Shellfall raced through RiverClan's marshland, his speed exceeding the one of a WindClan's cat. His claws tore the reeds and rushes up from underneath him as he tracked the scent of two cats that he knew would help him in his pursuit for justice. Leaping over a narrow stream, Shellfall continued his trek through the marshland until he reached the waterfall. Skidding to a halt, he recognized two cats wrestling. Their claws were sheathed, and they were clearly training. But now was not the time for training.

"Icepaw! Moonshade!" Shellfall called out.

At Shellfall's voice, the two cats broke apart, turning to face Shellfall. Icepaw looked away and licked a wound on her shoulder, while Moonshade lowered his head a tad. Not the gesture he would give Dapplestar or Shimmerwing, but similar.

"Shellfall," Moonshade greeted him. "Is everything all right?"

Shellfall's fur bristled. "There has been a coup in RiverClan," he growled.

"What?" Moonshade's blue eyes widened. Icepaw looked over her shoulder, a frown on her face. "What happened?"

"Mistsong has tried to kill Dapplestar." Shellfall lifted his head. "She's taking over RiverClan, with a small group of cats. Senior warriors such as Runningflame and Rippleheart have been imprisoned for accusations of trying to usurp power in RiverClan. I need to defeat Mistsong and the rest of her cats, so I can take them prisoner. And I need your help."

Moonshade raced over to him, his thorn sharp claws unsheathed. A murderous gleam lit in Moonshade's midnight-blue eyes, and the bold, bloodthirsty young warrior nodded vehemently. Icepaw padded next to him. Although no emotion showed on her face, the closest thing Shellfall recognized as an agreement from her was a small dip of her head.

"This won't go unavenged," Moonshade snarled. "Lead the way, Shellfall."

Shellfall nodded to Moonshade. Although the untamed look in his eyes caused a chill to run down Shellfall's spine, he couldn't think twice of it. He needed someone who would help him defeat Mistsong, and he would take whoever came his way. The gray dappled tom turned on his heel and bounded away, heading straight towards the island. Determination made him fly as fast as the wind, and when he looked over his shoulder, he found that Icepaw and Moonshade were struggling to keep up. He slowed down to allow them to catch up, but he knew that every moment counted.

"Come on," Shellfall urged them. The two cats nodded and began to run faster, and Shellfall returned to his original speed. The streams that surrounded the island came into view, and Shellfall skidded to a halt, realizing he would have to launch an attack on his own camp with just two cats to accompany him. There's no time. I must break my way into camp. If I can get into camp, then I can free Runningflame and Rippleheart from their prison. I've got to do this, no matter what it takes! Resolve flooded in Shellfall's paws.

He turned over to look at Moonshade and Icepaw, who were clearly waiting for orders. "Listen to me," Shellfall meowed. "We just need to get into camp. I'm sure it's heavily guarded. All we need to do is break through the guards. We need to get these traitors alive, you hear me?"

"We can't kill?" Moonshade sounded disappointed.

"No," Shellfall replied, exasperated. "Listen, I feel the same anger and rage you do. But you can't let that blind you. Right now, we have to help Dapplestar. And that means getting in camp and taking these traitors prisoner. They need to be taken alive."

Moonshade stared at his claws.

"Do you understand?" Shellfall glared at Moonshade.

"Yes," Moonshade mumbled.

Shellfall glanced at Icepaw, waiting for her agreement.

Icepaw nodded.

"Then let's go." Shellfall flicked his tail and headed towards the stream that blocked the entrance towards camp. The minute he put his paws into the water, a shrill warning cut through the sky.

"Mistsong!" It was Rushfire. "Shellfall is trying to cross!"

"Stop him, damn it!" Mistsong's reply came as a furious hiss.

Rushfire let out a snarl, and Shellfall stepped back, seeing the brown tabby tom lunge from the foliage of the island. Rushfire leaped out from the ferns, his paws spread, his claws unsheathed, as he scaled the stream and landed on Shellfall. Shellfall hissed in fury and kicked Rushfire in his stomach. Rushfire let out a grunt, and Moonshade slammed into the young warrior's side, taking him off Shellfall.

"Rushfire!" called out another voice. Thistleflame. The blue-gray tom jumped out of the ferns, plunging through the stream, and aiming for Shellfall. Shellfall raised his paw, ready to cut down the cat, but Icepaw lunged forward and pinned Thistleflame down. Shellfall cast a grateful glance at her and leaped towards the stream, ready to cross again.

