Er…I'm back from Florida! This one will be hard. ._.

NO WAY BACK

"Greetings, Crowflight. I've been waiting for you."

I gazed across the shadows, searching for the cat whose voice that belonged to. Dark blue eyes suddenly blinked from the darkness, and a black-and-gray tabby tom prowled toward me. My heart nearly leapt into my throat, and I struggled to stay calm.

"Wh…who are you?" I stammered.

"My name is Darkstripe." The striped tom sat down and curled his tail over his paws. "I'm one of your ancestors."

"Where am I? What am I doing here?"

"You're in the Place of No Stars, Crowflight."

"Am I dead?"

"No. Now listen," Darkstripe growled. "You've been feeling let down by your Clan, yes?"

I gasped. How did he know what I'd been feeling? "Y…yes."

"You've been feeling that…they are not as strong as you want them to be. Too many half-Clans, kittypets, and loners, correct?"

I nodded; dread prickling the fur on my spine.

"Kill them." The two words whispered out of Darkstripe's lips easily and coolly.

"Wh…what?" Now the dread was trickling up my throat like bile. "Kill them? My Clan? I can't kill them!"

"And why not?" Darkstripe took a pawstep towards me, and I took one backwards. "Because…it's against the warrior code!"

Darkstripe sat back down. "Hm. You're not as strong as I thought you were. Just as weak and spineless as the other ThunderClanners." He stood, turned around, and began to pad back into the shadows.

I thought quickly, hating those words that came out of his mouth. Hating that he was calling me those words. Anger and boldness now raged through me.

"W…wait! I'm not weak, or spineless!" I called. "Come back…and show me what to do. Please!"

Darkstripe glanced back at me, his lips in a grin, and he stalked back to me. "You want to know what to do? I'll tell you…"

"Crowflight, wake up, you lazy furball!"

I jolted awake. Sunlight poured into my eyes, causing me to squint. My sister, Willowheart, towered over me. "You sleep like a rock, you know that? Come on; dawn patrol."

I groaned inwardly as I rose to my paws and followed her into the clearing. I instinctively headed for the fresh-kill pile.

"No time to eat." Willowheart stepped in front of me, her dark green eyes blazing. "Come on." She flicked her tail as she trotted to the camp entrance, where Rootclaw, ThunderClan's most respected senior warrior, and his apprentice Minnowpaw, stood waiting. When they saw us approaching, Rootclaw nodded and dashed into the forest.

xxxxxx

"Let's stop and get a drink of water," Rootclaw sighed, padding over to a pool of water. The other three cats took sips and sat down, resting. The green-leaf sun blazed down on my back as I waited for them to finish drinking so I could go. I took a few pawsteps towards it, lowered my muzzle, and opened my mouth when suddenly a black and gray head appeared.

"Kill them, Crowflight." Darkstripe. I gasped and gave a startled yowl, stumbling backwards, crashing into Minnowpaw.

"Hey!" Minnowpaw squealed, shoving me away from her. "What was that for?"

"What's wrong, Crowflight?" Willowheart demanded.

"A…a face was in the w-water…" I stammered. I could feel my smoky black fur sticking straight in the air.

Willowheart glanced into the pool. "I…I don't see anything, Crowflight."

"The heat is probably getting to his head," Rootclaw murmured to my sister. "Take him back to camp and send another warrior to take his place."

Willowheart nodded and draped her tail over my back. "Come on."

xxxxxx

It was time.

It was ready.

I quickly rubbed the sticks together. Sparks bounced up from them until a few flames sprouted. I snatched up the large leaf and waved it at the fire, which grew and grew until it was taller than me. Smoke filled the thick, hot air as flames leapt from the sticks. Then I darted away and watched the camp and every cat in it burn to pieces.

Now I regret that choice. I wish I'd let them live. Every cat has frustrations in their Clan, but I let them get to be. I know now that there's no way back.

Weird and crappy and rushed. Sorry!

xx-Starfall-xx