Frecklesky woke early, her eyes burning with exhaustion as she hauled herself to her paws. She pushed out of the den and emerged into camp where the sun barely crested the horizon, smiling tauntingly down at her. Sleep tugged at her paws. She felt the powerful urge to simply turn back and return to her nest.

She shook the thought away and snarled, lashing out at a small clump of snow to quickly calm herself. She gave her chest fur a brisk lick. I need to be presentable.

She turned her eyes to the leader's den, an uncharacteristic anxiety stirring in her chest.

It didn't take long until Larkstar padded out, her fur already groomed and well-kept. She yawned, blinking sleepily up at the sky as sunrise dazzled the camp. Frecklesky's paws started moving before she could think, and she found herself creeping closer to the leader.

"Larkstar?" She mewed softly. The leader's silver eyes flickered over to her. "May we hunt?"

Larkstar paused contemplatively. "Why don't we hunt at sunhigh? I already promised to join Elmshine this morning."

Frecklesky nodded briskly. "Yeah, okay. That sounds good. I'll go hang out with Fallowstep in the meantime, then."

Larkstar smiled after her as she scampered away to find her sister, ducking into the medicine den. Fallowstep was still sound asleep, and Lightshadow, the white ThunderClan warrior, was dozing in a nest a few tail-lengths away. After the battle, the tom hadn't woken up. When he finally did, he appeared tired and confused—brain damage, Fallowstep had proposed, and he remained trapped under her care.

The den was an absolute mess, still scattered with herbal remains from ThunderClan's attack a few sunrises ago.

Frecklesky fought with her thoughts for a few heartbeats, before finally relenting and busying herself by cleaning the den. She used her thick tail to sweep the scraps into a small pile in the corner, leaving them to be sorted through. She doubted Fallowstep would need them, but just in case the ruined bits of leaves were useful, she'd leave them there.

She turned to the herb store where only a few raggedly stems sat. Perhaps they could go herb gathering together later in the day. Fallowstep needed a breath of fresh air, anyways. She'd been so wrapped up in healing the injured and keeping an eye on Lightshadow while Heronwing ran around doing who-knows-what.

"Frecklesky, what are you doing?"

Frecklesky whirled around to see her sister, grimacing in embarrassment. "I... thought I'd help," she muttered. "I noticed you've been too busy to clean up the mess, so I did it myself." She gestured to the pile of scraps.

Fallowstep blinked slowly. "You decided to clean up around here?" She mewed, rising carefully to her paws. "Who are you, and what did you do to my sister?"

Frecklesky shrugged helplessly. "It's just me, Fallowstep. And... I'm sorry for the other day. I didn't like seeing those warriors hurting you."

Fallowstep shook her head blankly. "Nobody died this time, just please be more careful in the future, okay?"

Frecklesky nodded quietly.

The sisters chatted for a while longer, and eventually Fallowstep began listing the herbs they needed. Catmint was especially worrisome; the fresh stalks that she'd collected with Frecklesky had been destroyed in the attack, too. Frecklesky couldn't help but feel her gaze stray to Lightshadow now and again, dark with thought. Why should we waste the remainder of our herbs on him, when he's the one who destroyed them?

Eventually, she bode her sister farewell and slipped back into the clearing where she sat in wait.

As the day progressed, the snow began to recede under the warm sun. Larkstar eventually returned to camp with a rat dangling from her mouth, Elmshine padding along beside her with a small partridge. The two deposited their catches onto the fresh-kill pile, and Larkstar padded over to Frecklesky.

"You wanted to go hunting?" She addressed, flicking her ears absently.

Frecklesky nodded. "Yes, please."

Briskly nodding her head, the leader led the way out of camp, and the two pushed through the marshland together. "Why don't we try the Great Sycamore? I think I saw a few squirrels around there during the last training session."

"Yeah, that sounds great."

Frecklesky padded alongside Larkstar, anxiety clawing at her throat as silence clung tightly to the air. Larkstar's subtle glances failed to escape Frecklesky's attention, only making her nervousness climb higher than she thought imaginable. Dewfrost was a rogue once. I should try that as a starting point, Frecklesky told herself, swallowing her unease and turning to face Larkstar.

"You know how Dewfrost..." she began, only to stop as her leader urgently flicked her tail for silence.

