"There are a few RiverClan cats in WindClan, but other than that, most of us who escaped came to ShadowClan," Smokeflood sat next to Pearlfrost as the deputy reported to his leader. Miststar lay in a nest in a secluded corner of the medicine den with poultices and swaths of cobwebs secured to her snowy fur. Smokeflood had labored at cleaning her leader's fur when they had first woken up, not wanting the she-cat she respected so much to appear so filthy. "What should we do next?" Pearlfrost tipped his head to the side. 

"Even if we take our territory back, we'll just be sitting ducks for ThunderClan. We're too weak; we won't make it," Smokeflood remarked, a touch of anger in her voice. Miststar swished her soft dove gray tail calmingly. 

"ThunderClan is ravenous for blood. They want to own all of the land and possess all of the elements. They've been too weak to take ShadowClan on, that's why they've really held off. Their next move is to take ShadowClan, and then go for WindClan." Smokeflood's ears pricked with shock. 

"Really? We need to tell Cherrystar--" 

"Cherrystar is not dull, she can hear ThunderClan's hunger for her Clan and territory." Soft sunlight poured in through the boughs of ShadowClan's pines. Miststar set her head in her paws, still tired from her escape the night before. 

"Then we need to take down ThunderClan. We have to end them before they end everyone else!" Smokeflood stood, swishing her tail as she spoke. 

"Doesn't that make us just like them if we annihilate them?" Pearlfrost murmured. Smokeflood paused but narrowed her eyes. 

"I'd rather defend the other Clans from the fate we suffered," she meowed firmly. A silence fell between the three RiverClan cats, the only sound being a wind that cut through the camp.

"Murdering all of ThunderClan isn't the only option on how to take them down. We know there are cats in ThunderClan who don't agree with what's going on; I believe ThunderClan is still salvageable." Miststar's blue eyes fell on the now grown warrior. A shiver passed over the thin leader, and Pearlfrost gently settled down beside her to warm her with his clouds of fur.  Smokeflood softened, ducking her head. 

"Alright, now, it's time to let Miststar rest. You can continue later, but now she needs to get some strength back," Kiwipaw meowed, padding over. The RiverClan medicine cat apprentice had a maturity in her gaze, the once-playful demeanor having evaporated long ago. Miststar looked up at the apprentice fondly. 

"Kiwipaw, it's about time you become a full medicine cat, hm?" The silvery spotted apprentice paused, a gleam passing through her green gaze. 

"I--," she started to purr, but it broke off as a seriousness overcame her. "It's really up to Leopardnose. He's been overseeing my training since we got here," the leader dipped her head. 

"Of course. I'll speak to him about it, then, and see what he thinks." The apprentice dipped her head deeply. 

"Thank you. And Smokeflood, unless you're going to be useful in here, stop keeping my patients awake." Smokeflood's ears grew hot and she dipped her head, padding out of the medicine den. 

A few controlled fires were sprinkled about ShadowClan camp with warriors gathered closely around for warmth. I feel like RiverClan has had a sort of lost, unconnectedness since the attack. It's like we've just been aimlessly wondering with uncertainty about our future. With Miststar back, I think we'll be get a sense of unity. She looked out into the cats in the camp. She felt a purr in her throat as she caught the eye of a cat, and made her way over to a fire where they were.

"Smokeflood! Good morning," she felt a warmth in her chest as she pad up to Eelpaw. She was laying down, a pile of bird feathers and cleaned bones of some bird. By her side was Kalepaw, his eyes bright with happiness now his sister was back. Rosepaw uneasily sat in between the two, her tail twitching behind her. The calico she-cat had been timid before the attack, but after she had been on edge at all times. 

"Good morning, Eelpaw," Smokeflood sat down across from the three. She felt a nostalgic thought reoccur of the last time she had been able to sit down with all three of the cats. It had been after she was poisoned, and she was leaving the medicine den for the first time. Kalepaw had made fun of me because he picked up on how I couldn't walk properly from the poison. Now... I think we're both different. I wonder if it's because we've grown up, or because of the attack's effects on us. Or maybe it's both. The attack forced everyone to grow up. 

"How's Miststar?" Kalepaw murmured. He, like his sister, had grown over the moons in ShadowClan. He had a similarly slim and sleek stature as Eelpaw, though he was broad and well-muscled under his dark brown tabby coat. Smokeflood gave a nod. 

"She's better now that she's back with us. She's resting right now." He blinked with understanding and began to groom his sister's pelt, careful around her belly swelling with kits. 

"What do you think's going to happen now...?" Rosepaw whispered. "Is... is ThunderClan going to come after us now that we took back our warriors..?!" She ducked close to the ground, and Eelpaw softly gave her a friendly nose. 

