So here we have it! The unlucky thirteenth chapter CX I dunno why but that's always the chapter where something goes wrong in my books…Sorry Willow ;(

Chapter 13

Willowspring padded out of the nursery. The battle patrol had returned home at last, their pelts matted in blood. Ashfoot and Gorsepelt were carrying a pair of kits, though the warriors showed no signs of shame. Tallstar leapt onto the Clanrock, and yowled, "Cats of WindClan, we have won the first battle!"

The warriors raised their heads and yowled their praise, all except Willowspring and Crowflight. Tallstar went on, "Stonestar and I have decided, that our clans under this alliance shall be known as TrueClan!"

Mudclaw took up the cry of, "TrueClan! TrueClan!"

What a ridiculous name, Willowspring thought with a snort. Whitetail asked, "Where did ShadowClan go?"

Mudclaw supplied, "Firestar took them in. That is where we attack next!"

"No! We should protect the new land and let them starve themselves!" Tawnyfur growled with relish, "Surely they won't last long now that they have twice as many mouths to feed?"

Webfoot argued, "They may strike back in that time!"

Runningbrook reasoned, "Leaf-bare is upon us. I doubt they'll survive that, especially if it snows!"

Tallstar yowled, "Enough! For now we must focus on another problem. We stole two kits from ShadowClan, and as far as I know they're father is Troutstar."

Several cries of rage and defiance filled the camp.

"Kill them!"

"Drown them!"

"Leave them for the dogs!"

Tallstar raised his tail for silence, and growled, "They are not to be harmed! They could be useful…"

Crowflight set down the kit he carried, and spoke up, "But Tallstar, we saw no sign of Troutstar while we were there. We scoured all over ShadowClan but he was nowhere to be found. Are you sure he isn't on a journey or dead?"

Mudclaw rose to his paws, "That's simple Crowflight. He killed your nephew and the other missing cats, gave his position as leader to one of his closest followers, and fled the clans!"

Crowflight argued, "But we didn't find the missing cats!"

"They were buried." Retorted Tawnyfur. "Obviously you didn't find them!"

Willowspring had had enough. She rose to her paws, and yowled, "I believe Troutstar is innocent."

Her words were met with harsh replies. Mudclaw glanced at Tallstar and snarled, "You see? She's still loyal to the clan that raised her!"

"Or she was Troutstar's mate once." One voice murmured.

Another voice hissed, "Maybe he sent her here to spy!"

Tallstar repeated angrily, "Silence!" He glanced back down at Willowspring, "Your reason?"

Willowspring met the angry gazes around her, and pointed out, "Why would he need to kill those particular cats? If he wanted to hurt the clans, wouldn't he target medicine cats or queens? Brambleclaw is his half-brother for StarClan's sake!"

Some warriors murmured agreements. Even Tawnyfur looked uncertain. Tallstar growled, "Then where did they go? They couldn't have just vanished! He is the most likely to have killed out of all of them!"

Willowspring opened her mouth to argue, but Gorsepelt growled, "Willowspring, please don't argue anymore."

Several cats murmured to each other, and Willowspring flashed her mate a betrayed look. Mudclaw nodded at Tallstar, "That proves it! She's still loyal to ShadowClan!"

Tallstar rested his gaze on the warrior, "You hated her the day she joined the clan. Obviously you would stand against her."

Mudclaw's eyes widened, before returning to slits. Tallstar growled, "Willowspring, since you care so deeply for Troutstar you may look after his kits. Clan dismissed."

The warriors rose and padded away, except Willowspring. She remained sitting exactly where she was, upset and lonely. Even Gorsepelt's abandoned me! She padded over and snatched a kit from Ashfoot. She signaled for the other kit to follow, and padded inside the nursery. Morningflower and Whitetail were sitting as far away from her as possible. Morningflower was saying, "My kits are due any day now, but I'm not sharing their milk with those runts!"

Whitetail agreed, "I overheard Appleleaf at a gathering. Their mother was a kittypet!"

Willowspring rolled her eyes and sat down, starting to clean the speckled brown she-kit. The tiny bundle whimpered, "I wanna go home!"

"Listen little one, don't cry. Can you tell me about your father?" Willowspring asked gently.

The kit glanced up, "My father? He left the clans to go on a journey with the other cats! That's what mama said."

Willowspring shot the other queens a look that said 'I told you so!' Morningflower huffed, and turned her back on the kits. Willowspring rolled her eyes and smiled as the kits at her belly nestled in to sleep.

"Willowspring, I have bad news." Crowflight sighed as he padded into the nursery.

The queen sat up, "Yes?"

Crowflight mewed, "Tallstar…is dead. He and Oakfur were found beside the border, both dead. They must have killed each other."

Willowspring's eyes widened, and she lowered her head in grief. Crowflight added, "Mudclaw wants to see you."

Rising shakily to her paws, Willowspring silently padded outside. Dead? How did this happen? She padded into the leader's den, where Mudclaw was sitting laughing and muttering to Tawnyfur and Webfoot. He glanced up at her and ordered, "You two go out on patrol."

The two cats nodded and trotted outside. Willowspring glanced back at the leader, "You wanted to see me?"

"Yes." Replied Mudclaw flatly, checking his claws, "As leader, it has come to my attention that you are disloyal."

Willowspring pinned her ears, "I am a loyal WindClan queen Mudclaw! I fought for our clan, provided kits, defended and supported-,"

"Troutstar! You spoke out against your leader, and defended the enemy!" Mudclaw leapt to his paws and spat, "For this act of defiance, I hereby banish you!"

Willowspring's eyes widened, "You can't do that!"

Mudclaw grinned cruelly, "Oh, can't I?" He nodded at a cat behind them, and Tornear grabbed Willowspring's scruff. Mudclaw went on, "It's nothing personal, but I can't afford any disloyalty!"

As she was dragged out of the camp, Moonpaw and Oakpaw raced over. Moonpaw wailed, "Mama! Don't leave us!"

Oakpaw whimpered, "Please don't take her away!"

Willowspring glanced at her mate, and wailed, "Gorsepelt! Save me!"

The tom was about to race over, but Onewhisker held him back. Crowflight tried to rush over too, but Mudclaw warned, "Help her, and I'll give the order." He motioned with his gleaming claws, and Crowflight's tail drooped.

Pinning his ears, he gasped, "I'm sorry sister…forgive us?"

Willowspring wailed helplessly as she was dragged out of the camp and towards the river.