Flamepaw didn't have time to say a warning as the two cats leaped onto Sharppaw.

Flamepaw struggled to leap from branch to branch as quickly as she could. She could hear the screeches of battle below her. She had to reach Sharppaw!

Suddenly, tree battle training came into mind. Flamepaw remembered Jaggedfang teaching her about leaping on top of your enemies, and pinning them to the ground.

Reaching a branch about seven tail lengths from the at he ground, Flamepaw readied herself to jump. She spotted a black tom scratching at Sharppaw's flank.

That's who I'll go for.

Letting out a ear splitting screech, Flamepaw dropped herself onto her opponent. The black tom crumpled to the ground, blood beginning to ooze from a gash Flamepaw had made in his back.

Flamepaw shot a quick glance at her sister. She was bravely fighting a dark grey tom, quickly raking her claws down his side.

Turning back to her opponent, Flamepaw sunk her teeth into the tom's ear, he let out a scream of pain. Blood gushed into her mouth, it's warm scent filled Flamepaw's nostrils. Trying not to gag, Flamepaw let go.

She flipped the tom over onto his back, she immediately recognized Rowanpaw, of Shadowclan.

She let out a snarl, "What do you think you are doing here, you piece of fox dung?"

The tom struggled, but Flamepaw sunk her claws into his belly fur, careful not to cause any real damage. The tom gritted his teeth in pain.

"Well? Speak!" Flamepaw growled as fierce as she could mange.

She almost felt sorry for Rowanpaw. His rubs stuck out along his sides, and the hollowness of his eyes gave away that he was clearly starving.

"What do we have here?"

Flamepaw whipped around to see Tigerfang, along with Cloudrunner and Brackenpelt standing with their claws unsheathed and their fangs bared.

Flamepaw breathed a sigh of relief. Though she wasn't hurt at all, she could feel exhaustion creeping over her from the skirmish.

"We don't have all day you know! So I suggest you speak now!" Tigerfang growled.

The apprentice that Sharppaw had pinned down spoke up, "Its none of your concern!"

Tigerfang snarled, then leapt onto the apprentice, pushing Sharppaw onto the ground.

"It is my concern when you are on my territory!" Tigerfang hissed into the apprentice's ear.

Flamepaw noticed that the other apprentice was Cedarpaw, also from Shadowclan.

Cedarpaw cringed at Tigerfang's words.

Brackenpelt stepped forward, "Come. Let's get these two... intruders back to our camp."

Tigerfang nodded her head in agreement, then forced Cedarpaw to his paws.

Cloudrunner got Rowanpaw up on his paws, then pushed him in front, "Move! You wanted to be in our territory, how about you go talk to Wolfstar instead?"

I would hate to be them right now.

~**~***~**~***~**~

"What do you two have to say for yourselves?"

Flamepaw stared as Wolfstar questioned the two Shadowclan apprentices in front of the entire clan.

Neither apprentice spoke up.

Wolfstar shrugged, "Fine. If you won't speak to me, maybe we should go talk to Snakestar about your little...intrusion."

At her words, Rowanpaw and Cedarpaw exchanged nervous glances.

"You aren't allowed on our territory!" Rowanpaw protested.

Wolfstar chuckled, "Oh? And what makes you allowed on ours?"

That shut Rowanpaw up. The black tom looked down at his paws, nervousness spiking his pelt.

"Tigerfang, Sharppaw, and Flamepaw," Wolfstar called, "You are coming with me. We are going to Shadowclan."

…**…**…**…**…**…

The acrid scent of Shadowclan rose around Flamepaw. She tried not to gag as the scent wafted down her throat.

"How do they put up with this horrible stench?" Flamepaw whispered to Sharppaw.

Sharppaw shrugged, "Dunno, they don't smell much better," Sharppaw flicked her tail towards the two apprentices.

Flamepaw stifled a laugh. It had been so long since she and her sister had joked. It felt good.

Wolfstar lead the way through Shadowclan territory. She acted like she had been there before.

Maybe she has.

Finally, they arrived to a prickly barrier. The six cats padded through the, supposed, clan entrance.

Surprised meows and murmurs greeted them.

"What are they doing here?"

"Thunderclan thinks that they can go anywhere they want?"

"Why are Rowanpaw and Cedarpaw with them?"

Wolfstar straightened as the deputy, Darkshadow, padded forward," We have come to bring back some trespassing apprentices."

The fur on the deputy's neck began to rise, "Are you saying that Shadowclan was trespassing?"

Wolfstar lashed her silvery tail, "Yes. That's exactly what I'm saying."

Protesting howls and hisses erupted from a crowd of gathered warriors.

Flamepaw scanned the camp. It wasn't her imagination, Shadowclan looked unusually scrawny, especially for the end of greenleaf.

"Is there a problem?"

Flamepaw looked to see the light brown she-cat, Snakestar.

"Yes," Wolfstar growled, "There is."

Snakestar flicked her tail, beckoning Wolfstar to speak.

"These two apprentices attacked Sharppaw and Flamepaw on our territory!" Wolfstar declared.

A few gasps came from the small crowd.

Snakestar hissed, "A Shadowclan cat would do no such thing!"

Wolfstar shrugged, "These did."

Snakestar whipped around, piercing Flamepaw with her snake like eyes, "Did you come whining to your leader?"

Flamepaw struggled to keep her fur flat, "They were breaking the warrior code! And they attacks us!"

Wolfstar lashed her tail, "Thunderclan cats do not lie. I just hope that you will punish these two, " Wolfstar jerked her head towards the two apprentices.

Snakestar let out a furious hiss, "Don't tell me how to run my clan!"

Wolfstar flicked her ears, "Oh Snakestar, I wouldn't dare."

Darkshadow bared his fangs, "I think it's time you four be leaving."

Wolfstar licked her gleaming white fangs, then padded towards the Shadowclan entrance.

"And by the way," Wolfstar added over her shoulder, "That was one cowardly attack at the Gathering."

Wolfstar lashed her tail and led the three cats outside of the camp; leaving all of Shadowclan glaring at her with hatred in their eyes.