Nightfeather raced deeper into the murky forest, her breath coming out in heaving gasps and her eyes wide with fear. The moon, usually providing a bit of light in the Dark Forest, was nowhere to be seen. Voices rang in her ears, getting louder by the second.

"Come join us, Nightfeather. You can't run from your destiny forever. Join us, and get revenge on Rosefeather. Join us. You've already killed. You can't hide from yourself."

Nightfeather let out a screech. "No! Stop!" This same nightmare had been reoccurring for the past few days, but it usually ended long before this point.

A cat appeared in front of her, ginger pelt matted with blood. "Join us, or we will murder every one of your precious Clanmates. Join us, or we will tell them of Ashcloud's true death." She snarled.

Nightfeather began backing away, fur bristling. "No. N-no, please, you can't!" ShadowClan was her home, her Clan. It was all she had.

"It's simple, really." The she-cat drawled as she began to weave around the stunned she-cat. "Join us to get revenge on Rosefeather."

Nightfeather felt her paws itching for the chance to get revenge. Rosefeather deserved this. She was a murderer.

"So? Do you accept?"

Nightfeather swallowed and gave a nod. "Okay then. For revenge on Rosefeather, I'll join the Dark Forest."

》》》》》》》》》》》》

Nightfeather gave a gasp as she shot out of her moss nest. Foxfang was staring down at her, concern evident in her eyes.

"You're finally awake! Are you alright?" Foxfang whispered, getting up.

"How long was I out?" Nightfeather murmured, fur beginning to lie flat again.

"A day. You kept shaking, and screaming, and you wouldn't stop. We thought... we thought you were going to die." Foxfang observed her. "Are you sure you're alright?"

Nightfeather shook the medicine cat off and padded out of the medicine den, eyes narrowed. "I'm fine."

As soon as she entered the clearing, faces whipped around. Rainheart was the first to approach her.

"You're awake!" He meowed, voice laced with disbelief.

Nightfeather flicked her tail. Despite all the "sleep" she had gotten, she was more tired than she'd ever been. "Yeah. Where's Sparrowwing?"

Rainheart pointed towards the nusery with his tail. "He's in there, with your mother."

Nightfeather thanked him and sprinted towards the pine and bramble den, glancing at her mother's hunched shape. Her white-speckled fur was matted and ruffled. Sparrowwing was next to her, a tail laid gently on her back. Quiet sobs could be heard.

"M-my k-k-kit," came Fawnfur's gentle voice. "M-my last kit."

Nightfeather glanced at Leaftail's nest. Empty.

"Mom?" Nightfeather's voice cracked, and she swallowed in a feeble attempt to regain her composure. "Mom, I'm here. I'm okay."

Fawnfur didn't turn around. Nightfeather felt her heart begin to race. Sparrowwing turned around, however, his eyes glazed. They immediately brightened when he saw the black she-cat.

"Nightfeather?" He croaked, brown fur laying flat again. In a flash, he had pinned her down and began smoothing her fur, pure joy in his eyes. "I missed you so, so much."

Nightfeather suppressed a purr and rolled her deep blue eyes. "Relax. I was only asleep for a day."

Sparrowwing got off her and sat down, eyes focused on her. "It felt like an eternity."

Nightfeather gave him a grin and turned back to her mother. Sobs racked her frail body.

"Mom. It's me." Nightfeather murmured. Her eyes softened when she relaized how skinny her mother had gotten.

Fawnfur slowly turned around, eyes widening when she saw her kit. "N-Nightfeather?"

Nightfeather dipped her head.

Fawnfur's tail quivered as tears began to spill out of her eyes. She got up and began to lap at Nightfeather's fur. "I thought you were going to die."

Nightfeather closed her eyes and let herself fade into her mother's grooming. It felt good to be able to relax like a kit again. She blinked open one eye. "Sparrowwing, could you get Leaftail and her kits for me? And Fawnfur, go eat something. Now."

Fawnfur opened her jaws to protest, but closed them with a throaty purr. "Okay." She padded out of the den, her fur a little flatter and eyes a little brighter.

Nightfeather shook out her pelt and stared at her paws. Her mother had looked older. She couldn't deny the fact that she was going to join the elders soon. The graying of her muzzle wasn't going to go away any time soon.

Leaftail soon reappeared, interrupting her train of thoughts. The queen was followed by a proud-looking Sunkit, an eager-looking Cloudkit, an annoyed-looking Thornkit, and an observant-looking Runningkit. Nightfeather felt her heart warm at the sight of them.

Sunkit was the first to rush over, ginger fur ruffled. "Nightfeather!" He cried happily. "You're awake!"

