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Description
TFA Warriors:
Chapter 3

Optimus’ blue eyes stared intensely at the vole that crept along the ferns ahead of him. The little rodent was too busy nibbling a seed to notice the large blue, white and red cat before it was too late. With a hiss, Optimus pounced upon it, killing it instantly with a bite to the neck.

The ThunderClan warrior licked his lips and prepared to sink his fangs into the delicious treat when he heard a light laugh. His ears flicked in surprise and Optimus had to fight the urge not to gasp in amazement as a familiar scent reached him.

“Elita One?” Optimus could hardly believe his eyes as the beautiful, gold and light blue furred she-cat slipped through the bushes and stood before him. Optimus took a shaky pawstep towards her, his heart pounding against his chest and his head buzzing with emotion. “Is it really you?” He hardly dared to believe it.

Again, she let out a musical laugh- a sound that was lovelier than any bird’s song and meowed playfully, “Of course, Optimus, stupid furball! Who else would I be?”

Optimus needed no other evidence. A purr of joy rumbled in the depths of his throat as he bound over to her in a single leap. The vole was forgotten. The only creature that Optimus desired was standing before him. Letting out a deep purr, Optimus pressed his muzzle against Elita One’s. He closed his eyes as he allowed her sweet fragrance to wash over him.

“I thought I’d lost you Elita One.” Optimus meowed.

“Oh, Optimus, you’ll never lose me.”

Without warning, Optimus felt himself being shoved to the ground. He struggled against the weight on his chest, two strong paws keeping him pinned down. He opened his eyes and stared in astonishment into the eyes of Elita One.

“What are you doing?!” He rasped out. A sharp cry of pain erupted out as he felt the she-cat’s claws dig into his skin. As he watched in horror, Elita One began to change before his eyes.

Sleek fur turned ragged, blue and gold shifted to black and purple and, probably worse of all, was when Elita One’s loving blue eyes transformed into blood red orbs of hatred directed straight towards him.

“Let me go, Elita One!” Optimus yowled, frantically struggling to escape the she-cat’s clutches.

“I will never let you go, Optimus!” snarled the sable she-cat, scarlet eyes burning. She lifted one paw, claws unsheathed and gleaming. “Never!” With a hiss, she brought her paw down for the death blow.

“NO!”

“Optimus!” called a voice, young and slightly frightened.

Optimus’s blue eyes shot open. Breathe coming in heavy pants, the ThunderClan warrior scrambled onto all four paws and jerked his head side to side, eyes still wide with fear. No longer was he alone in the forest, but safe and warm in his nest in the warrior’s den. In front of him was Sideswipe, looking up at Optimus with a shocked expression on his young face. Around him, the last few sleeping warriors were groggily getting up.

“Is something wrong, Optimus?” Sideswipe meowed to the older cat.

“No….no,” Optimus said, sitting back down on his haunches. He twisted around and began to lick his ruffled back fur. He tried to calm himself and erase the vivid images of the dream from his mind. “Just a bad dream.” A prickling shudder went through his spine. “….A very bad dream.”

“Well, next time would you and your bad dreams keep it down?” A blue and gold she-cat named Mirage moodily meowed. She sleepily yawned and stretched out her front legs. “Honestly, Optimus, you’d think that a pack of dogs were chasing after you with all the noise you’ve been making.”

Trailbreaker, a red and black furred warrior, let out a soft hiss directed towards the she-cat. Mirage’s blue eyes widened with realization and her tail curled around her paws in embarrassment.

“Oh, Optimus, I’m sorry…I didn’t…” Optimus lifted a paw to silence her apology.

“It’s okay, Mirage.” He meowed, reassuringly. “I’ll try to have quieter dreams tonight.”

“You mean when you get back from the journey, right?” Trailbreaker light-heartedly mewed. His eyes gleamed with good-humor. “Remember, mousebrain? You’re bringing back the fallen star!” He rolled onto his back like a playful kit and tickled Optimus’s chin with the tip of his tail. “One of StarClan’s chosen ones, remember?”

No, Optimus hadn’t remembered. The whole gathering had seemed like a past dream but now Trailbreaker’s words had brought the reality of it crashing down upon Optimus. For the first time since being chosen, Optimus realized that today was his last day in ThunderClan. The very thought made his paws turn into lead and sent a shiver through his fur.

“Uhh, Optimus?” Optimus looked down and realized that the young apprentice Sideswipes was still there, obviously waiting to ask him something.

