin hat could be seen. The rifle showed itself to be an M1903 Springfield.

“A ThunderClan soldier? What is your name?” The Colonel asked.

“My name is Ridgewing. Are you guys RiverClan?” His eyes were visible with relief. It was soon clear to him that they were once he saw the uniforms.

“He looks wounded,” Blackclaw observed with concern, lowering his SMG. Sure enough, Ridgewing’s leg was wrapped in a makeshift bandage, indicating he had been in a gunfight.

“I was part of the rearguard at Butter. It’s really hard to find food around here, you know. BloodClan has patrols everywhere,” Ridgewing warned.

Mistyfoot’s eyes softened. “We know. Blackclaw, get him back to one of the boats. Ridgewing, you’re going back home, alright?”

“Yes, ma’am,” Ridgewing said with relief. “Hey, uh… have you seen anyone named Brushlion, Weldtail or Reedwhisker?”

Mistyfoot’s eyes widened. “Reedwhisker…”

Ridgewing blankly stared.

“He is my son,” the Colonel clarified. “He’s safe. Weldtail too.”

“Ohhh.” Ridgewing seemed happy that some of his friends had made it. But then, he frowned. “What about Brushlion, the WindClan soldier?”

“Missing in action,” Mistyfoot explained. Ridgewing sorrowfully closed his eyes, allowing Blackclaw to escort him back to the boats.

“Sorrel, angle that mortar about seven degrees forward,” Sandstorm directed.

“Yes, Sergeant.” Sorrel obeyed, and Sandstorm poised a mortar shell over the mortar, ready to fire. “Cover your ears.”

Sorrel ducked, jamming her index fingers into her ears as Sandstorm dropped the shell, following Sorrel.

The mortar fired, its shell soaring through the darkness.

In the distance, more mortars opened fire, a single salvo to throw the BloodClan forces into disarray.

At the frontline trench, Tornear and the WindClan troops lined up at the ladders, ready to deploy.

Three shrill whistle blasts heralded the charge of WindClan troops, supported by ThunderClan mortar fire and ShadowClan automatics.

As WindClan troops surged over the edge, led by bicycles with machine gun sidecars, the ShadowClan patrols followed behind to guard the trenches.

The mortar fire stopped, and at once the clearing between the forest and Chelford erupted into gunfire. The fire had been carefully gauged to target the BloodClan defenses, allowing for the Clan armies to make their breach.

“Suppression element!” Tallpoppy shouted. Next to her, Copperleaf laid down a stream of gunfire from his Lewis. Brownfur likewise opened fire as Tawnystone lined up against the edge of the trench.

“Shock element, go, go, go!”

At once, Tawnystone obeyed, leaping up over the edge and charging forward with the WindClan soldiers. She could see the objective now, a building where a BloodClan machine gun position was hindering the advance.

Tawnystone opted to advance, not stopping until the shock element was against the building.

“Palemoon!” Frogfoot cried out. Palemoon was screaming in pain, her stomach having been shot.

Tawnystone’s eyes widened. “Frogfoot, take Marshstep and capture this building. I’m taking Palemoon back to our lines!”

Frogfoot didn’t even hesitate. “Marshstep, behind me. We’re busting this place open.”

“Palemoon, how do you feel?” Tawnystone asked, kneeling to pick up her fellow ShadowClanner.

“Horrible,” Palemoon moaned.

“I’m taking you back to Runningnose.” The elderly chief surgeon would know what to do. Palemoon let out a hoarse howl of pain as Tawnystone finally lifted her up, running back to her Clan’s lines.

As she finally arrived at the nearest trench, she placed Palemoon gently onto the ground.

“MEDIC!” Tawnystone shouted. “Medic!”

At once, Medical Officer Littlecloud was on the scene. He seemed grim but calm as he scaled the ladder to where Palemoon was lying. Reaching out two fingers, he felt Palemoon’s neck for a pulse.

“Will Palemoon be okay?” Tawnystone asked, concern brimming for her Clanmate.

Littlecloud looked at her, and shook his head. “She’s in StarClan’s hands now.”

“It’s going badly. BloodClan’s well-prepared for our attack,” Firestar grimly spoke.

“It’s only logical that they would expect a counterattack,” Tallstar agreed. “Chancellor, are you certain that our loner allies can take Fury out?”

“The Republic of SkyClan has what it takes,” Russetstar calmly assured. “Leopardstar, have your forces reported back?”

“They have.” Leopardstar was confident. “They’ve already recaptured the former Camp Butter ruins and are soon to relieve Camps Copper and Apple.”

“I hope SkyClan has what it takes.” Tallstar muttered. “How much can we depend on them for this?”

“They’ve received training from our troops,” Firestar reminded the Prime Minister. “They don’t like BloodClan any more than we do.”

“I must apologize, but I still find it hard to believe,” Tallstar said, shaking his head. “The Lost Clan, back from the pages of myth like a ghost.”

“We’re all finding it hard to believe,” Leopardstar admitted. “Even as our medical officers have consistently proven it is true. But this is something we have that BloodClan lacks. We must have faith that all will come right.”

Another transport car barreled down the tunnel, filled with BloodClan troops. The activity had increased, with more BloodClan soldiers being drawn away from the base that SkyClan was about to assault.

Leaf motioned for the troops to go forward once the transport car had passed. The darkness of the subway tunnel had permitted them to stay hidden.

Rowanclaw had soon returned, having scouted out the area. “There are about seven guards.” He whispered.

Billy and Scratch glanced at each other before Leaf interrupted. “Scratch, your squad should get rid of the guards. Rowanclaw, come with. Moosestrike, I need your squad to lay down suppressing fire on the door. Cover Billy’s and Acornheart’s squads as they get onto the platform.”

Scratch had a fierce, wolflike grin on his face as he and his squad headed directly to the ladder beneath the platform. “Rowanclaw,” he hissed.

Rowanclaw took aim with his Gewehr 43 without hesitation. The first shot going off caused the nearest guard to fall, soon followed by a second as the rest of Scratch’s squad stormed in. Rowanclaw had already taken a third out by the time Scratch’s squad had joined fire with him.

Billy let out a breath that he didn’t even know he’d been holding. “It’s only gonna get harder once we get inside.”

Leaf nodded, moving to climb up the platform. “File in. Moosestrike, take point.”

“Gladly,” Moosestrike replied. Next to him, Tansysong felt her heart pound as they entered.

“Billy, try and look for anywhere they may be keeping their prisoners. Scratch, Acornheart, secure the base.” Leaf continued.

The moment they entered, they found themselves in a large area with catwalks overhead. Multiple transport cars were sitting under artificial lighting, some of them without wheels or windows.

And there were several more BloodClan soldiers all over the place.

“Stick ‘em up!” Moosestrike shouted, aiming his M97.

Their response came in the form of a triad of .45 rounds, one of which hit Moosestrike in the chest and made him fall back.

“Ow…” Moosestrike groaned. Tansysong knelt to tend to him, but Moosestrike shook his head. “Bulletproof vest. I’m fine. Squad,” Moosestrike yelled. “We’re suppressing the enemy!”

Across the vast space, bullets danced. Those caught in the open would be vulnerable.

“They got Graham,” one of the SkyClan soldiers yelled to Billy, who gritted his teeth.

“We’re crossing into that door on our side of the room,” Billy replied, pointing. “Our orders stand, we’re finding that prison!” The need to find Snooky and Brushlion remained.

Tansysong knew how close they were, and that made her all the more willing to fight. With fury in her eyes, she continued to suppress the BloodClanners, of which more were entering the room.

“Billy,” Leaf addressed him.

“Yes, Prezes!” Billy shouted.

“I’m going with you. We’re prioritizing prisoners first.”

“What if we find Fury?” Billy asked.

“If she doesn’t surrender, kill her!” Tansysong roared from her squad’s piece of cover. “Or leave her for me to kill!”

“Trigger discipline,” Moosestrike warned, but Tansysong didn’t seem to care that much right now.

