Author's Note: Thank you to everyone who voted on the poll on my profile and helped me come to the decision on how to write this. :) Since three out of five people wanted a Cats of the Clans style for this story, I will continue to write the story as I have it. So here is your third chapter; read, review, and enjoy!

Darkstripe and Longtail

Fireheart knew that he must give every cat a fair chance, so he racked his brain for the cat who seemed the least likely candidate. After briefly struggling to decide between them, he settled on two—Darkstripe and Longtail. These two had picked on him ever since he came to the forest, and had been Tigerclaw's most obvious supporters. Just thinking about them made Fireheart's lip curl in distaste, but he had to consider them sooner or later, so he might as well do it now.

Darkstripe… Perhaps the most dishonest cat in ThunderClan, save for Tigerclaw himself. What were his redeeming qualities? Fireheart had to think hard. He was a decent fighter, but nowhere near as good as Tigerclaw. He had been Graystripe's mentor—at least for part of his training—but couldn't live up to Lionheart in that area, especially since Graystripe had been made a warrior soon after the former deputy's death. He was hardly the strongest or most noble warrior in ThunderClan, particularly when compared to the many worthier cats in the Clan.

All Fireheart could think of was his dislike of the dark tabby, so he switched over to Longtail. As soon as he had begun, he knew that it would be just as hard to come up with the pale warrior's good qualities as it had been to think of Darkstripe's.

Longtail was even more cowardly than Darkstripe, and even weaker when it came to fighting; Fireheart had beat him in battle before he had even had any training, back when he was Rusty the kittypet. True, he had surprised Longtail, and Bluestar had stopped the battle before Longtail could truly retaliate, but the incident still did nothing to compliment his fighting skills. It also did nothing to win him Fireheart's favor; he still remembered the pale tabby's cruel words, and the satisfaction he felt every time he looked at the nick he had made in Longtail's ear.

Despite this, Longtail had more hope than Darkstripe, he tried to reason. For starters, Longtail was younger, and had more time to turn his reputation around. Even as unlikely as that sounds, Fireheart thought with doubtful scorn. The pale warrior had shown no signs of wanting to change. Nevertheless, Longtail had also seemed less malicious in his following of Tigerclaw, and more as if he was admiring, yet intimidated by the dark tabby warrior.

But who was Fireheart kidding? Like Darkstripe, Longtail's only redeeming quality was that he had renounced Tigerstar's invitation to exile with him, when Bluestar had banished the treacherous deputy from ThunderClan. And, like Darkstripe, the choice had been more out of cowardliness than out of loyalty or courage; Fireheart remembered the stench of fear rising off Longtail's pelt as he declined, even now.

Fireheart couldn't help but dwell on one thing, however. Being reborn would mean that one of these warriors would start over, with no memories, no threatening histories. It would eliminate one of them as a problem, and make his Clan safer. But no matter how tempting it was to just wish away his problems, he decided firmly against it. This chance was a blessing a noble warrior deserved, not a convenient way to get rid of his enemies.

If Darkstripe or Longtail were to redeem themselves, it was something they would have to choose, and learn to do on their own.