Chapter Text

A Vision of Shadows

To find the meaning of StarClan’s mysterious prophecy, Alderpaw and Needlepaw joined a questing patrol to locate the lost SkyClan, only to discover that the clan had been defeated by the merciless Darktail and his Kin. 

Returning to the clans, the apprentices find Twigkit and Violetkit abandoned near a thunderpath. Believed to be connected to the prophecy, Needlepaw and Alderpaw each take a kit to their separate clans by the will of their leaders, although the apprentices continue to lead the sisters to meet in secret.

Peace is broken by the arrival of the Kin, who are quick to undermine Rowanstar’s leadership and take over ShadowClan with the help of the clan’s apprentices. 

With ShadowClan destroyed and the remaining clans shrouded in fear, the safety of StarClan’s prophecy and the clans themselves is at stake…

Chapter Text

Alderheart weaved between the brush in the late night, keeping his tail around Twigpaw, as if it was her first visit out of camp. The fur on his spine bristled at the thought of what could be waiting for him at the edge of the territory: an entire group of Kin could be ready to drag him and Twigpaw into their camp. Or maybe, Alderheart will only find the forest peaceful with the distant croaks of frogs from the ShadowClan wetlands

If I should even call it ShadowClan… Alderheart knew the risk he took coming today. After catching Needletail near the border yesterday, he had asked if Twigpaw could meet her sister like they used to at night. Needletail did not convey any response to the request, only staring into his soul with her sharp, green eyes before sulking off between the pine trees. Any smart cat would have a patrol of warriors waiting for things to go wrong; StarClan knows that is what backup Needletail had on her side of the border. 

Alderheart looked to his side, seeing a concoction of excitement and fear rippling through Twigpaw’s face. 

If I could trust Needletail to do anything, it would be to care for Violetpaw. Another wave of betrayal crashed into the medicine cat, throwing his heart into a torrent that he struggled to fish it out of. After Alderheart promised Twigpaw she would see her sister again, he had heard that Needletail had not only remained with the Kin, but had discovered that she supported their takeover. The revelation had caused terror to build up beneath his pelt for an entire day. As he and Twigpaw closed in on the area they used to meet, he hoped the apprentice could not smell his fear. He was never a fighter. If a battle broke out, Twigpaw would be on her own. I just had to promise her something. And it will be my fault if-

Twigpaw leaped away from Alderheart’s tail. “Violetpaw!” The gray-pelted apprentice quickly met her black-and-white sister; they were immediately twined from head-to-tail. 

Alderheart’s gaze snapped to the nimble she-cat that emerged from the shadows. Needletail had grown stronger since her apprenticeship, with a few scars breaking into her silver fur. She almost glowed like the moon as she stepped out of the shadows. The medicine cat ruffled his pelt and focused on her stern leer. The two stared at each other until Violetpaw bounded between them.

“Needletail! Can I teach Twigpaw a Kin move! She’ll be really good at it.”

Needletail seemed to snap out of a trance before turning down to the apprentice with a smile. “Go ahead.”

As the apprentices began to play-fight, Needletail began to approach Alderheart- his heart began to pound. He could feel the black in his eyes narrow.

“It’s been a while,” Needletail sneered sarcastically, like she was still the snarky apprentice Alderheart once knew. The Needletail he knew would never aid Darktail. 

“You fox-” Alderheart paused to contain a snarl, not wanting the sisters to notice them. “You mouse-brain! What have you done?”

Needletail’s surprise at Alderheart’s assertion shedded away into amusement. 

Alderheart let his offense contort his mew. “Darktail tried to kill us. We almost drowned running from him!”

“I haven’t forgotten. But allegiances change.” Needletail spoke surely, as if her actions were mandated by the warrior code.

“What about your allegiance to ShadowClan-”

“Oh, please.”

“To her?” Alderheart flicked his tail at Violetpaw as she continued to teach her sister the fighting move.

Needletail rolled her eyes. “She’s doing better than ever!”

“With rogues?”

“With the Kin, who actually give a fox-dung about her!” Needletail scoffed and took her green stare away from Alderheart, watching the sisters play. “I’m sure ThunderClan was very kind to Twigpaw, but Violetkit was miserable. No other kits wanted to play with her, Rowanstar just forgot about her. Like always, he did nothing to make her life better.”

Alderheart’s eyes weighed heavy and he looked to his paws. Twigpaw is having trouble finding belonging, too.

Needletail lightly swatted Alderheart’s back with her tail. “Mewl about rules and hold grudges all you like, Alderheart. I might even agree with you. But I’m trying to look out for Violetpaw and myself. ShadowClan did not support us.”

Alderheart took his turn to stare at Needletail, cringing at how he had to crane his neck to look up at her. “Then bring Violetpaw to ThunderClan. Surely we’re better than Darktail.”

Needletail shook her head, still looking forward instead of the ginger cat at her side. “They won’t want us, just the same.”

Anxiety struck the medicine cat. He needed to help these two cats leave the Kin- for the sake of the prophecy of course. If only being convincing was as easy as prescribing herbs. “Bramblestar will let you in. He let Rowanstar in. Especially if you tell us how we can defeat-”

Needletail swung her face to Alderheart, anger wrinkling her muzzle. “I was being really nice by considering this meeting outside of my duty to the Kin, and you should do the same. You think telling me that ThunderClan is harboring my enemies is a good idea?”

Needletail’s voice became hushed near the end of her rant. Alderheart’s wavering eyes flicked to the forest, terrified if he would spot Darktail’s white fur among the shadows. He looked back to Needletail, forcing bravery into his stature. “I’m just trying to keep StarClan’s prophecy safe.”

The silver she-cat pulled her head away, scanning the forest. “Medicine cats,” Needletail spat. “StarClan’s little kits.” Before Alderheart could snap back, she continued. “I get why you chose to be one, though. You want to help others, that’s why you’re nice to be around.”

Alderheart kept his ears folded back, not wanting Needletail to notice that they began to burn.

“But the rules. Surely such important cats don’t deserve to be constricted?” Needletail looked back to Alderheart. Her eyes conveyed a sorrowful honesty- an emotion Alderheart did not think Needletail knew. “What if you could heal others and still be free, still have choices?”

Alderheart shook his head, shaking any thoughts of a different life from his mind. Why is Needletail asking this now? She’s just joking. Like always. 

The two watched Twigpaw and Violetpaw conclude their sparring, each revealing the need to sleep back at their nests. In silence, Needletail and Alderheart beckoned the apprentices to their side and began to return to their camps.

“Alderheart.”

Alderheart looked over his shoulder at Needletail, who remained where he left her.

“With the Kin, you can have a choice. Think about it.”

Alderheart swiftly turned away before his inner thoughts took over his face. His eyes began to water as he walked Twigpaw back to camp. He had not realized until now that the fury he had felt since hearing of Needletail’s betrayal to the clans was not really focused on the silver-furred cat, but someone else. His claws scraped the ground as shame flowed beneath his pelt. 

The medicine cats darted between injured clanmates. The attempt to fight the Kin away from the territories had failed, leaving a majority of the battle patrol in need of healing. Lionblaze’s golden pelt laid under Alderheart’s paws. 

The tom winced at every placement of poultice on his cuts. “Alderheart, I’m sorry.” Remorse rippled through Lionblaze’s words.

“It’s alright. It’s supposed to sting.”

“No, no…” Lionblaze took a moment to continue. “Twigpaw…”

Alderheart felt his blood run cold, freezing the focus he had on healing. “What happened to her?”

“I think she fought Violetpaw alone. I think the Kin… took her.”

Alderheart met Jayfeather’s sightless gaze from the corner of his eyes. Focus. Do not get distracted! Jayfeather seemed to snarl through just his leer alone.

With each heartbeat, panic was pumped through Alderheart’s body. He returned his eyes to Lionblaze, continuing to apply poultices with his shaking paws. “What did you see? Was she hurt?”

Lionblaze squeezed his eyes shut, baring his teeth. “I was tackled before I could get to her. I think Ivypool got closer than I did.”

Stay calm. Be a medicine cat first. Alderheart determined himself to finish treating Lionblaze, but his thoughts raced through what Twigpaw was going through. His breaths began to come quickly and his head spun at the thought of her getting hurt. The territories were too dangerous with the Kin around, too dangerous for someone as vulnerable as Twigpaw. The concern he felt towards her was horrifying. Thank StarClan I'm never having kits! 

After sending Lionblaze away, Alderheart scoured the beaten patrol for Ivypool’s gray and white pelt. After locating her speaking to Dovewing, the medicine cat rushed over.

“Oh, I’m okay Alderheart,” Ivypool said, pointing her thin tail to lines of herbs along her flank.

“Twigpaw,” Alderheart snapped, stowing his shame. “What happened?”

Guilt washed over Ivypool’s blue eyes. “She was fighting Violetpaw, but I think she fell and hurt her leg. Then they- they took her.” Dovewing pressed her thick pelt to her sister, supporting her wavering posture.

“They?” Alderheart pressed.

“Needletail, Violetpaw, and some of the rogues.”

Rage built behind Alderheart’s eyes. He lashed out with a single paw strike of the stone beneath him. Just when I thought I could trust Needletail! 

“They wouldn’t hurt an apprentice,” Dovewing comforted, though she clearly did not believe her own words. 

“I… I agree.” Ivypool’s response made the medicine-cat prick his ears. “They didn’t drag her, they were carrying her on their backs. Violetpaw looked concerned. But that’s all I saw, I can only hope…”

Alderheart stepped away to return his paws to help the wounded warriors. The flow of his mind returned to a managed tide, though it still crashed through his head. I hope Twigpaw is safe with the Kin. I hope Puddleshine is helping her. He thought back to his first meeting with Darktail in the faraway gorge, being fully convinced of the tom’s hospitality until his tail was to a wall. Hope is not enough. Something must be done.

Chapter Text

“What do you want to tell us?” His mother’s voice was drawn into his ears and coursed through his tense muscles, allowing him to relax. I’ll need every calming presence around me, while it lasts.

“I just love kin reunions. Why don’t we take turns saying what we love most about each other?” Jayfeather’s tone was swung up and down by sarchasm.  

Even him. In a way. 

Alderheart exhaled slowly and opened his amber eyes. His closest kin, Squirrelflight, Bramblestar, Sparkpelt, Jayfeather, and Leafpool stood before him, crowded in the leader’s den.

“Thanks for coming, everyone. I appreciate it.” Alderheart swallowed. “Just know that no matter what, I-”

“Just say it,” Jayfeather snapped.

“I need to join the Kin.”

Outside of a few widened eyes, the den remained still. Alderheart felt a chill scurry down his spine like a squirrel racing down a tree trunk. 

“With Twigpaw captured by the Kin, it only adds to my worries about the prophecy. I was already concerned with Violetpaw, but at least Needletail was with her. Twigpaw needs help. And I should go and make sure she is safe.”

Alderheart’s father gave a heavy sigh, as if exhaling his consideration. “That’s if Twigpaw and her sister are related to the code.”

“Surely we’d be safer if we assumed they were, rather than if they weren’t,” Squirrelflight countered.

