A cool breeze ran along Bloodfur's pelt, awakening him. He slowly blinked open his yellow eyes, confused for a moment as he took in his surroundings. This isn't the warriors den... He was curled up against the half-exposed roots of a large pine tree. He felt damp leaves and pine needles beneath him. After a heartbeat, it all came back to him. The clan's accusations... Flameheart and Bloomfire's secret... I'm not their son. They lied to me. Bloodfur closed his eyes, feeling grief weighing at his heart. But the feeling only lasted for a moment before anger replaced it. He slowly rose to his paws and grunted as he stretched out, his tail in the air and his muzzle close to the ground. They'll pay for this. He thought, digging his claws into the earth. I'll make sure they do.

"Bloodfur."

He jumped a little and turned to see Revengeheart step out of the bushes, amber eyes fixed on him. "You never returned to camp?" He sounded surprised.

After the two cats had spoken last night, Revengeheart had gone back to the camp. Bloodfur had told him he'd catch up in a little while. But the more he'd thought about it, the more he realized that he didn't want to go back. He didn't want to face his clanmates glares. He didn't want to even look at Flameheart and Bloomfire. So he'd decided to spend the night here in the forest. For all he knew, some cat like Crowmask would try to kill him while he was asleep.

"I didn't want to go back there," Bloodfur muttered.

The scarred tom nodded, sympathy flickering in his eyes. "Come on. I'm going to meet with the others." He flicked his tail before turning away. "Join us."

Bloodfur hesitated before following. It was quiet for a while as the two cats headed through the forest. He looked at Revengeheart. "You didn't know, did you?" He asked.

"About your parents?" The tom asked, not meeting Bloodfur's gaze. "No. But my mother told me about Hawkfeather's omen when I was a kit."

Bloodfur bristled. "And you never told me?" Great, I can't trust him either!

The tom shot him a look. "Keep your fur on," He growled. "I saw no point in telling any cat. Omens are a load of fox dung! There is no StarClan. That fluff brained medicine cat just wanted to stir up trouble! Good thing he's dead."

Bloodfur was unsure. Do I believe in StarClan? I've had dreams of that she-cat telling me the prophecy... And I saw Starfaith at the moonstone... But perhaps it was just dreams and my mind playing tricks. " So you don't think I'll destroy ShadowClan?"

"Of course not!" Revengeheart snorted, almost sounding amused. "No cat is destined to do anything!"

They continued walking in silence. Bloodfur looked down as he walked. He imagined his claws sinking into every cat who had ever wronged him. Crowmask... Flameheart... Bloomfire... Depthstar! The clan leader even sat there doing nothing while the clan was ready to rip my throat out! "I can't believe it!" He blurted out in a snarl, unable to hold in his thoughts any longer. "I can't believe every cat in this clan lied to me! And they treated me differently my whole life, just because of Hawkfeather! The stupid furball! If he were still alive, I would rip his-"

Revengeheart rested his tail over Bloodfur's shoulders, startling him. "Take it easy." He meowed as Bloodfur glared at him, his fur slowly flattening. Revengeheart almost looked pleased at his anger. "All of ShadowClan is going to pay, my friend. You just need patience. Since the clans have disrespected you, you're going to disrespect them."

Bloodfur twitched his ear. What does he mean? They neared a clearing where several cats sat waiting. Blackstorm and Mottledface were speaking quietly to each other. Foxshadow was sitting in the shade of a pine tree, his fluffy tail twitching as he grumbled to them. Mistybreeze and Swiftstalker were the only cats who were silent. As he and Revengeheart arrived, the cats turned their attention to them.

"About time!" Blackstorm exclaimed. He noticed Bloodfur and narrowed his eyes. "What's he doing here?"

"Bloodfur has decided to join us," Revengeheart announced as the cats looked at him. Swiftstalker's blue eyes flashed with surprise, but he said nothing. Across from him, Mistybreeze glanced at Bloodfur briefly before looking away.

Mottledface's eyes gleamed. "You've made the right choice." Beside him, Blackstorm nodded.

Bloodfur narrowed his eyes, raking his gaze across the cats. "Do any of you believe I'm a murderer?" He demanded. He didn't want to be near any cat who did.

"Of course not." Swiftstalker spoke first, to his surprise. "You'd never harm anyone." The other cats agreed, all but Mistybreeze, who wouldn't even look at Bloodfur.

"Right." Foxshadow's eyes gleamed. "Let's ask Cobratail if we can go on a patrol." He said this in such a sly way, it troubled Bloodfur. But he didn't question the black and ginger tom as they headed back to camp.

Bloodfur's stomach twisted as they neared the thorn tunnel. He didn't know what kind of greeting he would receive. And he hoped Flameheart and Bloomfire were still asleep. They entered the camp, and Bloodfur stayed close to his companions, flicking his gaze around nervously. Several cats were looking at him already.

"It's him," Copperstripe growled.

"I thought he'd left." Ashcloud commented.

Suddenly, Crowmask stepped in his path, glaring at him. "Leave," He growled. "You're not welcome here."

Bloodfur narrowed his eyes. "Excuse me?" He growled.

"ShadowClan has no room for murderers!" Cliffshade joined the black tom, baring his teeth. "Especially when I have kits in the nursery."

He bristled, anger surging through him. "You think I'd harm kits?" He snarled.

"I wouldn't put it past a murderer." The gray and brown tom lashed his tail.

"Shut up!" Bloodfur dug his claws into the ground, fighting the urge to leap at Cliffshade's throat.

"Cliffshade! Crowmask!" Cobratail shot in front of Bloodfur, glaring at the two warriors. "Back off." He growled. "We have no proof Bloodfur killed any cat."

