Stone prodding Owlflight with his forepaw was what woke him. "What is it?" Owlflight asked. "It's still dark out!"

"It's Bloodshed. He... He stormed in here and killed the guard and took Robin."

"What?!" Owlflight was on his paws at once, waking Cloud. "Come on! We have to save him.."

The three followed the scent trail, made clear even in the pouring rain by Robin's strong fear scent. Owlflight trudged sadly along, his tail down. He barely managed to hold his head as a cave came into view, the scent trail leading right into it.

"You think it's a trap?" Cloud asked. As if in reply, several cats burst out of the cave, enveloping them in battle at once. Owlflight was attacked by Bloodshed himself, clawing furiously at his fur.

Owlflight twisted and bit into his attackers shoulder, drawing a small amount of blood. Bloodshed's claws sunk into Owlflight's underbelly, shredding his fur.

Owlflight shrieked and tried to run, but Bloodshed wouldn't let go. He wasn't fighting by the warrior code; this was a cat who wanted nothing but death.

Cloud wasn't fighting well due to her injury. Her limp made it harder for her to dodge the strikes of her attacker. The massive ginger, brown, and black tom was clearly winning. Cloud didn't see any way that she could escape.

What she didn't expect was to be saved. As the tom pinned her down, ready to aim a death bite at her throat, a white blur slammed into his side. Her toppled over, his ears flat against his head.

The cat that looked just like Bloodshed had saved her life. He spat at Cloud's attacker, crouched in a battle position. "You've no idea how long I've wanted to do this, Spring." Before his brother could answer, Winter leaped forward and slashed at the throat of the massive tom.

Spring dropped to the floor, dead. Cloud was somehow aware that the battle around her had stopped, but all she could see was Winter. Blood dripped from his claws, his ears were flat, and he was staring at his father with a look of pure hatred.

"Winter?" Sprinkle sounded puzzled. "How could you?!"

"Kill him!" As Bloodshed made the order, Winter darted forward and shot through the trees after Robin. Cloud followed as fast as she could limp, aware of Stone and Owlflight behind her.

Owlflight felt that this was what StarClan had tried to tell him about Winter. He wasn't a danger to them; he was a hero. He'd saved Cloud's life.

Owlflight didn't have time for that though. He was focused on running off, although Bloodshed and his followers were not chasing him. They were too stunned that one of their own had just murdered another.

He didn't stop running until he found himself on the beach, stinging rain beating down on his body. The waves crashed against the shore so high that they were nearly reaching up to Owlflight's feet, though he stood right at the beginning of the beach.

He saw his kits huddled in the bushes, trying to take shelter from the rain. Winter was nearby, but he didn't even look at them. He understood that although he had saved Cloud, he was an enemy, not a friend.

Owlflight laid down near Robin, who was trembling in both fear and cold. Stone was licking at Cloud's injured shoulder, which had been somehow hurt again in the battle. Winter was licking up the blood on his claws, casually, as if he murdered cats every day.

Maybe he does. Owlflight thought with a shudder. "Um, thanks.. For.. Saving Cloud, uh, back there." Owlflight sounded like a nervous kit.

Winter shrugged. "It's whatever."

"My name is Owlflight.. By the way."

"I know." He responded. "You're one of those clan kitties, huh?"

Owlflight didn't know why he seemed to be equating clan cats with kittypets. "I used to be. I left the clan to become a loner."

"Firepelt asked you, didn't she?" He asked. Owlflight felt a growl riding in his throat.

"How do you know that?" He hissed.

"I was there.. Uh, when she died." He looked guilty. Owlflight had thought it was a rogue who killed Firepelt. Could it have been Winter...?

"I was only a kit then." Winter went on. "I couldn't have stopped them. Sprinkle brought me to meet Bloodshed and Blurrypelt... Firepelt caught us, and Bloodshed killed her so no one would find out."

Owlflight was furious, but he didn't say anything. Firepelt was murdered by Bloodshed. She was the first cat to die due to Bloodshed. But will she be the last?