Spark sidled up to Dark, a rabbit clutched in her jaws. "Would you like to share?"

It had been two sunrises since Leaf's death. It was rumoured that Demonclaw had killed her.

Dark ducked his head away.

Spark stiffened.

Fine!

But she still found herself trying to impress him.

"Dark, shall we go on a patrol together?" Spark nudged him playfully.

Dark opened his mouth, his eyes darkening. "No!" he hissed before storming off.

"Do you want to eat?" Spark asked Dark hopefully.

"Go away!" Dark snapped back.

Spark sighed, padding back towards the Trusted Warrior's den. She gazed forlornly at Dark. The tom had refused to go on any hunts or patrols since Leaf's death. She lay in her nest, unable to sleep. Leaf's death still burned fresh in her mind. Her broken body, covered in fox-scent.

Too much fox-scent.

Spark pricked up, suddenly suspicious. Demonclaw had gone with a walk with Leaf...then he had come back with prey. But not with Leaf.

And Leaf had been found dead.

Demonclaw's eyes burned with jealousy.

Demonclaw had loved Leaf too, Spark realized.

A dark figure moved around camp. Demonclaw. She watched through semi-closed eyes as Demonclaw paced the clearing before talking to Dark. Then, the two toms sat under the moon.

Do something, Demonclaw! Then I can suspect you!

Spark had almost fallen asleep when Dark left Demonclaw alone. She roused herself quickly and stealthily followed.

Spark followed Demonclaw to the place where Leaf was buried.

Oh no.

"Leaf, if you can hear me, I'm sorry for killing you." He mewed quietly so that no one but himself could hear. "I was too mad. And I hope wherever you are, StarClan or the Place of No Stars, you are happy and will find your true soulmate."

Spark let out a small gasp and ran at full speed back to her nest. In her nest, she panted with exhaustion and panic.

So, Demonclaw killed Leaf. He killed Leaf In The Wind, my best friend.

The next morning, Spark watched Demonclaw carefully from the safety of the den. He sprang up to the ledge and Spark found herself admiring his strength. He might be an evil fox-heart, but he certainly was strong.

"RevengeClan, wake up!" he yowled loudly. Claw was the first one to stir, bounding towards him eagerly. Spark came next, followed by a disgruntled Ruthless. Soon, all the cats were awake.

"Tigerstar, my father, came to me in a dream. He has offered me a proposition. We are to join his Clan, DarkClan, and both Tigerstar and I will finally earn our revenge. How does it sound?" Demonclaw purred.

"I'll join. This Tigerstar sounds powerful, and then it'll be easier for the rest of us to get our revenge!" Flash called.

"I'll join too!" Spark caterwauled loudly.

What did I do that for? He killed Leaf!

"Me too!" another cat called.

Soon, the whole Clan had agreed.

"Good." Demonclaw announced. "Tonight, I will ask Tigerstar how to get to the Place of No Stars. Then, tomorrow, we will rise!"

The next day, she watched with sadness as they left Leaf's body, watched with horror as Fang was killed by Salem. She watched with fear as she was pulled under a pool of water and into a dark forest.

"Congratulations, son. You've followed my paw prints." A dark brown tabby purred. "When Goldenperch stole you away, I was worried I wouldn't have an heir. But you're here now, so I guess I was wrong!"

"Thank you, Tigerstar. RevengeClan, meet Tigerstar. Tigerstar, meet my Clan." Demonclaw responded.

Spark dipped her head to Tigerstar before purring at Demonclaw.

What's wrong with me?

Tigerstar let out a loud purr. "I finally have an heir." He repeated.

Another tabby with glittering blue eyes came out of the shadows. "What about me?" he objected.

"A living heir." Tigerstar murmured. "Hawkfrost! From this moment on, you are no longer deputy!"

She watched with interest as Demonclaw puffed out his chest. Hawkfrost's protests were unheard.

"Dark Forest ancestors, I ask you to look down on Demonclaw. He is to be the new deputy!" Tigerstar yowled.

Without thinking, Spark lay her tail on Demonclaw's flank.

What did I just do? What's wrong with me? I have a suspicion...

Tigerstar gave Demonclaw a disapproving glare.

"Congratulations, Demonclaw! Deputy!" Spark purred, but even to her, she could tell that she was developing feelings.

Demonclaw talked to Tigerstar for a bit longer before turning to Spark with glowing eyes.

How did I never notice how handsome those blue eyes are?

"Thanks."

One moon later...

Spark curled her tail around her body, dragging it through the dead leaves. The moment she touched the leaves, they crumbled to dust.

I hate it here. Why don't I leave? She questioned herself.

Because I want him.

With a sinking feeling, she realized why she was staying.

"Spark! There you are!"

It's him.

Spark shoved an expression of pure joy onto her face and spun around to meet Demonclaw. "Hi!" she said breathlessly, frantically searching her fur for any stray tufts.

"Hey, do you want to go hunting?" Demonclaw's eyes were pools of blue bliss. Spark gazed into them, mesmerized.

"Sure..." Spark said, still in a trance.

"Let's go!" Demonclaw barked at her, leaping into a run.

Spark followed him, her muscles aching with protest as they raced past the dead trees and eerie fog.

I have to stop feeling like this.

"Stop it!" Spark thought to herself angrily. "You'll just get hurt!"

But I want to love...a small voice in her head protested.

"Love someone else then!" Spark blurted without thinking.

Aha.

"Are you okay, Spark?" Spark stiffened when she felt Demonclaw's tail touch her flank.

"Yeah..." she answered out loud.

"I didn't quite catch what you said before, do you mind repeating it?" the tom purred at her, mischief in his bright blue eyes.

"Oh, I just said I smelt a rabbit," Spark lied, jabbing with her tail at a random bush.

"That's strange. I don't smell anything." Demonclaw trotted to the bush to take a closer sniff.

Oops.

Hmm...what are your other options? Dark, Demonclaw or...Claw! The little voice sneered at her.

NO! Spark shouted at it. Dark probably hates everyone!

What about Demonclaw? It asked, genuinely curious.

He's not safe. I suspect he killed Leaf. But even to her, it sounded weak.

Pfft. Claw then!

You're not giving up, are you? Spark growled, unable to keep focus with hunting.

"Sorry, Demonclaw, I have a bit of a pounding in my head. I can't concentrate." Spark said to him lovingly.

Why lovingly? Why did I do that?

"That's alright, love," Demonclaw flirted casually.

Stop, Spark!

The little voice started jeering at her. You're in looove, you're in looove! It chanted.

Spark shivered and abandoned Demonclaw, running away from those endless blue eyes, from his worried face, and his handsome black fur.