A.N: Ooh, suspense suspense! sorry, im feeling a bit dramatic today. I hope you enjoy this eventful chapter...cya! (review!)

I started with shock and whirled around when a hostile voice suddenly snarled, "What are you doing here?"

"Nightfur!" Relief soared through me, along with worry. What if he didn't believe me? "Listen, I'm innocent!" His face lost none of it's coldness. "I should flay you." My heart sank as I continued desperately, "Listen, just listen. Thistlestorm is guilty! He framed me! I know you don't believe me, which is why I'm going to prove it to you!" I watched hopefully as guarded intrigue shifted his hard features. "You can hide nearby and I'll go find Thistlestorm. I'll get him to tell the truth, and then you will believe me!" Desperation and panic laced my cry as I waited for his response. He watched me, his eyes narrowed suspicion. At long last he replied "Fine. I'll roll in fox dung to hide my scent, but you'd better be telling the truth. If you're not, I won't hesitate again." I blinked gratefully. "I swear by Starclan I'm telling the truth." I meowed solemnly.

I stiffened. I caught my enemy's scent and glanced swiftly at the bush Nightfur was hiding behind and stepped forward to confront Thistlestorm. He reared in surprise but gathered his composure quickly. "You!" he hissed. I glared at him. "Do you know what you've done to me?" I growled. He smirked. "I'm sure I have…absolutely no idea what you're talking about!" I fought to stop myself from launching at him. "You framed me, plotted with Shadowclan, and made me lose everything I have!" His eyes narrowed dangerously. "I can't be blamed for what you've done…traitor!" I gulped. This was not going according to plan. I tried a different tack. "But why did you do this? If you just admit the truth of your crime, I'm sure I can convince Rainstar to not judge you too harshly. Just owe up!" His dark eyes flickered as he slowly and deliberately looked around. His eyes lingered on the bush. A small smirk played on his lips as he turned to face me yet again. He fixed an angry look on his face and growled, "I have no idea what you're talking about. I'm a loyal deputy, who would never attack his own clan alongside enemies! Get out of Thunderclan, before I rip your tail off!"

I stared at him in shock. Say whaaaaaaaattt? Thistlestorm suddenly lunged forward and snapped at me, barely missing my tail. A cold shiver of fear ran through me as I spun around and ran, just catching Nightfur's accusing eyes before he disappeared from view. My heart plummeted in dismay. I remembered his words...you'd better be telling the truth. If you're not, I won't hesitate again. I shook my head with frustration. Why had Thistlestorm denied his hateful crime? Unless he found out about my plan...

The minute I crossed the Thunderclan border, I stopped, breathing hard. Thistlestorm also stopped calmly, grinning evilly. He glanced around quickly to check if there was anyone listening, and, when seeing nobody, turned back to me grimly. "I know what you're planning, Iceclaw. But you'll never succeed. I have to give it to you, it was a good try back there with that mongrel Nightfur." He smirked at me as I stared in disbelief. So he did know! "You're a banished, hated excuse for a cat, while I'm a hero and a deputy. I have every cat on my side, but you?" He snorted contemptuously. "You have nothing." With that, he loped away. My head sunk and I started the long walk back to the hated Twoleg nest. I felt like the world had just crashed down around me, which maybe it had. Thistlestorm's words echoed in my head. The worst thing was, I could almost believe them.