"Well done, Bloodfur. I knew I could trust you."

Mistybreeze grew uneasy as she noticed how proud Bloodfur looked at Deserve's praise. Her Clanmate had led Mottledface and a group of soldiers in an attack on the medicine cats at Highstones. She could hardly believe the cat she was beginning to trust again had been willing to help mortally wound the Clans' healers.

"Well, I wouldn't call it a success." Revengeheart said in a hostile tone, clearly not happy with Bloodfur after catching him training with Mistybreeze. "Only two medicine cats were killed. Dewstorm, Creamheart, Spicewhisker, Sagefern, and Ryeheart are still alive."

"But Spicewhisker isn't well," The ThunderClan warrior Battalon put in. "Sagefern has been coming by to check on him, and she says he might not pull through."

Deserve narrowed his green eyes. "Good. But the remainder must be eliminated."

Mistybreeze sat behind Revengeheart, feeling sick to her stomach as she listened to her companions talk about killing cats as if they were no more than leaves to be stepped on and crushed. 

"ShadowClan has two medicine cats at the moment, right?" Deserve inquired.

"One." Bloodfur responded. "Dewstorm has left to fill in as WindClan's medicine cat."

Thank StarClan Dewstorm is alright. Mistybreeze was grateful that her uncle had survived the brutal attack. However WindClan's medicine cat, Silverberry had been killed, leaving WindClan without a medicine cat. Dewstorm had decided to leave ShadowClan to serve as WindClan's medicine cat. Every cat had been surprised, but respected his decision. Though young, Creamheart was a worthy successor.

"Now we have Creamheart." Mottledface put in, echoing her thoughts. He paused and added with a tip of his head, "Brownstripe's daughter."

The Army leader's tail twitched, and his eyes flickered with interest. "Really?" Mistybreeze remembered hearing how seasons ago, Deserve, Boost, and Song had been taken into ShadowClan as kits, and were bullied by Brownstripe, Blackstorm, and Snakekit. The treatment had driven Deserve to kill Snakekit and flee the forest, becoming the bloodthirsty cat he was today. Deserve had already killed Brownstripe as well, but clearly he despised these cats enough to pursue their kin too.

"All the more reason to kill her." Deserve meowed in satisfaction. "ShadowClan must have no medicine cat. Bloodfur, will you do the job?"

Mistybreeze looked at Bloodfur uneasily. He won't, will he? Sitting not far from him, she saw his expression was unreadable. But he didn't answer right away, clearly considering his options. She felt a flicker of hope. Maybe he'll refuse.

But to her dismay, Bloodfur accepted the task. "Of course, Deserve. I'll take care of it tomorrow."

"Good." Deserve gave him a nod. "I shall call a meeting to discuss our next course of action." As he turned and leaped onto the tree stump, Clan cats and soldiers gathered more closely. 

As the Army leader began speaking, Mistybreeze became aware of Swiftstalker sitting beside her. He leaned in close. "Do you really think Bloodfur will do it?" He whispered. 

She looked at her paws. "I don't know." She admitted in a mutter. "There are two very different sides to him."

"Deserve, I believe we're capable of attacking at any time."

Mistybreeze's attention snapped up to the tree stump as Deserve's son and second in command, Castiel, spoke. Beside her, Swiftstalker stiffened. What if the Army attacks the Clans now? Tonight? She held her breath as Deserve hesitated, considering his son's words. No!

"However, I believe we should wait until some of the other medicine cats are taken care of." Deserve decided. "Bloodfur will kill Creamheart tomorrow."

She relaxed a little, relieved. There won't be an attack now. She exchanged a look with Swiftstalker. But what do we do when the time comes?

"Good idea." Poisonedsap meowed when Ravenfeather proposed trying to kill Sagefern. "And I'd like to hold off the attack until my newest kits have sharpened their skills. They will be participating in the battle."

Mistybreeze bristled. What? Is she crazy? She thought of Poisonedsap's four tiny brown and ginger kits, who were barely 2 moons old. How can she possibly expect them to fight, let alone survive a battle? Without thinking, she stood and shot the queen a stunned look. "Surely you're not sending your kits into battle? They're too young!"

