Swiftkit woke up cold and wet. He blinked open his eyes, shivering. Why is the nursery- He snapped out of his thoughts and looked around in surprise. He was in the forest. It was dawn. He looked up shakily through the pine branches at the lavender-and-gold sky. Dewdrops glistened among the grass. What am I doing here..? He wondered anxiously, rising to his paws.

With a start, he remembered the events of last night. Maplefur is dead... Poisonedsap killed him... He hung his head, letting out a whimper as grief swelled up his heart. I need to tell the clan what she's planning! He wondered what had stopped him last night. He couldn't quite remember. He could only recall running through the forest on his way to camp. I must have fainted. He realized. I was in a lot of shock, and afraid...

He looked toward the camp miserably. It's too late, now! Poisonedsap has probably returned to camp... He tensed. What if she knows I saw her kill Maplefur? He wondered in alarm.

"Swiftkit? What are you doing out of the nursery?"

It was as if his thought had come to life. Swiftkit spun around, looking up anxiously. Poisonedsap stood a few fox-lengths from him, studying him closely.

"I-I-I" He swallowed, lost for words. I can't let her know that I saw!

But his mother seemed to see right through him. "Swiftkit," She growled. "I'm sorry you had to see that." She stepped toward him.

Swiftkit staggered backwards, lowering himself to the ground. "W-Why?" He managed to choke out. "Why did you do it?"

"Maplefur was holding you back."

"No!" Swiftkit cried. "He wasn't! He was my dad, and you killed him!" His paws trembled, yet he felt braver than ever. He raised his head to his mother, struggling to keep his voice from shaking. "I'm going to tell the clan what you did," He rasped. "and you'll be exiled."

"Oh, Swiftkit," Poisonedsap purred. "You wouldn't exile your own mother. And do you really think the clan will believe the wild imagination of a kit?" Her black tipped tail twitched as she fixed her amber eyes on him. "They will never know the truth."

Swiftkit stared at her, his ears flattening. His heart pounded with fear. "Are you going to kill me, too?" He whimpered.

For a moment, she looked genuinely startled. "I would never kill you," She meowed. "You're my kit."

He stared at her, wondering if he could believe that. His fur bristled nervously as she approached him and lowered her head, rasping her tongue over his head. It was usually a comforting gesture. But Poisonedsap's tongue felt as dangerous as though a thorn bush was being raked over his head. Just as Swiftkit began to calm, she touched her brown muzzle to his ear. "If you tell any cat what you saw," She murmured. "I'll kill every cat in the nursery." His blood turned to ice as she went on. "Diamondrain, Mistykit, Coldkit, Bloomfire... And your friend, Bloodkit."

"You can't," Swiftkit dared to say. "You're not strong enough to take on both queens."

Poisonedsap's eyes gleamed as she sat down. "Who said I was doing it alone? I have been in ShadowClan for many moons. I have made allies."

Swiftkit's eyes widened. Was it possible that there were more traitors in ShadowClan aware of Poisonedsap's monstrous plot for revenge?

"Be mindful of who you trust, dear," Poisonedsap meowed softly. "I know I am." She studied him for a moment. "Don't forget what I told you. They will die." With that, she turned away.

After a while, Swiftkit slumped onto his stomach, letting out a moan. Why did I have to see her kill him? Why did I have to be Poisonedsap's kit? Why is this happening to me? Everyone's in danger now, and it's my fault! For a moment, he considered running. He didn't know where he would go. He just knew that he wanted to get as far away from Poisonedsap as possible. Somewhere safe. Somewhere where no cat would get hurt because of what he'd seen.

He was about to finalize this decision when something stopped him. If no cat finds out about Poisonedsap... Her plot might be successful. The clans will be destroyed. All my clanmates, all my friends, will die. He narrowed his ice-blue eyes. I have to stay. If not for me, then for them. I need to protect my clan. I will find a way.

***

The sun was high in the sky. Bloodkit had been awake for a while now. He rolled a ball of moss under his paw. "Okay, ready?" He prompted.

"Ready!" Mistykit and Coldkit chirped in harmony, staring at him eagerly.

