Whitestripe, Moondusk, Rainfur, Brokenstorm, and Nightsong emerged from the trees behind and around Jaggedshadow, surrounding him.

A Boulder rolled down the cliff face. Pond Song unfurled mere paw lengths from his face.

Jaggedshadow stepped back, grinning. He was outnumbered but hardly outmatched. Jaggedshadow's smile faded when he saw Pond Song. She looked nothing like he had ever seen. Sharp-looking translucent purple spikes protruded from almost all stones of her vessel.

Jaggedshadow was outnumbered and outmatched.

He could have fought Flamesong, Moondusk, Rainfur, Brokenstorm, and Nightsong, but with Pond Song, there was no way he could win. Besides, neither Jaggedshadow nor Jaggedshadow's vessel had the strength to fight six cats, let alone a timeless cat in an indestructible, spike-covered vessel.

"What have you done?" Nightsong gasped, peering at the carnage.

"My duty to NightClan," said some cat.

Jaggedshadow shuddered. 'Some cat', as it turned out, was his vessel. His vessel's voice was cold as ice, and had a steely edge he'd only heard from Cedartail and Plague.

"Well?" Jaggedshadow added, baring his blood-covered fangs. "Aren't you going to kill us?"

Moondusk and Flamesong glanced at each other. They nodded. "Not unless we need to," said Flamesong.

This time it was Jaggedshadow's vessel who spoke, although not to any of the cats surrounding the two of them. "Of course they won't destroy us. We are an asset. And a powerful one at that."

"Who are you?" Jaggedshadow asked the voice he had never heard before.

"I am that which you call your vessel," said the vessel-voice in a soft, matter-of-fact way.

Jaggedshadow gasped. His body—his vessel—had been aware this entire time. He had—so far—spent a lifetime in silence; he had only spoken the words Jaggedshadow said through him

At Jaggededshadow's silence, the vessel-voice elaborated, "We are Jaggedshadow; I am Oak."

"Oak? Why not Whitefang?" They began walking; their captors had begun their march home.

"That name was taken from us at Broken Ridge."

Jaggedshadow nodded sadly. It seemed as if it was just yesterday he—they—were still healing from that battle. He—and Oak, presumably—were both still emotionally healing from it.

Jaggedshadow's whiskers twitched. He had a question. A burning question that had sat in the back of his mind since he learned about Oak. "Why? Why have you stayed silent all these moons?"

"I am afraid."

" 'Am'? Are you still afraid, Oak?"

"Yes, dear Jaggedshadow, I am. I am the only cat who seems…" Oak paused, either unsure of his words or just taking a breath. "...different from their spirit. I know not how others will respond to my presence."

"Let us refer to ourselves as Cave," said Jaggedshadow.

"I do not like cave as a name." Oak snapped. "Caves are dark places, Jaggedshadow. Not only in the physical sense. They draw in the adventurous with the allure of their depths. …Lure them to their deaths. Caves consume."

"Give it time. We have plenty."

Jaggeshadow—I mean Cave—followed Flamesong, flanked by Pond Song, Moondusk, Rainfur, Brokenstorm, and Nightsong. Jaggedshadow and Oak had no choice. Flamesong and co. were taking them to the NightClan camp for punishment. Cave shuddered. 'Punishment' could entail a wide variety of potentials. These ranged from being ignored by all of NightClan for a day, to being executed via dismemberment.

Jaggedshadow Cave lifted his their chin and relaxed their shoulders. Prisoner or no prisoner, they would not enter NightClan's camp looking like a coward. They would endure any punishment Flamesong gave them.

Flamesong, Pond Song, Moondusk, Rainfur, Cave, Brokenstorm, and Nightsong entered NightClan's camp. Unsurprisingly, they were leading Cave to the Stone Circle. Cave hauled themselves over the edge of the Stone Circle. All of their escorts had fallen away, except Pond Song. She was close behind them.

Cave turned, tensing their muscles to leap. They could run now, if they wanted. They could escape punishment.

Cave relaxed. They squared their shoulders. They would not escape. It would be unfair to those they had slain if they escaped justice. Except for Cedartail. Jaggedshadow felt his killing of Cedartail was an act of justice in and of itself.

No, Jaggedshadow had not merely killed Cedartail. Jaggedshadow had utterly annihilated him. All that was left of him was a tattered shell. A tattered shell that would soon become part of the ground.

Jaggedshadow nearly leapt out of Oak. His vision swam as he saw all of NightClan (and a few cats he had never seen before) gathered beneath the Stone Circle. Jaggedshadow must have not heard Flamesong call the meeting.

"…are willing to join NightClan. They are valiant and will become great warriors if given enough training."

Flamesong gestured to NightClan. The newcomers stood. Lightningwing and a massive cat were among them.

Jaggedshadow bristled, trying to keep his anger concealed. How dare Lightningwing set foot in NightClan? And how dare Flamesong let him? Couldn't they see the dan-

Jaggedshadow shook himself. He had destroyed Cedartail. There was no danger facing Lightningwing.