The golden brown she-cat narrowed her eyes at her. "No cat is too young to fight." 

"That's not true!" Out of the corner of her eye, Swiftstalker gave her a warning look, but she ignored him. "Those kits are sure to be killed if you-"

"Mistybreeze." Revengeheart turned and glared at her. "I don't think a cat who won't have kits has any place in deciding what another mother should do with them," He growled scornfully. "You're no use here, so why don't you go catch me a mouse?"

Frustration pulsed over her from ears to paws. She met her mate's amber gaze, harsh words building up in her chest. Your mother is a cruel mouse brain who's going to send her kits to their deaths! I don't need to be a mother to know the common sense of keeping kits alive! Go catch your own mouse and choke on it!

But she knew nothing she said would result in any good. Especially when she was surrounded by enemies. She held her tongue, and suddenly feeling hopelessly defeated, she turned away, her tail drooping as she left the clearing.

***

The forest surrounding Deserve's camp was dark and quiet. Mistybreeze wandered through the trees, her tail lashing slowly in frustration as she thought about Revengeheart and Poisonedsap. They're such cruel, terrible cats! They don't care who dies, whether it be an elder or a tiny kit! Sadness welled up in her chest. How could I have been so stupid to fall into this mess?

"Mistybreeze?"

She started, her claws instinctively unsheathing, but she relaxed when she recognized Swiftstalker's voice. The black and white tom padded up to her. "Are you okay?" He asked quietly.

"I'm fine," She muttered. "Is the meeting over?"

Swiftstalker nodded. "We'll be leaving soon. I think Poisonedsap wanted to talk to Deserve first, and Revengeheart went to make dirt." He hesitated. "I've learned it's best not to argue with Poisonedsap. She won't listen to any cat."

"Those kits are going to die in battle," She growled. "Do we just let that happen?"

The blue eyed tom shrugged sadly. "Not much can be done. Even Cougarfoot has no say in things." He looked at his paws. "I guess we just-" He suddenly broke off, his pink nose twitching.

Mistybreeze's ears pricked warily as she tasted the air herself.

Blood.

She exchanged a worried look with Swiftstalker, and they both hurried through the trees south of the camp, following the salty reek of blood. What happened? A fight between a Clan cat and soldier?

They passed a patch of brambles and stopped in their tracks, shocked. "Bloodfur?" She gasped out in alarm.

Their dark red tabby Clanmate was stumbling through the forest, his head craned low. He glanced over at them in faint surprise. "Oh, hi guys."

Mistybreeze shot to his side, horrified to see his neck and throat dark and slick with fresh blood. "What happened?" She demanded anxiously. "Who-"

"He can tell us later." Swiftstalker cut her off urgently and pressed his shoulder to Bloodfur's side. "We need to get him to the camp, Deserve's healers will see him."

Knowing Swiftstalker was right and there was no time to waste, Mistybreeze supported Bloodfur on his other side, and together she and Swiftstalker guided him toward the camp. As they moved, her fur prickled when a familiar scent on Bloodfur hit her nose. Revengeheart.

***

"You're awfully lucky, Clan cat." Coco commented. "If you'd been ripped into any deeper, you'd be fresh kill."

Mistybreeze and Swiftstalker sat in the healers' den, watching as Deserve's healers leaned over their friend. Bloodfur lay in a nest of leaves and moss while Coco, a dark brown tabby, pressed cobwebs along his throat wound. Beside her sat Shimmer, a silver spotted she-cat who was handing pawfuls of fresh webbing when Coco needed it.

"But he'll be okay?" Mistybreeze pressed, looking at her friend worriedly. 

"He should be fine." Shimmer meowed. "How are you feeling, Blood? Your name sure suits you today." She chuckled.

Bloodfur seemed too distracted by his wound to get frustrated about the jab at his name which he hated. He hauled himself to his paws and sat up hunched over. "I'm okay," He rasped. "Thanks."

"Bloodfur, who attacked you?" Mistybreeze asked, though she feared she already knew the answer. "What happened?"

