Bloodfur breathed heavily as he ran through the damp forest, his paws skidding in the mud occasionally. It had taken him a while to reach ShadowClan territory. He constantly ran into enemies that he needed to fight through first. This made him more and more worried about sending Mistybreeze alone to WindClan.

I hope she's okay! He thought anxiously. Maybe Deserve's soldiers aren't there yet... But he knew that was unlikely. Mistybreeze is a capable cat. She'll be okay. His pelt clung to him, wet and sticky in clumps of mud, grass, and rainwater. His body stung in some places, telling him that he was injured. He figured it was nothing too serious if he was able to run, but he wasn't sure how much he was bleeding, if he was. He was so wet, he couldn't tell what was mud, water, or blood.

He crashed through the bushes and let out a startled snarl when he saw Cougarfoot up ahead with his back to him. He's Poisonedsap's mate. Of course he's on her side! He unsheathed his claws, preparing to spring at the warrior when he turned his head. Bloodfur was surprised to see that he was carrying Duskkit by his scruff.

The golden brown tom's eyes flashed with surprise and he lowered his head, resting Duskkit on the ground. "Bloodfur! I need your help."

"I'm scared," Gingerkit whimpered and padded out from behind his father, pressing against Duskkit.

"What are you doing with those kits?" Bloodfur demanded uncertainly.

Cougarfoot looked behind him toward the camp uneasily. "I'm taking them somewhere safe," He explained quickly. "The camp is under attack, and... Poisonedsap killed Leafkit and Rowankit."

Bloodfur's eyes widened. He'd known Poisonedsap was a bad cat. But to kill her own kits..! That she-cat was truly heartless.

"I was wrong about Poisonedsap," Cougarfoot meowed, pulling his kits close with one paw. "I was a fool to take her as my mate. Please, help me bring my sons to WindClan."

"WindClan?" Bloodfur blinked at him. "Why-"

"I can't let my kits stay here," Cougarfoot meowed quietly. "The clan will never forgive Poisonedsap for what she's done. They won't see Gingerkit and Duskkit for who they are. They'll see them as Poisonedsap's sons, and I won't let them grow up in a clan that will despise them for their mother's actions." He paused. "They would face the same prejudice every day like you did, Bloodfur. And no cat deserves to deal with that."

He looked at the two kits. He's right... The clan will be wary of all of her kits. Even Swiftstalker will have trouble earning their trust for a while.

Cougarfoot looked toward the moor. "In WindClan, no cat will know who their parents are. They'll be safe and treated fairly." He looked at Bloodfur hopefully. "Please, will you help me?"

Before Bloodfur could answer, Poisonedsap leaped out of the bushes behind Cougarfoot, letting out a screech of fury. "You piece of fox dung!" She snarled. "Those weak kits won't see the light of day again!" She lunged at the golden tom, and the kits shrieked in terror as they watched their parents battle.

Bloodfur shot forward, grabbing Gingerkit by his scruff and sweeping Duskkit close with his paw, pulling them away from the fighting warriors.

"I should have killed you!" Poisonedsap spat, slashing her claws across Cougarfoot's shoulder. "You're worth no more than Maplefur was!" Cougarfoot lunged for her throat, but she ducked and clawed at his side.

Bloodfur glanced back at them anxiously as he pushed the kits into the shelter of a bush. "Stay here, okay?" He turned to help Cougarfoot as the warrior yowled. Poisonedsap had pinned him, digging her front claws into his throat. The warrior struggled as blood pulsed from his wound.

"Get off him!" He yowled, lunging at the she-cat and knocking her away from him. But when he looked at Cougarfoot, he saw that he was already dead. Poisonedsap pushed Bloodfur away and started toward the kits who huddled under the bush together, whimpering.

Bloodfur leaped in front of the kits, baring his teeth. "Leave them alone!"

"Get out of my way, Bloodfur!" The ragged she-cat spat, her pelt tangled in mud and pine needles. "I decide their fate, not you."

"You don't decide their fate," Bloodfur hissed defiantly. "They do." If any cat knows that, it's me... "If you want those kits, you'll have to get through me first."

Poisonedsap snarled and lunged at him, but a black and white blur intercepted, slamming the she-cat to the muddy ground.

"Swiftstalker!" Bloodfur gasped, starting forward to help his friend.

"I'll deal with her." Swiftstalker slashed his claws at Poisonedsap's shoulder. "Get the kits out of here!"

