Dawnsky stood in an open meadow, the tall blades of grass danced in the wind. I must be dreaming... she decided, looking around warily. She could hear pawsteps as her father made his way through the grass. He sat up straight and tall, staring down at Dawnsky, who was tiny in comparison to him.

"Oakfoot, I-"

"So I see you are deciding to leave?" Oakfoot questioned, already knowing what she had planned to say.

Dawnsky nodded, looking him in the eyes, "Will they take me back?" She asked.

"Well, the real question is how you are going to leave in the first place. That's what I'm here to guide you with." The starry cat explained.

Dawnsky's tail swished, "What do you mean?"

"I mean you must sneak out in the middle of the night. It may seem mean and cruel to Bear, but it's the safest way. You must believe me!" He almost sounded like he was begging her.

Dawnsky stepped back, "You mean just leave without even telling him?! That's horrible! I can't do that. I... I won't."

Oakfoot shook his head and stood in silence, as if he was working out what he was going to say in his head, "Look, Dawnsky....." he sighed, closing his eyes, "I am here to help you. I promise you that I am only trying to keep you and your kits safe. You must learn to listen to me!"

"But... but...." she tried to think of a way to argue.

"Bear is dangerous. This is the safest way for your kits." he growled, "But it is your decision. I will leave it completely up to you. I am giving you the chance now, take it... or don't..."

She opened her mouth to say something, but her father disappeared, leaving her alone in the seemingly endless meadow. A loud clap of thunder woke her with a start. Dawnsky looked around the small cave. It was almost dawn, and Bear was sound asleep as well as the kits. This must be the chance that Oakfoot is giving me..... she shakily breathed and stood up, which disturbed her kits. They mewled loudly, desperately searching for her milk.

Dawnsky tried making soothing noises to calm them, and she slowly picked up the largest one by the scruff. It let out a loud squeak, waking Bear. Fox dung! she thought. Bear looked around wildly, quickly getting to his paws, "Dawnsky?! Dawnsky are you okay?" he looked like he had just woken up from a nightmare.

Suddenly she felt a pang of guilt and sadness when she saw how worried Bear looked. I'm sure he will understand, she argued with herself, I can't just leave him and not say anything! She stared at Bear in silence, Patch still dangling in her jaws. She put him down next to Sky, "I have to leave..." she told him.

For a minute, Bear looked stunned, and then hurt, "Wait.... what? What do you mean?"

Dawnsky sighed, taking a small step towards the entrance of the cave, "I... I have to go back to IceClan."

Bear laughed, as if he didn't believe what she was saying, "Go.... back? With the kits?"

"I know, I.. I'm sorry, but I have to go!" she pleaded with him, now realizing that Oakfoot was right all along. There is no easy way to explain this, she scolded herself, how could I have been so stupid and ignorant?

"You...." he growled, suddenly looking angry, "You wouldn't dare! You will stay here, I command you!"

"You.... command.... me?" she gaped at his stinging comment. Bear was blocking the entrance, his fur puffing out, making him look double his size.

"Yes, and I will NOT let you out of this cave!" Bear hissed, looking hysterical with uncontrollable anger.

"Bear, let me through!" she yelled through a mouthful of kit fur, the fur on her neck rose as she tried to push past him.

Suddenly, the pupils in his eyes turned into slits and his lips curled into a menacing snarl. He unsheathed his claws and took a step towards her.

Dawnsky gasped, "Bear.... Bear what are you doing?" she trembled in fear as he became dangerously close to her. Sky, who was crawling around on the floor, let out a helpless squeak. Bear whipped his head around and moved towards the little kit.

"If you won't listen to me now," Bear smiled, walking towards Sky, "then maybe you will just have to learn the hard way." Before Dawnsky could react, Bear grabbed the kit and bolted out the door.

"Bear!" she screeched, "Bear, come back with her!" she put Patch in a safe place and sprinted quickly after him. She felt intense pain after the first few steps, but ignored it as she desperately ran after her beloved kit.

Bear stopped by the camp, allowing Dawnsky to catch up with him. Sky was mewling in protest, flailing her forepaws around helplessly. Bear wants me to follow him, she thought, fear bubbling up inside of her, but I won't let him do anything to my kit! She bounded up to him, but he just stared blankly at her, breathing hard. It was if he wasn't there anymore, as if he had turned into some mindless monster. But he just held the kit firmly in his jaws. Dawnsky yowled in fury, lashing out her claws across his cheek and leaving a deep gash. He didn't even seem to notice as the blood flowed down his face.

Storm cheerily padded out of camp, oblivious to what was happening, "Oh hey, Dawnsky! Hey Bear! How are the--" he turned his head towards them and his mouth hung open in shock, "Oh... Oh no..." He walked backwards back into the camp, his eyes glued to the couple.

"Storm, help me!" she cried.

Storm quickly turned his head around, "Hey guys, Bear is going on one of his rampages again!!!" Suddenly, cats poked their heads out of their dens, quickly running towards the scene. But they all stayed at least five foxlengths away, not daring to come any closer to help. She could hear some of their conversations.

"Oh look! Bear is going on one of his psychotic rages again!"

"This I must see!"

"Poor Dawnsky...."

Bear turned his head, "Now you will all see what happens to a traitor!" he growled, the kit squeaking and moving around in his jaws. He turned around and started to bound off again, and Dawnsky had no choice but to follow. The crowd that had gathered followed after him, too.