“Acornheart, Scratch, have your squads stick together. Moosestrike,” Leaf said. “Your squad can handle it here, right?”

“We can,” Moosestrike agreed.

“Okay, on my mark.” Leaf held up three fingers.

One of the SkyClan soldiers of Moosestrike’s squad fell back with a gurgle, flopping dead onto the ground. At once, Tansysong aimed her SMG, cutting down the offending BloodClanner who had killed her ally.

Leaf held up two fingers now. Acornheart glanced at his ammunition.

Leaf held up one finger, and Billy stared with anticipation at the door across him.

Leaf closed her hand into a fist, and the New SkyClan Republic leapt into action.

Chapter Text

Leaf kicked open the door, and Billy was the first to charge in.

The two BloodClan guards at the door had been surprised as the two intruders shot them at once.

“Move!” Leaf shouted. Eager to get out of the firefight, the rest of Billy’s squad filed in.

“Should I shut the door behind us?” Harvey asked, holding up his handgun.

“Yeah,” Macgyver said. “Don’t want any BloodClanners to shoot us through the doorway.”

Harvey nodded, closing the door behind them. Leaf looked at the room they had barged into.

The room the SkyClanners were in seemed to be some sort of maintenance room for a transport car.

“This isn’t a prison,” Billy noticed.

“Search it anyway,” Leaf insisted. “Go in pairs, and hurry.”

At once, the eleven of them took up opposite sides of the room, traveling swiftly down it.

“Look at this!” One of the SkyClan soldiers, a woman named Tangle, held up a large sheet of paper.

“Let me see,” Leaf said, and at once Tangle showed her what looked to be a map.

There were bases. A lot of bases. And they all seemed to be connected by this subway system under all of Chelford.

Leaf suddenly felt very small, recognizing the scale of the enemy they were facing.

“We should go through the next door, Leaf,” Harvey suggested.

“Good point. To the door,” Leaf said, and the SkyClanners filed towards it.

Cracking open the door, they found Moosestrike already bringing his squad down the now-cleared main room, with Rowanclaw running alongside them.

“Did you find the prison?” Moosestrike asked.

“No.” Leaf shook her head.

“Then let’s go,” Tansysong insisted impatiently. “I need Leo to be okay.”

Acornheart breathed hard as he and his 19 allies found themselves at the bottom of a massive stairwell. Reluctantly, he decided to take point.

Their rapid footsteps echoed loudly against the stone steps as the SkyClanners and their allies stormed up.

“Bayonets,” he whispered, his heart pounding. He could hear BloodClan soldiers at the door of the floor above them. They sounded panicked. Loud.

“I’ll take point,” Scratch growled quietly. “On your mark, Acornheart.”

Acornheart gulped and nodded. He held his breath as the two squads expectantly stared at him.

Then, he closed his eyes.

The past few days, he had been inconvenienced by BloodClan. His life had been threatened. Two of his friends were captured, two having almost suffered a similar fate.

His very Clan, his way of life, had been threatened. As a soldier, he’d taken an oath to defend it.

He hated BloodClan, with every fiber of his being.

He would be doing this for his friends. And he would be doing this for his Clan.

He would be doing this for the security and peace planned for Chelford.

“I will do it,” Acornheart insisted.

“You sure?” Scratch asked.

Acornheart glared. “BloodClan’s endangered everyone enough. Snooky’s been captured. We have been caused,” he said in a low voice. “So much grief. I won’t let them destroy our way of life.”

Scratch hesitated, then stepped aside. “I- sorry. Go ahead.”

Satisfied, Acornheart took point once more.

“FOR RIVERCLAN!” He roared, feeling the rush of adrenaline as he prepared to fight his sworn enemy.

“RIVERCLAN!” Weldtail and Reedwhisker screamed.

Scratch kicked open the door, and together the RiverClan and SkyClan soldiers charged in.

The BloodClanners in the mess hall were shocked by the vengeful shrieks of three man-eaters spearheading the attack, who charged against them as though they were starved of human blood.

Acornheart fired his first shot into a BloodClan soldier in the back of the room, causing him to drop. Next to him, Scratch had fired upwards, putting out the lights above them and obscuring the room in darkness.

This allowed for the SkyClan soldiers to get in close. This wasn’t the first time they’d trained in the darkness of the tunnels, and it certainly wouldn’t be the last.

The young squad leader could hear Weldtail thrust his bayonet into an unfortunate BloodClan soldier, and a MAS-36 going off indicated that Reedwhisker had found another going for the door.

The adrenal rush made Acornheart cycle his rifle faster than he would have thought possible, and at once he turned to see a BloodClan soldier get put in a headlock by Scratch.

Acornheart suddenly bumped into someone. Not RiverClan, judging from the feel of the clothing. Uttering a war cry, he prepared to fight only to hear a familiar voice.

“Acornheart!”

“Snooky!” Relief flooded Acornheart’s voice, though he couldn’t see Billy’s younger brother very well in the darkness. “Are you okay? Did they do anything to you?”

“They made me serve food and cook in the mess hall,” Snooky complained. “And I only got the leftovers!”

“Did they hit you,” the RiverClan soldier grimly asked, placing a gentle hand on the boy’s shoulder.

Snooky’s voice paused. “…once.”

“Who?” He felt a wave of righteous anger wash over him once more.

“His name’s Steel…”

“Stick with me,” Acornheart simply said. He was going to give this Steel a firm talking-to.

As Leaf led her two squads up a stairwell, they heard a single set of footsteps, and at once they stopped and aimed.

“Patch?” Billy asked, confused.

“We found Snooky,” Patch announced, and Billy looked overcome with emotion.

“Is he okay?”

“Yeah, he’s fine!” Patch affirmed.

“Then let’s go! Lead the way!” Billy urged, and at once Patch nodded.

“Did they find Brushlion?!” Tansysong yelled.

“I’m sorry, no!” Patch yelled back.

Tansysong looked even more frustrated. “We need to hurry! Now!”

“Steady yourself,” Moosestrike warned.

“Steady myself?! Leo could be dead in the next fucking moment!” The WindClan soldier snarled.

“I have no idea where Ridgewing is either,” Moosestrike pointed out. “We’ll find them both. I swear.”

Reluctantly, Tansysong nodded. “Fine. We’d better find them soon…”

Entering the mess hall, Leaf’s squad found the lights had been turned out.

“Why can’t I see in here?” Billy asked.

“I thought it would be a good idea to shoot the lights out,” Scratch confessed.

“Did you lose anyone?” Leaf asked.

“I got a nasty cut on my arm. I’ll live,” Scratch nonchalantly replied.

“Billy!” Snooky barreled into his brother’s arms.

Billy choked, and let out a sob of relief. “Snooky! I’m glad you’re okay!”

Acornheart walked over to the group as well, along with members of his squad. They had taken five BloodClan prisoners. “We can’t just leave them here to run off. They surrendered shortly before you arrived,” he explained. “Steel, you’re lucky that you gave up before it was too late, you hear?” Acornheart warned one of the BloodClan soldiers, glaring.

One of them had a visible bruise on his face, and flinched when he heard his name. Reluctantly, he nodded, and opted to take a seat.

“Billy, Acornheart, I’m trusting your squads to stay here and guard the prisoners.” Leaf ordered. Her tone became softer as she addressed their newest rescue. “Snooky, you stay with your brother, you hear?”

Snooky nodded. Billy looked up at Leaf, gratitude in his eyes. “Thank you, Prezes.”

“Just call me Leaf,” the SkyClan leader kindly offered. “Scratch, Moosestrike, get your squads ready and with me.”

“I’ll stay with them,” Rowanclaw suggested, slinging his Gewehr 43 over his shoulder. He glanced at Tansysong. “I feel like things are going to get personal soon.”

“No good,” Longtail grunted as he slumped against the building they’d been using as cover. “They’re picking up the pace too.”

By now, the counterattack from Camp Copper had been halted midway through. BloodClan’s soldiers were opening fire with newfound coordination and boldness.

