SPOTTEDSONG FLATTENED HER ears when a fat, icy cold droplet of water fell on her head. She lifted her head and looked at the top of the den. There was a hole, and the sprinkle of rain dripped through it. She let out a sigh of disappointment. Didn't we just repair it yesterday? Spottedsong tried to figure out if she should move, fix it, or wake up and go on with her day, but then she realized that Owlheart might want her on patrol. She forced herself to get out of her nest and go into the clearing.

It had been nearly a half moon since Dovesong and Blizzardpelt left the Clans to go on their journey. It was also a half moon since Lynxstar was attacked and Dawnsplash went missing. The camp seemed emptier without the three of them, even though Dawnsplash hadn't been in camp for nearly two moons now.

The sky was dark with storm clouds and rain was sprinkling onto the clearing. The sun was totally covered up, so it almost looked like it was still nighttime. Spottedsong could tell a storm was coming, but now it was far away and they had time to prepare.

Spottedsong strode over to Owlheart, who was just getting ready to organize the patrols. "Owlheart?"

The white tabby looked down at her from where he stood on the Snowrock. "What do you need?"

"Can I be on the border patrol?" Spottedsong asked.

Owlheart purred. "I'm grateful for your enthusiasm. Of course you can go."

When the patrols were organized, Spottedsong was leaving camp with Whitefoot, Gorseberry, Flypaw, and Hollyfern. "Let's check the border with ThunderClan first," Hollyfern decided; she was the leader of the patrol.

When they were approaching the ThunderClan border, they spread out in even groups to check on each side of the border. Spottedsong was paired with Whitefoot. She was glad to have such a strong, brave warrior with her. If there was any trouble, she was sure she would be fine.

Spottedsong just finished marking one the trees when she heard voices in the undergrowth ahead. She pricked her ears and began to sneak toward the sound. She could see cats in a clearing. It looked like they were in a meeting. She crouched behind some bushes to keep herself hidden.

"Why aren't they here?" growled the brown tabby, Cypressstar. He looked at each of the three cats in turn. One was Blackstream of ShadowClan, one was Nightshade of MoonClan, and the other was Sparrowfeather. Spottedsong shuddered at the sight of the four warriors, especially Sparrowfeather. He had bluntly betrayed his Clan to join MoonClan, which was unmistakably the worst kind of betrayal that ever existed.

"They got away," Sparrowfeather responded. "We found them, and we fought them, but they got away."

They fought who? Dovesong and Blizzardpelt? Spottedsong wondered.

"This is ridiculous," Cypressstar hissed. "How could they get away? I sent you three because I thought you could do it."

"We thought so, too," Blackstream mewed, dipping her head apologetically. "Something was there, and it did something really-"

"It was Moonclaw!" Nightshade burst out. "I knew it was her when I felt it. I discovered her ability! You remember, don't you, Cypressstar?"

"Of course I remember," Cypressstar confirmed calmly. "Point is, how do you know it was Moonclaw? It sounds like you didn't even see her."

"Yeah, we didn't see her," Sparrowfeather muttered with a glare at Nightshade. "Stop assuming things."

Last time you said someone assumed something, they were right, Spottedsong thought bitterly.

"Well, I felt her," Nightshade informed them. "I could hear the voice in my head, and the odd pull in my chest. . . . Didn't you two feel it, too?" She looked at Blackstream and Sparrowfeather.

"Yes, I felt it. StarClan, I almost had her! Dovesong, I mean. She needs to learn she won't always be that lucky," Blackstream burst out.

Cypressstar and Nightshade looked at her skeptically. Spottedsong remembered they didn't believe in StarClan, but apparently Blackstream still did. Sparrowfeather probably did, too. He didn't have the same skeptic look on his face as his Clanmates did. "That mange-pelt," Cypressstar hissed angrily. "She vowed she wouldn't use her cursed powers for anything, and now she's used it just to ruin our plans! I always knew she was bad news."

"Didn't we all?" Sparrowfeather asked.

"Perhaps. But the point is, we need to get them back now," Blackstream informed them.

"We need to show the cats who helped them out who is really in charge here," Nightshade countered, flexing her claws.

"No," Cypressstar answered, making all three cats look at him in surprise. "This time we cannot resort to violence. This time. It won't work. We have to get those two back, keep them more guarded, and soon we will rule the forest and have those FrostClan mange-pelts dealt with."

Spottedsong bristled at his harsh words. We'll show you who's really the mange-pelt here!

