Onestar sat in his den, examining a claw. His face was emotionless and his eyes were cold. Moonpaw had to stop herself from bristling as she thought of how much her leader had changed.

Stories had said that Onestar had once been a kind and gentle tom, caring for his Clan more than his own life. Firestar, ThunderClan's legendary deceased leader, had been very close to Onestar, but then one day WindClan launched an unprovoked attack ThunderClan. That battle had ruined the two's friendship, and ever since then Onestar had begun to change.

"So," Onestar meowed, looking up from his claw. "How are you going to kill Ashfoot?" His voice was calm and it frightened Moonpaw more than she could imagine.

Feeling a spark of bravery and defiance, Moonpaw took a deep breath. "Who said that I was going to kill her?" She growled, her tail lashing.

To Moonpaw's surprise, Onestar let out an amused purr. "Aren't you a brave one?" He rumbled and then added, "And actually, I did."

Chills were sent down Moonpaw's spine and she stood up, bristling. "Why don't I just kill you, Onestar?" She hissed, and for a moment she thought she saw real fear in his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by a look of pure amusement.

"Then they would kill you," He meowed simply, pointing a claw towards the entrance of the den, towards the active WindClan camp. "Do you think they would believe you, the half-clanner?" He licked a paw and flashed her a grin.

The small tabby she-cat hissed, her eyes flashing with hatred. This was a life-or-death situation, and no matter what someone would end up dead. Me and my brother or Ashfoot? She thought with an inward sigh.

Moonpaw stood up and shook her ruffled fur. She closed her eyes, summoning up all of her courage, and then looked at Onestar. Taking a deep breath, she let out a single word that shocked Onestar.

"No."

At first, Onestar appeared to be confused. His amber eyes glazed over and his gaze darted from Moonpaw to the ground multiple times. He started to shake, and slowly he looked up from the ground. "What did you say?" He meowed quietly. Something about his meow gave a hint of a threat.

"I said no," Moonpaw growled. Onestar rose to his paws and looked at her, growling. Allowing her fur to bristle, Moonpaw let out a yowl and leaped. Her leader was unprepared and let out a cry of alarm as the small apprentice's teeth sank into his throat.

Scarlet blood from the wound flowed around Moonpaw's jaws, and she kept her teeth fastened into his skin until she was sure he was dead. When she finally let go, Onestar looked up shakily, much to Moonpaw's surprise. She was sure she had killed him!

The tabby tom looked at her, and his eyes held a promise. A promise of death to Moonpaw and all of her family. Onestar's head dropped and he started to make a gurgling sound that was almost a purr. His eyes glazed over and his paw gave a slight twitch, and then it was over.

It was over.

She had killed Onestar.

Cold reality hit Moonpaw hard as she realised that the Clan was gathering around Onestar's den. They were going to know she had killed them. She raced out of his den, leaving scarlet pawprints in her wake.

I killed him. She thought as she ran towards the camp entrance. Dustpaw was bringing in a large, fluffy white rabbit into when Moonpaw crashed into her. Dustpaw caught Moonpaw's eye for just a moment, and then her gaze shifted to Moonpaw's bloodstained paws. Dustpaw had just opened her mouth to speak when Moonpaw shouldered her away. "I'm sorry!" She cried, and ran towards the one place she felt safe.

The forest.

When Moonpaw reached the stream that bordered ThunderClan, she let out all of her rage and despair in a yowl. Ripping out pieces of grass and shredding them, she yowled as loud as she could, as if somehow yowling would turn all of her worries into the shredded grass.

They are going to kill me now, was the only thing Moonpaw could think. Hopefully Dustpaw and Blazepaw would be safe, and that they would become the best warriors ever. Awaiting her faith, Moonpaw sat on a rock and waited.

Hefty paws slammed into Moonpaw. So this is it. Moonpaw thought and closed her eyes. But nothing happened. The cat just pinned her down and didn't move. She dared to open her eyes, and recognized the ginger pelt of Blazepaw. His amber eyes met her blue ones and he backed away.

Dustpaw was crouched behind Blazepaw, her ears flattened in fear. Blazepaw stood beside Moonpaw as she rose to her paws.

"What did you do, Moonpaw?" He meowed gently. He sounded so much wiser, older than he actually was. Moonpaw knew she could trust him and Dustpaw with her life. So she told them what she had done quickly as she washed her paws in the stream, her voice rather shaky.

Blazepaw nodded along as Moonpaw explained. Surely he understood? Dustpaw came up beside him and the two exchanged a glance. Moonpaw hung her head unhappily.

Rustling in the bushes behind them made all three apprentices whip around. "I smell fear scent, and there are pawprints leading this way!" A voice belonging to Harespring called.

It was a patrol, coming to find Moonpaw! Blazepaw shot her a look of fear and alarm. Moonpaw was dead for sure now. The three grappled for an idea of how to save their Moonpaw.

"The scent leads this way," A gruff voice growled. "But just in case I can check over by the stream."

"Crowfeather," Dustpaw whispered, her green eyes wide.

The patrol made a turn, and the bushes rustled around the rock. Crowfeather padded out, not looking at all surprised. He looked at Moonpaw and his gaze held no hate, only a look that said that held sympathy.

"You led them away on purpose," Moonpaw meowed, and Crowfeather nodded and padded up to her.

"You need to go to ThunderClan," He meowed. "No time for questions. Say goodbye and go."

Dustpaw and Blazepaw looked shocked, but Moonpaw felt more excited. She was finally going to be where she belonged!

The green eyes of Dustpaw were glazed with sadness. "You're my best friend," She murmured. "And you always will be." They touched noses and Blazepaw padded up to Moonpaw, all of Moonpaw's excitement crushed by grief.

Blazepaw put his forehead to Moonpaw's, and for a moment, the two just stood there, all unsaid words said silently. "I love you," He whispered.

Moonpaw shifted her eyes to his, and she replied by saying, "I love you too."

Her brother backed up, and grief pierced Moonpaw's belly like a thorn. She had never felt anything as painful as this. When she turned around, Crowfeather was there.

"Don't say anything," He mumbled. "Just go." His eyes were narrowed, as if trying to conceal his feelings. He was unsuccessful, for sadness shone in his midnight blue eyes.

Nodding, the small tabby she-cat turned and padded up to the stream. Don't look back, she willed herself, repeating the phrase in her mind. She leaped into the stream. Don't look back. She waded across, and when she reached the other side of the stream, she ducked into a bush. Don't look back.

She did, and saw nothing.