Bloodkit bat the moss ball, and the two gray kits squealed with excitement, bounding after it. He let out a purr of amusement. As he watched the kits play, he began to reflect on his dream. I met a StarClan cat! He thought excitedly. I'll bet no cat in the clan had a night nearly as interesting as I did! Then his excitement faded to anxiety as he thought of the prophecy she had given him.

"A darkness is growing. A poison that will spread and destroy your clan from within. Only the spilling of blood will save Shadowclan. Revenge will guide you." He shuddered. I wish I knew what she meant... It sounds like something terrible is going to happen, and StarClan approves! The "spilling of blood" will save ShadowClan. But whose blood? Who is going to die?

"Bloodkit!" Mistykit's yowl broke him out of his thoughts, and he returned to reality to see the moss ball soaring toward his head. He shot up into the air just in time, swatting the ball back at the kits.

He watched Mistykit and Coldkit play for a moment, then looked to the other side of the den. Poisonedsap lay in her nest relaxing, her eyes narrowed to slits as she purred contently. Stonekit was studying his claws, one black forepaw raised, his tail waving eagerly. "I'm going to be the fiercest warrior the forest has ever seen!" He boasted.

Bloodkit ignored him and looked at Swiftkit. He was sitting by the mouth of the den, looking into the clearing with his back to him. With a purr, Bloodkit bounded over to him. "You're going to be an apprentice today!" He purred, bumping his shoulder to his.

"Huh?" Swiftkit seemed distracted. "Oh, yeah. I forgot."

Bloodkit tilted his head. He didn't seem right. He sounded tired, and almost depressed. "Aren't you excited?"

"I guess," Swiftkit murmured.

He was startled to hear his friend so down, especially today. He's starting his warrior training! This is what we've been waiting for!

Bloodkit forced a purr, trying to cheer him up. "I bet you'll be the greatest warrior the forest has ever seen."

He didn't respond for a moment. "Thanks."

Bloodkit studied him. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

"Something's obviously-"

Swiftkit swung his head to him. "I said, nothings wrong!" He snapped, and Bloodkit jumped back, staring at him in shock. A heartbeat later, his blue eyes lit with guilt. "I'm sorry," He rasped, looking down again. "I just want to be alone."

Surprised and hurt, he turned away, heading back to Bloomfire and Diamondrain. He saw Poisonedsap eying him out of the corner of his eye. Relax, fleabag. He thought sourly. I'll stay away from your kit. He couldn't help but be offended by Swiftkit's behaviour. Was it something I said or did?

"Where in StarClan's name is Maplefur?"

Bloodkit twitched his ear and looked over his shoulder. Through the branches of the den, he saw his father and Copperstripe speaking to Cobratail. It was Copperstripe who had spoken. Their apprentices, Stripedpaw and Song, sat near them, exchanging excited looks.

Cobratail flicked his tail. "Wasn't he with you? He said he would help you assess the apprentices."

"Yes," Flameheart meowed. "But he never showed up."

"We waited a while for him," Copperstripe added. "But the apprentices were ready to explode. We couldn't wait any longer. And when we came back after the assessment to talk to him, he wasn't even in his den!"

"He must be out hunting." The clan deputy huffed out a sigh. "I'll speak to him about it when he returns to camp." He turned his head as Depthstar padded to his side.

"I trust the apprentices passed their assessments?" The dark tom prompted.

"We did!" Stripedpaw purred. "And you should have seen Song! She caught a thrush so high in the air!"

The white she-cat ducked her head, looking embarrassed. "It was nothing." She paused, looking around. "Has Boost finished his assessment?"

"Yeah!" A heartbeat later, the young tabby shot through the thorn tunnel, hurdling into his sister. His mentor, Milkblaze, followed more slowly. "Great StarClan, Boost!" The two littermates broke into a playful fight while Stripedpaw watched in amusement.

Depthstar frowned. "Perhaps you two aren't ready to be warriors? You look like kits to me." Boost and Song immediately leaped apart, their eyes lighting with protest, and the clan leader purred in amusement. "I'm only teasing." His blue eyes shone. "Are you ready to become warriors?"

"Yes!" The apprentices exclaimed.

"Wonderful," Depthstar purred. "Then I shall call a meeting." He paused, looking at his deputy. "Poisonedsap's kits are six moons, aren't they?"

"Yes, Depthstar," Cobratail nodded.

