Just a little closer... Bloodfur thought, his yellow eyes fixed on his next victim. He crouched in the marsh, his belly brushing the cool earth. Come on... He waited a moment as his thoughts were obeyed and unsheathed his claws, springing forward. "Ha!" He pounced on the vole, swiftly lowering his head to deliver the killing bite. The little creature squeaked once, then fell silent. Bloodfur released it, licking blood from his muzzle. See? He told himself. That wasn't so bad. How can killing a cat be any different?

He'd had a few moments where he began reconsidering his decision to follow Deserve's order. He'd never killed a cat before. And this was exactly why his clanmates didn't trust him! If he killed someone, he would only be proving them right. But these thoughts never stayed for long. I don't want to prove them wrong anymore. He thought. I just want vengeance on them. Some of these cats deserve to die. He flexed his claws as he thought of Crowmask and Cliffshade. Especially them... But I'll take care of the medicine cats first.

"Nice catch, Bloodfur!"

He looked over his shoulder as Revengeheart approached him, flanked by Mistybreeze and Mottledface.

"Thanks," Bloodfur purred, blinking happily at the three cats. Growing up, he'd never had a lot of friends around him. These cats gave him a feeling of purpose and belonging that he'd never felt before. "Do any of you want to share?"

The white tom twitched his ear. "It's all yours."

"We're stuffed." Mottledface burped, swiping his tongue over his muzzle.

Bloodfur crouched and began eating his vole. He was always aware that he was breaking the warrior code when he ate his catch. He hadn't brought anything back for the clan in moons. But he'd done this so much now, it had begun feeling natural. He felt no wrong in doing it.

Beside Revengeheart, Mistybreeze twitched her ear and looked aside, seeming to have spotted something. She ran off into the marsh. Her mate glanced at her sharply. "What're you doing?"

Mistybreeze didn't respond, disappearing among the tall grass. Bloodfur paused from eating, watching curiously. A moment later, she returned with a large thrush in her jaws, lifting her head proudly.

"Wow," Bloodfur couldn't resist complimenting her. "Great catch!"

The silver she-cat dropped the bird at her paws and blinked at him, looking surprised. "Oh, thanks."

Revengeheart twitched his tail. "I've caught better." He shouldered her aside and crouched over the bird, ripping off a wad of feathers.

She didn't say you could have it. Bloodfur thought with an irritated twitch of his tail. And you could have complimented her. You're her mate, for StarClan's sake! When he and Revengeheart finished eating, the four of them returned to camp. As they emerged from the thorn tunnel, several cats looked at him.

"Bloodfur," Ashcloud grunted from where he sat near the fresh kill pile.

"Keeping him around the camp..." Cliffshade growled loudly enough for him to hear. "Does Depthstar have bees in his brain?"

Outside of the nursery, Ebonykit and Flintkit had been playing, their mother watching. But when Greenpine saw Bloodfur, she quickly murmured something to the kits, sweeping her tail around them and swiftly herding them into the nursery.

The three newest warriors, Spiderfang, Amberrose, and Falconclaw sat near the warriors den, practicing battle moves. Spiderfang spotted him. "Hey, Bloodfur!" An upper tooth hung past his mouth on each side like a bat's. His little fangs were the reason Depthstar had given him the name.

"Will you teach us the killing bite?" Amberrose prompted, her tail high in the air. "I bet you've mastered it!"

Her brothers purred in amusement, and Bloodfur lashed his tail angrily. "You-"

"Bloodfur!"

He started at Depthstar's snap, and he looked toward him. The clan leader was sitting near his den, his eyes narrowed. Beside him, Cardinalpaw sat, looking at his paws. Great, what now?

"Come here, right now." Depthstar ordered.

"Better go see what the old fleabag wants," Revengeheart muttered.

Bloodfur flattened his ears, huffing out a sigh. He padded across the clearing to the clan leader. "Yes, Depthstar?" He grumbled.

"Have you trained Cardinalpaw today?" Depthstar demanded.

He glanced at his apprentice, feeling a rush of annoyance. Fox dung! I completely forgot about him! "No," He mumbled.

"Yesterday?"

"I forgot."

Depthstar let out a hiss of annoyance as he stepped closer to Bloodfur. "I've never had a warrior who forgets to train their apprentice!" He lashed his dark tail. "What's wrong with you? Cardinalpaw has been too nervous to approach you because he thinks you don't want him around!"

"Well, I don't want him around!" Bloodfur glared at Cardinalpaw. The small red tabby was staring at his paws sadly, his ears flat.

Depthstar's blue eyes widened. "He's your apprentice!"

"Well I wish he wasn't!" Bloodfur snarled, pushing his muzzle close to Depthstar's. "I wish I didn't have an apprentice to waste my time with!" He heard a tiny whining sound come from Cardinalpaw, but he ignored it. "Give him a new mentor."

A low growl rumbled in the clan leader's throat. "I never thought I'd hear any mentor say such a thing in front of their own apprentice." He glanced around, then lowered his voice. "Bloodfur, there are cats here who want you exiled." He growled. "Some even want you dead."

What, I had no idea! He snorted.

"Me and Cobratail are working hard for you because we don't believe you're a murderer. If you want a place in this clan, you'd better start proving we're making the right decision." He narrowed his eyes. "That means training your apprentice and bringing back prey for your clan." As Bloodfur blinked in surprise, he added, "You think I don't smell the prey on your muzzle right now?"