Nightfeather let out a purr, eyes shining with amusement. "Yes, I am. How are you?"

Runningkit pushed past his brother, tone sincere. "I'm glad you're awake."

Cloudkit flicked his tiny tail. "We're going to be apprentices in three moons!"

Thornkit lingered by her mother, though she still had to join in. "I missed you."

Leaftail gathered her kits with a sweeping tail and scooped them into their large moss nest. "Remember our deal," she meowed firmly. "You get to play, but only if you take a nap afterwards."

Cries of protest came from the nest, but Leaftail turned around and smiled at Nightfeather.

The black she-cat watched the kits, eyes sparkling. "Whoever mentors those four will have their paws full."

Leaftail nodeed in agreement, sitting and curling a tail around her paws. "Indeed. At least we'll have some cats to do the apprentice duties again. Pebblepelt and Wolffur have agreed to do them, but they're only two cats." Her voice softened. "I was worried about you, Nightfeather."

"I'm fine now. How's Lily? Did Thistle leave yet?"

Leaftail flicked her tail. "Lily is still in the medicine den. She's close to birth, though. Thistle is going to wait until after the gathering. Birdsong is expecting Addertooth's kits."

Nightfeather let out a gasp. "Birdsong? That's wonderful!"

Leaftail cocked her head. "Yep."

Nightfeather stood up and gave the queen a lick on the shoulder. "Thank you."

Nightfeather entered the clearing and padded over to the fresh-kill pile, feeling her pelt heat up as stares were concentrated on her. She quickly grabbed a robin and made her way over to a shaded spot.

Birdsong approached her, pale gray fur smooth and eyes bright. "Hey, Nightfeather. I'm glad you're awake."

Nightfeather fumbled for words and gave Birdsong a small smile. "Thanks. I'm happy to hear you're having kits. I'm sure they'll be a great addition to ShadowClan."

Birdsong sat down. "T-thanks," she stammered. "I'm just nervous. What if Addertooth doesn't like them?"

Nightfeather laid a tail on the she-cat. "Don't worry. Of course he'll like them. He likes you, so why not your kits?"

Birdsong gave her a smile. "Yeah, you're right."

Nightfeather watched as the queen hobbled away, her mind buzzing with thoughts. She finished off the robin and got up, giving a sigh and padding towards the medicine den. She pushed through the vine curtain.

Lily was huddled in the very back of the den, her fur matted and eyes wide in the darkness. Nightfeather, puzzled, approached her.

"Are you alright?" She asked, studying the nervous queen through narrowed eyes.

Lily gave a yelp of fear and sunk deeper into her nest. "P-please! D-d-don't hurt me!"

Nightfeather raised a paw. "What? I wouldn't hurt you!"

Lily got up, shaking. Her plump belly weighed her down. She observed Nightfeather, then gave a sigh of relief. "Oh, Nightfeather. It's just you. I-I thought y-y-you were Rosefeather."

Nightfeather sat down and curled her tail around her paws. "Why would you think that?" She inquired, voice deathly quiet.

Lily's eyes widened. "Your eyes." Came her frightened whisper.

Nightfeather stared at her quizzically. Her eyes? She padded over to the pool of water by the herb store and looked into it. A black cat with cold dark blue eyes stared back at her. Realization swept over her. "My eyes." She whispered. They were dark blue, just like Rosefeather's.

She turned back around to Lily. The gray she-cat shivered, her long scar rippling. "I'm sorry, Nightfeather." Her already quiet voice softened. "I just got scared."

Nightfeather gave her a brusque nod. "It's alright."

》》》》》》》

Nightfeather let out a purr of content as she basked in the warm sunlight, her Clanmates by her sides. It was a warm day, the clouds that covered the sun no where to be seen. Greenleaf was in full bloom, its flourish also bringing an usual dry spell. Shadestar had given permission for his cats to enjoy the heat on the Dark Rock instead.

Sparrowwing's deep voice came from next to her. "Enjoying the sunlight, eh?"

Nightfeather didn't open her eyes. "Shut up, " she groaned, a hint of playfulness in her voice. "I'm trying to relax."

Chuckles of amusement filled the air as the Clan listened in on the two young warriors' conversation. Nightfeather flicked her tail.

Lily hadn't joined the Clan. Nightfeather felt guilt gnaw at her as she recalled their conversation earlier that day. Leaftail was next to Fawnfur, deep in conversation. Her kits had been kicked off the rock once they jumped on Shadestar.

Suddenly, an ear-splitting screech came from below. Nightfeather's eyes shot open and she was on her paws in an instant. The distinct scent of RiverClan filled the air.