The tabby hesitated. "I got in a... disagreement with Revengeheart." He admitted.

"About what?" Swiftstalker blinked. "The medicine cats?"

Did he change his mind about killing Creamheart? Mistybreeze wondered. And Revengeheart didn't like that?

He started to shake his head, only to stop and wince as the movement hurt his wound. "I was really mad about what he said to you." His yellow eyes met Mistybreeze's. "I told him he should treat you better, and he didn't like that very much."

Mistybreeze stared down at him, startled by this answer. He was almost killed because he stood up for me? "Why would you do that?" She anxiously demanded.

"Because I care about you." Bloodfur mewed simply, looking tired from his injury.

As Swiftstalker urged Bloodfur to be careful of confronting Revengeheart, Mistybreeze's tail lashed slowly. She looked out into the clearing, narrowing her eyes. Where is he?

"I'll be right back." She told her companions and padded out into the clearing.

"You'll have to start seeing us more often, once all your Clan healers are gone!" Shimmer chuckled as she left. Swiftstalker laughed dryly in response.

Poisonedsap was speaking with Sunset and Mottledface. She stalked up to them more confidently than ever. 

"I'm expecting kits now." Sunset, one of Deserve's soldiers, was boasting. "They'll fight in the battle and-"

"Where's Revengeheart?" Mistybreeze cut them off.

Three sets of narrowed eyes rested on her. "I think he's headed back to the forest already." Poisonedsap responded coolly.

"Why?" Mottledface prompted with a gleam in his eye. "Finally going to have those kits?"

As the three cats purred together in amusement, Mistybreeze hardly cared and hurried through the camp and out into the forest. It wasn't long before she spotted the black legged tom up ahead through the trees. Eyes narrowing, she quickened her pace. "Revengeheart!" She called out coldly.

The tom paused, glancing over his shoulder at her. "Well, well, took you long enough!" He snorted, then noticed she was empty pawed. "Where's my mouse? Or are you incapable of hunting too?"

Gritting her teeth, Mistybreeze stalked up to him. "Bloodfur came back to camp badly wounded."

Revengeheart's ear twitched. "That's a shame."

"You tried to kill him."

He narrowed his eyes and turned to face her. "So what if I did? If he wants to keep his throat intact, he should keep his nose out of our business."

Hot anger pulsed through Mistybreeze's pelt, and she dug her claws into the ground. "Leave him alone." She growled. "He's a part of our alliance, after all. What good is he to us if he's dead?"

Revengeheart looked amused at her show of strength. "I'll do what I like. And don't talk as if you're part of this. You've made it clear you're completely worthless to us." Lashing his tail, he went on. "At this point, all we want you to do is keep quiet."

A growl rumbled in her throat. "Why not just kill me then?" She challenged.

"Because." Revengeheart's eyes burned into hers with hatred and satisfaction. "I want you to see the Clans fall. I want you to see every cat you care about die in front of you. I can't wait for you to see how powerful we are, and how worthless and alone you will be when all this is over."

His dark words sent a chill down her spine. But she wasn't afraid. She glared back at him steadily. "I can't wait for you to see just how wrong you are." Without waiting for his response, she spun and hurried back toward Deserve's camp.

***

Early the next morning, Mistybreeze padded through the forest. The sun had just begun to rise, its warm rays reaching out between the dark pines. She enjoyed the cool morning grass under her paws, and the soft breeze against her fur. 

Revengeheart had asked her to go catch him some prey, since she didn't do that yesterday at Deserve's camp. But she had no intentions of catching so much as a mouse tail for him. Instead, she used this as an opportunity to relax and enjoy a morning stroll.

As the trees in front of her thinned out to an open grassy area, Mistybreeze closed her eyes, relishing in the calming quiet of the morning. Even the prey hardly stirred yet. It felt good to be alone with her thoughts.

A breeze touched her nose, carrying with it a familiar scent. She opened her eyes, surprised, and looked ahead toward the WindClan border. Sure enough, in the distance on the moor crouched a familiar spotted gray tom.

"Dewstorm!" Mistybreeze called out warmly and trotted toward the border. She hadn't seen her uncle since he'd left to join WindClan.

