Hey, everyone! I'm back! Thank you all so much for reviewing that last chapter! I appreciate it :) Anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter of Brightest Star as much as you enjoyed the last two!

I'm gonna reply to all the reviewers, before I get on with the story:

Callie the Dog Goddess: Thank you so much! I hope you enjoy this chapter, too!

Okatu Fernsneeze: Thanks! I've fallen for Redfire, too. He's so loyal and sweet that it makes me feel bad :)

Wyatt: Thanks for reviewing! I appreciate the suggestion, but the story is going to go in a much, much different direction from that, so it won't be possible. Thanks anyway!

Sootfire: 'That worrisome Brightshadow'. I like it. So nice of you. Redfire is really sweet! He's so nice to Brightshadow. Too bad she can't see past her own nose to see what they're capable of together. *wink*

ILuvWarriors: Thank you! I feel like if I were a cat in ShadowClan at this time, I would be padding after Redfire, too. :)

Honeyflame: Thanks! I hope you also like this one!

Ravenflight: Thanks! That's so sweet of you to say. ;)

Onto the story...

Chapter 3

A single question burned in Brightshadow's mind as she padded, dragging her paws, deeper into Snowstar's den. What is she going to do to me? She hates me enough as it is... what did I do this time to get her tail in a twist?

Brightshadow was uncomfortably aware of Snowstar's blue gaze burning into her. After long moments, Snowstar dipped her sleek, white head. "No need to look so afraid, my daughter," Snowstar purred, her mew laced with false sweetness. "After all, when have I ever meant badly for you?"

"I won't answer that." The words slipped through Brightshadow's jaws before she could stop them, and for a brief moment, a flash of anger sparked in Snowstar's icy eyes, only to be replaced with the same sharp coldness as usual.

Snowstar tilted her head to one side, taking a step toward Brightshadow and placing her tail on the silver she-cat's shoulder. Brightshadow flinched away, eyes blazing. The white leader purred. "I just wanted to have a training session with my daughter." She practically spat the last word. "After all... we haven't done that in so long."

"What do you want, Snowstar?"

Snowstar flicked her tail, padding out of the den. "Walk with me, Brightshadow." Though her tone was soft and inviting, the sharp gleam in her eyes told Brightshadow that it was an order, as much as she hated it.

Stifling a long sigh, Brightshadow padded after the ShadowClan leader, flinching slightly as the early morning light clouded her vision for a few heartbeats. Brightshadow caught a glimpse of Redfire glancing worriedly toward her, and she nodded. It'll be fine, she wanted to say. I hope.

"Come." Snowstar hadn't missed the small interaction between Redfire and Brightshadow, and she now stared at the silver she-cat through narrowed eyes. Brightshadow dipped her head and padded after her leader. I wish I had a choice.

Brightshadow padded after Snowstar with a quiet sigh, moving toward the Highledge. She resisted the urge to flinch as Snowstar padded closer, closer... causing her to move backward against the Highledge. "You want something from me," Brightshadow hissed, her hackles rising.

Snowstar growled. "I heard you talking to Redfire yesterday." Immediately, Brightshadow's mind whirled. Yes, she had said some things about Snowstar... but how did she ever figure that out? "I have my ways of learning things," she continued, as if she could read Brightshadow's mind. "You know what you said, so I won't bother bringing any of it up." She flicked her tail flippantly, though her eyes remained dark. "Don't you know what happens to cats who speak against the leadership?"

Brightshadow hissed, sheathing and unsheathing her claws.

"Oh, of course you know, daughter." She lingered on the last word. "How else would you have gotten this?" Her tail flicked toward the scar on her face, gently brushing it until Brightshadow jerked away, a growl rumbling at the back of her throat.

"So what does this mean?" Brightshadow hissed, her voice coming out a lot less shaky than she felt. Are you going to kill me? She barely dared to voice the last question.

Snowstar shook her head. "I can't have the clan saying I favor my daughter over all other cats, but I think I'll make things a little more interesting between us. Maybe someday, daughter, you'll learn not to speak against the leadership. I thought just one scar would help you remember that, but... I guess not."

"What do you want me to do? Get to the point, mother." She spat the last word like it was crow-food.