“I agree,” Leafpool mewed. “We have to make sure they are safe, at all costs.”

“And how is Alderheart going to bring Twigpaw back?” Sparkpelt pressed, shrugging briefly at her brother to say no offense.

“I won’t- at least not right away. I can’t even guarantee if Darktail will let her leave. He’s unpredictable,” Alderheart explained.

“Clearly,” Jayfeather snorted. “He tried to kill you and Sparkpelt!”

“And Needletail, but she’s doing fine! Darktail does whatever benefits him in the present, regardless of emotions.”

“Alderheart, how will he let you into his territory?” Leafpool responded. “Needletail is on one paw, but on the other is a cat from a clan that just attacked him!”

Alderheart nodded his head, considering the eldest medicine cat’s words. “Needletail asked me to join her with the Kin. I imagine she has enough authority to make that decision.”

Bramblestar’s jaw dropped open. “When did you meet with her?”

“What does that matter?” Squirrelflight interrupted.

“If she’s willing to let Alderheart in, maybe it will be better to have Alderheart convince her bring Twigpaw back and tell us how we can defeat-”

Alderheart took his turn to interrupt the leader. “Medicine cats can’t be used as spies.”

“Against a clan,” Bramblestar asserted, raising his head at his son. “The Kin do not apply.”

Leafpool spoke up. “Either way, neither Alderheart or Needletail can be spies. If Darktail figures it out, they’ll be under his claws.”

Alderheart’s fur bristled to Leafpool’s honesty. I might regret even thinking of doing this.

“Then Alderheart won’t get involved at all,” Squirrelflight snapped.

Bramblestar nodded to his mate. “We just have to hope that Twigpaw is safe, or isn’t involved in the prophecy.”

Alderheart opened his jaw to reply, but Jayfeather spoke up first. “You may be his parents, but Alderheart is a medicine cat, not a kit.”

The kinship waited for Jayfeather to speak again, just as Jayfeather was waiting for them to retort. The gray tom scoffed. “I named him Alderheart because his instinct and emotion gives him decisiveness. If he thinks this is the best way to fulfill his duty to StarClan, I won’t stop him.”

“Thank you, Jayfeather.” Alderheart’s mew was bordering a purr.

“I didn’t say I think it’s a good idea!”

Squirrelflight patted the snappy medicine cat’s shoulders with her bushy tail. “Promise us, prophecy or not, that you’ll look out for yourself. You’ll keep yourself safe, no matter what.”

Alderheart could detect fear in his mother’s eyes. Needletail will protect me! I think. “I promise.”

“One more thing,” Jayfeather chirped with a false cheeriness.

“Always one more thing with you,” Bramblestar groaned quietly, amusement in his mew. Alderheart could still hear the love in his father’s voice towards the cat he also considered a son.

“Bramblestar’s right- about the Kin not being a clan.” Jayfeather stood up and approached Alderheart, stopping only when their whiskers touched. “If you stay with them to protect Twigpaw, you’ll have to do what they say- what Darktail says.”

“I know,” Alderheart said instinctively.

Jayfeather’s eyes focused, although they stared right through the ginger tom. “I doubt he’ll stop with ShadowClan. Whatever his goals are next, you will have to aid him.”

Alderheart imagined the Kin expanding their borders into ThunderClan. He imagined returning home, but no one was there to welcome him back. The medicine den was stained with blood. “I understand.”

Jayfeather nodded, but he did not look convinced. “StarClan be with you,” he mumbled as he sat next to Squirrelflight. 

Alderheart dragged his gaze across his kin: they all looked uncertain and scared, but there was no attempt to debate further. Suddenly, Sparkpelt bounded forward and wrapped around her brother. One by one, each of the kinship gathered around the young tom. Surrounded by the cats he loved most, Alderheart felt his worries towards the future of the territories ebb away. No matter what, his kin would be there for him. And he would do anything to keep them safe.

“And tell Twigpaw I miss playing with her. Get her to promise to help me with my exercises when she gets back.”

Alderheart nodded in promise to Briarlight, though he could not guarantee how long it would take. It could be seasons before he and Twigpaw would return. Darktail can only stand up against three clans for so long. He shuddered as he remembered patching wounds caused when the Kin did just that.

Alderheart pressed his nose to Brairlight’s. “See you around.”

“Not if I see you first, fur ball.” A brown paw playfully shoved the medicine cat’s face.

It felt like just a heartbeat before Alderheart stood at the exit of camp, looking back at his kin in the clearing below. He could still feel the warmth of their pelts against the chill of the night. Alderheart wiped his eyes with a paw and turned towards the territory before he could see them through the mist in his eyes. 

Distracting himself, Alderheart wondered if he had ever been in the forest alone at night before. I bet it’s gonna feel like this for a while. Twigpaw might be his only friend while in the pine forest. Maybe Needletail. His opinion on her seemed to sway between frustration and concern like an oak in the wind. 

When the scent of the ThunderClan border cut his thoughts, he sat himself by before the line. Someone better come quick. Better Darktail than a fox. His memories shot back to the malignant, icy eyes. Maybe.

“No way…” came a deep mew.

Alderheart turned to his right to see a long-furred gray tom further down the border. His memories placed the tom in the gorge with Darktail, though the missing eye induced some unfamiliarity that pushed Alderheart further towards a desire to flee.

“Needletail said you’d show up eventually, but I didn’t believe her!” The tom slowly stepped towards the medicine cat. “Great, I owe her a shrew because of you.”

The tom planted himself a few tail-lengths away from Alderheart at his side of the border. After a moment, he rolled his one green eye and flicked his tail.

Alderheart sheepishly stepped over the scent-line and took his place behind the tom as he was led deeper into the pine forest where the shadows somehow got darker. 

A new pelt entered into view from around a tree, gripping Alderheart’s throat. Oh. It’s just Needletail… Why do I still feel like a hungry fox is looking at me?

“Haha!” Needletail yowled at the sight of Alderheart, raising her head high. “Rain… you owe me a shrew!”

“Yeah, yeah,” Rain groaned as Needletail bent down to pick up a mouse she caught and placed herself beside Alderheart as they marched deeper into the territory.

“You made a good choice tonight, Alderheart,” Needletail jeered. “How was the sneak-away? Your sister is so nosy, I bet it was hard to get around her.”

“No one noticed,” Alderheart stammered, guessing it would make his situation easier if the Kin thought he ran away. “ThunderClan has two other medicine cats. It’ll be a bit before anyone notices.” The young tom felt his ears warm before he realized Needletail had placed her tail on his back.

“Yeah, I agree. ThunderClan is always too busy sticking their paws where they don’t belong to pay attention to each other.” Needletail swiveled her head to face Alderheart, a smile shining on her face despite the rude words. “I liked your grandmother a lot, though.”

“I miss her,” Alderheart blurted, quickly facing away from the she-cat. 

The three cats approached a thick bush of brambles. One at a time, they walked between the thorns and around a boulder. Then, a large camp opened up to Alderheart. Through the darkness, he could make out a ring of bramble bushes and a ring of trees growing out of them. Dens leaned into the clearing, which was speckled with a few wakeful cats, to Alderheart’s surprise. Maybe ShadowClan cats stayed up late, or it was a Kin thing.

Alderheart cleared his throat. “I’d like to see Twigpaw and make sure-”

“Darktail said he must speak with you before you get up to anything,” Needletail spoke flatly.

He already knows Needletail asked me to join? That… might… be good?

Memories of the massive, vicious rogue flashed behind his eyes as he was guided to a den. Alderheart began to assume that Needletail asking him to join was a plot to bring him to Darktail so he could have his revenge. Maybe that’s how Needletail was spared of his wrath: she traded her life for his-

“Have fun!” Rain snickered before shoving Alderheart into the den.

The medicine cat spun his head around to the entrance; Needletail and Rain were already gone.

“Alderheart,” hummed a deep, heavy voice.

The ginger tom saw a massive white pelt step towards him. Swelling muscles cross-hatched by fresh scars conveyed the tom’s brutal strength, and his black patches looked like see-through holes in the dark den. Yesterday’s battle clearly took a toll on him, yet Darktail stood like he had been revived by StarClan. The gleam of blue eyes stepped into a ray of moonlight.

“I never thought I’d see you again, after the gorge.”

Alderheart expected claws to rake his throat after Darktail’s every word. “Yes,” was all he could pathetically muster.

“There’s nothing to be afraid of, now. I found the clans either way. And you’re a full medicine cat now, right?”

Alderheart found no assurance in Darktail’s eased words. “Yes.”

“Good. Puddleshine does a fine job, but two is better than one.” Darktail inhaled slowly, keeping his eyes on Alderheart’s. “Needletail vouched very well for you, so you can stay here. Do what your teachings inform, and follow my orders.” 

Alderheart waited for Darktail to continue until he noticed an expecting look in his evil eyes. “Th-thanks. Thank you.”

Darktail nodded subtly. “Let’s just extend our claws, already, Alderheart. I know you’re not here for the same reasons Needletail is. You’re not like her. You have… previous morals.” The massive tom stepped forward again and craned his head closer to the medicine cat. “Twigpaw is to stay here. You are to treat her, but do not fix her leg. You are not to be near any border. You are not to speak to any clan cats. You obey me, no other cat. Not even… your StarClan.”

“I understand,” Alderheart squeaked with a brisk nod. 

With no other movement, the blue of Darktail’s eyes made a front against his irises, blasting a lightning strike of fear into Alderheart. “I’ll make sure of that. Go against me, and I will drown Twigpaw and make you watch.”

Terror felt like a fire torching every hair on Alderheart’s body. 

Darktail pulled his head away slightly. “And I don’t imagine Violetpaw would be too happy after that. So she drowns too. Then Needletail and Rain, too, because they brought Twigpaw here too- so, do you see how badly you can ruin everything?”

Alderheart nodded, hoping it hid the trembling of his whiskers. 

“Good.” Darktail stepped past Alderheart, dragging the smaller tom out of his den with his black tail. The two stepped into the center of camp, Darktail’s many battle injuries easier to see, where Darktail spun around to face Alderheart and began to shout. “Repeat after me. ‘I swear to be a friend to the Kin.’”

Alderheart gulped, not expecting to have been told to speak. “I swear to be a friend to the Kin.”

Darktail spoke on, allowing Alderheart to repeat every line. “‘To share what I have with them… to defend them and help them and be one with them… for as long as I live.’”

“For as long as I… live,” Alderheart finished, forcing volume into his fear-torn mew.

“Give me your paw.” Darktail sat on his hind legs and extended a white paw of his own.

Alderheart wearily held out his paw and flinched when Darktail grabbed it with his claws. The leader’s second paw closed in on Alderheart’s and jabbed a pad with a jagged claw. Alderheart winced, fighting the urge to make a pathetic squeak like a preyed mouse. The ginger tom’s eyes looked up at Darktail’s: the rogue’s gaze was contorted with hate, as if he was pressing all of his rage towards Alderheart’s escape from the gorge into his one claw. Darktail’s eyes glowed in the night, as if StarClan’s might combined into a pair of terrifying stars in the black sky. Darktail released his claw with an upward swing of his paw, and dropped Alderheart’s paw from his claws.

