𝐋𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 𝐈𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐇𝐀𝐃𝐎𝐖𝐒 ──── 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘰𝘰𝘯.

𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚒𝚒𝚒.

SPOTTEDSONG FLATTENED HER ears when a fat, icy cold droplet of water fell on her head. She lifted her head and looked at the top of the den. There was a hole, and the sprinkle of rain dripped through it. She let out a sigh of disappointment. Didn't we just repair it yesterday? Spottedsong tried to figure out if she should move, fix it, or wake up and go on with her day, but then she realized that Owlheart might want her on patrol. She forced herself to get out of her nest and go into the clearing.

     It had been nearly a half moon since Dovesong and Blizzardpelt left the Clans to go on their journey. It was also a half moon since Lynxstar was attacked and Dawnsplash went missing. The camp seemed emptier without the three of them, even though Dawnsplash hadn't been in camp for nearly two moons now.

     The sky was dark with storm clouds and rain was sprinkling onto the clearing. The sun was totally covered up, so it almost looked like it was still nighttime. Spottedsong could tell a storm was coming, but now it was far away and they had time to prepare.

     Spottedsong strode over to Owlheart, who was just getting ready to organize the patrols. "Owlheart?"

     The white tabby looked down at her from where he stood on the Snowrock. "What do you need?"

     "Can I be on the border patrol?" Spottedsong asked.

     Owlheart purred. "I'm grateful for your enthusiasm. Of course you can go."

     When the patrols were organized, Spottedsong was leaving camp with Whitefoot, Gorseberry, Flypaw, and Hollyfern. "Let's check the border with ThunderClan first," Hollyfern decided; she was the leader of the patrol.

     When they were approaching the ThunderClan border, they spread out in even groups to check on each side of the border. Spottedsong was paired with Whitefoot. She was glad to have such a strong, brave warrior with her. If there was any trouble, she was sure she would be fine.

     Spottedsong just finished marking one the trees when she heard voices in the undergrowth ahead. She pricked her ears and began to sneak toward the sound. She could see cats in a clearing. It looked like they were in a meeting. She crouched behind some bushes to keep herself hidden.

     "Why aren't they here?" growled the brown tabby, Cypressstar. He looked at each of the three cats in turn. One was Blackstream of ShadowClan, one was Nightshade of MoonClan, and the other was Sparrowfeather. Spottedsong shuddered at the sight of the four warriors, especially Sparrowfeather. He had bluntly betrayed his Clan to join MoonClan, which was unmistakably the worst kind of betrayal that ever existed.

     "They got away," Sparrowfeather responded. "We found them, and we fought them, but they got away."

     They fought who? Dovesong and Blizzardpelt? Spottedsong wondered.

     "This is ridiculous," Cypressstar hissed. "How could they get away? I sent you three because I thought you could do it."

     "We thought so, too," Blackstream mewed, dipping her head apologetically. "Something was there, and it did something really-"