MOUSETAIL WAS SITTING in front of the nursery, her tail flicking impatiently, as if the sun would make way for the moon at her command. It was two days after she spread the message, and now, when dusk came, she needed to go to the Gathering island. The rest of the cats would be there.

     "Hey, Mousetail." It was Skystorm. He settled himself down beside her and rubbed his cheek against hers in greeting. "How are you? I'm sorry I've been so busy lately."

     "Don't apologize. A good relationship is one where you spend time with others, too," she assured him. "I'm doing okay. Your kits are, too. They're growing faster than ever." She looked down at her swollen belly, full of kits. "I haven't been able to think about anything else but them.

     That was a lie. She hadn't been able to think of the kits at all. Hot shame swamped her when she realized.

     "That's great." Skystorm's eyes shone with love as he crouched low and touched her belly-the kits-lightly with his nose. He rose again and touched Mousetail's cheek with his muzzle. "Thank you."

     "No, thank you. I could have never made it this far without you," Mousetail mewed, gazing into his eyes lovingly. She pressed herself against him and buried her muzzle briefly into his neck fur.

     "Neither could I," Skystorm admitted. "Has Badgertooth told you when he thinks they're due?"

     "No. Has he told you?" Mousetail asked hopefully.

     "No. I was hoping that we could go ask?" Skystorm asked hopefully, his green eyes shining.

     "Sure. Come on. I wanted to see how Spottedsong is doing, anyway," Mousetail meowed, getting to her paws with a grunt.

     Skystorm led her to the medicine den and they quietly walked inside. Badgertooth was sitting beside Spottedsong's nest, watching intently and silently, his blue eyes wide with concentration. Spottedsong was sleeping soundly in her nest. He looked surprised when he saw Mousetail and Skystorm. "Hello. How are you two this afternoon?"

     "Fine, thanks," Skystorm mewed. "We came to ask if you knew when the kits were due."

     Badgertooth's eyes shone. "By the looks of it, I would say about four more moons."

     Skystorm and Mousetail exchanged excited looks. "Oh, thank you!" Mousetail exhaled in satisfaction.

     "No-"

     Badgertooth cut himself off when Spottedsong stirred. He looked at her, as if he expected her to say something. But she just looked at him and Mousetail and Skystorm with confusion. She narrowed her eyes at Mousetail. Her eyes were clouded with confusion. "Is that Dovesong?"

     "No, it's just me, Mousetail," Mousetail mewed gently, feelling a stab of misery in her heart. She wished Spottedsong had seen Dovesong. But she knew that they would get Dovesong out of the MoonClan camp tonight.

     "Oh." Spottedsong looked away.

     "Is she alright?" Skystorm asked, stepping toward his sister, his eyes shining with concern.

     "She'll be fine," Badgertooth responded, watching Spottedsong. "She just woke up. She's been on and off like this ever since she came back from the MoonClan camp."

     "Is there anything you can do?"

     "No, I'm sorry. But with rest, she'll get better," Badgertooth murmured.

     "Good. Thank you." Skystorm nodded, looking satisfied. "Spottedsong? Are you doing okay?"

     Spottedsong looked at Skystorm, still looking confused. "What are you doing here, Nightshade?" she demanded.

     "Spottedsong, it's Skystorm, your brother," Skystorm mewed, the concern in his eyes returning.

     Spottedsong studied him intently, looking clueless.

     "She's kept calling me all kinds of things. Don't take it personally," Badgertooth informed them. He looked at Spottedsong, suddenly deep in concentration. "Her eyes are clearer than they were a few days ago."

     "Why are you staring at me?" Spottedsong asked.

     Skystorm inched closer. "They do look clearer. Is that what you're looking at?"

     "Yes. Spottedsong, who are these cats?" Badgertooth asked the confused tortoiseshell she-cat.

     "Mousetail and Skystorm, obviously," Spottedsong replied, looking as if Badgertooth had asked her the most mouse-brained question in the world.

     All three cats sighed in relief.

     "Do you know why you're here?" Badgertooth asked.

     "I was attacked, and I hit my head on a tree," Spottedsong responded.

     "What else do you remember?" Badgertooth asked.

     "For StarClan's sake, why are you asking such mouse-brained questions?" Spottedsong demanded.

     "Well, she's still got her old fire," Skystorm mewed, his voice filled with satisfaction.

     "Of course I do." Spottedsong turned her gaze to Badgertooth. "When can I return to warrior duties?"

     If you return to warrior duties. Spottedsong was only in the camp because she had been knocked out in a battle against some MoonClan cats when she was, briefly, a rogue. But after she healed from that head injury, she gained yet another one. It wasn't likely she would stay in FrostClan. Ever since they arrived in their new camp, Lynxstar had had trust issues with every cat.

