"I have an announcement to make." Shadeclaw's voice echoed around the cave. He stood at the entrance, aware that every cat in MudClan was watching.

Owlflight watched with perked ears. It was the day after the confrontation with Robin, and Owlflight wasn't feeling much better about his son.

Shadeclaw looked hesitant, as if he thought that whatever he had to say would make every cat suddenly want to rip his fur off. Who knows? Owlflight thought. Perhaps it will.

Shadeclaw shook his head to calm his nerves. "Cats of MudClan," He began. "I am sorry to say that I am leaving. I no longer wish to be a warrior of MudClan." Shocked silence followed his words. "One day I will return, but not in a way that you would like, I'm afraid.."

What does that mean? Owlflight wondered. He thought back to all of the ill feelings he'd had over Shadeclaw since he became a warrior. Is MudClan in danger?

"Before you go any further, Shadeclaw, I'd like to tell them." Blurrypelt was the first to speak. "I know that Shadeclaw is leaving. I am going with him."

"But that's not all. I.. I want you all to meet someone. Or... Someones." Shadeclaw's words were drawn out, as if to put emphasis on every one. "Sprinkle, come in."

A shocked gasp rippled through the cave as a kittypet stepped into the MudClan camp. Instinctively, Owlflight stood with his fur bristling. He noticed a few others doing the same, including Stripedstar.

"Hello." The kittypet's voice shook as she spoke. "M-My name is Sprinkle. I promise I'm no threat to your clan..."

Owlflight thought he heard her mutter yet under her breath. She went on, "I am only on your territory to be here, now, visiting you to be with Shadeclaw when he makes this important announcement."

"Come in!" Shadeclaw called when she was finished. To Owlflight's horror, three young cats came padding into the cave. He remembered his dream where the mist had formed four kits before; were these them?

It wasn't hard for Owlflight to notice the cat that looked just like Shadeclaw. This cat had graced his dreams multiple times before. He guessed that he was important, and listened intently when Shadeclaw stated their names. Winter. That was the cat who he had seen before.

"I have one final request." Shadeclaw said. "Because I will no longer be in MudClan.. I no longer need my warrior name. I would like to go by the rogue name of Bloodshed."

Bloodshed. Owlflight shuddered. Of all rogue names, why would he choose Bloodshed?

The clan was silent as Bloodshed, Blurrypelt, Sprinkle, and their kits left the camp. Owlflight felt his throat begin to tighten up, which meant he might start balling like a kit who'd lost its favorite ball of moss.

No cat spoke for a long time. Then, finally, Stripedstar rose to her feet and leaped on top of her den. She didn't need to summon the clan; they had already gathered around.

"Moonbeam," She started. "I believe that this is a very dangerous act, that Shadeclaw has done. StarClan warned me of this." Her tail lashed furiously. "Organize a patrol immediately. If you see Bloodshed, kill him."

*

Owlflight went with Moonbeam on the patrol. He felt as if he was finally a member of MudClan again, suddenly finding himself dreading the day that they had to leave. Sunflower, Redshade, Eagletail, and Spiderpaw were also on the patrol.

Owlflight was happy to be walking with his old friend. Spiderpaw was a wonderful cat to be around; the old days where her and Silverpaw would tease him in the nursery seemed like ages ago. Everything was peaceful for a while; it seemed that Bloodshed and his followers had gone to twolegplace.
Near the river, the cats stumbled upon Hawkstar, who had come to drink. "Have you seen Shadeclaw?" Moonbeam asked him, not even taking the time to greet the GreenClan leader.

"The white one with gray ears? I saw him heading in the direction of twolegplace. Why?" Hawkstar asked. Moonbeam quickly told him the story of what had happened. The small brown cat nodded his head, seeming to be deciding something. "Well, if I see him, I'll keep an eye on him, alright?"

"Okay, thank you." Moonbeam said.

Hawkstar was not the only cat that they saw that day. They soon saw Rainpaw, too. The apprentice looked very worried; he seemed very relieved to see the patrol.

After Moonbeam explained everything that had happened, Rainpaw spoke. "StarClan protects MudClan from many things. Bloodshed is not one of those things, I'm afraid. StarClan can't protect you from the fury of any cat."

"Why don't you just kill him?" Spiderpaw blurted. "It would make everything so much easier!"

Rainpaw dug his claws into the grass beneath him. "I cannot kill every cat I wish to. Even a moon cat follows the warrior code, Spiderpaw. To ignore it is to ignore the will of StarClan. If I did that, I would be no better than Bloodshed, now, would I?"