Darktail voiced Alderheart’s admission as Kin to the rest of the cats in the clearing, but the young tom could only stare at the blood that pumped out of his paw with every terrified heartbeat. 

Chapter Text

“Explain what happened.” Alderheart tried to keep his voice cheerful.

“I was at the battle, fighting, and I saw Violetpaw,” Twigpaw explained as Alderheart carefully wrapped leaves around her wrenched leg. “We didn’t want to fight, but Rain told Violetpaw she had to, and when I backed away I-” she hissed as Alderheart pressed a leaf to her hind leg. “Sorry. Then I tripped.”

“And after that?”

“Needletail said I was injured and could be a prisoner for leverage against ThunderClan. She and Rain carried me back to here. And now I’m here!” Twigpaw sounded pretty happy for being a hostage. “Violetpaw and I have already had a little fun.”

Despite the fury for Rain that baked under his pelt, the medicine cat’s heart warmed at Twigpaw’s optimism. “Why didn’t you fight her at the battle?”

“I guess we both remembered last night and decided not to. But… maybe I…”

Alderheart stopped covering her legs with leaves and peered into her eyes, trying to emulate how Bramblestar looked when Alderheart was upset as a kit.

“I know I wasn’t allowed to see Violetpaw in secret. And now I didn’t fight her when I was supposed to. And now I’m away from home and my leg is broken-”

“It’s not broken.” Alderheart nuzzled the apprentice playfully. “Don’t worry about a thing, okay? I’m here to take care of you. And I think it’s a good thing you didn’t fight your sister. There’s enough of that going around.” Alderheart finished wrapping her leg. 

“How will this help?”

“Wrapping the leg in leaves first helps the sprain cool down and… become less irritated. Then we can proceed with the usual treatment.” Alderheart saw Puddleshine out of the corner of his eye: the once-ShadowClan medicine cat glared at him from the corner. “It’s a ThunderClan technique,” he informed Twigpaw, raising his voice. 

Twigpaw sniffed at her wounded leg. “What if it’s broken forever? Will I be useful?”

Alderheart playfully swatted Twigpaw’s face away from her leg. “It’ll heal. Besides, Briarlight took on the valuable role of Jayfeather-translator. There’s always a place for you in ThunderClan.”

“Jayfeather-translator,” Twigpaw giggled. “Thanks, Alderheart.”

Alderheart smiled to hide the guilt that threatened to claw out of his stomach. “Any time.” He hated the thought of leaving Twigpaw in the den full of wounded rogues, but a grumbling in his gut reminded him that, as Kin, no one would bring him freshkill. He spun out of the medicine den, almost bumping into the long-furred pelt of Rain. Anger immediately sparked in Alderheart’s mind, though he tried to hide it with surprise.

“Darktail asked to see you. Take some injury-herbs, or whatever,” Rain ordered, then faced Puddleshine. “You better start doing a better job! You might get replaced!”

When Rain was out of sight, Alderheart let his fur rise as he faced the fellow medicine cat. Puddleshine’s fearful stare burned blame onto Alderheart. Alderheart swallowed his guilt and asked Puddleshine where Darktail’s herbs are, promptly gathering them and heading for the leader’s den. 

Alderheart scanned the camp that remained shadowed in the mid-day. Once-ShadowClan cats were huddled together while rogues scattered throughout the camp. He spotted Violetpaw and Needletail arguing with a rogue over prey. Clan cats don’t argue over prey.

Herbs in his jaws, Alderheart slipped into the leader’s den. In the shrouded light of the day, he could see how torn up Darktail was. Hope flickered in his heart- perhaps the clans had a chance to defeat him if they tried again. However, Alderheart did not dare consider trying to report to other clans. 

“Good, you’re here. Do your job,” Darktail grunted.

Alderheart mindlessly replaced many of the herbs that stretched Darktail’s body, awkwardly sniffing the large tom for infection. His mind slipped back to when this very tom threatened his life, and now Alderheart was trying to protect him. He fought the urge to dig his claws into one of Darktail’s vital arteries. One last herb remained: a piece of rounded bark covered in leaves. Alderheart pulled back the leaves, seeing the glint of a smooth, sappy yellow liquid. Honey? Alderheart gave Darktail the bark, and the leader quickly lapped up the honey.

“If I may ask… why honey?” Alderheart did not imagine learning how to help Darktail would be seen as stepping out of place.

“I cannot sleep, at least until I heal,” Darktail mumbled between licks.

“Sleep is almost necessary for healing. Why do you need to-”

Darktail’s eyes flashed onto Alderheart. “Get out,” he growled.

Alderheart quickly nodded and did not breathe until he was out of the den.

“Alderheart!” chimed a familiar voice.

The medicine cat’s gaze stared between Needletail and Violetpaw. The apprentice held prey in her jaws.

“Go give that to Darktail,” Needletail ordered Violetpaw, then gave a crude smile to the medicine cat. “I remember you’re as good at hunting as a rock. Hungry?”

Alderheart nodded, still not wanting to speak after his encounter with Darktail. 

“Great! Rain and I were going to hunt today, you can come along.”

“I thought everyone had to hunt for themselves,” Alderheart questioned, not wanting to risk rule-breaking as Needletail often does.

“It means what everyone does with their prey is their own business. Share it, eat it, who cares.” Needletail scanned the clearing, spotting Rain. “Hey! Come hunt with us!”

“Now?” Rain called back from just looking at his paws, oddly.

“Now.”

“I’m busy, Needletail.”

Rain’s ungrateful whines had Alderheart digging his claws into the ground. How selfish could a cat be to deny going hunting with someone?

“Busy looking at your pretty claws? Get off your hind-quarters,” Needletail bit back, managing to convince the gray tom to his paws.

Needletail and Rain entered the greater territory with Alderheart a stride behind them. The two gray cats chatted like starlings, Needletail even gave Rain a heartful snort at something that was supposed to be funny. Alderheart snorted himself, but not for the sake of comedy. Maybe he was not as ruthless as Darktail, but Rain was still one of the rogues they met in the gorge. Needletail may be getting friendly with the one-eyed tom, but Alderheart internally vowed to never trust a single rogue that occupied the ShadowClan camp. Especially Rain. The medicine cat felt that a prick of dark suspicion was permanently lodged in his heart when he saw Rain sitting alone before Needletail called to him. He’s up to something. And Needletail is going to get trapped in whatever it is, Alderheart conspired. I’ll need to find a way to separate them-

Needletail broke Alderheart’s thoughts by suddenly leaping forward, slapping a silver paw on a puddle of brown water. Her head ducked down to her paw before turning around with a lumpy freshkill hanging from her jaws. 

“Don’t tell me you’re gonna eat that!” Rain jeered with playfulness in his mew.

Needletail dropped the toad from her teeth and eyed Rain with a smile. “Did your mother ever teach you to not be picky?”

Rain scoffed and looked towards Alderheart, as if asking the medicine cat if he would be willing to eat the wart-coated prey. 

“I’ll try it.” Alderheart could not keep his disgust from spiking his words.

Rain tilted his head towards Needletail. “I’ll hunt for something that doesn’t taste like dirt.”

“Grow up,” Needletail retorted mockingly. 

Rain nodded towards Alderheart. “I’ll get something for you too. Unless you join Toadtail in a taste for-”

“Get to it!” Needletail groaned with a snort, pressing her cheek to Rain’s before he left.

Alderheart dropped his eyes to the toad at the sight, feeling the dark thorn dig deeper into his chest.

Needletail returned to view by picking up the toad by its foot and dropping it closer to Alderheart. “The trick is,” she said, pricking a meaty brown leg with a claw, “to get to the meat without tasting the skin.”

Alderheart watched intently as Needletail carved the toad, exposing pink meat under its muddy skin. Toad might be the only thing I’ll be able to catch.

The she-cat gently clawed out an inner leg and nipped it with her teeth, tearing the muscle cleanly from the prey. “Your turn.”

Alderheart pricked at the other hind-leg and tried to tear the meat away, accidentally getting the bitter outer layer on his tongue. The toad’s leg was chewy in his mouth and tasted like dirty water.

“So, are you on my side or Rain’s?” Needletail queried through bites.

“It’s fine,” Alderheart replied.

“Whatever. Good to still try new prey, I guess,” Needletail conceded, looking around at the pine forest. “We’ll be trying RiverClan fish eventually. Do you know how they even catch fish?”

Needletail’s question came quickly after her comment on RiverClan. What does she mean by eating RiverClan fish? “Uh, no.” Alderheart almost choked on a bit of toad. “What will RiverClan-”

“What made you reconsider my offer, Alderheart?” Needletail craned her head towards the tom by a hair. “I mean, I knew you’d be smart. But, did you see a pretty ShadowClan cat that made you reconsider?”

Before he could fight against the obvious distraction from RiverClan, Alderheart felt blood rush into his ears and quickly faced the forest. Is she talking about herself? Yeah, sure, Alderheart. “No.” The single word carried more kit-like frustration than he would have preferred.

“There’s no medicine cat code here, if that’s what you’re ruffled-up over.” The silver she-cat’s voice conveyed amusement at getting under Alderheart’s pelt. “Sleekwhisker’s a pretty she-cat. You’ll be safe courting her as long as-”

“Why don’t you…uh court Sleekwhisker!” Alderheart’s attempt at defending himself from the teasing came embarrassingly lagged.

Needletail sneered, her green eyes bright with amusement. “Keep your fur on, I’m joking. Unlike her, Rain is one of the less-threatening cats here.”

Alderheart began to claw at the remains of the toad, focusing on how it revolted him over all else.

“Even with his clawed face, he’s easy on the eyes.” Needletail’s voice began to lower its usual guard of carelessness in favor of letting an honest joy permeate her mew. “Maybe once tensions cool down, he and I can go off and explore-”

“I don’t trust Rain,” Alderheart hissed, not caring that he sounded like a whining kit. “You shouldn’t, either.” Though he was still focused on the toad, Alderheart knew the she-cat was glaring at him in the many silent moments that followed.

“By StarClan, Alderheart.” Needletail carried the tone that a mentor would use while scolding an apprentice. “Every time I try to be nice to you, you find a way to point out how wrong I am.”

Alderheart suddenly felt whiskers prick his face. He turned to see Needletail’s scowl a mousetail from his snout- Alderheart took a few instinctive steps backwards.

Needletail took a sharp exhale, slightly baring her teeth before speaking. “Stay out of my way. You need to get over it.”

Alderheart could not fight himself from pathetically angling his head away from Needletail, blinking quickly to clear the remorse from his eyes. Anger towards Needletail’s brutality and anger towards his own stupidity mixed in his blood, making it run thick with regret. 

Pawsteps neared closer. “What’s up with him?” It was Rain.

“He acts like a kit sometimes, it’s not a big deal,” Needletail replied nonchalantly. 

Rain stepped around Needletail’s voice. “I got this mouse for you, Alderheart.”

Not looking at the cats, Alderheart shook his head.

“He had some toad.” Needletail’s voice began to glide towards camp. “Give the mouse to Darktail or something. I’ll go with you.”