"Then I shall hold an apprentice ceremony as well as a warrior ceremony." The dark furred tom leaped up onto the meeting rock. "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey, gather beneath the rock for a clan meeting!"

Bloodkit heard Swiftkit whimper, and he immediately returned to his friend's side. "What's the matter?" He demanded anxiously.

Swiftkit lowered his head. "Maplefur should be here," He whispered. "He said he'd be here..."

Bloodkit blinked. "I'm sure he'll return to camp soon. He wouldn't miss your ceremony."

"Come, now!" Poisonedsap padded over to Swiftkit, wrapping her tail around him and forcing Bloodkit to leave his side. "It's time for your training to begin!"

"Yeah!" Stonekit exclaimed excitedly. "This is our moment!"

Bloodkit watched as Poisonedsap led her kits out of the nursery to join the cats gathering beneath the rock. Bloomfire stepped to his side, and he looked up at her. "Can we join them?" He asked hopefully.

His mother purred. "Of course."

Bloodkit eagerly ran to join Swiftkit, but Poisonedsap glared at him, flicking her tail. "Swiftkit and Stonekit are becoming apprentices, not you," She growled.

He stepped back warily, and Bloomfire sat beside him. "Take no notice of her," She murmured. "She rarely has nice things to say to any cat."

"Today is a great day for ShadowClan," Depthstar began. "I have the privilege of naming three new warriors and two new apprentices. We are lucky to have so many warriors, especially with leaf-bare coming."

A tail flicked his shoulder, and Bloodkit jumped, turning to see his father settling beside him and purring a greeting. He looked up as his parents touched muzzles before Flameheart turned his attention to the meeting, his eyes fixed proudly on his apprentice.

"I, Depthstar, leader of ShadowClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on these three apprentices." Depthstar meowed. "They have trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you as warriors in their turn." Bloodkit peered between Cliffshade and Crowmask to see the apprentices. The three young cats gazed up at their leader eagerly.

Depthstar rested his gaze on the first apprentice. "Stripedpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your clan, even at the cost of your life?"

"I do." The tortoiseshell tom stood tall and proud, gazing up at his leader.

"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Stripedpaw, from this moment you will be known as Stripednose." Bloodkit immediately understood why Depthstar had chosen that name. The tom had a pink nose with a black marking across one nostril. It suited him.

"StarClan honors your courage and loyalty, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ShadowClan." He paused as the clan began to chant.

"Stripednose! Stripednose!"

The dappled tom raised his head proudly, his tail waving back and fourth. Song purred and rubbed her muzzle against his shoulder. "Stripednose!" She yowled above the others. Stripednose purred and licked her head. It looks like there'll be more kits in the nursery soon. Bloodkit thought. Even though they're young, they're already very close.

Depthstar raised his tail, gesturing for the clan to stop, and they quieted. "Boost, Song," He meowed. "You joined ShadowClan as rogues and chose not to take clan names when you were apprenticed. Do you wish to take warrior names?"

The two cats exchanged a look. After a moment, they returned their attention to their leader. "I wish to keep my name, Depthstar," Boost dipped his head. "I like being called Boost. It was the name my mother gave me. I cannot give it up."

Depthstar gave a respectful nod. "Very well." He moved his gaze to his sister. "Song?"

The white she-cat hesitated, turning her head to Stripednose. "Would you mind?" She asked quietly.

"Of course not," The tortoiseshell warrior purred, his eyes shining. "I love you no matter what you're called." She purred and sat against him, twining her tail with his.

Depthstar coughed, and the couple broke apart, looking embarrassed. "Now then," The clan leader went on. "Boost, Song, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your clan, even at the cost of your life?"

"I do," Song meowed, and her brother echoed her.

"Then by the powers of StarClan, I name you both warriors. StarClan honors your determination and enthusiasm, and we welcome you as full warriors of ShadowClan."

"Boost! Song!" The clan cheered. Depthstar leaped down from the rock to rest his chin on each warrior's head, and in turn, received a lick on the shoulder. Boost puffed out his chest proudly while Song and Stripednose purred together. Bloodkit watched the three new warriors. That'll be me one day. He thought eagerly. A real ShadowClan warrior!

"Now, It's also time for two kits to begin their training," Depthstar meowed, peering across the clearing. "Stonekit, Swiftkit, come here."

