Shadepaw emerged from the apprentices' den feeling as if he hadn't slept at all. Blurrypelt and Snowpaw followed him to the edge of the cave.

"There's no time to eat before we leave. Last night, Sunflower thought she saw a GreenClan cat on our territory when she left camp to get a drink of water." Jaytail informed them. "We must leave immediately, to see what is happening with GreenClan."

"Where is Sunflower?" Snowpaw asked, twisting around to look for his mentor. "I don't see her."

"She's got a thorn in her paw; it got infected. She asked me to take over your training for today." Jaytail explained. "So I'm taking you, Blurrypelt, and Shadepaw with me on patrol."

"Okay." Snowpaw said. Jaytail licked his son between the ears before turning and springing out of the cave. Blurrypelt raced after them.

Why are they going so fast? Shadepaw thought, his paws aching with sleepiness. He felt a twinge of anger towards Frozenstar for keeping him all night.

The patrol raced downstream along the border. Any other time of the year, the riverbanks would be too muddy to run on; but now the river was low, and no cat had to worry about slipping.

"I can scent GreenClan up ahead!" Snowpaw announced. He's a good tracker. Shadepaw noted, I'll have to remember that.

The cats skidded to halt. Several GreenClan cats were clustered along the border; it seemed like the whole Clan! Shadepaw blinked. Stormstar was bent over the river, lapping up the water.

"Why have you brought the whole Clan to the river?" Jaytail demanded. "What is going on?"

"There doesn't seem to be another drop of water on the island." Hawkstrike answered for the elderly leader. "Our moss dries before we can get it back to the elders. If we cannot bring the water to them... We bring them to the water."

"This is our water!" Blurrypelt spat. "Remember that Stripedstar never said that you could hunt here."

"We are not mouse brained fools, apprentice!" Hawkstrike rose his voice, anger flaring in his eyes.

"I am not an apprentice!" Blurrypelt spat back.

"And so what if he was?" Snowpaw challenged.

"Quiet, all of you. Snowpaw, return to camp and report this to Stripedstar at once." Jaytail ordered.

"Why not send Shadepaw? He's younger!"

"Just go!" Jaytail hissed, his fur bristling. Once Snowpaw was gone, Jaytail began to pad down the shore. "I don't trust you so close to the border."

Shadepaw and Blurrypelt padded after Jaytail. Shadepaw wondered what Stripedstar would think about this.

"We're on our side of the border!" Coldstream stepped up beside his brother. "This is our territory. We can settle our camp wherever we want!"

"It's too close!" Jaytail argued. "You would be stealing if you ate our fish."

"We know." Stormstar said calmly. "We have not stolen anything."

"I'll be the judge of that." Jaytail paused at the steppingstones before hopping across. Shadepaw and Blurrypelt followed.

"Who died and made you leader?!" Coldstream spat when they reached the camp. "You're invading our territory!"

"And he's right to do so." The voice was Stripedstar, on the other side of the border. Snowpaw had led her there, along with a group of warriors and apprentices. "I expected more from you, Hawkstrike. My own son."

"Kinship means nothing." Hawkstrike growled. "I do what is best for my Clan."

"I do also." Stripedstar raised her chin. Shadepaw realised that she had brought a battle patrol with her. "We will search your camp for stolen prey."

"No!" Hawkstrike hissed, "We have not stolen anything. Leave at once."

Stripedstar and her patrol crossed the border. "I do not wish to start a fight with you while your Clan is so weak. But you leave me no choice!"

"That's not true!" Hawkstrike growled, "Go home now. You are invading our territory."

"Search for any fresh-kill." Stripedstar told Spottedfeather. Then she turned back to Stormstar, "Your Clan is bigger than ours, but we are stronger. Admit that you have stolen prey, now."

Foxclaw, an elder, spat at Spottedfeather as she began to sniff around the bushes. "I've found it! There's a hidden fresh-kill pile.. Of fish!" She announced.

The camp erupted into battle. Teeth and claws flashed as MudClan and GreenClan fought; Shadepaw felt too tired to move.

A cat crashed into his side, knocking him off balance. He fell onto his side, and instinctively rolled onto his back. He kicked up with his hind paws, meeting the underbelly of his attacker. It was Morningpaw.

"Prey thief!" He spat at her, raking his claws over her ears. She ducked, bit down on his hind leg, then reared up to slam down on him. He kicked her paws out from under her, sending her falling backwards. This is your chance. Frozenstar whispered in his ear, prove that you can fight.

Shadepaw dug his claws into Morningpaw's flank, earning a yowl from the starved apprentice. She kicked him in the face, and when he fell back, she caught his ear with her claw. Pain shot through his head as his ear was torn, blood now dripping into his eyes.

For a moment, Shadepaw couldn't see. Morningpaw took this to her advantage, slashing at his sides. Shadepaw yowled for help, knowing that he was being beaten. This was his first battle, and it was ending horribly.

Jaytail appeared at his side, knocking Morningpaw off of him. She hissed, and Shadepaw struggled to his paws. His ear was bleeding badly; is was badly torn, a scar he would have forever. "Look out!" Jaytail gasped, but Shadepaw was too slow.

Morningpaw knocked him off his feet yet again, this time aiming for his underbelly. She raked her claws down his belly four times before Jaytail managed to get her off of Shadepaw. He was too weak.. He felt too tired to get up. He fell limp, allowing sleep to take over him in the middle of the battle.