There was a tense atmosphere between the three WindClan cats as they crossed the stream into ThunderClan territory. Brambledusk led the two she-cats, and their mission was to find out where Russetstripe had gone. He wished he could talk to Blackdove privately – had she run off with Runningflame? Or had Wildheart been right that Russetstripe had chosen to stay in ThunderClan? Harewhisker's words from just a couple days ago resonated through his head.

"When I came to get her, Rootstar mentioned that he wanted her to stay."

Did she uphold Rootstar's offer? Brambledusk thought as he leaped over a rock that was lodged in the ground. He looked up at the rising sun. He and the two she-cats had stopped to rest for the night, and now they were continuing their journey into ThunderClan territory. As the stone hollow came into sight, Brambledusk tensed his muscles and spotted the thorn hollow. He looked over his shoulder and slipped into the thorn tunnel, seeing the stone hollow stretch vastly beyond him.

The minute Brambledusk walked in, he could sense a strained atmosphere in the camp. Cats walked around with their fur on edge, their tails twitching, and no cat spoke to each other, instead just staring at their paws. Brambledusk cleared his throat. There was no time to wait. "I am Brambledusk, warrior of WindClan! And I ask to speak to Rootstar."

As Brambledusk's call rang through the stone hollow, he spotted Rootstar emerge from a cave on top of a ledge. Rootstar slipped down the ledge, every step gentle as he walked through the clearing to greet Brambledusk. Rootstar gazed at him, and even though he kept the same blooming smile on his face, his eyes were void of their usual gentleness.

"Brambledusk," Rootstar greeted him. "How can I help you, little one?" He looked over at Wildheart and Blackdove. "Is everything all right in WindClan? Has Peartuft attacked?"

"No." Brambledusk shook his head. "We can't find Russetstripe, and the last we saw of her was her escorting Sunfire, Honeyfeather, and Winterfall back to ThunderClan. We were wondering if she came."

Rootstar's yellow eyes shadowed, and before he could say anything, Brambledusk saw Emberflame walk over to them. The brown tabby curled his lip and snarled, "We don't even know where our warriors are. How would we know where yours is?"

"What…?" Wildheart stepped back. "You mean, they never came back to camp?"

The ThunderClan leader shook his small head. "No. We have sent patrols to search for them, but to no avail. We were planning to send another one out."

"Wait…" Wildheart's voice trailed off. "That means all four of them disappeared."

"We were ambushed by Peartuft and his group twice," Blackdove murmured. "In the moorland. So, if they traveled through the moorland, where Peartuft is living…"

"…They must've been taken by Peartuft," Brambledusk finished Blackdove's train of thought.

Rootstar's ears twitched. Brambledusk let out a deep sigh and turned to Wildheart. "All right, you two. I need you to go back into WindClan territory and tell Scorchstar. Rootstar, do you mind if I tag onto a search patrol with you?"

"Of course not." Rootstar shook his head.

Wildheart and Blackdove nodded at Brambledusk's orders, and they bounded off into the forest. When they were gone, Rootstar brushed his tail against Brambledusk. "Shall we go?" the black-and-white tom asked.

"You're awfully calm for a cat who just lost three of his warriors," Brambledusk remarked dryly.

"I have faith my boys will come back to me," Rootstar meowed as he led the way out of the hollow. "I am still holding onto it. And, little Brambledusk, I cannot rush head-first into a problem without thinking, you know."

"So I've been told," Brambledusk said as the two toms bounded through ThunderClan territory. Rootstar leaped over a tree root, while Brambledusk found himself tripping on it. I hate ThunderClan territory, Brambledusk thought darkly as he followed Rootstar through the forest. He remembered how his mother, Spottedwing, fell victim to a ThunderClan cat's claws, and a low growl escaped his body.

"Is something the matter, little one?" Rootstar asked as he leaped over a rock.

"Yeah." Brambledusk's fur pricked. "I'm in the territory of the Clan that killed my mother."

Rootstar stopped and looked over his shoulder. "I am sorry for that," he said. "I do not like when cats get killed in battle, either. Every Clanmate of mine is so precious to me that whenever one of them dies, a piece of my heart breaks."

"So you must have a broken heart," Brambledusk remarked.

