Bloodfur padded through the forest, a cool breeze stroking his fur as he moved. He was surrounded by his allies, cats from all five clans. He smelt the air. They were nearing Deserve's camp. When they reached the entrance, they were greeted by Papercut and Bonfire, who stepped aside to let them in.

When they entered the camp, Bloodfur saw many familiar faces. Sunset, the she-cat who had helped them in the attack at highstones was sitting near a den, speaking with Castiel. The healers of the group, Shimmer and Coco, were outside of their den, helping a young tom with a thorn in his paw.

"Greetings," Deserve padded over to them, his eyes glinting like emeralds in the night. "I hear the attack went well?"

Poisonedsap dipped her head. "Yes, Deserve." As she spoke, Castiel quickly joined his father, standing alongside him.

Bloodfur was still surprised that the she-cat had joined them. Her kits were less than a moon old, but she had insisted on leaving them to attend the meeting. She had asked Song, who had just moved into the nursery, to keep an eye on them. The young she-cat had asked many questions, none of which Poisonedsap answered. But eventually Song had agreed to watch the kits.

"Otterpelt and Silverberry are dead." Revengeheart told the rogue leader.

"Yes," Poisonedsap agreed, looking to Bloodfur and letting out a purr. "Bloodfur led the attack well. I'd say we were successful."

Bloodfur dipped his head, surprised to have gotten any praise from the stubborn she-cat. He noticed Revengeheart glare at him, lashing his tail. He's still mad about catching me and Mistybreeze in that moment. But he felt no need to try to resolve the tension between them. I can't say I'm too happy with you either.

Deserve looked at him and gave an approving nod, looking pleased. "Well done, Bloodfur." A low purr rumbled in his throat. "I knew I could trust you."

He felt a rush of pride at Deserve's praise. "It was my pleasure," He purred.

"Well," Revengeheart twitched his ear. "I wouldn't call it a success. Only two medicine cats were killed. Dewstorm, Creamheart, Spicewhisker, Sagefern, and Ryeheart are still alive."

"But Spicewhisker isn't well." Battalon flicked his black tail. "Sagefern has been coming by to check on him, and she says he might not pull through."

Deserve's eyes narrowed. "Good. But the remainder must be eliminated." He looked thoughtful for a moment, then looked at Bloodfur. "ShadowClan has two medicine cats at the moment, right?"

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

"Now we have Creamheart." Mottledface paused before adding. "Brownstripe's daughter."

The black tom's tail twitched at the mention of the cat he had despised. "Really?" He growled. "All the more reason to kill her. ShadowClan must have no medicine cat. Bloodfur, will you do the job?"

Bloodfur hesitated. Kill my own medicine cat..? His stomach twisted. She's so young! He glanced up at the star speckled sky, beginning to wonder if the warriors of StarClan were really watching him. They told me "Only the spilling of blood will save ShadowClan. Revenge will guide you." He was spilling blood. His desire for revenge was guiding him. So surely that meant he was doing the right thing? Perhaps StarClan wanted the medicine cats dead for some reason. Maybe Creamheart had to die for him to fulfill StarClan's prophecy.

"Of course, Deserve," Bloodfur meowed, meeting the tom's gaze. "I'll take care of it tomorrow." He noticed Mistybreeze looking at him out of the corner of his eye, but he ignored her. She doesn't agree with any of this, and that's fine. But she should accept that I do.

"Good." Deserve dipped his head. "I shall call a meeting to discuss our next course of action." He turned away and leaped onto the tree stump where he called meetings. Castiel quickly followed, sitting beside his father and curling his silver tail around his paws.

"All cats gather for a meeting!" The leader yowled, and his soldiers assembled around the tree stump, looking up at him with interest. When everyone was there, he began speaking. "I believe the time is near for us to launch our attack on the clans," He meowed. "The clans have lost two medicine cats, and two others are unlikely to recover. Without medicine cats, the injured cannot be treated." He looked at his son.

"Papercut and I have led attacks on the clans for moons now," Castiel meowed. "I believe we have been successful in lowering their numbers." He paused, studying the cats below. "Our army is nearly as big as two clans put together. In addition, we have our clan cat allies." He nodded to Bloodfur and the others before turning to his father. "Deserve, I believe we're capable of attacking at any time."

The black tom looked thoughtful. "I agree..." He looked at the clan cats for a long moment before speaking again. "However, I believe we should wait until some of the other medicine cats are taken care of. Bloodfur will kill Creamheart tomorrow."

"And I could try for Sagefern," Ravenfeather offered.