"Oh, no you don't!" This time, the cat speaking was Mistsong. Shellfall glanced up to see the gray she-cat leaping over the stream, just as Rushfire had, and aiming for Shellfall. Shellfall was pushed to the ground by the furious she-cat, who began to claw him ruthlessly in his stomach.

"What do you think you're doing?" Shellfall hissed at Mistsong as he sank his claws in her shoulder. "Trying to start a coup? Dapplestar isn't dead!"

"She is too!" Mistsong snarled. "I killed her! I killed her myself! I saw her not move for a good hour!"

"I spoke to her!" Shellfall howled at her, his spittle flying in Mistsong's face. Mistsong's blue eyes widened, and her face turned ashen. Finally, the she-cat slashed her claws across Shellfall's chest.

"You're lying." Mistsong's eyes smoldered. "You didn't talk to her."

Shellfall raked Mistsong's cheek with his claws, her blood landing on his face. Mistsong jerked her head back, and Shellfall pummeled her underbelly with his back claws, sending the she-cat lurching away. He scrambled to his paws and chased after her, trying to pin her down, but Mistsong, swift as a snake, avoided his attempts.

"Stand down!" Shellfall howled. "I said, stand down, and I will grant you your life! Keep fighting me, and I cannot guarantee you will keep it."

"Kill me, then!" Mistsong hissed at him, turning on her heel and cuffing Shellfall over his ears. Shellfall stepped back, ducking underneath her belly to emerge on her other side and sink his teeth into the base of her tail. Mistsong howled at the impact. "Kill me so you have another body to add to your conscience!"

"Let me through!" Shellfall lunged for the stream, ready to cross, but Mistsong leaped on his back, hanging tight onto him. Shellfall rolled over, sending her to the ground, smothering her with his weight. Mistsong gasped out for breath, and at her moment of weakness, Shellfall leaped into the stream, swimming through the waves. Mistsong hissed with fury and chased after Shellfall, but Shellfall was faster. Shellfall pulled himself to the surface, and he gasped as he felt Mistsong's teeth bite into the tip of his tail and pull. Shellfall kicked out his back legs, scoring them down Mistsong's face before bounding away into camp.

As he looked around, he realized that the Clan had no idea whose side they were on. Each cat looked like they were a walking ghost. Only Sparkfire, Blossomwing, and Quickbreeze showed signs of any sort of staunch belief, their gazes holding a piercing light as they scanned camp. Quickbreeze's ear twitched, and she turned to see Shellfall. "Shellfall!" she snarled.

Taking no notice of Quickbreeze, Shellfall bounded over to the elders' den, knowing that was where Runningflame and Rippleheart had been imprisoned. Driftheart and Ryefern stepped in front of him, but Shellfall could sense their hesitation. You don't know who you're fighting for. Slamming his paw heavily into their heads, Shellfall sent them to the ground and forced his way through the elders' den.

"Runningflame, Rippleheart!" Shellfall called out.

"Shellfall!" Runningflame's voice was full of relief as he emerged from the shadows. Rippleheart followed him, and Shellfall looked around to see Shimmerwing stepping out of the corners of the den.

"Shimmerwing," Shellfall breathed. "You're okay."

"I'm fine," Shimmerwing said. "What's going on?"

"Dapplestar is alive!" Shellfall exclaimed. "I spoke to her! I saw her! She told me to take the traitors alive!"

"Dapplestar is alive?" Shimmerwing echoed. "I knew it! I knew it!" The tawny she-cat rolled her head and yowled to the roof of the elders' den, "Dapplestar is alive!"

"Liar!" Shellfall turned to see Mistsong, out of breath and bleeding, but having finally caught up with Shellfall. "Dapplestar is dead! You speak nonsense, Shellfall. We all know your fanaticism to her. You are holding onto a false hope!"

"Your coup has failed, Mistsong!" Shellfall snarled. "Give it up!"

"You are all on trial, now!" Mistsong howled, dragging Shellfall out of the elders' den. Shellfall slashed at her ears again, but Mistsong didn't move. Runningflame, Rippleheart, and Shimmerwing followed Shellfall, their eyes blazing. Cats began to gather in the clearing, and Shellfall looked around, feeling a sense of panic.

It was clear that the Clan did not know what to do. They did not know if Dapplestar was alive or not. There was no body, but there was also no presence of Dapplestar at all. All they relied on was the word of a handful of cats, and some tortoiseshell fur. Shellfall shot daggers at Mistsong.

"I talked to her," Shellfall hissed. "She told me to take you prisoner."

