It had been a quarter moon since the disastrous Gathering, and everything had changed. When WindClan came back to camp, with their leader in a sorry shape, they had brought Mintpaw's body and mourned him the entire night. Brambledusk's heart had been heavy with grief as he thought about his deceased nephew. He didn't deserve to die, he thought. He had been worried for the apprentice the moment he was apprenticed, and now his fears had truly come to pass. He shut his eyes and sighed. I hope he's in a better place, now.

Just as Brambledusk was walking through camp to talk to Cinderfall, who was staring at his grief-stricken mate, he stopped as he saw Iceheart's white-and-silver tabby figure slipping past the nursery. What is she doing? Brambledusk narrowed his eyes. He'd speak to Cinderfall later. The pale brown tabby padded after Iceheart, squeezing past the nursery to block Iceheart's road of escape.

"Going somewhere?" Brambledusk asked, tilting his head.

"Brambledusk!" Iceheart exclaimed, the color draining from her face. "I—"

"What's the matter?" Brambledusk asked, tilting his head.

"Listen…" Iceheart sighed. "Hotaru hasn't been in camp for three days. I'm worried, and the last time I saw him, I saw crows in the air."

"Crows in the air…?" Brambledusk echoed. Although Hotaru's disappearance was definitely worrying, what did the crows have anything to do with it?

"They signal when his brother is nearby," Iceheart replied.

"Ah." That was the only word that came out of Brambledusk's mouth as his blood froze. "Listen, I don't want you to search for him on your own, got it? I'll tell Harewhisker to send out a search patrol and tell him it's urgent."

"If they find him, don't hurt him!" Iceheart pleaded. "He's… I… I don't know." The she-cat sighed and sat on her haunches. "I don't know where he's gone. Brambledusk, I don't want you to go, either."

"What?" Brambledusk's yellow eyes widened. "I thought you'd want me to search for him."

"No." Iceheart shook her small head from side to side. "I don't… want his brother… to hurt you. If they're together."

"I'm a grown cat, Iceheart," Brambledusk said, twitching his ears. Since when did he have to be taken care of by Iceheart? "I can take care of myself."

"Please!" Iceheart begged.

"All right, all right." Brambledusk was shocked by Iceheart's pleas, but the she-cat seemed so upset and fragile, ready to tear apart at the seams. He'd let Harewhisker know and have the tom send out a search party. He looked up at the sky, noticing the sun starting to set. "But we'll have to send out the patrol tomorrow, Iceheart. It's dark, no one is going to be able to find him in the night."

"That just gives him more time to disappear," Iceheart whimpered.

"Iceheart." Brambledusk brushed his tail down his niece's spine. "You need to trust me on this."

"I trust you," Iceheart whispered. "Okay. I understand."

Brambledusk nodded his head to Iceheart. "I'm sitting guard tonight, so if I see any trace of him, I'll let you know first. In the morning, we'll go to Harewhisker and explain to him the issue."

A wave of relief fell upon Iceheart's face, and she touched her nose to Brambledusk's, a thankful purr from her body as she turned and walked away from him. Brambledusk watched her go, wondering why she moved more slowly than usual. Then when she was gone, he padded over to the entrance of the camp, settling down and pricking his ears.

Hm? After sitting guard for a while, he could hear a slight commotion in the nursery, where Russetstripe was being held for observation. Is someone in there? Turning on his heel, but staying quiet so he wouldn't alert the Clan, he trekked over to the nursery. He tilted his head, arching his ears to try to hear what was going on inside. He heard a few hisses, grunts, and even a growl. What…? Brambledusk stepped back, unsheathing his claws. He could hear heavy pawsteps behind him, and he turned over his shoulder to see Scorchstar.

"There better be a good explanation for this," Scorchstar growled.

"There are noises coming from the nursery," Brambledusk explained his yellow eyes narrowing as he noticed Wildheart and Harewhisker following Scorchstar. Great. Now we're drawing a crowd. "I'm going in. You can—"

"No." Scorchstar shook his head. "I want to know what's going in there." The big tom shoved his way in before Brambledusk, and the minute his head entered the den, a low snarl escaped him. "You!"

You? Brambledusk squeezed in after Scorchstar, and he gasped as he saw Briarsnow pinned down under Blackdove's slight back paws. Next to Blackdove was Runningflame, the rugged warrior of RiverClan, standing over Russetstripe's body. Brambledusk caught Runningflame's eyes and winced. What is he doing here? How did he get in camp?