Bloodkit watched as Stonekit ran through the crowd to stand below the rock, staring up at Depthstar eagerly. Swiftkit followed more slowly. What's up with him? Bloodkit wondered. I would be ready to explode if I were in his paws!

"Swiftkit, Stonekit, you have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to be apprenticed. Swiftkit, from this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Swiftpaw."

Swiftpaw stared up at Depthstar, his tail flicking back and forth. Depthstar looked into the crowd of warriors. "Timberstorm, you are ready to take on an apprentice. You had received excellent training from Crowmask, and you have shown yourself to be wise and loyal. I expect you to pass on all you know to Swiftpaw." The tabby warrior dipped his head and stepped toward his new apprentice. Swiftpaw touched noses with him. Poisonedsap watched, nodding in approval.

"Swiftpaw! Swiftpaw!" The clan chanted. Bloodkit leaped to his paws. "Swiftpaw!" He cheered, ready to burst with excitement for his friend. But Swiftpaw didn't look very happy. Bloodkit looked around the clearing and immediately understood. Maplefur wasn't here...

"Now," Depthstar began. "Stonekit-"

"Depthstar! Depthstar!"

Every cat looked to the thorn tunnel in alarm as two warriors raced into the camp, panting.

"Ashcloud? Blackstorm?" Depthstar seemed to sense that something was wrong. "What is it?" Bloodkit stared at the warriors as they caught their breath. How far did they run? He wondered.

"It's Maplefur," Blackstorm swallowed. "He's dead!" As he spoke, a third warrior, Cougarfoot, padded through the thorn tunnel, carrying a limp cream tabby on his shoulders. The clearing erupted in horrified gasps and cries, but none louder then the yowl that rose from Poisonedsap's lungs.

"No!" She screeched and ran to him, thrusting her way through the crowd. "Get out of my way!" She spat. Cougarfoot lowered Maplefur's body to the ground, and Poisonedsap let out a wail of grief, crouching and pressing her muzzle into his fur.

Bloodkit stared at Maplefur's body in horror. A nasty wound split his throat, dry blood clinging to the fur around it. His yellow eyes were open and sightless. Blackstorm quietly stepped forward and closed them with his tail.

Poisonedsap raised her head. "Don't touch him!" She spat, and the black tom dipped his head, stepping back to give her room to grieve.

"Maplefur..." Stonekit was staring at his father's body in shock, and for the first time, Bloodkit wondered if the aggressive kit had feelings after all. He saw Swiftpaw hanging his head, unable to look at the body.

"Swiftpaw," Bloodkit hurried over to join the black and white apprentice beneath the meeting rock. He hesitated before pressing his pelt against his. "I'm so sorry!" Swiftpaw didn't respond, seeming lost in grief.

"Cougarfoot," Depthstar padded over to the others slowly, stopping near the dead warrior. "What happened?"

The golden brown tom sat down, staring at Maplefur. "We were patrolling by the ThunderClan border, and... We found him, just a fox length into their territory. His body was cold. There's ThunderClan scent all over him."

Bloodkit felt Swiftpaw stiffen. "What?" He breathed.

Poisonedsap raised her head, letting out a furious snarl. "A ThunderClan warrior killed my mate!"

The clearing exploded into outraged yowls.

"Murderers!"

"ThunderClan fox-dung!"

Stonekit let out a growl, digging his claws into the ground. "ThunderClan!"

"Enough!" Depthstar yowled, and the clan quieted, looking at him anxiously. "We have no proof that-"

"Proof?" Poisonedsap echoed furiously, glaring at him. "Maplefur was found right on their land! There's ThunderClan scent on him! Clearly this is the work of ThunderClan!"

The clan leader narrowed his eyes. "What reason would ThunderClan have to kill Maplefur?"

"What reason do you have to not defend his honor?" Poisonedsap retorted, and the clan began murmuring. "Maplefur died at the paws of a ThunderClan warrior! We must attack at once!"

"We will not attack ThunderClan until-"

Poisonedsap stood up and faced him. "What kind of a leader are you to let cats get away with murder?" She spat. "Have you no honor?" Some cats gasped in shock that she would say such a thing to her own leader, while others were murmuring agreement.

