Ratscar felt nervous for the full moon when the Slaughter Games would begin. Although he had once been a Dark Forest trainee, he knew the Place of No Stars would expect him to fight on their side. His former friend and Clanmate, Redwillow, had come to him in a dream and stated he was a kittypet for betraying his friends in the Dark Forest.

"You should never have survived," Redwillow growled, showing his yellow teeth. His eyes were blazing with fury as his claws slid out, sinking into the ground. "You should never live for betraying the Dark Forest. How could you, Ratkit?"

Ratscar hesitated to reply to the former ShadowClan warrior although he felt mad at being called a kit. "I-I'm sorry," he answered quietly.

"Sorry?" Redwillow echoed. "Sorry? That's all you can say when you've broken your promise?!" His voice was beginning to rise. "A true warrior should never be sorry for his actions!" He lashed his claws out and Ratscar ducked. He didn't even know who Redwillow was anymore.

"I didn't mean to cause a war between my home Clan," Ratscar answered. "I thought the Dark Forest would make me a better warrior for ShadowClan. It turns out they're a lie. You've been consumed in the lie, outcasted from StarClan's paws."

"StarClan." Redwillow's voice was full of hatred. "StarClan is nothing compared to Tigerstar's force. He may be wiped out forever along with Brokenstar, but we're still strong, and we have Mapleshade and Thistleclaw."

"You used to be different," Ratscar spat. "We used to play together as kits and train when I was in my last moons of being a 'paw. We used to do everything together when we could. You were like a brother to me. But now I don't want to know you anymore."

Redwillow let out a snort. "Did you really believe I meant everything I said? You really are blinded by good."

"At least I can be more of a warrior than you'd ever be!" Ratscar growled. "Go ahead a rot in this place. I shouldn't need to care about you anymore. You mean nothing to me now."

Ratscar let out a sigh. Despite the fact Redwillow betrayed ShadowClan, he slightly missed the mottled warrior. But he couldn't. Redwillow chose the path of darkness over light and Ratscar was most certainly not what Redwillow was.

"I can't wait until the Games start." Breezepelt flexed his unsheathed claws before swiped them across a brown leaf, shredding it into tiny pieces. Ratscar had gone to WindClan's border to meet Breezepelt, who had told him to meet him there. "I can finally get to kill some of ThunderClan's warriors."

"Why do you have such a grudge for ThunderClan?" Ratscar questioned. "It's not their fault you're as short-tempered as anything. That's why your Clan doesn't like you around." Breezepelt's ears twitched.

"ThunderClan ruined my life," Breezepelt answered. "Leafpool - being my father's mate and having his kits destroyed me. I know Crowfeather favours them over me anytime. That's why he never paid attention and acted cold towards me since I was a newly born kit. Crowfeather will never be a father to me."

"So what if Jayfeather, Lionblaze and Hollyleaf were born and your father was their father? They're never going to be as good as you," Ratscar replied. "They're a bunch of fakes, anyway. They could never be true warriors."

"But the praises they get for something so little." Breezepelt's voice had a hint of a growl now. "They don't deserve any of it. They deserve to die and have their spirit's erased from existence. It's the only thing that will make things right."

Ratscar exhaled a long sigh as the wind began ruffling his fur about. "So you brought me here just to complain about ThunderClan? I really have better things to be doing than hearing about those mousebrains."

"I've taken you here for something more important than KittypetClan." Breezepelt's gaze fixed onto the ShadowClan warrior. "Redwillow came to me in a dream. He's preparing me for the Slaughter Games. You must join me."

No! Ratscar wanted to yowl that out as if he were calling out to StarClan. He didn't want Breezepelt to think of him as weak and a coward. "Okay," he then replied. "It'll do me some good to be ready to take warriors down with me."

"Good." Breezepelt's eyes brightened up. "At least one cat who betrayed the Dark Forest has the sense to train with me. Why would you fight for the Clans, anyway?"

"You see, I was waiting to murder Blackstar by getting him into thinking I'm on the Clans' side," Ratscar began to explain slowly so Breezepelt could hear him clearly. "However, I couldn't find the perfect timing so him losing his eighth life was good enough. I plan on killing him for good soon. I just need to pounce when the prey is least expecting it."

"Sounds good," Breezepelt answered after several heartbeats. "Good luck with that. Redwillow. . . he doesn't know of your plan, does he?"

