design creds:

(almost) all of them are inspired by cacw's designs and interpretations of them in some way, rapidsplash in particular is almost exactly the same design because i cant imagine them any other way Heart

sneezecloud: quiverpaw

havenpelt: lesbianambermoon

floatshimmer & troutshine: t4twnyclaw

With Curlfeather gone, Splashpaw was determined to move on. He was offered a third mentor, but he declined, refusing to be left vulnerable. Content to be passed around the senior warriors, he particularly shared a mentor with Fogpaw.

Splashpaw vowed never to be corrupted again, focusing on his training and leaving politics behind. He had a lifetime to atone and become the warrior he was meant to be.

Despite his vow, he couldn't ignore Frostpaw appointing Owlnose as leader. The nervous tom depended on his deputy, Duskfur, who already considered herself too old to do this. But Splashpaw didn't fault Frostpaw. It was the warriors who were forcing apprentices to make the tough calls. He assured her that she didn't need to put up with it.

Unexpectedly, Frostpaw began warrior training, and Splashpaw rushed to compensate for lost time. It reminded them when they were in the nursery together. While they had sparks in the past, they couldn't deny that it was serious this time. Frostpaw was free to have a mate and kits. His kits. Splashpaw hoped that Curlfeather was seething from the Dark Forest.

But the peace didn't last. Owlnose had to step down due to incompetence, and Shadowclan inserted themselves as Riverclan "needed" their guidance. Upon invading, Tigerstar appointed Icewing and Cloverfoot until a proper leader could be found. But Duskfur denounced the entire thing.

Shouldn't she be the temporary leader as Owlnose's deputy and not some ShadowClan sympathiser? Tigerstar contested that her and Owlnose's promotions had been illegitimate. Before Duskfur almost goaded Tigerstar into killing her, Splashpaw shouted at her to stop. He’d already seen what his mistakes cost RiverClan and didn’t want more escalation.

While they'd avoided any deaths, Splashpaw knew it wasn't over. RiverClan was growing more divided between Duskfur and Icewing by the day. Frostpaw returned as a medicine cat, scrambling to find an omen revealing RiverClan's true leader. With no omen manifesting, the white she-cat confided in her trusted friend.

Her visions were too vague, and she needed to travel beyond RiverClan to strengthen her connection. But the glimpses she was getting showed a dark truth. The recent deaths weren't a coincidence, and the killers needed to be found to restore trust. The white she-cat asked Splashpaw to accompany her on this sacred journey.

Splashpaw's heart pounded. He wouldn't dare to hurt cats investigating the deaths, but he didn't expect a fair trial in these volatile times either. Maybe… he could convince Frostpaw not to report him. She wasn't innocent after all. Her fake omens had led to disarray. He needed her to see they were pawns who deserved redemption, rather than exposure.

If he played this right, something good could come of it. Maybe he and Frostpaw could finally confess everything: Were you part of the murders? Are you glad Curlfeather's gone? They could break that last barrier and truly trust each other.

Nervously, cautiously, Splashpaw agreed to the journey. As they set off, there was a strange encounter with Nightheart and Sunbeam of ThunderClan. StarClan had sent them similar dreams, and the couple asked to join the apprentices. Splashpaw wanted to turn these strangers away, but remembered he was the one intruding on this prophecy. If he didn't watch himself, he could become the evil they were destined to stop.

Holding his tongue, he eventually discovered he got along with the ThunderClan cats. Nightheart and Sunbeam felt like older versions of himself and Frostpaw. He still hoped for a future with her. Maybe she'd choose the warrior path after all, or the code was revised again.

But that hope was shattered when a Twoleg kidnapped Frostpaw overnight. When she returned with a deep scar, a local kittypet explained she'd been to the "Cutter" and could never have kits. The news hit Splashpaw like claws. His dream of a family and purpose was gone. Instead of comforting her, he left her bedside without a word. Nightheart chased after the younger tom, saying he should be there for his friend.

Despite her ordeal, the four needed to press on. Soon, they reached the Park, where its residents held the spiritual knowledge the Clans sought.

As Frostpaw learnt to meditate with StarClan, Splashpaw braced for the inevitable. His ancestors had no reason to conceal his crimes. If he couldn't convince Frostpaw to keep his secrets, he wouldn't return to the Lake. He didn't care how cowardly that was. It was better to disappear than face his family's disgust.

He steeled himself as Frostpaw awoke with haunted eyes. She leaned into him and choked that Riverstar revealed her mother's betrayal. Splashpaw stayed quiet as she rambled. Why wasn't she mentioning his part? Did StarClan leave it out after all, or was Frostpaw playing him?

