"The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall."

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Dimstar had to admit that he felt slightly neurotic as he led Snakeleap into his den. It had been moons since he had spoken to the former deputy of EchoClan, and now Snakeleap had no assigned rank while Dimstar was leader of the rebellion. Would Snakeleap be jealous over the sudden leadership that the russet tabby had suddenly taken grasp of? It was still a possibility that lingered in Dimstar's head and sent a shiver down his spine.

Entering the den, shadows immediately engulfed them from the enclosed space. Dimstar stepped inside and stared over at his empty, lone nest that lay near the back of the den. He was used to sleeping alone in the drowning sea of shadows, but by the gruff facial expression that Snakeleap held, Dimstar could tell the tom didn't exactly find it satisfying or intriguing.

There was a rippling silence between the two as they sat and faced each other, tails curled around their paws in a serious manner. Both had a dull visage with slitted eyes and a mouth line as straight as the horizon. Their paws twitched, showing that they were ready to unsheathe their claws and lift a paw to lacerate an enemies skin at any moment. Although Snakeleap had returned and left Archangel behind, the tension between Dimstar and the tom was still existent and a wall that would be hard to climb over.

Finally after moments of silence, Dimstar's jaws parted to show that he was ready to speak. The question slipped off the edge of his tongue like blood, dripping down to the earth and then oozing towards Snakeleap, raising the tom's hackles and fur.

"Why did you do it?"

Once again, a wave of silence washed over the two and their gazes met. A sparking tension still flickering in between the two until Snakeleap glanced away, his ears tucked back and his eyes narrowed.

"We were tired of Archangel's delirious ways of ruling, Dimstar. We all thought when the rebellion left that staying with Archangel would be safer for all of us since we wouldn't be taking a path that led straight into his unsheathed, blood stained claws. But no matter where we go, he is going to destroy us. He is going to hold a terrible wrath over us that is like poison, infecting us and making our bodies suffer until it stops working and rots. I knew we had to leave, it would be for the best-"

Dimstar suddenly rose his head from it being bowed while Snakeleap spoke, his teeth clenched. "No," He let the single word slip off his tongue, spitting it out as if it was a burning, flickering flame in his mouth. "Why did you do it."

Snakeleap was silenced by Dimstar repeating the question, but the russet tabbies eyelids falling and his voice growing loud at the word 'you'. The former deputy gaped his jaws, but no words slipped out at first besides for a soft, hesitant "I". Dimstar's eyes narrowed and he stood to his paws, his eyes flashing as he glanced down at the older tom.

"Snakeleap, I have to know why you did it. I can't trust you if you only did it to satisfy the cats you brought here or Slap. That doesn't matter, what matters is how you feel on this situation. How do I know I can trust you if you only did this to satisfy every other cat while you still want to be back with Archangel perhaps," Dimstar stated in a low, profound voice, his gaze meeting Snakeleap's when the older tom turned back to him.

Snakeleap eventually stood to his paws as well, facing Dimstar with an emotionless expression plastered onto his face. "I don't want to be back there with Archangel. I didn't only do this for the satisfaction of the group or Slap, but I did this for myself. My mate's brother was killed back there, and I know it wasn't by a cat of the rebellion-"

"You believe whatever cat killed him was from EchoClan?" Dimstar's eyes grew wide and he took in a sharp intake of breath from Snakeleap's sudden theory. "You don't believe it was Flamepaw?"

Snakeleap nodded slowly, his tail falling to the rocky earth behind him. "Flamepaw couldn't kill Chirpbark if she tried. She is too jumpy and is apprehensive of murder ever since she...attacked and harmed Quailpaw," Snakeleap began, his ears falling back at Quailpaw's name. "She only wanted to save Quailpaw from his death when she turned herself I-"

"Well, it didn't work," Dimstar mumbled softly in advance, turning away and shaking his head. "Quailchaser died soon after, and he was recently buried after his silent vigil. Flamepaw should have never turned herself in, we all knew that this was going to be my son's fate no matter what happened, sadly. But I'm glad my daughter is back, and I am glad Quailchaser has shown us all that we can't sit around and do nothing. We have to fight back before Archangel weakens us first and destroys us all."