Bloodfur nodded and turned to the kits, who were trembling in terror. "Duskkit, stay close behind me," He meowed before picking up Gingerkit by his scruff. He turned and raced through the trees toward WindClan territory.

***

Swiftstalker watched Bloodfur run off with his half-brothers. Good. He'll take them somewhere safe. He swung his head to Poisonedsap as she swung at him, catching his ear with her claws.

"You were always the weakest one!" Poisonedsap spat angrily as Swiftstalker staggered back, blood trickling from his ear. "You're just like your father!"

"Good," Swiftstalker retorted. "I'd rather die than turn out like you!"

Poisonedsap snarled furiously and lunged at him, sinking her teeth into his shoulder. Swiftstalker yowled in pain and ripped free, slicing at her muzzle before thrusting her onto her side, digging his claws into her body. He was relieved that the rain had stopped. It was harder to move quickly when wet fur was dragging you down. His fur was still damp, but drying, and he was able to move more quickly. Poisonedsap shrieked and twisted her head, biting into his front leg. Swiftstalker pulled free and slashed at her throat.

She scrambled to her paws, coughing up a bit of blood. She glared at Swiftstalker in hatred, her flanks heaving while blood trickled from the wound he'd inflicted in her throat. He hadn't cut deep enough to do critical damage.

"You wouldn't kill your own mother, would you?" Poisonedsap spat blood.

Swiftstalker narrowed his eyes, shaking rain from his eyelids. "You killed my father, and now you've caused the deaths of many other cats. You killed your own kits. You don't deserve to live." He was about to attack her when she lunged at him and pinned him onto his side, digging her claws into his throat. He didn't dare move, terrified that his throat would be torn open if he did.

"It didn't have to be this way, Swiftstalker," Poisonedsap growled. "You could have thrived in Deserve's Army with us. But instead, you'll be dying like a useless clan cat." She raised her paw to slash his throat open. Swiftstalker shut his eyes.

"Poisonedsap!" He opened his eyes to see Deserve stepping out of the bushes, followed by Castiel and Wolf. "What are you doing?"

Poisonedsap glared at the army leader. "Swiftstalker has betrayed us," She spat. "He can't be allowed to live."

The black tom studied her. "He's your son."

"So?" Poisonedsap bristled. "He's a traitor! Just like my other kits who refused to fight."

A growl rumbled in Deserve's throat. "I have no interest in working with a cat who would kill her own kits." He looked away. "Our deal is off."

"What?" She let out a snarl of fury, stepping off of Swiftstalker to face Deserve. "We had an agreement! If I helped you gain allies in the clans, you would take me as your mate and give me a high position in the army!"

Castiel glanced at his father in surprise. "Is that true?"

"Not anymore." Deserve flicked his tail to Cougarfoot. "I've seen how you treat your mates." His emerald eyes narrowed. "Do you think I'm an idiot? I have no interest in letting you even join my army."

Poisonedsap let out a screech and launched herself at Deserve. The army leader swung a massive white paw at her head, knocking her to the ground. She fell onto her back, and the tom swung an unsheathed paw at her throat, digging his claws deep into her flesh.

Swiftstalker had to look away as Deserve tore his claws down her body, Poisonedsap's scream of agony almost deafening. When she fell silent, he hesitantly looked to his mother. She lay on her back, her eyes wide and sightless. Blood pulsed from a massive wound stretching from her throat to her stomach. She's dead... She's finally dead...

Deserve shook blood from his paw while Wolf turned to Swiftstalker, growling as he approached him. He tensed and unsheathed his claws, ready to defend himself. But before Wolf could attack, Castiel stepped to his side, raising his paw. "Let him live." He meowed, resting his blue eyes on Swiftstalker. "This was never his fight."

Wolf hesitated, glancing back at his leader. "Deserve?"

The black tom slowly nodded. "Right. Let's see how the others are doing at fourtrees." He and his cats turned and disappeared into the trees. The sky was lightening with a purple-pink glow.

The leaders... Swiftstalker's fur bristled. They were heavily outnumbered! His mind spun. And I should find Bloodfur. He might be in trouble...

***

It was almost dawn when Bloodfur reached the WindClan camp. He didn't hear any fighting inside and began wondering if Deserve's cats hadn't come here. He set down Gingerkit, breathing heavily. Duskkit sat beside him, looking anxious. "What are we doing here?" He squeaked.