When he asked Frostpaw if Riverstar had any words for the other travelling cats, she admitted there was a vague message for him: "Find the sunlight through the fog”.

StarClan's warning was both ominous and hopeful. Their patience hung by a spider's web, but forgiveness was possible if Splashpaw stayed on a righteous path. With renewed purpose, he vowed to help save his clan.

Drawing on the Park cats' knowledge, Splashpaw learned that the Lake once had ancient tribes who voted for their leaders. It might solve their leadership crisis if he could convince RiverClan of the ceremony's legitimacy. Frostpaw tracked down an old spirit named Half-Moon, who explained Jayfeather had deep ties to the ancients - a voice the Five Clans would respect.

Rushing back to the Lake, the travelling cats contacted the blind tom. Jayfeather thought it was crazy enough to work, but they'd need more help to convince everyone. Thankfully, the Skyclan mediator, Tree agreed to endorse it. The six cats arrived at RiverClan's camp to a tense, confused crowd.

Jayfeather explained the voting tradition had roots in the Clans, with the ancients' pawsteps marking the Moonpool, and their blood flowed through every Clan. But unease rippled through the camp. How could a medicine cat suggest they make a massive decision without StarClan's blessing?

Splashpaw snapped. Had they forgotten the Impostor's mayhem? StarClan was fractured. It could be moons before their voices were heard clearly. StarClan didn't need the living mewing like helpless kits. They were warriors.

He pulled Frostpaw beside him and declared Curlfeather had been another evil spirit misleading a medicine cat. In such times, the living needed to trust themselves. Flustered, Frostpaw revealed Riverstar's visions about Curlfeather's crimes. Duskfur cried that her daughter wouldn't do that, and Frostpaw must be confused. Splashpaw stepped between them and accused Duskfur of denying she had raised a wicked cat.

Desperate, Riverclan agreed to hold the vote that night and escape this limbo.

However, Cloverfoot insisted that Tigerstar be informed first. As she tried to leave for Shadowclan, Duskfur suddenly pinned her down, saying they couldn't risk interference. When Cloverfoot asked if she was being taken hostage, Duskfur snapped that RiverClan had been held hostage a long time ago.

Icewing tackled Duskfur and ordered Cloverfoot to flee. Chaos erupted.

Jayfeather and Tree offered to get reinforcements, but Splashpaw refused. This was still contained to RiverClan's borders. There was time to stop this from becoming a multi-clan war.

Across the marsh, Cloverfoot was pursued by Duskfur, Icewing, Shimmerpelt, and Harelight. The five cats became a writhing mass, unclear who was protecting or killing the Shadowclan deputy.

Then, Shimmerpelt and Harelight tumbled aside, slipping into a deep bog. Reeds tangled around them, dragging them under. Everyone scrambled to help, but the bubbles stopped coming to the surface.

Duskfur screamed it was Cloverfoot's fault and lunged for her throat. Splashpaw intercepted her, dragging her down. He accused her of provoking the entire battle and getting two warriors killed. She claimed to protect RiverClan, but she’d ended up tearing it apart.

Despite being an apprentice, Splashpaw ordered her to leave RiverClan. With one last look at her deceased clanmates, Duskfur fled into the distance. To his surprise, Icewing and Cloverfoot commended his initiative. But he wasn't interested in their praise. Splashpaw scoffed that they had fuelled rising tensions and were hardly better than Duskfur.

Murmurs surrounded Splashpaw. His clanmates had seen Duskfur's exile, and they approved. When Jayfeather and Tree caught up, Splashpaw asked them to escort Cloverfoot to ShadowClan. As independent witnesses, they'd ensure she couldn't twist the story to Tigerstar. Meanwhile, the warriors retrieved the bodies for burial.

As night set in, cats whispered that Splashpaw deserved his warrior name - a spark in the bleakness. He felt hollow. He always imagined his ceremony with his sister, Fogpaw. Yet he couldn't deny the hope that glimmered in his clanmates.

With no leader, Mothwing performed the ceremony and named him Splashtail. As his name rang out, he saw his family beaming. He remembered Riverstar's warning: "Find the sunlight in the fog." Was this what it meant?

Riding that momentum, RiverClan decided to hold the vote before dawn. Tigerstar was already on his way. They wanted their new leader to greet him and tell him he was no longer welcome. Icewing seemed the obvious choice, though Harelight had been a contender before death snatched him up.

Fogpaw decided to cast the first vote. She wanted her brother, Splashtail, to take the title. He tried to laugh it off, but others were taking it seriously. Doubt lingered over Icewing’s closeness to Tigerstar, and Splashtail felt like the middle ground between her and Duskfur.

