"Do you want to be strong?"

Thornkit blinked at the gentle voice calling out to him from the gloom. Behind him, lay FalconClan camp, a warm alcove in the midst of a barren, frosty landscape. His little paws felt weighed down by the clumps of snow which clung to his pelt.

"This'll make me strong?"

"Yes, more powerful than you could ever imagine."

Thornkit glanced over his shoulder, tail lashing uneasily. He could hardly see camp anymore, and his pawsteps were rapidly being covered by the swirling snow. The wind howled to the night sky, and the earth seemed to grumble.

The little tom kept on walking, but his legs were growing numb with cold. Occasionally, the voice would call out to him, but it seemed to grow further and further away. Finally, he stopped, and looked around.

The wind had grown so powerful that he could hardly see a single pawstep in front of him. He glanced up at the sky, at his warrior ancestors. Feebly, he tried to flap the little bits of feather which clung to his back, protruding out of his shoulder blades.

To his immense dismay, his stubby wings did nothing to lift him up. He began to tremble. He wanted Hawkblaze to come in and rescue him, or Moonflight and Roseflight, his parents, to swoop in and bring him back to their nest.

But as the winds roared and snarled, and the snow began to fall faster, no cat swooped in to save him. Thornkit was utterly alone. His paws were beginning to grow numb with cold, and he felt an immense desire to sink into the ground.

"Help!" Thornkit called out to the voice who had led him.

Two amber circles, glowing brilliantly, emerged from out of the gloom. Thornkit sank to his belly, barely noticing the snow which rapidly began to pile onto him. He stared, mesmerised by the amber spheres, which seemed to grow in size. Eventually, the outline of a cat came into view. Though, from how black he was, the cat seemed more like a shadow than a living being.

Thornkit opened and closed his jaws, but no sound came out. The cat padded forward at an agonisingly slow pace. His tail was raced, and a faintly bemused smirk toyed at the corners of his lips.

"You poor thing," he said.

Thornkit was barely conscious by the time the cat reached him. Only a small nose and ears poked out of the snow drift. The cat stood, looking down at him.

"I'll make you strong," he murmured, gripping Thornkit's limp form in his scruff. "But in return, you will give me your complete loyalty. I saved your life. Never forget it..."

"Never forget..."

Coalfang's words rang in Thornshade's mind as he faced off against the ValleyClan cats. Those few words kept coming to his mind every day he had fled from CoalClan camp. He knew with certainty that he was soon to return. His life was there; Coalfang had made sure of that.

He felt like an animal tied up on a leash, being reeled back to its master. Even with the help of the few CreekClan cats which had burst into DawnClan camp, Thornshade's side had lost. It was to be expected; logically a few underfed loners would never defeat true clan cats.

Cats that fought by the warrior code, trained under unforgiving mentors, brought up in a brutal climate, those were the cats who were always going to win the battles.

"What do you want with me?" Thornshade turned to the leader of the ValleyClan cats, Hazelsong. He tried to keep his voice largely indifferent. "I was just having a little stroll, you know."

"Yeah? You know the average stroll to take you this far from your clan, you half-cat coward."

Thornshade blinked mildly. "Congrats, you've figured out I'm not an average warrior."

Behind him, Aspenpaw and Frost were struggling vainly under the deathly holds a couple warriors had put on them, blood trickling out of multiple gashes. Brackenflight remained rigid, even as a she-cat pressed a paw on her throat. Now that was the sort of cat Thornshade could respect.

The ValleyClan tom didn't seem to have a snarky come back, so he simply scowled and Thornshade. While the lake territory clan cats began to shuffle their paws, Thornshade took a moment to survey DawnClan camp.

It was nearly destroyed from all of the battling and tussling cats. It was completely brimming with cats. None of them seemed to want to take the first step forward, should another battle happen. Hazelsong glowered at Thornshade, while he looked calmly back.

"Whatever, jokes on you, kit," the deputy muttered. "Ridgestone should be back soon with enough Dawn of the Claw to destroy all those who stand in Her way. Then, She'll probably order them all to take you down."

"It doesn't really work until it gets into a cat's system," Thornshade pointed out. "And that usually takes a quarter moon. A moon is the typical time for complete control."

"Do I look like a cat who cares about the details?" Hazelsong snapped. "Some cat get a hold of this winged creature!"

Thornshade flexed his wings. They were a magnificent sunset-colour. At once, all the cats seemed to shrink away. Many of them let out hisses of alarm. A couple of them muttered curses under their breath.

