The second tale already! Wow! Only about a minute after I finished typing the first one! By the way, I'm reading this book called Eyes of the Emperor for Compact ELA next year and…well…the first sentence of this chapter is the exact first sentence of the book. I didn't mean to copy it, but…it fits perfectly, and…I hope this isn't plagiarism!

WANNA PLAY?

I would be lying if I said I wasn't afraid.

Why was I even doing this?

I have to love him! I snapped silently at myself.

Another part of my brain was screaming at me, it's dangerous, now that Pinefur is a rogue! If I don't love him, I'll be a goner!

"Dapplewing!"

I jumped as someone hissed my name from behind me. I spun around, and to my relief, it was only my best friend, Poppyleaf. The tortoiseshell she-cat galloped over to me. "What are you doing out here? Pinefur could be anywhere!"

"I know, I know." I remembered Pinefur's threatening addition to ShadowClan, and I couldn't help but shiver. He killed the former ShadowClan deputy, Kestrelwing, who Pinefur called a "spineless, mouse-brained fool", and the leader, Featherstar, banished him from the Clan. He was my mate before I even knew how threatening he was, and I loved him very much. I would soon be pregnant with his kits. Before Pinefur left the Clan for good, he promised ShadowClan one last thing: "I'll find all of you one day…and kill you! Every single one of you mange-pelts! I will skin you alive, you hear me?" I now shuddered when I saw innocent ShadowClan kits playing 'Kestrelwing versus Pinefur'. They had no idea how dangerous Pinefur really was. Now I had to meet with Pinefur every other night at moonhigh to tell him Clan secrets. I usually told him that there was nothing going on, which was true. He sometimes didn't believe me and clawed my pelt in anger that I was disloyal to him.

"I'm just…hunting!" I stammered, choosing my words carefully. "You know, since leaf-bare will be here soon, I thought that the Clan might need some extra prey."

"Yeah, we will," Poppyleaf agreed. "But why are you hunting at night? And all alone? Pinefur is surely around here."

"I…I'm a better hunter at night! You know how ShadowClan cats are." Poppyleaf was originally a RiverClan cat, but her father mated with a RiverClan she-cat and was taken into ShadowClan during her apprenticeship because the RiverClan leader didn't want half-Clans. To me, that was cruel. But at least it gave me the chance to meet Poppyleaf. She was a great friend.

"Plus, I didn't want to wake any cat up to go hunting with me," I added. "Everyone has been working so hard, and I haven't really, so I thought I should go by myself."

"Whatever," Poppyleaf sighed. "I'm hunting with you, since there is so much danger lurking in the shadows, you know?"

I felt dread creeping up my throat like bile. If I didn't meet with Pinefur, he'd find me and kill me in my sleep! I shuddered from the thought and the chilly breeze and followed Poppyleaf through our territory.

"Um, why don't you go look over there?" I flicked my tail towards ThunderClan territory. "I'll hunt around here."

"No," Poppyleaf argued. "I'm staying with you. It's like you want to hunt alone."

I want to be alone! I thought. I need to be alone! Or else, Pinefur will kill you, too!

"I don't," I mumbled, forcing a half-smile.

We couldn't find any prey, but finally it was moonhigh. I yawned, but didn't dare suggest going back to camp. Pinefur could come and murder me. Suddenly, Poppyleaf stopped and scented the air. "What's that weird smell? I hope it isn't a badger!" Her eyes widened. I recognized the scent at once-Pinefur! My heart raced and fear prickled the fur on my neck.

"Let's follow it! Maybe we'll find out what it is, and we can tell Featherstar!" Poppyleaf grinned and crouched down, her eyes wide and nostrils flare. She began stalking in the direction of the scent. I followed, dreading the moment we found Pinefur in place of badgers.

"It's strongest in that badger's set!" Poppyleaf whispered, glancing over her shoulder at me. I nodded weakly and swallowed hard. This was Pinefur's den.

"Well, hello ladies!"

Poppyleaf's tortoiseshell fur shot straight up and her ears swiveled. She glanced around.

"Hi there, pretty face." StarClan, no. That was what Pinefur always called me. "It looks like you brought a friend."

There he was, pouncing down from the pine tree he was sitting in. He prowled toward us hungrily and Poppyleaf gave a sharp gasp. I could see him unsheathe his claws in the moonlight. He blinked his green eyes slowly and gave a little chuckle.

As he neared closer, Poppyleaf and I backed away. He swiped his tongue over his lips. "Wanna play?"

O.O Creepy! This seems a little too short; on Word Document it only takes up about half of a page. Well, the ending leaves it open for you to imagine what happens next! I feel bad for poor Dapplewing. I was originally going to use Dapplefur, but I then realized that it was already used in Warriors. Also, Pinefur already had "fur" after his prefix. Dapplefur and Pinefur sounds cheesy. I dunno. Well, onto the next tale!

xx-Starfall-xx