Shadestar had already leaped off the rock, followed by Addertooth, Mistflower, Pebblepelt, Wolffur, Rainheart, and Sparrowwing. Nightfeather jumped after them.

A familiar russet she-cat padded into the clearing, chin high. Nightfeather felt a chill run down her spine. The whole clearing seemed to exhale at once. Rosefeather.

"Hello, Shadestar." Came her voice, silky and smooth.

Shadestar stepped forward. "What are you doing here? Why are you with RiverClan warriors?" He growled, claws unsheated.

Fawnfur and Echowing flanked their leader, lips pulled back in snarls. Nightfeather dug her claws into the ground.

"I'm just here to inform my dear former Clan that I am now the leader of RiverClan." Rosestar drawled, tone lazy.

Nightfeather hated that. She hated how calm and decisive she was. Her eyes narrowed as the whole clearing seemed to explode.

"What?"

"What happened to Icestar?"

"You can't be leader!"

"Silence!" Rosestar roared. "Icestar is dead. He was killed by sickness, and a fox that attacked our camp stripped away his last life. He made me deputy a while before."

Shadestar growled. "Get out of my camp. StarClan wouldn't approve."

Rosestar gave an amused snort. "Alright then. However, before I leave, would any of you know about two cats who died on ShadowClan territory?"

Nightfeather cringed away from her sickly sweet tone. The ShadowClan cats all gave each other nervous glances. And by the way Rosestar's whiskers were twitching, she relished it.

Shadestar shook his head. "No." His voice hardened. "I won't say it again, Rosestar. Get out."

Rosestar gave a loud laugh. "I'll leave. But if I find out that ShadowClan found two dead RiverClan cats and failed to inform me, it will mean war."

A shocked silence filled the clearing. Mistflower was the first to recover, taking over for Shadestar.

"Pebblpelt, Addertooth, Snowstripe, Fawnfur, Wolffur, and Sparrowwing, come. We'll escort them out." The gray she-cat hissed, sprinting after Rosestar.

Nightfeather watched as Shadestar dissapeared into his den, Blazefur and Foxfang follwing close behind.

Beethorn hobbled towards the elder's den. Nightfeather caught his distressed murmur.

"I fear ShadowClan won't live to see another moon."

Nightfeather felt her fur bristle. No. No. ShadowClan had to live. It was all she had. Feeling panic cloud her thoughts, she stumbled towards the leader's den. The black she-cat crouched by a large boulder, eyes slits as she listened in.

"Our Clan can't survive a war. Who knows how many cats she has?" Came Blazefur's concerned voice.

Foxfang cut him off. "She'll destroy us all."

"No! ShadowClan will survive. Oakstar didn't leave this Clan to me for it to wither away!" Shadestar growled.

"Shadestar, no cat expects you to-"

"We'll order extra patrols around RiverClan. The Clan will be guarded, day and night. We need all our warriors on their paws. Our territory will be monitored by groups of two."

Nightfeather closed her eyes. The Cla couldn't handle that. They were facing a shortage of warriors already.

"Very well."

Nightfeather scrambled to her paws as she relaized Foxfang and Blazefur were exiting the den. Blazefur noticed her and blinked.

"What are you doing out here?"

Nightfeather stumbled over her words. "I-I stepped on a thorn."

Foxfang lifted her paw and bent her head to observe the pad. "Nothing." She reported.

Blazefur nodded. "I thought so." He meowed dryly. "Nightfeather, we're not stupid. We know you were eavesdropping."

Nightfeather dipped her head. "I'm sorry. I'm just nervous about Rosestar. What if she attacks? We barely have enough warriors as it is. How many do we have? Snowstripe, Fawnfur, Sparrowwing, Rainheart, Addertooth, Echowing, Pebblepelt, Mistflower, -"

She was cut off by Foxfang. "Stop rambling. ShadowClan will make it if StarClan wills it. We musn't ever lose faith in our ancestors."

Nightfeather gave her a defeated glare. "Maybe, this time, faith isn't enough. Maybe we need to think for ourselves."

Blazefur narrowed his eyes and turned away. "Come, Foxfang. We need to check on Lily."

Nightfeather turned away, just to bump into a distressed Leaftail. Her eyes were frantic.

"Nightfeather! Lily is gone!"

GASP! 1! 1! 1!!!! 1! WHAT IS THIS? FEATHER actually posts a chapter!?

It's a miracle!

But serisuly guys, sorry for the long wait. Hope you liked this chapter. Comment your opinions! ;3

Also: This is unedited, meaning spelling or grammar mistakes are to be expected. I will correct them once I get to Chapter 12, where I'll take a small break to edit everything. Thank you for your understanding.