Poisonedsap twitched her tail. "Good idea. And I'd like to hold off the attack until my newest kits have sharpened their skills. They will be participating in the battle."

Bloodfur blinked. Your kits are less than a moon old! Surely you're not showing them battle moves already? But remembering how she'd trained Revengeheart and Swiftstalker as kits, he wasn't too surprised. But the idea of the kits fighting in the battle troubled him. They're no match for any cat!

Mistybreeze stood, staring at Poisonedsap in shock. "Surely you're not sending your kits into battle? They're too young!"

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

"That's not true," The silver she-cat objected, fur bristling. "Those kits are sure to be killed if you-"

"Mistybreeze," Revengeheart cut her off, narrowing his yellow eyes. "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. "You're no use here, so why don't you go catch me a mouse?"

The silver she-cat's blue eyes lit with defiance before they faded to sadness. She turned away, her tail drooping as she left the camp.

Bloodfur stared after her before looking to Revengeheart, his fur prickling with anger. How dare that arrogant piece of fox dung...! He hardly heard anything Deserve said for the rest of the meeting, he was so angry. When the meeting was over, Revengeheart stretched out before leaving the camp to make dirt. Bloodfur narrowed his eyes and waited until he was out of sight before he followed him.

He kept his pawsteps light as he followed the white tom through the trees. He paused in some ferns as Revengeheart stopped in a clearing ahead of him, starting to scrape the earth with his paws. Bloodfur stepped out and approached him, resisting from leaping at him. "Revengeheart."

He bristled in surprise and straightened, shooting Bloodfur a glare. "Hey! Can't a guy make dirt in peace?"

Bloodfur had nothing else to say to the tom, so he cut straight to it. "You should treat Mistybreeze better."

The black-legged tom narrowed his eyes. "What?"

"Are you deaf?" Bloodfur lashed his tail. "I said you should treat Mistybreeze better."

Revengeheart glared at him. "I treat her fine."

"No, you don't." He growled. "She's a great cat, and all you do is treat her like dung. Why don't you start acting like a mate instead of a bully?"

A growl rumbled in the tom's throat. "I think you're just jealous," He lashed his tail. "Because I have Mistybreeze, and you don't. You'll never have anybody."

Bloodfur bristled. "I'm not jealous!" I just want Mistybreeze to be happy!

"Then what's your problem?" Revengeheart snapped.

"My problem is the way you treat Mistybreeze, in case you've forgotten." Bloodfur growled, stepping closer to him until their muzzles were close. He was unable to contain the frustration burning inside him. "You're an arrogant, rude piece of fox dung who doesn't even deserve a mate."

Revengeheart held Bloodfur's gaze with burning eyes, a growl rumbling in his throat. "I'll do whatever I want with Mistybreeze, and you can't stop me, Bloodkit."

With a hiss of fury, Bloodfur unsheathed his claws and lunged forward, sinking his teeth into Revengeheart's shoulder and throwing him to the ground. The tom yowled and swung a hefty black paw at him, dragging his claws across his shoulder before pushing him away. Bloodfur rolled before leaping to his paws, launching himself at Revengeheart again. The white tom raised his paws to shield himself, but not quick enough. Bloodfur slashed his claws across his face, and Revengeheart shrieked as he fell onto his back. Bloodfur leaped onto him, but the tom kicked him hard in the stomach.

Bloodfur fell onto his side, feeling the air knocked out of him. He started to his paws, gasping for air, but Revengeheart lunged at him before he could recover, pinning him onto his back. He froze as the hefty tom sank his teeth into his throat and pulled him upward.

Bloodfur pressed his paws against Revengeheart's chest in an attempt to free himself, his shoulders just brushing the grass beneath him. A terrible pain was growing in his throat as Revengeheart grasped it in his teeth. He felt blood running down his neck and grew dizzy with terror. He's going to kill me! I'm going to die!

But just as Bloodfur grew certain of his fate, Revengeheart released him and his head hit the ground with a thud. As he coughed a bit of blood, the tom turned away, his fur bristling with fury.

"Mind your own business, and stay away from my mate!" Revengeheart spat, blood shining on his white muzzle. His tail lashed angrily. "Or next time, I won't let go." He spun and walked away.

Bloodfur slowly stood up, feeling dizzy. Blood stained the grass below him, and he felt his throat nervously before lowering his paw to study it. His pads were soaked in blood. It's bad. He thought. But I don't think I'll die. Thank StarClan Deserve has healers... He began limping back to camp, feeling a rush of anger. I hate Revengeheart more than any cat now... Why did I ever think he was a friend? He's willing to kill me.