"Let's train together. Just you and me... we haven't spent time together in so long," Snowstar purred, her voice smooth and mellow. But it was obvious what she was suggesting: A battle between you and me. "I want to know how capable you are."

"What do you really want me to do?"

"Fight." Her claws unsheathed. "Show me that you're not as useless as I think you are." She tipped her head to one side... which somehow, despite her cold heart, made her look more beautiful than ever before. "Either way, it's a losing match for you, isn't it?"

Brightshadow's heart leaped into her throat. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Redfire, still watching her carefully. His eyes widened as he saw Brightshadow's claws sink into the ground, tearing up grass. This shouldn't be happening...

Snowstar sprang, too fast. Brightshadow barely had any time to duck out of the way, and Snowstar's claws grazed her ear. "Maybe I can leave a few more scars in addition to that old one... what do you think?" Snowstar taunted.

Brightshadow hissed, crouching for a heartbeat before throwing herself at Snowstar, but the white leader whipped nimbly to one side. The silver she-cat landed awkwardly, feeling a slight jolt of pain as her face slammed into the ground. She rolled away as Snowstar sprang, her claws locking in Snowstar's fur as the two she-cats rolled in the grass. Snowstar broke away first, sending her claws slamming at the base of her ear, on the same side of her former scar.

Brightshadow screeched, twisting as to shake Snowstar off her. The white leader jumped to her paws, staring down at the silver she-cat. Brightshadow hissed, clamping her jaws around Snowstar's paws until she was shaken off, landing hard on the ground.

Snowstar sprang, pinning her down on her back so that Brightshadow was forced to face her. Her claws inched closer to Brightshadow's face, and as the silver she-cat struggled, the claws traced the old scar, sending a cold tingle down her spine. Stop it! Brightshadow wanted to yowl in Snowstar's face, but she couldn't.

Brightshadow leaned her head to one side, trying to move herself away from Snowstar's claws as they barely pierced her neck. Her vision started to grow fuzzy as Snowstar's paw pressed against her throat. Someone yowled... she figured it was probably Redfire.

The sides started to darken and grow fuzzy until there was just one spot left. One right in front of her... she started running toward it as if it was all she could ever do. It never got closer... it kept moving farther away. And then it vanished, as larger holes were torn into the blackness, giving way to light.

Brightshadow yowled, hurling herself upward. The expression on Snowstar's face was one of pure shock as she was hurled down, slammed onto the ground. Her paw pressed into Snowstar's throat, but she didn't make any move to completely kill the leader.

Snowstar stared up, her eyes wide. Was it... fear that danced briefly in the ice blue?

She blinked, and it was gone. But Brightshadow knew what she had seen... there had been a small spark. So small that it could have gone unnoticed, but it didn't. Shaking her head, Brightshadow stepped back, sheathing her claws. What have I done?

There was a deep gash in Snowstar's flank... but it was nothing compared to what Brightshadow had received every time. The scar on her face. The wounds on her neck and ear. Some of those others might also never heal completely.

Brightshadow lowered her head and padded away, her tail low as she went. She was consciously aware of Snowstar's gaze tearing into her as she went.

The wound in her neck seemed to suddenly vanish, as if it was never there. And the ShadowClan camp shifted, morphing into something that she couldn't quite place. The sky grew red, a blood red that seemed to reflect in the scarlet rivers. What's happening to me?

There wasn't any pain, anymore, but something was missing.

Brightshadow only realized that when she felt the blood gushing from her throat... making her head suddenly light, before everything vanished altogether.

oO0Oo

"Will she be all right?"

"Yes! I've already told you three times! She will be all right!"

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm sure! I'm your medicine cat, for StarClan's sake!"

"But her wounds looked terrible!"

"And now, they're looking fine."

"I hope she wakes up..."

A pause. Then - "Guess what, worrisome warrior? She's waking up now."

Brightshadow blinked. It took a few heartbeats for her vision to clear. She tried to sit up, but she figured that her flank hurt when she did. She was in the medicine den, and the faces of Redfire and Fallowfang looked down at her.

"W-what happened?" Her voice came out strange... as if she hadn't used it in a while.

Fallowfang flicked her tail. "Redfire brought you in."

"What? When?"

