"While seeking revenge, dig two graves - one for yourself."
-Douglas Horton

"Blossomheart?" Stonestar's cold blue eyes landed on my sister. "Do you want to tell RiverClan what you did or shall I?"

"I didn't do anything." Blossomheart tried to lie but she was visibly shaking. I immediately felt sympathy for our parents when I looked at their devastated expressions.

"Owlmask told me she caught you with a WindClan warrior. And if you don't admit it now I will tell the whole Clan the details of you two meeting." Stonestar growled. "I don't take my cats breaking the code lightly Blossomheart."

"Owlmask is lying! She just doesn't like me because I've been ignoring her mate!" Blossomheart hissed.

"Owlmask doesn't have a mate so you just lied yourself. And do you really expect me to think one of my most honest and dedicated warriors is lying to me?" Stonestar asked. "Owlmask caught you two after you mated with that WindClan warrior."

The whole Clan gasped mostly in horror and all the apprentices except for Blazepaw who was in the apprentice's den started hissing at Blossomheart. A lot of warriors glared at her as well.

"I will not punish you, but if I hear of this again you won't step paw in RiverClan territory ever again. And if I see you talking to him you will be punished. Mothleap will go to WindClan at next sunrise to let him know." Stonestar decided. "However I will not stop other cats from treating you wrongly. It is your fault after all. Mothleap, please decide the cats in three's that will be protecting the RiverClan camp tonight. Clan dismissed."

If she sees him again that's what will happen?! I got up to confront Stonestar when Mothleap approached me.

"I have several trios planned to watch the camp. You, Owlmask, and Willowtail will be going after Applefrost, Birddapple, and Snailstep. When the moon is about to fall under the trees go get Voletooth, Flyfur, and Brambleblaze so they can watch." Mothleap explained.

Mothleap left to talk to other warriors to stand guard when I felt something press against me and I jumped away only for it to be Owlmask.

"It's so awesome that I get to be part of watching out for ShadowClan!" Owlmask squealed. "If they do attack I hope it's during our watch! I'll send them running through the moors!"

I on the other paw didn't exactly look forward to it. I looked over toward the apprentice's den to see Blazepaw putting her paws over her head. Earlier she was dismissing it to other cats as a headache but I knew better. It probably had something to do with Redblossom.

"Let's get something quick for the fresh-kill pile before we sleep." I suggested to Owlmask before we went to get a fish just big enough for the two of us.

As we ate I watched as other cats took their portions of fresh-kill and their was a small fish left when Blossomheart walked to the pile.

Then Brambleblaze took the fish and swallowed it in one bite.

"You're not eating tonight." Brambleblaze stated. "You certainly can't hunt by yourself either because you can't leave camp without it being suspicious."

Blossomheart crouched down prepared to strike.

"Go ahead, I dare you." Brambleblaze challenged her with a smirk. Blossomheart scowled and chose to walk away. "Yeah, that's what I thought."

I could hear my sister's stomach growl before she walked sadly into the warrior's den, her tail toward the ground. Then I heard Owlmask sigh.

"Doing what's right is certainly not easy." Owlmask repeated. "I never wanted other cats to treat your sister bad. You must think I'm heartless."

"I don't think that." I reassured her. "It was tough just letting it happen."

I was asleep when I felt a paw lightly tap me and it was Applefrost smirking. Then when I actually woke up I realized it was because I was spooning Owlmask.

"Don't say anything." I told her, my face heating up. Applefrost just shrugged before she sprawled over to sleep. I moved away from Owlmask and prodded her awake. Willowtail was already waiting for us.

Willowtail took off to protect the area of our border towards half-bridge, I decided to watch at the border towards the Island, and Owlmask decided to watch the border towards WindClan territory.

Of course being by my lonesome was getting really boring after a while so I decided to visit Owlmask. Should I pretend to be a ShadowClan cat? Nah, she'd probably beat me to a limp sack of fur and bones before she'd realize it was me.

I walked up to Owlmask much more slowly so she could notice my scent and I walked to her side.

"Any ShadowClan cats?" I asked. Owlmask shook her head.

"Y'know, I'm so happy to be a warrior and be protecting RiverClan. I almost hope those ShadowClan cats show up." Owlmask chuckled. She shivered and leaned against me. "I'm a bit cold."

"Mmm." I responded absently, looking into her eyes. We leaned our heads against each other and felt each other's heartbeat. My pelt hottened as I felt Owlmask's tail rest on my shoulder.

Once the sounds of many quiet pawsteps could be heard, Owlmask pulled away and turned to face where the sound was coming from.

Many cats leaped into view at the same time. Breezespirit noticed us and ran towards Owlmask.

"GO BACK TO THE CLAN! NOW!" Owlmask screamed before she shoved me away and leaped at Breezespirit. Two other ShadowClan warriors raked their claws across Owlmask's sides and then another slammed into her full force, sending her flying into the ground.

"Go!" Owlmask gasped desperately. "I don't matter Oakbranch! Hurry for StarClan's sake!"

"You do matter!" I cried. "I'll come back for you!"

Listening to her was the best thing I could do. I sprinted back to camp before yelling that ShadowClan was coming. I waited for a few moments till I could see warriors sprint out of the warrior's den and Stonestar bolt out of his den.

"Somebody come with me to help Owlmask!" I yelled. Mothleap and Heroneyes followed me and I felt my heart slamming frantically against my chest. What if she was dead? What if some ShadowClan tom was assaulting her? No...no...

NO!

I broke into a deadly sprint. If they were going to try and kill Owlmask, they deserved a violent death too. I saw a dark grey shaggy tom slashing Owlmask's face and at that point she was defending the blows with less power.

I slammed into him making sure to aim right at the center of his ribs. I heard his airless gasp as he fell over hardly moving. I slammed my paw onto his neck and unsheathed my claws, feeling his body pulse with life beneath my paw. My mind screamed to end him.

"Oakbranch! He's learned his lesson...for now at least." Mothleap reassured me. "Let him go."

"Get out of here." I spat at the tom. He scrambled up to his paws and ran back to his camp. I immediately turned to Owlmask and pressed my face against her shoulder only to feel blood. I began licking as much of it off as I can when Mothleap put her paw on my shoulder.

"We'll take her back, RiverClan needs you to fight." Mothleap told me. I felt reluctance tug at me but these were Owlmask's parents.

I ran back to camp where I saw Sedgestep and Voletooth desperately fighting off four ShadowClan cats from entering the Nursery. Voletooth slashed her claws across a ShadowClan tom's face and he fell back. Unfortunately two ShadowClan apprentices took his place and leaped at Voletooth. My heart dropped when one ShadowClan cat entered the Nursery. Songpool's kits!

I ran toward the Nursery when I felt a cat leap on top of me and smile with her sharp teeth and orange eyes. I couldn't believe it.

"Emberstem?!"