With embarrassment weighing down each paw, Alderheart followed the cats back to the camp. He briefly looked up at Rain, accidentally catching the tom’s eye. Rain gave a subtle scowl and shook his head before returning his focus to Needletail. 

Back at camp, loneliness fell from the pines and clawed at Alderheart’s thoughts. He dragged himself to the medicine den and sat down next to Twigpaw, waking her from rest. The apprentice asked what was wrong; Alderheart gave no response, not even taking his stare away from his paws to look at her. He felt Twigpaw nestle closer to his legs, allowing him to spot the “bandaging” on her leg from the corner of his eyes. 

A violent disgust that targeted every hair on his pelt raked its claws on Alderheart’s thoughts. He was the closest thing Twigpaw had to kin when she was separated from Violetpaw, and she had become a powerfully warm presence in his life. Now, he was intentionally keeping her hurt because he was scared. He had assured himself that his fake-treatment- even his arrival to the Kin- was to protect her. Now, he doubted it. He did not take this risk that his family objected to for Twigpaw, nor the prophecy. 

I’m selfish. 

Alderheart pulled away from Twigpaw and slumped into a nest, curling his tail around his eyes to keep his inner hatred from spilling onto the den floor. 

Caterwauls jerked Alderheart from sleep, waking him to a nearly completely dark camp.

“Attack! Someone’s attacked us!” a Kin member shrieked. 

Alderheart dove for one of Puddleshine’s battle-medicine leaf wraps and dashed into camp, following the wave of Kin that shoved their way through the thorn tunnel. Alderheart followed, hissing as he was pushed into one of the barrier bushes on his way through the tunnel. Alderheart soon found himself joining a ring of cats that stood around a pile of… something on the forest floor. The reek of blood filled his mouth.

“NO!” came a shriek. Its familiarity raking down the medicine cat’s bones.

Needletail, her silver pelt slightly illuminated by starlight, bounded towards the center of the circle, throwing her forepaws around the dark mass. “Rain! Rain! Speak to me Rain!”

“I’m- my neck-” Rain’s voice sputtered. 

Needetail threw her head up from her mate and frantically searched the crowd. Her green eyes- surrounded by white outlines of terror- locked onto Alderheart. “Help him! He’s been attacked!”

Letting his medicine cat duties take over his paws, Alderheart began to step towards the downed Rain, but something else captured his eyes.

Darktail stood behind Rain and Needletail, within the crowd of cats. His pelt was still covered in bandages, but Alderheart’s paws froze at the sight of blood smearing the color of the night sky on the tom’s white chest. More blood trickled from fresh scratches.

Darktail attacked Rain! Why? Alderheart felt a stream of leaf-bare water course down his spine. No… Rain attacked Darktail.

Looking into Darktail’s eyes, they showed echoes of a fight: a scowl narrowed his eyelids and rage burned blue around black scratches at the center. 

“Alderheart!” Needletail howled, clawing for the medicine cat’s attention. “Help him!”

Alderheart’s quivering stare returned to Darktail, who stared back at him with a silent command. The code states that I can’t risk the life of a cat, no matter what I think of him. Alderheart looked back to Needletail, the terrified desperation in her face making every other sense disappear. Alderheart saw her at the lake. Her head was held under water by Darktail.

“Help him!” Needletail roared, fear sparking into a flaming rage. 

Alderheart did not even realize he had already returned himself back to the ring of watching cats.

Needletail groaned in sorrow as she turned away from the medicine cat, slumping over Rain’s body. As Rain’s breaths slowed, Needletail’s quickened. When the gray tom exhaled for a final time, Needletail buried her face in his blackened neck fur. Her wails were so muffled that Alderheart could barely hear them over the heartbeat pounding fear into his ears.

Darktail stepped forward, looking down at Needletail- Alderheart gasped sharply to prevent himself from falling where he stood. The leader of the Kin reached out a drenched, dark paw towards Needletail’s head, keeping claws sheathed as he pressed his massive paw between her ears. Blood fell from his paw and ran down the she-cat’s face as she lifted her head.

“Did you know?” Darktail growled.

Needletail was staring death in the eyes. Alderheart saw fear take hold of the she-cat; it slaughtered her foolish bravery. “No,” she answered, barely above a whisper. Even stating her non-involvement sounded like an admission of guilt she was terrified to expose. 

“You’d be a fool to lie,” Darktail replied, matching Needletail’s whisper. He then released his paw from her silver fur and scanned the crowd, puffing his chest to raise his voice. “Rain attacked me while I was making dirt, like a fox.”

The Kin remained silent.

“If you want to challenge me, fight me like a cat.” Darktail kicked Rain’s body, making Needletail flinch. “Put him in the lake, tonight. He doesn’t get a burial,” he hissed into Needletail’s ear. Darktail forced his way through the crowd, and the Kin followed him back into camp.

Alderheart remained for a moment, finally allowing the sorrow at the sight of Needletail’s defeated state show.

As if she could smell his empathy, Needletail slowly raised her head away from Rain and turned to glare at Alderheart. The despise that burned from her eyes shocked him more than the blood smeared her silver face. 

Chapter Text

“Here you go, Alderheart,” mewed a young voice.

Alderheart looked away from his organizing of herbs to see a squirrel laid to his side.

“You and Puddleshine can share,” Violetpaw mewed, a subtle pride in her eyes before she turned to leave the den.

Both medicine cats thanked the apprentice, finalized leaf wraps of various wound-related herbs, and shared the squirrel among themselves. Alderheart glanced at Puddleshine’s brown and white pelt every few bites; the medicine cat rarely acknowledged him outside of duties. I remember Rain said he might get replaced. Alderheart felt chills at the thought of the rogue who was killed a few nights ago, further remembering Needletail returning to the camp with lake water drenching her legs. Hopefully he was just joking. I don’t want Puddleshine to see me as a threat.

Since Rain’s death, he had hardly even heard the mew of Needletail, never offering to help Alderheart hunt or request his healing services. The loss of a familiar presence had made Alderheart bear a constant thorn in the back of his head that left him looking over his back when outside of the medicine cat den, wary of unfamiliar mews, and keeping his distance from everyone if his skills were not needed. Twigpaw remained the only warming mew, though it had become chilled by Alderheart’s guilt every time he saw the random, useless herbs stuck to her leg. 

The medicine cat stifled a flinch when he heard heavy pawsteps enter the den, though a set of smaller paws trailed behind. 

“Hello,” came the voice: a she-cat warrior. “Twigpaw, Alderheart, may I speak with you?”

Alderheart turned to recognize Dawnpelt, with Violetpaw at her side.

Twigpaw was already on her paws, holding her injured hindleg off the floor. “Yeah!”

Alderheart and the two apprentices followed Dawnpelt to a dark corner of camp. Alderheart could not help but scan the camp as he walked to make sure Darktail was not watching. He took a risk by even glancing at a cat that once was a ShadowClan warrior.

“Thank you,” Dawnpelt said as they sat together, keeping her mew hushed. “I’m leaving for ThunderClan tonight. A few ShadowClan cats have already left; Juniperclaw and Strikestone left earlier today. You all should come with me.”

Thank StarClan, Alderheart thought, feeling relief for the first time since he left his clan. With Twigpaw and Violetpaw safe, the-

Violetpaw’s voice slashed through the thoughts. “I’m sorry, Dawnpelt. I can’t leave Needletail…”

“Seriously?” Dawnpelt was fighting to keep her voice quiet. “She got us into this mess-”

“She’s been having nightmares. I’m not leaving.”

“Me neither,” Twigpaw answered, matching her sister’s assertion. “Where my sister goes, I go.”

The she-cats continued to have a hushed argument, but Alderheart could only hear his fear returning to his mind as quickly as it had left. Am I really going to be staying here for so long? There must be a way to escape the Kin to safety with the sisters by his side. 

“Alderheart!” The cry wailed through the battle, slashing at the medicine cat’s pelt like claws. “Help me!”

Alderheart raced towards the cry, hammering his breath through his nose as he held a leaf wrap of battle herbs in his jaws. He finally reached the downed cat after bumping into other battle-crazed Kin cats.

The white and black cat was lying on the ground. The smell of fear overpowered the reek of blood. “It hurts!” 

Alderheart spotted the source of the wound: a deep gash in the cat’s neck that blood poured out of like a stream. “You’ll be fine. What’s your name?”

The tom stammered to even say his own name. “Max.”

“You’re gonna be okay, Max,” Alderheart assured, trying to keep his voice calm amidst the ferocious battle that stormed around him.

“Th-thank you,” Max weeped as Alderheart dropped his leaf wrap and began to rip out cobwebs.

Alderheart was only beginning to apply the cobwebs to Max’s neck when a roar sliced through the caterwauls, reverberating through the ground and shaking Alderheart’s bones.

“Alderheart!” Darktail’s voice was electric, Alderheart could hear the adrenaline powering the leader’s yowl. “Get away from him! Use the herbs on the real fighters!”

Immediately, Alderheart gripped the herbs in his jaws and left the bleeding kittypet.

“Alderheart! Alderheart, don't leave me!” Max wailed, his anguished mew that was strangled by panic became louder than Darktail’s. “I need to go home! I need to see my house-folk! I can’t leave them!”

Max continued to wail, but Alderheart had folded his ears to block out the sound. The medicine cat began to feel the weight of what he had just done once the terror of Darktail’s command faded. I just left a cat to die, and I could have saved him… I’m no medicine cat anymore. Alderheart doubted he ever was a medicine cat if his destiny placed him on this side of the battle. 

The fight was never severed by a command to stop. Rather, the realization that the RiverClan warriors had huddled together, backing away from the Kin, slowly dawned on the battle patrols. Looking up from a wounded cat, terror clawed at Alderheart as he watched Violetpaw continue to ravage a RiverClan cat in a thoughtless rage, stopping only when Needletail told her apprentice the battle was won. 

As Darktail announced his victory to RiverClan, Alderheart scanned the battlefield for wounded cats. Countless bodies were strewn across the grass, each painting the ground around them in blood that looked black in the darkness of dawn. Alderheart found no rising and falling of breath or stirring of wounded warriors- they were all dead. Even the Kin member that laid under Alderheart’s paws that he had coated in cobwebs had become still and cold as stone. The chill of death rose through the young tom’s paws and legs, freezing him where he stood. Darktail’s command to take the wounded RiverClan cats as prisoners and to leave the dead unburied passed meaninglessly through Alderheart’s ears. The horror of the battle had infected every speck of his body, and he was sure that nothing would ever happen to lower him from this state of terror.

Alderheart’s eyes caught Mistystar’s. Between the blood-coated blue-gray pelt, her eyes dug into his, casting him out of belonging to the clans. 

“Gather up the prisoners,” Darktail commanded, turning to the Kin as Mistystar turned and led her warriors away. “Gather them up, and find a place to hold them.”

The young tom began to feel waves of fear crash against his ribs as Darktail approached him, eyeing him coldly. Alderheart averted his eyes, staring at the blood that thickened Darktail’s paws.

