Welcome back, everyone!

I'm excited to say that this is the last chapter (besides the Epilogue) of Morning Rays! I'll be updating Dawn Sun soon, probably by the beginning of next month.

Shoutouts to: FizzNBoo, Fastbreeze37, MapleLily96, MoonStar Of ShadowClan, FrostedShadowx, puppydogs68, Ambertail, RavenblazeOC, and SkystarOfMistClan for reviewing so much. It means a lot to me.

Enjoy!

. . .

Sunshadow padded into camp, carrying a piece of prey. He set it on the heaping pile and taking a small mouse for himself. The golden tom then padded off to the side of the BlazeClan camp, settling beside Tumblefoot, who was chatting with Oatsplash. They glanced up at Sunshadow as he approached.

"Oh, hey Sunny. We were just talking about your sister." Sunshadow tensed.

"What about her?" he questioned, his gaze flicking between the two cats nervously.

Tumblefoot skimmed his front paw across the ground. "Well, you know how last time, when we were talking with Yellowtooth, he acted like he had a crush on Moonsong?"

Oh no.

"I was just thinking, maybe it would make him happy if we could at least make Moonsong go out on a walk or something with him once."

Sunshadow ducked his head, staring at the ground. What was he supposed to say? Moonsong was obviously more interested in Falconstrike than any BlazeClan cat. Should he tell them she already was interested in another cat? No, they would try to find out who. Maybe if he could get Moonsong to meet up with Yellowtooth instead of Falconstrike, she would realize how much better it would be if she was with a cat of her own Clan...

Sunshadow looked back at Tumblefoot, swallowing nervously. "Uh, I guess it wouldn't hurt for her to go out with Yellowtooth once." Tumblefoot nodded excitedly.

"He'll be so happy. When should we get them to meet up?" Oatsplash meowed, leaning in.

Sunshadow paused. "Well, Moonsong and I aren't exactly on the best terms right now; maybe one of you could persuade her instead?" he suggested hopefully. Tumblefoot glanced at him uncertainly.

"Are you sure? Well, if you say so..." His eyes lit up again. "Wait; what if we got Lavenderfern to bring her to a meeting spot? You and I could get Yellowtooth out in the meantime."

Sunshadow nodded. "That's a better idea. When should we go it?"

Oatsplash stood up. "Tumblefoot and I were thinking tonight. Moonhigh. Near the EchoClan border. There's a clearing surrounded by trees there."

"Sounds like a plan," Sunshadow decided, a twinge of nervousness in his belly.

. . .

Moonsong sighed, staring at the evening sky. She almost didn't want to sleep tonight, in fear of what Quiverhawk may do to her. She knew that she was trapped every time she closed her eyes. She always woke up in that dark forest, with dead cats surrounding her. She squeezed her eyes shut, despair flooding through her body as a realization hit her.

They had been using her.

Quiverhawk never cared for her. Maybe Falconstrike didn't either...

She was just a part of their plan.

A tear ran down her face, sliding past her muzzle and dropping to the ground. As she sat there alone, sobbing, Lavenderfern approached her.

"Moonsong! There you are. I-" She froze, breaking off.

"Moonsong?"

Moonsong sniffed, turning to her friend. "Y-Yeah?" she mumbled, wiping a paw across her face.

"Oh, Moonsong... What's wrong?"

The silver she-cat scooted closer to Lavenderfern, who wrapped her tail around her.

"I-I've really messed up."

Lavenderfern stroked her back. "C'mon, Moonsong, it can't be that bad."

"Yes, it is."

"Can you tell me?"

Moonsong drew in a shaky breath, body shuddering. "I-I don't know i-if I should tell you."

"If you're worried about me hating you, don't be. You can tell be anything."

Moonsong sighed. "Promise you won't tell anyone?"

"Promise."

"Well..." Moonsong didn't know where to start. "It all started when I was an apprentice."

