Flamestar woke up to a horrible shriek. "Nightshadow's gone!" He opened his mouth in a huge yawn and peeked outside the ferns. 

Orangeberry was shredding the moss in the warrior's den. Nightshadow's nest was empty. Her scent was stale, and there were drag marks on the floor. 

Flamestar gasped and dashed in. He sniffed the air. "The air is... weird. I don't recognize this smell..." 

Smokefur bounded in. "Flamestar! I- what is this smell? Wait, no... Please be not..." He meowed, smelling the air. 

"What is it?" 

"It's Dark Forest scent! I remember it! I had a vision last night! Many clan cats were getting captured! And... Ot-"

"Who?"

"Nightshadow and Otterpaw from FlameClan, Fastkit from SunClan, Mistflight from CloudClan, and Heatherkit from IceClan!" 

Flamestar's whisker's drooped. "I will tell the other leaders about this in the gathering." He mumbled. 

Soon, it was time to go to the Gathering. Flamestar sighed as he trekked along the path. His clan padded after him. He just could not forget the thought that two of his Clanmates were gone.

FlameClan walked into the clearing. IceClan and SunClan were already there, their eyes shining. Coldstar dipped his head to Flamestar, and Flamestar nodded back. 

Spottedpelt from IceClan turned to look at Flamestar. Then she whispered to Owlcry, "We sure are friends with FlameClan!" Owlcry nodded and continue to act like an owl, just staring blankly at the milling cats.

Soon, Whitestar entered the clearing. As soon as Whitestar leaped onto the branch, Flamestar yowled, "Let the Gathering Begin!" The moonlight shafted through the tree branches and onto the watching cats. 

Icestar said, "Flamestar, you go first."

Flamestar nodded. He raised his voice, "FlameClan is well, and prey is running around." Before Icestar could speak, he yelled, "Listen up, everyone! FlameClan has some really important news to share!"

Every cat turned and looked at him. Flamestar flicked his tail, and Smokefur bounded up. 

Smokefur began to speak. "As you may know, FlameClan is still well. But, there are some missing cats from each clan!"

All of the cats gasped in horror. Some cats looked at each other, worried expressions on their faces. 

"Who?" Whitestar asked.

"Nightshadow and Otterpaw from FlameClan, Fastkit from SunClan, Mistflight from CloudClan, and Heatherkit from IceClan! Trust me! I saw it in a vision!" Smokefur explained.

Flamestar felt faint. Cats were missing from all clans? Why was the Dark Forest doing this? Why did they want to take cats from each clan and capture them? "I bet it's Mapleshade's fault," he snarled, baring his teeth. "That evil cat is up to no good."

"Yes," agreed Smokefur. "We must stop Mapleshade and warn the clan leaders, otherwise more cats from the clans will be captured by the Dark Forest." 

"How can we not know that you are a traitor, training in there all night, ready to launch an attack on us?!" Whitestar spat.  

"No! I saw it in a vision!" Smokefur retorted. "Seriously! Firestar showed me!"

"Firestar?!" Whitestar gasped. "Y- You are much younger, and you were born when he died a long time ago. His legends passed to me and the other leaders. Y-You-"

"If he knows Firestar's name, then his words are correct." Icestar yowled. "We shall get these missing clanmates back! We will!"

CRACK! Lightning split the air, striking a tree at the back of the clearing. The tree fell down, leaving scattering cats in its wake. 

"What's that?" Raystar gasped in shock.

Many pairs of eyes gleamed in the darkness from behind the tree. The clan cats all were frozen in shock.

"Well, well. What a surprise to see all of the clan cats together!" An evil mew sounded.

From the darkness, a mottled she-cat stepped up, her amber eyes glowing with hatred and glee. 

"Y-you're-" Whitestar gasped. 

"Mapleshade!" Flamestar grit his teeth and stood up. "What are you doing here with your Dark Forest comrades?" He swept his gaze across the crowded frozen cats and the gleaming eyes.

"Of course, accomplishing my master plan, don't you know?" Mapleshade mocked. She planted a paw in the ground. "And now, it will work."

"No, it won't!" Raystar stood up, slamming a paw onto the tree branch. "You will never hurt SunClan!"

"Yes! You will never touch CloudClan!" Whitestar growled, unsheathing her claws, ready to pounce.

"All of the clans shall not be touched." Flamestar and Coldstar spat together. They shared a glance, and then they nodded.

"Really? I will let you taste the real strength of the Dark Forest! CHARGE!" Mapleshade yowled, and with a roar, the Dark Forest cats lunged out from the shadows and leaped for the clan cats.

"Stop this right now!" Raystar yelled. "This is ridiculous!"

"StarClan shall bow down to us! We will succeed!" Mapleshade's triumphant yowl sounded in the clearing.

"We have to stop this!" Flamestar gasped. He and the other leaders leaped down from the branch and joined the fight. 

"DIE!" Mapleshade yowled as she lunged for Lionroar of IceClan.

"Never! IceClan helped us!" Mouseleap yelled, swatting Mapleshade off balance. Mapleshade tottered to the side and collapsed on her back, yowling in surprise.

"Stop yowling, APPLESNAKE!" Stormeye screeched as she helped Mouseleap. 

"How dare you! I shall show you the true strength of the Dark Forest!" Mapleshade hissed as she reared up, slashed a claw across Flamestar's cheek, and then dashing away.

Flamestar should have known what would happen next.

"NO!" A yowl of agony cried in the dusky air. 

Flamestar whipped his head around in alarm. 

Mapleshade was cackling, her mouth red with blood, and lying at her feet was Whitestar. Whitestar's neck was pooling with red. 

"W-Whitestar!" Bramblewhisker, the medicine cat of CloudClan gasped and dashed over.

"Off you go!" Mapleshade snarled as she kicked Bramblewhisker away into the air.

As Bramblewhisker landed with a thud on the ground, Featherflight of CloudClan reared up and slashed her claws deep into Mapleshade's flank. Mapleshade growled and reared around.

"Who dares to attack me?!"

"You let go of Whitestar NOW!" Featherflight snarled, unsheathing her claws, ready to attack.

"You live your life like an idiot, then you'll also die like an idiot!" Mapleshade yowled as she leaped forward and sunk her teeth deep into Featherflight's neck.

Featherflight gasped with pain. "No!" 

Flamestar could see Mapleshade's bulging veins. "Stop it!"

Mapleshade held the wriggling Featherflight in her jaws. Featherflight kept on moaning in agony, but Mapleshade kept on biting.

Mapleshade dropped Featherflight to the ground. Featherflight's eyes were blank, her silver pelt matted with blood. Her head hit the ground lifelessly. 

"Featherflight..." Cloverleaf of CloudClan whispered. "NO!" He screamed, lunging for Mapleshade. Mapleshade met him with a well-aimed swipe that sent him tumbling away. 

"Stop this. Right. Now." Flamestar snarled. He stormed forward, letting his pelt fluff up. Two Dark Forest warriors lunged forward, hissing, but Flowerpelt and Orangeberry swiped them away.

"Mapleshade. Let's end this."