"Nope," Ratscar replied. "I didn't tell him about my little plan. I was going to but I could never get to him on time."

Breezepelt narrowed his eyes into slits. "Redwillow states you don't want to be on the Dark Forest's side," he then said. "This is true, isn't it?"

"No, of course not," Ratscar answered. "Redwillow must have bees in his brain to think I'd betray Mapleshade."

"But you were on the Clans' side," Breezepelt reminded. "That's more of what you'd call 'betrayal', isn't it?"

"Yes." Ratscar was starting to feel nervous. He didn't want Breezepelt to know the truth that Redwillow seemed to have told him. "But I'm always going to be loyal to Mapleshade, not Blackstar. I need to fool Blackstar so he'll least expect me planning on killing on him."

Breezepelt was silent. Did he convince the black warrior that he was on his side? "Fine. I guess I can count on you. You're one of the only other trainees who haven't left the Dark Forset for good. Ivypool. . ." Something began clouding up in his eyes but Ratscar couldn't tell what. "I'll admit she was good for a ThunderClan cat but she's worthless now. She had potential but had to ruin it all for herself."

Did - or does - Breezepelt have feelings for Ivypool? Ratscar, after thinking about it, felt surprised. Breezepelt hated ThunderClan cats and it'd be really strange if Breezepelt was in love with a ThunderClan cat.

"Something on your mind?" Breezepelt snapped Ratscar out of his thoughts. "You seem to be. . . drifting off like you'd rather think of something else."

"Everything's fine," Ratscar replied. "So we'll be in the Place of No Stars in our dreams tonight?"

Breezepelt nodded. "Yes. I expect - and so does Redwillow - that you'll be joining us. I don't want to see my fellow friend betraying me just like that."

"I'll be there," Ratscar promised. What am I going to do? he asked himself. This is against what I stand for! But I have to do it or else. . .

Ratscar couldn't forget the mist-covered dark forest where the ground was damp. He remembered seeing everything like he used to; thin trees covering the skies with no leaves; black waters flowing through certain areas.

As he breathed, he could still smell the familiar lingering scent of death the forest brought. He shuddered slightly at how cold it was. Ratscar could remember that cats he trained with died for things like a change of heart; Beetlewhisker of RiverClan and Antpelt of WindClan, who's spirit was destroyed for good by Ivypool.

"What are you doing here?" a voice called to him from the dark shadows ahead of him. He knew who the voice belonged very well like he knew where the fresh-kill pile was. Stepping out of the shadows, his spirit-like mottled ginger-and-brown pelt showing a scar that must have killed him, his amber eyes burning with a strong hatred.

His claws slid out from his paws, glinting before digging into the ground as he stopped walking, his gaze still fixed on Ratscar. "You'd rather spend time with ShadowClan like you mentioned last time we met."

Coming out after him was Breezepelt, who looked excited. Ratscar knew very well the WindClan warrior couldn't wait to start his training. "Ratscar's got a plan in his paws."

Redwillow looked interested. "A plan, you say?" he mewed. "Ratscar, tell me of this 'plan' of yours." Ratscar hesitated.

"You know how every cat thinks I betrayed the Dark Forset?"

"Of course I know that!" Redwillow snapped. His teeth were bared, his sharp fangs showing. "Just get to the point of the plan." Ratscar didn't like it when cats snapped at him.

"I plan on killing Blackstar when he least expects it," Ratscar carried on explaining. "He's on his final life anyway. I heard Littlecloud and him in a conversation. Then I'll kill Rowanclaw so that the Dark Forest could rule ShadowClan and then the other Clans."

"Killing Rowanclaw and the Dark Forest ruling ShadowClan?" Breezepelt echoed. "You didn't tell me that earlier."

"I forgot to mention that," Ratscar answered. Redwillow approached him and began circling him, examining him as if there were something odd about a piece of fresh-kill.

"So you're still on my side?" he questioned. "You should have told me your little plan. I'd be more than happy to kill that elder with my own claws."

"I was going to tell you," Ratscar answered. "I just didn't get the time because of my warrior duties. Especially since I had to train Pinenose when she was an apprentice."

"Pinenose became a warrior before the battle started," Redwillow pointed out. "You had more time to tell me then yet you still didn't. Do you not trust me or something?"

