Spirit

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

"How amusing it would be for me to take over and kill the unstoppable Singe," Cloudburst said smugly.

"I'd like to see you try," Singe replied.

"Then maybe you should try to watch out!" Ivory shouted as she darted into the alleyway and tackled over Cloudburst.

"Ivory!" Robin's voice retorted. "Cloudburst doesn't have to die!"

The beige and ginger tabby struck Cloudburst's face. "Last time I checked, she took over the Singeless. Doesn't that make her a villain, leader, and Rogue?"

"I'd like to be convinced that a prophecy would purposefully kill its 'raging storm'," the fluffy white she-cat said as she kicked Ivory off of her.

"Ave and ground work side by side while a raging storm follows behind?" Singe. "You don't seem very important anyways; at least as the hero." She tilted her head as she strode past Ivory towards Cloudburst. "But you are important enough to be the villain, if Ivory is correct."

Out of the corner of her eye, the beige and ginger she-cat noticed the golden tom stalk behind Singe and Cloudburst.

"But I don't need any competition." Robin slid in front of Cloudburst and leaped at Singe, striking her neck and holding her down until she stopped moving.

"We don't either," he said, his snout wrinkling in the same way he had before.

"You saved me," Cloudburst croaked from the distance. "Why?"

"You weren't that terrible to us," Ivory replied. "Besides, turning mildly evil is one thing, but killing your desires for you is another."

Robin frowned. "How is that a lesson? Wouldn't that've just turned me evil?"

"No. Because it's impossible for you to be evil."

Cloudburst shook herself, gray-blue eyes gleaming with amusement and surprise. "Alright lovebirds, do you want Singe's followers to kill us?"

Ivory smiled at Robin.

Robin grinned back.

~~~

"Out of anyone, it's Robin?" Moon asked when Ivory, Robin, and Cloudburst travelled back to the Feather-Lifter camp.

"No, really," Ivory replied.

"And I'm Hawthorn."

"Well, at least you have a sense of humor," Cloudburst muttered.

"What are we going to do about 'comes the unity of groups, followers, and foes'?" Robin fretted. "Surely the Rogues wouldn't want to unite with us after what happened."

"You were so much braver when you tore Singe's neck out," the beige and ginger she-cat joked. "I'm sure they'll be happy their everliving evil leader is gone."

"We can't stop them if they don't want to join us anyways," the white she-cat pointed out. "Cats do what they want and we can't stop them."

"I already told you, we have no business with Rogues!" Hawthorn shouted from the border of the camp.

"You better go see what's happening," Moon said.

Hawthorn was standing at the edge of Feather-Lifter territory at the same two Rogues that travelled with Singe to try and ally with them.

"I said that Singe died and we have nobody to take her place!" Riverstone hissed. "We need a home!"

"I am not taking an entire group in my camp."

"Why can't you just send the Rogues who want to move into the other camps?" Ivory asked. "But you'd have to take at least a few."

The scarred tabby glanced back at Riverstone and the other cat—a ginger tabby with amber eyes. "Are there Rogues who would rather stay?"

The ginger tabby snorted. "Of course. There's cats who don't want to be 'soft'. They're not the brightest stars, are they?"

"Hawthorn," Robin said, though he was not looking directly at the Feather-Lifter leader. "I was a Rogue for a while. Their lives are harsh—especially Singe followers. It would be a blessing if you and the other groups would let them in."

"If they are not planning to overthrow me," Hawthorn grudgingly agreed. "Is it just you two coming here?"

"Why would we want to overthrow you?" Riverstone asked with a snarl that seemed built up from when they encountered Hawthorn.

"I said you can stay."

"Before you do," Ivory said hastily. "Could you bring every Rogue that wants to move to Spirit Lake and Hawthorn, can you call every leader so they can decide who to take from the Rogues?"

"I'll see what I can do," the leader said. "You can come if you wish."

"All of us?" Robin asked.

"What do you think?" Cloudburst hissed.