"If you're trying to scare me, it's not working."

"You don't scare me either. Nothing scares me more than the thought that you're afraid of what will happen after you've spoken out."

I faced Ashfur in the forest, his eyes glaring into mine. I could see the wild look in their blue depths, and knew that he could do anything. Absolutely anything.

I couldn't let him. I couldn't let him humiliate us in front of every cat, couldn't let him destroy what I'd worked so hard for.

"I'll purr over what will happen when I reveal the truth" the gray warrior promised.

Without another word he turned and stalked away.

I've got to stop him… it's the only way.

"Wait!" I called after him.

He whipped around. "What do you want?"

"Me-meet me by the WindClan border before the Gathering." My voice shook with the effort of the words. StarClan, forgive me for what I'm about to do, but I have too.

He narrowed his eyes. "Okay."

I stepped out of the ferns by the border, my stomach clenching. I knew it was against the code, but I had no choice.

"Hollyleaf?" It was Ashfur.

He sat down, curling his tail over his paws. "I hope this isn't another beg for mercy" he sneered. "If so, it's not going to do anything."

My heart hammering, I turned and faced him.

"Ashfur, is there anything that would stop you tonight?"

"Nothing" the gray tom snarled. "I've told you that before, but it must take you a long time to understand anything."

My heart sank, my last hope gone.

You've got too I told myself. Do you want him to destroy everything? Your Clan, your future?

I sprang, pinning him under me. He fell back, astonishment on his face.

"So nothing will stop you?" I hissed in his face.

"Nothing" he hissed

"Not even murder?"

Without another word my claws slashed down.

Bright blood gurgled out of Ashfur's throat, staining his gray fur red. Blood splashed down on my paws, turning my claws scarlet.

Ashfur struggled to rise, then fell. His eyes were blank with shock.

"Hol- Hollyleaf? How could you do this?" he choked out.

I stared at him coldly as his body writhed on the ground.

"You know why, Ashfur."

I fastened my teeth in his scruff, my trembling paws barely able to haul him to the stream. But somehow I dragged him there, wedging the body under a rock. With luck, the Clan would think he had drowned.

The light in the tom's blue eyes had died, his body at last was still.

Ashfur was dead. The secret was safe.

But at a terrible price.

I couldn't move as guilt crashed over me like a black wave, drawing me under, choking me with despair.

What have I done?

I heard a voice, so faint it seemed on the very edge of sound.

"You will regret this. It is not over."

My fur stood on end. Ashfur?

The voice faded to complete silence. Even the birds had stopped singing. The whole forest was holding its breath.

I stepped forward and nudged Ashfur's body once, then turned and walked away, never looking back.

I'm sorry Ashfur, but it was the only way.