Darkfire had taken a long time to explain to Shadowstar what had happened to her, but to Darkfire's satisfaction, Shadowstar had understood.
She padded out of Shadowstar's den when she saw Nightsky, the Clan deputy.
"Oh," she gasped, moving aside. "Go ahead."
"Actually," Nightsky mumbled, looking a bit embarrassed, "I came to see you."
"Oh," Darkfire murmured. "Well then, what is it?"
"Do you wish to go hunting with me?"
Somehow, Darkfire could see in his deep green eyes that what he had last spoken was less than a question than it sounded.
"Sure."
Together, they sped out to the Clan territory.
When they reached a very wooded area, Nightsky halted her by poking his tail in front of her.
"Look at the pond I found," Nightsky purred, looking proud. "It's a great place for finding frogs."
Darkfire followed her deputy into the secluded area. Stars began to shine above them, and the moon was just waning from its previous fullness the night before.
Nightsky sat, and Darkfire followed his motions.
"Darkfire… I have something to ask you."
"Um, sure Nightsky," she mewed hesitantly.
"Will you be my mate?" he blurted.
Darkfire's eyes widened.
"Why yes, of course Nightsky," she purred. Darkfire had always admired ShadowClan's deputy, but she had never expected she would ever be mates with him.
Nightsky touched noses with her.
Together, they sat in silence. Two days of Darkfire's life would ever be like this, as she would find soon.
Two stars began to move to each other.
"Our stars," Nightsky whispered, and their tails twined.
Suddenly, Darkfire broke away.
"I'd better go," Darkfire mewed. "Shadowpelt told me to get some rest."
Nightsky looked disappointed, but he just nodded and sat alone. He wasn't ready to return yet.
They both touched noses and then Darkfire raced off into the trees.
Nightsky sighed. The perfect mate…
Only Nightsky saw one of the stars die out.
It must be because Darkfire left to go rest, he thought.
Little did Nightsky know it did not mean that at all.
No, Lightwave gasped. She had come to the ShadowClan border in hopes of seeing her crush, Nightsky. She had seen him, but with another cat.
Their tails twined! I'll never be able to love him again.
A cat appeared before her- a gray she-cat with amber-red eyes. The cat who had been sitting beside Nightsky! But she knew it wasn't possibly that cat. Darkfire had left to her camp long ago.
It would never have been possible if I were dead! Lightwave realized. I'm RiverClan, he's ShadowClan, and we're at war.
Lightwave ran back to camp without looking back.
Tangletalon narrowed her eyes.
"Bring Eaglekit to me."
The elder jumped in surprise as the storm-gray kit stalked into her den.
"Eaglepaw," he corrected. "Once you three aren't so distracted, Windvoice will make you apprentices too." He gave Cardinalkit and Moonkit a friendly, brotherly smile. But when he saw Scarkit draw himself up with excitement at the prospect of being an apprentice, he narrowed his eyes and gave Scarkit a cold, icy glare.
"Congratulations, Eaglepaw," Tangletalon mewed softly. "May you and I talk for a moment?"
Eaglepaw shot a look of hatred at Scarkit and slowly sat down beside the elder.
"We'll be outside now," Moonkit rasped.
Scarkit seemed eager to leave.
"No Scarkit," Tangletalon commanded. "I want you here too."
Scarkit's face melted in fear for a moment, but he held his head high and tried looking as brave as possible. Tangletalon was certain that this was because Scarkit didn't want Eaglepaw to think he was afraid.
"I think I know what this is about," Eaglepaw snarled softly, narrowing his eyes with his gray fur fluffed out.
"Yes. I was told about your words by your siblings. They were concerned for their Clanmate. Surely you know what words like that mean? How serious they are?"
Eaglepaw examined his claws.
"Yes," he murmured, a devious grin creeping up his face. "I know exactly what they mean. And I meant them one hundred percent."
Tangletalon drew in a sharp breath.
"Why on Earth-"
"Shut up you old heap of foxdung," Eaglepaw hissed. "The cobwebs in your brain obscure any line of logical thought. Scarkit must be dead."
Tangletalon got to her paws and hurried to the den's exit.
"I'm telling Windvoice right away," she snarled.
Eaglepaw lunged forward and hauled the amber-eyed she-cat back.
"Tell her any bit of this, and you'll be dead. I'll be keeping an eye on you."
Suddenly, a holler rang from the clearing.
"Eaglepaw! Come out for your first training session!"
Eaglepaw cracked his cruel grin.
"And Windvoice can eat deathberries for all I care," he growled.
Tangletalon swallowed anxiously.
Eaglepaw laughed wickedly and hurried off to meet his mentor and deputy for training.
"You are excused, Scarkit," she rasped.
Scarkit didn't hesitate to hurry out of the nursery.
Eaglepaw was just my friend yesterday, he thought. Perhaps my favorite kit of them all. And now he'd be willing to kill Scarkit, Windvoice, me, and most likely Ravenstar to achieve any of his ambitions. Now that evil lurks within us, what does this mean for WindClan now?