REEDTAIL OPENED HIS eyes. He was in the clearing where Ripplestorm died. His muzzle was still buried in his father's cold fur. He lifted his head. Ripplestorm is really dead . . . but I imagined Blackstream and taking Ripplestorm back to camp? Did I fall asleep after he died? Is Blackstream in the camp? Oh, StarClan! I have to make sure the Clan is okay! He stood up. He looked at Ripplestorm body. He couldn't leave his father here. He crouched down and pushed Ripplestorm on his back. He grimaced as he carried his father's lifeless body toward the ShadowClan camp. He yowled as loud as he could to get the attention of his Clanmates. Fidgetstorm, Twistedclaw, and Dawntail were leaving the camp.

"Reedtail!" Fidgetstorm exclaimed. "We were leaving to look for you! Where have you-oh, no." His yellow eyes widened when he saw Ripplestorm's body on Reedtail's back. "Here, let me carry him for you." His voice was thick with grief. Reedtail allowed him to transfer Ripplestorm's body to his own back.

"What happened? It looks like a cat did that," Dawntail growled. "Do you have any idea?"

Reedtail held his gaze for a long moment before responding, "It was Blackstream."

"Blackstream?" All three toms sounded confused. "Why would Blackstream do something so monstrous?" Twistedclaw demanded. "And why were you there?"

"Now, now, Twistedclaw," Dawntail muttered. "There's no need to be suspicious of Reedtail when we don't even know the whole story. Come, you can explain inside of the camp." He flicked his tail and the four toms entered the camp. Some of the cats, like Rabbitleap and Amberdawn, immediately looked up and rushed toward Ripplestorm.

"What happened?" Amberdawn demanded. "And where were you?" she asked Reedtail. She looked both confused and suspicious. "Why were you gone along with Ripplestorm?"

"It was Blackstream! Isn't she missing?" Reedtail asked, just as Blackstream came from the warrior's den, her yellow eyes dull with grief and disappointment.

"Reedtail!" she gasped. "What have you done?"

"It wasn't me! It was you! Tell the Clan the truth!" Reedtail snarled. The cats around him and Blackstream began to murmur.

Amberdawn pushed past Reedtail and sniffed Ripplestorm. "Reedtail's scent is all over Ripplestorm. It's strongest on his wound," she explained. "I think Reedtail has some explaining to do."

"I agree," Blackstream growled.

Fallenstar and Lunarpelt, the Clan deputy, came over to the ShadowClan cats, examining the scene. Lunarpelt approached Ripplestorm's body and she, too, gave it a good sniff. "Amberdawn is right to be suspicious."

Reedtail's fur began to bristle. He caught Blakstream's eye. His mother was looking at him with pure disappointment. "I am so disappointed in you." She turned to Fallenstar. "He should not be in this Clan. He's a murderer! How can you trust him?"

Anger surged inside of Reedtail. Am I the only one who can tell that she's lying? It's clear in her voice! Reedtail looked at Fallenstar, hoping to see pity or sympathy in the elderly tom's gaze. But he found nothing but anger.

"That sounds like a very good idea, Blackstream," Fallenstar concluded, "but I'm afraid I can't base my decisions off of a mere scent."

"Scents explain everything!" Gingerstripe argued. "Reedtail is clearly guilty. At least do something to make sure he doesn't kill anyone else."

Reedtail gaped at Blackstream in dismay. "I didn't do anything!"

Blackstream shot him a look. "I was here, in the camp, the entire night! You and Ripplestorm were missing the entire night. I think I have a pretty good amount of evidence on my side."

Reedtail looked at Amberdawn and Rabbitleap, who were staring at him with dismay, and then Spottedtail, who looked suspicious and shocked. Now she'll never want to be my mate. Why would Blackstream do this? "Fallenstar, I promise you I did nothing! Just give me a chance!"

Fallenstar gaze him with a firm look. "No. I know very well that you may be the murderer of Ripplestorm. Now I will make sure you kill no one else."