"Step away from my sister!" Scorchstar barked. Brambledusk twitched his ears as Runningflame stared at Scorchstar, his green eyes blazing. The WindClan leader arched his back, as if he was ready to attack. Blackdove let Briarsnow free and raced over to Scorchstar, blocking him from getting to Runningflame.

"I brought him here!" Blackdove explained, out of breath. "I wanted him to say goodbye to Russetstripe, because Russetstripe, well… she's…"

Dying? But none of the cats had the strength to say it out loud. Brambledusk felt a tightness gripping his chest as he glanced at Scorchstar. Did he figure it out on his own? There's no way Russetstripe told him. Scorchstar flattened his ears and snarled, "The relationship is against the warrior code. It has caused nothing but problems." He turned his head to glare at Runningflame. "At times when I couldn't protect her, you were supposed to. But you failed."

No. Brambledusk felt shame flooding his pelt. I was supposed to. He gazed at Runningflame, wondering how the big ginger-and-white would defend himself to Scorchstar. I know just how much he cares about Russetstripe. I've seen it, first hand. I… I think I understand why he risked everything to come here.

"He's dangerous," Scorchstar snarled at Blackdove. "Whatever he told you was a lie."

"If he was dangerous, he would've killed me!" Blackdove exclaimed. "But he didn't. I thought... I thought she was going to die, so that's why I brought him here... because the most painful thing is not the death of a loved one... it's the thought of leaving that loved one alone..."

Wildheart's yellow eyes were shadowed as she gazed at Russetstripe's withered body. "This was never supposed to happen," she murmured.

"It's not Blackdove's fault," Runningflame defended the black she-cat. "I'd have come here, one way or another. And you don't know your sister as well as you thought if you don't think she'd go running into danger to protect the cats who care about her."

Scorchstar's fur bristled with rage at Runningflame's thorny words. "You arrogant fool!" he snarled. "Of course I know my sister. I've been worried sick about her for moons, no thanks to you. I knew she would do something stupid. And you never had the courage to put a stop to all of this!"

Runningflame lashed his tail, and Brambledusk dragged his gaze towards Russetstripe, wondering if the dark ginger she-cat could hear the two cats arguing. Just as he focused his attention on her, he let out a small gasp. Were… were Russetstripe's eyes… open? Her eyelids were flittering just a tad, enough to see the vivid green of her pupils. Wait…

Blackdove followed Brambledusk's gaze. "Stop!" she cried out. "Can't you see, she's awake?"

Scorchstar swung his head immediately from Runningflame to Russetstripe's body, a choked gasp escaping him. He bent over to nuzzle his sister. "Russetstripe," he said. "Can you hear us?"

But Russetstripe's eyes shut just as quickly as they had open. Brambledusk unsheathed his claws in frustration. No…

"They were open!" Blackdove exclaimed. "I saw it."

"So did I," Runningflame added, but Brambledusk got the feeling that no cat seemed to care what he was saying anymore.

"Oh, Blackdove." Harewhisker's voice was soft. "What have you done?"

Blackdove's green eyes were swelling with unshed tears.

Scorchstar looked up at the sleek black she-cat, pain shattering in his gaze. "Why would you do this?" he rasped. Blackdove flinched, as if Scorchstar's words had hit her physically. Runningflame gazed at Blackdove and touched his nose to her shoulder.

"It's best if you leave now," Wildheart told Runningflame. "And never return."

Runningflame dipped his head, stopping to talk to Blackdove once more. Brambledusk could catch their whispered conversation.

"…Thank you," the ginger-and-white tom was murmuring. "I won't forget this."

"I don't regret a thing," Blackdove rasped. "I would do anything for love." There was another meaning behind those words – more than what she let on. But what was it?

Runningflame ran his tail down Blackdove's spine, and Scorchstar let out a furious hiss. Then the ginger-and-white tom left the nursery, crossing through camp. Brambledusk watched the tom go, his heart shattering. He looked over at Scorchstar. "I'll escort him out."

But he didn't think the WindClan leader heard him. He was staring at Blackdove, a storm of betrayal swirling in his amber eyes. Brambledusk bounded out of the nursery and caught up to Runningflame. Runningflame was walking with his head held high, but there was no doubt the pain that was shadowing his green eyes. Brambledusk could see the WindClan cats rousing from their sleep, giving the tom a furious hiss. Brambledusk led Runningflame out of camp and into the moorland.