After what had seemed like moons of sprinting after Bear, she suddenly recognized where they were going. He's heading towards the cliff! He's going to drop Sky off the cliff! A voice screamed in her mind. That was exactly where he was going. She, and the rest of the group, moved through the undergrowth until they reached the edge of the cliff. Once the group had gathered, Bear placed Sky right on the edge. Dawnsky moved up to stop him, but two rogues held her back under Bear's command.

"BEAR, STOP!!!" she screamed.

Bear only smirked at her, "Alright, Dawnsky, you have two choices: one, you can leave and this kit will die, or two, you can stay here with me and your kits will be alright. So will you stay?"

Dawnsky paused for a second, "Never. I could never stay with a monster like you." her throat tightened. Was she really doing this? Was she really choosing her clan?

"So be it." Bear growled, "Alright everyone, this is a little demonstration of what happens to cats who betray me!"

The cats around her gasped, some looked away. None of them spoke out because of fear for what Bear would do to them next. Suddenly, the prophecy crossed her mind, but one of your kits will fall to the darkest depths. Surely Star Clan couldn't have meant this! They wouldn't allow a terrible fate for such an innocent kitten, would they?

Dawnsky closed her eyes, not able to watch anymore. What have I done? What have i done? she kept repeating the same question in her mind.

"Wait! Stop!" croaked a raspy voice from the clearing. Everyone turned their heads in alarm to a small, tortoiseshell she-cat. Dawnsky gasped. This cat looked vaguely familiar. Could it be? her eyes widened.

Bear looked back, snarling, "What is it, Dappledtree? Do you wish to join this kit?"

Dawnsky didn't dare say anything, afraid that if he knew she was related to her, she would be thrown off the cliff as well. Dappledtree stepped up, glancing at Dawnsky with a nod, "I only think you're making a mistake," she said calmly, "why not just keep these kits, and banish Dawnsky? They could be very strong and valuable to the clan."

"This is true..." Bear thought for a moment, glaring at Dawnsky, "Yes... this is perfect! Very wise choice, Dappledtree."

"Yes, and Raven still has some milk left," Dappledtree commented, "she could be their foster mother."

Dawnsky stood, her blue eyes round with shock. Dappledtree just saved her kits! She wondered if her mother even knew it was her. Either way, she was grateful.

"Your bravery and wisdom is much appreciated," Bear said in a gruff tone. Dawnsky looked at him closely, and saw that his eyes had gone back to normal. She felt a prick of hope and she lifted her head to meet his gaze. She gasped at what she saw. He was definitely out of his rage, but there was a dullness in his eyes, and she knew with dread that the old Bear was no more. He was gone forever, and it was all her fault. I have shattered what good was left in him.... she realized, I did this.... all of it....

Bear turned his amber gaze on her and said two chilling words, "Get out."

Dawnsky stiffened, not able to speak. She backed up and shot a grateful glance at her mother, who didn't even look in her direction. She turned towards the group of cats who still stood in shock. She narrowed her eyes at Storm and Cricket. Cricket narrowed her eyes in return while Storm stood with his head down in guilt. As she padded away, the group of cats parted to let her through.

"Dawnsky, wait." Mewed Bear. She turned her head around in a small hope, "I just wanted to tell you......."

She nodded, beckoning for him to go on. Her hopes were quickly shattered when he started to speak.

"We are no longer mates. In fact, you are my number one enemy, and I will get my revenge on you and your puny IceClan. You will regret betraying me, because I will always be after you. So watch your back." he mewed in an icy tone, "Now GET OUT!"

Dawnsky didn't need to hear his order twice, and she ran as fast as she could away from Bear, away from her kits, away from all of those horrible rogue cats. She had to get out. She had to do this for her kits' sake. I will never see them again... she thought in agony as she sprinted back towards her old home. She could hear another loud clap of thunder along with a bolt of lighting. Rain started to pour down, instantly soaking her. She kept on running, though she felt both physical and emotional pain. She ran past the the tall and leafless trees, wanting more than ever to be under the shelter of the evergreen pines back at home.

Please StarClan, watch over my kits..... she kept running, her fur dripping wet from the rain. She knew she couldn't go on like this for much further, so she took shelter in an abandoned badger set. She shook her fur, and water droplets sprayed everywhere. She licked her ruffled pelt and laid down, watching the rain.

"What an eventful day!" growled a voice deeper inside the cave.

Her ears flew back and her lips curled into a snarl, "Go away, Shadowstripe! I don't need your stupid input on everything I do!"

Shadowstripe appeared, smiling, "Of course not! I'm just here to say 'you're welcome!'"

She narrowed her eyes in confusion, "What do you mean?"

"You don't think Dappledtree would have done that on her own, do you?" he smirked.

"Wait, so you helped me?" she gasped.

"Just keeping my part of the deal." he studied his thorn sharp claws, waiting for her answer.

"But...but last time you said that if I made the right decision, you wouldn't make it better for me!" she mewed.

Shadowstripe shook his head, "I don't think you understand the promise, Dawnsky."

"Really?" she growled sarcastically.

"I said that if you made the right decision, I would help you through it." he explained like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"Yes I know, but-"

"And if I had let your beloved kit die, you would've thrown yourself off the cliff with the little scrap of fur. Duh!" he mewed.

Dawnsky nodded, blankly. She lashed her tail, "So what do you want, Shadowstripe?"

"A simple thank you, but since you're in a mood, never mind." he growled, "But anyways, You're welcome!"

"Why should I thank you? You took everything away from me!" she hissed, but he was already gone. She curled up again, trying to keep warm from the icy, leafbare winds that were blowing rain inside the badger set.

She sighed, feeling terrible about what had happened, I left the kits, took away what good was left in Bear, and now I'm here..... what do I do now? she sighed, watching the icy rain in worry.