DOVESONG OPENED HER eyes in a dark den. Her head throbbed where Snowtail must have knocked her out, and a fresh wave of dread washed over her when she realized she was back in the MoonClan prison. Great StarClan. Now how will I get out of here? And what will they do to me now? She wondered if she was even going to get out. Perhaps they wanted to interrogate her, and if she didn't give them the information they needed, then they would kill her. Having her here without anyone knowing was giving the MoonClan warriors a good chance to kill another FrostClan cat.

How long will it take until they realize I'm gone? Dovesong wondered, feeling cold with fear. She knew Mousetail wouldn't dare do what she did last time, no matter how devastated she was. She was the only reason Dovesong was freed. And with her sister unable to take any action, how would anyone save her? A battle would just make everything harder because more cats would die, and that was the exact opposite of what they were aiming for. But a single cat coming to the MoonClan camp would be just as terrible. Unless, of course, they know what they're getting themselves into and they have a plan to get us both out safely.

Though it seemed there was a slim chance of everyone, Dovesong and whoever saved her, would be safe. If anyone was brave enough to save her.

Oh, StarClan, please help me be safe, Dovesong pleaded to her ancestors. She hoped that Foxclaw was listening most of all. He had gotten her into this mess. But of course, she had no reason to be angry for several reasons. Shehad already forgiven him. It would be mouse-brained to get mad at him again for something he couldn't help when everyone else already blamed him for something he couldn't control.

"Dovesong." It was Shadowheart, Tawnyflight's former mate. "Cypressstar wants to see you. Come with me."

Somehow Dovesong didn't hate Shadowheart as much as she did everyone else in MoonClan. He was kind. He was quiet and stayed away from the rivalries of his Clan and FrostClan. She understood why Tawnyflight loved him so much.

"Do you know what he wants?" Dovesong asked as she followed the black tom toward the hollow cedar tree where Cypressstar had his den.

Shadowheart shook his head solemnly. "No. I'm sorry. But I have a feeling that it's nothing good. He's never up to anything good. I wish I could be there, just in case they did something to you . . . but I know that he won't let me in. He hasn't trusted me ever since Tawnyflight left."

Dovesong looked at him skeptically. "Why do you care what happens to me?"

Shadowheart returned her gaze, looking a little bit hurt, as if he suspected she believed that he was like his Clanmates. "Tawnyflight told me you're like a daughter to her, so . . . you're like a daughter to me."

"Oh, that's very . . . You talked to Tawnyflight? After she left MoonClan, I mean."

Shadowheart nodded. "Many times. But there's no time for that. We can talk after." He stopped at the foot of the hollow cedar tree. Ivyspring was there with the MoonClan leader. He bowed his head to Cypressstar, who was looking expectantly at the two cats. "Should I leave, Cypressstar?"

"Yes. Nightclaw would like you on patrol." Even though his words weren't meant to be menacing, a claw of ice ran down Dovesong's spine.

Shadowheart dipped his head. Glancing at Dovesong briefly over his shoulder, he left.

Dovesong watched him go, a newfound affection swelling in her chest. He thought of her as a daughter. She never thought anyone in MoonClan would be on her side. Cypressstar's cool voice made her turn around. "Now. Go ahead and come inside, Dovesong."

Reluctantly, Dovesong stepped inside the den and faced Cypressstar's cold amber gaze fearfully. Don't be scared, she reminded herself. That'll just give him a better advantage. "What do you want?" she asked.

Cypressstar scoffed. He looked at Ivyspring, whose green eyes sparkled with indignation. "That's no way to talk to a leader, now, is it?" he asked, a hint of mockery in his voice. Dovesong returned his gaze bravely. "Bow."

What kind of leader makes cats bow before they talk to him? Dovesong wondered. Just do it. It's not that bad, a voice inside of her tried to convince her. Under the cold and challenging gazes of the two MoonClan warriors, she hesitantly dipped her head in a deep bow. He's not my leader. If I bow to any leader, it's Lynxstar. She rose after what seemed like a moon and met Cypressstar's calm gaze. She bit back a sharp insult. Even though he's my enemy, I should be respectful.

"Now. I brought you here for more important reasons than just healing my injured cats. Yes, you were very helpful, but now that I know you have an advantage if I let you do that, I have a better use for you." Dovesong found herself trapped in the leader's menacing gaze, her stomach twisting with dread and fear.

"What is it?" Dovesong demanded, forcing herself to sound confident. She hoped she sounded more confident than she felt, at least.

Cypressstar swished his tail, looking pleased with himself, seeing the smug look on his face. "I need information. And you are the best cat to get it from."

Ivyspring's muscles tensed, as if she were waiting for something to happen.

"What information do you need?" Dovesong asked, sarcasm lacing her mew.