Bloodfur looked down at the brown and caramel kit. "This is your home now," He rasped. "You'll be safe here."

"What do you mean?" Gingerkit squeaked. "What about ShadowClan?"

He didn't respond. They're only a few moons old. He thought. They won't remember any of this. They'll believe that they were born WindClan cats.

A silver tabby she-cat suddenly raced out of the gorse tunnel, nearly crashing into Bloodfur. She halted and stumbled back, staring at him in bewilderment. "What are you doing here? Are you one of those rogues?" She unsheathed her claws.

"No, I'm not," He assured her. "I'm Bloodfur of ShadowClan." He paused. "Did they attack here?"

The tabby glanced down. "Yes." She meowed quietly. "A lot of our cats were killed. But we took a lot of theirs too and drove out those who survived." She narrowed her eyes. "The clans will not be defeated that easily."

Hope flared in his chest. Are we winning the battle?

"Why are those kits with you?" She demanded. "They're too young to be out of the nursery!"

Bloodfur nudged the kits toward her, and she blinked at them. "This is Gingerkit and Duskkit," He meowed. "Their father asked me to take them to WindClan before he died. He hopes you'll take care of them."

Before the WindClan cat could respond, a familiar she-cat ran to her side. "Willowtail, I-" She broke off, her eyes lighting with relief. "Bloodfur!"

"Mistybreeze!" He touched noses with her, purring. "You made it!"

The silver she-cat stepped back and nodded, purring loudly. "I got here just before the rogues came. They were prepared for the attack."

Bloodfur purred. "I knew you could do it." He looked around. "I wonder how the other clans are..."

"Gladestar hasn't returned," Willowtail meowed uneasily. "Or Monarchwing."

"They must still be at fourtrees," Mistybreeze meowed anxiously. "The other leaders too. We have to help them!"

Bloodfur nodded. "Right." He started turning away, then paused, looking over his shoulder at Willowtail. "So you'll take the kits?"

"Of course," Willowtail meowed, pulling them close. "They'll be safe in WindClan."

He dipped his head, and he and Mistybreeze started racing back toward fourtrees.

***

When they reached fourtrees, Bloodfur was horrified at what he saw. Dozens of motionless cats lay on the ground, the grass stained with blood. Elders... Apprentices... Queens... So many dead cats... The only dead clan cat he recognized was Falconclaw. The tabby lay motionless, blood running from his throat. A lot of Deserve's cats were dead too. Sorrel, Patch, Timber...

Very few cats were still fighting. It looked as though most had left to defend their camps. Frostedstar and Ravenfeather were locked in battle, but both cats looked exhausted, blood running from their pelts. Strawberrystar was crouched, her tail lashing slowly as she faced two of Deserve's soldiers. Her deputy, Snowfalcon, was at her side, blood running from a cut above his eye. Ravenstar was laying on the great rock, breathing heavily.

Mistybreeze gasped. "Ravenstar is hurt badly." She raced to the great rock to help him. Bloodfur started to follow her, then froze when he saw Gladestar laying motionless in a pool of blood. She must have been on her last life...

"How many more lives does he have?" He heard someone exclaim from the other side of the great rock. Bloodfur narrowed his eyes and bolted around the rock toward the voice, horrified at what he saw on the other side.

Depthstar lay on his side motionless, blood running from his throat. Revengeheart and Mottledface stood over him, their paws soaked in blood. He's dead! The ShadowClan leader suddenly gasped in air, his eyes snapping open. The bleeding in his throat stopped. Revengeheart snarled and lunged down at him, sinking his teeth into the leader's throat while Mottledface watched, his tail twitching impatiently.

They're killing him over and over until he runs out of lives! Bloodfur yowled and lunged at Revengeheart, slamming him to the ground. The tom glared at him, eyes blazing with anger. "You!" He swung a black paw at Bloodfur's ear. "Stop getting in my way!" He lunged at Bloodfur and wrestled him to the ground, sinking his teeth into his neck. Bloodfur pulled free, feeling blood wet his neck before he grabbed Revengeheart's tail with his claws, pinning it to the ground. The tom screeched and hit the earth with a thud, and Bloodfur pinned him, digging his teeth and claws into his throat. This cat has to die!

Claws grasped his pelt, and Bloodfur snarled as Mottledface dragged him away from Revengeheart and pushed his neck to the ground, baring his teeth. "You're an idiot, Bloodfur!" He spat. "How could you betray us for those fleabags?"

