Tinyraven was annoyed but pushed the thought away.

"Pinepaw, just run!" She wailed quietly. "You need to go! You can't die!" Tears fell down Mousepaw's face. "Please."  She begged. 

"I'm not going to die." Pinepaw hissed. "But you will, if you keep trying to help me! So do what's good for you and get out of here." Her tail flicked irritably.

Lightningheart blinked slyly. "I know Pinepaw isn't the most loyal. That's why I did what I did." He meowed lightly. "It's to prove we won't hesitate to punish cats, no matter the crime. Pinepaw didn't do anything, but this will show that anyone who does commit a crime will be punished by severity of the offense."

Cloudheart watched helplessly, his heart screaming at him to defend Pinepaw. She didn't commit any crime! his heart raged. But his mind retorted, Don't do it. Do you want to be poisoned? His paws were frozen to the ground, his midnight-blue eyes dark.

"How do you know?" Boulderkit hissed back.

Mistyspark padded over to Cloudheart. "You want to help, don't you?" She guessed, gazing into the dark blue depths of his troubled eyes. 

"Pinepaw, listen! Lightningheart is a snake; he- he's going to kill you! Please, come with us before it's too late! If you escape, you can show the Clan we can defeat Flamestar! If you don't, nothing happens either way! So use this chance to at least try." She wailed.

"That's smart," Skyrose admitted. She curled her tail around her paws delicately. "But are you sure they're getting the message? Maybe you should make your reasons clearer. Tell everyone why you did it."

Sunpaw pressed closer to Mousepaw, drawing comfort from her familiar warmth. "Pinepaw..." she whispered. "Pinepaw, you can't do this. You can't willingly give yourself up. Please, please, come with us. We can escape, I know we can."

Cloudheart shook his head, glancing at Lightningheart. "I can't and won't," he snapped sharply, glaring at Mistyspark. "Why should I help a mouse-brained apprentice? I'm a High Court warrior; I'm not foolish enough to disobey the Heir's commands." Stay alive.

Grassfrost padded out of the High Court den, her troubled mind at ease. She noticed Pinepaw laying down on the ground. The High Court she-cat sat down. "What's going on here?" she asked. Her tone had a strange tone. It sounded oddly friendly, but this time, it was real, not the phony mask she'd worn all her life. It was emotion from her heart.

That's what's been going on.

I've been listening to my heart.

And I think I like that better than how things are going down right now.

"I am not leaving. Now get out of here, okay?" Pinepaw snapped, her black fur spiked. She looked up at Grassfrost, her green eyes nervous. "I'm being sent to the torture chambers." She said simply.

Lightningheart shrugged. "Perhaps. I shouldn't have to, though. Ideally, they shouldn't care. They should just listen and learn." He flicked his long grey tail. "But perhaps I'll reconsider, and explain myself. Maybe,"