     "In a few days. You need to rest up," Badgertooth told her.

     Spottedsong's eyes rounded imploringly. "I'm fine! I'm just a bit dizzy."

     "That's the problem. When you're dizzy, you could lose your balance. And when you lose your balance, depending on the situation you're in, you could die," Badgertooth responded. "I wouldn't like that."

     Spottedsong's eyes flashed with indignation. "Fine."

     "I guess we'll leave now," Skystorm murmured, looking at Mousetail expectantly.

     "Sure. Thanks for stopping by," Badgertooth meowed as the two cats left the den.

     Skystorm dipped his head briefly and he and Mousetail left the den.

     As they neared the nursery, Mousetail glanced at her mate nervously. I should tell him about the meeting. He's more willing to save Dovesong than most cats. She took a deep breath and meowed, "Skystorm, I need to tell you something."

     Skystorm looked at her with surprise. He stopped at the edge of the den and sat down. "What is it?"

     Mousetail hesitated. "I . . . I wanted to gather some cats to go save Dovesong because no one is doing anything, and I know it will take more than begging and sending one cat or patrol at a time to rescue her. So yesterday I went to find Larkflight, Goldenheart, Jayflight, and Robinfeather at the border with ThunderClan and told them to spread the message to some other cats."

     Skystorm blinked. "Who?"

     "Creamfrost, Hollypool, Swallowpaw, Jaywhistle, and Finchflutter from WindClan, Featherbreeze and Whitecloud from RiverClan, and Gingerstripe, Reedtail, Amberdawn, and Silverfoot from ShadowClan," Mousetail explained, eyeing Skystorm anxiously.

     Concern glittered in Skystorm's eyes. "You went out alone yesterday? That could have been dangerous! What if you kitted when you were alone in the middle of our land?"

     "Remember what Badgertooth said? He said that kits weren't due until several moons. I'm fine," Mousetail reassured him, touching his ear with her nose comfortingly. "I didn't get into any trouble."

     "Thank StarClan," Skystorm breathed, still looking at her with wide, nervous eyes. "So what does any of this have to do with me?"

     "I want you to come with me to this meeting. Please," Mousetail begged.

     Skystorm looked around the camp nervously. "When is it, and where is it?"

     "At the Gathering island, at moonhigh," Mousetail explained, looking into Skystorm's eyes imploringly.

     Skystorm shifted his paws self-consciously. "I don't know. Isn't that defying the code, to sneak out at night and lead an attack when some cats-cats that aren't even our Clanmates-might get injured? Or killed?"

     "I think it's worth a try," Mousetail mewed. "A few days ago, I told Whitefoot I would do anything to get Dovesong to safety. I meant what I said. I always do."

     "I understand you want to get Dovesong back, but we can't just jump right to it. You have to have a plan. A battle strategy-"

     "Just come with me to the meeting. It might not be as bad as you think. After, or even during, the meeting, you can leave if you feel like it's wrong. Just trust me. I know what I'm doing," Mousetail assured him.

     Skystorm looked at her nervously once again. "You're really confident about this, aren't you?"

     "Of course I am. So are you coming or not?"

     "I'll try it out," Skystorm concluded, touching Mousetail's muzzle with his. "For you."

     "Oh, thank you!" Mousetail breathed. "You have no idea how much this means to me."

     "I think I do." Skystorm's green eyes glittered. "And it means a lot."

***

     Mousetail sat in her nest in the nursery, her tail-tip flicking to and fro impatiently. The moon was high in the sky, shining brightly on the leafy clearing, but her Clanmates were taking ages to settle in their nests and sleep. She glanced at the warrior's den. She saw Skystorm walking across the clearing toward her, his eyes shining anxiously.

     "They're taking ages to go to sleep," Skystorm whispered as he ducked into the den and joined Mousetail next to her nest. "It'll be moonhigh soon."

     "Yes." Mousetail's tail twitched. "Why can't we go now? You can go through the camp entrance, I'll go through the dirtplace tunnel."

     Skystorm glanced at the camp entrance. "No one's guarding it yet, so I guess it'll be okay if I go through there." He stood up and began to leave the den. He looked over his shoulder. "Are you coming?"

     "Oh-yes. Sorry. I'm just wondering if everyone will come. And what if it's not enough? Will we get Dovesong back?" The words tumbled from her mouth before she could stop them. She hauled herself out of the nest and hurried after Skystorm. "I'm coming."

