Throughout the rest of the week, Hazelstar sat alone in her den, refusing to go outside to speak to any of her clanmates. Something changed in her the day Moonstar came. Something changed when she said she belonged to the Dark Forest.

She felt she had a new power, a new sense of darkness, growing inside her. And it frightened her. The power of darkness and fear frightened her, so much so she was afraid to go outside and use it. What if she killed the first cat that looked at her.

Fire many times had come over to tell her to make announcements, but she had only told him what to do and say. She knew she couldn't stay locked up forever though. If she remained weak, cats could disobey her, the prisoners could escape. Maybe she'd step outside today.

Fire dropped a mouse at her den, like he usually did. Hazelstar quickly snatched it and began to gobble it up. Fire remained near her.

"Any announcements you need me to make today, Hazelstar?"

Hazelstar shook her head.

"Why won't you come outside, Hazelstar? What happened after you attacked Crystal?" he asked.

"You better not be seeing that she-cat!" she spat.

"I'm not," Fire replied calmly. "I've obeyed you. We all obey you. What's the matter?"

"You don't understand. You don't know anything about me," she growled.

"I only want to help, Hazelstar," Fire offered. "You must keep it together. You must remain strong. Our battle takes place in less than a moon, Hazelstar."

"It does?"

"You told me it had to take place shortly after the first leaf fell. Well, the first leaf has fallen. The colors of the leaves are changing. Leaf-fall is upon us."

"Already?" Hazelstar gasped.

"Yes, Hazelstar. What is troubling you?"

"There's darkness inside me, darkness I can't explain. She got into my head, Fire."

"Who?"

"Moonstar!" Hazelstar exclaimed. "She's poisoned me with thoughts of evil."

"Hazelstar, pull it together!" Fire hissed at last. "You are Hazelstar, not Moonstar! You will lead this clan to triumph! You've got all the lives you need! You will rule!"

I am Hazelstar, not Moonstar. I am Hazelstar, not Moonstar, Hazelstar repeated to herself again and again. Fire's words certaintly weren't motivational, but Hazelstar felt as if she was healing, slowly.

Hazelstar slowly got to her paws, her legs shaking after days of lying on them. She unsheathed her claws and dug them into the dirt, growling. She belonged to the Dark Forest now, she was doing good for everyone.

"I am ready to step outside," Hazelstar said at last.

"Thank the Dark Forest. I thought I would have to take over as leader," Fire joked. Hazelstar did not laugh alongside him.

As soon as she stepped outside, light blinded her eyes. She blinked, finally becoming accustomed to the light.

"Good to see you, Hazelstar," cats murmured as they passed by. Had they really all been worrying for her?

As Hazelstar passed by the prisoner den, she saw Treestep raise an eyebrow and laugh quietly to himself. She could almost hear his thoughts. He was watching her, thinking: She's officially lost it.

But I haven't, Hazelstar reminded herself. She was still a strategic and strong she-cat. She would bring MoonClan to justice and rid the world of SnowClan, FoxClan, and NightClan, now that she knew they had allied with the other two.

Hazelstar proudly padded up her rock, watching as cats gathered beneath, curious to what Hazelstar would be discussing.

"CATS OF MOONCLAN!" she yowled. "I HAVE AN IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT!"

Cats gathered beneath her, their eyes fixed on their leader.

"I apologize for going so long without speaking," Hazelstar began, her eyes rapidly running back and forth nervously. "The Dark Forest is our leader, Moonstar is our founder. I am leading for them. I must remind you of that. Any who do not agree should leave MoonClan now before facing our wrath."

Silence remained.

"Good. Leaf-fall has begun. At the end of the moon, we will attack. You've been training hard for moons. This battle will be worth it. The other clans may have trained warriors, but they are not as fierce as us. They will be putting small apprentices in battle that can't fend for ourselves. We have strong apprentices and warriors. We will win this battle. We will have the Dark Forest on our side. We are carrying out Moonstar's word!"