Naturally, BloodClan had been anticipating a counterattack, and was quickly catching on to successfully besieging Camp Copper.

Longtail had to give them credit, really. They were coming close- very close, at that.

“Retreat,” the lieutenant bellowed over the gunfire. “Retreat!”

“NO!” Cloudtail screamed from Longtail’s side. “We’re not running away!”

“Cloudtail, I said RETREAT!” Longtail yelled. “That’s a direct order! I’ll cover you!”

“Longtail, no! We’re this close!” Cloudtail desperately yelled. “What about Mom?! Don’t you wanna see her again?!”

“You stay alive for her, you hear me?!” Longtail called back, feeling wetness upon his cheeks. Through the blurriness of his vision, he could see Cloudtail hesitate.

“O-Okay,” Cloudtail agreed.

Longtail nodded. “Tell her…”

Cloudtail sniffled. “Yeah. Yeah, I will. L.T.”

Longtail smiled past the tears. “Now go.”

Cloudtail managed one last salute, then rushed back to Camp Copper. Drying his tears, the lieutenant of ThunderClan slid a fresh clip into his Thompson. Looking into the sky, he bellowed his challenge.

“What’s the matter, huh?! Too scared to come and face a REAL soldier yourselves?! WELL, COME ON! I won’t bite!” He sprayed a burst of bullets around the corner, causing some BloodClan soldiers to seek cover.

Another burst of bullets took out a sniper perched on the roof. “That’s right, line up!” Longtail goaded. “Next!”

As he saw the glint of another sniper scope, another gunshot echoed- not his- causing a BloodClan soldier behind Longtail to fall. Whipping around, Longtail opened fire just in time to take out another BloodClanner crawling out of a manhole.

“Wait…” Longtail muttered. He squinted closer for a moment at the sniper from his cover.

A squad of BloodClanners emerged onto the street, lined up close to the wall only for the sniper to fire again. One of the BloodClanners fell, and Longtail saw his chance.

Sucking in his breath, he stepped out briefly and fired. The sniper on the roof assisted him, and as he continued onwards, he slowly recognized what uniform his newfound ally was wearing.

“ARE YOU LONGTAIL?!” A RiverClan accent yelled.

Longtail felt immensely relieved, but couldn’t help issuing back a cocky retort.

“That’s LIEUTENANT LONGTAIL to you, SNAILSUCKER!”

“We’ve got word from- from Camp Copper!” Tess called out to the Clan leaders. “We- we- RiverClan made it!”

Firestar’s eyes were wide. “Is Cloudtail okay? And my lieutenant?”

“Yes! Both are fine,” Tess confirmed. The general’s shoulders sagged with relief.

“Tell them that I would like for Oakfur to support the counterattack on our side,” Russetstar said with somewhat marred pride. “RiverClan has done enough, let us focus on using our fresher forces to…”

“Colonel Mistyfoot’s sending a message back!” Tess squeaked. “She’s relieving the front!”

“Is that so,” Leopardstar mused. “Then it was good that we crossed the river to Camp Butter. It gave us the strategic advantage.”

Tallstar managed a smile- the most genuine he’d smiled in days. “We’re actually doing it, aren’t we? This war’s not doomed.”

“Doomed?” Leopardstar seemed to let a little bit of her old pride slip in. “As if! RiverClan proves their prowess, as always!”

“One more message!” Tess sounded just as excited as the rest of the room. “From… uh… Acornheart?”

Firestar and Tallstar glanced at each other, but Leopardstar’s eyes gleamed. “My trainee… what did he say?”

“It’s uncoded,” Tess blankly said, passing the paper to the Marshal. Russetstar audibly groaned.

ACORNHEART HERE WE HAVEN’T FOUND

“...haven’t found what?” Leopardstar asked, confused.

“Ow! Okay, I get it, Rowanclaw, can you stop?” Acornheart grumbled as Rowanclaw slapped him across the face again.

“You used the thing while uncoded, and without proper stops to end sentences?!” Rowanclaw was visibly very agitated. “I should never have let you use the telegraph! And how did you even know how to use the thing?!”

“Brushlion taught me,” Acornheart whined.

“What- oh, of course,” Rowanclaw sighed. “This is why we ShadowClanners like to keep secrets.”

Acornheart was silent. “...they’re gonna be okay, aren’t they?”

Rowanclaw closed his eyes, and nodded. “Yes. I’m not the spiritual type, I leave that for the medical officers, but… have faith.”

Acornheart swallowed, then nodded. “Wait, incoming message.” At once, he picked up the paper and attempted to read it.

J NAIU HGVG DTKU WG LCGE NJNFIBGOQXEF AKEH Y HAOT UEOL G CCQR DEYZRGH UEOL KRQRV TS NJNGAGO SPTP

“Wait… what?” Acornheart blankly asked nobody in particular.

Chapter Text

“Why are we sweeping the rest of the compound again?” Patch asked.

“Just in case Fury’s escaping via another route,” Leaf explained. “If she doesn’t escape to the surface, she’ll escape through the subway.”

“Ah. Makes sense, Prezes.” Patch became silent.

Next to Leaf, Scratch leaned in, concern in his eyes. “You sure Moosestrike’s squad will be okay up there?”

Leaf nodded. “He has a good head on his shoulders. He’ll keep Tansysong from doing anything rash.”

“Better be so,” Scratch muttered. “I worry, you know. She hasn’t been the same since her brother was taken prisoner.”

“If you don’t tell me where Brushlion is, RIGHT NOW,” Tansysong threatened, “I can’t guarantee there’s going to be anything left for the medics to fix.”

“I-I don’t know! I swear!” The BloodClan soldier she’d pinned against the wall could feel the barrel of her Thompson on the back of his head.

“Melody!” Moosestrike angrily pulled her away. “I know this is your brother, but we shouldn’t betray our morals for this!”

As though taking a hint, two of the SkyClan soldiers in Moosestrike’s squad took hold of the prisoner of war.

Tansysong was breathing hard. “Leo means everything in the world to me, Ted. I can’t let my brother die!”

“And he won’t if we play our cards right,” Moosestrike assured her. “Let’s move.”

She let out a ragged breath, searching his face for the smallest shred of doubt. Then, she nodded breathlessly.

“I’ll take point.”

“Everyone else,” Moosestrike directed. “We’re searching for Brushlion, we want him alive. The enemy seems to be on the run so I’d expect little resistance. Go in pairs. Walker, Sleet, take this guy back to Acornheart and Billy, stick with them.”

“Got it,” Walker obliged, and together the two escorted away the BloodClanner.

Gradually, the rest of the squad fanned out, going to search the base.

Moosestrike glanced at Tansysong, who let out a ragged breath and set forth, towards the doorway in front of them.

As the two proceeded down the hallway, Tansysong’s shoulders sagged, as though buckling under the weight of a Clan.

“I’m sorry, Moosestrike,” she mumbled. “…you’ve been a good friend to me this far.”

Moosestrike slid a fresh shell into his M97. “I could use a return favor,” he grumbled.

“I know.” the WindClan soldier agreed. “You’ve been there this whole time, and frankly I can’t imagine I’d ever be there without you understanding.”

Moosestrike’s voice softened, and he felt guilt twist his heart as he remembered his father’s death to the flu. “Losing family hurts. I would know.”

“I still don’t know why I chose to join the Clans. Do you think they would have done alright without me?” Tansysong weakly asked as their footsteps slowly echoed down the hall.

Moosestrike glanced down the hall. That was a good question, actually.

Thinking long and hard, he finally chose his answer.

“I may not totally know why you might have chosen to be here, even if you just wanted adventure.” He began. “But if you weren’t here, maybe we would never have come together. You, me, Brushlion, Acornheart, Rowanclaw, Reedwhisker…” Moosestrike smiled. “Remember when you fought Pounce and Tess at Outlook Rock? You helped thwart the plans of BloodClan’s spy ring, and through that saved Leaf and Rainfur…”

“We all have a small part to play, don’t we?” Tansysong mused. “Our actions helped us discover a fifth Clan, of all things.”