     Skystorm nodded and they left the den. But Cloudsky was already headed toward the camp entrance. He stopped in his tracks when he saw Mousetail and Skystorm. "What are you two doing up late?"

     "Skystorm was going to guard the camp, and I was headed-um-to take a walk," Mousetail stuttered.

     Cloudsky narrowed his eyes, clearly unconvinced. "What are you two actually doing?"

     "Just what I said," Mousetail answered immediately. Great StarClan, that sounded terrible. She glanced at Skystorm, hoping that he would back her up.

     Skystorm was calm as he spoke. "Yes. It's just a coincidence we're all over here," he meowed.

     Cloudsky narrowed his eyes. "Owlheart just told me to guard the camp. He wouldn't have to tell you, Skystorm, if he just told me."

     Skystorm suddenly looked hopeless. He looked at Mousetail. It seemed like they were sharing the same thoughts. Tell him. Skystorm looked back at Cloudsky. "Fine, you got us. We were going to a meeting. An important one, at the Gathering island. It's about Dovesong."

     Cloudsky's eyes widened. "You can't possibly be thinking about rescuing her, especially at night! You know you will get hurt. Who else is coming to this meeting?"

     "A bunch of cats from the other Clans," Mousetail responded. "Just please let us go. Dovesong could be suffering. I would hate for us to be too late." Her voice cracked on too late. What if they were too late? What if Dovesong was badly injured or tortured or anything while she was there? What if she had been affected in any way? Mousetail couldn't afford to see her sister that way.

     Cloudsky sighed in defeat. "Fine. But this is a dangerous mission. I'll come with you."

     Skystorm and Mousetail exchanged looks. "Okay," Mousetail responded at once. "You can come."

     Cloudsky's eyes glittered with gratitude.

     "Come on; we've got no time to lose," Mousetail meowed firmly. She and the two toms left camp. They hurried along the path toward the Gathering island. Mousetail hoped desperately that the cats would all be there, and that there would be enough to succeed. What if I'm leading them to their deaths? she wondered fearfully.

     "It'll be okay," Skystorm meowed beside her, as if he could read her thoughts. He pressed himself against her assuringly. "Have faith. StarClan will guide us."

     Mousetail looked at him gratefully. "Thank you."

     "Skystorm's right. It sounds like you planned very carefully. I'm sure it'll all be fine," Cloudsky mewed. "Hey, we're almost there."

     Mousetail followed his gaze. Sure enough, they were almost at the Gathering island. She could see a few cats crossing the fallen tree, silhouetted against the moonlight. The faint, eerie moonlight made her uneasy. It seemed a little fainter than usual. She tried to decide if it was an omen or if her mind was playing tricks on her. Don't be silly. Only medicine cats can see omens. Shaking off her doubts, she followed the toms on the path toward the Gathering island.

     "I'll cross first," Skystorm suggested.

     Mousetail was gazing across the tree at the island, but she shook herself and looked at Skystorm. "Sure." She nodded.

     Cloudsky nodded, too. Skystorm went ahead and began to head across the fallen tree. Cloudsky glanced at Mousetail. "Would you like to go next?"

     "Sure." Mousetail gathered up as much strength as she could muster to make a graceful leap onto the tree. Luckily she succeeded. She sighed in satisfaction. But when she began to go across, she felt her kits wriggle inside her. It's alright, little ones. She clenched her teeth and clung onto the tree even harder. She gazed across the tree at Skystorm, who was just leaping onto the other side. She didn't dare look down.

     Soon enough, she was on the other side. Skystorm was there to let her lean on him to catch her breath. "You did it. Good job."

     Mousetail looked at him gratefully. "Yes. We're here."

     "You're here!" Swallowpaw greeted Mousetail and Skystorm. "We were wondering when you would be here. I am so nervous but also so excited! Are we really going to get Dovesong back?"

     "Yes," Mousetail replied.

     "And Moonclaw?" Featherbreeze asked. She and Whitecloud approached them.

     "Depends on if she's even there," Mousetail muttered.

     No one answered while Whitecloud told Featherbreeze what Mousetail said slowly and in her ear. Mousetail forgot that Featherbreeze was half deaf.

     "She has to be there," Featherbreeze mewed after Whitecloud finished. "If she isn't, I don't know what I'll do after that . . ."

     Mousetail's tail twitched. She looked around the clearing. There were more cats than she thought. "Did more cats come, or are there more cats than I thought?"

     "Robinfeather told us we should invite more cats if we thought it was necessary, and I just thought I'd invite more just in case. It sounds like a dangerous mission," Whitecloud meowed. "Hawkpelt, Silverheart, and Applewhisker came, too. I don't know if any more cats from any of the other Clans came along."