Yowls of agreement sounded from the crowd.

Hazelstar grinned, watching as the still-injured Snowflake glared at Hazelstar before it turned into an innocent blink of eyes.

"Mentors, continue training your apprentices roughly. Do not hesitate on punishment. If they have not gotten their moves down by now, that is their fault. Extend practice if you must. Remember, only the strongest survive in this clan.

"As for the captives, our loyal members," Hazelstar said, smiling maliciously, "you, too, are a MoonClan warrior. I expect proper behavior. You've already experienced pain and punishment. Do not inflict any more upon yourself. Listen to your mentors, follow us, and you will be safe. You will fight with MoonClan. Any traitors will be killed. I already have cats signed up to watch you."

Looks of worry came from the captives, making Hazelstar grin.

"Remember who you all are. We may come from different clans, different places in the forest, but we are all united under one common force—The Dark Forest. Moonstar began this clan with a simple thought in mind—rid the forest of soft-spot kittypets who do not focus on the true meaning of being a warrior. And what is the true meaning of being a warrior? Many moons ago, in ancient times, we were lions, tigers, leopards…We could not live in harmony, so we split into clans. We could not live in harmony because we could not live in the forest together. To be a warrior means to be fierce and hate your enemies. That is why we will conquer this forest together and make it ours! None of you will go hungry, all of you will be safe, and you'll receive an entire forest for yourself!" Hazelstar shouted. "LONG LIVE MOONCLAN!"

Cats erupted in cheer, and Hazelstar leapt down from her rock.

"That had to be your best speech yet," Fire whispered to Hazelstar.

"It's strange," Hazelstar admitted. "I thought the darkness flooding inside me would trap me. I thought I wouldn't be able to control it. But I've had control of it all along, and it's lived inside me all this time. It's given me the ability to be stronger, to make wiser choices, to encourage others. I have no doubt we will win, Fire. Now, what do you think? You were a kit at the time of the first battle."

"As were you, Hazelstar, but I recall you were on a different side…"

"I don't like to discuss my FoxClan days," Hazelstar growled. "I was a foolish young kit, thinking FoxClan could save me from my mother. Why did I need saving? Moonstar is the best thing that's happened to me. MoonClan has saved me…" But were the words she spoke true?

"Moonstar's strategy must not have been good enough," Fire explained to Hazelstar. "She fell only by a head injury. What a pathetic way to die. She only had one life, you know that? She couldn't even get the entire Dark Forest to rally behind her and give her lives."

"Don't insult her," Hazelstar growled, scared her mother would leave her with more clawmarks than she could count that night. "It's true. She needed more back-up. The Dark Forest was a fool for not using all its power to help MoonClan. I can't believe my brother and his family think StarClan will save them."

"It's a bit stupid, yes," Fire agreed.

"Tell me, Fire. I learned you and Fang joined a clan awhile back," Hazelstar spoke.

Fire's eyes widened. "What are you talking about?"

"Don't deny it. What clan did you join? A clan based around StarClan?"

Fire looked past Hazelstar. "Yes, we joined a clan, but we couldn't stay in it. It was too centered around StarClan, around good. I went back to the rogue life. If I couldn't live in MoonClan, why stay in a clan at all?"

"Good answer," Hazelstar laughed. "Crystal's kits will be born at the end of the moon."

"I know," Fire said. "I'm not supposed to see her though."

"No, you belong to me now to help me prepare for battle. Crystal will most likely not be fighting. You understand punishment must come, right?"

"But don't you…" Fire paused, tears glistening in his eyes. "Yes."

"Good answer, Fire. I warned you long ago of the dangersof that she-cat, and you didn't listen. Anyway, I must be off now to check on the others. You figure out where your true loyalties lie, Fire."

With that, she padded away, leaving the tom to sit alone in the camp, his eyes widened by fear.