Dapplestar sat down in the clearing, the marshland cold and frozen beneath her. In front of her, Moonshade and Icepaw squared off, their tails lashing as they stared at each other. Moonshade flattened himself to the ground, while Icepaw's shoulders were tensed. The two cats glanced over at Dapplestar, and Dapplestar gave them a small nod.

Icepaw leaped off the ground, silently but deadly as the white she-cat carved an arc in Moonshade's chest with her thorn-sharp claws. Bright red blood flowed from the wound. Moonshade gritted her teeth and flung the apprentice to the ground, tearing at her skin with practiced claws. Icepaw grunted with pain and kicked the black tom sharply in his stomach. Using his moment of hesitation, Icepaw slipped underneath him and appeared at his side, sinking her teeth into his leg, and wrenching it forward.

Moonshade yowled with pain when Icepaw's fangs met his tendon. He attempted to turn, possibly to cuff her over her ears, but Icepaw refused to let go. The black tom let out a howl of increasing desperation, trying to pull away, but still Icepaw kept her teeth latched on.

"Stop!" Dapplestar called out, her command cutting sharply through the air. Icepaw immediately obeyed the she-cat's booming order, letting go of Moonshade's leg. Moonshade limped away, licking the wound on his leg fiercely. His ears flattened with shame as Dapplestar padded over, examining their wounds.

Moonshade was beaten by an apprentice, Dapplestar thought to herself. Perhaps I have not spent as much time with him as I have spent with Icepaw. Nothing came out of Dapplestar's mouth, no praise, no scolding. Instead, she gave a nod to both cats.

"I'm sorry, I failed," Moonshade whispered, lowering his head to his leader.

Dapplestar shrugged. "You must try harder next time," she growled. "Do not be afraid to fight. I noticed your hesitation. Remember…" Her gaze swung, examining the two cats. "If any cat asks, WindClan did this." Too many cats have been asking questions lately. Moonshade and Icepaw had to train roughly if they wanted to be the best warriors they could. With a flourish of her tail, Dapplestar disappeared into the marshes.

As she left her two apprentices, Dapplestar thought deeply about what her next steps should be with the two of them. Icepaw was spending far too much time with Petalpaw for her liking. Dapplestar was being too light on Moonshade. She had to strengthen his training, to teach him what it meant to be a warrior. Resolve flowed through Dapplestar. That would be her plan from now on.

Knowing she couldn't go back to camp right after Icepaw and Moonshade, as it would draw too much suspicion, Dapplestar decided to hunt. Catching the taste of mouse on the air, she dropped into a hunter's crouch and began to weave her way through the reeds. She wiggled her haunches, ready to leap once she caught the small-furred creature in sight.

The mouse looked up, nibbling on a nut. Dapplestar was ready to pounce, when sudden movement from the bracken made the mouse drop its nut and dart away. Dapplestar hissed in frustration. Whatever made her lose her catch would pay. The RiverClan leader looked up, trying to search for the culprit.

"Dapplestar!" called out a voice.

Mistsong? Dapplestar recognized the young warrior's voice and sat up. The long-furred gray she-cat finally came into view, panting heavily.

"What is it?" Dapplestar demanded as the she-cat regained her composure.

"There's a ShadowClan cat in our territory!" Mistsong exclaimed.

"Oho." Dapplestar clicked her tongue and tilted her head. "Is that right?" Really? After I told Talonstar I'd burn him to the ground if I saw one more trace of his cats on my land?

"I swear," Mistsong gasped. "I saw him with my own eyes. I wasn't sure if I should attack him, so I came to get you."

"Right." Dapplestar straightened up. "Bring me to him."

"Yes, Dapplestar!" Mistsong flicked her tail and bounded in the other direction. Dapplestar followed her, staying low to the ground. A growl rumbled in her throat. Talonstar had offered her Icepaw as a hostage, to secure the peace between the Clans, yet he had ordered one of his cats to cross RiverClan territory? What kind of reprehensible snake is he? Anger made her claws unsheathe. When she saw that ShadowClan tom, she would teach him a lesson he would never forget.

Mistsong brought her into the clearing where RiverClan's fresh scent lines met ShadowClan's faint ones. In the distance, Dapplestar could see a faint brown pelt. The scent of ShadowClan radiated strongly from the creature. Dapplestar looked over at Mistsong. "It seems you are right. Do you know what he is doing here?"

Mistsong shook her head. "I have no idea, Dapplestar. All I did was find him. I wanted to question him, and he saw me. He was following me when I ran away. He's still in the same spot."

Dapplestar frowned. "Stay here," she ordered.

Mistsong nodded. Dapplestar padded away, readying her claws, bracing her shoulders, eager for the attack. If she could deliver Talonstar a corpse on his own territory, a reminder to him of what happened when a ShadowClan cat broke a peace agreement, perhaps she could bring down the dark tabby once and for all. She frowned as Mistsong's scent got closer.

"What part of 'stay back' did you not understand, Mistsong?" Dapplestar snarled, not turning her head around. Mistsong halted. Dapplestar sighed in irritation and continued to stalk towards the ShadowClan tom. Her claws were ready, her teeth bared. She was going to catch her prey, and she would not let it leave.

Suddenly, a crushing weight brought Dapplestar to the ground. Claws began to tear at her spine, raking out fur. Dapplestar tried to howl, but a paw covered her mouth. In near seconds, teeth met her neck, and the cat grasped tightly. Had the ShadowClan warrior attacked her when she wasn't even looking? Dapplestar flailed in the warrior's grasp and opened her eyes, trying to make out her attacker.

It was not the ShadowClan warrior.

It was Mistsong.

Mistsong's blue eyes burned with rage and rancor. Dapplestar tried to speak, to chastise the she-cat, to swear at her, but her throat was burning with pain as Mistsong held, tighter and stronger. What the hell is this cat doing? Is she out of her pain? Panic started to make Dapplestar flail in Mistsong's grasp. Get off me! She lashed out her claws, tearing down Mistsong's chest, but Mistsong didn't move. Instead, she held onto Dapplestar as if she were the prey.

She's trying to kill me nine times! Dapplestar realized with horror as the she-cat began to score her claws down her stomach. Curse you… I'll kill you… you traitor! You damned traitor! When I'm done, the children of your children will be begging the forgiveness of the devils! The all-consuming, seething affliction was beginning to bring a black haze to her eyes. Dapplestar tried to fight, to let go, but Mistsong's grip was so strong that Dapplestar found her breathing beginning to stop. She's really going to succeed… she's going to kill me nine times… I just know it…

She didn't want to give up. She wanted to fight, to take control of her life, and to teach this damned Mistsong a lesson, to kill her where she stood. But Mistsong was the predator, and she was the prey. She was exhausted, and her eyes felt heavy. She had no more strength in her. She could feel her own blood gushing down her neck and stomach, surely forming a pool underneath her. Unable to hold on, Dapplestar shut her eyes, letting the darkness envelop her in its comforting embrace.