"I-I..." Shadowspirit's voice died away in her throat as she stared dumbstruck at the brawny ShadowClan warrior, who sat staring calmly at her. Rotfrost stood, his expression unreadable as he approached her slowly, moving cautiously as if she were just a shadow, which would disappear when he got close. She stared at him, not knowing what to say or what to do, and he darted forward suddenly, pressing the top of his head to her shoulder gently.

Shadowspirit stared in surprise as his shoulders sagged and he held his head against her, his stormy gray eyes clenched shut as he whispered, "Your alive..." She back away from him, feeling her legs shaking as she stammered, "Rotfrost y-you can't tell anybody that you saw me." He looked at her, clearly puzzled and meowed, "But Shadowspirit, they all think your dead... I thought you were dead..."

A bitter lump was in her throat, but the black she-cat said, "I know, and it has to stay that way, I can't go back, I-I just can't." The tabby tom looked up at her, hurt flickering in his eyes, "Shadowspirit your clan needs you, the Dark Forest needs you!" She shook her head, "I am never going back to the Dark Forest, I never want to see that dreadful place again."

Rotfrost recoiled as if she had struck him, and Shadowspirit hung her head, "I'm sorry Rotfrost, b-but I don't want to destroy the clans." The tom looked at her, his gaze giving away nothing, "The Dark Forest doesn't want to destroy the clans, we just want to take over the forest, you would lead ThunderClan and RiverClan, and I would lead ShadowClan and WindClan, its what Shadeheart said was the plan, think about it, instead of four clans who always fight, two clans who can be there for eachother!"

Shadowspirit looked up at him, shaking her head, "Rotfrost listen to yoursel! Even if we did win the fight, and if we did make two clans, peace wouldn't last, boundaries would be fought over! And how many cats will have to die just for us to succeed in making two clans, in a forest where there is meant to be four?" The dark tabby warrior scowled and meowed, "Sometimes things need to change, two clans will be mightier then four! Imagine the power we will have together Shadowspirit, the battle isn't just to take over the forest, but join every cat together, nothing would be able to stop the clans if we succeed in this!"

She stared at him in shock and replied, "I don't want to achieve power by slaughtering the clan cats who will fight for their way of life. This isn't right Rotfrost, Shadeheart and the other Dark Forest cats want puppets to do dirty work for them don't you see that! They have wanted revenge since the Great Battle all those moons ago, they want to kill every clan cat, and what better way to do so then with a cat like me? A death-bringer." She spat out the last few words in disgust.

The dark tabby sighed, letting his shoulders sag, "I don't want to argue with you, Shadowspirit." His stormy eyes were dull with defeat as he looked at her, "Come back home Shadowspirit, they all miss you, especially Foxflame..." She flinched, sadness stinging her throat as she turned away from him and meowed, "I can't go back, please understand, and don't tell anybody you saw me here, I'm sorry Rotfrost."

Before he could reply she leaped into the thicker brush, letting her paws carry her quickly away from where the ShadowClan warrior was, not looking back. She finally skidded to a stop, panting as she headed back toward Mystery's den, her thoughts clouded with worry and doubt from what Rotfrost had said.