"I do, but I also sense that you do as well, little one." Rootstar leaned in. "Tell me, what is it that bothers you so? Other than your mother's passing?"

"My other brother, Buzzardwing, is dead." Brambledusk caught his claw in a root and pulled it free. "He died trying to defend my leader."

"Was that when he ran into the rogues and declared he was Scorchstar?" Rootstar asked.

Brambledusk stiffened. "How did you know?"

Rootstar gave him a smile but didn't reply. "You must miss him."

"I do," Brambledusk confessed as they reached the stream that marked ThunderClan's border with WindClan. "He was brave. Until the very end." That was the only thing Brambledusk had to say.

"I can see you are always ready to meet death. That must be where your strength comes from." Rootstar crossed the stream with a massive leap, while Brambledusk used the stepping stones to cross. "But there's something else. You do not fear death. You fear something far worse. You fear outliving the ones you swore to protect."

Brambledusk flinched as the two cats stalked through the moor, searching for Peartuft's scent. "I already did that, didn't I."

"It was not your time," Rootstar said.

"Yeah, that's what they all say," Brambledusk said dryly. "But I could've stopped him."

"Would he want you to stop him, I wonder?" Rootstar looked over his shoulder. "We all each deserve to choose our fate. Even if that fate is death."

"Maybe," Brambledusk agreed uneasily. "But I wish he knew just how hard it would hurt me. Us." The two toms bounded through the moorland until WindClan's scent faded to be replaced by the stench of rogue, mingled with a faint hint of oak. Rootstar immediately skidded to a halt, and his yellow eyes narrowed. He lowered his haunches and waved his tail to Brambledusk, who dropped in a crouch and followed the black-and-white tom as he skirted around the hills.

Brambledusk followed Rootstar as the ThunderClan leader navigated from bush to bush until they finally stood over a hollow, a scoop in the moor, similar to WindClan's camp. In the camp stood dozens of rogues, moreso than the cats that had escaped ThunderClan's camp and made their home in the hills. Brambledusk gasped. He had never seen so many cats that weren't in a Clan before. And they seemed strong. Brambledusk zeroed in closer, catching the pale brown tom who had killed Buzzardwing. Anger swelled in his paws and made his blood boil.

"Look," Rootstar murmured. Brambledusk followed Rootstar's line of sight and let out a small gasp as he recognized Sunfire's yellow pelt, stark against the pale grassland. Sunfire was in a bramble enclosed prison, and Brambledusk could see the silver fur of Winterfall and the golden-brown fur of Honeyfeather next to him. Where is…? Russetstripe was right next to Winterfall, leaning heavily against him with glazed green eyes and bloodied fur.

Guarding the den was a big gray tom with callous amber eyes. Brambledusk recognized Houndheart's spotted brown tabby pelt as the tom sneered at the imprisoned cats, seeming to mock them from how he hissed at them. Rootstar's claws unsheathed, but Brambledusk knew he wouldn't barge in and attack.

"We have to rescue them," Brambledusk said, determination steeling his resolve. "We can't let them die."

"Of course not, my boy." Rootstar flicked his tail. "We must return to camp and think of a plan." And, with those words spoken, Rootstar turned on his heel and bounded away from the camp, with Brambledusk on his heels. The two cats said nothing as they crossed the moor and leaped over the stream, entering the lush forest and finding their way into camp. Blackdove and Wildheart had not returned yet, and it made Brambledusk swallow a lump in his throat.

"Did you find anything?" Stormwing padded over to Rootstar, his amber eyes narrowed.

"I'm afraid so." Rootstar sighed, gazing at Stormwing steadily. Brambledusk swallowed a lump in his throat. If Rootstar said it out loud, it would make it all the more real. It would ensure that this was reality, and not some sort of sick joke, or some twisted image that Brambledusk pictured. "Sunfire, Honeyfeather, and Winterfall are being held captive in Peartuft's camp."

Yowls of outrage greeted Rootstar's statement. Emberflame's amber eyes blazed, while a horrified expression was written all over Quailpool's face. Willowsong let out a terrified gasp, and Icefrost looked at the ground with fear in her eyes. Hailstep growled lowly and sank his claws into the grass. Rootstar cleared his throat and went on.