"Where is Moonclaw?" Cypressstar asked, his stare hardening.

"I already told Snowtail I don't know."

Cypressstar's ear twitched in annoyance. "Oh, yes, I know. But she says you're hiding something."

"Why would I hide anything from you? I know I could never-" Dovesong winced as if she had been attacked when she saw Ivyspring's claws slide from their sheaths. "I don't know anything," she continued calmly, eyeing Ivyspring warily.

Cypressstar's eyes narrowed. "I have only known Snowtail to be trustworthy. She would never lie about you hiding something. I can also tell that you're lying for many reasons."

"You don't know that."

"Oh, but I do. And one of my tactics is"-his eyes shone menacingly-"fear. Fear is a powerful weapon."

A wave of cold fear washed over her. "Well, I may be scared, but that's because the two most powerful warriors in MoonClan are standing right in front of me, and I'm being in-"

"Stop chattering," Cypressstar hissed. She snapped her jaws shut and looked at him, shaking in fear. "Where is she?"

"I don't-"

Dovesong let out a shriek of pain as Ivyspring reared up halfway, hooked her claws on Dovesong's shoulder fur, and pinned Dovesong. "Don't lie to us," she hissed.

Dovesong's fur prickled in indignation. She wriggled slightly, trying to get free of Ivyspring's grasp. But every time the dark brown-and-cream she-cat's claw dug deeper into her shoulders. "I can keep my knowledge to myself," she hissed back.

"Not for long, you won't. Not when we're going to kill you," Ivyspring threatened.

Cypressstar rose to his paws, his gaze flicking to Ivyspring, then Dovesong, then back again. "Now, now, Ivyspring. We're not going to kill her. No, death is too good for her. She needs to suffer." He turned his cold gaze to Dovesong. "We need to kill someone else she loves if she refuses. Now, with that threat out there, will you tell us?"

Dovesong stopped wriggling. No! I can't let him do that! "Fine. Fine. I'll tell you."

"Good. Ivyspring, let her go."

Ivyspring reluctantly let Dovesong go. She looked at the FrostClan medicine cat skeptically before she stepped aside to join Cypressstar.

"Now tell me: Where did she go?"

"I-I only know . . ." Dovesong trailed off. Stop it, mouse-brain, a voice inside her hissed. Don't give him any information. "I really don't . . ."

He's going to kill someone I love if I don't tell him anything!

Don't give into his tricks.

Is that what this was? Was it just a trick? No, he had to be planning for Dovesong to refuse to tell him as an excuse to kill someone she cared about. And if he killed anyone, he would go for Mousetail first. The queens, especially the expectant ones, were valuable. If they survived to have kits, there would be more warriors for the Clan. And MoonClan wanted to kill off the FrostClan cats.

"What are you waiting for?" Cypressstar snapped, bringing her back to reality. "Tell me now."

"I really don't know."

"You do know! I can see it in your eyes and hear it in your voice. Stop hiding things from us!" Ivyspring snarled angrily.

"We don't plan to do anything bad to her," Cypressstar coaxed, his voice suddenly warm, as if he were trying to beckon an innocent kit toward him.

Don't fall for it.

Dovesong knew better than to tell him, but she also knew better than to refuse. "You can't kill anyone," she declared. "Not when they have Clanmates to protect them."

Cypressstar let out a mrrow of amusement. "You're so clueless. We always have a way to lure innocent cats into our traps. You of all cats should know this. And perhaps your littermate will be first. Mousetail, is it?"

No! Dovesong turned her gaze to her paws. They couldn't kill Mousetail! But it was true. Dovesong had fallen for Foxclaw's trick. But then, that was complicated. Things had happened in the past that could help it work. Cypressstar had nothing that could get cats she loved to fall for his traps.

She looked back at Cypressstar. "Fine. I'll tell you. Just know I have cats from all the Clans on my side. You won't be able to touch any of the cats I care about." She glared at him challengingly.

Cypressstar looked genuinely curious. "Even from my Clan?"

Dovesong bit her lip. Fox dung! "Y-yes."

"Who?"

"Are you going to hurt them?"

Cypressstar laughed. "Of course not. Why would I hurt one of my cats?"

Dovesong felt relief wash over her refreshingly. "Shadowheart."

Cypressstar's eyes flashed. "That traitor!" he exclaimed in disbelief. "I should have never let him stay here. Now he has crossed the line."

"Don't hurt him!" Dovesong gasped. "You promised you wouldn't!"

Cypressstar looked at her, his amber eyes flashing. "Some promises are too fragile to keep." He lashed his tail, his eyes gleaming with malice. "Keep her here," he told Ivyspring before he left the den. "And make sure she's watching."