The two warriors looked reluctant to agree. "That cat was born in blood." Crowmask growled.

"I could care less how he was born." Cobratail lashed his mottled tail. "Until we find any evidence, Bloodfur is innocent, and he is a warrior of ShadowClan. Is that understood?" The warriors grumbled and turned away.

"Fox hearts," Blackstorm grunted has he and the others reached them.

Foxshadow dipped his head to the deputy. "Cobratail, can I lead a patrol?"

"Of course." Cobratail paused. "You can refresh the scent markers by the WindClan border."

"Right." Foxshadow's eyes gleamed. "Let's go." He padded to the thorn tunnel, and Bloodfur followed with the others. He felt Cobratail's gaze on him and lashed his tail. Does he expect me to thank him? I could have handled those flea brains! How dare he step in and defend me like I'm a kit?

***

"Okay, are we ready?" Foxshadow's eyes gleamed as they neared the WindClan border.

Bloodfur blinked. Are we ready..? "We're just renewing the scent-"

The other cats looked amused. "No, silly," Blackstorm chuckled. "We don't have to do anything Cobratail says!"

"We're going to catch us some rabbits," Mottledface purred eagerly. "Swiftstalker'll lead." He nudged the black and white tom. "You should've seen some of the rabbits he's chased down! He's just as fast as those dumb WindClan cats!"

We're stealing prey? Bloodfur was startled. "Wait-I-"

"Go!" Revengeheart snapped, and the next thing he knew, every cat had raced out onto WindClan territory. Bloodfur felt frozen as he stared after them. I can't steal prey! It's against the warrior code! He considered this. But then again... Why should I obey the code? What has it ever done for me? He let out a growl and sprang to his paws, pelting after his companions. Mistybreeze was pouncing on a rabbit, digging her claws into it before biting its neck.

"Go, Swiftstalker!" He heard Blackstorm yowl and he saw the black and white tom racing across the moor with quick, graceful strides in pursuit of a rabbit. Bloodfur was amazed as he watched his old friend quickly match the speed of the rabbit and leap at it, pinning it onto its side and delivering the killing bite. Mottledface wasn't kidding! Swiftstalker is the fastest cat I've ever-

"Hey!"

He froze and spun to see a patrol of WindClan cats racing toward them, looking furious. "There's a patrol coming!" Bloodfur warned the others.

"So?" Revengeheart's eyes gleamed. He let out a snarl and raced toward the patrol. Blackstorm, Mottledface, and Foxshadow pelted after him, and Bloodfur watched in shock as they sprang into battle with the WindClan cats. Bloodfur was frozen, unsure of what to do. Should I fight too?!

Mistybreeze quickly ran back toward the border, and Swiftstalker snatched up his rabbit, about to follow her when a large WindClan cat sprang onto him, bowling him over as he dropped his catch. "Oh no you don't!" The warrior spat and swiped his claws at Swiftstalker's muzzle. The black and white tom grunted as he tried to push the hefty cat off of him.

Bloodfur immediately leaped to Swiftstalker's aid. "Get off him!" He dug his claws into the warrior's side as he rolled him away from his friend.

The tom sprang away from Bloodfur, eyes lit with fury. "ShadowClan dung!" He crouched to attack.

"Enough!" One of the Windclan warriors spat and the cats sprang apart, glaring at one another. "What in StarClan's name do you think you're doing?" He snarled. "You can't trespass and steal our prey!"

Revengeheart bared his teeth. "ShadowClan can go wherever they like!" He sneered.

The WindClan cat let out a furious snarl, looking past them. "Those rabbits belong to WindClan!" Bloodfur turned to see Swiftstalker and Mistybreeze standing on ShadowClan's side of the border, their rabbits resting by their paws.

"Not anymore." Revengeheart retorted. "We caught it, so it's ours."

"You caught it on our territory!"

"Depthstar says we can hunt wherever we like." Revengeheart purred. "And if you try to stop us, we can fight."

Bloodfur was startled. What? Depthstar never said that! What is Revengeheart trying to do? The WindClan cats looked just as shocked. "If that's the case, you can guarantee this will be brought up at the next gathering!" The tom spat. "Depthstar has some explaining to do." He stepped forward. "Now get off our territory!"

Revengeheart dipped his head and stepped back. "As you wish, rabbit-face." As the warrior snarled with irritation, the ShadowClan cats raced back to the border.

Bloodfur skidded onto the ShadowClan side, panting heavily. After a moment, he raised his head to Revengeheart. "Why'd you say that?" He gasped. "You could get ShadowClan in big trouble!"

The black-legged warrior twitched his tail. "That's the point," He purred. "We make this clan of fox hearts look bad, and perhaps cause a battle. One that will injure ShadowClan warriors who deserve it." He paused. "After all they've done, Bloodfur, surely they deserve it?"

After a moment, Bloodfur lashed his tail, his thoughts clouded with darkness. "Yes. They do."

Revengeheart looked at his brother, who still held his rabbit in his jaws. "Give it to Bloodfur," He meowed before crouching over Mistybreeze's rabbit, taking a bite out of it.

Swiftstalker padded over to Bloodfur and lowered his head, dropping the rabbit at his paws. "Thanks for helping me back there," He meowed.

Bloodfur chose not to respond. I don't want to talk to you. You've been ignoring me for moons. Why shouldn't I do the same to you? He crouched and hesitated, looking at the rabbit. This is against the warrior code. I'm supposed to bring this back to the elders. But why should I? He thought of how rude Buzzardglare had been to him in the past. The old fleabag doesn't deserve it. He thought darkly. Let him starve. He sank his teeth into the rabbit.