Autumn watched with a heavy heart as life continued. Life had become normal again. The cats had recovered with the shock of Dark's betrayal and were convinced that he would be leaving.

Autumn was not so sure. In the moon she had spent with him, she had learned he was relentless, cruel and would always keep his word. The days kept getting darker until one night, it was stormy and raining.

He's going to do something, Autumn thought as she stumbled over to the nursery. Inside, she shook herself, careful to not get the other cats wet. Once dry, she curled up with Moon and fell into dreams.

The next day, Autumn was up at dawn, feeling the wind drift into the nursery. Poking her head out to tell the guards on duty to go get some rest, she saw with a shock that both Flash and Shadow, who had been on guard, were injured, their pelts drenched in blood.

Now extremely worried, Autumn nosed Moon to wake her up.

All she felt was empty space.

Moon was gone, and Autumn had a suspicion of who had taken her. After all, who was sly and cocky enough to creep through their camp, injure the two very awake guards, and kitnap Moon? Pounce. Dark's favorite method of torture. While they had been staying in the Dynasty, Pounce had tortured a mouse by shredding its skin off while not killing it. She had pierced its flesh and watched its blood flow out.

And she had been purring. Her eyes had been wild with joy. Autumn shook herself, aware that she was wasting time. Now, she was feeling suddenly angry.

Dark dared to mess with my family. He will regret it.

"Where is she? Where is she?!" Autumn roared, upending the nursery.

"Autumn, calm down," Night Sky mewed soothingly, his tail on her flank, but his eyes were filled with worry.

Autumn froze as she spotted something that confirmed her suspicions. A hole torn in the back of the den, reeking of Pounce.

"Dark has taken my kit!" Autumn yowled her grief to the sky.

"You need to take care of the Clan," Wild Wind reminded her.

Autumn stood before her Clan, her gaze cast on the ground. "Dark has taken Moon, and we must take her back!"

A sounding cheer from the cats below warmed her and she immediately started sending out search patrols.

Autumn led a patrol, Wild Wind, Sky, Ripple and Mountain at her side. She tracked the scent quickly, following it through the bushes. Her heart leapt as she saw a puddle of red.

It was blood.

Autumn must have blacked out, as when she woke, she was back in the medicine den. "Moon?" she croaked out, upset.

Wild Wind appeared, lying next to her. "We didn't find her. The scent trail stopped. Deer's patrol didn't find anything either."

"What about Fawn's?" Autumn demanded.

"They found a trail of blood that led them to some scratches on a tree and some of Moon's fur," Wild Wind sighed. "Night Sky is distraught."

"We must lead more patrols!" Autumn struggled to stand up. "I'll go out again! I'll do anything!"

"You must stay here," Wild Wind mewed sternly. "The Dynasty needs its leader."

Autumn gave in and sank into her nest, closing her eyes.

Moon let out a wail of terror as Dark advanced on her, his shiny claws gleaming under the moonlight. "I am going to kill you," he hissed menacingly.

Moon scrambled back to find herself cornered against a tall tree.

"Help! Mother! Father!" she yowled.

Autumn woke with a shock. It was moonhigh. Was her dream true?

Her heart pounding, she left the den. She padded to the guard's den, picking a select few cats. Fawn, Mountain, Ripple and Wild Wind responded immediately. Then, she woke Deer and Night Sky.

With her patrol, she led them out of the forest explaining her dream and her dream about the fire.

Deer gave her a knowing nod while Wild Wind mewed, "I trust you. Did the dream tell you where she was?"

"Yes. She's at the tallest tree in the forest!" Autumn's heart began to race as they ran towards the tree.

They arrived to see Dark lunging at Moon. Autumn's eyes widened and she sprang at the tom, her claws unsheathed and battering his pelt. A red haze clouded her vision and she clawed his fur out, biting him savagely. Around her, she could dimly see and hear the guards fighting while the hunters hang back, unsure of what to do.

Dark had recovered from his shock and was fighting back now. His strength was massive, and his eyes were glazed with bloodlust.

He's crazy.

His claws rained down on her and Autumn did everything she could to block them, but it wasn't any use. She got a scratch down her flank and a nick on her ear. Desperate, she used all her remaining energy to lunge at him until she pinned him down. Die! You piece of fox-dung!

Prepared to slit his throat, she felt a cat at her shoulder stop her.

It was Deer.

"Autumn! Dynasty cats do not kill!" the deputy mewed, shocked.

Autumn fell back, afraid of what had come over her.

I wanted to kill him.

"I'm letting you go," Autumn threatened before letting herself be ushered away by Deer. Night Sky already had Moon in his jaws and his eyes were swimming with relief.

On closer inspection, Autumn could see Moon was trembling and her body was covered with dirt and ugly half-healed scratches. Another pang of anger shook her, and she almost turned around to go after Dark.

Control yourself.

A victorious yowl from Dark made her furious. "I will still be back, Autumn! I promise you; I won't stop until the Dynasty is gone!"

Autumn was emotionless as the other Dynasty cats congratulated the patrol for overcoming Dark.

Autumn didn't cheer with them as they found Moon was safe.

Autumn didn't feel anything except for anger. She felt a strong desire to rip his pelt apart, to shred his ears and to kill him.

Not even Moon and Night Sky could make her happy.

All she felt was a desire of revenge.

And she would be getting it. For Dark had promised he would come back.

And I want that now. I want to kill him.

Here's an extra chapter! Only two chapters or so left!