A sigh escaped Snakeleap and his tail was brought forward and placed on Dimstar's shoulder. "I'm sorry Dimstar. He truly did. I am also glad to have brought your daughter back here and reunite you both. It is true, we must rise up and fight back. I know that have you have been organizing patrols to train for the battle, but has anything else been planned?"

"Two battle patrols were organized for the battle between Peonyflight, Cloverpool, Minktalon and I before. I am leading one but the thing is...Cloverpool is leading the second and-"

Dimstar broke off when he remembered Cloverpool announcing to him and Splashsky that she was expecting her second littler of kits. The deputy could not give birth and nurse in time to participate in leading the patrol. The problem was though, no cat but Splashsky, Minktalon, and Dimstar knew of Cloverpool's pregnancy. How would the Clan react?

"I'm pregnant, Snakeleap."

Dimstar and Snakeleap's heads snapped both snapped to the side to glance at the source of the voice. Cloverpool stood at the entrance of the den, her head lifted high and a smile on her face. Flamepaw was at her side, clearly not surprised by the news since Cloverpool had most likely told her before announcing it to Snakeleap.

"Congratulations, Cloverpool!" Snakeleap purred, padding over to the she-cat and sharing a friendly nuzzle with her.

Cloverpool only smiled and nuzzled him in return, but her gaze was locked on Dimstar. As soon as Snakeleap pulled away from her, she parted her jaws to speak to her mate.

"Dimstar, we mustn't continue discussing our battle plans in private. Every cat within our rebellion needs to hear our plans now. We know ever single one of those cats outside your den right now, gathered around and being reunited with their loved ones, longs to shred Archangel apart as much as you do. They deserve a hearing in our plans. We are a family, and a family does not keep things from one another. We stand together and face our enemies with pride."

Dimstar knew that what his mate spoke of was not to be protested with. He dipped his head to her and padded over, touching his muzzle to hers and then casting Flamepaw a vivid smile. "Cloverpool and Snakeleap, come with me. Flamepaw, go join the crowd," He ordered as he stepped out of his den, flicking his tail.

As Dimstar led Cloverpool and Snakeleap towards the mounted stones where he made his meetings, the murmurs breaking out amongst the crowd began to fade. Every cat's head snapped over to face Dimstar, their gazes fixed on him as they watched the russet tabby step up to the top of the pile of stones.

The rebellion leader almost flinched the moment he stepped up to the edge of the stones and faced the crowd. He felt a lump well up in his throat, but he shook aside the butterflies that began to flutter around in his stomach and swallowed the lump in his throat. Cloverpool was right, this was his family and his family had to be notified of everything. They had to fight against Archangel and his followers together, or else they would all fall.

"Cats of the rebellion, recently we have been braced with many events that have a major impact on us all. With the ambush and now the sudden arrival of Snakeleap and his friends, a lot is on our shoulders right now. But, we must all overcome this together. We are a family, and a family must overcome their difficulties together or they will all fall in the end together instead. We are like a gigantic oak tree, each and every one of you like branches, providing stability and balance to our tree. Together, we must grow and reach towards the sky or instead our tree will grow unstable and crumble to the earth. That is why, I have come to finally announce our plans for the battle. We all know the battle must happen soon, and vengeance for all those who have been lost to Archangel and EchoClan will be delivered!"

Cheers suddenly broke out amongst the crowd and Dimstar shut his eyes to bathe in them for a moment, a rippling sense of satisfaction overwhelming the tom. For once in forever, he felt right at home amongst all of the cats who stood before him. They were family, the family that Dimstar would be taking into war to avenge the members they lost to their family. They were still EchoClan-- no matter what Archangel had to say. Archangel and his followers didn't matter anymore, only Dimstar's family did, and that was it. He had to protect them all, even at the cost of his own lives.

"Now, let us discuss how we will avenge those taken from our family and take EchoClan back, once and for all..."

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A/N: I loved this chapter. Loved it.
Let's just say...things are starting to get intense.