“I’m sorry, Sideswipes. Why are you here? Shouldn’t you be with your brother in the apprentice den?”

“Ultra Magnus sent me to come get you.” Sideswipe meowed, puffing his chest out with pride at getting to do an errand for the ThunderClan leader. “It’s almost Sunhigh.”

“Already?” Did he have enough time left to patrol ThunderClan’s territory one last time? Share tongues with his clanmates? Say goodbye to them all? Who knew how long he and the rest of the chosen cats would gone?

“Optimus?” Sideswipes prompted.

“I’m coming.” Optimus meowed, giving his fur a shake to get rid of the homesickness he was already feeling. “I haven’t even left yet!” Strangely finding it difficult to leave his nest, Optimus followed the young apprentice out of the warrior’s den. He was unable to concentrate on Sideswipe’s cheerful chatter.

“It must be great having to go on a quest outside of ThunderClan!” Sideswipe happily meowed, practically bouncing on his paws as he walked. “I wish me and Sunstreaker were old enough to go with you!”

“I’m sure that ThunderClan can’t afford to lose two apprentices like you.” Optimus meowed. As the words left his mouth, the words that Bumblebee spoke at the gathering came back to memory.

“Why would they send one of their best warriors that they can’t afford to lose when they can send one of us?”

A feeling like having stepped in a pool of icy cold water spread through Optimus’ body and his fur prickled with unease. Was the only reason Ultra Magnus had chose him was because he thought that ThunderClan didn’t need him? Was it the same for the rest of the chose cats?

No, that couldn’t be, Optimus concluded staring at the ground. That couldn’t be the reason. Ultra Magnus would never do a thing like that to his own warriors. The only reason that he was chosen was because Ultra Magnus thought he was the best cat for the job.

However, unease still prickled his paws as he padded after Sideswipes to the center of the ThunderClan camp. He blinked his blue eyes in surprise. Almost all of ThunderClan was gathered at the clearing, staring at him in ominous silence. They quietly parted as he made his way through them to Highrock where Ultra Magnus sat. The ThunderClan leader stared down at him as he approached.

“Are you set to leave, Optimus?” Ultra Magnus meowed.

Swallowing back bolt of sorrow, Optimus let out a steady meow. “Yes, Ultra Magnus. I’m ready.”

Ultra Magnus gave an approving nod and turned towards the medicine cat den. “And you, old friend?”

Ratchet had just got finished having a last talk with Wheeljack, his former apprentice. He swished his feathery tail and gave his leader a curt nod. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”

“Good.” The old ThunderClan leader jumped down from Highrock and beckoned his deputy, Sentinel Prime, forward as he turned to face Ratchet and Optimus again. “Sentinel and I shall escort you two to Fourtrees.” He gestured with his tail towards the gorse tunnel. “Come.”

Feeling every gaze scorch his pelt, Optimus straightened up and began to pad after Ultra Magnus and Sentinel Prime. He stopped at the entrance of the tunnel and turned back to face his clan. “Good-bye, everyone. I promise I won’t let you down.”

For a moment, the gathered cats just stared, but suddenly two red and yellow pelted blurs ran up to Optimus and pressed their noses into his fur.

“Good-bye Optimus!” Sunstreaker meowed, half his face still buried in Optimus’ red fur.

“Come back in time for our warrior ceremony!” Sideswipe added. The two apprentices’ farewells to Optimus seemed to loosen the tension in the clan and soon other cats joined them.

“Travel safely, Optimus.” Mirage meowed, rasping her tongue over his ear.

“Show those other cats what ThunderClan is made of!” purred Trailbreaker.

“StarClan watch over you.” Hound, Mirage’s mate, solemnly meowed.

Optimus felt overwhelmed by their sincere goodbyes and, though every fiber of him screamed for him to stay among his clanmates, in the forest where he belonged, he knew that he had to go. He bent down and licked both the twin’s on the forehead.

“Don’t worry, I’ll be back soon.” He promised.

“Optimus!” came Sentinel’s impatient meow. Optimus gave his clan one final glance and then disappeared through the tunnel after Ultra Magnus, Sentinel, and Ratchet.

The moment he met up with them, a urging meow called them back. “Wait! You can’t leave without some traveling herbs!” Wheeljack came running up to them and dropped off two bundles for Ratchet and Optimus.