"Those fleabags are my clanmates!" Bloodfur snarled, trying to push Mottledface off him, but the tom pinned him back against the ground, digging his claws into his neck. "And I'll fight to the death for them!"

Revengeheart stalked toward him, his tail lashing. "It's a shame you won't be fighting at all." He slashed his claws at Bloodfur's face while Mottledface held him down. He shrieked in pain and tried to pull free, but couldn't. Revengeheart lashed a paw at him again, and Bloodfur shut his eyes before he was blinded, but he had still slashed open his face. Pain seared his cheek, but Revengeheart sliced his claws across his throat before he could recover. The warrior continued slashing at Bloodfur until he collapsed under Mottledface, trembling as blood ran through his fur. I'm going to die. He thought. Revengeheart is going to finish me off soon... He moaned and closed his eyes.

"Bloodfur!"

Swiftstalker? He opened his eyes and saw his friend lunge at Revengeheart, pushing him away from Bloodfur. Revengeheart let out a furious snarl, slashing his claws at his brother's face. "I'm not surprised you'd betray us!" He sneered. "You were always the weakest of our group!"

"You were a fool to think I was on your side!" Swiftstalker bowled his brother over, slashing at his chest. "I'm not cruel like you!"

Mottledface dug his claws into Bloodfur, who grunted in pain as he rolled over, swinging a paw at him. He caught the tom's muzzle but did little damage. He was exhausted and sore.

"I'll take care of him!" Suddenly, Mistybreeze sprang onto Mottledface, hissing as she knocked him away from Bloodfur, who staggered to his paws, turning to look at Swiftstalker.

The two brothers were locked furiously in battle, snarling and biting at each other, tufts of fur flying onto the grass. After a moment they sprang apart, and Swiftstalker breathed heavily, glaring at Revengeheart. "I'm sorry, brother." He lashed out with a black forepaw, slashing his claws across the tom's throat.

Revengeheart let out a screech that died into a choking sound, blood dripping from the wound in his throat. He choked up blood and staggered forward, his dazed amber eyes fixed on Swiftstalker. He grunted and collapsed.

"Revengeheart?" Mottledface bristled, staring at his friend in shock. Mistybreeze took the opportunity to slash at his ears.

"You'd better go before I tear you apart," She hissed, arching her back. The mottled tom glared at her before fleeing.

"You did it," Bloodfur breathed heavily as Swiftstalker stumbled toward him. "You killed him."

The black and white tom trembled as he sniffed Bloodfur's pelt. "Are you okay?" He rasped.

He nodded, glancing back at the blood soaking his pelt. "Yeah," He let out a dry purr. "A great time to be called Bloodfur, eh?"

Swiftstalker chuckled before staggering, his eyes glazing over as he fell onto his side.

"Swift-" Bloodfur let out a gasp when he saw blood pulsing from a wound in Swiftstalker's stomach. "Oh no!" He forced himself to his paws and crouched by his friend's side, pressing his paws to the wound. "No, Swiftstalker! You'll be okay!"

Mistybreeze hung her head, staring at them sadly.

"It's okay." The black and tom let out a soft sigh. "Do you think they'll let me join StarClan?" He murmured.

Bloodfur stared at his friend numbly. "Of course they will." He rasped, his heart throbbing. "If they don't, I'll follow them around throwing moss balls at their heads."

Swiftstalker let out a weak purr of amusement, his blue eyes shining at Bloodfur. "I'm sorry I was such a bad friend to you..." He coughed up blood. "I left you when... When you n-needed me most."

His heart tore in two. He rested his chin on Swiftstalker's shoulder. "You were the greatest friend I could have asked for," He whispered, swallowing a lump in his throat. "I'll miss you so much..."

"I'll be with you," The black and white tom murmured, his eyes slowly closing. "I...I prom..." He trailed off. Bloodfur waited for him to finish, but he never did. He pressed his head against Swiftstalker's shoulder, letting out a cry of grief. Mistybreeze quietly crouched beside him, resting her tail around Bloodfur.

"I'm sorry," She murmured. "He was a great friend."

He was more than great. Bloodfur thought. He was my best friend.... He heard several cats race into the clearing, yowling and snarling.

"Retreat!" Deserve's voice rose above the rest. "Retreat!"

"The battle is won." He heard Frostedstar yowl from the great rock. "Deserve's Army has been beaten!"