He protested he was far too young, but everyone said he'd already acted like a leader. They'd lost so many candidates that they needed to look to unexpected places. He wanted to find another excuse but couldn't express any without hinting at his darker side. What if nobody else was willing to be leader or be acceptable in the eyes of the masses?

Then, Tigerstar barged into camp. Feeling everyone's expectations burrow into him, Splashtail introduced himself as RiverClan's elected leader. Tigerstar's "help" was no longer needed, and he was trespassing on their territory. The dark tabby asked if they were serious. When Splashtail wouldn't budge, he warned that RiverClan couldn't come crawling back once their kitten leader failed.

It was too late now. Splashtail had made the declaration to another leader. Backtracking would make Riverclan look weak and vulnerable to more attacks.

Soon, Splashtail was preparing for his journey to the Moonpool. If someone lured dogs on his way there, he wouldn't blame them.

Sensing his stress, Frostpaw asked if he really wanted to be leader. Pointing to Riverstar's message, Splashtail said he believed StarClan expected it of him. Frostpaw fulfilled her destiny despite her reluctance. Now it was his turn. Perhaps they had been stuck in the past due to Mistystar, and they needed the polar opposite to drag them out.

Determined to be a decent leader, Splashtail began by apologising to Frostpaw. He'd left her bedside after learning she couldn't have kits. He should be proud that they’ll serve as leader and medicine cat together, not obsessing over what-ifs. Uneasy, Frostpaw muttered that at least they could move forward now.

That talk reminded Frostpaw of something and revealed that Splashtail's mother needed to speak to him. Havenpelt explained she didn't want to overwhelm him after his journey and promotion, but she couldn't hide it forever. She was pregnant with his younger siblings. Joy and fear crashed through Splashtail. Whether his siblings could live a peaceful life rested with him.

Soon, Splashtail and Frostpaw were making their way to the Moonpool. Mothwing abstained, saying her disbelief could taint the ceremony. After he lapped the sacred water, Splashtail dreamed he was at the bottom of a gorge. Starclan spirits paced the cliff tops, eyes burning with judgement.

Then, he saw Curlfeather, ragged as the day she died.

Splashtail snarled that he wouldn't listen to her lies and would pass Starclan's test. Curlfeather sneered that she was a dead cat with nothing to lose. She would relish sharing every unwanted truth.

For example, Reedwhisker wouldn't have been the suitable replacement that Splashtail assumed. The black tom had always been a coward. Then, the dream shifted to Curlfeather's memories.

She and her mate argued over her pressuring Frostkit into becoming a medicine cat. Frustrated, Jayclaw stormed out for a midnight walk. As he stumbled in the darkness, the wire of a foxtrap snapped around his neck.

Curlfeather begged Mistystar for a search party, but the leader insisted that Jayclaw was a grown warrior who would return in his own time. The old leader’s attention drifted elsewhere as the day dragged on. By the time Reedwhisker took charge, Jayclaw was long gone.

Curlfeather pleaded about Mistystar’s unfitness, but Reedwhisker refused to turn against his mother. He argued no one knew Jayclaw was trapped, and any leader could've made the same mistake. Curlfeather growled that this was the second time he'd betrayed her.

The vision twisted again. Reedwhisker peered over a cliff edge while Curlfeather stood over him. The cream she-cat insisted she'd seen a Twoleg kit fall below. The deputy's end came with a single push. As Curlfeather backed away, a muffled voice called that the coast was clear. The voice was barely audible, but sounded like a tom.

As the memories faded, Splashtail demanded more. How had Reedwhisker betrayed her twice? What was that mysterious voice?

Curlfeather purred that it was fun to leave some mystery. She was curious to see how far he'd go for the answers. The StarClan cats were curious, too. Would he become a true leader or remain a paranoid apprentice?

Splashtail snapped that he was changing. He had no reason to stray since Curlfeather disappeared from his life. But the cream she-cat didn't believe him. He let RiverClan vote for him under false pretences. No matter what excuses he told himself, Splashtail was still her apprentice.

As the dream faded, her final warning echoed. His ancestors would be watching what he did next. Personally, Curlfeather was hoping that he would be sentenced to the Dark Forest. She hadn’t forgotten that her daughter nearly died to that mutt.

Splashtail jolted awake. He hadn't received his nine lives.

As Frostpaw went to his side, Splashtail clambered to her. Spiralling, he blurted that Curlfeather had been in his dream. She taunted him with the Dark Forest and that her surviving accomplice could strike again. Disaster loomed once more.

Frostpaw tried to comfort him, but she had to ask about the Dark Forest. Why would her mother threaten him with condemnation if he were innocent?