Dovesong stared after him in despair. She knew she shouldn't run after him. Ivyspring would just hurt her more. She looked at Ivyspring, hoping she would do something, but she just returned Dovesong's gaze coldly.

"Shadowheart!" Cypressstar yowled from the middle of the clearing. "Where are you?"

Shadowheart looked out from the warrior's den. "Yes, Cypressstar?" he asked as he walked across the clearing to his leader.

"Is it true that you're betraying me again?" Cypressstar asked.

Shadowheart stared at him, his mouth open as if he were about to protest, but then he closed it again. "No, Cypressstar. Who told you this? I promise you they are lying."

Cypressstar shot a look across the clearing to where Dovesong stood, staring in dismay and horror, then looked back at Shadowheart. "She would never lie. I can tell when a cat lies. Besides, she is much too inexperienced to hide anything from me, especially when I threaten her."

Shadowheart seemed to get the message. "D-Dovesong told you?" he asked in disbelief. "Did you hurt her? I'll-I'll fight you! You've hurt every cat I love!"

"Of course I hurt her. How else could I know?" Cypressstar asked dryly. Shadowheart bared his teeth and his claws slid from their sheath. "Just admit it. You already betrayed me before."

Dovesong stared at Shadowheart imploringly. But Shadowheart didn't dare look away from Cypressstar. Don't tell him! He's going to hurt you! She felt hot with cold anticipation as the two toms stared at each other, waiting for Shadowheart to respond.

But Shadowheart seemed to think there was no other choice but to admit it to his evil and manipulative leader. "I-I am. I am betraying you again."

Dovesong felt as though her stomach dropped to the ground.

Cypressstar hissed, baring his sharp yellow teeth. Shadowheart flinched. "You were never much of a warrior anyway. What good did you ever do?"

"I did-" Shadowheart's whimper was lost when Cypressstar lunged forward, his claws outstretched and his teeth bared, aiming for Shadowheart's throat.

When Cypressstar's teeth met Shadowheart's throat, a shriek of fear escaped Dovesong and she lunged forward. "Shadowheart!" She was stopped when Ivyspring rounded on her, forcing her to stay in the den.

When Ivyspring was out of the way, Dovesong could see Cypressstar standing over the motionless body of Shadowheart. Blood pooled around his paws. He stared down at the black tom's body, his eyes, glazed over and frozen in time, his amber eyes gleaming with menace.

The world darkened and began to close in around her.

"Shadowheart!" Dovesong shrieked as she darted forward before Ivyspring could stop her and skidded to a halt beside Shadowheart's unmoving body. He died immediately after the blow was delivered. There was no point in trying to save him now. "Shadowheart . . ." He never even got to see his kits. She whirled around to face Cypressstar. "Why would you do this? He's your Clanmate!"

"That doesn't matter. He betrayed me and disobeyed me time and time again." Cypressstar's eyes shone with malice that Dovesong never saw before. It was filled with a lifetime of darkness, the deepest pit of evil that knew no end.

What made him want to do such a terrible thing? Moonclaw said he was a good cat once. . . .

"So." Dovesong flinched away when Cypressstar brushed past her into the den. "Come in," he invited her again. She didn't want to, she really, really didn't want to, but she came in anyway. "Now that he's out of the way and you know I was never playing around with that threat, will you tell me where Moonclaw is?"

"Why do you want her to come back so badly? You know she will never obey your orders. She's not as evil as you. She's not evil at all!" Dovesong exclaimed breathlessly, swelling with fury.

"She may not want to obey my orders. But after a bit of discipline, she will do anything I ask. I've known her since she was a kit. I know her weaknesses, and that's a lot of things."

"What do you mean by discipline?" Dovesong asked. "You're not going to hurt her, are you?"

"That depends on how much she's rebelling. But that's not the point. The point is . . ." The brown tom thrust his muzzle into Dovesong's face so they were no more than a whisker-length apart. "Where is she?"

Dovesong stared at him fearfully. She could feel the challenging gazes of both cats burning into her fur. Their claws were unsheathed, ready to strike if she refused. "All I know is that she left Clan territory!" She held her breath, waiting for the MoonClan warriors to say something.

"In what direction?"

"In the direction the sun rises," Dovesong answers quickly, resisting the urge to back away.

Cypressstar recoiled and sheathed his claws again. "Very good."

"Can I go now?" Dovesong asked.

"Fine. But not back to your camp. Ivyspring." Cypressstar looked at the brown-and-cream she-cat. "You know what to do."

Ivyspring dipped her head. "Come with me," she told Dovesong firmly.

Dovesong reluctantly followed, and she looked at the limp and bleeding body of Shadowheart on the way. The MoonClan cats were taking his body away to the outside of the camp. Will they even properly bury him?

As they neared the prison den, another thought struck her like a kick in the gut. What will they do to Moonclaw now?