I'm kind of ashamed to update after a month only to present you a chapter I haven't even written but it's better than nothing. Plus you should really go encourage jazara evergreen who wrote this because she's an amazing writer.

I feel something so right

By doing the wrong thing

And I feel something so wrong

By doing the right thing

I couldn't lie, couldn't lie, couldn't lie

Everything that kills me makes me feel alive.

Finally. Finally. Finally, they had reached the Hord. Shadow was sick of the cold and looking forward to an actual meal.

Up ahead, she could just make out the small valley that sheltered the Hord and some cats standing guard, hidden in the crevices of the mountain. Of course, Spider hasn't noticed them, she was surprised at the things that flew right over his head. However, it did help that the cats were mostly camouflaged in with the mountain. That and the fierce snowstorm that was whirling around them.

Soon, she promised herself. Soon, you can get rid of them. The angry tom cat, out for blood and power; the young she-cat desperately loyal to her father. Shadow wondered how far she would go to get his approval. And the kit, cold and silent as death. Soon, you will get away from all of this, get back home.

And, she added as an afterthought, you will see the Master again. She quickened her pace. Spider said nothing as he lengthened his gait to keep up with her, the kit swinging in his jaws. He looked slightly annoyed, probably at being forced to follow a kit, Shadow thought with amusement, but also determined. If Shadow didn't know the Master she would say he had a pretty good chance at getting into the Hord. At rising in the ranks and becoming the next Master.

But she knew the Master. And the Master would not be fooled so easily.

Shadow narrowed her eyes. Was that...? No. But... It was a cat. Out here in the cold. Two cats in fact. Ducking their heads against the blowing snow, two figures slowly made their way forward, almost right past the guards. How come they're not doing anything to stop them?

Shadow growled under her breath. It would be a mild setback, that's all. She would go over there and teach them not to wander so close to Hord territory, then they would continue. She would shove Spider and the young mollie and the half-dead kit into the wasp nest and be done with them. And yet...

She shook herself and began to move forward again, this time in the direction of the two cats. As they got closer she could see both cats were carrying a kit. She heard Spider's sharp intake of breath. And then she recognized them.

They were the two other cats that were traveling with Spider before... before Frosty was killed. Shadow pushed the thought from her mind. The kits with them had grown slightly and they were not quite as dead as the kit that traveled with her. What was its name again? Ansturm.

Spider ducked in close, his breath hot against her frozen ear. "What are they doing here?" He hissed.

"We could ask you the same question." The black and ginger tom still managed to sound intimidating, even with the kit in his mouth. The other one, a light grey she-cat, murmured something in his ear, but he shook his head and dropped the kit he was carrying at her paws.

"What a surprise," The black and ginger tom said. "Fancy meeting you out here."

"I could say the same to you, Coal." Spider seemed to have recovered from the shock and though he seemed calm, Shadow could feel the tension in the air, crackling like lightning.

Coal's green eyes were ice cold when he meowed, "I would like my kit back."

"Not a chance." Spider snarled. "She's mine now."

Coal stalked forward, his face a mask. The she-cat with him took a step forward, but then looked back at her two kits, standing neck deep in snow, and turned back. She glanced longingly at her third kit, Ansturm, who was still in Spider's mouth.

Ansturm seemed to catch a scent of her mother, for she squirmed and let out a single mew. The pale grey she-cat looked like she was in physical pain.

Spider smirked and dropped the kit in the snow. Shadow thought she saw a flash of anger in Coal's eyes, but he hid it well. Then Spider moved up so that he was facing Coal. He flicked his tail and Flight walked up beside him. Regret was written all over her face, but either Spider didn't notice or he didn't care. He knew that Flight would do anything to prove herself and he was using that to his advantage.

Shadow sighed. She knew what she would have to do. This was the perfect moment to finish of Spider and his little group. She took a few steps, so that she was on Spiders other side. He looked at her out of the corner of his eye with some emotion she couldn't place.

"Careful, Coal." Spider said, his voice sickeningly sweet. "You wouldn't want to be responsible for this mess again, would you?" Coal looked away. Shadow stared at the two toms. What did he mean? For the first time, she thought about Spider's history before she met them.

Meanwhile, Coal was starting to look worried. He looked over his shoulder to his mate, perhaps seeking aid or encouragement. That was when Spider charged forward with a ear-piercing yowl that echoed off the mountain.

Shadow stepped to the side and watched as the three cats clashed. Wait for it...Wait for it...Wait-There!

Coal had just threw off Spider and pushed past Flight. He was aiming to get the kit. Shadow leapt in front of him and snarled. Keep up the act, Spider's watching. When Coal goes to attack you, slide under him and get to Spider. Then...

Coal snarled and lunged forward. When Shadow tried to slip under him, he surprised her and moved to the side, cutting her off. Shadow ducked under his swipe and slashed his belly, causing him to hiss in pain. He leaned forward and caught her on the shoulder and she stumbled back from the force.

With a snarl of her own, she jumped straight up and landed on his back. Quickly, she dug her back claws in to keep from falling off and used her front paws to box his ears. He growled and bucked, trying to throw her off, but the blood running down into his eyes kept him from doing so. Finally he got it, dropping down and rolling over, trying to squish her. This was what she wanted.

Lightly, she leapt off of him, just in time, and went to join Flight and Spider. Flight was looking at her with something like surprise and Spider was too busy snarling at Coal, his face twisted with bloodlust.

Together, they stood in front of Ansturm, forming a living shield. Coal staggered to his paws staring over Shadow to his kit. He seemed to realize he was badly outnumbered because he whipped around and ran to join his mate. They both picked up a kit and ran off into the snow, disappearing quickly. Cowards!

Shadow watched them go, making sure they didn't loop around, then she turned and began walking away.

"Hey! Where are you going!" She heard Spider's meow, but didn't look back.

"I'm going to the Hord." She answered simply. "Would you care to join me?"

She knew that he had picked up Ansturm and was following her again by the crunch of snow under his paws. She didn't turn around until they were almost on top of the Hord. There, she waited for Flight to catch up.

A slight rustle caught Shadow's attention and she saw a familiar face watching her from the shadows.

"Who's there?" The cat meowed. "State your name and business." Shadow recognized Clouds' voice as the grey she-cat jumped down from her post.

"I said-...Shadow!" Clouds' eyes widened, but before she could ask any questions Shadow said, "Clouds-"

"Who's she?" Spider demanded. His fur was bristling warily though he seemed almost too eager to jump into another fight.

Clouds finally seemed to notice the black tom. Her gaze darted to his face, then alighted on the fresh scratches running down Shadow's flank. Her eyes filled with rage and with a ferocious yowl she leapt.

Straight at Spider.

I just love her writing, review so I can go harass her to write her own story, I'm pretty sure it'll be awesome.