"I smell ThunderClan," Larkstar hissed softly, pricking her ears and parting her mouth to drink in the wind.

Frecklesky immediately dropped her train of thought and tested the air, alarm brightening her eyes as she caught the scent, too. Her claws dug into the earth and she swept ahead of Larkstar. It was only the two of them out right now, which meant that if it was a battle patrol, they'd lose miserably.

Slinking ahead through the cordgrass was Brightstar, his ears flicking anxiously. Branchfur, ThunderClan's deputy, and Scarface, the medicine cat, were padding alongside him.

"It's Brightstar, Branchfur, and Scarface," Frecklesky reported softly.

Larkstar narrowed her eyes and nodded briskly. "Let's go see what they want."

Carefully, Frecklesky trailed after the leader as they brushed through the marsh, standing tall. "What are you doing on our territory?" Larkstar snarled, her voice laced with hostility.

Brightstar blinked in surprise, and swiftly knelt down. Frecklesky bristled in alarm at the uncharacteristic show of politeness. "I've come to formally apologize," he said, keeping his head low. "My warriors attacked your Clan without my consent. I understand you're angry, but our kits have been dying, and desperation rang true." He swallowed. "I'd like to discuss the matter of peace."

Larkstar curled her lip. "Peace?"

Brightstar remained low, his ears pinned against his skull. "Yes, Larkstar..."

"How could you propose such a thing after your Clan attacked our medicine cats, killed our elder, and destroyed our herb store on two occasions?" She snarled.

"I understand you're upset..."

"Upset? Upset? No, I'm far more than upset. I'm furious. Brightstar, take your cats and get out of here before I strip away your remaining lives!" Larkstar's flanks heaved with rage as she glowered at the enemy cats, and Frecklesky puffed out her chest intimidatingly as she stood beside her leader.

Brightstar hesitated, taking an awkward step away. "Please consider the offer. Leaf-bare is coming quickly, and we can't do with anymore battles." He paused, glancing up at the sun. "Meet me at Fourtrees in three days at sunhigh. Don't bring any warriors. I'd like to work out an agreement."

"Agreement my tail," Larkstar snapped, slashing her claws through the air. "Now get out!"

Quietly, the three ThunderClan cats hurried away. Larkstar watched after them for what felt like hours until at last, she turned back to face Frecklesky, touching her tail gingerly to the tortoiseshell's shoulder. "Now, what was that you wanted to speak about?"

Frecklesky stared blankly at the leader, her thoughts spinning under the sudden spotlight. "I—uh, hold on a second," Frecklesky ducked her head in embarrassment. "I've... I have something I need to confess."

She let the silence drag on for a few heartbeats, not daring to meet her leader's gaze.

"Go on," Larkstar prompted.

"I've... been meeting a kittypet," Frecklesky mumbled, shame warming her skin beneath her fur. "She's incredible and sweet, and Larkstar, I love her." She looked up frantically, meeting her gaze to the surprisingly calm depths of Larkstar's silver eyes.

Larkstar hummed quietly in thought, her ear flicking slightly. "I'm not surprised at all," she admitted. "Fallowstep dropped a few hints here and there."

"You... she did?"

Larkstar nodded. "Let me guess, you'd like her to join the Clan?"

Frecklesky stared at her. "I... yes."

"I'd like to meet her, then. Take me to see her in three days' time, after our meeting with ThunderClan."

"You're going to the meeting?"

Larkstar breathed a long sigh. "As much as I wouldn't like to, it would be better for the Clan this way. Perhaps Brightstar will have something to offer in this... peace treaty."

Frecklesky nodded eagerly. It was easy. Too easy. Frankly, it felt too good to be true, but the joy that swam through her heart made her ignore the daunting fact. She couldn't wait to tell Rachel, nor could she wait for the meeting with ThunderClan to be over with.

"Thank you, Larkstar," she purred, gratitude overwhelming her voice.

Larkstar smiled sympathetically. "Don't think this is a guarantee," she warned. "I need to see if this kittypet is suitable for Clan life." She flicked her tail gently, turning her eyes to the stars. "Though, I do understand what it's like to love a cat out of reach. I'm happy you found somebody who makes you happy, Frecklesky. It's about time."

Frecklesky thrummed contentedly. "Agreed."