𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗜𝗡𝗘𝗗 𝗦𝗖𝗔𝗥𝗟𝗘𝗧

> Eleven <

The patter of paws announced Acaciapaw's arrival.

He trotted into camp, tail high; Silverstreak, Canaryflight, Koipounce and Flashpaw padded after him. The two warriors had agreed to come with him and speak with Olivestar, also returning to their Clan names - apart from Koipounce, who had refused to go back to being Koipaw.

Nerves and grief wriggled in his belly like a huge fresh-kill pile made entirely of worms. What he was planning to do might throw Olivestar over the edge, and it would quite probably end in Acaileaf's exile. Cherrydusk would be horrified. But Acaciapaw knew his father could manage the pain; he'd lost Reeftail, who was his brother. Acaciapaw was more worried about Olivestar. She'd been shaken and nervous ever since he'd first mentioned Azrael, rarely leaving her den. She'd almost fully recovered until Hazelthorn was found dead beneath the Twisted Oak.

But this time Olivestar was the first to race across the clearing. "Acaciapaw! Where were-" she stopped, eyes narrowed, glaring at Silverstreak. "I thought I exiled you."

Silverstreak winced ever so slightly, but meowed in a confident tone. "We bring news." His tone warned Olivestar not to argue.

By then, cats were gathering around the group of cats. Acaciapaw saw Acaileaf, pressed against Cherrydusk, tails intertwined. Applepaw stood beside Aloepaw. Pidgeonpaw and Doepaw were huddled in the corner, staring at their Clanmates and denmate.

Olivestar growled. "Very well. Cherrydusk, come." She swished her tail, and Cherrydusk trotted to her side, letting his tail trail down Acaileaf's side as he passed. Acaileaf's eyes were warm and soft with affection for her mate as she turned and padded into the warrior den.

Olivestar sat down beside the Brine Tree and met Silverstreak's gaze. "So?" She prompted.

"Acaciapaw spoke with us in the barn where we stayed for a moon. He explained the details of his dream." He glanced at Acaciapaw. "Go on."

Acaciapaw forced himself to meet Olivestar's gaze, but to his surprise her flaming glare softened slightly. "I saw an apprentice; they sounded like a tom. Sleek, silver fur, with darker stripes like yours, and blue eyes singed with cyan around the middle."

Olivestar looked horrified. "That's..a perfect description of my sister." Acaciapaw noticed how she avoided mentioning the name Acaileaf. Acaciapaw flinched as she slowly crumbled into the grass. He crouched beside her.

Silverstreak and the others dipped their heads in turn and padded away, leaving them alone, crouched in the shade.

Olivestar shook her head, eyes dull. "My own sister..I always thought Acaileaf as loyal.."

Acaciapaw touched his nose to her muzzle, trying to comfort her. "When you exile her, BrineClan will be safe again."

Olivestar rose to her paws. "Let's get this over with." She blinked gratefully at Acaciapaw, sprang onto the Brinebranch and yowled the summons. Acaciapaw took his usual place beside Applepaw, who shivered. Acaciapaw could sense what she was thinking: who will Olivestar exile today?

Olivestar, who moments before had crouched trembling, had returned to her everyday position on the branch. Seeing her there seemed to calm most of the Clan's nerves; for a quarter moon, Olivestar hadn't left her den.

After letting out a long breath, Olivestar began. "Silverstreak's exile was a mistake. Will you return to the Clan, along with Koipaw, Flashpaw and Canaryflight?"

Koipounce's lip curled when she spoke to him as an apprentice, but Silverstreak nodded. "Of course." The cats who had left with him slowly dipped their heads too, even Koipounce - no, Koipaw now.