Splashtail seized up. He had made an irreversible mistake. With no other choice, he tried to salvage it with a half-truth. He admitted he was the one who'd given Mistystar her final meal. But he lied that he did it as a daily chore; he had no idea it was poisoned. He swore he'd been tricked like Frostpaw had been with the fake omens.

As Frostpaw heard this, realisation spread across her face. The dog attacking Curlfeather before her nine lives… It wasn't random. It had been vengeance.

Frostpaw stared him down. This was sick. Once, she thought he'd be the father of her kits. Yet he almost let her die as collateral damage. If Splashtail had any honour left, he must confess. He couldn't lead RiverClan.

Splashtail almost gave in. Shame rushed through every vein. But then he remembered the mysterious lookout for Reedwhisker's murder. He reminded Frostpaw she hadn't shared his dream - Splashtail was the sole witness to Curlfeather's accomplice. He planned to confess, but he needed to neutralise that threat beforehand.

Frostpaw said RiverClan would find someone else to investigate. Splashtail was as much a threat as this so-called accomplice. She couldn't let him go unchecked, not even for a day longer.

Splashtail couldn't follow her logic. She wanted him to confess, then testify? She wanted him to sink his credibility as a witness and risk the accomplice getting away?

Unless…Frostpaw wanted that.

Then it 'clicked' in Splashtail's head. Had Frostpaw continued on a dark path despite her mother's death?

Had she chosen the incompetent Owlnose to spite RiverClan? Had she picked Splashtail for the journey to play mind games? Had Curlfeather's mother, Duskfur, fought for power because it was the family business?

Splashtail loomed over Frostpaw, screeching that he knew the 'truth'. She was manipulating him and continuing Curlfeather's legacy. Frostpaw shrank into her pelt, questioning if he was going to kill her.

Even after everything, Splashtail couldn't lay a claw on her. Instead, he declared that she was exiled and that every clanmate would know that she was the enemy. Unable to take him in a one-on-one, Frostpaw was forced to flee.

Arriving home, Splashtail told his version of events: He didn't receive his nine lives, as he believed Starclan needed Curlfeather's influence to be purged first. He'd banished Frostpaw for her false omens and would find the lookout for Reedwhisker's murder. Until this traitor was exposed, he wouldn't name a deputy, as it risked giving power to the wrong cat.

Splashtail faced his first Gathering without a deputy or lives. As if leading at eleven moons wasn’t hard enough. Before he had a panic attack, he rushed to speak first. RiverClan would close its borders until it sorted out its internal affairs. Mixed murmurs rippled through the assembly.

Tigerstar asked if Frostpaw's sudden exile was connected, as Shadowclan needed to shelter her. Wait, had she told Tigerstar about his crimes? When the dark tabby seemed clueless, Splashtail knew he needed to find the reason for Frostpaw's silence.

Refocusing on the Gathering, Splashtail wove his web of lies. He repeated that Frostpaw was a plausible ally of Curlfeather, and Shadowclan hadn't seen it first-hand. Before Tigerstar could argue, a black and white she-cat sprang to her paws.

Berryheart hissed that Splashtail was right - Tigerstar's interference nearly got Cloverfoot killed. Using the opening, Berryheart announced she wanted to vote him out of power. Splashtail was startled that a ShadowClan cat shared his grudge.

But it was too good to be true. Puddleshine refused to permit the vote, and Tigerstar exiled Berryheart's faction on the spot. Splashtail could leave it as Shadowclan's business, but there was an opportunity here. Riverclan needed him to prove himself as a decisive leader.

Splashtail gave Berryheart's faction a proposal. As long as Curlfeather's accomplice remained in Riverclan, they could infiltrate the investigation about them. That wouldn't be possible if outsiders conducted it, and Berryheart's faction could fill that role. For the time being, they had a place in Riverclan.

Tigerstar was seething, but Splashtail snapped that he was returning the favour for sheltering Frostpaw. In that moment, his voice pitched like a whining kit. Berryheart, Sparrowtail and Hollowspring had to humbly accept.

In the following days, the Riverclan camp descended into paranoia. Splashtail put his recruits to work, gathering alibis for the night of Curlfeather’s crime spree. Cats were questioned in the leader's den one by one. There was no place for dawdlers, and they'd be dragged in. Since Havenpelt had recently given birth, Splashtail needed to find that traitor before they got the idea to use his siblings as blackmail.

Once everyone had been interrogated, there was silence from Splashtail. He had thirty alibis and didn't know what to do with them. Anyone could be lying, and physical evidence had long decayed. In his moonpool vision, the lookout for Reedwhisker's murder had sounded male. But Riverclan had a dozen toms, and there was the possibility that Curlfeather had employed an outsider.

Would he have to beg for help from the other leaders? From Starclan? As Splashtail's silence dragged on, rumours spread like a plague amongst Riverclan. What had the young leader heard? Who were the main suspects?