"It's okay, Rosepaw..!" The soft calico shivered under her friend's touch. Smokeflood took a ginger step forward. 

"I won't let them hurt any of you," her eyes hardened with determination. "I'll keep you all safe, I swear on my warrior name!" Rosepaw's golden eyes rounded, and she gave the slightest nod. 

Silence set over the gathered cats. Kalepaw had switched to groom Rosepaw's fur, comforting the white, ginger, and black patched apprentice. Eelpaw waved her tail to Smokeflood, and she lay down next to the black-furred she-cat. 

"On your warrior name, huh?" The queen purred. "That's very serious, then."

The well-muscled she-cat hung her head. 

"I'm sorry I couldn't come sooner to protect you. I'm sorry." Eelpaw gently nosed her, giving her ear a lick. Her orange eyes were sincere, and her delicately shaped head was tipped to the side slightly. 

"You came when you did, though, and that's all that matters. I didn't think I'd ever get out of there, if I'm being honest. And honestly... I thought... you had died." Her eyes closed. Smokeflood let out a deep sigh. 

"I won't die. I have too much to do, I have to protect my Clan." I think Lightspark said something like that to me back when I was so hungry for battle. It was different then; I didn't think. I just went right in to fight without a thought of how it could effect my Clan if I did die. I only wanted ThunderClan's blood on my claws. Now.... she looked over to her friends before her. I have something to live for. 

"Smokeflood," she looked up. Lightspark. The silver tom stopped as he neared, golden-yellow eyes moving over the other three RiverClan cats. She sat up, Eelpaw carefully watching. 

"Yes?" 

"...I wanted to talk to you." She blinked, and stood. She dipped her head to excuse herself, and pad after the smaller tom. 

He led her off to the side, and waved his tail. 

"I just... you did great last night. I was worried you wouldn't be able to cut through the branches to get to Miststar." 

"You had a great strategy," she purred. He blinked in thanks. Smokeflood awkwardly looked back to her friends. "Is... did you want anything..?"

"Yeah-- do you... do you still want to train with me in the mornings? I just wanted to know because Deerskip asked me about patrols...." She nodded. 

"Yes, of course. I still have more to fight for...!" She gave a smirk, and he twitched an ear cooly.

"Good. I might have a new move for you to try out, but I'm not sure if it's really possible." Her eyes narrowed with determination.

"I'll make it possible." He gave a soft laugh and nodded, looking off. One thing I've noticed about him... is that he doesn't really have any friends in ShadowClan. I think I'm one of his only friends. The only other cat he really talked to and enjoyed talking to... was Ferntail. It's been a few moons since Ferntail left him, but I wonder if maybe.... 

"Have... have you talked to Ferntail at all?" Lightspark stiffened, looking down. He shook his head. 

"I tried once," he meowed softly, "but he... ran away as soon as I started walking toward him. He had said I was too cold back when he left me. I've never been allowed to really address my emotions. Growing up I was always pushed to train harder anytime I felt anything. I know we talked about that while we were training. So, I feel...," he thought a moment, "I feel hurt but at the same time... I want the connection that I once had." Smokeflood nodded.

"I understand. I'm sorry." Lightspark shook his head.

"It's not your fault. I'll see you at training tomorrow morning? Our usual spot?" He raised a brow. His eyes were captivating, with its gold hue touched with bright yellow and warm brown flecks. She felt her pelt warm and she nodded. 

"Yeah. I'm excited for the new move you've come up with!" She swished her tail, returning to her friends. 

Eelpaw smiled as she returned.

"That's the tom who helped save us, right? Who is he?" The black she-cat questioned. 

"That's Lightspark. He's got a super rare element-- lightning!" Kalepaw meowed with a purr. "He's the only cat with it. I've never really talked to him, though. He keeps to himself. Well, himself and Smokeflood. They're friends." Eelpaw looked up to the warrior. 

"Yeah, we have a similar upbringing...," she shrugged nonchalantly, but a purr rumbled in her chest. 

"He seems cool," she remarked. "Anyway, what's the best prey ShadowClan has?" 

"They have a lot of birds that live in the marshes, but I think the frogs taste closest to fish," Kalepaw remarked. 

Lightspark is cool. Smokeflood looked warmly over to the silver tom as he reported to Deerskip.She looked back to Eelpaw as she laughed at something Kalepaw had said, her face lighting up with joy. Smokeflood set her head down in her paws, a smile touching her face. Even with impending pain... right now, what I have is all I need to get through it. 

//

an

kind of an awkward ending but that's how it be sometimes. Also how crazy I've updated waterfall twice in one weekend. CRAZYYYYY. Unfortunately double update on waterfall means I accidentally neglected Stars Lied soo.... oops. 

EDIT 4/12/20: I changed the ending a bit bc it was bad.