“Go with the prisoners. You are to keep them alive, but do not heal them. Stop the bleeding, but don’t stop infections. Understood?”

Alderheart could not break his eyes away from the towering tom’s claws that remained extended even after battle. “Yes, Darktail.” As the leader stomped past the medicine cat, Alderheart exhaled and stared at his own paws which had become dark red, just the same. Even if Darktail dropped dead within the heartbeat and peace was restored to the territories within the next, Alderheart doubted he could call himself a cat of the clans after today. Much less, a medicine cat who had vowed to protect the cats under his care. He dared to lift his head and scan the bodies of cats that had been energized by flowing blood and beating hearts just a day ago. His eyes retreated back to his paws at the sight of a raven picking at Max’s corpse.

The new medicine den, once habited by the RiverClan medicine cats, stunk of rotting flesh that hung on the living. The wounded RiverClan cats were coated in inflammations and infections; Alderheart had never seen injuries so horrible that he had to suspect that some of the Kin were doing something to the weak RiverClan cats to allow infections to fester. I wondered why I saw Sleekwhisker leaving the den earlier. Alderheart did not dare to speak up about his suspicions to anyone. 

While trying to stop bleeding from a scratch above Reedwhisker’s eye, the scent of Needletail slipped between the malodor of the infection.

“Almost all of the Kin have been moved,” she stated from behind Alderheart. “Darktail requested that we move Twigpaw to here.”

Alderheart suppressed a grimace. He had hoped that Twigpaw would remain in the ShadowClan camp away from the reek of the RiverClan prisoners. He forced a level of obedience in his mew to hide his anger. “Once I’m done with Reedwhisker,” he said, expecting Needletail to order him to leave the deputy. 

“Fine,” Needletail mumbled, her voice fading slightly- likely turning to face the den’s exit. “Be quick.”

Alderheart swiftly pressed bandaging to Reedwhisker’s wound, shirking from catching the deputy’s defeated eyes.

Alderheart kept his gaze low as he stepped before Needletail, following silently as she turned to leave camp.

“Did you eat?” Her question was devoid of any actual concern.

“Yes.” Alderheart matched her shallowness. He had not eaten since last night, though he did not expect Needletail to care. She had grown slimmer still, her skeletal frame became visible under her gray fur. Ironically, everyone hunting for themselves makes it so everyone has less to eat.

The two cats traveled through the Kin’s territory towards the pine forest, though he kept his eyes on his forepaws. Alderheart wondered if the smell of the prisoner-medicine den followed him until he realized he was walking through the battle ground. Keeping his head low, Needletail’s guidance began to sway in direction, swerving around intense instances of the rotten smell. Alderheart finally raised his head when he and Needletail entered the old ShadowClan camp, terrified that a pile of fur and bone would haunt his eyes until death. 

A few cats remained in the camp, some dragging preferred bits of bedding or carrying spare prey to the entrance. Some ShadowClan warriors remained, although they looked lost in their own home.

Alderheart made the initiative to pass Needletail to enter the medicine den before her. The tom’s heart cracked at the sight of Twigpaw laying in an empty den.

The young she-cat raised her head as Alderheart approached. “Hi! I thought I was going to be left here!” 

Alderheart pressed his nose to her, feeling as though he regained a sliver of the cat he was in ThunderClan. “We’re going to help you to the new den, in RiverClan.”

Twigpaw looked as though she was going to ask why the Kin had access to RiverClan, though it seemed she too had learned to keep her jaws clamped.

Needletail and Alderheart pressed on either side of Twigpaw’s body, allowing her to walk with normal cadence out of the camp. “Sorry, my stupid leg still hasn’t healed,” the apprentice whispered.

“It’s okay,” Alderheart mewed, licking Twigpaw’s ear. He hoped she could not feel the heat of guilt beginning to cinder under his fur.

“I promise I’ve been stretching it like you said.” Twigpaw’s voice began to shake. She sounded ashamed, as if she was being punished for misbehaving. “I did all the stretching you said I should do but-”

“Twigpaw, I-” Alderheart saw Needletail’s green eyes lock on him from the edge of his vision. He did not care. “I’m sorry. I haven’t been healing you like I should.”

Twigpaw’s eyes rounded, the sunlight that broke through the pines shimmering at their edges. “Why? Is it because I didn’t fight in the battle?”

Alderheart pressed himself closer to the apprentice. “No! I’m doing it to protect you… Darktail, he said that you and Violetpaw…” Alderheart caught Needletail’s gaze, still as a stone, though the slits of darkness in her eyes jittered like angry bees. He forced himself to speak, but only awkward croaks escaped his jaws. His heart began to hammer, knowing that there was no way to explain what Darktail threatened to do in front of the cats he walked with, especially with Needletail’s untrusting leer.

“It’s alright, Alderheart.” Twigpaw’s voice was clear and understanding. “You’ve cared for me since you found me. I trust whatever you choose to do.”

Alderheart still could not move himself to speak, instead looking forward and resting his tail on Twigpaw’s back.

After many moments of silent walking, Needletail spoke up, slightly startling Alderheart. “We’ll take a longer way if that’s okay with you, Twigpaw.”

“Why?”

“I don’t want you to see the battlefield.”

Like a warm day melting an entire leafbare’s worth of snow, Alderheart felt his soul thaw as Needletail guided the once ThunderClan cats further away from the lake to hike far away from where the Kin fought RiverClan. Somewhere in Needletail, a care for others that transcended allegiances must still be breathing. Alderheart assured himself that he could bring that Needletail out from the prison Darktail had placed it in, returning it to its shine he had seen during their quest. 

The sun was beginning to dip into the horizon as the three cats arrived at the new camp. To Alderheart’s relief, Darktail ordered that Twigpaw will be kept with the injured Kin, rather than the RiverClan prisoners. Alderheart had laid down next to Twigpaw until she drifted asleep, hoping that her dreams took her out of Darktail’s control. When the tom left the den, his fur spiked at the sight of Needletail standing still at the entrance.

“You need to tell me something, Alderheart.” Though her voice was threatening, the whites of her eyes were exposed in panic and her whiskers twitched as though the ground below her was trembling. “What did Darktail say to you? About Violetpaw.”

Alderheart turned away and darted his anxious gaze between the Kin cats in the medicine den.

Needletail pressed her face closer, stealing Alderheart’s focus. “What did he say?” The lowered volume of her voice allowed traces of fear to escape. 

“If I did anything against him, like heal Twigpaw, then Darktail would kill me, you, Twigpaw, and Violetpaw,” Alderheart whispered, ignoring any thoughts that this was a kind of test Darktail created. He had never seen Needletail panic like this before, other than when Rain died.

Without acknowledging the tom’s words, Needletail spun around, nearly swiping Alderheart with her tail. Alderheart watched silently as her silver pelt took on a starry glow as sunlight bathed her fur. 

Anxiety towards the ramifications of what he just said spun in Alderheart’s mind, though Needletail’s exposed worry gave him hope. If anyone would be the reason the lonesome she-cat began to fight against Darktail, it would be the cat Needletail had adopted into her clan those many moons ago. 

Alderheart was awoken in the dark den by the prodding of a gentle paw. He faced the small silhouette. “Yes?” 

“It’s Needletail.” Violetpaw’s voice exposed a stifled fear. “Her nightmares keep getting worse.”

Sorrow pooled at Alderheart’s paws, forcing him to rise from his bedding. How could such a tough cat like Needletail suffer from continual nightmares? The medicine cat grabbed a folded leaf that contained a few poppy seeds and followed Violetpaw to one of the dens. Upon realizing that Needletail had left her nest, the two cats swiftly followed a faint scent trail that ended just outside of the camp, where the nimble she-cat was curled into a silver-gray circle of fur under a bush.

“Needletail?” Violetpaw sounded unsure if the cat before her was actually her clanmate and not a slumbering badger. “I brought Alderheart to help you.”

At the mention of the tom, Needletail pulled her head away from her curled body. She had the same face of suppressed fear on her face from when she last spoke to the medicine cat.

“You can go back to sleep, Violetpaw,” Alderheart suggested through the folded leaf. “I’ll get her back to her nest soon.”

Violetpaw swiveled her worrisome expression between the older cats. 

“Do as he says, Violetpaw,” Needletail ordered before tucking herself back into a curl.

Violetpaw began to pad back to camp, blinking concerned yellow eyes at Alderheart before leaving her friend. 

Alderheart dropped his leaf wrap and stepped around Needletail, dragging his paws on the grass so she could hear where he was. Many heartbeats after sitting a mouse-tail away from her, he parted his jaws to speak. “Why are you out here, Needletail?”

The she-cat snorted. “Just give me the seeds and drag me back to my nest.”

“Seeds that make you sleep won’t make nightmares any better,” the medicine cat retorted. “What are your nightmares about?”

“Don’t pretend like you still care about me,” Needletail snapped as soon as she could without interrupting. 

Alderheart waited in silence until he thought of another thing to say to pry at the barriers Needletail had grown around herself. “The sooner you tell me, the sooner I can use my skills to help you.”

Needletail grumbled, curling deeper into herself. “They’re about cats I care about.” Her tail wrapped around her muzzle, as if wanting to muffle her words.

“Who?”

“Violetpaw, mostly. And my parents. And…”

Alderheart sighed, remembering hearing from ex-ShadowClan cats of the Kin that Needletail’s parents, Berryheart and Sparrowtail, had disappeared along with many other ShadowClan cats. There were hushed rumors that Darktail had killed them when they tried to leave. Alderheart dared to drag his tail over Needletail’s tense shoulders. “What happens to them?”

“I find them dying with Darktail standing over them. I beg anyone to help them, but no one does.”

Alderheart forced his fur to lay flat at the memory of such happening to Rain. Needletail clearly loved the tom. Alderheart could not scratch at the comprehension of losing someone when he thought he would have a future with them. “Why do you think you’re having these dreams?”

Needletail’s head suddenly lifted up, still staring away from Alderheart, her tail flopping to the ground. “Because I’ve doomed everyone who ever gave a rat’s-tail about me.”

“I’m still here, and I care about you.”

Needletail rolled her eyes. “And look where that got you, I dragged you into this, and now you’re being forced by Darktail to pretend to heal cats.”

“I’m doing what I can to protect my friends, which includes you.”

“See, you’re actually a good cat. You shouldn’t be friends with a rotten one like me-”

“You need to stop calling yourself rotten.”

“Well, I am. Even if this ends, I betrayed ShadowClan and my kin is dead. Not that any of them ever cared.”

Alderheart wanted to assure that her parents and clan must have cared for her, but he knew she never fit in with ShadowClan; and by her tone when mentioning her kin, she likely was not close with them, either. Alderheart began to flatten Needletail’s bristled pelt with his tail. “Well, you could always do what Rowanstar did and come to ThunderClan. You could reconnect Violetpaw and Twigpaw permanently!”

Needletail dropped her chin on her paws. “I’m sure Sparkpelt would be ecstatic.”

Alderheart huffed a comedic snort. “She’ll grow up. I’m sure Squirrelflight and Bramblestar would get along with you.”

Needletail was silent for a moment. The rise and fall of her ribs slowed. “I’ll think about it. I’ve heard a lot about your family, they seem nice.”