Reedtail glared at Blackstream, whose eyes flashed with smugness as she met Reedtail's gaze. But they immediately returned to disappointment and grief. Reedtail sank his claws into the earth to stop himself from flinging himself at Blackstream. Maybe more cats are being affected by MoonClan than I thought. Why don't we just fight them, and then things will go back to normal.

"Reedtail . . ." Amberdawn's whisper made Reedtail whirl around to look at her. She flinched. "Is it all true?" she asked, grief thickening her mew.

"No! Blackstream is lying. She is the real murderer," Reedtail explained, hoping wildly that she would understand.

"Our mother? I doubt it. And I don't want to believe her, but . . . her explanation is more reasonable," Amberdawn murmured.

"My explanation is more reasonable! I heard hers and Ripplestorm's conversation last night. They were talking about loyalty and broken oaths and . . . MoonClan. They're working with MoonClan! I know it sounds frog-brained, but it's true. I heard it all. Blackstream said that anyone who breaks the oath will be killed," Reedtail explained desperately, turning to the Clan so that they could hear.

"It sounds frog-brained because it is frog-brained! It sounds like you made all of that up as you went. And MoonClan?" Spottedtail scoffed. Reedtail looked at the pretty she-cat with dismay. "MoonClan hasn't touched us since they came here. I hardly think that MoonClan would be in the center of this."

Reedtail wanted to collapse. "No! Blackstream, no! Don't lie! Tell them what you did! Tell them what you've seen!"

Blackstream's eyes flashed with anger. "I didn't see or say a thing! You're a delusional fuzz-brain for thinking all of this! You don't deserve to be in this Clan. Leave!"

"Blackstream," Fallenstar mewed, "I am the leader. I make the decisions."

Reedtail and Blackstream ignored him. Reedtail held Blackstream's gaze before turning and leaving the camp, looking over his shoulder once to say, "Consider that Blackstream is lying, and you'll understand!"

Then he left.

He ran into the territory as far as the ThunderClan border. He was relieved to feel the wind through his fur and the sunshine on his back. But he knew with a sinking heart that he wouldn't be able to stay for Ripplestorm's vigil. He also understood with a sinking heart that Blackstream's treachery was still unsuspected.

When he paced along the ThunderClan border, trying to come up with a plan. He wouldn't be able to just stroll into camp; the warriors would chase him out. He wouldn't be able to fight them; that would just help them with their false accusations. He couldn't get them to realize that Blackstream was the real murderer; she would just backfire.

Wait-unless Blackstream isn't there! Reedtail realized. But he would have to somehow drive her away or get the rest of the ShadowClan cats to get in one place without Blackstream. It seemed impossible, but it could work with enough desperation and hard work.

Excitement began to bubble inside him. He could spread a message! Amberdawn and Rabbitleap would understand if he explained carefully to them. He began to run in the direction of the ShadowClan camp, but then he heard a yowl behind him. He turned around, disappointed.

A golden she-cat was at the border. "Hey! Fernclaw, right?" she panted.

Reedtail looked up at the she-cat. "Um, my name is Reedtail. What are you doing at the ThunderClan border?" This she-cat was a ThunderClan resident, based on the scent that surrounded her and Reedtail, now, too.

"Oh, Reedtail! I was close." She blinked at him innocently. "Well, I'm Goldenheart. It's nice to finally meet you."

Reedtail narrowed his eyes at the she-cat. She seemed friendly. He remembered seeing her around at Gatherings, and he had spoken to her once or twice, but they were never really friends.

"Reedtail, I need your help." Goldenheart sounded desperate.

"What do you need?" Reedtail asked, eyeing Goldenheart suspiciously. She had come all the way across the ThunderClan border to come to ShadowClan. Why had she come only to talk to Reedtail? What was the urgency in her blue eyes for? "You came all the way across the border just to talk to me?"

Goldenheart blinked at him innocently. "Yeah," she chuckled. "I'm okay, though. Hey, look, I need your help with something urgent."