Heartstorm, Reedstar, Blacktail, Eelfrost, Sparkbelly, Deerflame and Embergaze waited by the ThunderClan border. Heartstorm twitched. 

                "Are they even going to come?" huffed Eelfrost. The air was fresh and a few leaves had started to grow on the trees. The ground was covered in new green grass. 

                "Be patient Eelfrost," sighed Deerflame although she looked just as impatient. 

                "Well, next time, let's be late," huffed Eelfrost. "See how they like it." 

                "Get a taste of their own medicine," nodded Heartstorm. Just then, there was a strong whiff of ThunderClan and Falconstar appeared along with other ThunderClan warriors. 

                  "Here they come," muttered Reedstar. 

                   "Greetings RiverClan," Falconstar said. "We apologise for being late." Eelfrost scoffed. Blacktail turned back and gave him a stern look. 

                "Sorry," murmured Eelfrost. 

                 "Anything about ShadowClan?" asked Reedstar. 

                "Nothing. They're keeping back," replied Falconstar. 

                "They're cowards," hissed Darkstorm from Waspnose's side. 

                  "It is either good news or bad news," Falconstar interrupted. 

                  "We're tired of ShadowClan threatening us but not doing anything," growled Waspnose. "We think we should do something." Reedstar frowned. 

                   "No," Blacktail said. "If they do not attack or make a move against us, we will not either." Darkstorm growled. 

                 "Cowards," he spat. Waspnose shoved him away. 

                "Shut up Darkstorm," he retorted. 

                 "We're not here to fight RiverClan," said Falconstar then turned to Blacktail and Reedstar. "We want to attack before they attack us." 

                  "We do not think so," Reedstar replied firmly. "We should not attack. Not now." 

                  "We don't want to wait for them to attack us," put in Waspnose. "We should attack first." 

                 "No, RiverClan will not be attacking first," Reedstar announced.  

                  "So you're backing out? We can and will fight ShadowClan without you then! But that means our small truce and teaming up against ShadowClan is gone," Falconstar said, narrowing his eyes, his tail twitching. Reedstar frowned and murmured something to Blacktail. 

                   "No, we do not want that. But don't you think, we should think more about attacking ShadowClan without reason first? And maybe plan it out," Reedstar said. 

                 "Of course we must plan it out!" exclaimed Waspnose. 

                 "Yes we will plan it out but we can only start planning it with you when you agree to attack ShadowClan," Falconstar said, raising his eyebrows. 

                "Alright, give us a quarter moon to think about it," Reedstar said with a curt nod. Falconstar's jaw muscles tightened but he nodded then they turned and were gone. Heartstorm huffed. 

              "We've got to attack ShadowClan, they're just cowards!" hissed Eelfrost. 

              "Eelfrost...," trailed of Deerflame. 

             "We must talk to the Clan about it," Reedstar told them and they all made their way back to camp. 

              "I think we should not attack," Blacktail said. "If ThunderClan attack them, then they will be weakened and will not be able to attack us." 

               "And what will ThunderClan think about us? They will also attack us," Reedstar countered then sighed. "We need to tell the whole Clan first. And we will vote." Heartstorm nodded in agreement. When they reached camp, Reedstar immediately called a Clan meeting. Heartstorm stood at the back with Silverdrop, his kits and his two best friends. Deerflame smiled at Brightkit. 

               "So, are you excited to become an apprentice?" she asked. 

              "SO excited!" cried Brightkit. "I'm going to be the best warrior." Deerflame smiled. 

              "I don't doubt it," Deerflame nodded. 

               "I'm going to become ThunderClan's leader and Bumblekit can be my deputy," Brightkit said. bumblekit shrugged. Silverdrop turned to Heartstorm, giving him a meaningful look. Heartstorm sighed. 

                 "I'll talk to him after this," Heartstorm said. Reedstar retold everything that had happened that morning. Whispers and chatter broke out at the mention of attacking ShadowClan. 

                  "We must vote," Reedstar announced. "Everybody's vote, which does not include the kits, will vote on whether they want to fight with ThunderClan against ShadowClan." 

                   "Those for yes, will go towards the camp entrance and the medicine den," said Blacktail. "And those voting against to the nursery." Cats talked amongst themselves and started to break off. Heartstorm remembered Silverdrop's dream. He hoped never to have war against another Clan. Especially ShadowClan. He didn't want his kits or Silverdrop to be hurt. 

                "Are you for or against?" asked Eelfrost. 

               "Against," Heartstorm said firmly. 

                 "How bout you Eelfrost?" asked Deerflame. 

                  "I kinda think ShadowClan deserves this," Eelfrost shrugged. "And anyways, Heartstorm, you can get revenge." Heartstorm frowned. 

