"My silence is not weakness, but the beginning of my revenge."

~•~•~•~•~•~

Dimstar went back to sleep after awakening from his travel to SpiritClan. He enjoyed every moment of the reunion with Flamepaw, Quailchaser, Galestorm, and Chirpbark. It was an event that Dimstar longed to have happen, and now that it finally did he could hold a smile upon his face and not regret it at all.

The russet tabby slept peacefully with a smile curved onto his face for the rest of the night. His tail was curled around himself and he snored softly. Dimstar felt as if he was finally at peace again, and that he could have a moment to relax.

Finally, the sun rose over the horizon, casting its bright rays into the rebellion's camp. Snow covered the forest floor, symbolizing the true beginning of leafbare. The faint chirping of birds that created a soothing melody no longer lingered in the air, leaving everything to be awfully silent and placid. The trees blanches moved like a birds wings while soaring through the sky as a breeze blew through the forest. Most trees were now torn from their leaf coverings, naked now that it was leafbare.

Dimstar's eyes flickered open, his jaws parting immediately in a clamorous yawn. The rebellion leader rose to his paws, outstretching his paws and raising his headquarters in a stretching manner. He then stood up straight, his ears twitching and a smile still plastered over his visage.

The tom's tail flicked to and fro as he made his way out of the den. Everything seemed peaceful within the camp now, besides the notes of sorrow shared from the battle here and there. Patrols began to go out again recently and prepare battle skills for the future war. Minktalon and Peonyflight also worked towards preparing Lilypaw, teaching her the herb basics and making sure she had everything down. Smokeflight and Redcloud had moved on from the conflict from before, but the two still gave Dimstar a few burning glares every here and there.

Peace was finally beginning to rest over the rebellion like snow covering the earth. Dimstar did not forget about the death of his son, but no longer did he collasp from dreaded sorrow from the memory. Quailchaser's sudden death when EchoClan attacked seem to bring every cat of the rebellion together. His death told all that they had to stand together and not have conflicts with one another. Their only true enemy was Archangel and his followers, and fear itself.

"Dimstar!"

The moment Dimstar began to pad away from his den, he froze in his tracks and his ears bolted straight him at his name. His head cocked and a smile emerged onto his visage when he spotted the elegant deputy padding over to him. She pressed close to him and muzzled her mate, a purr rumbling in both of their throats.

Dimstar then pulled away from his mate and they locked gazes. He parted his jaws to ask a question he had been meaning to ask since they made up. "Cloverpool, have-"

"Dimstar!"

There was the russet tabby's name again, but this time the voice was strained with panic and terror. The leader turned instantly to face the source of the voice that called his name from the entrance to their camp.

Snakeleap, the former deputy of EchoClan from before its corruption, stood at the entrance of camp. He was the source of the voice but there was multiple other cats with him. Slap stood at Snakeleap's side, his head ducked and his ears flattened. Sparrowblaze was on his other side, her eyes narrowed and focused in on Dimstar. Twistedmoon and Nightleap was also amongst them, a sioulhette of a cat in between the two that was hard to make out. Other cats were behind them, but it was also hard to peer pass the cats in the front.

Cats from EchoClan began to slip out of their dens, gathering in a crowd behind Dimstar. Minktalon stepped up at Dimstar's side, Cloverpool at her side. Dimstar glanced over at the two she-cats and nodded to them, showing that he had the situation handled before turning back towards Snakeleap and the others.

"Snakeleap, what is the meaning of this?" Dimstar asked, the words slipping off his tongue without thinking about it first. He didn't want to sound rude, but he didn't want to welcome them straight on in either. They could be there as an ambush.

The former deputies eyes narrowed and he took a few steps forward. He then paused and flicked his tail to some of the cats behind him to step up. "We have come finally, Dimstar. We have come to join what we should have joined since the very beginning," Snakeleap mumbled with a dip of his head.

Dimstar parted his jaws but then a cat from the crowd stepped up beside Snakeleap. She was a smaller, ginger she-cat and the moment she appeared a cry erupted from Cloverpool. "Flamepaw!" The deputy rushed over to her daughter, the two embracing one another.

Several other cats began to emerge to be seen. Angelkit was amongst them, and him and Ashwhisper had a specail reunion between the two friends. A smile spread across Dimstar's face until Nightleap and Twistedmoon stepped forward, revealing the cat in between them. Dimstar clenched his teeth, a growl rumbling in his throat at the familiar sight.

Hollowstorm stood in between them, battered and scarred. He was clearly attacked and brought here by force, perhaps even brought as a gift to the rebellion. Hollowstorm had done terrible things to most of the cats within the rebellion, for he had murdered Galestorm and one of him and Birdcry's kits.

At the sight of him, Birdcry stepped out of the crowd and parted her jaws in a loud hiss. Dimstar's gaze snapped over to her and he was about to hold her back from attacking Hollowstorm but Minktalon padded over first and comforted her new mate. Dimstar's ears twitched and he turned back to glance at Snakeleap.

