He was out on the hunt for feathers, moss, long strands of ivy, and anything else he could use as a toy. Ghostcrown loved his family dearly and he wanted them to have the best life. The clan was in turmoil but he didn't want their early lives to be destroyed because of it, so he sheltered them the best he could and fought against the inevitable. What would their mother say if she knew what the clan was like now? He hated to think she might take them away from him.

Though as he padded along the ridge in search of gifts, he caught sight of Jetfire, and he had to suppress a sigh. Maybe it was wrong of him to use his kits to get closer to her, and he couldn't deny he was doing that, but his heart went out to her suffering. Everything that was happening was centered around her family, but she was so isolated from all the others, he couldn't help reaching out. Ghostcrown always liked a challenge, and becoming her friend was one of the more difficult tricks he'd ever have to pull off.

Ghostcrown worked his way down toward her, his easy smile fading away as he heard her sobbing. His gaze darted quickly to the herbs by her paw and he swallowed hard. He wasn't a medicine cat and he couldn't identify the berries, but he could guess what they were for.

"Jetfire?" he called softly from behind her, keeping a long distance between them and approaching slowly. He didn't want to push her to make any choices she would regret. "I didn't expect to see you this far from camp, but what a beautiful view. I can see why you would want to come over here, it's peaceful."

Ghostcrown felt a rush of relief when the leaf rolled over the side of the cliff and out of reach. She wasn't out of danger yet - they were standing up on a ledge, and one wrong step was all it would take - but she had made her decision, and all he had to do was keep her from changing her mind.

But now that the immediate threat was out of the way, there was nothing to stop him from getting in closer. Ghostcrown closed the distance between them and brushed up against her side, positioning himself between her and the edge of the rocks. He held his cheek against hers, purring fierce and reassuring.

"Hey, hey," he murmured, "it's okay, you're okay. I'm here for you. You're not alone now. It's okay, you can let it all out."

"Then we won't. We won't go back there, not until you're ready. I don't care how long it takes." He cradled her tight against his chest. Her paws were bleeding and he knew he should look at them, but he couldn't bring himself to let her go now, so he cuddled her and whispered fiercely into her ear.

"You can take an hour or a day or a moon. We'll find a den, a quiet corner where you can rest, and I'll keep Boodystar off your back. If you need to be alone, I'll make it happen. Whatever you need, we can figure it out." Escaping the High Priest was dangerous now more than ever. They had tied the knot, they were connected in more ways than one now, but if she needed to leave he wouldn't hesitate. Ghostcrown had sat by and watched her suffering, he had done nothing so his own family would be safe, but how could he stand by now and let this continue to happen?

"Bloodystar is your mate and the father of your kits, but that is everything he can claim," he swore. "Your connection doesn't mean you're anything like him, Jetfire. He made his own choices, and you aren't responsible for anything he's done. I'm sorry your family doesn't support you, but that's on them, not you. You made the best decision you could, and he trapped you into the rest."

Ghostcrown still didn't understand her relationship with the High Priest, not completely; he knew Bloodystar had chosen her for a reason and that he was the father of the litter she was expecting, so they must have had some feelings for each other, but then she didn't seem happy to become his mate. Had her perception of him changed after he imprisoned her family, or had something else been going on all that time?

He shook his head ever so slightly. "Jetfire, if he doesn't make you happy, you don't have to go back to him."

His brow furrowed as she pulled away from him, and as she looked over the edge, he felt a surge of renewed anxiety. What was she thinking about? He couldn't understand what she was talking about, he didn't know what truth she was referring to, but he did know that look in her eyes.

Ghostcrown eased between her and the edge once again, the movement precise and calm. He was here to help, he wanted nothing more than to take away all her suffering and set her free, but this wasn't the way and it never would be. On that point, he was firm: as long as he was here, she was not falling over the side of that cliff.

"He doesn't have to be involved in their lives at all, not if you don't want him to," he agreed readily. In the end, blood meant nothing, and the Priest had no right to be a part of her family if she didn't want him. He had cut his own father out of his life many moons ago, and he never regretted it. Ghostcrown had been lucky to find a new father figure after that, one of the noblest cats he had ever known, but not every cat would find a new family as he had. Her kits wouldn't need to; their mother had more than enough love for them, of that he was sure, even if their blood father was a monster.

He gently stroked her cheek with the back of his paw, her tears warm against his skin. "He's lying to you, Jetfire. He would never kill your family, it would mean losing all the leverage he has... and our clan isn't without compassion either, and we remember everything Littlestar did for us. If he hurts them too deeply, more than just imprisonment, he'll lose his power over the clan. They're already starting to turn on him. Bloodystar is a smart cat, but words are wind, and he won't follow through on any of his threats."