Quiet gossip turned into heated accusations. Then it all exploded. Icewing had shown a desire for power and strange connections to Shadowclan. The white-cat was driven from her home, turned on by her clanmates.

Splashtail felt no sympathy for her. She wasn't much better than her rival, Duskfur. Out of courtesy, he allowed Icewing to return within a day and stand trial. When she failed to return, he took it as an admission of guilt and declared her exiled as a usurper.

Splashtail was shaken when a patrol reported that Frostpaw and Puddleshine were waiting at the border, asking for his presence. Apparently, Icewing was sheltering in Shadowclan, and Tigerstar wanted to know why a second cat had been kicked out. The Medicine Cats were a compromise to respect the closed borders.

Splashtail brought Berryheart along for her insight into ShadowClan's tricks. He had to watch his every word - Frostpaw would expose him if he gave her a reason to. When the four met at the border, Splashtail suggested they split up to discuss their respective clans. Surprisingly, the medicine cats agreed.

While Berryheart dealt with Puddleshine, Splashtail and Frostpaw settled in an open clearing. It allowed them to spot eavesdroppers and not trip on undergrowth if they needed to run for it. Splashtail saw that Frostpaw's disgust hadn't faded since the Moonpool. If anything, it had only deepened.

Splashtail asked what Frostpaw intended to do in ShadowClan. She replied that he might not believe her, but she was the innocent one between them. He was the one who confessed to murder, then lashed out when she asked him to take responsibility.

The sole reason she remained silent was that RiverClan depended on him. Exposing him too soon would leave a power vacuum. She hoped he would calm down with time and step down, allowing another vote.

Splashtail insisted he had to purge Curlfeather's loyalists first. Then, he might step down. He couldn't hand power to the wrong cat.

Frostpaw asked why RiverClan wasn't already in the wrong paws? He admitted he had spilt blood, but argued that his guilt grounded him. He knew his mind now and promised never to make the same mistakes.

Splashtail muttered that they were at a stalemate. Neither could trust the other, as he still didn't know if Frostpaw had helped with Curlfeather's murders.

He proposed a truce: He would leave her alone in ShadowClan, and she could leave him alone in RiverClan. Who knows, Frostpaw might forge herself an honourable life in a new home. Frostpaw hissed that he should be the one in exile, not her. If he's serious about his guilt, he must stop breathing hypocrisy with every breath.

At that moment, Splashtail realised Frostpaw would never forgive him. Uttering that it wasn’t that simple, he took his leave.

As he crossed the border, Berryheart appeared, shouting that Puddleshine had slipped past and was trying to trespass. Splashtail snapped at Frostpaw, asking if she knew his plans. Suddenly fearful, she pleaded that she didn't know anything.

Splashtail knew he couldn't attack Frostpaw on ShadowClan territory, or it would be an act of war. But he had every right to remove Puddleshine as an intruder. He ordered Berryheart to drag him out and ensure he regretted ignoring the closed borders.

While Splashtail kept an eye on Frostpaw, Berryheart and Puddleshine crashed out of the undergrowth. The medicine cat was covered in his own blood. Berryheart kicked him down the slope, and he landed hard on his side.

Splashtail demanded to know why he trespassed. Berryheart revealed he was trying to check on Sparrowtail and Hollowspring. Splashtail hissed that Puddleshine had no right to feign concern, not after he stood aside while Tigerstar banished Berryheart's family.

Puddleshine could barely stand, struggling to breathe. Splashtail ordered Frostpaw to take him back to ShadowClan and make it clear that not even medicine cats could ignore the closed borders. Shaking, Frostpaw laid Puddleshine on her shoulder and led him away.

When his clanmates heard what had happened, they clamoured for war with ShadowClan. Tigerstar wouldn't stop until he was taught a lesson. Splashtail huffed that he was learning on the job, and they couldn’t expect war in his first moon as leader.

The brown tabby withdrew to his den. He swore Curlfeather’s spirit lingered, sneering at his loss of control. If he could prove her loyalists were still around, Tigerstar might stop hammering him about the 'false exiles'. He needed new leads for Reedwhisker's death.

He recalled his vision with Curlfeather and her claim that Reedwhisker had 'betrayed her twice'.

With Curlfeather tucked away in the Dark Forest, he needed someone else who might understand what she meant. Then he realised something. He never questioned Curlfeather's own mother, Duskfur. She might not cooperate after banishing her, but he had no better option.

Splashtail sent patrols to neighbouring clans, asking for Duskfur's whereabouts. ThunderClan reported that she had settled at the horseplace. He went alone, so she knew he wasn’t there to intimidate her.

