Spottedleaf easily slipped out of the medicine den and ran out of the camp. I have to visit Mapleshade tonight, she thought as she darted around a fallen log. She easily leaped over a rock.

At last, she was there at the Dark Forest border. The line of thornbushes looked threatening, with their long vines full of deadly thorns. Spottedleaf hesitated before stepping close to them. The vines recoiled immediately, leaving a pathway between them. Spottedleaf padded through into the Dark Forest. Behind her, the pathway was covered once more by the entwining vines.

Spottedleaf wanted to gulp but she resisted the urge to. She had to find Mapleshade. Before the battle begins.

Mapleshade padded over to Brokenstar. He was busy issuing orders to Clawface. She could see Tigerstar and Hawkfrost's pelts between the trees. All training cats for battle.

"Got it." Clawface curtly nodded and stalked off into the trees.

Brokenstar swiveled his head around and saw Mapleshade. "What is it?" He growled.

"When are we planning to attack? My apprentice wanted to know."

"Tomorrow," Brokenstar replied. "I'll announce it." He raised his voice in a yowl. "Let all cats old enough to kill their own enemies to gather here!"

All cats gathered around.

Brokenstar began. "My Dark Forest Clanmates, today our mentors have decided that you are worthy of becoming Dark Forest warriors!"

Cheers erupted from the living cats. "The living Clans have always been so stupid, supporting a warrior code. We shall prohibit this because we are stronger than them, and we will control the Clans!"

The living cats cheered again. "Yes!" "Down with the Clans!"

All cats looked excited, even more excited when Brokenstar spoke again.

"Tomorrow morning, we will attack." Brokenstar stabbed four spots into the ground for everyone to see.

"These are the four camps. You will follow your mentors and attack the camp they are assigned. Mapleshade and Shrewtail, you take your warriors to fight RiverClan. Hawkfrost, take your warriors with Darkstripe and Clawface to destroy WindClan. Tigerstar and I will take our warriors to attack ShadowClan. Then we will all come and destroy ThunderClan."

"We will show the Clans that they are weak," Tigerstar joined in. "We will kill them off one by one because we are true warriors. We are the strongest."

"What about StarClan?" Breezepelt questioned excitedly. "Can we finish them off too?"

Tigerstar snarled and replied, "No. We cannot reach StarClan. But one day we will, and those mange-pelts will cower at our feet."

Breezepelt nodded.

Brokenstar finished with, "Remember, everyone, you have not won a battle until your enemy is killed. Tonight is your final night of training. Make it your best. Remember, we are the Dark Forest, and we are the strongest."

Mapleshade padded off to her nest. She had trained Blossomfall and the other cats, and was exhausted. She was about to go to her nest when she heard a whisper. "Mapleshade."

"Spottedleaf?" Mapleshade could not believe that she was here. But she was.

"What are you doing here? Come on! Someone will notice." She led the tortoiseshell she-cat deeper into the woods. Brokenstar might notice.

"When's the attack?" Spottedleaf seemed mildly interested. "I snuck here."

"Tomorrow." Mapleshade settled down.

"Oh, really?" Spottedleaf mewed. "You cats must have a lot of recruits, right?"

"Exactly," Mapleshade responded. "They're all thinking that they will become great warriors, but actually they're fighting the Clans."

"Clever." Spottedleaf was not agreeing for the fun of it.

"The battle is near," Mapleshade told her. "I had better get going."

"See you at the battle," Spottedleaf replied. "I"ll be watching from the side."

With a wave of her tail, Spottedleaf padded away toward the border. The thornbushes allowed her to pass through once more.

The night was cold. Spottedleaf shivered as she padded into a clearing. She glanced out of the trees. She saw two cats. A blue-gray pelt and a silver pelt. Talking. Feathertail and Bluestar… they're talking… Spottedleaf pricked her ears, trying to catch the conversation, but they were too far away. Feathertail and Bluestar finished speaking and raced off. Spottedleaf cautiously followed them. She thought Bluestar had yowled the word, "Spottedleaf?" but she could not be sure. Spottedleaf felt a rush of dread. Whatever I do, they cannot possibly find out.