The next morning she was woken by a frightened yowl  in the clearing.

"My kits! My kits are gone! Where are my kits!?"

Ashfeather looked around the warriors' den. The cats were waking up, aroused by the yowl. Sunpelt and Grassflight weren't in their nests, but Ashfeather didn't pay much attention to that. They must have gone on a dawn patrol. She stumbled out and immediately saw Frostfur racing around the clearing, her claws making clicking sounds as they came into contact with the ground. A cold feeling rose in Ashfeather's stomach. Where are Bristlekit, Redkit, Rootkit, and Bramblekit? Then a small head rose from the nursery.

Thank StarClan, Redkit is safe! But where are the other kits? They are too young to be out of camp!

Waterstar raced from her den and let a howl loose. "Everyone calm down! We must send out search parties! Apprentices, search every den! Warriors, search the forest! Streamfur?"

Streamfur bounded up. "Mousetail, take Skybright, Cloudpelt, Treestorm, and Sunpelt!"

Mousetail looked around, then up at her deputy. "Sunpelt isn't here," she called.

Streamfur frowned. "I didn't send out any patrols. Where is she?"

Waterstar stepped forward. "What if she took the kits?" she growled.

Gasps rose from the Clan, and Ashfeather's head spun. Oh no!

I have to do something! Ashfeather leaped onto the rock beside Waterstar and Streamfur, and dipped her head to the leader.

"May I speak, Waterstar?" she asked.

Waterstar, who had taken a step back to make room for her, narrowed her eyes and nodded.

Ashfeather wheeled around to face her Clanmates. They had quieted down when she had scrambled onto the rock, and were listening with wide eyes and pricked ears.

Ashfeather took a deep breath.

"Sunpelt is my sister. We played together, trained together. We became warriors together. Later, she became more...more distant. She grumbled when asked to do something, stuck her nose into others' business, and tried to take cats' relationships apart..."

Some cats were nodding, and murmurs of agreement came from the crowd. Bearthorn had his muzzle in the air, agreeing completley.

"Today, when I was woken by Frostfur, I realized that Sunpelt and Grassflight weren't in their nests. I have seen them together, talking in hushed voices. They were planning something, and we need to stop it. As Streamfur said, we need search patrols! Mousetail, you can take Eartheart instead of Sunpelt. Streamfur, please organize two more search patrols as well as hunting and patrolling parties."

Realizing she had spoken like a deputy or an leader, and gave orders to cats in higher ranks, Ashfeather stepped back and shot an anxious look at leader. Waterstar dipped her head.

"Indeed. Streamfur and Ashfeather, work together to plan." She turned and went into her den, calling Goldenstripe to follow her.

Furrowing her brows at Waterstar's behavior, Ashfeather turned to the Clan with Streamfur beside her. Streamfur spoke.

"Mousetail, go with your patrol and follow the scent trail."

Ashfeather stepped forward.

"Lemonheart, take Bluetail, Breezefang, and Brackenfur for another search patrol. I 'll come with you, and Streamfur can finish dividing cats. Then he can join Mousetail." With a flick of her tail she gracefully jumped down, motioned for her patrol, and pounded out of camp. Instantly the five cats dropped down into crouches, sniffing the air and ground.

Then Bluetail let out an exclamation.

"Bramblekit's scent, over by these ferns!"

Ashfeather spun around. "What about Sunpelt or Grassflight?"

Bluetail sniffed again. "Grassflight was here not too long ago-"

"Over here! Sunpelt, Bristlekit and Rootkit!" Breezefang howled.

Ashfeather sighed. "They split up. Is there any trace of Mousetail's patrol?"

Bluetail trotted a little further. "I think that they followed Grassflight."

Ashfeather unsheathed her claws. "Let's find Sunpelt!"

Her patrol bounded silently through the woods. Once in a while, they stopped to make sure they were hard on the kits' paws. Suddenly, Brackenfur stopped with a high pitched whine. Ashfeather and the others doubled back.

"What happened?" demanded Bluetail, her ears pricked

Brackenfur was shaking. "I smell kit blood," he croaked.

Ashfeather opened her mouth to smell the air. Her brother was right.

"It's Rootkit! Let's go!"

She ran through the trees, and the blood scent grew stronger. Ashfeather came to a hollow tree where the blood scent was nearly unbearable.

There was a small body lying on the ground. Ashfeather heard the others behind her draw sharp brats. Ashfeather gently reached into the tree and gently turned the little furry body over to reveal Rootkit. The she-kit's fur was covered in scratches and her ear was torn and bleeding.

"Is she dead?" whispered Brackenfur.

Ashfeather, who had already spotted the faint rise and fall of Rootkit's chest, shook her head.

"Barely alive," she mewed helplessly.

Bluetail stepped forward, her eyes wide with sympathy as she took in the scene. "Poor thing," she murmured. Then she turned to her mate. "Lemonheart, run back to camp and fetch Willownose or Goldenstripe. Ashfeather, I will stay with Rootkit, and the rest of you can try to catch Sunpelt and Bristlekit."

Ashfeather nodded, and Bluetail curled herself around the tiny lump of fur, licking it gently. Lemonheart shouldered through the bushes and disappeared, while Ashfeather turned and faced her Clanmates.

"Sunpelt has hurt an innocent kit. Show no mercy when we find her!"

When, not if. I'm a full control cat. Ashfeather thought, smirking.

They nodded, hackles up and claws unsheathed, waiting for her next command.

Ashfeather bared her teeth and sniffed the air. "Go!"

They ran in close formation at her signal, following the scent trail.

Soon, at the outskirts of the territory, they found the scent of more than a couple of animals, most consisting of dogs.

Breezefang looked shaken. "How did our patrols not find a camp of enemy dogs on our territory?"

Ashfeather groaned. "Another Clan of cats and dogs waiting to rip our fur off. C'mon!"

Pausing, she sniffed the air. "We can't do this on our own. We just explore, and wait for patrols to find us. The three SilverClan warriors crept off to investigate. Breezefang and Brackenfur stalked away from Ashfeather, who was sorting the smells. Most of the scents smelled earthy and a little human, and there was Sunpelt's sent.....and Grassflight's.

She found Bristlekit's and Bramblekit's scent, mixed in with fear-scent, and tracked it stealthily to the entrance to a clearing. Some dogs were milling around, there were around seven dogs in camp. Two dogs were guarding a den, while two cats stood conversing with them. Were Sunpelt and Grassflight leaders of a dog Clan?! Every couple of moments, a small head peeped out of the den. Then, there were two. Ashfeather drew in a breath. Bramblekit! Bristlekit!

Cliffhanger, I know. But I haven't done much of these, so here it is: cLiFfHaNgEr!