Duskfur wasn't surprised to see him. She'd come to terms with Curlfeather's crimes and believed it came back to a family secret. Duskfur said she'd return to testify and put this all to rest. Splashtail looked at the frail elder and realised he could share her fate one day. Alone and guilt-ridden.

When the two arrived at RiverClan camp, Duskfur revealed that Reedwhisker had been the secret father of her kits. He had neglected her during her pregnancy to focus on being deputy. Reedwhisker felt guilty that he was Mistystar's only surviving kit and wanted to make her workload lighter. Duskfur hid her ex-mate's identity, even from Curlfeather or Podlight. Curlfeather must have figured it out and killed Reedwhisker in partial revenge.

Suddenly, Podlight vomited and screamed that he didn't care anymore. He lunged at Duskfur, yowling that she'd let him unknowingly kill his own father. He spat that Curlfeather was a liar too, promising it was a simple power grab and he'd become deputy.

As Splashtail dragged Podlight off Duskfur, the older tom said to get his exile over with. How could this coward demand mercy after making RiverClan crumble? After trying to kill his own mother moments ago? Splashtail whispered that banishment would only give Podlight another chance to hurt someone.

Taken by surprise, Splashtail slammed Podlight's head into the base of the leader rock. As Duskfur wailed over her son's body, Splashtail coldly said her confession wouldn't earn her forgiveness. Her lies had birthed two murderers. The whole family was tainted, and none of them could be trusted. He ordered her to take Curlfeather's remaining kits, Mistpaw and Graypaw, to the horseplace.

Half of RiverClan recoiled while the rest cheered.

Splashtail was surprised by how little he cared about having blood on his paws again. Some could argue he had three victims to his name. But he didn't see it like that anymore. Splashtail had one victim, Mistystar. She wasn't bad enough to deserve death, and he'd forever atone for that. He had executed Curlfeather and Podlight… Traitors… Liars.

At least now, he could make sense of it all. All this madness traced back to a single lineage. With their members dead or exiled, he had removed the rot within Riverclan. Finally, Splashtail could return his Clan to normalcy.

He recalled his argument with Frostpaw at the Moonpool and her demands that he step down. Even if those words came from an untrustworthy cat, they rang true. Splashtail had clung to power to ensure his successor wasn't a secret traitor. With Podlight dead and exposed, Splashtail didn't have an excuse anymore.

Since he hadn't received nine lives, he could call for a revote and withdraw his candidacy. Frustratingly, those plans had to wait as the Gathering was tomorrow. At the very least, he could stand before the leaders and announce that RiverClan was reopening its borders after they delivered justice.

Before setting out for the Gathering, Berryheart intercepted him. She wanted to know what the future held for her family in RiverClan. They'd joined under the condition of aiding the investigation, and now that was over. She confessed she had hoped her efforts would make her a candidate for deputy. Splashtail said they could talk later, though he knew he wouldn't choose her. She was too much like him. He didn't intend to be the leader for much longer anyway.

As RiverClan filed onto the island, Splashtail hurried to speak first. He declared that Curlfeather's influence had finally been removed and a brighter future awaited them. He recounted Duskfur's testimony and insisted all the bloodshed stemmed from one family's decay. Turning to Icewing in the crowd, he apologised for the misplaced blame and revoked her exile. Instead of gratitude, Icewing spat that she would never accept an offer from a murderer.

Splashtail couldn't breathe for a moment. It was finally happening. His exposure, in front of every living soul.

On cue, Frostpaw appeared at Icewing's side. She looked less like a frightened apprentice and more like a battle-worn warrior. She cried that she couldn't remain silent after Greypaw and Mistpaw had sought refuge in ShadowClan. Tigerstar's smug expression revealed he had approved Frostpaw's public stunt ahead of time.

Splashtail could not fight, could not flee. He would have to stand there, let the truth spill, and somehow salvage it. He knew he had done terrible things, but he had brought Riverclan to its greatest stability in moons. He wouldn't let Frostpaw ruin everything he built.

Frostpaw revealed that Splashtail had confessed at the Moonpool: Curlfeather had tricked him into poisoning Mistystar, and he had lured the dog in revenge. Every accusation he made, every execution he carried out, was nothing more than a desperate attempt to bury his guilt.

Splashtail snapped before the crowd could react, declaring that Frostpaw could not be trusted. Her false omens had nearly given Curlfeather nine lives, and she had listened to her mother's spirit when elevating Owlnose as leader. Podlight's recent exposure proved it was a family business. Curlfeather had no reason to spare her kits from that corruption.

He announced that it was his word against Frostpaw's. The Clans would have to decide who to believe.