"When Wildheart and Blackdove bring Scorchstar back to camp, we will rescue them," Rootstar declared. "For now, we have to think of a rescue plan." The black-and-white tom gestured Brambledusk over. "Come with us."

"Um…" Brambledusk had nothing to say as he joined Rootstar. The ThunderClan leader padded into his den, flicking his tail towards Hailstep, Emberflame, Stormwing, Koiwatcher, and Goldensky. Anxiety burned inside of Brambledusk – why was he going into Rootstar's den with these cats? He knew nothing of them. He wasn't even a ThunderClan cat. So… why…?

Brambledusk climbed up the ledge that led towards a cave, and his light paws made no noise in comparison to Stormwing's heavy paws, which made the pebbles rattle on the smooth stone floor. Rootstar sat down in the center of the cave, his yellow eyes gleaming, and the other warriors followed suit. Brambledusk shifted his paws nervously as he sat next to Goldensky. The golden tom flashed him a glance but said nothing.

"Brambledusk and I traveled into the hills, past WindClan territory when we saw a hollow that made Peartuft's camp," Rootstar began. "It was a far trek, but the camp was situated in a sheltered location, which means it'll be hard to invade without any cat seeing us. Indeed, Peartuft will be expecting us to come."

"So, there's no element of surprise," Stormwing said.

Rootstar shook his head. "We need to go about this in a way that minimizes casualties."

"Surely he'll kill them all if we attack," Lightningfang pointed out.

Emberflame curled his lip. "We should've killed that damned bastard when we had the chance."

Lightningfang glared at the tabby tom. Rootstar didn't react to his comment. Instead, he meowed, "He might. Which is why we can't attack."

A heavy silence fell across the den. Hailstep was the one who broke it by saying, "…What?"

"Lightningfang said it himself," Rootstar meowed. "These cats will die if we attack. We have to go in there and we have to talk."

"Talk!" Emberflame snorted. "Since when did talking solve anything?"

"We will keep Peartuft distracted while a group rescues our warriors," Rootstar said thinly. "They will pull them out of Death's arms, and if we have to fight after, then we fight. But Peartuft has their lives in his very paws, and we need to take it away from him."

Brambledusk felt the fur that rose on his shoulders flatten. Rootstar brought up a good point. Diving in to attack while the warriors' lives was at stake would certainly get them killed. They're hostages, so we have to negotiate with them, Brambledusk finally realized. Damn. Peartuft's smart.

"Are we all on board?" Rootstar asked.

There was a strained silence from Hailstep and Stormwing, while Goldensky and Lightningfang gave their leader a nod. Emberflame's eyes blazed, but nothing came from him. Rootstar focused his gaze on the silent cats and let out a sigh.

"Hailstep, little one, I know you are worried about Honeyfeather," Rootstar addressed the pale gray tom. "But you must know I am doing this because I do not want her to die."

"I know that." Hailstep lashed his tail. "So, I'm fine with this ridiculous plan, so long as she lives."

Stormwing sighed. "I wish I could rip Peartuft into shreds, but if this is what it takes to keep them alive, then I'm willing to do it."

The gazes fell on Emberflame. Emberflame snorted. "I think you're a halfwit who lost his sense of intelligence long ago, but whatever. I couldn't care less if we kill Peartuft by boring him to death with negotiations or with our claws."

Geez, what's wrong with him? Brambledusk glanced at the brown tabby tom. Even though the words hadn't been directed towards him, he felt a bitter, strong sting as if they had been.

"Oh, dear Emberflame," Rootstar meowed. "My boy, do you think I cannot tell that you care?" His whiskers twitched. "And that you just do not know how to say it?"

Emberflame snorted. "Why would I care?"

Rootstar gave him a knowing smile, while Emberflame turned his head away, his nose sticking up in the air. Brambledusk peered closer to study him and realized that Rootstar was right. Behind the arrogance and penurious fire in his eyes was a hint – faint, but still there – of worry. Brambledusk twitched his whiskers, relieved that they didn't have to deal with a cat like Emberflame in WindClan.

"Oh, my." Rootstar got to his paws. "I believe a certain WindClan leader is here, already. That was fast." He left the cave, his tail twitching behind him, but just before he got up, Brambledusk could see a hardened light in his eyes. He may look calm, but he's ready to shed all the blood he has to in order to get his Clanmates back, isn't he. Brambledusk left the cave and leaped down from the ledge to walk over to the camp entrance. As Rootstar had predicted, Scorchstar had entered the camp, his amber eyes blazing. Behind him were Blackdove, Wildheart, Aspenstep, Harewhisker, and Waspberry.

