The depths of her eyes were as black as a moonless night. She entwined herself around Raggedstar, eyes wide and emotionless.

"I don't think this will work." She looked around at the darkness engulfing them. "There are so many things that could go wrong!"

"Nonsense!" Raggedstar glared at her. "You let them know, they'll show up."

"That's not the problem, the problem is that you're counting on them falling off a cliff and not dying."
"When you put it like that…" Raggedstar pushed her away from him. "Look, Brokenstar-"

"Raggedstar! This isn't all about your revenge. The clans need to be free from them and any relations of theirs forever! It's the only way!"
"It will work." Raggedstar glared up at the starless night, his claws making short work of the earth beneath him. "It will be like they never existed."

o0o

Brokenstar cursed, glaring at the rats behind Dovewing. Jayfeather stood next to her, a look of pure terror frozen on his face.

Hawkfrost slowly began to shift, his eyes never leaving the rats. "Okay, who can we spare?"

"I don't know." Brokenstar began to scan the prisoners. "Flametail-"

"No!" Tigerheart's eyes were wild with rage at the very suggestion.

"Yeah him."

"That's about it…"

Brokenstar's eyes narrowed. "Alright, fine. Protect Jayfeather and Dovewing, the others can die for all I care."

Dovewing's heart was frozen. Her mother and father and her clanmates- Brokenstar was going to use them as bait! "No!"

Everyone turned to the speaker; Dovewing. "I will die, I will sacrifice myself for them! Leave them alone!"

Brokenstar swung around to face her. "That would have touched my heart- if I had one. How sweet. But alas, I don't care about them; you will live. Hawkfrost, get ready to run."

"You can't do this!" Jayfeather had stepped forward. "You will pay for this, Brokenstar."

The Dark forest leader turned to look at him. "Jayfeather, do you honestly think we released rats upon our own? That this is our fault? I don't have time for this! The longer you talk, the of your loved ones will die!"

The rats shifted, making sure they were surrounded.

"Okay, so we run to that tree, got it?" Hawkfrost was herding the expendables cats towards the rats. Soon they had formed a protective shield around the Dark forest cats and the valuable prisoners.

Dovewing felt rage overwhelm her. She threw herself at Brokenstar, teeth barred.

The rats saw the movement and attacked.

And Dovewing didn't know what was happening because of the blood and screams and noise. She was running to the tree, she was in it. She was safe at last. The tree was oak, and rotted out. She saw Jayfeather's eyes widen. "Tigerstar's here."

Dovewing stretched out her senses until she found the massive tabby. She didn't have to go far, he was right on the branch above her, along with Brokenstar.

Hawkfrost jumped on the branch and was about to say something when he saw Tigerstar.

Brokenstar turned on the dark tabby hate gleaming in his eyes.

"Brokenstar. You can't spare warriors on me. Stop fighting. I came to warn you about-"

"Traitor!" Brokenstar lunged at the tabby, claws unsheathed. Tigerstar backed away, startled.

"Brokenstar! Don't even-"

Hawkfrost stepped in between them. "Brokenstar, he's right. We can't spare warriors on him. Let him go." Dovewing noticed the way he refused to meet his father's eyes.

Brokenstar hissed, fury radiating from him. "Go, coward." Tigerstar eyes began to narrow.

"GO!"

Tigerstar backed away, his eyes never leaving Brokenstar's. He disappeared into the night, as he never was there.

It was only then, after the drama had ensued that Dovewing realized something was wrong.

"Where is, where is-" She fought the waver in her voice, not wanted know than answer to her question. Finally she looked Brokenstar in the eye and spoke, her voice nothing more than a whisper. "Where's Whitewing?"

A/N: Well, that might be the last chapter for a while. School takes away our computers for the summer. I might be able to update in the next few days, but I'm busy, so you know. If I get enough reviews, I might…

Anyway, thanks for reading so far.

Bye for now,

Amberflame