Silence pressed over the island, suffocating and sharp. Then Tigerstar broke it, saying he sided with Frostpaw. He accused Splashtail of proving his bloodlust when he attacked Puddleshine, revealing the medicine cat had died from a collapsed lung. Splashtail felt like frost was covering his heart.

Had he killed another innocent after vowing never to do it again? No, it had to be another one of Tigerstar's manipulations.

Splashtail denied it. He had not attacked Puddleshine; he had ordered Berryheart to remove a trespasser after moons of ShadowClan tampering. Eyes turned to the black-and-white she-cat. She protested that she was following her leader's orders of "make him regret it."

Splashtail leapt down to face her, arguing his vague words had never meant fatal wounds - Berryheart had chosen the savagery herself.

The two cats descended into a screeching match. Before it became a brawl, Splashtail's own father separated them and whispered that the Gathering needed to end. With no choice, the young leader agreed. As RiverClan retreated, Splashtail caught Frostpaw's eyes. She stared at him with… embarrassment.

The news spread to every corner of the camp. As Mothwing approached him, he half expected her to kill him. Instead, she said she believed Frostpaw. She would stay in Riverclan as they needed a healer, but she didn't acknowledge Splashtail as their leader. It was a matter of time before their clanmates had had enough of him.

Worse still was Havenpelt. His mother stumbled out of the nursery while her second litter watched like frightened rabbits. She collapsed at Splashtail’s paws, begging him to deny it was true. Splashtail had feared her disgust for so long, but he found something worse: Grief. The grief for the innocent kitten she had raised.

Before he could answer, Fogpaw rushed to their side. He braced for her rebuke, but she turned on their mother instead. Fogpaw questioned how she could believe Frostpaw over her own son. They were at war with Curlfeather's kin, and Splashtail had only ever defended RiverClan. At that moment, he realised that his sister's faith had never wavered. Not since the day she cast the first vote for his leadership. She was the one star in a sky of endless darkness.

That night, Fogpaw and Splashtail shared the leader's den. No one else dared speak to him. Fogpaw confessed she didn't care whether Frostpaw's accusations were true. Mistystar's death had been an accident, and Curlfeather's downfall had saved RiverClan. Frostpaw simply could not accept that her mother's killer had acted for the greater good. While Fogpaw had remained a helpless apprentice, her brother had fought for change.

Numbly, Splashtail thanked her, realising even their parents no longer believed in him.

After the littermates drifted to sleep, Splashtail woke to a crushing weight on his throat. Berryheart stood over him, suffocating him. She whispered she wouldn’t be scapegoated for Puddleshine’s death or risk her family being cast out again. This was her moment to seize control of RiverClan, to ensure no one ever pushed her around again.

Splashtail thrashed, waking Fogpaw at his side. A deadly calm came over his sister’s face. Berryheart sneered that she wasn't scared of two apprentices and would kill them both. As she ranted, Fogpaw clamped her jaws around her neck. The black-and-white she-cat tore at Fogpaw from every angle. But she couldn't break free. Eventually, she stopped struggling.

Splashtail pressed against the wall. Why did this keep happening? Could he not rest a single night without another traitor emerging from the shadows? As blood pooled around Berryheart, he thought he saw a red haze twist into a familiar silhouette. Curlfeather. Had she set Berryheart upon him? How many spies did she still have?

Splashtail called a clan meeting and dragged Berryheart's body into the clearing. He named Fogpaw the only cat he could trust after such betrayal. Mad with adrenaline, he made her a warrior and deputy in the same breath. No omens. No ceremony. Only his word. Stunned, Fognose eventually accepted, telling herself young minds were needed to shape RiverClan.

Together, they turned on Hollowspring and Sparrowtail, accusing them of knowing Berryheart's plot. RiverClan's hatred of ShadowClan drowned out its doubts about the young leader, and the two were seized as prisoners. Splashtail and Fognose decided they would face execution.

News reached Tigerstar quickly. He ambushed Fognose's patrol at the border. His sister limped back home with a single message: release Hollowspring and Sparrowtail. Unlike Berryheart, there was no proof they were killers. Exile or not, Tigerstar would not abandon them to Splashtail's judgment.

The young leader barely slept. Paranoia hollowed him out. He guarded the camp entrance, waiting for Shadowclan cats to come streaming in. He was the one who placed a target on Fognose's back… He would ensure nobody would touch her again. But RiverClan was growing impatient. Senior warriors ran the camp while their leader stalked shadows. Even those who were unsure about Frostpaw's accusations were growing bitter.

In his endless vigil, Splashtail did spot something. Havenpelt was trying to sneak out with his younger siblings. When he cornered her with Fognose, Havenpelt admitted she wanted them safe in ThunderClan with the brewing war. Splashtail said the other Clans couldn't be trusted. He’d sacrificed his youth to keep RiverClan safe and questioned why his mother couldn't be proud of that.