     Mousetail looked around again. She spotted Spottedtail. She hadn't invited Spottedtail, but she knew that the black she-cat was a skilled fighter. They might need her. "That's great. Thanks."

     "Oh, there you are!" Creamfrost ran toward them. "Why didn't you tell me, Swallowpaw?"

     "I did. You just weren't listening," Swallowpaw told her.

     "Okay. Well, should we begin?" Creamfrost asked, looking at Mousetail and Skystorm. Cloudsky had just come across and was standing beside Skystorm.

     "I can now." Mousetail glanced nervously at the cats around her. She wouldn't be able to get on the Great Oak; it didn't seem loyal. She would have to talk from the ground. But she was good at talking. At least, she thought she was. Ever since Dovesong was captured, she was less energetic and outgoing than she usually was. She looked at Skystorm and Cloudsky, who both nodded encouragingly. She turned to the cats and raised her voice. "Can I have your attention, everyone?"

     The chattering cats quieted down and turned to Mousetail. She came to the middle of the large group, suddenly self-conscious with all of the cats' eyes on her. "Thank you for coming. I know this must be a scary experience, but I know it will be worth it."

     "Is it true we're going tonight?" Finchflutter demanded. Mousetail turned to look at the brown tom. "Isn't MoonClan dangerous at night? Is it even safe to go?"

     "I have been aware of MoonClan my entire life. I know that they are only most powerful when the moon is full. Now, there is only a claw scratch of a moon. They will be just as powerful as they are in the broad daylight. But if you're all unsure of going tonight, we could wait until sunup," Mousetail suggested hopefully.

     Some of the cats murmured anxiously.

     Is it true? Am I really leading them to their deaths? Mousetail wondered, feeling like a storm cloud hung over her, a shadow bringing doubt and unwanted guilt.

     "It sounds safer to wait until dawn," Amberdawn of ShadowClan concluded. "Even if MoonClan isn't as powerful when there's hardly a moon, it seems safer," she reasoned.

     "She's right," Reedtail added beside her. "What if one of us gets hurt when we never intended for it to happen? What if it's all for nothing?"

     Mousetail was speechless for a moment. Reedtail had copied her thoughts and made her uncertainty stronger. "We can hold a vote," she decided. She nodded to the Great Oak. "All cats who think we should wait until moonhigh, go stand beside the trunk of the Great Oak. All cats who think we should go now, go stand beside the bushes over there."

     Some cats immediately went on one of the sides, and some took a moment to decide. Mousetail glanced at Skystorm and Cloudsky, who both seemed to be having a hard time deciding. But Cloudsky hurried to the dawn side, but Skystorm went to the opposite side.

     When all of the cats had chosen, Mousetail raised her voice. She hadn't gone to a side because she already knew she wanted to attack now. Dovesong couldn't wait. She was too important. "Now that everyone has chosen a side, please count how many cats are on your side."

     Spottedtail turned to count the cats on her side, the moonhigh side, and Whitecloud turned to count the cats on her side, the dawn side. She turned around again and mewed, "There's nine cats on my side."

     "There's eleven on mine," Spottedtail announced.

     "Including me, that's twelve," Mousetail added nervously. "That's the majority. It looks like we're going tonight."

     The cats on the dawn side began to mutter nervously.

     Looking suddenly distressed, Skystorm hurried to Mousetail's side and murmured, "You shouldn't go. We should keep our kits in mind."

     "I wasn't going to go," Mousetail responded. "I'll go to camp when you're going to the MoonClan camp. You can lead them, right?"

     "Of course." Skystorm's eyes glittered in the moonlight. He touched Mousetail's muzzle with his nose. He pressed himself against his mate as if seeking comfort. "You're so brave for doing this."

     "Thank you," Mousetail replied. "You should go now."

     "Yes."

     "Be safe."

     Skystorm bowed his head deeply and good-humoredly, as if he were talking to his leader. Then he hurried to his side.

     Mousetail turned to all the cats again. "Please, no protests. The decision's been made. You will attack now. Skystorm will lead you." She nodded toward her mate, and the cats turned to look at him. She admired the way he stood so bravely when he could be leading the cats to certain death. He would make a wonderful deputy. She felt a flash of annoyance toward herself for thinking about Skystorm being deputy and not Owlheart. I should be more respectful.

     The cats began to murmur again, some nervous and some anticipating, but they gathered together, ready to leave the clearing. Light rain began to fall on the land. Skystorm and Mousetail exchanged hopeful looks. But Skystorm's glittering green eyes didn't fully assure Mousetail it was going to be alright. She was convinced that bad things would happen.

     StarClan, let me be wrong.