“That’s nice of you, Wheeljack, but I can just collect some herbs for us two on the way.” Ratchet meowed as Optimus curiously sniffed the leafy bundles.

“Oh, but it’s one of my new remedies!” Wheeljack meowed with a pleased look in his eyes.

Ratchet still looked skeptical. “Uh-huh. Close your mouth, kid.” The medicine ordered to Optimus who was about to eat his bundle. Ratchet expertly scooped on of the bundles in his paws and tossed it towards a bush. Both Sentinel and Optimus jumped up with fur fluffed up in surprise as the bush suddenly burst into flames. As quickly as it caught on fire, it went out, leaving only a scorched, blackened trunk behind.

Only Ratchet seemed unfazed by the performance. “Do ThunderClan a favor, Wheeljack.” He meowed to his apprentice. “Stick to what I taught you.”

“Yes sir.” Wheeljack mumbled, upset that another one of his remedies had ended as a failure…….as well as almost burn down the entire forest.

“What did I tell you about the mouth?” Ratchet growled to Optimus and Sentinel. Both still had their jaws hanging open in shock and horror. The medicine cat rolled his eyes and slapped his tail on their bottom jaws, snapping them shut.

“Jeez, it’s like you two have never had apprentices before!” the elder cat wheezed as he turned and padded after Ultra Magnus. Optimus and Sentinel took a quick, slightly disturbed, glance at each other before turning tail and following them.

The journey to Fourtrees was mostly a silent one. One part of Optimus was glad of this- his mind seemed to be buzzing with thoughts of the quest ahead. However, the other part of Optimus longed for his leader or medicine cat to say something. Even Sentinel was silent, though he could just still be in his bad mood from last night.

As they began to climb up the slope to Fourtrees, Ultra Magnus signaled with a wave of his tail for Ratchet and Sentinel to go on without him and Optimus. Ratchet gave an understanding nod while Sentinel flashed Optimus a glare before reluctantly following the medicine cat.

When the tips of their tails had disappeared over the slope, Ultra Magnus turned and fixed his gaze upon Optimus. The warrior respectfully kept his silence until Ultra Magnus spoke.

“You’re probably wondering why I chose you to go on this quest.” The ThunderClan leader meowed.

Optimus’ eyes were wide with surprise. How had he known? “The thought has crossed my mind, yes.” He admitted, curling his tail around his paws. He would never admit the true fear that had also crossed his mind.

“You’re a good warrior, Optimus. One of the best, actually.” Ultra Magnus said, a strange gleam flashing through his eyes. Pride, perhaps? “ThunderClan can’t afford to lose good warriors.”

“Then why did you choose me?” Optimus quietly asked.

“You seem better at getting along with cats better than my other choices.” Ultra Magnus meowed. It was obvious who one of his other choices was- Sentinel.

Optimus slowly nodded. It was clear that Sentinel would have never been able to get along with the other cats going on the journey so that was a logical reason. But Optimus couldn’t help but feel that there was something else to Ultra Magnus’s choice…something just beyond the words.

“Is that all, Ultra Magnus?” Optimus asked. The sun was at its highest point in the sky. The others would probably be waiting for him.

“There is one last thing.” Ultra Magnus fixed his serious blue eyes down on Optimus and said, “Like I said before, ThunderClan can not afford to loose warriors. If worse comes the worse, star or no star, come back.”

“But what about the other cats?” Optimus couldn’t believe what he was hearing. His leader was telling him to just leave the other chosen ones if anything happened?

“You are a ThunderClan warrior, Optimus. The fate of ThunderClan should always be your first priority.” Ultra Magnus growled with an edge in his voice. “We can’t lose any more warriors.”

Ultra Magnus’ words felt like a claw stabbing into his heart. A flare of unexpected anger rose inside the warrior as he retorted to his leader. “Oh, and you don’t mind letting other warriors suffer as long as they’re not ThunderClan?”

“Those cats,” Ultra Magnus snarled, gesturing with his tail towards Fourtrees where the other cats were waiting, “are not your clanmates. You, Optimus, are not their leader. Those cats are none of your concern. Don’t try to be a hero.”

Optimus thought back to the Gathering when he met Bumblebee and Bulkhead and the unexpected friendship that they had offered him. His fur bristled as he glared at his leader.

“They may not be my clanmates, but right now, we’re a team.” Optimus meowed, turning away to pad up the slope. “And I won’t let my team down.”

“Not like last time…” He softly whispered.