"NightClan, I present to you Tempest, Lightningwing, Mountain, Ash, and Root." said Flamesong. Lightningwing was Lightningwing, Ash was a scarred, sullen-looking gray she-cat, Root was a tall, dappled she-cat, and Tempest was a small, pleasant-looking gray tabby queen. Mountain was both least and most surprising of the newcomers. He was a colossal, gray-spotted beige tom with a round, gentle-looking face.

Letting his fur fall flat, Jaggedshadow watched with interest as each swore their loyalty to NightClan. The newcomers—new plebeians, Oak reminded Jaggedshadow—would be a strong asset. Provided that they could keep their oaths.

"Tempest, Lightningwing, Mountain, Ash, and Root," said Rex Flamesong, nodding at each cat as he said their name. "Welcome to NightClan."

Cave nodded. Flamesong—Rex Flamesong now—was wise. The more cats NightClan had, the greater chance they had of repelling The Place of no Stars' attacks.

"NightClan," Rex Flamesong said with a sigh, "I present to you Jaggedshadow. He is my captive. He killed Rex Cedartail. And while NightClan may soon mourn such a powerful leader, we have a more important matter to deal with.

There are four afterlives: The Tribe of Endless Hunting, StarClan, The Place of No Stars, and Caelum. Of those, Caelum and StarClan are our allies, The Tribe of Endless Hunting is a potential threat, and The Place of No Stars is a threat. Nightsong tells me that they seek only to destroy. We must pre—"

"My punishment?" Jaggedshadow demanded through Oak.

Rex Flamesong turned toward Cave. "Exile."

Jaggedshadow had been expecting a heavier sentence. Perhaps Rex Flamesong was more concerned about the impending conflict with The Place of No Stars.

Rex Flamesong turned to address NightClan. "I, Rex Flamesong, leader of NightClan, proclaim that from tomorrow, Jaggedshadow, son of Icefang, and Guardian of Plague, is no longer a NightClan warrior. If any of you find him within NightClan's borders overmorrow you may—must—slay him."

Cave gasped, the reality of their punishment setting in. They were to be an Outlaw. They would need to be careful from now on, if they wanted to be a NightClan warrior again.

The announcements were over. Cave had received their sentence. Their punishment would begin in a day. Cave walked to the warriors' den. They would begin their farewells there.

Cave looked over their shoulder. NightClan was just beginning to return to their duties. Except for Nightsong. He had been keeping them company as they bid farewells to the majority of the cats they had ever known.

Cave glanced into the NightClan Camp. Tempest, Lightningwing, Brambleshade, and Mountain stood close together. They seemed to be conversing with one another.

Rex Flamesong had chosen well. The new plebeians were clearly well suited to a life of hunting and the occasional fight. But Jaggedshadow had his doubts. As did Oak. Lightningwing in particular looked starved. And he was not much of an outlier. The new plebeians all needed a good hearty meal.

Soon the red light of dusk shone through the trees. Cave ran. Moondusk and Stormwind were on patrol. They were the final cats Cave wanted to wish farewell to.

As they did so, a shiver shook Cave. They would soon leave everything they had known. Did anycat know whether they would return?

Jaggedshadow turned away. They needed to leave. Any more of his dawdling could kill them. Cave neared the border.

Cave felt cool and refreshed, like one often does after a swim. Phoenix had returned.

Cave grinned. All was not necessarily lost. They had options. Whether those entailed visiting Æri, finding that strange cat who visited him in his dream, visiting EchoClan, or living as a drifter, did not matter much.

A flutter of wings and a gust of wind told Cave of the approach of a certain malnourished brother of theirs. Cave turned. Guilt choked Jaggedshadow as he saw Lightningwing. Jaggedshadow had wronged Lightningwing. His threats and intimidation had—despite his better intent—been cruel.

Jaggedshadow stopped walking. Daylight faded and his time drew close, but he needed to apologize. He couldn't leave NightClan like this, knowing that his actions could fester within Lightningwing. Knowing that he—Jaggedshadow—had driven away someone who needed help.

Cave approached Lightningwing. Lightningwing shuddered, backing away. Another pang of guilt froze Jaggedshadow in place. With all the blood on their fur, he (and Oak) must look like a walking nightmare. He wasn't sure whether the poultices helped or not. Jaggedshadow pulled on his tether, landing within Oak

"We—" Jaggedshadow stammered as tears began to form in Cave's eyes. "—we're sorry. What Oak and I did to you is inexcusable."

Lightningwing's mouth was agape. He padded to Cave, shaking all the while. He was afraid. And Jaggedshadow couldn't blame him. He and Oak had bullied Lightningwing here several days ago.

"We can't force you to accept our apology. We only need you to know that we are sorry." Cave turned. Dusk was drawing to a close. Their time was short. "Oak and I are leaving. Flamesong exiled us. We are Outlaws."

Jaggedshadow cast a glance at Lightningwing as Cave leaped over the border. There was nothing more they could do now. Only time would tell if his apology would strike true.