Nearly a moon later, the snow had cleared and it was starting to brighten once again. Littlepaw and Brightpaw chatted eagerly nearby, and Nightsky watched them, a purr echoing in his chest. He heard pawsteps nearby and paused.

Flintslip burst into the DuskClan camp, making all of the cats jump. "There's been another attack!"

Nightsky pinned his ears. Lately, the rogues had been attacking small groups of cats, but it seemed like they had gotten bored again. Harefrost got to his paws. "Sedgestripe, Petalfur, Cedartail, Snowsight, and Whitetail. Go with Flintslip."

"How many cats are there?" Creekstar asked.

"Not many, but enough to outnumber us." Flintslip meowed.

"They might be planning another attack somewhere else." Creekstar meowed, narrowing his eyes. "Mottlepelt, Skyfern, Sunpelt, go check on DawnClan. If they try to shove you out, tell them about the attack."

The three cats nodded and dashed off. Creekstar flicked his tail. "Stormpelt, you and Flowertail go on patrol."

"Should we really be sending all of our cats out of camp?" Harefrost asked. Creekstar silenced him with a glare and Nightsky narrowed his eyes. Something didn't feel right here.

"We will stay home and defend the Clan." Creekstar meowed. Sedgestripe, you're in charge of the rescue patrol."

Sedgestripe nodded and followed Flintslip out of the camp. Nightsky sighed and padded over to where Darkpelt sat at the entrance to the medicine den. He'd gotten his warrior name recently.

"This doesn't seem right." Nightsky meowed quietly. Darkpelt nodded. "Creekstar must be out of his mind, sending all of our defenses away."

"If worst comes to worst, I want you to run." Nightsky said. Darkpelt bristled. "What?"

"Take Sunnypelt and run." Nightsky repeated, "I don't want either of you getting hurt."

"And since when were you Clan Leader?" Darkpelt hissed. "I'm no coward. I'll fight any rogues who come near my mentor."

Nightsky sighed. "Darkpelt..."

"No." Darkpelt spat. "I will not leave my Clan because a few rogues don't know their place."

++++

It was nearly sunhigh when the rogues attacked.

It was so many of them that Nightsky thought, for a moment, that it was just a sea of cats. He hissed and twisted, turning to the apprentices. "Go! Run! Littlepaw, go get the patroling cats and tell them to come back to camp as soon as they can. Brookpaw, go see what's happening in MoonClan.

Both apprentices nodded, eyes wide, and dashed off. Nightsky turned to see that Blizzardleg was fighting two rogues while Creekstar perched on his ledge, looking for the right time to strike. Harefrost fought below him.

Nightsky was about to go help him when Creekstar leaped, and...

He landed on Harefrost's back. The deputy screeched and was pulled down. Nightsky let out a hiss and leapt down to help the two, and froze in his tracks.

Harefrost and Creekstar circled each other, snarling. Harefrost let out a low hiss. "I knew it! You're trying to kill me!"

Creekstar narrowed his eyes. "You are a weak deputy, Harefrost, and you're too proud to step down. So, I'm going to do it for you." He snarled and Harefrost let out a hiss. Nightsky, bristling and fueled by his rage, took a flying leap.

He landed right between the two, and twisted to glare at Creekstar. "How could you?"

"Stay out of this, Nightsky." Creekstar unsheathed his claws. "You don't have to-"

Nightsky leapt at him while he was speaking, claws unsheathed, and swiped his claws across the leader's face. Creekstar stumbled with a screech and Harefrost leapt forward, biting into the leader's shoulder. Nightsky was about to attack again when he felt claws prick his flanks and let out a hiss of pain, turning to see that the rogues were closing in.

There was a screech nearby and Nightsky saw several cats stream into the clearing, attacking the rogues. He spotted Palestar on one of the stones overlooking the camp and twisted, snarling at Creekstar. "The Clan is back! We're going to tell them what you've done!"

"And who will they believe?" Creekstar snarled. "The two cats who've been friends since your apprenticeship...or their Clan Leader?"

Nightsky faltered, but Harefrost narrowed his eyes. "We'll find a way to expose you, Creekstar."

"I wouldn't bet on it." The leader glared at them, though blood seeped into his eyes.

"The rogues...this was you, wasn't it?" Nightsky stepped forwards, now close enough that their noses could touch.

"Who, these mangle-pelts?" Creekstar let out a laugh. "Yes, I suppose it's my fault they're here. But they'll leave once they get what they-"

"And who, exactly, are you calling a mangle-pelt?" A black she-cat stepped forwards, yellow eyes gleaming. Nightsky nodded to Harefrost and the two slipped into the crowd, returning to the battle at paw.