“Yeah. Well,” Moosestrike said as they found a door up ahead.

“Not every part to play is small.”

The room they emerged in was another tunnel- a terminal for the subway.

There were multiple BloodClan guards present across the platform, and at once Tansysong could see standing there a sharply dressed woman in a leather trench coat and dark, round glasses.

“I want the remainder of these supplies brought at-“ Tansysong recognized the voice.

“Fury,” she snarled, and at once she opened fire. Across from her she could see a woman in a clean vest and tie, with an eyepatch across her scarred face.

Next to her, Moosestrike charged forward, filling the nearest BloodClan guard with buckshot.

“Clan soldiers? Here so soon?” Fury’s voice was filled with more scorn than fear as she pullled out a Thompson.

Moosestrike found himself yanked into cover by Tansysong behind a crate of supplies.

“Huh-“ Moosestrike gasped.

“I’d rather us not both die from this,” the WindClan soldier flatly said. “We’re outnumbered and outgunned.”

“We need to get rid of Fury,” Moosestrike pointed out. “Did you see Brushlion anywhere?”

Tansysong shook her head grimly before aiming past her ThunderClan ally, shooting at another BloodClanner trying to outflank them. “I haven’t seen him.”

Behind them, the crate began to collapse from the weight of bullets behind it. Taking the hint, both of them whipped around, with Tansysong focusing on the other BloodClan soldiers as Moosestrike fired on Fury, buckshot deflecting off her bulletproof coat.

“You won’t take me alive,” Fury taunted as she retreated towards the subway car.

“Good, we’re on the same page, you bitch!” Tansysong retorted.

“I know you. You’re Brushlion’s sister, aren’t you? I think he mentioned you during interrogation…” Fury goaded.

“You don’t deserve to mention his name!” Tansysong diverted her fire towards the BloodClan caporegime. “Tell us where he is!”

“Did you really think I’d just tell you?” The caporegime smirked. “He’s not here, at least.”

“Where is he?!” Tansysong had now forced Fury closer to the subway car with her suppressing fire.

“Help!” Moosestrike called as he unloaded buckshot into another BloodClan soldier.

But Tansysong was this close. She couldn’t let go. Not now. If she could just get a word out of the capo…

Moosestrike dropped to his knee with a stifled scream of pain. “Tansysong!”

Tansysong turned, and to her horror she saw Moosestrike, wounded in the shoulder and with three BloodClan soldiers closing in for the kill.

For a moment, she was indecisive. Fury was right there. She could take her out, or hold her prisoner and force her to give up the location of her brother.

But Moosestrike. The soldier who she knew as a friend, who had been kind to her in her time of need. A tough cookie who she could empathize with and fight alongside.

If she could defeat Fury now, saving her brother was just a “maybe”, and it would result in Moosestrike losing his life.

No, Tansysong silently decided. I’m cutting my losses.

Moosestrike looked up to see Tansysong opening fire upon the BloodClan soldiers around him. At the same time, the doors to the subway car behind her closed, with Fury now making her getaway.

Moosestrike couldn’t hear himself think as the squeal of metal against metal indicated that the transport car was leaving.

The WindClan soldier that Moosestrike had come to know was silent.

“Tansysong?” Moosestrike asked gently, shakily rising to his feet. Looking around him, he could see that they’d gotten rid of all the guards in the room.

Tansysong wasn’t the type to cry. She was the textbook definition of tough.

Her brother said she was the tougher between the two of them. Moosestrike said that she was tough. Her grit was celebrated by WindClan, not merely at her promotion, but also after she had protected Outlook Rock all by herself.

Tansysong was tough. She wasn’t weak.

She let out a whimper, then gently hugged Moosestrike, her face immersed into his good shoulder. Muffled sobs racked her body, and all Moosestrike felt like doing at the moment was to comfort her.

It looked like a year of pent-up emotion had set loose. Moosestrike closed his eyes.

“Let it out,” he said, feeling guilty.

Tansysong looked up, her eyes red. “Oh- oh, StarClan, I’m sorry,” she mumbled as it came to her as to what she had just done.

Moosestrike shook his head in understanding. “Nobody has to know, Melody.”

She gratefully nodded. “Thank you, Ted.”

“It was my fault,” Moosestrike grunted in frustration as he picked up his shotgun with his good arm. “If I hadn’t gotten wounded then maybe-“

“No,” Tansysong interrupted. “There was nothing you could do. He’s not here.” A tired sadness seemed present in her eyes.

“Don’t give up now,” Moosestrike urged. “That’s not you, Melody. We’ll find your brother-“

“I’m not giving up!” Tansysong protested, drying her eyes. “We will find him. I know it. But I acted impulsively, and I almost got you killed! I couldn’t live with that!”

Moosestrike paused, then nodded. “Thanks. For saving my life.”

“Thanks for saving mine,” Tansysong replied. Her voice remained a little shaky.

“I need medical care.” Moosestrike’s eyes were full of pain.

“No shit. Don’t make it a bigger deal than it needs to be, you hear?” Tansysong asked, still trying to maintain the tough act as she guided him back the way they’d come.

“So, uh. Where do I drive us? I don’t know where your base camp is,” Steel pointed out as he glanced at the controls of the transport car.

“You’re not driving, you’re teaching me how to drive,” Macgyver explained flatly. Behind Steel, Harvey was holding a pistol.

“Oh. Well, that’s the throttle lever, the reverse and the brake,” Steel explained as he pointed at each of the controls. “That controls speed, that controls direction, and the brake stops the thing.”

“Should we see how fast it goes?” Macgyver asked.

“I wouldn’t. Scratch and Moosestrike are pretty banged up,” Harvey pointed out.

In the passenger area of the transport car, Leaf had just finished listening to Tansysong’s retelling of Fury’s getaway.

“She was a coward, and real snobby, too. Wouldn’t tell me where my brother was,” Tansysong angrily told the tale.

“I’m still sorry about your brother,” Leaf sympathetically said.

“I’ve heard that plenty from this big dummy here. Getting shot just to prove a point,” Tansysong said, nudging Moosestrike, who snorted.

“You would think some respect for the wounded would be nice,” Rowanclaw called from across the car. “Why do you insist on calling him a dummy?”

“How about I come over there and give you a better nickname?” Tansysong retorted in good nature. “Only I get to call him that.”

“Aw, that’s kind of sweet.” Scratch offered. Tansysong presented a vulgar gesture unto him (though her face was a little red). Even Moosestrike seemed to smile in amusement.

Acornheart watched happily as Billy and Snooky slept in the seats next to each other, their heads slumped over each other as only family really had any right being.

“At least we were able to reunite one family, right?” Reedwhisker whispered.

Weldtail nodded in agreement. “We kicked ass during that one gunfight.”

“I still wish Brushlion could be here to savor this victory with us. I don’t know if Tansysong really even calls it a victory at this point,” Acornheart said with a sigh.

Reedwhisker hummed. “Now I’m not telling you to forget about what happened today, but seriously. Lingering on past stuff for too long- that makes you less mentally fit. Remember what Rowanclaw said?”

“We gotta have faith,” Acornheart breathed as he looked out the window into the darkness.

“We gotta have faith.”

Chapter Text

“Was this part of your plan?” The Don of BloodClan sarcastically asked. He and several caporegimes, as well as his underboss Bone were glancing over a large map of Chelford.

The Clans’ front against BloodClan was no longer split or scattered. In fact, it had only consolidated.

The Clans had even gained new allies in the form of Chelford natives, who had apparently taken to calling themselves the “New SkyClan Republic”, a name which frustrated Scourge to no end.

Before Scourge, Fury was on her knees. “Forgive me, Don Scourge. I overpromised and delivered inadequately.” She looked up, an eager gaze in her eyes. “But! If you could still give me this one chance-“

“The prisoner you sent us was hardly special,” Scourge flatly pointed out. “He is merely a pawn. Hardly our first prisoner of war- besides, he has no intelligence value.”