He looked up from the bundle of leaves he'd been sorting, his yellow eyes brightening. "Mistybreeze!" He checked that his herbs would be safe, then left them to meet her at the border. "It's good to see you." He purred.

"How are you?" She asked. "What's it like living in WindClan?"

Dewstorm hesitated. "It's different." He admitted. "Getting used to a new home, especially one without trees, is taking some time. But I think I'll grow to like it."

"Are the WindClan cats treating you well?" In ShadowClan, Dewstorm had been very respected and a friend to all. She guessed it would take some time, but hoped he would be treated the same in WindClan.

"Well..." Dewstorm tipped his head. "A pawful of them are. Monarchwing and Blazinglight have been very kind in helping me settle in. Gladestar has told me multiple times how grateful WindClan is to have me there, when they would have been left without a medicine cat." He let out a half amused purr. "Though I don't think she speaks for every WindClan cat. Some of them look at me like I'm a fox in a cat's pelt."

Mistybreeze blinked sympathetically. "I'm sure they'll grow to respect you as much as we do."

"Probably only once I train an apprentice for them." Dewstorm meowed. "But I'll win them over, treating one cough or cut at a time!" He purred, curling his tail.

I'm glad he's in such good spirits. She thought with a purr.

"How are things in ShadowClan?" He asked.

Mistybreeze sat down, trying not to think of Poisonedsap and Revengeheart. "They're alright," She meowed carefully. "Creamheart has been doing a great job on her own."

"I had no doubts." Dewstorm's eyes gleamed proudly at the mention of his apprentice. "She's a great medicine cat and will serve her Clan well."

Not for long, if Bloodfur kills her... Suddenly the calming mood of her morning outing was gone. Her stomach turned like rotten prey as she thought of Creamheart's fate. Bloodfur is supposed to do that today. Will he really kill her?

Suddenly, Dewstorm's expression grew more serious. "I'm glad I ran into you. I actually have a message for you. I planned to tell you at the gathering last night, but you weren't there."

Because I was at Deserve's camp, listening to traitors plot against the Clans. Mistybreeze thought. She blinked at the medicine cat, puzzled. "A message? From who?" I don't know any WindClan cats that well.

"Diamondrain."

Diamondrain? She felt unsteady on her paws, shocked to hear her dead mother's name. She sometimes forgot that unlike regular cats, medicine cats could communicate with the dead. "Diamondrain?" She rasped, a mixture of sadness and wonder filling her chest. "Really?"

Her uncle nodded. "She said..." He leaned closer. "You are stronger than ever now, but you don't have to fight alone. You are one of three cats whose loyalties will be proven under a full moon. I'm so proud of you, and I will be with you always as you fight for the Clans."

Mistybreeze grew misty eyed as she listened to Dewstorm's message. She imagined and could almost hear her mother saying these words as if she herself was speaking them, in the soft and comforting voice she would use when she was a kit. Oh, Diamondrain... I miss you so much.

As she stared into the distance, processing the words, Dewstorm spoke again more quietly. "I don't know what any of that means, but I'm sure you do." He paused. "Every cat knows I broke the warrior code by loving Starfaith. I know loyalties can be more complicated than some cats think. Follow your heart, and fight for what you believe in. Diamondrain already knows that you will."

As Mistybreeze nodded slowly, Dewstorm rose to his paws. "I have to get those herbs back to camp." He touched his nose to hers. "Take care, Mistybreeze. Even though I'm a WindClan cat now, we're still kin. I'll always be here for you and your brother."

"Thank you." Mistybreeze gave a small purr and watched as the medicine cat turned and hurried back across the moor.

***

The sun had fully risen now. Mistybreeze gazed downward, deep in thought as she slowly headed through the pines toward the camp. She felt comfort in knowing her mother was watching over her, that she knew what she was struggling with. She's proud of me and thinks I'm stronger than ever... I guess I have stopped letting Revengeheart push me around. But I'm still involved in this plot to attack the Clans!