"If it helps," Brambledusk murmured, "I don't think you did the wrong thing."

"Thanks." Runningflame's voice was flat.

"I'm sorry." Brambledusk lowered his head. "You told me to protect her when you couldn't, but…"

"It's all right," Runningflame meowed. "I was told that what she did was brave and selfless."

"It was," Brambledusk murmured. "I don't think I would ever have done that."

Runningflame was quiet as his paws pattered above the moorland. "Thank you for not telling any cat about us. Although I didn't really want them to find out in that way, I think that, in my heart, I knew it the moment I entered your camp."

Brambledusk got the sense Runningflame wanted to say more. I wonder if he has any other cat he can confide to in his own Clan. Am I really the only one?

"I was content to be alone in my love for her, one-sidedly, selfish, and hidden. I never once asked her to love me back. But I see now that I was lying to my own heart." He let out a low, self-deprecating chuckle. "Loving her was what killed her."

"You weren't the one who poisoned her, Runningflame," Brambledusk pointed out. "You weren't the one who kidnapped her. She was in wild territory while you were in RiverClan. How could you have known? And when you came with Dapplestar, it was already too late."

Runningflame looked over his shoulder. "I could've done more."

Brambledusk sighed. "I'm sorry," he said. "I really am. I know how much you loved her. And how much she loved you."

"Thanks." Runningflame's voice was thick with grief and pain when they reached the RiverClan border. "Well, we're here."

"Goodbye, Runningflame," Brambledusk said, knowing that he probably wouldn't be able to speak to him in a manner like this any longer. They had bonded over their shared affection for Russetstripe, and if Russetstripe died, they would have to return to becoming enemies, having nothing in common anymore. But I think that, in a way, I'll always admire you for how fiercely you loved her and how you were willing to do anything to be with her. Even if it meant violating the warrior code.

"You're a brave warrior, Brambledusk," Runningflame told him. "Take care of yourself." The ginger-and-white tom lowered his head to the pale tabby respectfully.

"You too." Brambledusk felt a lump in his throat as Runningflame turned away, disappearing into the marshland. When his ginger-and-white figure was gone, Brambledusk turned away and headed back towards camp. When he entered the hollow, he could hear hisses and growls rippling through the Clan cats, and he spotted Scorchstar in the center of camp, his head down. Brambledusk bounded over to him as he spoke to Harewhisker and Wildheart.

"Scorchstar?" Harewhisker was asking. "Are you all right?"

"I'll be fine," Scorchstar told him. "It was just a painful reminder that I haven't yet let her go. And it gave me an inkling of hope that made me start over on my grieving journey." He glanced down at his paws. "I can't allow that tom to see her again. He doesn't deserve her. He failed to protect her."

"You're right," Harewhisker agreed. "We can't have him anywhere near her."

"Then we'll need a guard on the nursery at all times," Scorchstar decided. "We need to protect her."

"With all these ThunderClan friendships, and Runningflame, how do we know her true loyalty is to WindClan?" Harewhisker asked. There was no accusation in his yellow eyes – just plain worry. Brambledusk swallowed. Hey, now. We don't know that.

"I don't know… I just don't know how she got to where she is. Or why." Scorchstar let out a defeated sigh. "We were raised to put WindClan above everything else by our father. Even your own dignity and morality. I see now that method of thought is extreme, but those feelings and teachings are ingrained in me forever. I don't know how she can forget her past."

"Maybe… maybe that's why," Brambledusk found himself saying out loud. Scorchstar turned to stare at the pale tabby. Brambledusk lifted his head, meeting Scorchstar's gaze steadily. He knows how I feel about Swiftstar, but I'm speaking for Russetstripe in particular. "You know just as well as I how much she hated Swiftstar, and how he treated her. Perhaps that is why she did not follow Swiftstar's method of loyalty."

Scorchstar pressed his lips tightly together, and Brambledusk pricked his ears to hear the news passing through the clearing.

"I'm not that surprised. She was sneaking away quite often."

"She wasn't always like that, you know. I think something within her changed, long before her hostage situation. Her loyalty was unshakable before. Nobody could tell her otherwise."

"I couldn't bear to imagine our own Clanmates as disloyal... if we can't trust our fellow WindClan warriors, then who can we trust?"