"Why are you doing this?!" Aspenpaw screeched, thrashing furiously. "I don't understand why you would ever follow a vile a cat as Thistleheart. You've never even met her, for StarClan's sake!"

"Thistleheart is setting an ancient wrong," Rowandapple spoke up grimly. "We may not like it right now, but change is the only way forward. We have to deal with all these loners and rogues... get them out of the way..."

"Were we ever in your way?" Frost shot back. She looked nervous when all eyes turned to her, but went on determinedly. "I mean, when did a cat outside the clan ever cause you grief? You clan cats are just so obsessed about control, and being the strongest. You only think of yourselves, and it's going to get us all cursed!"

Aspenpaw winced visibly. Thornshade tilted his head slightly as he surveyed the she-cat, who looked to be about his own age. Why would she worry about being selfish?

Hazelsong's muzzle curled in distaste. Thornshade glanced around warily, feeling as though a storm was about to break. He flexed his wings once more, prepared to flee if necessary.

Then, Aspenpaw said something which surprised him.

"As soon as I get out of here, I'm going to those mountains to take Thistleheart down! She's hurt too many cats. I know how it feels to be broken and fed lies. I want to stop any cat from falling for her schemes."

A weighted tension fell thickly across the clearing. Aspenpaw's words rang in the corners of Thornshade's mind as he stared blankly into the imposing oak forest. Beyond, he could practically see the army that Thistleheart and Coalfang were trying to build- of perfectly innocent cats- all because they thought they deserved power.

"It's not like that at all, Thornpaw," Coalfang whispered. "We're creating change, making everything better. You need to stop caring about others. Only then will you be strong."

Thornshade could practically visualise Coalfang's imploring green gaze. Coalfang believed that he was right. Coalfang was sure that by destroying relationships, the world would function better. No cat would feel, no cat would get hurt.

"Strong. I will make you strong."

Thornshade finally broke contact with Hazelsong and looked down at his paws. Even now that he'd finally ran away, half of him wanted to scurry back to Coalfang like a mouse running back to its burrow. In fact, he still didn't particularly understand why he'd ran away from CoalClan, where his life had been wonderful, if not devoid of any feeling.

He just had. And now, he wanted Coalfang dead. Because he'd seen the outside.

Thornshade glanced at Aspenpaw out of the corner of his eye. These forest cats were so different from CoalClan. In the brief time he'd spent with them, all of them had poured their hearts out to him, been completely honest, and completely convinced that they were doing the right thing.

Her and her friends... and...

Fang.

Thornshade tried to shut his mind out, to go back to his somewhat entertaining glare-off with Hazelsong, but the moment he thought of the grey rogue, his thoughts began to sprial.

That's where it had all begun, his feelings of rebellion. He could remember so vividly flying in with his delivery of the Dawn of the Claw, and happening upon the loyal and supportive grey rogue.

Fang hadn't been like any cat Thornshade had ever seen. There was something so different, yet so wonderful about the way he had openly talked and rebuked Thistleheart. Thornshade had seen at once how much he cared for his friends. Even after he had taken flight back to the mountains, it had been impossible to shake those wide lilac eyes, determination, and gentle compassion from his thoughts.

Thornshade couldn't believe he was Thistleheart's son. They looked so similar, and yet there was nothing at all they truly had in common. He had always detested Thistleheart; she treated him like some sort of freak, and believed she was entirely above most of the CoalClan cats. He had always detested her, but Fang was the complete opposite...

"STOP THE FIGHTING!"

Thornshade glanced over his shoulder just in time to see a black and white tom hurtling into the clearing. His fur was fluffed up to its maximum, and his bright green eyes were rolling with fear.

"It's stopped," Thornshade said. "As you can quite clearly see."

"Sparrowstar," Eagleswoop purred, stepping forward. "Thistleheart has finally decided to take over the lake territories. She'll be on her way soon. Then, we will give way to the rise of the new clans. The dawn of a new era!"

Sparrowstar was still gasping for air, but at once, he shot a glare so furious at Eagleswoop, it would have made even Thornshade cower. Eagleswoop didn't seem to notice, though. His attention was fixed on something in the distance.

"Oh joy!" he said. "I see Ridgestone. Finally this boring meeting can end, and all you rebels will join us."

Aspenpaw winced visibly. Her eyes were wild with terror, and her fur was bushed. Thornshade wanted to tell her that the flower didn't really work completely for at least a moon, but he thought that that wouldn't make her feel any better.

Instead, he merely siddled over to her. Brackenflight glared up at him. Frost looked on the verge of passing out. The other pinned down cats, Sunpaw, Ravenflutter and Ebonywing, looked equally fearful, though they tried to hide it.