“What about Jayfeather?” Alderheart jeered.

Needletail smirked. “Dawnpelt had much to say about him, but I’m sure he’s got a heart somewhere under his thornbush of a pelt.”

“I wouldn’t bet your freshkill on it.” Alderheart patted Needletail with his tail and pulled it away; Needletail raised her head, possibly finally noticing his tail as it left. 

The she-cat suddenly examined Alderheart’s amber eyes with hers, making his head flinch slightly. “Why do you want me in ThunderClan?” she asked cooly with a subtle smirk. 

Alderheart broke away from her inquisitive gaze, staring across the lake. “I’m just not sure ShadowClan will recover from this, that’s all. You’ll need a clan to stay in.”

Needletail snickered to herself as she rose to her paws, taking her turn to look down on the tom. “Sure,” she said with a cheerful undertone before returning to the camp.

Alderheart stood still until the she-cat was out of sight. “Mouse-dung!” he cursed to himself, clawing at the grass. At least she feels better, he thought as he returned to his den. And that’s all I need to do as a medicine cat, make cats feel better. Though, as Alderheart stepped over the Kin members in the den to his own nest, he truly began to realize what trees he had burned from his life when he decided to walk the path of the medicine cat. Slumping into his nest, he thought of the RiverClan cats in a nearby den- he could still detect the stench of infection: it climbed into his mouth and dug into his mind. I abandoned my medicine cat code for the prophecy. Is it a life I can even return to after what I’ve done?

Chapter Text

The dark ginger tom stepped through what had been RiverClan territory, leaping over streams to look for herbs. At least ShadowClan was a forest, like ThunderClan. He had accumulated a decent pile of horsetail among the wetlands that would be for the Kin. Alderheart briefly remembered the wounds of RiverClan warriors that had reopened since the battle that would need cobwebs and any kind of anti-infection herb. Though, Darktail had told him that mud and grass would suffice at stopping their bleeding. He could find that just outside of camp. 

“Alderheart,” the wind whispered. 

Alderheart raised his head and scanned the territory, immediately locking in on a shifting shadow in the grass of WindClan. The tom did not answer, waiting as the shaking grass neared the border. His legs tensed, ready to bolt for the Kin’s camp.

A face rose above the grass, matching its golden color.

“Mothwing?” Alderheart gasped.

A second head rose, a much slimmer gray tabby.

“Jayfeather?”

“Someone’s been busy,” Jayfeather grumbled, its unpleasant tone pressing an aching nostalgia in Alderheart’s core.

Alderheart swiveled his head around to make sure no Kin cats were nearby before approaching the border. “Is everything okay? Where’s RiverClan?” 

“RiverClan is fine, or what’s left of it.” Mothwing spoke curtly with unusual agitation.

“Twigpaw and Violetpaw, what about them?” Jayfeather pressed, his blue eyes focused.

“They’re… fine.” Alderheart licked the fur on his chest. “Twigpaw’s leg is still injured, but she’s been keeping herself healthy by doing the same exercises as Briarlight. Violetpaw fought in the battle, but she’s okay, too.” Alderheart did not feel like mentioning Darktail’s hold over the safety of the two had immediately taken over Alderheart’s ability to care for them properly.

“Good, you did what you needed to, Alderheart,” Jayfeather praised, though his voice was empty of emotion. “But now we need to take them back to ThunderClan.”

Mothwing nodded. “It won’t be long before a battle erupts again. Violetpaw could get hurt. StarClan knows how much Darktail cares about his fighters.”

Alderheart expected to feel relief: it would be easy to sneak Violetpaw and Twigpaw out of camp with extra supporting paws, as he had devised a plan ever since his night speaking to Needletail. Yet, Alderheart struggled to pull at the thorn that dug into his thoughts until a face came to mind.

“Needletail.”

“What about her?” Aggression swayed in Mothwing’s mew.

Alderheart sighed. “Darktail told me that if anything went wrong with Violetpaw, he would kill Needletail. She has to come along, too.”

“That’s her problem!” Fury contorted Mothwing’s face and she spun around to face WindClan, lashing her tail.

Jayfeather scowled at his apprentice. “Needletail was one of Darktail’s first allies. Nothing good will come out of putting her in camp with ShadowClan and RiverClan- she fought them-”

“So did Violetpaw!” Alderheart interjected.

“Violetpaw is an apprentice!” Mothwing hissed over her shoulder.

Jayfeather nodded adamantly. “Any problems with her can be controlled. Needletail’s about as trustable as a fox.”

Alderheart stomped his paw into the ground, making it loud enough for Jayfeather to hear. “The sisters won’t- can’t leave without her.”

Mothwing spun back around, growling. “And we can’t trust her! She could betray us to Darktail and we’d all be gutted!”

Alderheart glared at the medicine cat in challenge. “Then you’ll have to trust that I’m keeping the prophecy safe on my own.”

Mothwing parted her jaws to retort, but Jayfeather swatted her face with his tail.

The ThunderClan medicine cat sighed, drooping his lanky neck as his thoughtful eyes looked through the earth below him.

“Alderheart… regardless of how you feel about this she-cat…” Alderheart’s mentor raised his head. His face was remorseful; an uncanny empathy filled his blue eyes. “You have a duty to the safety of your clanmates and to StarClan’s prophecy.”

Alderheart dropped his gaze to his paws, not daring to say that he had already accepted his failure as a medicine cat. All he could do to protect others was pray that Darktail would keep him alive for another day so Alderheart could keep the wounded balancing between life and death.

Jayfeather’s voice drifted through Alderheart’s thoughts. “Think of Twigpaw.”

Alderheart slumped where he stood. He shuddered at the thought of Needletail falling under Darktail’s claws and water filling her lungs. Then he saw the same happening to Twigpaw. Alderheart raised his head to the two medicine cats. “Okay. I can sneak the apprentices out of camp and meet you here at moon-high.”

“You made the right decision,” Mothwing stated, though her mew was sharp with lingering disdain.

“If you can’t get them out safely, try again the next night.” Jayfeather turned around and beckoned Mothwing to follow. “We will be here every night until they’re safe.”

As the medicine cats slipped away into the fields of WindClan, Alderheart realized with a sharp pain that he should have asked Jayfeather how their kin was doing.

It doesn’t matter, Alderheart decided, turning away from the border with his head low. I’ll be home tomorrow night… and by then… Needletail… Alderheart shook his head. Jayfeather and Mothwing don’t trust her, but they haven’t ever spoken to her. If they think it’s a risk, I’ll just take it for them. He had no doubt in his heart that Needletail was on his side, and he would show that to the medicine cats by saving the apprentices with her at his side.

Alderheart traveled back to camp with a jaw full of herbs. While treating the injured cats, he could scent Needletail enter the den behind him, dropping prey near his tail. Before she could leave, Alderheart twined his tail around her forepaw and tilted his head slightly to the side. “Tonight,” he muttered. He felt Needletail lift her paw away and leave the den in silence.

Alderheart’s paws began to tremble as he regretfully smeared mud over infected scars. His treatment had already cost the life of Reedwhisker, who spent his last moments forgiving Alderheart’s tortuous treatment under Darktail and told the medicine cat to tell Mistystar that it was an honor to be her deputy and her son. A chill flushed through Alderheart as he remembered Darktail ordering him to send Reedwhisker’s body into the lake. Seeing the noble deputy slowly fall into the dark depths crashed into Alderheart’s thoughts several times a day.

The ThunderClan tom looked towards his fellow medicine cat who had forced himself to sleep in a ragged nest. I hope Puddleshine can handle everything once I’m gone. I hope he doesn’t get blamed. Alderheart grimaced; he relied a lot on hoping recently. Needletail must already be informing Violetpaw about their plan to put poppy seeds in Darktail and his closest followers’ prey. By the time they awoke, Alderheart, Twigpaw, Violetpaw, and Needletail would be safe in ThunderClan with a counter attack soon to follow. Hopefully, Alderheart thought with a quiet growl.

Until the sun drained into the horizon, Alderheart kept away from his allies. One of Darktail’s subordinates, Raven, had come to him saying that he felt exhausted. It’s working, Alderheart had thought after he suggested that Raven had overworked herself and should rest early tonight. 

When the sky became a dark pool dotted by bubbles of stars, Alderheart stepped out of the den, eyeing Needletail who gnawed on the remains of a fish at the far end of camp. She looked back and lashed her tail four times. 

All of them are asleep!

Alderheart returned to the den to fetch Twigpaw, swiftly guiding her out of camp to the greater territory. I’m just helping her to the dirtplace like usual, Alderheart told himself as Kin members glanced at him. As soon as they were out of sight, Twigpaw set her hind paw down; she had recovered a little by natural healing, though continued to fake her injury to lower suspicion. 

Soon, Violetpaw joined the ThunderClan cats, though Needletail was taking much longer.

“What’s keeping her up?” Alderheart asked when his anxiousness had flooded over its banks.

“She said she was going to make sure they were asleep, again,” Violetpaw explained, though she too eyed the distant camp anxiously. 

After another long moment, Twigpaw whispered into Alderheart’s ear. “You don’t think…”

Alderheart confidently shook his head. She’s being careful. She wouldn’t risk Violetpaw. Or me. Alderheart stifled a shiver. She wouldn’t hurt me.

A heartbeat later, a silver pelt sparkled from the camp and slowly crossed the wetlands to join the escapees. 

“Took you long enough!” Violetpaw hissed, though relief lifted her mew.

“Sorry,” Needletail looked back at the camp. “Sleekwhisker was still up and she was asking me about hunting tomorrow before she went to sleep.” The she-cat faced her friends. “But I won’t be there.”

Twigpaw and Violetpaw snorted in unison.

“Let’s go. Jayfeather isn’t one to wait,” Alderheart interjected, still feeling anxiety bubbling in his stomach. He and Mothwing better accept Needletail when they see her.

The apprentices fell in between the older cats, all four of them scanning the dark territory like prey watching for hungry cats. The moon was high in the sky, and Alderheart could see WindClan territory in the closing distance. The dense forest of ThunderClan was felt within the pawstep. After this misery, I will be home and the prophecy will be safe! He looked at Needletail, who leered towards the lake. And maybe I’ll have a… friend. A friend. 

At the sight of Jayfeather and Mothwing rising from the tall grass, Alderheart felt a fluttering in his soul. He and Needletail, just as planned, turned to face the territory as Twigpaw and Violetpaw safely retreated across the border.

“Wait, Mothwing, which of your clanmates is that?” Jayfeather said between intense sniffs.

Alderheat’s inner fluttering was pulled to the ground.

Mothwing hissed. “That’s Needletail.”

Jayfeather took the opportunity to hiss, too. “Alderheart, you brought Needletail?”

Alderheart’s pelt bristled to protest, though he still faced the territory. “But it’s fine, she helped like I said! Let’s just go.”

“No!” Mothwing snarled. “We can’t bring her to camp! She’ll expose us!”

“She’ll die if-”

Needletail gasped. “Alderheart.” 

