"Russetfur?" Ratscar couldn't believe he was seeing Russetfur, who looked younger than ever, for the first time since after she died. "What are you doing here?"

"You mustn't go near Mapleshade's force," Russetfur told him. "It's too risky for you. Aren't you loyal like you've proven?" Ratscar guessed Russetfur was angry at him for being in the Dark Forest again.

"I am," Ratscar answered. "It's just that. . . it's just that Breezepelt. . . he. . ." He wasn't quite sure what to tell the former deputy. It was just like getting trouble as a kit and not knowing what to tell Blackstar all over again.

"You shouldn't be near cats from the other Clans." Russetfur let out a long sigh. "You're getting yourself into more trouble than you could possibly ever get yourself into."

"I wish things were easy," Ratscar sighed. "I don't want to be with the Dark Forest but I know that if Mapleshade finds out I've betrayed her, she'll kill me like what Brokenstar did to Beetlewhisker."

Russetfur had a look of understanding although she wasn't in his situation. "It's like when Brokenstar was in power of ShadowClan," she began. "I had no choice but to leave the Clan with him to be a rogue. It was a mistake but I couldn't betray him otherwise I'd die."

Ratscar could remember his mother telling him that story as a young kit. "We mustn't be talking for long. Just. . . I only hope you make the right choices. You're young; you still have many moons ahead of you. Perhaps you'll make it through leadership if you could remain loyal."

But I am loyal. . . Ratscar told himself. To ShadowClan. I'm never going to be as loyal to the Dark Forest. . . Before he could even open his mouth to speak to Russetfur, the StarClan warrior had already vanished.

***

Breezepelt woke up to a paw prodding his side. He felt weary from being in the Dark Forest. Trying to adjust himself to his surroundings, he saw the light tabby pelt of Heathertail.

"I thought you were never going to wake up." Heathertail looked thinner than ever as Breezepelt stared at her. The lines of her rips were showing against her pelt. Her legs were shaking slightly as if she couldn't stand for any longer.

A pang of pity hit Breezepelt though he tried shaking it away. He shouldn't be pitying this she-cat. Despite having fallen for Lionblaze many moons ago, he could never let it go, and he had begun doubting if he should treat Heathertail nicely despite his often quarrels.

Breezepelt realised he was supposed to find any remaining prey with Heathertail. "We're still going hunting, right?" he asked as he stood up.

"What, and try to find the smallest scrap?" Heathertail answered. She then exhaled a long sigh. "Breezepelt, you know there's nothing out of camp. Prey is scarce."

"I know," Breezepelt replied, "but if we could find something. . . I mean, it may be rare to find prey, but if we can find it--"

"It would be out of pure luck," Heathertail interrupted. "Just give it up. We'll starve anyway."

"If I do catch something, you'll be missing out," Breezepelt told her. Heathertail just gave a roll of her heather-blue eyes. He had to come and agree with the WindClan warrior. There wouldn't be anything out there.

He felt his belly rumble as his gaze drifted over to the low fresh-kill pile that only had a few rabbits. Without saying anything to Heathertail, Breezepelt walked past her and began to leave the WindClan camp.

Most of the Clan were huddled in small groups as they had nothing better to do. Breezepelt broke off into a run, feeling the wind blow against his back to give him extra speed. He raced down the slope on the hill.

Breezepelt then froze to the spot. A familiar scent mingled in with WindClan; ThunderClan. The scent was fresh. Ahead of him, Breezepelt could notice a grey tabby and golden tabby pelts, knowing it was Lionblaze and Jayfeather.

"Hey, get out of WindClan's territory!" he yowled to the two ThunderClan cats. The two cats' heads rose and then looked at him. Jayfeather said something to Lionblaze. "Can't you still act like proper warriors?"

"We didn't realise we crossed into WindClan," Lionblaze told him. "We thought we were still in ThunderClan."

Breezepelt snorted. "And hedgehogs will fly when you think I'd believe you! Honestly, you're both really mouse-brained. Now get off of my territory before I kill you!"

"Your territory?" Lionblaze questioned. "Onestar exiled you from WindClan. You're not entitled to a territory. Also, Onestar runs this territory."

"Didn't you know Mapleshade forced WindClan to accept me?" Breezepelt replied. "Yeah, I wouldn't expect a kittypet to understand that. I can't wait until the special thing for you comes."

The two ThunderClan cats didn't reply. Instead, they were staring behind him. A chilling air whipped through the area suddenly. Breezepelt turned, seeing darkness forming behind him. Voices rippled through the air and got louder.

Breezepelt immediately knew this was the Dark Forest. The pelts of Mapleshade, Darkstripe and Sparrowfeather began to emerge from the darkness. At once Breezepelt turned and was getting ready to run until he was stopped, his claws unsheathing.

Breezepelt's claws gripped into the ground as he felt claws tug at his pelt, pulling him into the darkness. Terror gripped into him as he felt his heart pound against his chest. He didn't want Mapleshade to be dragging him into the Dark Forest.

Breezepelt didn't want to be in there but felt he had no choice. All he wanted was his father to notice him but that was impossible because his attention was fixed elsewhere. All Breezepelt ever wanted was to be loyal.

"Help me!" Breezepelt pleaded to Jayfeather and Lionblaze. "I don't want to go with them!" Jayfeather's blue eyes were closed and either of the ThunderClan cats moved to help him.

"You've got yourself into this mess," Jayfeather told him like a StarClan warrior. "We cannot reverse the path you chose long ago." Before Breezepelt could speak, he saw the WindClan territory beginning to disappear the deeper he got dragged into the darkness.

His two half-brothers were no longer in his sight and the Dark Forest closed in on the territory, ending all possible light.

"You belong to us," Sparrowfeather told him. "You will never be let out of our sights. You will fight for us forever and when you die you shall stay with us forever."