"Both cats must be punished." That voice. Brambledusk turned his head to look at Lightningtalon, whose amber eyes were glittering with despair. "We have a RiverClan warrior who knows the way to our camp, now! He could plan an invasion at any time!"

"He wouldn't," Brambledusk snapped at Lightningtalon.

Lightningtalon stared with wide eyes at Brambledusk. "Brother… why are you defending him?"

"First Blackdove's defending him and now you are, Brambledusk?" Briarsnow glared at the pale tabby. "Does every WindClan cat love Runningflame?"

"Hey!" Brambledusk raised his hackles and his fur bristled. Lightningtalon touched his nose to Briarsnow's shoulder, and the brown she-cat sat down, licking her pelt as if this was any normal day. Lightningtalon shot an apologetic look at Brambledusk, but it didn't ease the sting in his heart, as he knew in his heart that Briarsnow had a point.

"I don't know…" Scorchstar sighed.

"Scorchstar," Wildheart murmured. "I know Blackdove is your friend. But she snuck one of Dapplestar's Divine Warriors into our camp. This cannot go without punishment."

Scorchstar shut his eyes in frustration. Then he opened them and looked at Harewhisker. Harewhisker cleared his throat and glanced at his paws with no answer. Scorchstar tensed his muscles, and then finally let out a nod. He leaped onto the Tall Rock, but there was no need to call a Clan meeting. Every cat was gathered. But Blackdove isn't there.

"Brambledusk, will you please get Blackdove?" Scorchstar asked.

"I'm here." Blackdove's voice was cracked, and her black cheeks were still stained with tears as she exited the nursery and walked through the clearing, looking up at Scorchstar as he sat on the Tall Rock. "And I'm ready."

Pain gleamed in Scorchstar's eyes. "This moon has brought upon us nothing but sorrow." His voice was deep but quiet. "WindClan has never faced trials quite like these. Between being drawn into Dapplestar's war against our will, the Gathering of Death, and now... a RiverClan warrior invading our camp, we have been beat down again and again. And yet, our warriors remain strong. Our greatest weapon in these difficult times is hope. But hope is a double-edged sword." His gaze focused on Blackdove's sleek black pelt. "Last night, Blackdove committed a crime of treason, bringing our sworn enemy into the heart of our camp in secret."

Blackdove's green eyes glittered defiantly as yowls of horror and anger spread through the WindClan cats. Brambledusk could only feel a pang of sympathy for the black she-cat, though. He knew just as much as her how much Runningflame had loved Russetstripe. He couldn't find it in his heart to punish her. When he looked through the clearing, he saw another cat who seemed to feel the same way he did. Iceheart was gazing at Blackdove sympathetically.

"Blackdove, please tell your side of the story," Scorchstar invited her to come forward with a flick of his tail. The cats parted to let the black warrior through.

The intransigent, challenging light in Blackdove's green eyes was something Brambledusk had never seen before in the black she-cat and judging from the faint surprised look on Scorchstar's face, Brambledusk guessed it was the same thing for the ginger-and-white leader. When the she-cat spoke, her voice was strong, but the cracks of pain were evident.

"You've loved, haven't you, Scorchstar?" Blackdove asked the WindClan leader. "You've loved someone as naturally as breathing, and without them, you'd cease to exist."

"Of course I have." Scorchstar's gaze flickered temporarily to Wildheart. "What does that have to do with anything?"

"What were to happen to you if you lost that cat?" Blackdove challenged him. "Dying. Dead means they're gone, you'll never see them again. How can you live with yourself if you can't say goodbye to them? How would you live?" She turned her head and stared at her Clanmates. "How would you all feel?"

Scorchstar gazed at Blackdove, speechless. When a cat spoke, it wasn't Scorchstar. Briarsnow got to her paws, glaring at Blackdove. "Runningflame came here through the secret tunnels used by our ancestors long ago. One of them leads right into our nursery, where Blackdove had convinced Sedgefall to bring Russetstripe. I went and explored these tunnels myself. Runningflame was covered in loose soil when I saw him. Now he's going to take that secret back home to RiverClan, and Dapplestar now has a secret passage right into our camp!" Her voice rose into a furious howl.

"He wouldn't tell Dapplestar!" Blackdove protested.

"What makes you think that?" Lightningtalon asked the black she-cat. "If I had a secret passage into a Clan camp that just declared war on us, I'd tell my Clan leader!"

