Few stars were visible in the night sky, twinkling dully, and the moors below seemed even darker since the moon vanished like it did every once in a while. A dark gray tom wandered the hills of the moor, his blue eyes full of shame and sorrow. He sat upon the top of a hill, sighed, and stared at Silverpelt. "Why, StarClan?" he asked. "Why have you burdoned me with this? My life is ruined." Pain seared him like the claws of an enemy cat along with regret. Regret for what? None of this was my fault! The tom gazed out among the hills, a sight that told him that this was where he belonged, but they no longer spoke to him. Suddenly, he spotted something black on the shore of the lake. Curiousity replaced his agony, and he got to his paws and padded down the hill toward the black object. As he neared it, he recognized it as a black cat, covered with scars, lying on the rocky shore. He cautiously inched toward it, then gasped in shock as he recognized who it was. "What are you doing here?" he snarled. The she-cat slowly turned her head, and the tom caught his breath when he saw her face. Her ear was now V shaped and scars blemished her face, including three scars that ran through her right eye, preventing it from opening, and a gap of skin sat near the end of her tail. Her green eye was full of wickedness.
"I thought I should rest after having a tunnel collapse on me and having to find my way out. Huh, figures. I end up here, in WindClan territory." she answered.
"You dare show your face to me again! Have you know idea what you've done?" the dark tom challenged.
"I have quite a good idea what I did, thank you. But you deserve it, Crowfeather."
Crowfeather bared his teeth in a snarl. "I deserve nothing! I didn't ask for kits from anyone other than my true mate, Nightcloud!"
"Well, if you're together with your mate and kits, then what is so wrong?"
"I never said I was with them. They think I'm a traitor, all of my Clan thinks I'm a traitor! I was just regaining my trust back, and now I lost it again! And it's all your fault." Crowfeather snarled. "Give me one reason why I shouldn't kill you right now."
"I don't need to give you a reason. Go ahead, fine, kill me. See if I care." the black she-cat answered calmly. Crowfeather growled, his brain ordering him to deliver a fatal strike, but some voice inside of him protested. What good will let your anger out of her? You'll be wasting your energy, fool!
"I don't need to waste my time on you. Get out of my territory!" he growled.
"I won't be here by dawn. Just let me rest." the she-cat meowed, closing her eye. Crowfeather hesitated, then nodded.
"Very well." he agreed, and turned, padding off, but stopped once, looking back at her. "Look what you've become, Hollyleaf," he whispered, too low for her to hear, and padded up the hill back to his Clan. Hollyleaf lay, sighing, drifting into sleep. Dream were the only safe place she could hide. Crowfeather padded up the hill back to his home, only to meet his mother, Ashfoot, face to face. Her eyes stared at him in sorrow, yet no shame lie within. "Ashfoot," he greeted, dipping his head.
"Crowfeather," she began. "Do you believe it's right to abandon your kits?"
Crowfeather stared at her in bewilderment. "They're not my kits," he meowed, shaking away the surprise and replacing it with stubbornness.
"Yes they are, Crowfeather. You can't hide from the truth forever. The kits no longer have a mother. . .or a father." Ashfoot continued.
Shock hit Crowfeather like a strong blow. "Are you asking me to abandon my loyalty for my Clan?"
"No, I just wanted to know more. Do honestly care nothing for them, Crowfeather? Do you feel good about abandoning them in their times of need?"
Crowfeather stared at her, unsure what to say, and she stared back with intense sorrow. I don't care for them, not at all! he wanted to tell her, but the words couldn't escape his jaws. Ashfoot turned and began to pad away.
"Good night, Crowfeather." she mewed, not looking back. Crow stay on the hill, staring after her, mulling over what had just happened. He looked back at Hollyleaf, who lay sleeping on the shore, the she-cat who had turned evil for unknown reasons to him. Then he turned back and began to head up the hill, his mind whirling with questions. . .yet nowhere in his mind lurked the answers.
