Sandclan's Destiny Book 3: Blackout

Chapter 15: The New Plan

They finally arrived back at camp in the coverage of night. Wafts of sweet smelling air welcomed Goldenfern into the SandClan camp-- a camp in which she has never seen the likes of before. Giving a cursory glance, even in the dark, she deemed it well enough for her. She tread the soft grass with purrs of content, although by the attitudes of the other parts of her body, she was still stressed and tired.

Firesong entered camp, eyeing Goldenfern with sympathy. A Clan abusing its own clanmate is harsh, cruel, and no cat is worthy of such. Well, no cat besides... Firesong could name a few. But Goldenfern was not one of them, and with that, Firesong approached gingerly. Fireflies danced around Goldenfern's nose and her eyes widened, and she pointed her nose towards them. Firesong stood near her, observing her, as did all the other SandClanners, she noticed. They all circled her, and Firesong felt awkward, thinking they were all gawking her.
I don't understand why she couldn't make a good leader. She seems peaceful, and docile. A peaceful and docile leader keeps a Clan out of battles, right?
But maybe she misunderstood what it felt like to be a leader.

"Goldenfern will remain here until further notice... or until we gain Blizzardstar back from Wolfstar, in VenomClan camp." Silence. Utter silence thereafter. The only sound was the wind, and it whistled lonesomely. Bigstar's ears flitted, "Well? What are you standing there gawking for, with glassy eyes and nervousness twitching in your faces!"
What a weird tone this leader was using.

"Why're we going to VenomClan, Bigstar?" Cougarfang erupted.
"Won't we all get killed?" Greyfur asked.

"What if OakClan's there!?" Sandstripe envisioned, eyes wide. "Or GreenClan, or both? Gee Bigstar, haven't you forgot about Wolfstar's allies?"

Bigstar answered their questions diligently, but Firesong could feel the waves of contempt coming off her mother, "We are going, we will not get killed, and if OakClan or GreenClan is there, the better. Let them see how bold we are, as SandClanners. Let them see how fearless we are, in asking for Blizzardstar back. Wouldn't you like that, Goldenfern?"

The young deputy nodded, looking tired, and as crickets began to chirp their chirping and the moon began to rise, Bigstar gestured that the warriors may assemble for sleep. Only a few did, and the rest were wide-eyed and bushy-tailed.
Even Bigstar and Cougarfang left the clearing, to the rest of the warriors' dismay. 

The cats of SandClan, plus one RockClan deputy, gathered beneath the stars and amongst the fireflies. Their eyes, alight with apprehension, began to discuss, gossip, and whisper to one another in quick tones. Rockshade quickly gravitated towards Firesong, with Midnightpaw at his heels, and mewed "What if they imprison us again!"

"We have the tunnels, don't we?" Midnightpaw flicked her ear.

Firesong sighed, "We'll just flee again, won't we?" She hated the idea of it. Attacking, fleeing. Attacking, winning-- only for VenomClan to not accept their losses, and attack again. It was tiresome, and it wasn't ending the war anytime soon.
Firesong glanced up at the moon, and saw its fullness. 

Soon Firesong, Rockshade, and Midnightpaw were involved with other conversations. Firesong saw Stormtail, and his big green eyes were enormous. He mewed:

"Hey! Wouldn't it be great, you know, to fight VenomClan? To finally gain revenge, and see them scared for once." 
Firesong agreed, but she wasn't too sure that that was the outcome they'd get. She liked Stormtail's enthusiasm, and she really did want to bash a few VenomClan skulls together, but something inside her told her that it wasn't going to happen.

"Yeah! We'll march in there, like an army." Swiftfoot mewed.
Firesong sighed, her mind muddled. She really wanted to get revenge on maybe Longscar, for what he did to Blackeye, or to some OakClanners if they were there.
But it just wouldn't happen. Not this way.