Bloodfur's tail lashed slowly back and forth. He was aware of many cats watching him. Judging him.

"So go out with your apprentice." Depthstar lashed his tail. "Now."

He glanced at the young cat. Cardinalpaw lifted his head, his green eyes round with hurt. Bloodfur looked away. "He's not my apprentice." With that, he spun and raced out of camp, hearing cats gasping in shock behind him.

He ran through the forest until he reached the burnt sycamore and sighed, sitting down beside the trunk. I'm too busy for an apprentice! I have a special role in Deserve and Poisonedsap's plan! Cardinalpaw would just get in the way. Besides, the apprentice was a constant reminder of Flameheart and Bloomfire's lies. He didn't want to even look at him anymore.

"What's wrong with you?"

He nearly jumped out of his pelt at the whisper behind him. He spun to see Swiftstalker staring at him.

"For Starclan's sake!" Bloodfur huffed, his fur slowly flattening. "Are you trying to give me a heart attack? How'd you sneak up on me like that?"

The black and white warrior shrugged. "Isn't that what I'm best at?"

Bloodfur grunted agreement, and it was quiet for a minute. Swiftstalker glanced over his shoulder cautiously, then returned his gaze to Bloodfur. "How could you do this to Cardinalpaw?" He whispered. "You're his brother. He loves you."

"He's not my brother!" Bloodfur snapped.

"You are to him!" The warrior shot back, his blue eyes flashing with anger. "I can't believe you! Why are you even hanging out with us? Why would you get yourself involved?"

Bloodfur bristled. "What-you don't want me around?" He demanded. "You mean like when we were apprentices?"

Swiftstalker's ears flattened. "I never wanted to stop being your friend."

He blinked, baffled. "Then why did you?"

"Poisoned-" Swiftstalker broke off and fell silent for a moment. "Look," He muttered. "You're different from Revengeheart, Mottledface, Blackstorm... All of them. You don't belong with us."

"Of course I do." Bloodfur growled.

The back and white cat glared at him. "No, you don't. I know you, Bloodfur. You'll never be able to carry out Deserve's order."

Anger flared up inside him. "Watch me!" He snarled before racing away.

***

The next morning, Bloodfur, Revengeheart, Poisonedsap, and Mottledface went to fourtrees to meet with followers in the other clans. a low fog drifted across the clearing. Bloodfur sat on the great rock, waiting impatiently for the others.

"Where are they?" Mottledface huffed.

Poisonedsap twitched her ear. "Be patient," She growled. "Don't forget Ravenfeather is a deputy. It's harder for him to get away."

Bloodfur looked down from the great rock at the fog drifting softly over the grass. "Only the spilling of blood will save ShadowClan." A voice breathed in his ear, and he froze. Poppywing! He looked around him for his mother, but only he and his clanmates were there. He returned his gaze to the ground and gasped. The fog had formed into cloudy forms of cats sitting below, looking up at him with white eyes. "Revenge will guide you." They all whispered in sync. "You must spill blood!"

"No!" Bloodfur gasped and backed away, his heart racing with terror.

Teeth grasped his scruff, and he gasped, thinking it was one of the ghostly cats below. But he twisted his head and saw that it was Poisonedsap. He realized he was on the edge of the rock and quickly steadied himself as she released him, blinking in bewilderment. Revengeheart and Mottledface were staring at him like he was insane.

"What are you doing?" She exclaimed sharply. "You're lucky I caught you before you fell and broke a leg!"

"Thanks." Bloodfur looked down to the clearing nervously. To his relief, the ghostly cats were gone and the fog was normal once more. "I-I thought I heard something."

The queen grunted while Revengeheart and Mottledface chuckled. Not long after, Ravenfeather, Broadwing, Battalon, Tornadowind, and a RiverClan queen named Clovernose arrived. They spoke for some time.

"Poisonedsap," Clovernose purred. "My kits have become apprentices."

Poisonedsap's amber eyes gleamed. "Wonderful! More claws for the battle." She glanced at her stomach. "Mine should arrive soon."

Ravenfeather twitched his tail. "While Bloodfur is taking care of the medicine cats, I think it's a good idea to get rid of the strongest warriors." He looked to Broadwing. "I'll send a warrior and her apprentice to the ThunderClan border at dusk. They should be alone." His eyes narrowed. "Can you and Battalon take care of them?" The ThunderClan warriors nodded, eyes gleaming.

"Bloodfur," Poisonedsap turned her attention to him. "How will you go about killing the medicine cats?"

He hesitated. "Attacking while they're with their clans seems too risky," He meowed. "Papercut's attack on Dewstorm and Starfaith at highstones went well. The medicine cats meet there tomorrow night." He twitched his tail. "We can take out more than one, but I can't do it alone."

"Me, Mottledface, and Foxshadow will join you," Revengeheart decided.

Bloodfur shook his head. "I don't think there should be many clan cats," He meowed. "If any cat survives and picks up our scent, we're caught. I'd like some of Deserve's soldiers to join me."

Poisonedsap nodded slowly, her eyes shining. "Well thought out. But I'm not up to making another trip to see Deserve."

"I'm going to introduce my kits to Deserve's Army tonight," Clovernose meowed. "I can pass Bloodfur's message to him."

Bloodfur dipped his head. "Thank you. Tell him to have a group meet me by carrionplace."

Clovernose nodded, and Poisonedsap purred loudly. "Once the medicine cats are dead, nothing can get in our way." Her eyes shone. "Revenge will be served to those wretched clans."