Mistsong ignored him. "For crimes against the state, Shellfall, I sentence you to death."

"Death?" Shellfall echoed. "Crimes against the state? You are nothing, Mistsong!"

Shimmering snarled at Mistsong. "You have no leadership here."

"All of you!" Mistsong unsheathed her claws. "Runningflame, Rippleheart, Shellfall, and Shimmerwing! You are all sentenced to death!"

Shellfall glanced around at RiverClan. Cats were beginning to speak out, hissing their disapproval at Mistsong. Relief flashed over Shellfall as cats began to flock to the imprisoned cats' sides. Snowstorm padded over to Shimmerwing, her blue eyes blazing, with Darkshadow next to her. Squirreltail and Whitefeather trotted over to Runningflame, and Wolfheart and Tawnycloud padded over to Rippleheart. Shellfall looked over his shoulder to see Ravenwing and Fawnstep joining him. Shellfall turned to Mistsong.

"You're outnumbered," Shellfall snarled, seeing more cats join them out of the corner of his eye. The only cats who stood behind Mistsong were Blossomwing, Quickbreeze, Thistleflame, Rushfire, and Sparkfire.

Brightpool raced over to her kits, finally having shown herself. "Mistsong, Blossomwing!" she exclaimed. "What are you doing?" Her blue eyes were round with horror. "Stop this, immediately!"

Mistsong shook her head. Her blue eyes blazed as she stared at her mother, although they flickered with sorrow. Blossomwing pressed her lips tightly together and said nothing. "No, Mother. I can't. I'm doing this for a reason."

"What reason?" Brightpool exclaimed, stepping back, staring at her daughter as if she barely even recognized her. "Mistsong, please!"

Mistsong glared at her mother. "I will fight for justice in RiverClan, even if it kills me."

Shimmerwing glowered at the dark gray she-cat. "Give up now, and we will let you leave with your lives. Keep fighting, and you will die."

Shellfall looked over at Shimmerwing. "Dapplestar's orders were to keep them alive."

"Noted, Shellfall." But Shimmerwing's eyes were blazing with bloodlust as she stared at Mistsong and Quickbreeze.

"Shimmerwing is right." A deep voice made Shellfall turn around. At the entrance of the camp, a broad-shouldered ginger-and-black tom padded in, his amber eyes blazing, his long fur rustling in the wind. His piercing gaze focused on Mistsong. "Your coup has failed. This time, I will be the one executing punishments in Dapplestar's absence."

Shellfall stared at Rowanshade, his jaw dropping. Why was Rowanshade presiding over their trial? Shimmerwing let out a snarl at Rowanshade, but Rowanshade did not acknowledge it. Runningflame's striped tail lashed, and Rippleheart curled his lip.

"Rushfire, Thistleflame, you are to be imprisoned." Rowanshade was speaking quickly, as if he could not get the words out of him fast enough. Then, he turned to the she-cats. "Sparkfire and Blossomwing, you are to be exiled from the Clan. Quickbreeze and the cat's name who I shall not mention, are to be condemned to death."

"Rowanshade, Dapplestar has ordered me to keep these cats alive," Shellfall growled.

"I heard you the first time." Rowanshade fixated his gaze on the cats.

Mistsong's blue eyes burned with fury as she stared at her father. "Overseeing our trial will not hide your involvement, Father."

Shellfall gasped. He had been so caught up in the chaos of the day, he only just realized that Rowanshade was the father to Mistsong and Blossomwing. Is he there to help him? But he just issued death to his own children!

"My involvement?" Rowanshade's eyes widened. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"You knew and did nothing," Thistleflame hissed at him.

"You're just as guilty as the rest of us," Quickbreeze added, snarling at the tom.

"Spare me." Rowanshade rolled his eyes.

"No one will be spared," Mistsong snarled, hatred blazing in her eyes as she stared at her father.

Silverheart and Lightningcloud stared at their sisters, their gaze appalled. But their sisters didn't even risk a look at them – neither did they look at their mother, Brightpool, who was being held back by Darkshadow and Ryefern.

Shellfall took a deep breath, knowing that no order would come to the Clan unless a leader stepped forward. It was to be either Dapplestar, if she appeared, or Shimmerwing. But would any cat accept Shimmerwing, in the midst of all the chaos? Shellfall glanced over at the tawny she-cat, who was staring at Rowanshade with flames in her blue eyes. Shellfall began to speak, but a shadow crossed over camp, and when Shellfall turned to see who it was, his jaw dropped.