"I met this TwilightClan apprentice, Falconpaw. He was so sweet, caring, and thoughtful. I felt like he was perfect. I loved him. Actually, I still do. Not long after this, during the battle against MeadowClan and TwilightClan, I-I saved him. From Sunshadow, Sunpaw at the time. I had to tell him, and he was furious. We haven't really spoken since then. After that, this cat came to me in my dream. His name was Quiverhawk. He said he was my great-grandfather, father to Skyspeck. He was really fun to talk to, and he seemed to understand me. Since then, I've been meeting him at night when I'm asleep. L-Last night, he offered t-to t-take over my body. I-I refused, and he was furious. He said I wasn't the leader he wanted me to be. B-But I'm afraid of what he'll do tonight. He knows that I'll refuse again, but he might force me. I j-just wish I had never met Falconstrike. I wish I had never said yes to Quiverhawk. I wish-" She let out a moan, leaning into Lavenderfern.

"Oh, Moonsong..." Lavenderfern shook her head. "What's done is done. What you did was wrong, but I can see why you agreed to these things."

Moonsong glanced up at her friend.

"B-But now I know that th-they were using me the entire time. Falconstrike to bring me to the Dark Forest, Quiverhawk to take over my body, and eventually, probably all of the Clans."

Lavenderfern sighed. "I may have something that'll make you feel better."

"What?"

"First, wipe your eyes. Then follow me."

. . .

Lavenderfern and Moonsong arrived at the clearing. Yellowtooth was already there.

"Moonsong," he mewed, excitement brimming in his eyes, along with something else that Moonsong couldn't identify.

"Yellowtooth? What-" Moonsong glanced back at Lavenderfern, who nodded.

Yellowtooth cleared his throat. "Uh, Moonsong... I have something to confess." Moonsong tilted her head, staring Yellowtooth up and down.

"I-" A loud, screeching howl stopped him. Moonsong let out a terrified yowl as the whole world went dark.

Moonsong stood up shakily, glancing around. Her gaze stopped on something that turned her blood ice cold.

Her body.

Was she dead?

A yowl followed by a thump came from behind her. She whirled around, just in time to dodge an attack.

From Quiverhawk.

"WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?!" He yowled, his eyes burning with anger. "HOW COULD YOU TELL ANOTHER CAT ABOUT THE DARK FOREST? AND ABOUT FALCONSTRIKE? YOU SAID THAT YOU WERE RESPONSIBLE ENOUGH!" He lashed out, opening a gash in her forehead. Moonsong reeled back, wiping the wound with her paw, her blood slicking her fur back and turning it a deep shade of red.

Quiverhawk crouched, ready to pounce again, but stopped himself.

"Well, Moonsong. You have proved that you are not loyal to me, or Falconstrike. And disloyalty must be punished." He narrowed his eyes, a maniacal laugh rising in the back of his throat.

"I have no choice but to take over your body. Someone needs to make a change around here, and that apparently isn't you now."

Moonsong gasped, backing away.

"Wh-What about-"

"NO BUTS!" he screeched, lashing a paw out blindly again, this time ripping her ear open.

"I will give it back, if you must know. There are just a few- changes -that need to be made around here." He licked a paw, drawing it across his ear. "Until then, you will stay up in the Dark Forest. I will come back when I have completed my mission."

Moonsong's jaw dropped open, horror filling her stomach as she was whisked away once more.

. . .

Yellowtooth's eyes widened, and he glanced at Lavenderfern. Moonsong's body was lying in front of them, the howling gone.

"Wha-What just happened?" he stuttered, anxiety rising in his chest.

"I don't know," Lavenderfern murmured.

The siblings stood in silence for a moment, before Moonsong began to stir.

"Moonsong!" called Yellowtooth.

Moonsong's head shot up, snapping over to Yellowtooth.

"Ye-" she began, her voice sounding odd. She cleared her throat, speaking again.

"Yellowtooth," she greeted.

"What happened?" he asked, staring at her.

"I don't know. I just remember blacking out, then waking up," she replied.

Yellowtooth nodded, stepping closer to her as she began to walk away.

"Well, I'll head back to camp to report this," she called over her shoulder, dashing off.

Lavenderfern looked at Yellowtooth in bewilderment. "She-"

"I'll tell her later," Yellowtooth reassured Lavenderfern, smiling. "She's right; this should be reported before anything else."

Lavenderfern nodded, beginning to head back to camp with Yellowtooth as the morning rays of sunlight began to peek over the horizon.

. . .

So? What did you think? Was this the ending you were expecting?

If this seemed too sudden to you, don't worry, there will be an epilogue to sum it all up.

Thank you for reading! Make sure to leave a review! ;)

-Russet