“He-“ Fury felt her voice catch in her throat.

“Oh, Fury, Fury, Fury.” Scourge sighed mockingly. “I trusted that you would resolve this quickly. Remind me what your goal was.”

“My goal is to drive the Clans out of Chelford entirely,” Fury said, her voice quavering.

“Not only have you failed me entirely, you have also proven rather unforgiving when it comes to failure of your own subordinates. I know how many experienced soldiers you have executed,” Scourge growled.

Fury failed to find words within herself.

“Unlike you, I believe that failure builds experience. Your blatant disregard and intolerance for failure means you cannot nurture more loyal troops… and that means we are short of replacements for caporegimes.”

“Does that mean then-“ Fury was hopeful.

“Know your place and let. Me. Finish.” Scourge warned without raising his voice. “This failure is a setback. Specifically, your failure sets us back. So, the underboss and I have been discussing what to do with you.”

Fury froze, and fear permeated her gaze. The last time she had failed, Scourge had her left eye put out.

“I would like for you to step down. Retire. You no longer have a place in BloodClan.” Scourge said, his tone still even.

Fury’s voice shook. “I- surely you can’t, I’ve been nothing but loyal to you, at most demote me, please!”

To not be a part of BloodClan almost guaranteed starving to death.

“If I just demote you, your former subordinates may not be so forgiving,” Scourge snarled. “Consider yourself lucky that I haven’t treated you as a traitor, or punished you for your last major setback.”

Fury swallowed nervously, then nodded. If she lost her one remaining eye she would be a pariah, left to die. “Where… where do I go?”

“I don’t care,” the Don dismissively answered. “Anywhere but my territory. Effective tomorrow morning, you are nothing but an exile.”

Bone, however, glanced at Scourge, whispering something into his ear. The Don seemed to think for a moment, then nodded as his chilling gaze stayed fixed on Fury.

“It seems that the Underboss thinks you have use to us yet. Not to mention that letting you leave would mean the Clans might capture you…”

“I won’t say anything to ‘em,” Fury pleaded.

“No. You won’t,” Scourge agreed. “Fury, from now on you are a prisoner here. Snake? Ice?” He casually instructed to her horror. “Take her away.”

“I guess now it’s my turn to sit around all day,” Moosestrike sighed as he rested in the hospital back at ThunderClan’s base camp. It had been three days.

Of course, they were hardly alone. Several other Clan soldiers were present in the original Clan field hospital. Mousefur was currently asleep, though Moosestrike had been able to talk to her once more.

Given the nature of the war, the ThunderClan base camp had actually been expanded, with trees just outside the camp being cut to make way for an extension to the Clan hospital. Between the trees there were also tents arranged in little circles for troops rallying here in the forest.

“Look, personally I never thought I’d get to come home again,” Ridgewing contentedly remarked.

“Don’t get too comfortable, now.” Chief Surgeon Runningnose stood over him. “Your Clan’s medical officer is currently at SkyClan’s base camp.”

“Hey, why can’t we receive any visitors?” Ridgewing asked sleepily from the bed next to Moosestrike’s.

Runningnose rolled his eyes. “They have places to be, don’t they? We’re still at war.”

“Chief Surgeon,” a familiar voice greeted above the murmur of patients and field medics.

“Rowanclaw,” Runningnose happily said, turning to meet the commando. “Has Leaf approved your temporary leave?”

“Yes. I won’t be long.” Rowanclaw offered, and Runningnose nodded, filing out the door.

“Rowanclaw? Is everyone okay? How’s Tansysong faring without me?”

Rowanclaw’s immediate response was to smirk. “I was right.”

Moosestrike frowned. “Huh?”

“You really do care about her, don’t you?”

“She’s a good friend.” Moosestrike felt his face go warm.

“Man, what are the historians gonna say next,” Ridgewing called over. He adopted a mysterious, husky storyteller’s tone. “ And they were good friends… ”

“Not funny,” Moosestrike blankly said, and Rowanclaw let out one sharp “HA!”.

“Did you just laugh?” Ridgewing asked, caught off-guard by the apparent presence of emotion within the overly logical brain of the ShadowClanner.

“You heard nothing,” Rowanclaw dismissed. “Where was I?”

“You were gonna tell me how everyone was.” Moosestrike blankly remarked. Rowanclaw smiled.

“Well, I suppose I could start with Tansysong first. She’s currently got a new job as a liaison in SkyClan now.”

“Wait, who’s the liaison from ThunderClan?” Moosestrike distantly asked.

“Oh, I wouldn’t worry too much. Sergeant Brackenfur’s just an interim liaison for the next few months.”

“Wait, interim?” Moosestrike was momentarily confused. “Hey, at least my old mentor’s here to help. I trust him.”

“Yeah, well. You’re the official liaison to SkyClan. I thought I’d deliver the news myself,” Rowanclaw kindly said.

Moosestrike smiled, and it wasn’t just because of his assignment as a liaison.

Rowanclaw was close to bursting with laughter. “You still gonna deny it? You’re happy that she’ll be waiting for you?”

Moosestrike blushed.

“Uh,” Ridgewing paused. “I thought that was against the Code of Mercy. You know, cross-Clan romance?”

Moosestrike glanced off to the side. “Well, uh...”

“Oh, I got it!” The ThunderClan soldier smirked. “After the war, you’re not planning on leaving soldier life alone, are you?”

“Well. It’s not just that, either,” Moosestrike admitted, changing the subject. “What about Leaf? How’s she holding up in terms of leadership? And how are Billy and Snooky?”

At that last question, Rowanclaw groaned, opting to sit on the bed.

“I insisted that Billy and Snooky transfer to WindClan country,” the ShadowClan commando grumbled. “Guess what Billy said.”

“He refused, didn’t he?”

“Yes!” Rowanclaw seemed frustrated at that. “I told them SkyClan’s base camp was close to the front, BloodClan could attack at any moment , and Billy basically just told me that he would be there to defend it.”

“Now he sounds like a SkyClan patriot,” Moosestrike chuckled. “What about Acornheart and his friends?”

Rowanclaw gave a small smile. “Well, Acornheart as you probably guessed is the liaison from RiverClan.”

“Sheesh, did Leaf pick all the liaisons?” Moosestrike chuckled. “What about you? Aren’t you busy with your commando business?”

“My work demands isolation, so unfortunately yes.” Rowanclaw remarked. “So the Chancellor reassigned me. I’m to report to my new task tomorrow. The new liaison is Deerfoot. That aside,” the commando changed the subject. “Someone needs to provide security for the new logistics network in the subway. Marshal Leopardstar offered Reedwhisker and Weldtail a place guarding SkyClan’s piece of the trail, and given that Acornheart’s there as a liaison… she dotes on them a bit much,” Rowanclaw remarked.

“I agree. After all, Acornheart was Leopardstar’s trainee.” Despite this, Moosestrike couldn’t say that he minded one bit. “Hey, uh, Rowanclaw. How’s Tawnystone?”

“She transferred to the regular army,” Rowanclaw calmly told him.

“Oh. Uh… I’m real sorry.” Moosestrike chose to say.

“What for?” A vicious glint could be seen in Rowanclaw’s eyes.

“It’s just, well…” Moosestrike paused.

Rowanclaw managed to maintain the standard ShadowClan poker face this time. “I won’t tell if you won’t tell.”

“Okay, you’ve got me there,” Moosestrike admitted, raising his hands before his face.

Rowanclaw patted his friend on the shoulder, grinning. “Glad we have a mutual understanding.”

Rowanclaw decided that he preferred taking the subway instead of having to walk to SkyClan’s base camp.

“Rowanclaw’s back!” Reedwhisker giddily shouted from his posting at the entrance of SkyClan’s underground base camp.

“Shut up,” Weldtail barked. “We’re supposed to keep it professional!” He snapped to a salute as Rowanclaw scaled the steps from the collapsed subway tunnel into the larger room.