Fallowfang stared. "What?"

"Never mind that... how long has it been?"

Redfire was the one who responded, though he looked a little uncomfortable. "Not long."

"That's no answer."

"It's nearly dusk."

"Fox-dung." Brightshadow didn't believe the red tom for a moment.

"No, really."

"But good news!" Fallowfang interrupted their little conversation. "You'll be out of here no later than moonhigh. You can return to the warriors' den, but you'll have to take it easy." Brightshadow craned her neck to look down at her wounds, but soon gave up when her head hurt.

"Which reminds me," Redfire growled. "I want to talk to you alone, when you're free."

Brightshadow nodded to him and turned to Fallowfang as the medicine cat spoke. "Your wounds are healing quite well. Those two days of rest really helped your strength come back. Most won't leave any trace of injury behind."

"Most?" Brightshadow pricked her ears.

"Well..." Fallowfang looked at a loss of words, even more so when both Redfire and Brightshadow burned into him. "Not all will go without leaving scars. There's one on your flank that was really deep, and one at the base of your ear. But... I think that was all." He flicked his tail, turning to Redfire. "Now, leave this poor cat in peace."

Brightshadow's gaze was trained on Fallowfang as he padded deeper into the medicine den.

"Brightshadow." The silver she-cat looked up at Redfire's mew. "I'm sorry... I have to talk to you. At moonhigh, when you leave the medicine den. Please, Brightshadow." Brightshadow's eyes widened at his intensity, but she dipped her head mildly, allowing a faint teasing expression creep onto her face.

"Of course, deputy."

Redfire rolled his green eyes. "Glad to see you're back to normal."

oO0Oo

"We need to talk."

Brightshadow sensed the tension radiating off the red tom. "All right, but not here." She glanced meaningfully in Snowstar's direction, feeling her dark, icy blue gaze trained on her until Brightshadow was forced to look away.

Brightshadow turned to water, her paws shaky. The scar on her flank still hurt at any sudden movement, so she forced herself to act as normally as possible.

As soon as they were alone, Redfire ripped into her, green gaze burning. Once again, instead of listening, Brightshadow found herself lost in those emerald depths, but she forced herself to prick her ears attentively. She resisted the urge to flinch as the scar on her ear sent pain coursing through her.

"Brightshadow, I know what I saw. Why were you fighting? Tell me. What happened? How did you get that scar?" His eyes narrowed meaningfully. "And Brightshadow, I don't care what happened... I want the truth, and nothing else."

The silver she-cat sighed. "It's a long story." She cast a meaningful glance toward the claw-moon in the darkened sky.

"I could stay out here all night to listen."

Brightshadow flicked her tail. "You're not going to let me go without telling you anything, are you?"

"Nope."

Brightshadow sighed. "All right." Her tail-tip twitched. "Snowstar told me that she knew we had spoken yesterday about... well... her. And she said that instead of her killing me, we would have a fight, and live with the scars. She told me that I was no competition." She flinched at the memory. "So then, it happened. She's a strong cat... but then something came over me. I don't know what it was, but then she was pinned down when I looked."

"There's something you're not telling me." Redfire lashed his tail.

"Fine." Brightshadow sighed. "I got angry. And... I think I attacked her back, and I gave her a scar." She glanced at Redfire, lowering her voice. "But that's not the problem. I think I saw something... she actually looked a little afraid at the end."

"Fox-dung."

"I know what I saw, Redfire, but it's your choice whether or not you believe me."

Redfire's fur brushed hers, and she stiffened instinctively. The red-furred tom pulled away quickly... though Brightshadow wanted to feel his fur against hers for even longer. "I believe you, Brightshadow."

"What is she going to do?" Brightshadow wanted to wail like a kit. "There's something off about her."

"Of course there is! She kills cats in her own clan!"

"I know... but other than that."

Redfire sighed. "We'll just have to wait and see, Brightshadow."

Third chapter done! Did you all like it? Tell me in the reviews!

I kinda hated writing this chapter, but I knew it had to happen to start the real story... so it happened. I hate showing Snowstar as the strongest cat, but - let's face it - she is. This is just the beginning, my wonderful readers, so stay tuned!

And leave a review, please? :)

~ Stormy