The three warriors looked at each other in turn, as if they were sharing secret messages with each other. "Fine," Nightshade decided at once. "But whatever happens, I'll be the one to get Moonclaw."

Great StarClan, what made her so rebellious toward Moonclaw? Spottedsong wondered. She wasn't too fond of Moonclaw either, but she didn't want to fight Moonclaw like Nightshade did. She shifted her paws uncomfortably, but then mud squelched loudly under her paws and she winced. Please don't let them hear that. Please don't-they heard it.

The four cats stopped what they were doing and looked around when they heard the mud. "Someone is here," Cypressstar growled. "Look around."

Sparrowfeather, Nightshade, and Blackstream fanned out, and Spottedsong began to back away, but then more mud made a loud, wet noise beneath her weight. She paused, eyes closed, waiting for her fate. It was much too late to run; they would know where she was in heartbeats.

"There it is again," Sparrowfeather told the other two. "I'll check these bushes." He went in the opposite direction of Spottedsong, but Nightshade walked right toward the bush that Spottedsong was hiding in. Spottedsong backed away, but knew it would do her no good.

"I found her!" Nightshade exclaimed. Spottedsong gasped sharply when the black she-cat's menacing blue gaze met her own. Spottedsong turned to run, but Nightshade's claws hooked onto her pelt and dragged her back. Thorns in the bush scraped against her skin and made it bleed. Nightshade pinned Spottedsong down. Her claws dug into Spottedsong's shoulders. Spottedsong wriggled, trying to get out of the she-cat's grasp. "What were you doing here?" she demanded. "How much did you hear?"

Spottedsong returned her gaze, filled with fear. She didn't dare say anything.

Nightshade's eyes blazed angrily. "Talk! Or I'll make you."

"I-I . . ." Spottedsong didn't know how to answer without provoking anger in these hostile cats.

With a growl, Nightshade's claws dug deeper. Spottedsong bit back a cry of pain. "I'll let you go if you just tell me. Or this will go much, much worse," she warned, her eyes glittering with atrocity.

If you hurt me, it won't be in vain! Spottedsong thought rebelliously, still refusing to talk.

"Fine, then," Nightshade decided. But before she could raise a claw, a flash of black and white darted past and knocked Nightshade to the ground. The two cats fought in a tangle of claws and teeth. The second cat was unmistakably Whitefoot. Spottedsong got to her paws and ran off, knowing that Whitefoot had it covered.

Spottedsong raced to the rest of the patrol. She stopped in front of them, struggling to catch her breath. Her chest was tight with pain from the wounds that Nightshade left. "Whitefoot . . . MoonClan . . ." She struggled to get more words out.

Gorseberry and Flypaw's eyes were wide with alarm. "Where are they?" Hollyfern asked.

"Follow me." Spottedsong turned and ran to the clearing where the MoonClan cats, Blackstream, and Whitefoot were. But the yowls had died down to silence. When they returned to the clearing, the MoonClan cats and Blackstream were gone. What was left was the bloodied body of Whitefoot. He didn't move, but his flanks heaved as he struggled to breathe. "Whitefoot!" She rushed to the senior warrior's body.

Whitefoot opened his eyes when he heard her. "Thank StarClan you're all here," he rasped. "But I'm afraid there's no way you can get me back to camp in time."

"Don't say that!" Hollyfern exclaimed, gaping in shock. "We can get you back in time! Is there any moss around?" She looked at each of her Clanmates in turn.

Gorseberry lifted his tail voluntarily and darted into the undergrowth.

"I think he's getting moss," Spottedsong mewed.

"Yes." Hollyfern nodded. "Hang in there, Whitefoot, we're going to get you help."

Gorseberry emerged from the undergrowth with moss in his jaws. He put it down and helped Hollyfern hold it onto the wound on the side of Whitefoot's neck. The moss was immediately stained red all the way through. Gorseberry's eyes widened and he let go. So did Hollyfern.

"Let me go," Whitefoot told them. "I won't make it."

The four cats stared at him in dismay. "You will! You will make it! Gorseberry, find more moss," Hollyfern ordered.

Gorseberry nodded and disappeared in the bushes again, coming back quickly with even more moss. Hollyfern pressed it onto Whitefoot's wound.

"Stop . . ." Whitefoot told her, his voice barely a whisper. "Your efforts won't do anything. But you can do me one favor."

Hollyfern reluctantly let go of the bloodstained moss and looked at him. The other three looked at him, too. "What is it?"

"When I'm gone, I want you to tell the Clan the truth. Tell them that I died fighting our greatest enemy. Tell them that . . . that even if they die trying to stop them, every action will count. Tell them exactly . . . what I told you. . . ." Whitefoot's eyes glazed over with what was unmistakably death and he fell limp.