                 "I don't need revenge. I hold nothing against them. Because of them I have the best friends, kits and mate I could ever ask for," replied Heartstorm. Silverdrop nodded to the kits who scuttled to the nursery.

                   "There is no need for a fight against ShadowClan," Silverdrop said. Heartstorm nodded and joined her towards the nursery. Deerflame padded with them. Eelfrost's jaw dropped. 

                  "What? None of you are for?" He asked. Deerflame gave him a meaningful look. 

                  "You don't know what will happen. There will be many injuries...," Deerflame said softly. "It's going to be a real battle, Eelfrost. Not something in your mind. Not just a dream. It's going to be bloody. It's going to be real." Eelfrost frowned then padded towards the nursery with Heartstorm, Deerflame and Silverdrop. Sparkbelly trotted towards them. 

                 "I don't want to have to fight," he said. 

                 "You made a right choice," smiled Silverdrop. Heartstorm watched as cats shuffled towards the camp entrance. He willed more cats to come to their side. He saw Reedstar go towards the medicine den and sighed. Most cats would take their leader's example and he was right, the cats sitting undecided in the middle followed Reedstar. Blacktail joined Heartstorm near the nursery. 

                 "I don't think fighting is the answer to anything," Blacktail told Heartstorm. "And I'm glad you don't think so either." Heartstorm smiled. Hawkflight trotted towards them. 

                 "I don't want what happened to Wolfstep to ever happen again," he said firmly. Rainfeather joined them. Deerflame smiled and nuzzled her happily. 

                 "I don't know what your feather is thinking," sighed Rainfeather in Deerflame's ear. 

               "The vote has been cast," announced Reedstar from the other side of camp. Heartstorm's chest clenched and he bit his tongue. It was easy to see the majority of the camp was for fighting against ShadowClan. 

                "We will fight alongside ThunderClan," declared Reedstar, walking towards the middle of camp. There were a few cheers. Heartstorm turned to Silverdrop. She dropped her head. 

                "It's ok...," she murmured. "It'll be alright." 

               "Of course, I will be talking to Blacktail about this," Reedstar continued. "If we have any doubts, for example, ThunderClan's loyalties or if we think ShadowClan is no real threat, we will not fight." ShadowClan was not a real threat, Heartstorm thought angrily. He dropped his head. It felt too real. They would fight against ShadowClan. He felt fear flooding through him. He realised how much he dreaded this. He never wanted to see ShadowClan again. He never wanted to see Clawstar's eyes burning with hatred or Lionbreeze's smug look or Honeylight's soft eyes. She seemed unreal. Part of his imagination. He closed his eyes and buried his face in Silverdrop's pelt. 

Heartstorm licked Bumblekit affectionately on the head. 

             "Bumblekit, come walk with me near the river," Heartstorm said. Bumblekit nodded eagerly. Brightkit was with Thornstar, learning new tricks. Silverdrop smiled approvingly. Heartstomr led Bumblekit towards the stream, his mind whirling. 

             "I just wanted to talk to you," Heartstorm started. 

             "We're fighting ShadowClan," said Bumblekit, interrupting. "But why?" 

             "Because..., because they're- they've been threatening us," Heartstorm replied slowly. "And er..., well, I guess because if we don't, ThunderClan will probably rage a war upon us as well." Bumblekit nodded. 

               "You know, I don't really ever want to fight," whispered Bumblekit. Heartstorm sighed and nodded. He realised Silverdrop was right. Bumblekit would be a true and good medicine cat. 

             "Yeah, and that's ok," Heartstorm told Bumblekit firmly. Bumblekit looked up, his eyes wide. 

            "Really?" he frowned. "But don't you want me to be a great warrior? And fight like Brightkit?" 

              "No Bumblekit," Heartstorm said. "I want you to be a cat that helps his Clan loyally. Whether that means healing injured cats or fighting for their Clan." Bumblekit smiled brightly and touched his paw to the water. 

               "Thanks Dad," he said.  

                "I'll be proud of you no matter what, understand?" Heartstorm told Bumblekit, his heart bursting with warmth. 

              "Thanks," whispered Bumblekit. "You don't mind that I might become a medicine cat?" 

              "No," Heartstorm said and he meant it. He was so glad that Bumblekit would have nothing to do with fighting that he might never get hurt. That Bumblekit would never have to face another opponent, hissing at his face. If they fought against ThunderClan, he would have one less cat to worry about. 

               "You're going to be a great medicine cat. Better than Frogleap, but don't tell him I told you that" Heartstorm said. "You know, in a way, you're saving RiverClan." 

               "Really?" asked Bumblekit, excited. "how?"

               "Frogleap is growing old. We need a new medicine cat apprentice and quick. RiverClan needs you to become their next medicine cat," Heartstorm told his kit grandly. 

               "I'll be the best medicine cat," Bumblekit nodded, looking purposefully. "I will make you proud."