All of Shadowstripe's life, he has wanted to be leader. He is deputy, and so close to becoming leader, Featherstar is on her last life and very sick. But then, a cat named Alderleaf is murdered inside of camp, and Shadowstripe is framed. Everything in his life is crushed. His hopes, his dreams, his only wish. They are snatched away from him as his Clan outcasts him, to never be seen in RiverClan territory again, and if seen he will be brought to camp to be killed. Will Shadowstripe live the life of a loner? Or will he try to take back his position, by solving the mystery of who really murdered Alderleaf?