Description
TFA Warriors:
Chapter 3

Optimus’ blue eyes stared intensely at the vole that crept along the ferns ahead of him. The little rodent was too busy nibbling a seed to notice the large blue, white and red cat before it was too late. With a hiss, Optimus pounced upon it, killing it instantly with a bite to the neck.

The ThunderClan warrior licked his lips and prepared to sink his fangs into the delicious treat when he heard a light laugh. His ears flicked in surprise and Optimus had to fight the urge not to gasp in amazement as a familiar scent reached him.

“Elita One?” Optimus could hardly believe his eyes as the beautiful, gold and light blue furred she-cat slipped through the bushes and stood before him. Optimus took a shaky pawstep towards her, his heart pounding against his chest and his head buzzing with emotion. “Is it really you?” He hardly dared to believe it.

Again, she let out a musical laugh- a sound that was lovelier than any bird’s song and meowed playfully, “Of course, Optimus, stupid furball! Who else would I be?”

Optimus needed no other evidence. A purr of joy rumbled in the depths of his throat as he bound over to her in a single leap. The vole was forgotten. The only creature that Optimus desired was standing before him. Letting out a deep purr, Optimus pressed his muzzle against Elita One’s. He closed his eyes as he allowed her sweet fragrance to wash over him.

“I thought I’d lost you Elita One.” Optimus meowed.

“Oh, Optimus, you’ll never lose me.”

Without warning, Optimus felt himself being shoved to the ground. He struggled against the weight on his chest, two strong paws keeping him pinned down. He opened his eyes and stared in astonishment into the eyes of Elita One.

“What are you doing?!” He rasped out. A sharp cry of pain erupted out as he felt the she-cat’s claws dig into his skin. As he watched in horror, Elita One began to change before his eyes.

Sleek fur turned ragged, blue and gold shifted to black and purple and, probably worse of all, was when Elita One’s loving blue eyes transformed into blood red orbs of hatred directed straight towards him.

“Let me go, Elita One!” Optimus yowled, frantically struggling to escape the she-cat’s clutches.

“I will never let you go, Optimus!” snarled the sable she-cat, scarlet eyes burning. She lifted one paw, claws unsheathed and gleaming. “Never!” With a hiss, she brought her paw down for the death blow.

“NO!”

“Optimus!” called a voice, young and slightly frightened.

Optimus’s blue eyes shot open. Breathe coming in heavy pants, the ThunderClan warrior scrambled onto all four paws and jerked his head side to side, eyes still wide with fear. No longer was he alone in the forest, but safe and warm in his nest in the warrior’s den. In front of him was Sideswipe, looking up at Optimus with a shocked expression on his young face. Around him, the last few sleeping warriors were groggily getting up.

“Is something wrong, Optimus?” Sideswipe meowed to the older cat.

“No….no,” Optimus said, sitting back down on his haunches. He twisted around and began to lick his ruffled back fur. He tried to calm himself and erase the vivid images of the dream from his mind. “Just a bad dream.” A prickling shudder went through his spine. “….A very bad dream.”

“Well, next time would you and your bad dreams keep it down?” A blue and gold she-cat named Mirage moodily meowed. She sleepily yawned and stretched out her front legs. “Honestly, Optimus, you’d think that a pack of dogs were chasing after you with all the noise you’ve been making.”

Trailbreaker, a red and black furred warrior, let out a soft hiss directed towards the she-cat. Mirage’s blue eyes widened with realization and her tail curled around her paws in embarrassment.

“Oh, Optimus, I’m sorry…I didn’t…” Optimus lifted a paw to silence her apology.

“It’s okay, Mirage.” He meowed, reassuringly. “I’ll try to have quieter dreams tonight.”

“You mean when you get back from the journey, right?” Trailbreaker light-heartedly mewed. His eyes gleamed with good-humor. “Remember, mousebrain? You’re bringing back the fallen star!” He rolled onto his back like a playful kit and tickled Optimus’s chin with the tip of his tail. “One of StarClan’s chosen ones, remember?”

No, Optimus hadn’t remembered. The whole gathering had seemed like a past dream but now Trailbreaker’s words had brought the reality of it crashing down upon Optimus. For the first time since being chosen, Optimus realized that today was his last day in ThunderClan. The very thought made his paws turn into lead and sent a shiver through his fur.

“Uhh, Optimus?” Optimus looked down and realized that the young apprentice Sideswipes was still there, obviously waiting to ask him something.