"You say my sister was taken by Peartuft?" Scorchstar demanded as Rootstar approached him. "Again, my Clanmates are being hurt because of your devious brother!"

"I cannot control my brother's actions," Rootstar said calmly.

"But you could've stopped his rebellion," Scorchstar growled.

"No, I couldn't." Rootstar shook his head. "I think you of all cats should know that if a cat wants to rebel, they will find it in their power to do so."

Scorchstar let out a gasp, and Brambledusk winced as he knew exactly what Rootstar was reminding Scorchstar of. Rootstar went on calmly. "Brambledusk and I traveled to Peartuft's land, and we saw all four cats being held prisoner."

"No…" Scorchstar gasped.

"We will rescue them," Rootstar declared, his yellow eyes burning with resolve.

"Of course we will." Scorchstar lashed his tail. "And I'll kill Peartuft myself."

Rootstar bit his lip. "Scorchstar, little one, we cannot attack if we want our family back in one piece."

Scorchstar's amber eyes blazed with rage, but Rootstar was calm and composed as he tried to encourage him the same way he had with Hailstep. "Peartuft has their lives at stake. One wrong move, and they'll all die. Do we really want to risk that?"

"Scorchstar," Blackdove was murmuring.

The WindClan leader's fur flattened as he nodded reluctantly. "Fine, we won't attack when we get there. But if he attacks us, I'm not running away."

"Very well." Rootstar flicked his tail to welcome Scorchstar into his camp. Scorchstar had a frown on his face as he stepped in, and the tom was clearly anxious to retrieve Russetstripe. Rootstar bounded away from him and leaped onto the Highledge, calling a Clan meeting. When the ThunderClan cats gathered, the WindClan cats watched from the corner of the camp. Brambledusk couldn't help but look at Aspenstep. The tom was clearly in a rough state, his dull fur clumped and ungroomed. Why is he here? Brambledusk glanced questioningly at Harewhisker. Harewhisker scooted closer to Brambledusk.

"We couldn't stop him," Harewhisker murmured. "He insisted. I'm telling you…" The WindClan deputy's voice broke off. "I don't know if he's coming back from this."

Rootstar's words rang through Brambledusk's mind. "We all deserve to choose our own fate. Even if that fate is death." What was Aspenstep's plan when he joined the rescue? Brambledusk raked through the possibilities, but he didn't want to face the major one – that Aspenstep planned to get himself killed during the battle so he could join Sandfall. Brambledusk tried to meet Aspenstep's gaze, but the gray tabby was staring solely at Rootstar.

"My Clanmates," Rootstar meowed. "As you all may know, Winterfall, Sunfire, and Honeyfeather are being held captive by Peartuft and his rogues. Scorchstar and I will lead a rescue patrol to retrieve our cats safely. In the meantime, I need a strong guard on camp since it's possible that this could be a ruse so Peartuft can get Mintsplash and her kits back."

Kits? Brambledusk narrowed his eyes as Mintsplash, a beautiful pale tortoiseshell she-cat, let out a gasp of horror and ushered her kits away with a bushy tail. Rootstar watched her go, and then spoke again. "Willowsong, Goldensky, and Frostfang. I need you to guard all exits and entrances into the camp. Quailpool and Stagleap, guard the nursery. Dewpaw, Lightningfang, stay near the dirt-place tunnel, in case Peartuft decides to send a cat that way."

Firm nods greeted Rootstar's instructions. The ThunderClan leader continued. "Stormwing, Hailstep, Emberflame, and Foxdapple. You're coming with me. Follow my orders and stay safe. Do not be a hero." With those words, Rootstar leaped down from the Highledge and walked over to Scorchstar. Scorchstar met Rootstar's gaze steadily.

"Are we ready?" Scorchstar asked.

"Yes." Rootstar looked over his shoulders as the ThunderClan patrol organized neatly behind him. Brambledusk knew this would be one of the most dangerous missions he had ever taken place in. Peartuft wasn't exactly known for his mercy.

"Then let's go."