The warriors which had pinned down the cats got up with relieved sighs. Evidently, they were no longer worried about desperate escape attempts. Thornshade glanced at Aspenpaw, and was once again struck by her speech and determination. He tried to think of what to tell her, but instead all he said was:

"Where's Fang?"

Frost blinked at him. "Fang? He ran off to help Haze, and also maybe Nightshade. I told him to go; no use getting all of us captured, after all."

Fang's quite the cat, thought Thornshade privately. Where he lived, helping others was somewhat frowned upon. It was better to learn from your own mistakes by dealing with the consequences.

But if I really want to take Coalfang down, I'm going to have to change that...

Thornshade glanced around. The cats were giving them all a wide berth, while a russet-brown tom Thornshade recalled as Ridgestone padded forward. He smirked slightly when their gazes met, as though they were long-time rivals.

Behind Thornshade, there was a small gap in the cats from where Sparrowstar had hurtled through only moments before. Internally, Thornshade's mind began whirling with calculations. He turned to Aspenpaw, an idea slowly beginning to form in his head.

"We should escape," he whispered.

"Great idea, obvious-paws," Brackenflight muttered, glowering at all of the cats surrounding them.

"No, listen- if we cause a commotion, I can create a gap large enough for you all to run away. Then, I can fly away in the chaos; no cat here will be able to catch me."

Brackenflight looked as though she wanted to retort, but Aspenpaw was looking thoughtful. Frost was the first one to finally break the silence.

"If we have to do it, we need to do it now."

She's right, thought Thornshade. Ridgestone was advancing on them, and the cats were beginning to press in, curiosity finally beating out their terror. Even the CreekClan cats began to siddle forward.

Part of him wanted to turn back, and join the majority. Coalfang would welcome him back; he was one of the clan's few winged cats. But then, Thornshade thought of the cats surrounding him now, the loners and rogues caught under Thistleheart's influence, and... Fang.

"NOW!"

Thornshade screeched, the magnitude of the yowl surprising even his own ears.

Instantly, Ebonywing, Sunapw and Ravenflutter sprinted for the barrier to camp, Brackenflight and Frost on their paws. Aspenpaw pressed in behind, carefully making sure the rest of them got out to safety.

Thornshade heard snarls of fury, and instantly, he unfurled his wings. He unsheathed his long claws, and bared his teeth at the cats surrounding him. He watched as Aspenpaw and her friends bolted for the exit to camp, narrowly avoiding the tangle of paws and fur as cats rushed towards them.

Ebonywing was the first to make it through, Ravenflutter and Sunpaw close behind. Before Thornshade could see any more cats making their way through, he felt a harsh stabbing pain on his tail.

Whirling around, he saw a ValleyClan apprentice had embedded their teeth in his tail. Now, all the cats rushed towards him. Letting out a screech like a bird of prey, Thornshade extended his wings to their fullest potential, and prepared to lift into the air.

Several cats attempted to pile onto him to block his flight. For the first time in his life, Thornshade felt genuine pain flash across his body. Trembling with effort, he managed to beat his wings hard enough to leap into the sky.

Eventually, the cats fell away, though Thornshade felt a sudden sharp jolt in his shoulder. Foxdung! As he continued to flap his feathers, rising into the air, the pain grew to be sharp and stifling. Thornshade had broken something.

Trying to fight past the suffocating pain, he soared upwards, catching a drift, and gliding over the forest. He narrowed his eyes as he flew, looking for Aspenpaw. He caught her alongside the rest of the cats, sprinting as fast as their paws could carry them.

He followed them, black spots swirling in his vision. Eventually, they reached a crossing which led into a land dotted with willows and gently flowing streams. It was only once they were far inside the new land, that they collapsed to the ground. Slowly, Thornshade descended, trying not to grit his teeth.

As soon as he landed, Aspenpaw looked up. Her green eyes flashed at once with relief. She was still panting for breath.

"Glad you... made it..." she managed.

"I'm pleased I made it out as well," Thornshade replied. He glanced at the cats. "Where are we?"

"CreekClan," Ravenflutter mewed, pressing against a trembling Ebonywing. "Safe land, for now, I think... Willowstar has always been understanding."

Thornshade sat down, glancing at his shoulder. With an irritated grunt, he realised that he'd somehow managed to dislocate his wing in all the chaos of the escape. Now, it was at an awkward angle. It was a miracle that he'd managed to fly at all.

"You need help?" Frost asked, padding over to him.

