SPOTTEDSONG AWOKE TO warm fur pressed against hers, and a muzzle rested against her own. She blinked sleep from her eyes and saw that Gorseberry was sleeping peacefully, curled around her. She stretched her jaws wide with a yawn, and she sat up and began to stretch. Gorseberry stirred beside her but didn't wake. As Spottedsong stretched her legs, Owlheart peeked into the den. "Spottedsong, I'd like for you, Gorseberry, Skystorm, and I to go on a border patrol whenever you're ready."

"Yes, Owlheart. I'll be there soon," Spottedsong meowed.

Owlheart dipped his head and left the den.

Spottedsong finished washing herself and then nudged Gorseberry's cheek with her nose. Gorseberry opened his eyes and looked at her, blinking sleep from them. "Owlheart wants me and you on a border patrol."

Gorseberry nodded as he sat up, then he licked her nose.

Spottedsong purred and gently cuffed his ear. "Not now." She couldn't keep a hint of amusement out of her voice. "You know how Owlheart is. Let's go."

Gorseberry didn't respond, but then he nodded.

"We'll be waiting for you," Spottedsong mewed as she left and Gorseberry began to stretch and groom his sleep-ruffled pelt.

Before she could leave, Gorseberry ran after her and jumped on her before she could leave. They fell down together and back on their nest. Spottedsong purred as Gorseberry licked her cheek and nuzzled her neck. She curled her tail around his and licked his head and looked into his eyes affectionately, leaning her forehead against his.

"If you're quite done, I would like to go on patrol now."

Spottedsong looked up to see Skystorm standing beside them. "Sorry. But come on."

Skystorm's eyes glittered with amusement. "You know I'm just teasing. I'm happy for you two, really. But seriously, can we just go?"

"Fine." Spottedsong touched her nose to Gorseberry's before she stood up. She gave Skystorm a sideways glance, feeling slightly embarrassed. "All right, let's go." She waved her tail and led the two toms out of the den and toward where Owlheart was waiting by the camp entrance. "Sorry for the delay. We're ready now."

"Great. But Skystorm, the hunting patrol needs an extra pair of paws. Would you mind going with them instead?" Owlheart asked, gesturing toward the hunting patrol. Hollyfern was leading them away from camp.

"I don't mind. See you two later," Skystorm added to Spottedsong and Gorseberry before he left.

"All right, let's go now." Owlheart waved his tail, and they were off.

***

When they were at the ThunderClan border, they all stayed together as they headed for the far side of the border first. The ground was still a bit muddy from the bad storm half a moon ago; it had been extremely cloudy ever since, and the water had no chance to dry up. It did dry up a lot, though. Spottedsong despised the squelching of mud under her paws, but she didn't complain. Gorseberry didn't seem to like it much, either, as he made a disgusted face as he walked through the mud. Owlheart strode confidently a whisker-length ahead of them.

As they began to mark their side of the border, Spottedsong stopped abruptly when she heard rustling in the growth behind her. She looked over her shoulder, but she spotted nothing. She tasted the air and found no scent from another Clan, nor prey. "Who's there?" she hissed, glancing quickly at Owlheart and Gorseberry to see if they heard her.

When no one answered, Spottedsong sighed exasperatedly and turned to the two tomcats behind her. "I'll check this on my own just in case," Spottedsong told Gorseberry and Owlheart before she slipped into the growth and searched frantically for the cat she heard. "Where are you?" she hissed. That was when she crashed into a brown tabby cat. She stumbled back, muttering, "Sorry." When she regained her balance, she realized the cat she ran into was Cypressstar. "What in the-What are you doing here?" she demanded.

"I thought that would never work, considering the circumstances."

"What-"

"Never mind that. Remember the oath you took, a long time ago?" Cypressstar took her paw in his and turned it over so they could both see the scar on her pad. "The one where you pledged your loyalty to MoonClan forever?"

"I only did that out of fear." Spottedsong snatched her paw away. "Now that Moonclaw's gone, you have no power over me. You never will. Just drop it. Why did you bother to come all the way over here just to bother me?"

"Just to bother you! No, I have a proposal to make."