The four cats were silent, but then Hollyfern let out a low wail. "Let's get his body back to camp." Her voice was quiet and barely audible. "And tell them what he said."

Spottedsong barely heard her. She was lost in her own thoughts. He died saving me. He shouldn't have. He never deserved to die. Oh, Whitefoot, I'm sorry I put you into this position like that. Please forgive me. She quickly shook her thoughts away and helped her Clanmates carry Whitefoot's body.

They all helped carry Whitefoot's body back to camp in silence. When they arrived, they laid his body carefully down inside the camp. Their Clanmates began to murmur and yowl in alarm and grief. Spottedsong stayed back, her heart heavy with grief and guilt at the same time. He sacrificed himself for her. She put him in that place. She endangered his life. She looked around at her Clanmates, hoping that they wouldn't notice that she wasn't there with them like she should be, grieving for her Clanmate. But luckily they were all too busy with their own grieving to notice.

Hollyfern was explaining to Lynxstar and Owlheart what had happened. Spottedsong got up and hurried toward them, knowing that Lynxstar would want her side of the story, too.

"Hello, Spottedsong," Lynxstar greeted her. "What do you need?"

"I need to share my part of the story," Spottedsong told her hastily. Lynxstar, Owlheart, and Hollyfern looked at her with confusion. Lynxstar dipped her head, welcoming her to share her part of the story. "I want you to know that he died saving me." She ducked her head. "I was reckless and listened in on a conversation between MoonClan warriors. They found me and they almost killed me until he came and died instead. It's all my fault. I'm sorry."

"It's not your fault, Spottedsong," Hollyfern told her gently. "He didn't die in vain. That's all that matters now."

"Maybe he didn't," Spottedsong agreed. "But I put him in danger when I could have protected myself."

"He could have stayed back if he wanted," Hollyfern countered. "He chose to protect his Clanmate in place of his life. I have only known him as a true warrior, and that was an act of a true warrior. He walks among StarClan now, where no one can hurt him."

"That's very wise, Hollyfern," Lynxstar mewed. She looked at Spottedsong. "Don't blame yourself for his death when he was only protecting you. He was upholding the oath that he took many moons ago, and no one can blame him-or be blamed-for that."

Spottedsong's pelt felt warm with shame. Perhaps it wasn't my fault. But I am a warrior; I'm supposed to be able to protect myself! Her thoughts began to whirl. She dipped her head to Lynxstar, Hollyfern, and Owlheart. "Thank you. But I have to go."

"Of course. Thank you for sharing that with us," Lynxstar meowed as she left.

Spottedsong's heart felt heavy as she walked away toward the exit of the camp. She recalled the day she fought Nightshade by the MoonClan camp, when Nightshade told her that Spottedsong would be no more than a murderer if she killed her. This felt almost like that, except Whitefoot willingly intercepted, even if it meant giving away his life.

This feels too much like I actually killed him, Spottedsong thought. And it feels terrible. She felt as though there was a hole in her heart, a fresh one that allowed darkness to soak in. StarClan, just give me a break! she begged, pausing in her tracks to look at the sky. Midday was beginning to approach. She hoped that her warrior ancestors could hear her and respond. But she would probably never know since she had no real connection with StarClan like a medicine cat did.

When Spottedsong was in the forest she turned around when she heard paw steps behind her. The fur on her neck and shoulders began to bristle up and she unsheathed her claws in preparation of an attack. But when she turned around she saw Gorseberry. "What are you doing here?" she asked. "I mean, why did you-never mind."

Gorseberry's eyes glittered with amusement. He took a few paces forward and nuzzled Spottedsong in an attempt to comfort her.

"Were you worried about me?" Spottedsong asked.

Gorseberry nodded.

"Of course you were," Spottedsong purred. "Thank you for coming to check on me. I'm fine, I promise."

Gorseberry gave her a skeptical look as if he knew that nothing was okay. He sat down and invited Spottedsong to by patting the spot next to him with his tail.

Spottedsong sighed in amusement and sat down beside him. "Okay, fine. I'm feeling guilty about Whitefoot's death. He sacrificed himself for me. I know it wasn't my fault, but I can't help but think it is," she explained.

Gorseberry curled up against her, nuzzling her again. It seemed to be his only way of saying It'll be okay. I'm here. You can talk to me.

Spottedsong looked at him thankfully, her spirits lifting. "Thank you. Thank you so much."