“I’m sorry, Sideswipes. Why are you here? Shouldn’t you be with your brother in the apprentice den?”

“Ultra Magnus sent me to come get you.” Sideswipe meowed, puffing his chest out with pride at getting to do an errand for the ThunderClan leader. “It’s almost Sunhigh.”

“Already?” Did he have enough time left to patrol ThunderClan’s territory one last time? Share tongues with his clanmates? Say goodbye to them all? Who knew how long he and the rest of the chosen cats would gone?

“Optimus?” Sideswipes prompted.

“I’m coming.” Optimus meowed, giving his fur a shake to get rid of the homesickness he was already feeling. “I haven’t even left yet!” Strangely finding it difficult to leave his nest, Optimus followed the young apprentice out of the warrior’s den. He was unable to concentrate on Sideswipe’s cheerful chatter.

“It must be great having to go on a quest outside of ThunderClan!” Sideswipe happily meowed, practically bouncing on his paws as he walked. “I wish me and Sunstreaker were old enough to go with you!”

“I’m sure that ThunderClan can’t afford to lose two apprentices like you.” Optimus meowed. As the words left his mouth, the words that Bumblebee spoke at the gathering came back to memory.

“Why would they send one of their best warriors that they can’t afford to lose when they can send one of us?”

A feeling like having stepped in a pool of icy cold water spread through Optimus’ body and his fur prickled with unease. Was the only reason Ultra Magnus had chose him was because he thought that ThunderClan didn’t need him? Was it the same for the rest of the chose cats?

No, that couldn’t be, Optimus concluded staring at the ground. That couldn’t be the reason. Ultra Magnus would never do a thing like that to his own warriors. The only reason that he was chosen was because Ultra Magnus thought he was the best cat for the job.

However, unease still prickled his paws as he padded after Sideswipes to the center of the ThunderClan camp. He blinked his blue eyes in surprise. Almost all of ThunderClan was gathered at the clearing, staring at him in ominous silence. They quietly parted as he made his way through them to Highrock where Ultra Magnus sat. The ThunderClan leader stared down at him as he approached.

“Are you set to leave, Optimus?” Ultra Magnus meowed.

Swallowing back bolt of sorrow, Optimus let out a steady meow. “Yes, Ultra Magnus. I’m ready.”

Ultra Magnus gave an approving nod and turned towards the medicine cat den. “And you, old friend?”

Ratchet had just got finished having a last talk with Wheeljack, his former apprentice. He swished his feathery tail and gave his leader a curt nod. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”

“Good.” The old ThunderClan leader jumped down from Highrock and beckoned his deputy, Sentinel Prime, forward as he turned to face Ratchet and Optimus again. “Sentinel and I shall escort you two to Fourtrees.” He gestured with his tail towards the gorse tunnel. “Come.”

Feeling every gaze scorch his pelt, Optimus straightened up and began to pad after Ultra Magnus and Sentinel Prime. He stopped at the entrance of the tunnel and turned back to face his clan. “Good-bye, everyone. I promise I won’t let you down.”

For a moment, the gathered cats just stared, but suddenly two red and yellow pelted blurs ran up to Optimus and pressed their noses into his fur.

“Good-bye Optimus!” Sunstreaker meowed, half his face still buried in Optimus’ red fur.

“Come back in time for our warrior ceremony!” Sideswipe added. The two apprentices’ farewells to Optimus seemed to loosen the tension in the clan and soon other cats joined them.

“Travel safely, Optimus.” Mirage meowed, rasping her tongue over his ear.

“Show those other cats what ThunderClan is made of!” purred Trailbreaker.

“StarClan watch over you.” Hound, Mirage’s mate, solemnly meowed.

Optimus felt overwhelmed by their sincere goodbyes and, though every fiber of him screamed for him to stay among his clanmates, in the forest where he belonged, he knew that he had to go. He bent down and licked both the twin’s on the forehead.

“Don’t worry, I’ll be back soon.” He promised.

“Optimus!” came Sentinel’s impatient meow. Optimus gave his clan one final glance and then disappeared through the tunnel after Ultra Magnus, Sentinel, and Ratchet.

The moment he met up with them, a urging meow called them back. “Wait! You can’t leave without some traveling herbs!” Wheeljack came running up to them and dropped off two bundles for Ratchet and Optimus.

