Ghostglow's POV

With stiff, aching legs, I padded back to camp with a pigeon limp in my jaws. It's body was still warm, and it's glistening blood made me drool. I found myself watching its head bounce with every step I took. I was tempted to eat it then and there, knowing no one was around to find me guilty, but I knew there were hungrier warriors back in camp. Swallowing the temptation to devour the warm pigeon, I sped up my pace.

The wind blew through the treetops and swayed the branches. It was eerily quiet, and I didn't like it. For some reason it caused the fur along my spine spike up. The feeling that someone, or something, was watching me stride by made me want to scream.

I watched the moon slip under the horizon to take my mind off of my paranoia while I hurried back to camp. The sky was just starting to brighten; the day was just beginning. I longed to just curl up in my cozy nest and sleep the day away once again.

It had been almost a halfmoon since Lark and Jinx came to our camp saying they were now rogues and that they would stay out of the Clans way unless they were needed. Almost a halfmoon of peace and, surprisingly, there were no incidents... for StreamClan anyway. There was a scream the day Lark and Jinx left, but we didn't go see what had happened. Wildstar and Crowflight suspected someone had been bitten, and it sadly made sense.

My deep thoughts were interrupted by a bird as it called out and took off from a high branch. I flinched, and then watched the black creature flap its wings desperately to get away. Gulping, I trotted off.

Just as I spotted the camp from a distance, my ears perked up when a scream erupted from inside the camps walls. Without thinking, I dashed through the long yellowed grass and into the camp. To my surprise there were few cats gathered around the nursery. Is Blackwind giving birth? I wondered, trotting my way to the fresh-kill pile to drop my kill.

I approached Crescentmoon, the day-guard, "Is Blackwind having her kits?" I murmured to the black she-cat. She nodded, keeping her wide eyes on the nursery. I assumed Wolftail was in the nursery with Smoketail. Bonekit and Cherrykit were tumbling around Amberthroat as she sat at the back of the camp, play-fighting viciously.

Morningkit had distanced herself away from her rough siblings and mother; her legs were folded under her chest and her ears flat to her golden head. She seemed less than interested in her intense siblings and her far-gone mother.

They were a strange litter... but I was sure it was only because the world was messed up, resulting in the survivors being a tad off.

There was silence by the time I stopped observing the kits. Within a few long, awkward heartbeats Wolftail exited the den with a gleeful expression. I heard a few cats sigh out of relief. "Blackwind gave birth to a she-cat and a tom, both healthy and feeding eagerly," He announced proudly. The Clan cheered for him. I recalled the day that Ivysplash and Whitefeather were born. It was one of the best days I had ever experienced. I would do anything to go back to those days, I sighed to myself, shaking my head.

"What did you name them?" Dawnflower rasped. Wolftail looked over at her and with a cheerful smile, he mewed, "Their names are Brookkit and Spiderkit."

Crescentmoon, Wildstar, Whisperbreeze, and Dawnflower congratulated him and then the deputy quieted everyone down so he could announce the patrols. As she left camp for her duty, I dipped my head to Crescentmoon and then she returned my gesture.

I hurried up to the deputy, told him I was taking a nap but that I would be up for the evening patrols, and then trotted off to the warriors den. There was plenty of leg-space in the den because we only had four warriors, and, frankly, I loved taking advantage of it. What was even better was that I was the only one who could sleep at that time, so I got to stretch myself out as freely as I wished.
***
I woke up to Thornfall carefully prodding my side with his paw. "Come on, you're going with me to check RockClan's border," I nodded, groaned, and then rolled out of my nest. Standing up, I stretched out my back and legs until I felt - and heard - a satisfying pop from my lower spine. By the time I was ready to leave the den, Thornfall had already left to stand by the camp entrance.

The air was just warm enough to let me relax as I trotted over to the young warrior. Thornfall watched me pad up to him and then we headed out. We didn't get much farther than a few paw steps out of the entrance when I tripped over Chippaw. He was alone and looked as if he was in deep thought... not to mention he smelled like smoke and a hint of... something else.

"Chippaw, why are you alone?" I narrowed my eyes at him. He swallowed and murmured, "I was out for a walk." Thornfall gave him a look that said, Are you dumb? "I am pretty sure you left without telling anyone, and it doesn't make it any better that you were alone. Don't be stupid." 

Chippaw nodded eagerly and tried to walk past me. Thornfall practically read my mind, "I think it would be best that you came with us," I nodded in agreement. Chippaw opened his mouth and looked as if he were about to argue, but he then snapped his jaws shut and bowed his head. 

We walked in silence to the RockClan border. 

As soon as we closed in to renew the territory line, Thornfall and I exchanged confused glances. The young tom glared over into the other territory. Chippaw's eyes narrowed to icy slits, and I could tell he, too, smelt it. "Were they in our territory?" Thornfall hissed to no one in particular, gazing around hatefully. A growl crept up my throat. The smell of RockClan was all around us. It was so strong, I could have sworn they were still there. Thornfall and I ran off in different directions to search for any cats waiting to ambush us, but no one was around.

"They must have just left," I spat when Thornfall stopped in front of me. He nodded. My hatred for that awful Clan was growing by the heartbeat. First they kill my son, and now they have the nerve to intrude on our territory? What pigs!

I shook my head with disgust. We all renewed the border and then paused. "Let's go inform Wildstar before they begin to feel free to prowl on our territory..." Thornfall began trotting away and Chippaw and I followed.

It took what seemed to be seasons upon seasons to get back to camp, and when we did, both Thornfall and I immediately hurried over to Wildstar. She was cleaning her chest whilst basking in the newleaf suns' rays. I opened my mouth to politely interrupt her to inform her what was going on, when Thornfall beat me to it. We hadn't of even neared the leader when he spat out what we had found.

"Those stinking RockClan cats were snaking around on our land! We found fresh scent throughout the territory... It was as if they were still there." Wildstar paused mid-lick and listened intently, eyes darkening with each word he had said. The calico leader looked to me. "Is this true, Ghostglow?" I nodded.

She shook her head with disbelief. Wildstar closed her eyes and focused on her thoughts. We gave her time. With her eyes closed, she decided, "If we find fresh scent tomorrow morning or tonight, I will go into their camp myself and demand to know what is going on," Then she finally opened them. "Until then, we leave it be,"