“You can’t keep professional forever,” Rowanclaw said flatly. “You’re trained to fight, not look pretty.”

“I- no, wait,” Weldtail seemed to be in deep thought at the commando’s words.

Leaving him to it and patting Reedwhisker on the shoulder, Rowanclaw continued up the steps into the main SkyClan base camp.

A lot had changed the past couple of days ever since the Clans had set up shop underground. There were a lot more soldiers from the other Clans mingling with SkyClan, especially given that this place had basically become the logistics hub for the whole war effort.

Lanterns hung from the walls, giving the place the same impression as a camp clearing at night (despite it being daytime outside). A lot more crates of jarred food could be seen, as well as SkyClanners being trained by several different Clan soldiers.

There were a lot of both. Stockpiles of weapons, helmets and other articles of gear made it obvious that this was being doubled as a supply base.

“Cloudtail, I swear to StarClan!” Longtail yelled. “We’re supposed to be meeting with Prime Minister Tallstar in a few minutes, and- HEY!”

Cloudtail and Brightheart were currently making out at the far wall of the base camp. Firestar’s nephew had sent a profane gesture towards Longtail while he was at it.

Rowanclaw shuddered internally, and decided that he was never gonna be like that.

“Leutnant,” he called.

“Huh? Oh, it’s you.” Longtail turned to greet the commando. “Are you looking for Leaf? She’s typically at the hospital or the command tent. JUST LIKE WE’RE SUPPOSED TO BE,” he pointedly shouted behind him, causing Rowanclaw to cover his ears, “RIGHT NOW.”

“Okay, okay!” Cloudtail yelled back. He whispered something to Brightheart, who had doubled over laughing.

Longtail rolled his eyes as Cloudtail gave her one last peck on the cheek then ran over. By then, Rowanclaw was already scaling the steps to the hospital, which was closer.

When Rowanclaw, he found Echo standing before a table of surgical tools. Next to her was, of all people, Medical Officer Cinderpelt.

“Now, scalpels have their uses as a surgical precision tool. Gets past the skin, more cleaner than a bonesaw,” Cinderpelt continued. “I’d practice with the feel of both, by the way. Different weight, different application.”

“Yes,” Echo agreed, clearly happy to interact with someone who truly knew what it meant to have these visions as of late. She picked up the bonesaw, studying it. “I heard from Acornheart that his medical officer, Mudfur, could saw through a femur in less than 30 seconds.”

“Hmm. That’s a bit advanced,” Cinderpelt admitted. “But amputation is a must if a wound gets infected. My mentor, Chief Surgeon Yellowfang, had me put under while she amputated my leg. It had to be done because it was already infected.”

“Hey, uh. Do you know where Leaf is?” Rowanclaw asked steadily.

“You couldn’t even knock, huh?” Cinderpelt asked, turning around and seeing Rowanclaw. “ You. ”

“I- huh-” Rowanclaw was confused.

“Your girlfriend breached intelligence because of you.” the medic growled.

“Tawnystone’s merely a friend, can we talk about the breach of intel later?” the commando meekly asked, cowed by the ThunderClan healer. “I need to report to Prezes Leaf.”

“Oh, you bet we’ll talk about it later,” Cinderpelt muttered. “Leaf’s probably already talking with Tallstar in the command tent.”

“ Vielen dank, ” Rowanclaw hurriedly said, eager to look for Leaf instead of allowing Cinderpelt to unleash her wrath.

Rowanclaw found Leaf and Tallstar discussing logistics along the front over rosemary tea.

“I agree, surface logistics are slower,” Leaf was saying from her chair, gently stirring her own cup. “But we haven’t totally explored the subway yet.”

“I could always provide security aboard the subway cars with more of my troops,” Tallstar suggested. Next to him, his liaison to SkyClan, Tansysong, stood guard. “Commando Rowanclaw. How nice of you to join us,” Tallstar greeted.

“How’s Moosestrike?” Tansysong asked, an eager shine in her eyes.

“Yes, how is he?” Leaf asked. “I just dismissed Brackenfur, I’ll pass on the news to him soon.”

“He’s recovering. Has a bed next to Ridgewing’s,” Rowanclaw explained. This was no surprise to SkyClan, who had since learned that Ridgewing had managed to evade BloodClan patrols, despite getting wounded.

“I should visit sometime,” Tansysong suggested.

“If you find someone else to take over while you are gone, perhaps,” Tallstar agreed.

“I’m not opposed to it. Though Tansysong’s proven herself very capable by far as a liaison, and I’d miss her.” Leaf admitted.

“My reports say that her time as a liaison in RiverClan were very exemplary,” the Prime Minister affirmed. “You too, Commando Rowanclaw.”

“Just Rowanclaw, sir.”

“May we come in?” Firestar’s voice called from outside.

“Come in,” Leaf offered. At once, Firestar and Longtail entered. Behind them were Graystripe and Cloudtail, with the latter standing guard opposite Tansysong.

“Should I stick around for this?” Rowanclaw asked.

“Yes,” Leaf agreed. “Do you remember SkyClan’s planned assault on neighboring subway stations to Fury’s old base?”

“The one we turned into an outpost for Scratch?” Firestar inquired.

“The same. Billy’s spearheading a joint attack on BloodClan Outpost 27 by now, using some new weapons Macgyver’s been making...”

Chapter Text

“How many of these things did we bring?” Acornheart asked, grinning as Billy held up a grenade, ready to throw it in.

“Enough,” Billy remarked. Macgyver had used Iotunntame collar batteries for a new, deadlier purpose. As it turned out, all that stored energy made for a deadly explosion.

“HEY! SOUS-MERDES! Do you surrender?” Acornheart yelled.

A brief pause. “Yes! We surrender!”

Billy took point first, aiming his Thompson and pocketing the grenade. Since a few days ago he’d had the opportunity to get a weapons upgrade- much-needed to standardize the Clans’ armaments.

The map they’d found in Fury’s former base had permitted them to scout out the massive subway network BloodClan was found to be using for logistics. Through this, they could travel farther and likely win the war faster.

That, and they would be one step closer to finding Brushlion.

The four BloodClan soldiers inside the room had wisely chosen to raise their hands. Billy nudged them out to where several other SkyClanners were waiting.

Acornheart hadn’t even needed to fire a single shot the whole way. He shook his head in surprise- he’d originally just been there to give pointers and provide expert support. But the new grenades Macgyver was mass-producing made room-clearing a little less of a chore.

“I swear, Mac’s ingenuity is scary sometimes.” He said to Billy.

“Don’t forget his lab assistant too,” Billy pointed out. “He and Harv have more brains than the rest of SkyClan combined.”

Rainfur walked over to Billy, a look of concern on his face. “Hey, Billy? You know, we shouldn’t get too bomb-happy with these things. Like, what about hostages?”

Billy glanced at the prisoners, and nodded. “We’ll need to figure out a good doctrine around our new toys.”

“Rainfur?” A voice warily asked in recognition among one of the prisoners.

Rainfur’s heart pounded as he turned. “Petal?”

Only for him to be somewhat disappointed when his eyes landed on someone who definitely wasn’t.

“No, it’s me. Twist!” The BloodClan soldier said, and Rainfur’s eyes flickered with realization.

“Friend of yours?” Acornheart glanced suspiciously, walking forward only for Twist to back away in fear. The myths of Clan soldiers being maneaters still stood tall.

“It’s okay. Acornheart’s a friend,” Rainfur assured. “Twist, Leaf and I used to be part of the same outfit under Oscar.”

“Is Leaf still around?” Twist slowly asked.

Billy chuckled. “Leaf’s our Prezes! She leads the New SkyClan Republic- which we’re a part of, by the way.”

“You mean- they didn’t eat you?” Twist slowly asked.

Acornheart narrowed his eyes. “We don’t eat people.”

“They don’t,” Billy assured. “Rainfur, make sure they get back to SkyClan’s base camp safely, okay?”