"I think I know where this is going," Spottedsong muttered, dread washing over her. "You want me to kill some cat."

"Precisely!"

"Enough with that. Who do you want me to kill?" Spottedsong had to force the words from her mouth. She didn't want to kill anyone, but she knew that Cypressstar would find a loophole.

Cypressstar glanced toward the trees where Gorseberry and Owlheart were waiting. "That precious deputy of yours."

"Wow, you're really asking me to risk it this time. Why not ask me to kill a warrior?"

Cypressstar growled quietly and with frustration, as if Spottedsong was supposed to connect the dots immediately. "Because you could take his place!"

"Why would Lynxstar pick me specifically? She knows I've been conned by you. She would suspect that this would be all a part of your plan," Spottedsong hissed. "I won't do it. Why not get some other cat to do it? Dawnsplash is still out there, isn't she?"

"Dawnsplash only serves herself now, for one. For two, she's not a part of FrostClan anymore. You are the best choice," Cypressstar explained, his voice tense.

"Gorseberry's still here. I can't possibly be able to kill Owlheart without having him see it!" Spottedsong explained, panic now showing in her voice.

"You don't have to kill him here. Besides, even if you choose to kill him here while Gorseberry is still watching, he won't even be able to tell the rest of the Clan about it. Besides, back at the camp, you could blame Sparrowfeather for it. Or Frozenfang."

Spottedsong snarled. "That's a cruel use of his disability! I'm not doing that. I'm not doing anything you ask me to. Especially not killing my Clan's deputy!"

"Really?" Cypressstar's voice was smooth, sending shivers down Spottedsong's spine.

"Yeah, really." Spottedsong held his gaze bravely, even though something as simple as his cold amber eyes gave her a terrible feeling.

Cypressstar turned Spottedsong's paw over again and held an unsheathed claw over it. "Even if . . ."

Spottedsong jerked her paw back again. "No!"

"You, of all cats, don't want to lead an entire Clan?"

"I wouldn't be ruling it. Besides, I don't even know if Lynxstar would pick me." Spottedsong had to turn her gaze away from Cypressstar's gradually enticing gaze. "Stop trying to convince me. You know I won't serve you," she muttered.

"But what if she does?"

There was something about the voice he used that made Spottedsong looked up at him.

"Convinced yet?"

"What? No," Spottedsong meowed, although she was thoroughly interested in the results of whatever this would bring, however much she didn't want to give in to Cypressstar's tactics. What if he was right about Lynxstar picking her to be FrostClan's deputy? Maybe she could frame Sparrowfeather for Owlheart's death, and she would never be suspected.

"That line right there is the cover of a liar," Cypressstar pointed out.

Spottedsong hissed with frustration. If she did this, she would get the benefits if she covered herself well. But then, there was the risk of getting caught. It seemed way too risky, and way too hard to accomplish. She would never kill her Clan's deputy and her former mentor. But the more she looked into Cypressstar's nearly hypnotic eyes, the pressure seemed to rise, and the choice became harder and harder. She knew the things that Cypressstar was willing to do, and he would happily do them to Spottedsong to get his way. "Fine! Fine. I'll do it." I'll probably fail this time, too.

"That's the spirit. Don't fail me this time either," Cypressstar said, his eyes gleaming with menace. He sheathed his claws, then turned and left, leaving Spottedsong by herself in the middle of a dense, enclosed area of growth. She turned, dread and frustration seeming to burn her fur.

Don't fail me this time. Cypressstar's voice echoed through her mind, becoming louder and louder each time. Then more voices coming from multiple other cats flooded her mind, and suddenly that was the only thing she could think of. Then the sounds of cats yowling and fighting joined in. She stumbled and found support on a tree, but nothing she did quieted the voices in her mind.

They became louder and louder until they, and everything around her, became dark and silent.

***

Spottedsong opened her eyes in a small, closed-in den. The strong, sickly sweet scents of herbs filled the air. She found that she was in the medicine den, laying in a nest in the middle of the den. She was alone in the den. She looked out the den entrance and saw that the half-moon shone in the crow-black sky. The camp was quiet and empty. The rest of her Clanmates were already asleep in their dens.