You are one of three cats whose loyalties will be proven under a full moon... Obviously that means something will happen at a gathering, right? Or maybe Deserve's camp, since we go there on full moons? Who are the other two cats? It has to be Swiftstalker, and... Bloodfur? But is that too simple?

Bloodfur is a good cat. Mistybreeze thought. I really think he is. He can change, and then maybe the three of us can do something to help the Clans... She quickened her pace through the trees. I have to talk to him. She decided. I have to talk him out of killing Creamheart and make him see sense.

As she neared the camp, she stopped in her tracks. The sounds of cries and wails of grief echoed from beyond the thorn barrier, and the scent of blood lingered in the air. Her blood ran cold. Oh no... Am I too late? Bloodfur, you didn't...

Mistybreeze swallowed hard, her heart pounding before she hurried through the tunnel and into the camp, preparing herself to see Creamheart's body laying in the clearing. But when stepped into the clearing, an unexpected tragedy awaited her.

The medicine cat Creamheart was alive, crouched beside Bloodfur. Flameheart, Bloomfire, Heatpaw, Foxpaw, and Applepaw were with them, crying and wailing in grief. In the center of the group lay Cardinalpaw, his throat dark with blood. Around them, the ShadowClan cats yowled and argued.

"We all know who did this!" Crowmask yowled. "The same cat who murdered all our other Clanmates!"

"Enough of that nonsense!" Flameheart angrily rose his head from his son's body. "Bloodfur is not a murderer!"

As Mistybreeze took in the scene, wildly confused and horrified, she saw Revengeheart, Mottledface, and Amberrose not far from her by the camp wall. She rushed over to them. "What happened?" She demanded, desperate for answers. Revengeheart glared at her, but didn't speak.

"Obviously Bloodfur messed up!" Mottledface hissed through gritted teeth. 

Amberrose rolled her eyes. "The idiot killed his old apprentice instead of Creamheart!"

"Enough!" Depthstar silenced the Clan and wove through the crowd to the huddle of grieving cats. "Bloodfur? Creamheart?" He asked sadly. "What happened? Who did this?"

Creamheart shot Bloodfur a glare. "It was-"

"Me." Bloodfur stared at the ground before his paws. "It was me."

As the Clan screeched and yowled their shock and anger, Mistybreeze couldn't suppress a gasp. Killing Creamheart would have surprised her enough. But Cardinalpaw? She had seen how close Bloodfur had been with his apprentice, and adopted brother since he was a kit. Since joining Poisonedsap's alliance, Bloodfur rejected Cardinalpaw as both his kin and apprentice. But did he really hate him enough to kill him? 

"I knew you hated us," Applepaw wailed, echoing Mistybreeze's thoughts. "But I didn't think you would kill one of us!"

Bloodfur's eyes lit with heartache. "I don't hate you!" He started toward them, but Cobratail and Crowmask blocked his way. "I didn't mean it!" He cried. "I never meant to kill him!"

The pain and desperation in Bloodfur's voice broke Mistybreeze's heart. She had no doubt he was being honest. Whatever happened here had been a horrible accident, and Bloodfur was grieving for Cardinalpaw just as much as the rest of his family.

"No, you meant to kill me!" Creamheart hissed at him. "And you would have, but Cardinalpaw jumped in the way!"

As the Clan roared in fury, understanding dawned on Mistybreeze. Of course. Cardinalpaw had sacrificed himself for the young medicine cat. But her sympathy for Bloodfur was joined with disappointment. So he was really going to kill Creamheart...

Cobratail cut Bloodfur off as he pleaded with him. "Enough, Bloodfur. You've betrayed us all. You tried to kill our medicine cat!"

"Hawkfeather was right!"

"The kit born in blood tried to destroy our clan!"

"I'm sorry!" Bloodfur yowled, his yellow eyes blazing with desperation. "I swear, I'm sorry! I didn't want this! Please, you-"

"Silence!" Depthstar faced the warrior, his dark eyes narrowed. "You have betrayed ShadowClan, Bloodfur," He growled. "What you've done is unforgivable. I exile you from ShadowClan. If any cat catches you on our territory, they have my permission to kill you."

Mistybreeze's heart skipped a beat, her eyes widening in shock. Exile? 