Ghostcrown had been through hell. He had been betrayed by the cat he trusted most, judged and looked down upon by his peers and his mentors, laughed at and spurned, he had watched his found family fall to pieces and lost his father, he had chosen to risk his life by staying in this clan with his kittens instead of leaving to find a happier home with the cats he had grown up with. He had suffered, he had overcome difficulties, and now that he was on the other side he realized that his struggles were minute. They had been challenges for him but compared to what Jetfire was going through, his tribulations had been nothing.

Only here he was, on the other side, and putting himself back into the middle of it all. This time, he reflected, he might not return so unscathed. Talking to her like he already had been was dangerous enough; he was putting his life on the line being here with her, but he knew if it came down to it, a few persuasive words might be enough to save his life. If he could convince Bloodystar he had meant well here, that he had tried to save her, he might be okay. But not if he continued down this path any further.

The mostly-black tomcat leaned back and studied her quietly. She looked so plain, so normal. What had she ever done to deserve all this heartbreak? Why should he be willing to die for her? He could walk away right now and keep himself safe. He had a family now. But they were nearly grown, and they would be apprentices soon enough, and then they wouldn't need him anymore. How could he sit here and let her suffer any longer?

She had trusted him. If Bloodystar knew what she had told him, Jetfire would be punished harshly. He closed his eyes and exhaled softly. Her tears were dried against his paw pad, but he still felt the warmth of their tracks.

"Okay," he said quietly, and he knew his heart was set. His time would be short now, he would need to make a few last arrangements so his family would be safe and looked after. Messages could be sent to SwiftClan to tell them of his demise. That wouldn't take long to organize after he was done here; he could buy himself enough time.

"Okay. Here's what I've got. Two options." Ghostcrown met her gaze. I'll take you away now, and we'll find somewhere safe he will never find you, never hurt you. I'll take you to my childhood home and make you the softest den to rest in; I'll send my brother to be your healer and help you give birth. Then I'll take a scrap of your fur, spill some of my own blood, and return to camp. I'll tell Bloodystar I killed you to end your suffering, and while we fight, I'll send an army of deserters and allies to free your family.

Or." Or. It hung in the air between them as he took a deep breath.

"Or, I'll go back to camp and I'll tell him exactly where you are and what you mean to do. I'll send him to this exact spot, and when he comes to fetch you, we'll corner him. Autumngossamer will help us curse him like she once did the Sun God, and we'll bring him to his knees and make sure he can never hurt anyone ever again."

Ghostcrown raised his chin and looked at her solemnly. Once, it had been rare to catch him being serious; now he felt incapable of humor. "Jetfire, I won't let you go back there. I will not let you die. You don't deserve what happened to you, you didn't ask for it, and I won't let him hurt you any longer. None of this is your fault, you made the best you could out of a bad situation. Who could ever fault you for looking for a little love? Look, Jetfire, I'm so incredibly sorry for everything that happened to you. I can't change your past, but I can change your future. Let me do this. Let me rescue you. Please."

"I think she's this way, Dad."

Perfectkit's voice interrupted Ghostcrown and Jetfire's conversation and, moments later, the large silver-furred kit made his way over to the couple. He took strongly after Lionpride, at least, as far as his size went, and could easily pass as an apprentice. He padded right up to Jetfire and rubbed his head against hers in greeting, noticing the tears only when he felt dampness against his cheek when he drew away. He cocked his head in concern and shortly glared daggers at Ghostcrown, "What did you do to my sister?!"

Bloodystar was not far behind him, but remained silent, his expression glacial as he surveyed the scene. What stood out to him most of all was the bitter scent of deathberries and other dangerous herbs, and from there it didn't take a medicine cat to figure out what Jetfire had just tried to do. Her mouth did not seemed dyed by the poison, however and, had she actually consumed the berries by now, she would be showing symptoms. He let out a breath he had not realized he was holding. He knew Jetfire was depressed, but he had seriously underestimated her resolve. Bloodystar had almost lost her.

Noting Jetfire's silence, Bloodystar turned his burning celadon eyes to the tom at her side, a new idea forming at the same time he spoke it, "Ghostcrown. Care to explain why you are trying to feed my wife death berries?"

"Strange, you've never collected herbs for me before... and we teach kits the difference between deathberries and literally any other berry at a young age. Perhaps you should spend the night next to my den so I can more closely monitor your health. Clearly something is very wrong for your common sense to abandon you so severely," Bloodystar was not buying this explanation in the slightest however he would let Ghostcrown get away with it. Judging by the way this tom looked at Jetfire and she him, Bloodystar could tell that they were close to one another, and what was that saying? Keep your friends close and your enemies closer? He turned his burning gaze away from Ghostcrown and back to the broken she-cat at his side, "Jetfire. We need to get back to camp, you now how restless the little ones get when you are gone for long."