Sunpaw had begun to nose around the clearing they were in. Ravenflutter and Ebonywing had settled down, meowing softly to one another. Aspenpaw was staring up at the sky, a pensive expression on her face.

"Perhaps we all do," Thornshade said evasively.

Frost gave him a look. "Your wing? Dislocated, right? Don't worry; I've dealt with a few dislocated limbs before," she smirked slightly at Thornshade's expression. "A lot of the cats in the Midnights don't say when they're injured, so I've learned to figure it out. Just sit still."

Reluctantly, Thornshade sat down. He winced as the west mud pressed up against his pelt. Frost ran her paw gently along his wing, then also in a few more places. At last, she exhaled, murmured for him to stay still, then placed her paws firmly between his shoulder blade and feathers.

With a sudden jerk, she snapped the joint back into place. In the same instant, a hiss of agony escaped Thornshade's jaws. He curled into a ball, panting heavily, while the waves of pain gradually began to ease. Frost watched him.

"Sorry if I've made it worse. I've never dealt with wings before..."

Thornshade struggled back into a seated position. He gingerly flexed his wing in and out. It only felt a little tender now.

"It's... better," he marvelled. He turned to the she-cat. "Er, thanks."

"No worries," Frost chirped. She narrowed her eyes, and said. "Don't go flying any time soon, though. Your bones need time to ment. I'd try stretching it every so often, but no sudden motions. Y-"

"FANG!"

Aspenpaw's cry cut off whatever advice Frost was about to give. Thornshade leaped to his paws, turning in the direction of her yowl. In the distance, he saw two cats padding slowly forward. His heart skipped a beat.

One was a small silver she-cat with darker tabby stripes and a recently injured claw wound on her face. She was leaning heavily against the other cat, her face drawn and exhausted.

The other was the small dark grey tom with the lilac eyes. He looked as drained as the she-cat, but his eyes lit up when he saw Aspenpaw. This cat who had made Thornshade began to question everything Coalfang had ever told him. Fang.

A strange emotion throbbed in Thornshade's gut when he watched Aspenpaw and Fang embrace. He glanced over at Frost, wondering if he'd wounded himself some other way, but she had seemed satisfied that he was healthy. Thornshade glanced back at the happy reunion. I must just think it's strange. Thornshade watched as Fang ran his tail over Aspenpaw's spine. Yes, that's it. They're so very... friendly... with one another.

Shaking off whatever weird feeling had just come across him, Thornshade padded over to where Fang was greeting the rest of the cats. They all met him with that same easy exchange of words and gestures.

Feeling out of place, Thornshade padded up to the crowd.

"Glad you're okay," he said. "Tough battle back there."

Fang glanced at him, nodding his head. "Yeah, it was." Fang turned to address all the cats. "I was so worried about leaving all you guys, but I needed to... Nightshade..."

Haze let out a sob, and she leaned into Fang. The two exchanged a silent moment of grief. No cat spoke, but none needed to. Every cat could understand what had just happened. Thornshade had seen cats die, but he had never thought much of it. Now, if he imagined Fang, or any of these cats dying, he thought it would make him upset.

"It's okay, though," Fang said softly. "He wanted us to keep going."

"Yes," Haze sighed. "He always liked to keep fighting."

Thornshade glanced up at the mountains. Suddenly, he was struck by what he had heard just before he left. Thistleheart and Coalfang were preparing for war. He needed to get moving. As the cats began to disperse, Thornshade meowed.

"I'm leaving for the mountains tonight. We need to stop Thistleheart before she reaches this place. I've seen how good life is here; I don't want her destroying it."

He glanced at them all. I don't want you to ever live like I have.

"Some of us should stay here," Brackenflight meowed. "The journey will be arduous. And we need to gather allies. I say only a few of us should travel. I volunteer to go."

"I'm going," Aspenpaw said instantly.

"One more cat?" Thornshade surveyed them all.

This mission was going to be dangerous. None of them understood the perils which lay beyond clan territory. None of them knew how ruthless Coalfang was with his enemies...

"Me."

Fang's jawline was set in grim determination. He stared up at Thornshade as though Thornshade was going to rebuke him, or tell him he wasn't strong enough. Part of Thornshade wanted to, but not because Fang was a coward. You're valuable, he thought.

But if he was going to rival territory, the resourceful rogue was exactly the sort of cat he needed. Fang had skills, Thornshade realised, that none of the rest of them had, even if he didn't quite understand what they were yet.

He met the dark grey tom's determined eyes, and dipped his head.

"Thanks, Fang. We leave at dusk."