“No problem,” Rainfur said. At once, he escorted the group of prisoners away.

“Everyone in Chelford’s more intricately connected than I thought,” Acornheart remarked after contemplating a few moments.

“Eh,” Billy shrugged. “Chelford’s a huge place. I don’t know how far it goes. Food’s still scarce, no matter what BloodClan does about it.”

“I mean… haven’t you guys been eating good ever since SkyClan got connected to the rest of the front?” Acornheart pointed out as they began to search the room before them.

Billy lightly brushed the floor with his foot, picking up one of the BloodClanners’ dropped zip guns. “Yeah. But what about when the war’s over? Will people still be able to eat well? I know that when this war’s over, Snooky and I are staying with SkyClan. And maybe visit RiverClan once in a while, too. I heard from your friend Reedwhisker that it’s a beautiful place.”

“He was born there,” Acornheart pointed out.

“Do you disagree with him, though?” Billy cheekily asked. Acornheart couldn’t say that he did.

A soldier clad in ThunderClan gear ran in, saluting. “Hey, Billy! We swept the perimeter, we’ve secured all exits to the surface.”

“Thank you, Bramblefire,” Billy said with a nod. “Did we find anything useful?”

“I mean, this was just an outpost. We found food, ammunition, those goons you guys just found, their guns… oh yeah, we got these.” Bramblefire held up a piece of paper with writing on it.

At once, Billy glanced at it. Encrypted.

“Nothing Deerfoot can’t handle?” Acornheart offered.

Billy nodded, taking the paper from Bramblefire. “I mean, we have sources of intelligence already.”

Deerfoot was experienced in his role as a liaison for ShadowClan, though he hadn’t done much interrogation prior to his time with Twist. He ultimately decided that bringing her into the back of the hospital tent was the best course of action, given it was more secluded. Of course, that also meant that they’d had to reserve a spot from Cinderpelt, who was basically in charge because she was training Echo on the ways of medicine.

“So I’m just going to make this quick,” Deerfoot remarked, holding up the paper. “Do these look familiar to you?”

Twist perused it. “I know thanks to the capo of the outpost that this is supposed to be a detailed report for the past week,” she admitted, looking back up at Deerfoot. “I didn’t really have the clearance to look at them, though.”

“They have clearance levels?” Tansysong had been standing guard at the entrance with Rainfur. “Like caporegime and up?”

“I mean, I think so,” Twist replied, keeping her voice even but not arrogant. “Stripes told us that these were reports.”

“Let me handle the interrogation,” Deerfoot insisted. He took a moment to register this. “Okay. Is Stripes among you now?”

“Yes,” Twist admitted.

“Does he know where the reports are being sent?”

“I think so,” Twist said. “Sometimes a courier would come over to the base to pick up the report.”

“That’s all I need. Thank you,” Deerfoot curtly dismissed her. “Rainfur, escort her back.”

“This way,” Rainfur gently said, bringing the prisoner of war to the exit of the hospital tent. Twist obliged, making no effort to resist.

“It looks encrypted,” Tansysong stated the obvious as she looked at the report.

“I should be able to crack it. If not me, then Oakfur. This is gonna take a while,” Deerfoot remarked.

“Where should we keep Twist in the meantime?” Tansysong asked. “I mean, we could always send her back to WindClan territory.”

“No,” Deerfoot interrupted. “She could present good information. Her outpost was obviously used for communications, encrypted ones at that. Now, I’ve yet to interrogate the other three including Stripes, but with that I should be able to get a better picture of the whole thing.”

“What about the couriers that come to the outpost?” The WindClan soldier idly glanced at the entrance of the hospital.

“Billy’s still posted there. I’ll need you to pass on the message soon that he should expect a courier. We need that courier alive,” the ShadowClan liaison pointedly said. “It could mean anything, ranging from BloodClan’s next plans for attack...”

To possibly finding my brother, the WindClan liaison thought. Tansysong felt her throat tighten, but kept her voice even. She’d learned to control her temper with help from Echo. “Yeah. I’ll pass on the message now.”

“Eat first. A soldier cannot fight when hungry,” the liaison curtly reminded her. Of course, Tansysong knew well by this point that this was basically saying “leave me alone”.

“Okay. I’ll leave you to it.” Tansysong saluted, and turned to leave. Deerfoot glanced back down at the report, getting out a piece of paper, a pen and an inkwell.

Twist’s personal confinement was essentially a tent off to the side of the SkyClan base camp. Surrounding the outside except for the entrance were coils of barbed wire. Inside, Twist’s belongings as a prisoner consisted of a cot, pillow, blanket, a table, a chair and a candle.

“Sorry about the simplicity,” Rainfur apologized as he motioned Twist enter.

“Frankly, it’s not too bad. In BloodClan, I didn’t have my own personal quarters.” That, they knew, was a privilege for caporegimes and up.

“So,” Rainfur began.

“I know what you’re thinking, Rainfur. I’m sorry,” Twist admitted as she sat down on the cot. “I have no idea where Petal or your kids are. It’s… been too long since I’ve last seen children.”

“You still remember what they looked like?” Rainfur muttered.

“You kept telling me when we were part of Oscar’s crew,” Twist remarked. “Petal had… eyes blue like water? Light blonde hair? Fair skin?”

Rainfur nodded. “Yeah. I can’t ever forget her.”

“If I knew where she was, I’d do what I can.”

“I know. You’re not still mad at Leaf and I? For running away during the Clans’ counterattack?”

“We all would have done the same if we weren’t scared of the person next to us,” Twist replied. “I only managed to get away because of the Clan soldiers charging our lines.”

Neither Rainfur, Leaf nor Twist had asked to be a part of Scourge’s war against the Clans.

She glanced out the tent past Rainfur. “I didn’t expect that ShadowClanner to be that nice. I thought the ones in gray were the most fearsome.”

“They are,” Rainfur assured. “Need anything else?”

“No, I’m good,” Twist dismissed. “Thanks anyway.”

“Get your food,” Acornheart called, pushing up a cart with four trays upon them down the line of four prisoner tents. “Stripes? Flora? Flick? Twist?”

Reluctantly, the four prisoners captured at the designated Outpost 27 walked out.

Stripes seemed to be the leader of the group. Despite not being the most physically built, he had a shifty look about him, wearing a vest and tie as he reluctantly picked up his food tray, returning to his tent.

Acornheart noted him, and remembered that he was to be interrogated next by Rowanclaw. A shifty-looking character.

Flora was definitely taller, and seemed more muscular overall. The scars on her arms seemed to prove that she had done plenty of fighting. Without a word, she picked up her food and headed back into her own tent.

Flick, a younger man with stubble on his face and a rigid jawline, glared at Acornheart. Obviously he hadn’t forgotten that the RiverClan soldier had partaken in the capture of his outpost.

Acornheart decided to take a lesson from Flick and return the glare. His gaze never left Flick, who to his credit didn’t escalate further, took up the tray and slunk back to his own tent.

“Sorry about Flick,” Twist apologized as she came out of her own tent, picking up the tray. “Thanks for the food… Acornheart?”

“It is.” He neutrally replied.

She nodded, and walked back into her tent. At least of the four prisoners present, she seemed more sociable, especially as she obviously knew Rainfur in the past.

Of course, Acornheart remembered what BloodClan was. The enemy they had sworn to destroy had managed to trick the people of Chelford, and they had attempted to destroy the Clans. They had tried to attack his Clan, take Leaf and Rainfur hostage, and had Brushlion, his friend, as a prisoner. The enemy- his enemy- they deserved no forgiveness.

Whether Twist was trying to trick them or not, Acornheart would be vigilant. As a liaison, and as a G.U.R. soldier nonetheless, it was his duty to protect his way of life at all costs. He’d learned that from the best, his mentor, Marshal Leopardstar.

Unlike him, Leopardstar had learned through the harshest teacher- defeat. But because she had learned through that, it had allowed her to become incorruptible as the present leader.

