? POV

Blossomstar had been much more cautious since the attack, and had not dared to travel anywhere. So it was time for a change of plans. What was my plan? It was to recruit her own cats to fight against her. I could make a quick appearance in ThunderClan's camp and reveal my identity, but I was unsure of how many cats would follow me that way. I believed most of them would. So I could beat her slowly to death right in the middle of the Clan. Or I could trap her somewhere and wait for her to starve to death. There were so many ways that she could die.

But the best idea was to have Foxleap murder her slowly. What could possibly hurt more than for her to die at the claws of her former mate? Foxleap hadn't spoken a word to any cat about his chat with me, so perhaps I could trust him. The cat I had trusted the most had been killed whilst performing a task on my behalf, and it took me a long time to recover, to realize that although he had been destroyed, it did not have to mean I had been destroyed as well. I was still alive and capable of more plotting, and there certainly had to be other cats who would follow me blindly. Perhaps if there was a reward for him, Foxleap would do what I asked him to do. Foxleap still had some sense of "good" and loyalty in him, but I hoped I could sway him with the promise of power. I could sense the ambition inside of him.

A few rays of sunlight pierced through the trees as I searched for the reddish-brown tom. Thornclaw should've just sent out the morning hunting patrols and the border patrols by that time, so I ventured into ThunderClan territory on a quest to find Foxleap. I spied on the patrol to ShadowClan's border, since it was the closest to my den. I spotted Rosepetal, Molewhisker, and Ivypool. Momentarily, my vision clouded and when it cleared, I saw different cats. Firestar, Hollyleaf, and Dovewing, all looking straight at me with disapproval in their eyes. I blinked a few times and managed to return to reality. Foxleap wasn't on that patrol, so I had to look elsewhere.

I began heading towards the WindClan border, and on the way there, I encountered the newly-named Ambershade and her siblings Snowpelt and Dewstripe, hunting together. I avoided them, and crept through the shadows. I looked over my shoulder and then promptly bumped into someone. I fell to the ground but scrambled back to my paws to see Foxleap, who dipped his head in greeting.

"Hello, Foxleap," I meowed. "It's good to see you."

Foxleap eyed me warily. "What are you doing here?"

I shrugged. "Oh, I'm just here to take over ThunderClan."

"What?!" Foxleap's eyes bulged. "I mean...oh, okay."

I chuckled. "I need you to do me a favor. Kill Blossomstar."

"You're kidding, I hope," he muttered. "Can't you do that yourself?"

"Wouldn't be half as fun. Besides, it would be entertaining to see the look on her face as you slowly killed her. Before you ask me why you should do it, I'm just going to promise you that if you do it, I will make you my deputy once I'm leader," I replied.

He thought for a moment, and I could see the glint of ambition in his amber gaze. "Okay, I'll do it. Show up at sundown tonight if you plan on watching."

I was surprised at how quickly he agreed, but I didn't let it show on my face, keeping my usual emotionless expression. "Well, I will see you then. Let the fun begin! Oh, and remember to kill her as slowly as possible."

Blossomstar POV

I worried about the mysterious rogue who had attacked me often, and decided not to leave camp again until my kits were apprenticed. Shadekit and Nightkit loved to play moss-ball, and I sometimes joined in the game to take my mind off of my fears. Also, it did make me happy to see how pleased they were whenever I did things with them. They were the only cats I loved at all anymore.

My kits were asleep in the nursery at the time, exhausted from playing hide-and-seek, moss-ball, and pretending to destroy the "ShadowClan invaders," also known as the elders, all day. I was nibbling half-heartedly at a vole as the sun was setting. Thornclaw was discussing scents of a badger that a hunting patrol had detected near the top border of our territory with me, and I ordered him to warn the warriors not to take apprentices near that area, when a yowl of alarm came behind me. I recognized the voice of Cloudtail, and I turned around to see the white-furred tom staring at the camp entrance, his eyes wide with shock and disbelief. Yelps of surprise came from all around me, and I saw Foxleap approaching me, eyes showing nothing, claws unsheathed. Was he trying to defend me from something?

I looked back the other way, and saw a tabby tom strolling into camp, one I never expected to see again in this lifetime. His eyes were mocking, filled with moons of cruel and sinister plotting, as well as triumph and amusement. He was as muscular as always, still surrounded by the same air of superiority. But once again, his eyes...that cold, calculating gleam in them that I had tried to erase from my memory.

"Hello, Blossomfall," he purred. "It seems as if I'm still here after all, doesn't it? Nobody can ever destroy me."

His voice was deep and smooth, sounding completely calm. He didn't seem angry at all; just very, very pleased with himself and slightly amused at the confusion. He sat down and regarded me for a few moments. It took me a couple of heartbeats to recognize...he was waiting. For something. For what?

"You're dead," I hissed, but my voice trembled.

He shook his head and his whiskers twitched. "How funny. This is quite entertaining, isn't it Blossomfall? Should you tell them what you did, or should I?"

"I-I..." I stammered.

He raised a forepaw to silence me. "I will say it then, since you don't have the guts to admit it. You tried to kill me. Your plan failed, though, didn't it? You are not the rightful leader of ThunderClan. You are an ordinary warrior who was denied her nine lives because I live on. You will be slaughtered for treason by a cat you once thought loved you."

I looked around at my Clanmates, who all looked stunned, except for Foxleap, who hovered over my shoulder. "Who?"

Strong forepaws pushed me to the ground. Claws dug into my side and I winced in pain, thrashing about to try to escape his grasp.

"Me," Foxleap snarled.

This wasn't happening. This was just a nightmare. I would wake up soon. But I knew with a dreadful certainty that this was real. He was back.

Bumblestar had returned.

A/N: HIS IDENTITY HAS BEEN REVEALED! The climax is here! Congrats to everyone who correctly identified him! This chapter was so suspenseful for me XD But the suspense isn't over yet! What will happen next?

Please comment your thoughts, I'm excited to hear what you all think! :D