"Depthstar, ThunderClan can't get away with this!" Blackstorm exclaimed.

"Right!" Mottledpaw yowled. "Maplefur must be avenged!"

Depthstar was narrowing his eyes at Poisonedsap, his thick tail lashing slowly. She wasn't backing down, her amber eyes fixed on him. After a moment, the tom drew in a deep breath. "You're in grief, Poisonedsap," He meowed calmly. "I understand. I will confront Strawberrystar with this accusation at the next gathering."

"The next gathering?" Poisonedsap bristled. "That's-"

Cougarfoot padded to her side. "Depthstar knows what he's doing," He murmured. "Maplefur will be avenged. I promise."

Poisonedsap glared at the golden warrior for a moment, and Bloodkit wondered if she would yell at him, too. But her fur flattened. "I suppose." She leaned against him. "Thank you for bringing him back to camp, Cougarfoot." The tom dipped his head. After a moment, Poisonedsap looked to the clan leader. "May we continue with Stonekit's ceremony?" She rasped.

Depthstar frowned. "Surely we should hold Maplefur's vigil first-"

"No," She interrupted. "Stonekit must be made an apprentice now, with his brother. That's what Maplefur would want."

After a moment of hesitation, Depthstar dipped his head. "Very well." He returned to the meeting rock. It took a moment for the clan to focus on the ceremony, shaken by the news of Maplefur's death.

"Stonekit," The clan leader went on. Hawkfeather and Dewstorm groomed Maplefur's body quietly while he spoke. "From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as-"

"Wait!" Stonekit yowled.

Several cats gasped, and Bloodkit blinked at the white tom kit. What is he doing?! He can't interrupt the clan leader like that! Beside him, Swiftpaw looked startled, staring at his brother.

Depthstar twitched his ear. "Yes, Stonekit?"

The black-legged tom straightened. He fixed his amber eyes on his leader. "My father has died wrongfully at the paws of a rival warrior," He meowed. "I wish to avenge him. I will find the ThunderClan warrior who sent him to StarClan and tear him apart." He raised his chin. "I would like to be called Revengepaw. For I will act out my revenge. For my father."

Revengepaw? Bloodkit stared at him in disbelief. What a strange name... What an ominous name... The clan murmured, surprised.

Depthstar looked startled. He exchanged an uncertain look with his deputy, before returning his gaze to Stonekit. "That's a worrisome name, Stonekit," He meowed quietly. "One that may give a poor impression to your clanmates. To the other clans. It may make them wary of you."

"It is the name that will give me strength." Stonekit gazed at his leader steadily.

The dark tom studied him for a long moment. "Very well." He cleared his throat. "From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Revengepaw. Your mentor will be-"

"Depthstar," Poisonedsap dipped her head. "I have a request."

Another interruption? Bloodkit thought in disbelief. What now?

The clan leader bristled for a moment, clearly irritated that this ceremony was taking so long. "Yes, Poisonedsap?" He meowed impatiently.

"I would like Cougarfoot to mentor Revengepaw," She meowed. Beside her, Cougarfoot looked at her in surprise.

Depthstar twitched his ear. "Cougarfoot already has an apprentice," He reminded her.

The golden brown she-cat snorted. "Mottledpaw is being assessed tomorrow," She pointed out, casting the warrior a warm look. "Surely a strong, handsome warrior like Cougarfoot can handle two apprentices for one day?"

Cougarfoot twitched his black tipped tail. "I suppose I could."

Depthstar hesitated. "Very well," He decided quietly. "Cougarfoot, you will mentor Revengepaw. I expect you to pass on all you know to him."

Cougarfoot padded over to Revengepaw, who eagerly touched noses with the compact warrior. Bloodkit looked at Poisonedsap, expecting to see her gaze on her son. But instead, her eyes were all for his mentor. Surely she isn't thinking of taking another mate, so soon after Maplefur's death? He wondered.

"Revengepaw! Revengepaw!" The clan yowled as the black and white tom looked around, puffing out his chest proudly.

"Revengepaw..." Swiftpaw muttered. "What a name..."

Bloodkit nodded in agreement. Suddenly, his mind flashed back to the message the StarClan cat had given him. "Revenge will guide you..." Could that have something to do with Revengepaw?