"Why did you bring this putrid thing in our camp?" Dimstar asked in a low growl, his tail lashing like a snake striking for its prey.

A growl erupted from Hollowstorm at Dimstar's question but he was silenced by a shove from Twistedmoon. Snakeleap snorted at Hollowstorm and then turned back to Dimstar to answer.

"We all know how many horrid things Hollowstorm did to us. He murdered a kit and one of our strongest warriors in cold blood. He betrayed us all, and he would be a perfect gift to bring here to show our appreciation to the rebellion and how much we wish to join. Also, Hollowstorm recommended we bring his new kits along with us as well."

Snakeleap's tail flicked over to Nightleap, who had two scraps of fur wiggling around in his jaws. Dimstar's eyes shifted to slits at the sight of them, and then it hit him. Where was Shadefur? Wasn't she the tom's new mate?

"Where-"

Before he could ask the question, a hiss slid out of Hollowstorm's mouth. The tom was glaring at Birdcry and Minktalon, who were pressed against one another. "You filthy scum!" Hollowstorm spat at his former mate. "Why are you mates with that beast!"

Minktalon and Birdcry did not move a muscle, but instead the rebellion leader did. A tornado of anger and frustration whirled up inside of him, his eyes lit with a fiery rage. He leaped forward and knocked into Hollowstorm, the two rolling across the earth and Snakeleap's cats leaping away from the rolling, hissing ball of fur. Dimstar finally then managed to pin the tom down, a unsheathed paw on his chest and the other held to his neck.

"Do not ever speak of Minktalon in such a way ever again! If anything you are the beast! You murdered your own kit and a cat that most of us held dearest to our hearts!" Dimstar spat coldly. "Minktalon is not the beast, she is the best, most loyal she-cat this rebellion has ever seen and a mate that Birdcry can actually be proud to call her mate! So shut your mouth...you..y-you piece of shit!"

Dimstar had heard the word be used before from the former rogues in the clan, and it felt good to use it against Hollowstorm since it had a negative connotation. Hollowstorm's eyes were as wide as the full moon, his breathing quick and his teeth clenching. Dimstar could see the apprehension flickering in the tom's gaze, and it felt good to have Hollowstorm be afraid of him. It felt good to have his claws held to Hollowstorm's neck.

"Go on, end me already! Do it!" Hollowstorm spat, his heart racing for which Dimstar could feel with his paw held on the tom's chest.

The russet tabbies eyes flashed with fury and he rose the paw that was once held to Hollowstorm's neck. He rose it high in the air, no cat crying out to stop it but instead watching through slitted eyes. A wail then sounded, a tiny, soft wail from beside Dimstar. The tom looked over to spot Nightleap and Eveningfawn attempting to comfort Hollowstorm's kits, who were wailing and squirming.

Memories packed into Dimstar's head. He remembered the night when EchoClan was attacked and taken over by Archangel. He remembered hearing the same wailing, yet from his very own kits. Dimstar had followed the wailing until he arrived at the nursery, finding Galestorm protecting Cloverpool who had just given birth to Quailkit and Flamekit. That same wailing filled the air as Galestorm was murdered by Hollowstorm, sacrificing his life to save Cloverpool and her kits.

"No."

The simple word slipped off the edge off Dimstar's edge as if it was honey, slipping slowly off the edge of his tongue and leaving a stain on the earth below. He dropped his paw slowly to the ground, and glanced back down at Hollowstorm. The tom's eyes were squeezed shut but now slowly opened, his ears folded back and his breathing fast.

"I won't kill in front of them. I can't kill. I can't. I'm not a beast...I'm not like you Hollowstorm," Dimstar growled softly, slowly stepping off the tom. "I'm not a terrible, disgusting murderer."

"Then what will you do with me!" Hollowstorm hissed, still laying on the ground with fear still visible in his eyes.

Dimstar's eyes narrowed and he didn't even bother to answer the tom. He flicked his tail to Twistedmoon and Nightleap, signaling them over. He then signaled Minktalon forward, who obeyed and padded forward.

"Nightleap and Twistedmoon, bring this tom to the den in the far back of the camp. Minktalon, you show them there. I also want one of you to stand guard there until the shifts are switched. He will be held there with no permission to come out until said so by me," Dimstar ordered.

All three cats dipped their heads and went straight to their assignment. Dimstar then turned to Snakeleap, who met Dimstar's gaze in an instant. "Come with me Snakeleap and we can discuss everything," Dimstar told the tom before turning and leading him through the crowd and towards the leaders den.

As Dimstar walked on, he could hear hissing and spitting from Hollowstorm directed at him. "You coward! Coward! No real leader is a coward! You will lose to Archangel! No matter what happens, you will die!"

Instead of recoiling, Dimstar walked on, a sly smirk sliding onto his face. This type of revenge is satisfying..