Brushlion had learned not to accept honeyed words so easily. Leopardstar had been deceived by Tigerclaw’s deception in months past, and it had deeply shamed his Clan.

StarClan willing, Acornheart would make his people proud, and contribute to make this war proof that nobody had any right messing with them.

Chapter Text

“He tried to escape so soon?” One of the BloodClan guards muttered as she escorted Brushlion along.

“Yes, he attempted to jump out of the subway car on the way here.” Another guard called. “He’s probably suicidal or something, I don’t know. Maneaters, am I right?”

“Mm. Well, I don’t think it’s enough to bother Snake and Ice with.” The BloodClan guard escorted Brushlion into a single cell. “Ten days cooler.”

When Brushlion walked in and had the metal cell door shut behind him, he glanced around. The construction was all concrete. There was a toilet in the corner to do his business on, and a basic cot to sleep in.

He sat at the base of the wall, and looked up. He had no idea what time of day it was- there was only a single light on the ceiling, no windows.

“Here’s your food,” the guard called as she pushed a tray through a slot in the door.

“Thank you,” Brushlion called as he ate. It was just one potato and a glass of water- a meager ration, but good enough to keep him alive. “Hey, uh. Do you have a name?”

“Don’t talk, prisoner. I’m not allowed to make conversation.” The guard stiffly answered.

“Hey, aren’t you already doing so now?” Brushlion asked. He finished his glass of water, glancing up at the light. He adjusted his grasp of the empty glass, then slowly an idea began to form.

“Just… if you were caught trying to talk with the guards, they’d put you in here longer. Don’t do anything rash,” the guard warned.

From outside, she heard the shattering of glass. “Hey. HEY!” At once, she opened the door, stepping in and entering with her pistol aimed.

The room was dark. The light had been put out.

Suddenly, an arm reached around the guard’s neck, and she began to struggle. As she tried to reach around with her pistol, Brushlion grabbed it by the barrel and yanked it away, aiming it at the back of the guard’s head.

Slowly, she put her hands up in surrender.

“Now listen carefully,” Brushlion warned. “I’m not planning on hurting anyone but I. Want. Out. Got it?”

Slowly, she nodded only to whip around and punch him in the gut.

Brushlion felt the wind get knocked out of him as he collapsed to the floor. The guard picked up her pistol and aimed.

“You’re going to the next cell,” she warned. “And as far as I’m concerned, I’m removing the light in the next one. Do you understand?”

Brushlion wheezed. “Yeah. I got it.”

“Uh… help? HELP!” Brushlion screamed as he backed against the corner, sitting on his cot.

“What is it now…” the guard grumbled.

“The toilet’s flooding!” He cried out.

Brushlion had fallen asleep and awoken about four times since he’d been sent to the cooler. His sentence had been extended to twenty days before he could be released into the main prison.

An audible sigh could be heard from outside the cell. “Hold on a second, I’m getting another guard.”

When the guard returned with another, she opened the door again only to find herself ankle deep in water.

Disgusted, she and the other guard looked down at their wet socks, only for Brushlion to charge right at them.

This time, he went right for the jugular to knock them both out- a little trick he’d learned from his mentor Mudclaw.

The toilet flooding was no accident. He’d figured out how to flush a potato down the bowl, then flush again and again until the water rose.

Brushlion decided to put the two knocked-out guards in the same cell, locking it behind them. Now, he was going to make his escape. Actually, scratch that- he was going to break everyone else out, too.

Gradually, he decided to look along the other isolation cells. He chuckled as he remembered his first two failed escape attempts. He would not fail this time.

“Ugh…” a voice groaned from inside the locked cell. Brushlion tried not to laugh as one of his would-be captors began to wake.

“Hey, Petal? Uh… I think he trapped us in here.” The other guard remarked.

“I guessed as much,” the first guard flatly replied.

Brushlion froze. Petal?

Where had he heard that before… suddenly, his eyes widened in realization.

Petal.

Rainfur’s wife who had been missing!

Brushlion glanced to the door. He could break out right now! Get help, and then come back and free everyone…

But he had no idea where this prison was, or how far away from Clan territory it was. He had no idea where his other friends were, or the time of day.

He knew too little.

But, if he could convince Petal to help him…

Slowly, he made his decision.

The two guards didn’t expect Brushlion to open the door, raising his hands above his head in surrender.

The next cell had a bucket instead of a toilet. His sentence had now extended to thirty days.

Miraculously enough, Brushlion had made no further efforts to resist.

Petal glanced at the cell she was supposed to be guarding. “Okay, what are you planning this time?”

Brushlion remained silent. He was going to wait this one out. “How many days has it been?”

“Eighteen. Why?” Petal asked.

Brushlion guessed that Petal had access to the surface- and, hopefully, his way out.

“Nothing, just checking how long my time in the cooler is.”

“Depends on if you try to break out again,” Petal said with a yawn.

Obviously, she was no longer entertained by Brushlion’s apparent lack of breakouts.

“Hey, uh. Petal, right?”

“What’s it to you?” The BloodClan guard asked.

“Do you know anyone named Rainfur?”

An uncomfortably long pause followed.

“M-maybe.”

“He said he knew someone with your name. That this Petal was his, uh, wife? He’d been looking for them when I first came across him.”

“Where is he. What did you maneaters to do him?”

Brushlion paused a moment. He had her attention now.

“What did you do to him?!” Petal cried out. Emotion tugged at her voice.

“Nothing, he’s fine.” Brushlion replied. Slowly, a smile began to creep across his face. “Do you have two kids? Sage and Mint?”

Petal was silent again.

“Yes.”

If she had looked inside the cell now, she would have seen Brushlion grinning as plans began to spin in his head.

“Wait.” Petal said, clearly suspicious. “If you say he’s fine… then what has he been up to ever since he disappeared?”

“You know how BloodClan tried to take Clan territory? He was in occupied ShadowClan territory.”

“The ones in gray?”

“The ones in gray. He was captured by them a month after they took their land back. He was held for a few months…”

Petal had opted to sit down for this.

Prisoners of war, defectors, dissidents. All had come to this prison. She’d always tried to look for Rainfur’s face among them every chance she got.

Her kids barely even remembered what their father looked like, but she could never forget.

And now, here was a maneater , telling her that Rainfur had not only been captured by the Clans… but that he had also come to join their side.

News had come from the front that people from outside the Clans were helping the maneaters in their bloodthirsty conquest as well. To Petal, it was truly a form of futile appeasement.

“Wait.” Petal paused. “What about the part where you eat people.”

“You still believe that myth? You know, I’m not even Clanborn.” Brushlion pointed out.

“What?” Petal couldn’t believe her ears.

“I was a tame. I come from west of Clan territory.”

“There’s a land west of Clan territory?” Petal asked in surprise. Suddenly, she shut her mouth as a door opened.

“Got another one here, Petal. She tried to escape again,” a BloodClan guard said.

“And I will try again, until I get out one way or another!” A woman’s angry voice called.

“Ebony, you never should’ve left BloodClan. You had it good,” the guard remarked as he shoved her into the cell next to Brushlion’s.

“Well,” Ebony’s voice echoed. “It was worth a shot. Hey, who else is in this dump?”

“Me,” Brushlion called. Petal groaned.

“Hey, I’ve never heard your voice before. You must be new. Don’t you worry about Petal, you hear me? She’s softer than I was five years ago!” Ebony gleefully called.

“The point of solitary confinement is for you two to stop. Talking!” Petal yelled.

“Petal…” Brushlion said with a smirk. “I have more information on Rainfur.”

“Who?” Ebony blankly said.

“But Petal’s right. We should pipe down,” Brushlion suggested. “How long you in for?”

“Thirty days.” Ebony answered.

“Twelve for me,” Brushlion explained. “If you see someone dressed in a WindClan uniform it’s probably me.”

“…what’s WindClan?” Ebony seemed even more confused.

Brushlion groaned.

He was going to be here for a while.