“That’s nice of you, Wheeljack, but I can just collect some herbs for us two on the way.” Ratchet meowed as Optimus curiously sniffed the leafy bundles.

“Oh, but it’s one of my new remedies!” Wheeljack meowed with a pleased look in his eyes.

Ratchet still looked skeptical. “Uh-huh. Close your mouth, kid.” The medicine ordered to Optimus who was about to eat his bundle. Ratchet expertly scooped on of the bundles in his paws and tossed it towards a bush. Both Sentinel and Optimus jumped up with fur fluffed up in surprise as the bush suddenly burst into flames. As quickly as it caught on fire, it went out, leaving only a scorched, blackened trunk behind.

Only Ratchet seemed unfazed by the performance. “Do ThunderClan a favor, Wheeljack.” He meowed to his apprentice. “Stick to what I taught you.”

“Yes sir.” Wheeljack mumbled, upset that another one of his remedies had ended as a failure…….as well as almost burn down the entire forest.

“What did I tell you about the mouth?” Ratchet growled to Optimus and Sentinel. Both still had their jaws hanging open in shock and horror. The medicine cat rolled his eyes and slapped his tail on their bottom jaws, snapping them shut.

“Jeez, it’s like you two have never had apprentices before!” the elder cat wheezed as he turned and padded after Ultra Magnus. Optimus and Sentinel took a quick, slightly disturbed, glance at each other before turning tail and following them.

The journey to Fourtrees was mostly a silent one. One part of Optimus was glad of this- his mind seemed to be buzzing with thoughts of the quest ahead. However, the other part of Optimus longed for his leader or medicine cat to say something. Even Sentinel was silent, though he could just still be in his bad mood from last night.

As they began to climb up the slope to Fourtrees, Ultra Magnus signaled with a wave of his tail for Ratchet and Sentinel to go on without him and Optimus. Ratchet gave an understanding nod while Sentinel flashed Optimus a glare before reluctantly following the medicine cat.

When the tips of their tails had disappeared over the slope, Ultra Magnus turned and fixed his gaze upon Optimus. The warrior respectfully kept his silence until Ultra Magnus spoke.

“You’re probably wondering why I chose you to go on this quest.” The ThunderClan leader meowed.

Optimus’ eyes were wide with surprise. How had he known? “The thought has crossed my mind, yes.” He admitted, curling his tail around his paws. He would never admit the true fear that had also crossed his mind.

“You’re a good warrior, Optimus. One of the best, actually.” Ultra Magnus said, a strange gleam flashing through his eyes. Pride, perhaps? “ThunderClan can’t afford to lose good warriors.”

“Then why did you choose me?” Optimus quietly asked.

“You seem better at getting along with cats better than my other choices.” Ultra Magnus meowed. It was obvious who one of his other choices was- Sentinel.

Optimus slowly nodded. It was clear that Sentinel would have never been able to get along with the other cats going on the journey so that was a logical reason. But Optimus couldn’t help but feel that there was something else to Ultra Magnus’s choice…something just beyond the words.

“Is that all, Ultra Magnus?” Optimus asked. The sun was at its highest point in the sky. The others would probably be waiting for him.

“There is one last thing.” Ultra Magnus fixed his serious blue eyes down on Optimus and said, “Like I said before, ThunderClan can not afford to loose warriors. If worse comes the worse, star or no star, come back.”

“But what about the other cats?” Optimus couldn’t believe what he was hearing. His leader was telling him to just leave the other chosen ones if anything happened?

“You are a ThunderClan warrior, Optimus. The fate of ThunderClan should always be your first priority.” Ultra Magnus growled with an edge in his voice. “We can’t lose any more warriors.”

Ultra Magnus’ words felt like a claw stabbing into his heart. A flare of unexpected anger rose inside the warrior as he retorted to his leader. “Oh, and you don’t mind letting other warriors suffer as long as they’re not ThunderClan?”

“Those cats,” Ultra Magnus snarled, gesturing with his tail towards Fourtrees where the other cats were waiting, “are not your clanmates. You, Optimus, are not their leader. Those cats are none of your concern. Don’t try to be a hero.”

Optimus thought back to the Gathering when he met Bumblebee and Bulkhead and the unexpected friendship that they had offered him. His fur bristled as he glared at his leader.

“They may not be my clanmates, but right now, we’re a team.” Optimus meowed, turning away to pad up the slope. “And I won’t let my team down.”

“Not like last time…” He softly whispered.