𝐃𝐀𝐑𝐊𝐄𝐍𝐄𝐃 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐏𝐇𝐄𝐂𝐘 ──── 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘰𝘰𝘯.

𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚡𝚒𝚒.

SPOTTEDSONG WAS DREAMING. She was in a beautiful landscape with pure white snow falling from the sky and stars twinkling in the sky. The moon was nearly full. It hung from a crow-black sky, shining beautifully onto the ground. It released a peaceful sort of aura that soothed Spottedsong. She lay in the snow, the cool crystals sending a chill that would surprise most cats, but along with the landscape, it soothed Spottedsong.

     But she couldn't help but feel like someone was watching her.

     Spottedsong looked over her shoulder at the forest where someone was bound to be hiding out in the brambles, but no one was there. She was still haunted by the feeling that someone was watching her. She stood up and walked over to the bushes. "Hello?"

     "I've been trying to reach you," said a voice behind her. "I was told to share this message with you." Spottedsong whirled around and met Moonclaw face-to-face. Her heart leaped in her chest when she found herself trapped in her bewitching green gaze. "Why have you given up on completing your task?"

     "I haven't given up. I was imprisoned and I ran away. There was no way I could try again. Really, there was no way I would kill Dovepaw. She's my friend. I can't kill her." Spottedsong looked at her paws in shame. She knew what was expected of her, but after almost killing Dovepaw, she couldn't bring herself to do it again.

     There was a sympathetic murmur from Moonclaw. "Look at me," she mewed gently. Immediately Spottedsong looked up at her. "You must do this. I can help you."

     Horror now had its hold on Spottedsong. She held Moonclaw's gaze, terrified at the thought of what she would do. Of what they would both do. Will I really end up killing Dovepaw? I can't! But then, Moonclaw will make me. Do I really have control over my own life anymore? "H-how?"

     Moonclaw let out a sigh that shook. Spottedsong couldn't help but wonder if she was scared of herself and what she could do. "I can summon her. Now that I've met her I have a way of doing that. When you are in the forest, I can send her to the forest to find you."

     "Where in the forest? How will I know where to find her?" Spottedsong asked, unable to keep a tremble out of her voice.

     "I will send her to the river that leads to the lake. The one closest to the MoonClan camp. You shall be there tomorrow at moonhigh, when my power is most powerful and you will have a better chance of succeeding. Do we have a deal?" Moonclaw asked.

     "Is there some sort of price I don't know about?"

     "No. I am simply trying to help you not get killed. So, do we have a deal?"

     'Trying to help me not get killed'? What in StarClan's name does that mean? Will I get killed if I don't succeed in killing Dovepaw? Is her death really that necessary? "Okay. We have a deal."

     Spottedsong woke up in her nest. For a moment she thought she was back in the FrostClan camp, in the warrior's den, but she saw Foxclaw sleeping a mouse-length away in his nest. He lifted his head tiredly, his amber eyes gleaming in the moonlight. "Are you okay? You were muttering to yourself."