Alderheart swung her head towards her. Needletail was still facing the territory, now with horror blazing in her face and her focus flickered. “You’re coming with us, they can’t stop you,” Alderheart stammered.

“Alderheart, I need to stay.” She was still looking at the territory.

Look at me! “Needletail, please-”

“Alderheart.” Needletail’s horrified stare seemed focused on something.

Alderheart matched her direction. His heart began to pound as he saw a dark silhouette running towards them. He spotted another cat racing up from the distant lake shore. Darktail. He could already feel the tom’s claws tearing at his pelt. His legs threatened to collapse from their tremoring.

“I see four,” Mothwing spoke, her mew cracking with fear. “We won’t outrun them across WindClan.”

“Mouse-dung,” Jayfeather hissed.

Alderheart’s eyes returned to Needletail; she was finally looking at him. “Alderheart…” She then turned to Violetpaw.

Violetpaw stepped back, trembling with fear as if Needletail was a fifth Kin member closing in.

The sound of heavy pawsteps thundered closer. The four rogues had joined into one hammering patrol.

Needletail inhaled sharply and held her breath, her lower jaw agape with shock. “Make this count.”

Violetpaw’s irises shrunk as if the sunlight had returned in a heartbeat. “What?”

Like a lightning bolt, Needletail blasted across the territory, tackling Darktail and throwing him against the three cats behind him.

Alderheart felt his heart shatter as he watched Needletail’s glowing silver fur disappear behind a flurry of pelts.

“Let’s move!” Jayfeather roared.

Water flooding his eyes and anguish ripping through his body, Alderheart turned away from the Kin’s territory and began to race after his allies. The shaking in his legs made him stumble to the grass, but he was quick to rise back to his aching paws. He placed himself just behind Twigpaw, who had lagged behind the other three.

She can’t be gone! She’ll take them all down! No amount of hope, Alderheart knew, could give a cat victory over four ruthless rogues. 

Alderheart’s lungs tensed as a bolt of fur came out of nowhere, tackling Twigpaw. Alderheart heard her yelp in one heartbeat and felt his claws ripping through flesh in the next. The pelt he clawed at lurched up, pinning him to the grass. He saw Sleekwhisker’s enraged face loom above his. She briefly glanced towards ThunderClan territory before glaring back at him.

“You dung-faced rat!” she hissed, tensing her claws around Alderheart’s neck.

Alderheart tried to squirm out of her grip, only to receive a blow into his gut from Sleekwhisker’s hindleg.

“That’s the wrong one, flea-brain!” growled another rogue.

“I had her! But this one,” Sleekwhisker gave another kick, this time knocking air out of Alderheart’s frame, “got in the way.”

Alderheart’s jaws stretched in a vainful attempt to swallow air back into his lungs. He felt his eyes tense, then everything went dark. 

Chapter Text

The forest of ThunderClan was at peace: wind hummed through the trees and birds chattered in their crowns. Alderheart stepped through the undergrowth, feeling a jolt of familiarity that never passed.

I’ve been here before. He peered around, then closed his eyes and took the sweet smell of the forest into his jaws. Not just this place. But here. In this moment in time. Opening his eyes, he saw a gust of silver fur disappear behind a tree. Wait. No. I don’t want to do this again.

Without his advice, Alderheart’s paws began to force him to follow the cat. No! This is where everything went wrong because of me! It won’t happen again! His body continued to ignore his mind, beginning to gallop after a familiar scent. Stop! I can’t do this again! Get me out-

Alderheart gasped as he awoke in the night, the golden glow of the early morning slipping away from his vision. Before he could remember where he was, a set of claws stamped on the back of his head.

“Finally!” That was Sleekwhisker’s voice growling just above his head.

The tom’s heart began to shake in his ribs as he dragged his gaze across the cats that surrounded him. Darktail’s sinister face and his towering stature reignited a desperate fear behind Alderheart’s eyes. He thought his terror could not climb any further into his mind until he saw Needletail. The she-cat stood between Raven and Roach. Her fur was ruffled and marked red by a few scratches, but she stood still between the rogues. Their gazes met, and Alderheart’s pelt bristled at the shame that glistened in her green eyes.

Did she… betray me? 

Darktail flicked his tail at Sleekwhisker, and the she-cat released her grip on the medicine cat. “Get up,” the leader of the Kin snarled.

Alderheart slowly rose to his paws, legs trembling like saplings in a windstorm. His eyes darted between cats; he briefly considered racing away until the thought of being dragged back to the lake side by his tail severed the premonition. 

Darktail motioned his head for Alderheart to follow, to which the small tom thoughtlessly obeyed, sulking behind the white and black leader. Alderheart’s vision became blurry with fear, he did not see the water he was stepping into until the chill climbed up from his paws.

“No!” Needletail roared behind him, followed by the sound of a brief fight to restrain her. “I threatened to kill him if he didn’t help Violetpaw escape! It’s my fault!”

“Then what do you care?” Darktail’s voice was pitched with amusement. The tom pushed Alderheart with his drenched paws to face the medicine cat towards Needletail.

The she-cat was barely holding herself up from the shore. Her head trembled as she stared hopelessly at the stones at her paws. “I… I was…”

Darktail snorted, suddenly gripping Alderheart’s scruff with a massive paw. “There’s only two cats who walk this world: those who make choices and those who obey. To lead, the choosers must be culled. You both will die tonight.”

Alderheart’s breaths began to trip on the way through his throat and he began to stumble where he stood. He would have collapsed into the shallow water if Darktail was not holding him up. 

“Your death will be quick.” 

Me or Needletail? Alderheart’s thoughts scampered around in his skull. Shame drenched his pelt when he hoped it would be him.

“I respect you, Needletail. You were a great asset to me. At one time, you were a perfect cat of the Kin.” Darktail’s claws dug into Alderheart’s scruff. “But… this little rat… stepped into my territory disloyal from the start.”

Alderheart heard a weep slouch from his tongue.

“He had previous morals. I knew I couldn’t expect him to take my oath to heart.” 

Darktail’s burning breath began to surround Alderheart’s ears, but the weak tom kept his head slumped to Darktail’s grip.

“It was fun making you betray those morals, but now I’m done with you.”

Alderheart felt water slam into his chin. Stones jabbed into body- he felt a creak echo through his body from his lower jaw. Instinct to rise from the suffocating water forced Alderheart’s paws to push against the ground, but he felt the world around him begin to slide under his paws. Teeth dug into one of his hind legs, dragging him through the shallow water. He felt something in his leg crack under pressure and reverberate through the lake. The pain made Alderheart’s head spin in the torrent. The ginger tom tried again and again in vain to push himself up for a gasp of air, but the water that rushed from his tail to his head kept him submerged. Desperation screamed into his waterlogged ears. His muscles began to twitch and his vision of the spinning world faded in and out in violent waves. Suddenly, the grip on his leg was released and he was pulled out of the water by his scruff. Alderheart let out a harsh gasp.

“Please!” he heard Needletail wail. “Don’t do this to him! Do it to me-”

Alderheart was flung backwards into the water. Jagged rock jabbed into his spine and water tightened around every hair on his pelt. He tried to lift his muzzle out of the water, but a paw crashed from the surface and fastened around his throat, another slamming into his chest, squeezing the remaining air from the Tom’s jaws. Alderheart fought desperately to crane his neck and reach the surface. He trashed through the water with his paws; his jaw and hindleg ached in an inferno of pain. Then, a sudden and terrifying stillness poured into his body. The tom rested his head against the floor.

Alderheart saw Darktail’s white figure distorted by ripples. Behind it, he saw stars dancing around each other in the waves of darkness. The prophecy, StarClan, his friends and kin. He could have done better, but he did his best. 

May StarClan light my path. The darkness of a starless night flowed from the edge of Alderheart’s vision. May I find good hunting, swift running, and shelter when I sleep. But every heartbeat, that moment soared further away across a raging ocean and its waves of anguish.

Earth- dry earth- slammed into his side. Alderheart felt weight squeezed from his lungs and pour out of his mouth, trading the heaviness for light air. Alderheart spasmed several more times, coughing water from his throat. Finally, the crisp air came easy, and he relaxed onto the shore. His still heart raced in his body. He opened his bleary eyes and saw Needletail’s form glowing in the night.

Are we both dead? Alderheart closed his eyes and finally felt his face relax. They were together. That was all he wanted.

Jaws fastened on his thick scruff and hoisted him to his paws. Alderheart slumped onto the shoulders of a cat as an electric pain came from his hind leg, then he was pushed away and left to hold himself up on his own like a kit learning to walk. Alderheart blinked water from his eyes. A lightning strike of horror lit his pelt ablaze when he saw Darktail standing a tail length away.

“Needletail. Say that one more time.” Darktail sounded like a mischievous apprentice discovering a secret. 

“Let…” Needletail began unsteadily, her pelt coming into focus. “Let me kill him.”

Alderheart’s breaths were drowning again.

Like approaching wounded prey, Needletail slowly stepped forward. Sorrow flowed from her tired eyes and dripped from her cheek onto the stones. Suddenly, she shot forward, gripping Alderheart’s neck fur in her claws and pushing him to the ground, slowing his fall to gently rest him on the shore. 

Darktail’s Kin gathered around Alderheart and Needletail. Their eyes were wild with anticipation.

Alderheart had never seen fear distort the face of a cat so intensely before. Needletail seemed to be trapped in her own mind as another presence raised a clawed paw to the unguarded flesh where his neck met his lower jaw. The other paw held him firmly to the ground.

“I’m so sorry, Alderheart.” Mourning had already strangled Needletail’s voice. “I hope I see you in StarClan.”

Alderheart closed his eyes, not having the strength to look at his friend as she prepared to rip her claws down his throat. “Do what you have to do,” he said, relaxing his body to prepare his spirit to return to the sky. He felt a single prick in his neck.

The wind whistled to the swiftness of claws. Flesh ripped in a heartbeat. A cat choked on blood. Alderheart opened his eyes to the sound.

Raven’s eyes gleamed from her dark pelt as she flopped onto the ground. A blur of two gray pelts flew over her twitching body, splashing in the shallow water. Needletail ripped Roach away from her, flinging him deeper into the lake. Needletail was racing back towards Alderheart in a heartbeat.

The medicine cat felt a jaws clamp around one of his forepaws and lift him up.

“Take one step and I’ll kill him!” Sleekwhisker yowled through Alderheart’s paw.

Needletail shot like a diving falcon, slamming into Sleetwhisker. 

Alderheart felt his paw dislocate and his skin tear, striking his nerves with agony. 

The she-cats fought like lions, each dodging and swinging killing blows. 

Alderheart tried to rise to his paws, but a hindleg and front paw bucked beneath him and he flopped to the ground. 

He spotted Darktail. The tom had not taken a single step since taking Alderheart out of the water. A malignant thrill still plastered the tom’s broad white face.

Alderheart looked back at Needletail. Anxiety struck his mind as Roach leaped towards her as she fought Sleetwhisker, yowling in rage. Needletail’s ears flicked in the tom’s direction. The gray she-cat reached towards Sleetwhisker’s golden pelt and heaved her backwards, leaping forward just in time for Roach to slam into Sleetwhisker. 

