SPOTTEDSONG SLIPPED OUT of the camp, glancing over her shoulder once or twice to see if anyone was following her. She left the camp and began to run toward the direction of the MoonClan camp, relieved to finally feel the wind through her fur and her paws flying across the grass. It seemed like forever since she had gone outside of the camp since the attack from the MoonClan cats. Moonclaw had been captured then, and she knew that Dovesong was with her. So even though she refused to rescue Moonclaw, she knew that she had no choice if she was going to rescue Dovesong, too.

She could see Cloudsky and Frozenfang in the distance, heading toward the MoonClan camp. They had left to attempt to rescue Dovesong, according to what she had overheard from the medicine den. She had barely any time to escape the den, because Badgertooth was there at the time. But when he disappeared into the herb store, she found the chance to leave.

She knew that leaving was probably not a good idea, because after the attack, she had terrible headaches and had a hard time balancing. But if she could survive that vicious attack, she could survive a minor head injury, It probably wasn't anything to worry about, anyway. And even if it was, Spottedsong wasn't the type to give up because of an injury.

As she neared the MoonClan camp, uneasiness swept over her as she remembered the last time she came here. She had asked to join, but since she failed to kill Dovesong-who was Dovepaw at the time-Cypressstar had refused to let her in. But she was more prepared this time. If a MoonClan warrior stopped her, she would be ready.

She was hiding in the shelter of bushes, so hopefully a MoonClan warrior wouldn't spot her. Or any warrior, for that matter.

"Look what we have here." The hostile snarl came from behind Spottedsong. Her heart leaped in her chest. It was a MoonClan warrior. How'd they spot her? Spottedsong turned around. Nightshade was there, her blue eyes slitted. "What's the occasion now?"

"Nothing of your concern," Spottedsong shot back.

"I think it is if you're on our territory," Nightshade snarled. "Unless you'd like to be shredded here and now."

For the first time in a long time, Spottedsong felt intimidated. "F-fine. I was looking for my Clanmate."

Nightshade rolled her eyes. "Now you're looking for someone. Who?"

"I think you know who," Spottedsong responded. "If you don't take me in I'd gladly fight you for it."

"And lose? I doubt it."

"Is Dovesong here?" Spottedsong asked, baring her teeth and flattening her ears.

Nightshade flexed her claws on the earth. "Yes. But you won't be able to find her, much less rescue her."

"Yes, I will! She's my friend. I'd do anything for my friend," Spottedsong hissed.

Nightshade purred in amusement. "FrostClan cats," she scoffed. "So brave, yet so clueless. You have no idea what trouble you're getting yourself into, do you?"

"Of course, I do! Why else would I risk my life by coming here?" Spottedsong demanded, sliding her claws from their sheath.

"Not so hostile, now," Nightshade meowed. "I know you care. But I would rather you not try."

"Why?"

"Because you'd get shredded if you did."

"Oh, so you care about my life? Interesting." Spottedsong looked at Nightshade wryly.

"That's not-" Nightshade looked furious. "That's not why! We just don't want to have to fight right now. These cats should be able to bring peace for once."

"'These cats'? There's more than one?"

"I shouldn't have said that," Nightshade muttered. "No. There's only one: your precious Dovesong."

"Just hand her over! She's a cat, too. You don't get to control her."

"It's not me. I'm just following orders. Now go."

"If I don't, what would you do if you don't want to fight me?"

"Oh, I would love to fight you. But I'm an honorable warrior. I-"

"An honorable warrior!" Spottedsong scoffed. "I would hardly call any of you flea-pelts honorable warriors."

Nightshade snarled. Her claws slid from their sheath. "Take that back!"

Spottedsong could feel a fight coming on. But she glared back at Nightshade and declared, "I'd rather not."

Letting out a furious yowl, Nightshade reared onto her hind legs and slammed her paws onto Spottedsong's shoulders, her thorn-sharp claws digging into her flesh. She dragged Spottedsong down and pinned her down, a paw on her neck. "Now will you? Or would you rather me end your life here?"

"That's what a dishonorable warrior would do," Spottedsong pointed out, bunching her legs from under her and kicking up at Nightshade. Blood splattered onto her fur, warm and tangy. She bit back a gag. She could never get used to the metallic, disgusting scent.

Nightshade staggered backward. "At least I'm not a traitor," she hissed.

Spottedsong stared back at her angrily.

"Don't think I didn't know," Nightshade meowed coolly. She thrust herself at Spottedsong, aiming for her throat, but Spottedsong dodged and caught her teeth on Nightshade's foreleg instead. Nightshade yowled in pain as Spottedsong dragged her down and pinned her. "Somebody's been training."

"Actually, I've been in the medicine cat den this past moon," Spottedsong spat back. "But you, on the other paw, have to kill cats to maintain your skills and self-esteem, it seems. Maybe you aren't an honorable warrior."

Nightshade's blue eyes flashed with anger. "I'm no more a murderer than you!"

Spottedsong held her gaze. Am I a murderer? she wondered. No. She's lying. I've killed no cat.

But you will.

Spottedsong shook her thoughts away. "I'm not a murderer!"

Nightshade closed her eyes in a long blink. "Sure."

Spottedsong was scarcely aware of Nightshade preparing to kick her powerful hind legs into her belly. It was too late when she realized. She was thrown back against a tree. Stars flew in her vision. She staggered sideways, trying to regain her balance. Her head throbbed and she felt a stinging gash on her cheek. She saw Nightshade standing in front of her, looking triumphant. But the world was spinning, and she couldn't get a clear image of her.

Spottedsong closed her eyes, regaining balance. When she opened them again, the world steadied. She thrust herself at Nightshade, her anger causing her to aim for the throat. Nightshade was so caught up in her triumph that she didn't realize what was happening until it came. She let out a long yowl of pain and swiped at Spottedsong, scratching her eye.

Both Spottedsong and Nightshade backed away from each other. Nightshade yowled something to her Clanmates in the camp, but Spottedsong's ears were ringing and blood roared in them too loud to hear what she said.

A few moments later, three cats came from the camp. Two toms flanked a small white she-cat. Dovesong! Spottedsong stared in dismay. What had they come to do? Were they going to use Dovesong's ability to heal Nightshade? They can't!

"Dovesong!" The words escaped Spottedsong's mouth before she could stop them.

"Spottedsong!" Dovesong exclaimed. "Thank StarClan you're here!"

One of the toms, Stonefrost, hissed at her. He muttered a few words that Spottedsong couldn't hear. Dovesong shook as she looked at Nightshade, who was crouched on the ground. Blood dripped from her throat and her leg wound. "I can't," Dovesong mewed bravely.

"You can. I know you can," the brown tabby, Foxclaw, hissed. Spottedsong was shocked. He was with MoonClan now? She believed that he was good. "Do it."

Dovesong glanced desperately at Spottedsong. "Nightshade doesn't deserve to be healed."

"Shut up and do it," Foxclaw growled, nudging Dovesong forward. Dovesong looked at him with dismay. Spottedsong did, too. Since when was he mean toward Dovesong? He loved her, right?

Dovesong stared at Nightshade. She looked at Spottedsong, then back at Nightshade. "No."

Foxclaw and Stonefrost exchanged snarls.

Spottedsong stared at Dovesong, her heart pounded against her ribs, threatening to burst from her chest. "Just do it! They'll kill someone you care about if you don't."

Dovesong looked at Spottedsong, her eyes filled with fear. "Fine."