A cool breeze had started in the ShadowClan camp, blowing away the clouds covering the moon. The usual sun-kissed ground was cold to the touch, and the cats of the Clan of the night didn't like it. It was a far turn from the warm green-leaf air that was to be expected.

Nightfeather scooted deeper into the moss nest at the entrance of the medicine den, her fur ruffled and bristling. It was cold, too cold for green-leaf. But the pine trees bordering the clearing seemed to trap cool air at night, much to her distate. Lily stirred next to her, gray fur gradually smoothing as Thistle lapped at it. Thornkit was nestled close to her warm mother. They had gotten stuck in the sucking mud of the swamp, but a search patrol was quick to find them.

Nightfeather got up and let out a hiss. Her fur, although long, seemed frozen. Sparrowwing gave her a look of sympathy before follwing her into the clearing.

Their tails intertwined and Sparrowwing gave her head a lick. Mistflower approached the two, her tail swaying from side to side.

"I'm taking a patrol to RiverClan, but I need two more cats. Blazefur's coming along. Interested?" She inquired gruffly.

Nightfeather gave Sparowwing a glance for his approval and nodded. "Sure."

Mistflower nodded and padded towards Snowstripe, Pebblpelt, Addertooth, and Blazefur. They brightened at the sight of Sparrowwing and Nightfeather.

Mistflower frowned. "Let's go."

Nightfeather filed after the patrol, her mind buzzing with thoughts. RiverClan might be hostile, especially with Rosestar in charge. She narrowed her eyes. Why would StarClan approve of her leadership? It madr no sense, yet there she was, cocky as ever.

Mistflower's hiss broke her thoughts. "RiverClan. Get down."

Nightfeather immediately crouched low, heart beginning to race. She peered through the branches of the bush. A silver tabby she-cat and a brown tom were both padding along ShadowClan territory, tails held high. Nightfeather bit back a hiss as a familiar red she-cat came into view.

Mistflower lashed her tail, and the ShadowClan patrol exploded forward. They formed a tight circle around the three RiverClan cats.

Mistflower stepped forward so she was facing Rosestar. "What are you doing on ShadowClan territory? Lost your way, I presume?"

Rosestar stared back at the deputy, eyes filed with contempt. "I suggest you get out of our way."

Snowstripe glared at the two RiverClan cats. "And who are these two? Rogues?"

Rosestar blinked. "These are now full-fledged members of RiverClan." She bared her fangs and growled.

In a flash, the russet she-cat had darted forward and pinned down Blazefur. The tom writhed in her grip, eyes wild, but it was no use.

Nightfeather hissed and sheated her claws. They would have to figure out something, and fast. She turned around to glance at Mistflower, who had sheated her claws. Though her gaze was icy, her twitching tail revealed her fear.

Pebblepelt narrowed his eyes. "Alright then. You can pass, just let him go."

Rosestar gave a cold laugh and looked up from the medicine cat. "Oh, I don't think so." She cooed.

Nightfeather felt fear rise in her throat. "Let him go, Rosestar." She rasped, stepping forward.

Rosestar stared at her for a few heartbeats before stepping off the tom. Blazefur immediately sprinted away, crouching low behind the line of cats.

Nightfeather bit back a yelp of surprise. What? Why had Rosestar listened to her, of all cats?

Rosestar padded past her, but Nightfeather caught her soft whisper:

"I look forward to seeing you in the Dark Forest."

》》》》》》》》》

Shadestar looked down at his Clan, eyes slits as he thought. Nightfeather shifted uneasily. The whole Clan was still debating about what to do concerning RiverClan.

"She had rogues with her," piped up Snowstripe. "Maybe she's recruiting cats from outside the Clans."

Fawnfur lashed her tail, anxiety evident in her actions. "We barely have any warriors as it is. We'll never survive!"

Pebblepelt growled. "The sooner we tackle this problem, the better. Rosestar might attack at any moment, and we know she has more warriors. We don't even have any apprentices!"

Wolffur stepped forward, his messy fur even morw ruffled than usual. "Sunkit, Thornkit, Runningkit, and Cloudkit will be apprentices soon," he meowed. "And Lily's and Birdsong's kits will be born soon."

Nightfeather rolled her eyes. Thornkit and her siblings had to wait for a moon. Rosestar wouldn't exactly wait for them to get trained for battle.

Shadestar opened his eyes and raised his tail for silence. "Blazefur, come with me. We're going to the moon pool to consult StarClan."

The medicine cat looked surprised, but he quickly regained his composure and dipped his head. "As you wish, Shadestar."

Echwoing approached the ShadowClan leader, eyes dark with worry. "Who will be in charge?"

"Mistflower." Shadestar replied curtly.

Nightfeather watched as the two toms exited the camp, her fur beginning to bristle. Was it really wise to leave the camp without a leader? Although Mistflower's leadership skills were great, the authority of a leader was irreplaceable.

Sparrowwing's hushed voice pulled away from her analysis. "I think that's cute."

"Think what is cute?" Nightfeather inquired, playfully slapping him with her tail.

Sparrowwing stared into her dark blue eyes, his own sparkling with humor. "When you think. Your nose wrinkles, and your tail gets all stiff."

Nightfeather blinked. She hadn't relaized how observant the light-hearted tom in front of her was.

