As they padded along the border dividing MistClan and PrairieClan, Lotusfire searched for columbine flowers, whose roots would treat the elders’ aching joints. It had crossed their mind to put the seniors out of their misery by slipping them some deathberries, but it would only be a waste of good poison. It wouldn’t be too long now before they joined StarClan. And it would appear awfully suspicious if they didn’t collect columbine roots to soothe their arthritis. After all, it was their duty as a medicine cat to ease the pain and suffering of others. Openly doing the opposite would cost them their place in the clan. Lotusfire believed that it would be much easier to destroy the clans from the inside.

Their gaze settled on a clump of columbine flowers and part of them considered returning to camp to announce that they had been unsuccessful with their search, but they couldn’t risk a patrol stumbling upon the plant, which was visible from a distance. How could Lotusfire have missed this, they’d ask themselves. So with a sigh, they walked over to the flowers and began digging up the roots. They scooped up pawfuls of dirt and placed the loose soil beside them until they could carefully pluck the reddish root out of the earth, and repeated their actions with the next flower. Before they could collect the root of their third columbine flower, their ears twitched at a faint sound coming from closer to the border.

Glancing between the direction the noise came from and the group of flowers they’d been gathering, Lotusfire wondered if they should investigate the sound or simply continue to dig up roots. It was an easy decision and they casually made their way toward the border, not bothering to hide their approach. When they saw an unfamiliar tomcat on MistClan territory with a grouse clamped firmly between their jaws, they immediately thought to just walk away and let someone else deal with it, but it was too late - their scent would be noticed here. Lotusfire would have to actually confront the stranger. “That’s MistClan prey,” they meowed, their tone relaxed, as if they hadn’t just caught a trespasser stealing food. “What are you doing here?”

Lotusfire cared very little, or actually, not at all, about who the grouse belonged to. Medicine cats tended to stay out of that kind of stuff, but their rank wasn’t the reason why they didn’t care. They simply didn’t believe that a single bird mattered all that much when prey was plentiful and MistClan kept them well-fed. When the time came that they were starving pretty much all day for days at a time, well, maybe then they’d care a little more. They did consider antagonizing the tom just for the fun of it, though, arguing that prey became MistClan’s once it crossed the border and that an outsider had zero claim to prey caught on clan territory, but Lotusfire didn’t know how temperamental the small tom was, and they weren’t interested in treating their own wounds today. They felt very strongly that they could easily defeat the stranger in combat, but the other cat was younger, more agile, and would surely land a few lucky blows. Their clanmates desired peace and they weren’t willing to risk everyone’s disapproval if they returned to camp with a bloodstained pelt and a story about how they’d fought an outsider for a bird. It wasn’t worth it.

Instead of trying to claim the fresh-kill for MistClan, Lotusfire simply shrugged and rocked back on their haunches. They were safe here. They could handle themself, but if the stranger did launch an attack, all they had to do was yowl. There were patrols all over the territory; someone would hear them. And then they could return to camp with a story about an evil outsider, a medicine cat in distress, and their selfless saviors. The stranger then mentioned MistClan’s missing kits and they tilted their head slightly. “Has it? That’s interesting. A PrairieClan cat exchanging news with an outsider, perhaps? Or maybe the criminal doesn’t belong to any clan? We have been scenting loners on our territory recently - it wouldn’t surprise me if one of your friends likes to traumatize kits by stealing them away from everything they’d ever known. You’re an atrocious bunch, aren’t you?” Lotusfire chuckled. “Absolutely heartless.” Their eyes sparkled as they quietly continued, “Or rather, genius. Attack the heart of the clans by stealing their kits.”

The stranger was quick to anger, Lotusfire discovered, and while it was somewhat entertaining, the last thing they wanted was bloodshed. They weren’t a pacifist at all, no, they simply didn’t want to have to endure stinging wounds. As they stared at the other cat, studying their expressions and body language, they noticed how he tamed the fire in his eyes and forced the tension in his muscles to leave. However, he spoke to Lotusfire with contempt in his voice and looked at them with dislike. The stranger’s blatant aversion to them was exciting and they felt the urge to continue to provoke him, but reminded themself they didn’t want to return to camp with injuries. The tomcat asked if medicine cats tended not to care for missing youngsters and Lotusfire shrugged and there was laughter in their eyes as they realized the stranger must be trying to goad them. “I wouldn’t know.” Their amusement was swiftly replaced with a frightening lack of emotion. “Kits don’t go missing very often.”

Lotusfire almost laughed when the tom suggested a clan cat stole the kits, but a moment later, they realized the idea was actually quite intriguing. Could they use that? Could they place the blame on a clan cat instead of an outsider, turning clan against clan? The other cat probably didn’t understand the importance of their attempt at an insult, but Lotusfire did. They gazed at the stranger with interest. “What’s your name? I’m Lotusfire.” After publicly announcing they believed outsiders had stolen MistClan’s missing kits, they couldn’t just abruptly change their mind. They’d have to be subtle about it or think up a reason why they’d swapped opinions. Their tone casual, they continued, “Is that really so terrible for you, the clans refusing to work together? After all, if they destroy each other, you outsiders wouldn’t have to worry about clan cats chasing you off their territory.” Lotusfire watched the tom closely to better read his reaction.

Lotusfire was quite fond of toxic plants. They had experience with them, too, and had used deathberries a couple of times in their life, which was twice more than the average cat. They wondered if Foxglove had ever used deadly plants against someone, but he didn’t seem like the type. He seemed more likely to prefer to kill with his claws instead of with poisons. It was less deceitful to slash a throat than it was to sneak someone deathberries and Foxglove didn’t come off as subtle. Perhaps Lotusfire was wrong, though. They couldn’t deny that they wanted to find out what the tomcat was capable of. And maybe they would. Every word that escaped Foxglove’s mouth, they agreed with. The clans deserved to fall apart and they, too, wanted the valley to be free of the clans’ control. Moons ago, Lotusfire had realized they weren’t destined to rule the clans, but to demolish them. The rules the clans followed were damaging to every cat, clan and clanless, and they needed to disband if peace was ever going to settle over the valley. And if Lotusfire found some pleasure in the annihilation of the clans, well, that was just a bonus.

Unlike every medicine cat in the history of the clans, Lotusfire cared very little for their clanmates. Of course, they’d never let any clan cat know or else they’d risk losing their place in MistClan. So when Foxglove made an accusation, one that couldn’t be any more correct, Lotusfire didn’t bother trying to refrain from barking out a laugh. Amusement dancing across their eyes, they chuckled, “Is it that obvious?” They weren’t concerned about an outsider discovering how little they cared about their clanmates. Should Foxglove choose to tattle on them, they knew no clan cat would believe an anti-clan outsider over MistClan’s medicine cat, but they didn’t think he would do that anyway. Why should he, when they both shared the same goal? And if they both shared the same goal, why shouldn’t they work together? They had access to resources the other didn’t and vice versa, and Lotusfire was certain their idea couldn’t possibly backfire on them, because they had the clans’ trust and Foxglove didn’t. Their piercing gaze met Foxglove’s and a sinister smile curled the corners of their lips upward as they suggested, “I don’t see why we can’t work together to tear down the clans.”