"Of course I trust you. I couldn't tell you in front of our Clanmates, now could I?"

"Clanmates?" Redwillow echoed out bitterly. "My only Clanmates are the Dark Forest warriors. ShadowClan means nothing to me!"

"Sorry," Ratscar mumbled. He kept forgetting not to refer ShadowClan as Redwillow's Clanmates. That was one thing that annoyed the ginger-and-brown warrior.

"Redwillow, why is Ratscar in our territory?" Ratscar could recognise Mapleshade's voice and soon saw the she-cat, still faint as usual, stepping into the dull and lifeless clearing. "He betrayed us, or are you too loyal to your former Clan like you used to be?"

"I'd never be loyal to ShadowClan," Redwillow spat. "Ratscar states he's going to murder Blackstar and Rowanclaw and get us to rule ShadowClan so we can take out the other Clans."

"Oh, really now?" Ratscar couldn't tell if Mapleshade had been convinced or not. It was hard to read anything but anger from her. "So you are loyal to us although you were on the Clans' side?"

"I was going to betray the Clans," Ratscar explained. He was trying to hide his fear from the old warrior. "But I couldn't in the Great Battle so I decided I'd do it sometime when Blackstar relaxes in peace."

"And then you kill him?" Mapleshade guessed. Ratscar nodded. "So you've come here for preparation for the Games like Breezepelt?"

"Yes," Ratscar answered. "I. . . I figured I want to make the Dark Forest proud and strong. I'd fight for you any moon rather than ShadowClan."

Mapleshade's burning eyes were narrowed for several silent heartbeats. "Well, good on you," she replied. "At least ShadowClan will soon regret thinking we're finished -- the rest will, too." Mapleshade's eyes gave a dark look as she unsheathed her claws and swiped them, her teeth showing.

I can't so that to ShadowClan, Ratscar thought. I've lied to them once; I can't lie to them anymore. Snowbird. . . Ratscar began to think of his littermate and how she'd never want anything to do with him. I can't let her down. Not again, anyway.

"Something up?" Redwillow questioned, interrupting Ratscar's thoughts.

"No," Ratscar answered, his gaze meeting his former Clanmate's.

"Ratscar, before you leave, there is something you must do for us," Mapleshade meowed. Ratscar leaned forward so he could hear the ginger-and-white she-cat better. "Manipulate Icecloud to get her here."

"Why her?" Ratscar questioned. "She's too loyal to come here. Besides, you hate ThunderClan cats." Mapleshade let out a hiss, silencing the ShadowClan warrior. He had almost forgotten completely that no cat dared to question Mapleshade's orders. Even Tigerstar and Brokenstar didn't protest against her.

"You will do as I say," Mapleshade told him in a low growl. "I am your leader from now on. You do not listen to Blackstar or any cat. You only listen to me for as long as you live. Do you want to suffer the same fate as the treacherous Beetlewhisker?"

"No, Mapleshade," Ratscar answered. He tried not to wrinkle his nose in disgust as he could smell Mapleshade's bad breath. Although he had tried hiding his fear from Mapleshade, he knew Mapleshade could scent his fear as a look in her eyes gave it away.

"I expect that from a cat of this forest."

"When will we start our training?" an impatient Breezepelt decided to speak after a while. "I didn't come here to talk about pointless things. This is the Dark Forest, a place where we fight to our death instead of sharing tongues like StarClan cats."

"Training will start tomorrow," Mapleshade told the two Clan cats. "For now, you rest to gain the strength you need for tomorrow."

"I was going to teach them a move," Redwillow told Mapleshade. "There's plenty of time for these two to stay here with us."

"Training will start tomorrow," Mapleshade repeated, this time in a snarl as she stared at Redwillow. "I don't care what you say. For as long as I breath in the Dark Forest, you will obey me."

Redwillow found the sense not to argue. "Very well." Mapleshade's anger was chased away like a frog to show that she was pleased.

Ratscar's eyes opened and he found himself back in the warriors' den. He was relieved to be out of the Dark Forest and away from Mapleshade's claws. It was still dark like it normally was at moonhigh. He could see part of his Clanmate's pelts lit up with the pale silver moonlight.

"Ratscar." His name was said in a faint whisper like it was being hushed by a fierce wind. Ahead of him, star-lit and meeting his gaze as she walked into the warriors' den, was Russetfur, the former ShadowClan deputy.