Mistflower leaped onto the Dark Rock and stared down at the Clan. "Alright then. Rainheart, Addertooth, and Pebblepelt, you're gaurding the entrance. Nightfeather and Snowstripe, take the south. Fawnfur and Wolffur, east. Sparrowwing and Echowing, you gaurd the west. I'll gaurd the inside of camp. Go."

The ShadowClan cats all scrambled into their groups. Nightfeather spotted the familair black and white pelt of Snowstripe and padded over.

"Hey," the she-cat greeted her. Her pelt seemed a little bit sleeker, much to Nightfeather's relief.

"Hi. So, we're going out through the dirt place?"

"Yep." Snowstripe turned around and led Nightfeather towards the bramble entrance next to the nursery. The two she-cats pushed into the foul-smelling nursery and leaped over the rocky overhang.

Nightfeather's nose wrinkled in disgust as her paws latched onto the pine tree in front of them. Her back claws scrabbling on the rock, she gave a sigh of relief as Snowstripe pulled her up.

The white-striped she-cat flicked her tail and turned around. Nightfeather padded forward and tasted the air. By the relieved looks on everyone's face, I'm sure they're relieved we got the dirt place. She thought grimly.

Snowstripe suddenly sprinted forward. Nightfeather followed after her, gasping when she tasted the air. The fishy scent of RiverClan had flooded the clearing, and by the looks of it, they were here recently. Snowstripe let out a screech.

"ShadowClan! RiverClan ambush!"

Nightfeather narrowed her eyes as her heart began to race. She sprinted towards the rocky overhang and leaped to the ground, relishing the harsh sting of stone on her pads. Adrenaline rushed through her as she ran into the clearing.

The camp was absolutely flooded with RiverClan cats. Apprentices, warriors, every cat you could think of was fighting. By the look of it, ShadowClan was losing. Nightfeather strained to locate Mistflower. When she did, whe gasped. The gray she-cat was battling Rosestar, her pelt bloody and fangs bared. A few warriors were protecting the nursery, but most of them were focused on the medicine den. Nightfeather pricked her ears. Shrieks of pain ripped through the air. Lily! Was she kitting!?

Nightfeather shook away her thoughts and leaped into the clearing, eager to feel the flesh of RiverClan ripping beneath her claws. She looked around and spotted a torotiseshell she-cat coming towards her. The black she-cat narrowed her eyes and leaped, landing square on the RiverClan cat.

The she-cat struggled in her grip. Nightfeather pinned her down and raked her hind claws down her belly, watching as she screeched in agony. Suddenly, a force from behind pushed Nightfeather down, allowing the injured she-cat time to escape. She hissed and turned her head to look up.

A tom looked down at her, fangs bared and ready to bite into her neck and snap it. Nightfeather closed her eyes as she struggled. A pirecing scream tore through the air.

"Beethorn!"

Nightfeather twisted around and pushed her paws upward, watching in satisfaction as he tom flew off her. She ducked through the legs of a few other RiverClan cats, her small size giving her an advantage.

The elder's den was surrounded by RiverClan cats, all smirking at the sight of the dead elder in front of them. Nightfeather felt horror sear through her. Beethorn was lying on the ground, his throat slit. How could they do this? To an elder? Rage burning bright in her dark blue eyes, she leaped forward and faced the RiverClan warriors, fangs bared and claws ready to rip.

A white tom glanced at her, gaze icy, and gave a laugh. "Get out of the way, apprentice. There's someone else in there we need to take care of."

Nightfeather smiled. This tom was the usual cocky warrior, underestimating each and every warrior that came his way. He would be easy to beat. His comrades, however, proved otherwise. She sank into a crouch, ready to leap, but a cry ripped through the air.

"ShadowClan, retreat!"

Nightfeather froze. ShadowClan, retreat! ? This was their camp! They couldn't leave!

Regardless, ShadowClan cats were beginning to flee the camp. Foxfang and Lily were padding out of the medicine den, joined by warriors with herbs in their mouths. Nightfeather gasped as she relaized the tiny heapd of fur in some jaws were newborn kits. Birdsong and Leaftail both sprinted out of the nursery, Sunkit and his siblings in their jaws. Nightfeather swallowed and turned around to face Marshfur, who was stumbling out of the den on unsteady paws.

"Here," Nightfeather whispered, voice hoarse with shock. "Lean on me."

Marhsufr gave her a look of gratitude before leaning on the warrior, heaving a sigh.

The RiverClan cats parted to allow them to pass, smug looks on their faces.

Nightfeather padded side by side with Marshfur, tail drooping as she relaized the weight of the defeat. Their camp had been conquered. Their was no where to go. She gave the golden elder on the ground a final glance. They couldn't even hold vigil for Beethorn.

They ducked into the forest, where the ShadowClan cats were gathered. Nightfeather watched as Marshfur padded away and searched her Clanmates faces for an ounce of hope. Anything.

But there was none.

[Gasp! Oh no! What will happen!?

Well, what do you think will happen?

Question: How likeable is Nightfeather, on a scale of one to ten? Is she a mary-sue?

This is dedicated to Fr0stfl1ght

The next chapter made me tear up as it was written. :( I'll try to publish it.

This is unedited. I will edit it later.

- feather ♣