What am I doing here? She tried to think back, and then she remembered. Great StarClan, I passed out! How long has it been? Do I still have time?

Spottedsong heard paw steps coming from outside, and Badgertooth came into the den. "Oh, hello there," he greeted her as he came in. "How long have you been awake?"

"I just woke up a few heartbeats ago. . . . How long has it been since Gorseberry and Owlheart brought me back?" Spottedsong asked as Badgertooth padded across the den to his nest and prepared it to sleep in. She still felt groggy and tired, and it was sort of a challenge to speak.

"Not even a day. Now you get some rest. You'll be staying here tonight until I can check you tomorrow, all right?"

Spottedsong nodded. "Okay. Goodnight." She curled up and closed her eyes.

"Goodnight."

***

The next morning, Spottedsong awoke early. The sky was still dark and orange and red colors were beginning to appear in the sky. Badgertooth was still nestled deep in his nest. Spottedsong glanced outside and saw that Owlheart was the only one awake. Her heart leaped into her throat. This is the perfect time. But I don't want to do this!

Don't fail me this time. Spottedsong growled when Cypressstar's words rang in her head again. I won't, she found herself responding. I won't fail you. She crawled out of her nest, stretched, then left the den and padded toward Owlheart.

"Morning," Owlheart greeted her when she approached him. "Can't sleep?"

"N-no," Spottedsong responded. "I mean, no, I can't sleep. Why are you up so early?"

"I have a job to do," Owlheart responded, sounding slightly confused. "Are you . . . all right? You know, from passing out yesterday."

"Oh, yeah, I'm perfectly fine. Um, can I talk to you in private? I need to discuss something with you."

"Is it about patrols? Because the warriors are supposed to be up soon, and then I'll need to organize the patrols."

"Yes," Spottedsong replied immediately. She cringed inwardly. She was terrible at this. At least Owlheart hadn't suspected anything. . . . At least, to Spottedsong's knowledge. "I'll make it quick." Don't hesitate this time, she added to herself.

"Okay. Lead the way." Owlheart sounded a bit hesitant, but he certainly wasn't reluctant when Spottedsong led him to a space behind the medicine den.

Spottedsong paused for a moment, then said, unsheathing her claws, "I-I'm sorry . . . I don't want to do this." She slashed her claws over his chest, right at his throat. Apprehension burned through her as she felt warm blood trickle down her claws and deep into her fur.

Owlheart staggered back, his eyes wide. "What is this, Spottedsong? What brought you to do this?"

"'Fraid I can't tell," Spottedsong answered coolly. She lashed at the side of his head, knocking him down to the ground. She held him down and raked her claws over his neck. "But I will tell you this: I can already tell that MoonClan is about to be more powerful than I could ever imagine."

Owlheart's eyes were stretched wide, but he didn't say anything. For a moment Spottedsong imagined blood covering them both, and the ground. But that was just her exaggerating. Fear pulsed through her. What have you made me into, Cypressstar? She wanted to cry out, but she couldn't. She looked into Owlheart's dying eyes, feeling shame and dismay wash over her. "I really am sorry . . . ," she whispered as the light in the Clan deputy's eyes faded and was replaced with a frosty glaze like ice that covered the lake in leaf-bare.

Spottedsong stepped back, staring at her blood-soaked claws. I'm a monster. A murderer. What has become of me? She turned around and ran off to find water to clean her claws in. When she darted away from the camp, she caught a glimpse of gray fur in the corner of her eye. She turned around and saw that Gorseberry was hiding in the shelter of two bushes. Fox dung! "G-Gorseberry, it isn't what it looks like . . ."

Gorseberry narrowed his eyes suspiciously.

"I was forced to do this! Please understand." He won't even be able to tell the rest of the Clan about it. Spottedsong realized that wasn't fully true. Gorseberry knew a few ways to get his message across to other cats. "Please!" She stepped toward him, but he inched away quickly.

He shook his head, then disappeared into the bushes.

Spottedsong groaned softly. StarClan, please understand I didn't want to do it! Please let the rest of the Clan understand. Please. Next thing she knew, her legs collapsed under her and darkness fell all around her.