Sleetwhisker yowled in frustration, its pitch rising as Needletail smirked. The two Kin cats chased after Needletail, following her to the lake side between the observing Alderheart and Darktail. Sleetwhisker rocketed forward with a bound, claws reaching for the cat who was once her clanmate. Needletail spun around, swiping the air between her and Sleetwhisker. Golden furs were ripped from Sleetwhisker’s face. Sleetwhisker screeched in pain until her head met a jagged rock, silencing her instantly.

Alderheart tried once more to rise. Pain screamed into his mind as he put pressure on either of his broken legs; he felt nothing in his front paw beyond the inferno of torture in his blood-stained leg.

Roach began clawing forward in a wild rage, backing Needletail closer to the edge of the lake. The she-cat’s gaze was flicking between Roach’s swings, still and calculated. In a heartbeat, Needletail weaved between Roach’s claws and locked her jaws around his neck and ripped away in an instant, freeing gray fur to let crimson blood spill out of the tom. Roach was dead before he fell from his paws.

Needletail stumbled on her paws, spreading out her stance to keep herself up. Her inhales were fast and her exhales were unstable. Her gaze rested on Alderheart, her face exhausted and empty.

A pale shadow loomed behind her. 

His pain had vanished in the heartbeat. Alderheart felt the earth between him and Needletail glide under his paws. He saw her eyes glint with confusion as he took a final bound and hurled himself at the mountain of white fur that was a claw-length away from crushing Needletail. Alderheart dug his claws into the white fur, thrusting it backwards. Before they even hit the ground, the white fur ducked under Alderheart’s chin. He felt a row of thorns clasp onto the sides of his neck. The thorns ripped through the tom’s soft neck until they gripped his windpipe. A series of cracks reverberated through Alderheart’s body, quaking into his soul. A sudden snap came, reminding him of a stick being splintered by a queen. Alderheart felt his lungs empty, only for nothing to return to them. His body slumped onto stone. Alderheart was drowning, despite the water of the lake glistening several tail-lengths from his eyes. He felt warmth filling his throat and flowing through his fur.

A screech, muffled in Alderheart’s ears, shook the dark land and night sky, rippling the lake.

Silver, white, and black fur splashed into the shallow water that reflected the moonlight. Needletail, glowing like a StarClan angel, rose above the mound of white and black that slumped between her paws. Darktail attempted to rise, only for Needletail to grip the sides of his wide face in her claws and shove him into the dark water. Darktail thrashed beneath her for a moment, then managed to shove her to her hind legs. Needletail only slammed Darktail down again, creating a wave that licked the shore. Again and again, Darktail rose from the water with a gasp and was forced down again. Again and again. Again and again. Only when Alderheart saw water flowing red from Darktail’s face did he realize that Needletail was pulling him up herself and slamming him back into the water. Roaring, Needletail crashed Darktail’s head into the water for a final time long after his body went still, turning his head into an unrecognizable dark shape that dyed the entire lake red. 

Alderheart felt his mind slipping away, then saw Needletail shake him back to the world. Panicked breaths hammered out of her jaws. Her eyes raced between Alderheart and the rest of his body. “I-I can save you! What do I do? What do I do, Alderheart?”

The tom’s lungs had become harder than stone. He couldn’t feel anything but echoes of spasms that rocked his fading body. His throat was crushed; there is no herb in the world that will bring him back from this. It’ll be okay, though. One of us lived.

Needletail shook him again. Anguish scarred her face more than any claws could. “Why, Alderheart? Why did you save me?”

Alderheart tried to smile. He felt a bead of thick warmth leave the ends of his mouth and run down his face.

“What am I going to tell your kin? What will I tell your mother? Your sister?”

Memories of his short life pooled into Alderheart’s mind. Jayfeather is gonna be so mad… He wanted to snort, but his body jerked instead.

“WHY?” Needletail roared. “You should have ran! You… you should’ve…” Needletail tucked her head around Alderheart’s body.

He wished he could feel Needletail’s embrace. He looked to the stars, waiting for them to drift down and carry him away. I made my choice, Needletail. Please, make the best of it.

Needletail croaked in anguish as Alderheart’s vision faded into black. “You’re my best friend, Alderheart.” Her mew stuttered and cracked. “You’re so kind. You’re so brave. I’m going to miss you… I wish we…”

Her voice faded. Then there was nothing.

He was in the forest again. This time, Alderheart let the memory take control of his body and mind. 

Alderheart spotted the blur of silver between the pines. There she is! Alderheart raced after her from his side of the border. “Needlepaw!” He inhaled sharply, not used to racing along borders like a warrior. “Needlepaw!”

A tall, silver she-cat rounded around a tree. “By StarClan, Alderpaw, what?” She was stomping towards him so strongly that Alderheart worried that she would dare to step over the border again. “I just lost a vole because of you! What do you want?”

Alderheart felt blood heat his ears. “Sorry I… ShadowClan fell and I… I was worried about you.”

Needlepaw turned her head away and sighed deeply while tightening her face. “Well, I’m fine. See you later, Alderpaw.”

“Alderheart.”

“Needletail. Glad we got that worked out.”

Alderheart felt frustration bubbling under his pelt, the same frustration he felt whenever he had to deal with her antics. “So that’s it?”

Needletail stopped and slightly turned her head back, her eyes still facing the forest. Her ears faced Alderheart.

“After the quest, after Twigpaw and Violetpaw, you’re just going to stomp off? I… I think not!” Alderheart stepped over the scent border.

He had Needletail’s attention now: she fully turned towards him. “What are you-” 

“I missed you!” Alderheart asserted as he took his last step, now just a tail-length from the she-cat. 

“No one misses me. Why do you think I was able to go on that stupid quest?”

“I missed you, Needletail,” Alderheart cemented after shaking his head during Needletail’s words. 

“Yeah, sure,” Needletail’s green eyes shone in challenge. “Do you miss… me arguing with you? Do you miss me eaves-dropping into your prophecy and getting Violetpaw separated from her sister? Do you miss me forcing a no-good brat into your goody-four-pawed life?” 

Alderheart could see Needletail’s green eyes begin to glisten. He began to let his own emotions show in exchange. “I miss you saving me from a fox. I miss you standing up to Darktail for me. Yes, I even miss you challenging me, making me ensure that I make the smartest choice.” He began to tremble. Say it. “I know I’m a medicine cat who has all of these dumb rules to follow… a-and I don’t know if I’m even allowed to say this…”

Needletail’s eyes widened slightly.

Alderheart began to come up with things to say to back out of the hole he dug himself into. I’m not allowed to say you’re a mouse-brain! I’m not allowed to say I’d like to be a warrior like you! I’m not… 

Needletail’s jaw was slightly agape, her head slightly angled away as if Alderheart’s next words had claws.

Make a choice, Alderheart. “I love you, Needletail.” Alderheart’s lungs stiffened as soon as his jaws snapped shut. He searched Needletail’s face for a reaction, anything to show she felt the same and that she wanted to escape the fallen ShadowClan and live in ThunderClan, even if Alderheart could never be more than friends with her. Anything, as long as it meant she would be safe.

“I…” Needletail began, her face still teetering on baring her teeth. She looked like Alderheart told her that he liked the taste of mud. “I…” Her face relaxed, stern, like a leader addressing her clan. “I don’t love you. And you don’t love me.”

Alderheart’s lungs stiffened once more. “What? Of course I-”

“You don’t know me, clearly. You don’t want to be around a cat like me. I’m rotten.” Needletail sounded like she was insulting an enemy warrior, not the cat that inhabited her own pelt. “Best to forget about me, Alderheart.” Needletail turned around, tail low, back into the pine forest. 

An aching in the medicine cat’s heart split his spirit in two. He desperately wanted to do something good for his mistake. “Can Twigpaw see Violetpaw, at least one more time? Tomorrow night?” Alderheart called.

Needletail did not convey any response to the request, only staring into his soul with her sharp, green eyes before sulking off between the pine trees. 

Alderheart turned away when her tail vanished. He blinked the water from his eyes. He wanted to forget ever meeting her. 

Chapter Text

In the nightly camp, the remains of ShadowClan looked up to their leader who spoke from the hazel branch. 

“And in time, I hope the rest of the clan shares my forgiveness. I welcome all ShadowClan cats back to my clan.” Rowanstar paused as if to allow a reaction, but the clan was silent. “Cats who were apprentices before the fall must return to their training to become true warriors, although I will allow them to maintain their warrior names.”

Cats murmured in agreement, then turned to face a nimble cat that slithered to the front of the crowd.

Rowanstar smirked with intrigue. “Yes, Needletail?” 

Needletail stood silently for a moment, staring forward before raising her head to face her leader. “I am thankful for welcoming me and the rest of the clan back to your leadership. I am in your debt.”

Rowanstar solemnly nodded. “Your debt is paid by serving ShadowClan, just as you would if Darktail never came to the lake.”

Needletail felt as though she could not agree, thinking back to the careless cat she was before the fall that thought the best way to survive was to do it alone. “Which is why, I do not believe the name I gave myself belongs to me anymore. With your approval, I would like to change it.”

Rowanstar dipped his dark ginger head. “Go ahead.”

Needletail nodded and took in the scent of the pine forest into her frame. With an exhale, she raised her voice to address the clan. “I would like to be known as Needleheart, in respect to my friend Alderheart, who left ThunderClan to help the ShadowClan cats in the Kin and save the prophecy.”

Rowanstar looked to the night sky. “Alderheart is a name that will be remembered by our clan. His spirit is always welcome here.”

ShadowClan began to chant Needleheart’s name as she returned to the crowd. Between the contentedness of the clan, Needleheart’s thoughts stirred with mourning. Her mind recalled retreating to ThunderClan, being asked by Alderheart’s kin where the ginger tom was. Sparkpelt had immediately fled the camp to search the territory for her brother. Bramblestar had carried his son back to camp. Jayfeather and Leafpool covered Alderheart’s torn pelt with herbs and flowers, both medicine cats silent in shock. Most of all, she remembered Squirrelflight’s wails as her son was dragged away from her to be buried after the vigil.

Needleheart settled herself between clanmates next to her mentor, Tawnypelt. Her heart became warm with belonging; it would take time to fully rest herself in her clan, but she had been given a chance to be a better warrior. She would never let her life slip into darkness again.

“See everything you wanted to see?” 

Alderheart turned around to see a pale-ginger form approach him, seemingly stepping out of the trunk of the tree and onto the branch he sat on. Alderheart smiled at Sandstorm and looked back down onto ShadowClan. “Yes. I’m ready to go.”

Sandstorm stood beside him, the stars that glistened from their pelts shining with her grandson's. “I always knew she was a good cat. She just needed someone to show her such," she whispered, as if the ShadowClan cats might hear her.

Alderheart nodded. He closed his eyes, locking away the sight of his friend into his memories. Until I see you again, Needleheart, enjoy your freedom. The young tom, eyes still closed, turned and stepped away from the branch, drifting into the sky with Sandstorm guiding him to StarClan. I’ll be waiting. And I hope I have to wait a long, long time.