I slunk through the shadows of the trees. It was the night of a Gathering, the Gathering, where I would finally get my revenge on the cat who stole my heart.

Squirrelflight.

From the moment she had been born I had been captivated by her spirit, the spirit of a true warrior. She was the daughter of my leader, the famous Firestar. But then one day, she and Brambleclaw had disappeared. Moons later, when they finally returned, it was evident that Brambleclaw had stolen her heart.

But then, it had seemed StarClan was on my side. Brambleclaw had discovered he had a brother. Squirrelflight, angry at him for choosing Hawkfrost over her, had finally turned to me.

Then the badger attack happened. After it, Squirrelflight returned to the cat who had rejected her, the cat whose father, the tyrant Tigerstar had killed my mother as bait for a dog pack to kill my own Clan. The cat who had once been my friend.

It was time Squirrelflight learned a lesson in matters of the heart. I plotted with Hawkfrost in a plot to kill the mortal enemy of Tigerstar, the father of Hawkfrost. This cat was my leader, Firestar. But the plan did not succeed. It turned out Brambleclaw had a conscience. Firestar did not die, and Hawkfrost was killed. I saw it myself, for it had been my job to alert the Clan, and lead Leafpool and Squirrelflight to where their father would be dying.

But, to my delight, moons later, Squirrelflight had kits, one of which became my apprentice. I now had opportunities once again to break her heart, as she had killed mine.

Somewhere in between my plotting, moping and mentoring, I had found an angel in the form of Whitewing. She was smart, funny, and much gentler than Squirrelflight had ever been.

A rustle in the trees alerted me from my reverie. A shape slunk toward me, and my yowl was cut short by a sharp claw across my neck.