Needletail trying desperately to help Violetpaw and other the RiverClan prisoners but she's all by herself. And when she is imprisoned — Violetpaw wants nothing to do with her.
That's her right, of course. Needletail respects that. But she — she found Violetpaw as a kit. She cares deeply for her, even if their time together was brief. And Needletail sees herself as responsible for Violetpaw's capture and. As the days go on Violetpaw starts to soften, and Needletail feels, somehow, better than she did, but—
Darktail takes them to the lake and tells Needletail he's giving her a chance to prove her loyalty. Needletail leaps at it, and Violetpaw's warmth turns to ice in a blink. Needletail sees this, but she doesn't let it show. If Darktail frees her, she can help them again.
But Darktail tells her to kill Violetpaw. And Needletail turns and Violetpaw is ready to fight — no. Ready to die. She can't win this fight. She is hurt and hungry and an apprentice. But she thinks Needletail is going to do it.
And really, what reason has Needletail given to make her believe otherwise?