He had imprisoned her and the kits in his den for their own protection. Family was the only thing worth keeping close.

The next morning, Splashtail was jostled awake by Fognose. The scents of ShadowClan and ThunderClan hit him like a thick fog. He had expected Tigerstar's forces - but Squirrelflight’s too? How had the invaders reached camp without a single patrol raising the alarm?

He ordered his family to stay inside and blocked the cave entrance with his own body. Outside was a bizarre sight. Shadowclan and Thunderclan stood there as an unmoving wall, not attacking anyone. Meanwhile, Riverclan was split between greeting the intruders or spitting at them. Had some of their members invited these outsiders in?

Splashtail scanned the enemy ranks: Mothwing, Nightheart, Sunbeam, Tigerstar, Frostpaw, and… his father.

Sneezecloud stepped forward, explaining they weren't just here for Sparrowtail and Hollowspring. He had been with ThunderClan last night, awaiting Havenpelt with the second litter. When he learned Splashtail had imprisoned them, he turned to Squirrelflight for help. ThunderClan had stayed neutral until now but queens and kits changed everything.

Splashtail shouted that Sneezecloud was the one endangering them - bringing invaders into the heart of camp. Fognose approached her brother's side, begging him not to provoke the army.

Sneezecloud told his older kits to listen to him carefully. He was the only reason they weren't already dead. He pleaded their case to the other clans: They were just twelve-moon-old cats overwhelmed by war and duty. They wouldn't be forgiven, but they could be spared. Sneezecloud offered to take them into exile with him, while Havenpelt stayed in Riverclan with the second litter. This was their last chance.

Fognose seemed tempted by the offer. Splashtail shoved her back into the den, urging her not to fall for the same brainwashing as their father.

Facing the crowd, Splashtail declared the warrior code demanded they defend kits with their lives. He wouldn’t be a coward like Sneezecloud, entrusting them to strangers. He’d rather die with honour. Tigerstar pushed Sneezecloud aside and rang out the battle cry.

The warriors descended on him like a flood. The sheer number made it impossible to flee - Splashtail's single hope was hiding within the closed space of his den. Only one or two cats could fit through the cave entrance. If he could endure those one-on-one battles, Tigerstar might cut his losses and simply leave with Berryheart's family. It would take bone-breaking luck.

Splashtail drove back into the cave and ordered Fognose to flank him. Anyone who dared venture in would face a thousand slashes. Havenpelt pulled the kits towards her belly, begging to be let go, but Splashtail insisted it would be over soon.

Three warriors tried their chances at the entrance, only to be driven back with shredded ears. For a heartbeat, Splashtail thought his plan might work. Then Nightheart and Sunbeam moved as one. The black tom kicked up a dust cloud while the patched she-cat yanked Fognose by her leg. Heaving her towards Sneezecloud, Sunbeam said she wasn't a lost cause like her brother and didn’t need to go down with him. Fognose turned on her heel, calling for her father.

Inside, Splashtail barely held Nightheart at bay. The ThunderClan tom sneered that whatever rough start he and Sunbeam had was nothing compared to Splashtail. He spat that Frostpaw would never have been happy with him, Curlfeather or not.

Splashtail yowled back that Nightheart was a sheltered brat who knew nothing about how circumstances could tear families apart. His hind legs ripped at the black tomt's belly, blood splattering.

A white shadow surged in. Frostpaw dragged the wounded tom out and faced Splashtail herself. She demanded to know why he rejected every chance to live. Did he want the Dark Forest to claim him? Did he want Curlfeather waiting for him?

Splashtail's voice cracked. What made his killings different from Firestar tearing out Tigerstar's throat? From Bristlefrost hurling Ashfur into the void? He envisioned Curlfeather's mangled ghost above her daughter, shouting that he would walk among StarClan and be free from her forever.

In his ramblings, Frostpaw managed to slam him down, calling him a miserable creature. Splashtail watched, helpless, as Havenpelt and the kits slipped out. His family vanished one by one. He'd already lost Fognose. He couldn't lose them, either.

When Floodkit lagged behind, he saw his chance, tearing free of Frostpaw’s grasp.

He lunged, wrenching Floodkit by the scruff and snarling that he was trying to protect her.

A sickening crack echoed in the den.

Splashtail froze. Floodkit hung limply in his jaws. He crumpled, clutching her tiny body, begging her to rise. This wasn't real. This wasn't meant to happen.

Frostpaw stared down at what Splashtail had done. She didn't say anything. She simply moved to grip the back of his neck.