Hollypaw sat in the clearing of ThunderClan's camp, watching Falconstar growl at Goldenlight. The tomcat drew back his claw and brought it forward with a hard blow.

"How could you lose our kits!" the ginger tomcat growled.

The queen pushed back her ears and let out a low snarl. "It wasn't my fault, Falconstar. It was StarClan-"

The leader silenced her with a hit to the face, sending the she-cat rolling a few fox-lengths across the camp.

"Don't talk to me about StarClan!" he spat their name like it was poison.

Hollypaw and the other cats gasped, their eyes widened.

Falconstar jumped on the Highledge, his fur bristled while his green eyes burned into his mate's golden pelt.

"ThunderClan, I will not be hearing anything about StarClan from any cat! They led us down this path. We lost most of our warriors, our kits are missing, and StarClan has not spoken to Flamestep in many moons."

Shocked yowls rose from the cats and some started growling!

A black tom pushed through the crowd in front of him.

"This is mouse-brained!" Darkleap hissed, raising his voice. "Turn our backs on our ancestors?"

A light brown tabby mewed up at the ginger cat on the Highledge. "I agree with Darkleap," said Swiftbreeze. "StarClan is always watching over us!"

Hollypaw didn't bother to listen to the conversation anymore and moved her gaze to the sky, night slowly setting in.

A bluish-gray cat padded over to her, and Hollypaw forced a fake purr.

"What is it Pebblepaw? Shouldn't you and Duskpaw be on patrol?"

Robinflight's voice brought the apprentices' attention back.

The ginger tabby pushed back his ears and looked at his deputy. "Ashmoon," he snapped, "take a raiding party to WindClan's camp."

"A raiding party?" echoed Twigsnap. "That's outrageous!"

A harsh glance from the leader was enough to make the black tom stop talking and shrank back.

"Now," Falconstar continued after clearing his throat. "I have some cat I would like you all to meet."

The sound of claws on rock made the Clan look up to the walls surrounding the camp.

Muscle rippled under the cat's black pelt, his tail flicking with every step he took. Landing by the warrior den, the newcomer pounded up to the Highledge and stood by the ThunderClan leader.

Dead silence filled the air as cats glanced at one another, confused as to who this cat was.

However, two ear-splitting roars sounded from a black she-cat and a calico tom.

Hollypaw turned her yellow eyes to the two half-Clans a fox-length from the rock. Ashmoon and Clawdawn hissed at the black cat next to Falconstar, their fur fluffed up.

"Father," Clawdawn spat.

The tomcat turned his head to his kits and slyly purred.

"Nightstar," the ginger tabby addressed. "I believe we have things to discuss."

"Indeed." The Dark Forest spirit gave a nod.

Falconstar turned his attention back to his Clan. "ThunderClan, I have decided to ask Nightstar to join us as we continue to defend our territory. You shall not attack him by any means, and if you do so, you will pay greatly."

The reddish glow on Nightstar's pelt started flickering as if it was being turned on and off.

Twigsnap gave a mighty yowl. "Nightstar was the one who once chased TimberClan from our territory-"

"You're not in TimberClan, anymore," Falconstar pointed out. "Now that you all know Nightstar is here, I want you all to hunt as much prey as you can find. Meeting dismissed."

As the cats sat there bewildered at the news they just received, Hollypaw looked to the sky. "StarClan..." the white she-cat trembled. "How could you let this happen?"

• • •

Hollypaw dashed through the treetops, every tree looking the same. The white she-cat chased the squirrel in front of her, then its gray tail disappeared into the clump of pine needles. Digging her claws into the tree bark, the apprentice stopped just in time to avoid going over the ShadowClan border. "Fox-dung!" she cursed. Hearing rustling, she looked over her shoulder and saw Dovewillow jump from branch to branch and land by her side.

"Well, you need to get faster if you want to catch squirrels, Hollypaw."

The white cat playfully shoved the calico warrior. "Hey, I may not be a good hunter, but I'm still loyal."

"Yeah," Dovewillow purred. She flicked her tail behind her and the cats thundered back the way they came.

Hollypaw fluffed out her fur, the chilling air making her quiver.

"So," the calico she-cat purred, looking at Hollypaw. "Got your eyes set on a certain tom?"

Hollypaw's yellow eyes clouded. I'm not close to anyone in the Clan... I never actually thought about it before, she thought.

"How about Rainclaw?" Dovewillow suggested.

Ears perking, Hollypaw looked at her friend. "Your brother?"

The warrior purred. "Yeah," she answered. "You know, he's taken a liking to you."

"Right," the white pelted apprentice said mockingly. The soon heard fierce snarls and yowls, and the two stopped dead in their tracks, the scent of blood reaching Hollypaw's nose.

What's happening now?