Darkblood sat alongside his other clanmates, who were gathered around Stormhawk. With Wolfblaze out on the dawn patrol still, Darkblood was meant to be on another patrol for the morning.

The few other warriors beside him chatted about the going-ons of the day while Darkblood remained quiet.

The black-pelted tom studied his claws for a moment, before Stormhawk spoke up, drawing the warriors to his attention.

Darkblood shifted in place as Stormhawk began to speak.

"Today, I'll be splitting you each into patrols." His amber gaze surveyed the group, resting on Darkblood for a quick moment. Darkblood met his gaze, his eyes narrowing.

"Mistberry. You, Nightfire, and Duskheart will be assigned to a hunting patrol. Sagetalon, Sorrelstripe, Hazelspring, the borders between our clan and the others need checked. Remark them if needed." Stormhawk turned to the rest of the cats. "Rabbitfoot and Goldenshade, hunting as well. Crimsonclaw, you will stay here and guard the camp. Wait for the dawn patrol to get back." His gaze came to rest on Darkblood again. "Darkblood, you will obey orders and follow me to the border with no-clans land. Also known as our border with the rogues. Understood?" The deputy said.

Nods and murmurs of agreement followed.

"Let's head out then." Stormhawk leapt down from where he sat, the gathered warriors dispersing around him.

Getting slowly to his paws, Darkblood padded after Stormhawk, unconsciously sensing that something was going to happen.

The walk to the border was one of silence. The nearer they got, Darkblood's heart began to thump against his chest, despite him trying to stop it.

"Listen up, you check one side of the border, I check the other, and we meet in the middle. We'll mark if we need to." Stormhawk told Darkblood once they arrived.

Darkblood looked at him.

"Or do you want your FernClan father's friends to come across the border? Wreak more havoc?" Stormhawk glanced over his shoulder from where he was beginning to pad in the direction of his side.

"Why are we here, Stormhawk?" Darkblood asked, beginning to growl. "What do you want?"

A satisfied smirk crossed Stormhawk's face and he turned back around, walking away again.

"Get to work, Darkblood." He said, not looking at the warrior this time.

Darkblood felt his claws slide out and he dug them into the hard ground.

What does he want? Darkblood thought, watching the retreating deputy's back.

Darkblood lashed his tail before turning and beginning to check his side of the border.

Coming to stop near Stormhawk, Darkblood had finished with his check of the border.

"Took you along enough." Stormhawk commented, sitting.

Darkblood stood still for a moment.

"You didn't answer my question."

"You think I have an ulterior motive for coming here, Darkblood?" The deputy rose to his paws and approached him. "You'd be right." Stormhawk came to a stop.

Darkblood's mouth parted slightly. "What? What are you talking about?"

"What do I want? What are we doing here? I want answers. That why's we're here. I can't figure you out, Darkblood. Why the clan trusts you. What you're doing when you're not putting the clan first. How loyal you really are to FoxClan. What can we except from a cat like you? What Darkblood?"

Darkblood opened his mouth to respond, a growl growing in his throat.

"Tell me the truth, Darkblood." Stormhawk ordered.

"No..." Darkblood growled, softly. His heart was beginning to beat in his chest.

Stormhawk took a pawstep forward.

"Why Darkblood?" Stormhawk addressed him. "The son of a FernClan and FoxClan cat. A cat who's mother abandoned him. Who always seems to be somewhere else." Stormhawk's voice deepened the longer he went on. "You killed your own father. You attack whenever you get the chance. Why does the clan continue to trust you? You are not all that they think you are!"

Darkblood's claws slide out but at that moment, he didn't care.

"Stop talking." He ordered.

"There is something broken about you, Darkblood! Something that FoxClan doesn't need! And I swore to myself that I would find out the truth!"

Without thinking, Darkblood claws connected with the side of Stormhawk's face, with a force which threw Stormhawk to the side.

"This is what all of this has been about!" Darkblood's voice rose. "Since I was a kit!"

As Darkblood turned to face Stormhawk again, he noticed the red that stained his raised claws.

"You just proved me right. My suspicion was right." Stormhawk tried to push himself up, a cough escaping him. "There is something."

Putting his paw down, Darkblood sunk his claws into the ground, watching as the blood flowed slowly from the slash on Stormhawk's cheek.

"You're wrong about me."

His heart beat in his chest, feeling as if there was a crack that kept growing. He tried to push down the memories that began to resurface. This only made them come back stronger.

"Am I?" Stormhawk said, from where he lay on the ground. "I know the truth, Darkblood."

Darkblood pushed his way forward, not able to keep the memories and emotions at bay. He looked Stormhawk in the eyes. Amber on amber. All the pain rose to fill him. And all the anger.

"I'm not telling you anything." Darkblood growled.

Then Stormhawk lashed out with his back legs, catching Darkblood on his pelt. Reaching forward, he tried to take hold of Darkblood's chest but Darkblood slashed his claws across both of Stormhawk's front paws. Stormhawk let out a snarl, the scratches beginning to bleed. With fire in his eyes, Darkblood lunged forward, his teeth connecting with Stormhawk's ear. Stormhawk yowled, bringing his claws up to grip Darkblood's shoulders. Blood welled where Stormhawk's claws dug in, and the two toms rolled over, neither one letting go.

Darkblood stood over Stormhawk now. "You don't know anything about me." He snarled, his heart beating.

"The fact that you're reacting this way tells me otherwise." Stormhawk responded. "You can't hide anymore."

Memories began to run through Darkblood's mind.

"Stop." He growled again, his red tipped claws digging into the ground on either side of Stormhawk.

The deputy began to shift beneath him and Darkblood's eyes widened, his claws coming to scratch Stormhawk's shoulder.

Sticking out a leg, Stormhawk caught him off balance and Darkblood moved just enough that Stormhawk escaped his grasp.

The two toms turned to face each other again.

"Come on, Darkblood." Stormhawk panted slightly, his eyes showing resolve.

Darkblood's heart was beating wildly as he met the deputy's amber gaze.

This wasn't going to happen again. It couldn't. Darkblood wouldn't let it.

Stormhawk's claws were dug into the ground and his tail was lashing.

Darkblood leapt forward. Stormhawk rolled to the side, dodging Darkblood's blow. He noticed Stormhawk wincing as he stood up.

Stormhawk ran forward, aiming for Darkblood's shoulder with one set of claws. As Stormhawk's claws dug into his already scarred shoulder, Darkblood brought his paw up and grabbed Stormhawk's side, shoving him to the side. Darkblood brought his other set of claws up and slashed downward on Stormhawk's neck.

Stormhawk's claws fell from Darkblood's shoulder. His side hit the ground, blood pooling out from his neck. Red shone against Stormhawk's dark blue pelt and his amber eyes were wide.

Darkblood was breathing heavily as he stared down at Stormhawk. His red stained claws were held out in front of him, as the life left the cat laying before him.