Bloodfur looked shaken. "But-"

"Leave!" Depthstar snarled, looking more enraged than Mistybreeze had ever seen him. "Or I'll kill you myself!"

The Clan growled as they watched Bloodfur. Tails lashed and claws unsheathed. They were ready to attack him and drive him out by force if her refused. "I really am sorry." He whispered, but silence answered him. He hung his head, tail drooping as he padded through the crowd.

"Piece of fox dung!" Crowmask pushed Bloodfur with an unsheathed paw.

Cliffshade spat. "Traitor!"

"Never come back!" Ashcloud growled.

Bloodfur hardly seemed to hear them. He continued onward, head bowed as he left the camp. After he disappeared, many cats kept their eyes slitted and fixed on the shadowy tunnel, as if thinking he might turn back. When the red tabby didn't appear again, the cats turned their focus on Cardinalpaw.

'I can't believe..." Bloomfire was sobbing heavily. Flameheart pressed against her, looking just as lost and hurt.

Depthstar drew in a deep breath, his dark blue fur slowly flattening. "Our Clan is safe now," He announced. "We will sit vigil with Cardinalpaw tonight."

While Mistybreeze grieved for Cardinalpaw and disapproved of Bloodfur's actions, she felt terribly sorry for him. Glancing around to make sure no cat spotted her, she slipped out of the camp. Bloodfur hadn't gone far yet. He was further up ahead, his tail dragging in the pine needles as he walked slowly.

"Bloodfur..." She caught up to him, and he paused, but didn't look at her. His eyes were dull and fixed on the ground. It hurt to see him so defeated. "I'm so sorry." She sat down and leaned against him. "It was an accident." She quietly pointed out. "You were trying to kill Creamheart."

"I shouldn't have been trying to kill anyone." Bloodfur murmured and moved away from her. "I have to leave."

"Where will you go?" She asked quietly.

Bloodfur didn't respond right away. "I don't know," He mumbled. "I guess I'm a rogue now. I'll find some place to go." He continued slowly through the trees. "Goodbye, Mistybreeze." He rasped without looking back.

"Goodbye..." Mistybreeze stared after him sadly, her heart heavy as a stone in her chest. She watched until his dark tabby pelt disappeared into the distance. He was one of the few cats I trusted... What will I do without him?

"Has he gone already?" Swiftstalker padded to her side, looking out into the trees solemnly. "I... I wanted to say goodbye."

She gave a tiny nod. "He's gone."

It was quiet for a long time as she and Swiftstalker sat side by side, watching the forest as if half expecting Bloodfur would reappear. 

"It's not fair." Swiftstalker broke the silence. "He never wanted to be a part of this. He always wanted to be accepted for the cat he was, and show the Clan he wasn't the cat Hawkfeather saw. Instead, Revengeheart made him show the Clan the exact opposite."

"At least he's free from Poisonedsap's plot now." Mistybreeze murmured. A thought crossed her mind. "What if we go with him?"

Swiftstalker shot her a surprised look. "What?"

"We can all be away from this mess." Mistybreeze pointed out, not putting much thought into the idea. But it sounded nice. "The three of us can live as rogues. We might not be warriors anymore, but we would live a carefree life, free of pain and fear and bullies."

The black and white tom shook his head. "Life can never be carefree. If there were nothing to care about, no risks worth taking, what would be the point?"

She flicked him on the shoulder with her tail. "Okay, true. But most cats don't have to deal with being involved with murder. We can escape that part, can't we?"

Swiftstalker looked up at the bright blue sky as a sparrow flew overhead and into the distance. "I've always longed to be free from my mother and her plan." He admitted. "When I was a kit, after I saw her kill Maplefur, I wanted to run away. But I didn't. Because I knew I had to protect ShadowClan. I didn't run away then, and I won't now, or all of this was for nothing."

Mistybreeze knew he was right. Her idea of leaving the Clan had been a fleeting thought, a fantasy of an easy way out. Remembering Diamondrain's message, she knew she belonged with her Clan. "You're right." She meowed quietly. "We will put a stop to all this. I know we will."