Lightstar's orbs were lit with fury, seemingly the only ember in a dark patch. "He deserves and will get nothing from me and my warriors," she announced, a fire kindling in her eyes. "Sure, he's lost a lot of cats, but so have I. Sure, he needs help, but he should know better. He's been taking my warriors for seasons!"

The office seemed to shake under her harsh words, and I couldve sworn I heard a sigh from behind the door. Strange how the room worked.

I found myself disagreeing slightly and tilted my head. "Permission to talk, Lightstar?"

She nodded, closing her mouth with a snap and her slim tail slithering to a rest over her paws.

"Look, perhaps he made wrong choices. Taking RiverClan warriors should never be excuseable, and I'm not saying you should forgive him instantly. He broke your trust.." I found myself wavering, not sure if the two had met before, but taking a wild guess. The leader seemed either not to see my slip-up, or they did meet before. "..but put yourself in his paws. Switch perspectives." I found my own voice soothing, and it appeared she did too. "What if you needed help, would you grovel if it meant saving your cats?" Slowly she nodded, eyes closed in concentraion. "I would do the same..." she murmured, orbs lit again.

"We went on patrol to find our cats, they would want the same, for their cats to be safe." I continued, stepping on Dustywind's paw, for I was running out of words.

"I second Rushingwave. Perhaps we should indeed help them, and they can pay us back for the things they have done for us. Think of the benefits, Lightstar!" Dustywind spoke with a hint of respect in his voice. He looked eager to fight, claws unsheathed and tail bristling.

Lightstar lashed her tail, her coat starting to ruffle as she stood up. "We will fight. We will show those cats how they made a mistake in harming Hail and his cats."

I cheered, waving my tail in the air. "We should go tell him."

Frostpaw ran after me as we scampered out, opening the door with ease. "I can't wait to be back at camp again! What has changed since I've been away?"

I felt a pang in my chest to remind me that he'd been gone, but before I could answer we stumbled upon Hail.

The savannah tom was sitting with his head bowed next to a yellow molly that I presumed had to be his sister. They were talking in hushed voices, and her eyes were wide with fear.

As soon as Hail saw me and the other three warriors, he raised his head, the fear swimming into the depths of his gaze to not be seen. 

"Did you decide?" he asked coldly, sweeping his tail back and forth. His sister echoed his expression without a glance between them, she picked at her claws in boredom.

They seemed like they couldn't care less, but I saw through their deception that they really needed our help to get their home back.

"Yes." Lightstar met his gaze with something like sympathy in her usually emotionless eyes.

"Yes to help, or yes to decide?" His tail lifted up hopefully, and Willow dropped her paw to stare at us.

"Both." Frostpaw nodded to Lightstar, taking a pace forward. 

Breaking into a purr, Hail nuzzled his sister. Willow's lithe body shook with happiness as she blinked up at us.

"When should we meet?" The molly seemed as though she could not wait to get her paws on flesh.

Lightstar flicked her tail, head seemingly racing, leading us out of the room without answering. Hail took the front as she paused, hesitant, at the maze, and walked silently to the mess hall. Upon our entrance we were swarmed by RiverClan cats, clamoring to know what happened. Thunderfish stood by, watching with delight in his eyes. 

He and Lightstar leaped up on the table and she yowled for attention. As the Clan gathered, I was aware of Hail watching Lightstar in admiration. Was it in fact possible that they knew each other before? The savannah tom then saw me watching him, and his eyes turned to steel as he gazed over RiverClan.

"Despite how Hail has treated this Clan, I have decided to help him." Lightstar silenced the murmurs of disagreement and continued. "RiverClan shall journey back to camp and report to everyone. Then, after about seven sun-journeys, we will move out to attack."

She had discussed none of it with no one, and I admired her ability to make up a plan on the spot. It took my friends and I ages to come up with a plan to get us out of here.

Rosedawn lifted her tail, the point's eyes glittering. "What about us, Lightstar? Do you even remember me?"

Lightstar's eyes softened. "How could I ever forget my own kit?" And with a discreet glance at Hail, she jumped off and nuzzled Rosedawn. "You and Snowtuft can come back to the Clan. I'm sorry for exiling you."

I sat, my brain whirling. Some of my speculations seemed correct - Lightstar and Hail were once a thing. But they had kits? And one of those were Snowtuft?  And they were exiled?

Rosedawn purred softly, her small form not seeming so menacing anymore. And Snowtuft, his expression softening for a second, dipped his head in gratitude. Perhaps everything would go well.

Frostpaw nudged me, eyes shining. "We're going home! Finally!"

I echoed him, a wide grin plastered over my face. "We're going home." I felt giddy, I finally wasn't in control! The mission was not dependent on me, but someone who knew how to lead! At last, I had no fear of failure when I had strong cats to lead me.

"Pack up, RiverClan, we're going home!" Lightstar raised her voice in a commanding yowl over the cats, and they began rushing around in a hurry. "Thunderfish and Dustysky, you're in charge for the time being." I sighed in relief, thankful for not getting chosen, and licked my friend's cheek. Dustysky smiled at me before bounding off at a shout from Thunderfish.

I was left standing in the middle of a hurricane of cats. They seemed to enjoy bustling around and rushing to do things, but despite my name, I hated things like that. Crowds bugged me and I couldn't stand to be around a busy place. Pupils dilating, I ran. The wind whipped my fur as I ran out through the maze, opened the secret door, and stood in the entrance, breathing heavily. It had started to drizzle, so I let the rainwater wash over my dirty fur, breathing in the fresh air as a zephyr blew my fur upside-down. 

"Rushingwave?"

this chapter is finally out! excluding for the decision, this was mainly a filler. expect a few more before the action really starts. if you thought all this was the climax and everything, wrong. this is only the start.