Flarefang awoke to a hiss of anger. Startled, his head shot up, blinking away his sleep. Nightfrost stared over him, her ice blue eyes blazing.

     "You!" she hissed. "I knew it. I knew you'd tell some cat."

     "Yes," Flarefang growled at her. "No more cats need to die."

      "Correction. One more cat needs to die," she snarled, unsheathing her claws. Quicker than a flash, Flarefang felt claws scoring down his throat. He tried to let out a screech, but nothing came out. White hot pain filled Flarefang as his head landed on the ground. The pain slowly numbed and his vision began to wobble. He could barely hear the yowls of fear and anger. He saw Alderbirch's pelt dart by, his paws beginning to work rapidly around him. His lightheadedness took over before he fell into unconsciousness.

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     Flarefang blinked open his eyes. The world seemed to be spinning. Once his vision adjusted, he looked around. He recognized the medicine den; he only remembered it because he remembered spending a few nights in there after Falconfang and Petafall's deaths. He raised his head, glancing around. Alderbirch padded out of a crevice in the wall before stopping and staring at Flarefang.

     "Thank StarClan! You're finally awake!" the medicine cat sighed, relief flooding his eyes. "You were out for days!"

     "What happened? What happened with Nightfrost? Are the elders okay?" Flarefang asked. But, something was off. Alderbirch must have noticed this too, for he looked just as confused as Flarefang felt.

      "Oh no," Alderbirch muttered. He shook his head as he began to pace around the den, starting up a task just to abandon it for another a moment later. "Her claws must have gone too deep into your throat... oh why didn't I do something?" He realized what had happened a moment later: he was mute. Flarefang opened his mouth to re-assure him that he was fine when he remembered that his voice was gone. He smacked the floor with his tail to grab Alderbirch's attention. The medicine cat looked over and Flarefang forced a smile, nodding in assurance to him. I hope he got what I meant, he thought as Alderbirch paused for a moment. The medicine cat let out a heavy sigh, sitting down and meeting Flarefang's gaze.

    "I'm glad you're accepting, but this shouldn't have happened," he sighed. "I should fill you in. The entire Clan saw Nightfrost nearly kill you and they were outraged. Ruststar was horrified at what had unfolded right in front of him and threw her out, He sent a patrol to make sure she left, and he plans on telling the other Clans at the next full moon." Has he picked a new deputy yet? Flarefang asked inwardly. He tried to think of a way to ask Alderbirch, but the medicine cat seemed to take no notice. He kept rambling on. "Once the patrol returned, the head of the patrol, Wolffang, was appointed the new deputy." Flarefang felt a wave of relief as he relaxed. I guess I'll have to be more patient, he thought.

     "Alderbirch, let the poor warrior get some sleep," a voice rasped from beside him. Flarefang jumped slightly and turned to see the light dusty brown-and-gray pelt of Aspenlake. Her snow white toes and her eyes were the only thing visible in the darkness of the den. Flarefang gave her a grateful smile before resting his head on his paws. Life would be rough, but Flarefang was willing to travel that road, now that he knew that the murderous deputy was gone.

Moons later...

       Flarefang padded out of camp, his eyes narrowed against the harsh breeze. The leafbare breeze sent shivers through his pelt as he lead the patrol through the trees. Adjusting to having no voice had been tough, but Flarefang had succeeded and throughout time he felt himself becoming the apprentice he was seasons before once again. He took pride in his accomplishments, and even had an apprentice, which he was especially fond of, for he had no kin left other than the elders. His wounds from Nightfrost had healed, only leaving a lightning bolt shaped scar on his shoulder, which he didn't mind much.

     He tasted the air, picking up the smell of blackbird. He raised his tail to halt his apprentice, Applepaw, who was behind him, angling his ear in the direction the scent came from. Applepaw nodded to him and stalked forward, lunging into the bushes. There was a squawk that was cut short and a moment later, she re-appeared, holding the feathered bird in her jaws. Nice catch! Flarefang thought as he shot her a toothy grin of praise. Applepaw smiled and turned back the way they came.

   "I'm going to bring this back to camp so it doesn't freeze!" she mewed. Flarefang nodded his approval as she bounded off. Part of him told him that it would have been fine in the bushes, but another part of him told him that it was cold and she probably wanted to go back home. As an apprentice, he would have done the same thing.

He padded along, tasting the air for more prey. Though the scent of prey was strong enough, there was also the scent of cat. Flarefang blinked in confusion, dropping into a crouch. He quickly trotted forward towards the scent, occasionally tasting the air to make sure he was on the right trail. A moment later, two figures appeared from the bushes; a jet black cat with wiry fur and yellow eyes, and a jet black cat with white flecks and paws with ice blue eyes that were all too familiar to Flarefang. It was Nightfrost, followed by a ShadowClan cat.