"Dapplestar could launch a secret attack," Skyheart whimpered.

Scorchstar lashed his tail. "Not on my watch, she won't!" he growled. He turned to Blackdove, and Brambledusk could see anguish and hurt engulfing his eyes. "You let his feelings of 'love' get in the way of your brain. Did you not think this through? He's our enemy, Blackdove! And now he has a tool that could hurt us!"

"He wouldn't!" Blackdove cried out.

This is so unfair, Brambledusk thought despairingly as Scorchstar leaped off the Tall Rock and walked up to Blackdove, his amber eyes blazing. "Can't you see he's tricked you?"

"Exile her!" cried a cat from the crowd.

"Stop!" Cinderfall exclaimed. "Blackdove is our Clanmate. She has always been loyal and kind. She would never hurt us on purpose!"

"Not on purpose…" Scorchstar echoed. "But she was tricked. And she let that arrogant tom into her head and led him right into our camp."

Brambledusk let out a sigh as he gazed sadly at Blackdove. He wanted to say something for her behalf. But he knew when Scorchstar made up his mind, there was no changing it. I'm sorry, Blackdove, he thought sorrowfully. I wish there was something I could do.

"Blackdove, although I know you would never hurt your Clanmates, I must ask you to accept the consequences for your actions." Scorchstar raised his tail for silence. "Blackdove will continue to be a respected and cherished member by of WindClan." Scorchstar glared at the cats who had called for her exile. "She has always been a loyal warrior and this is her first offense of this nature. She will be treated equally. However… she will no longer be on my board of trusted advisors and will no longer stand at my side as one of my senior warriors. She will never again be eligible for any leadership positions, such as deputy."

Brambledusk exchanged a glance with Heathercloud and could see the sorrow written over the gray she-cat's face. Blackdove was a good senior warrior, Brambledusk thought. She had good thoughts, valid opinions, and excellent strategy. We're suffering a serious blow by losing her. This isn't right. He let out a sigh.

Blackdove gazed at Scorchstar. "I understand. But I will not apologize for trying to ease Russetstripe's last moments. I will apologize for betraying you. But I did what I thought was right for the cat I consider my sister." And, with that, the black she-cat turned on her heel and trotted back into the nursery. Brambledusk watched her go. Scorchstar's gaze trailed her, and then he leaped from the Tall Rock, letting out a sigh. Brambledusk quickly followed Blackdove into the gorse bush, pushing his shoulders through the gap until he saw her sitting over Russetstripe's limp body, her shoulders hunched.

"Blackdove," Brambledusk called out gently, walking over and sitting next to her as the two cats gazed at Russetstripe's bruised and beaten body. Her sides were barely rising. I'm not going to give up hope on her, he thought. She's a strong cat. I know she'll make it through this. "Russetstripe is not going to die."

"How do you know?" Blackdove murmured, fixing Brambledusk with a gaze full of so much misery.

"Because she's strong," Brambledusk said. Russetstripe had been strong enough to defy her father's orders time and time again, knowing just how cruel they were. She had put her life on the line for cats who she hadn't even known for that long, who she felt a strong sense of loyalty to. She didn't follow blind loyalty. She knew who she was loyal to, and why. "Don't you know that?"

"I do," Blackdove murmured, "but it's been over a moon, Brambledusk."

"We'll find something," Brambledusk promised. "We won't let her die. She doesn't deserve to. The gods may not be fair, but that doesn't mean we can't be fair, either." He let out a shaky sigh. "I know why you brought Runningflame here. I knew about it, too, you know. I found out on the journey when we went to rescue Hotaru and Iceheart."

"I brought Runningflame here because he loved Russetstripe unconditionally," Blackdove murmured.

"How did you know that?" Brambledusk asked. He had been under the assumption that he had been the only one – but not any longer, of course, as Blackdove seemed to know much longer than Brambledusk had. "Did she tell you, too?"

"Because I know what it's like to love someone unconditionally," Blackdove told him, her voice shattering.

Oh… Brambledusk fixed his amber gaze on Blackdove. That speech… in the camp… that was about Scorchstar, wasn't it? Brambledusk lifted his head and rested his chin on Blackdove's head, not sure what else to do. Why did every cat in WindClan seem to suffer so? Why wasn't there anything Brambledusk could do for any of them? Couldn't Brambledusk save just one? One would be enough.

Brambledusk gazed at Russetstripe's unmoving body. Please, come back to us.