Dawnwing had left the underground den to give Moonshadow and Stardust some privacy, she decided to go out and hunt. It's about time Moonshadow let's go of the past and tells Stardust everything; she deserves to know, Dawnwing thought.

Finding her way through the dark tunnels, past glowing fungus and other tunnel pathways which were unfinished, she climbed out of the tunnels through the hole under the thorny bushes. She listened for the sounds of prey and heard a rustling of ferns as a mouse crept through the undergrowth. Silently, Dawnwing hid behind the ferns and followed the mouse, sticking to the shadows for camouflage. The mouse had found a nut and was busy cracking the nutshell open, unaware of Dawnwing behind it. Dawnwing darted forward and grabbed the mouse, killing it quickly with a nip to it's neck. She scouted around some trees and soon caught another mouse.

Picking up her prey ready to take back to the underground den for Moonshadow and Stardust, Dawnwing heard strange voices.

"That owl and the kitten have been around this area quite recently."

"Are you sure?" Growled a menacing voice. "Listen Ravenfrost, we have been going round in circles since dawn when the boss sent us out, if we are not back by sunset, we're going to get the boss's favourite punishment; just like Darkmoon and Voleclaw."

"No! Just give me more time, I will track them down... Wait a minute... I think I found their scent!" There was a lot of sniffling and snuffling noises in front of Dawnwing. Creeping behind some bushes, she hid and peeked through the foliage; a huge black wolf stood in front of a smaller grey wolf. A white barn owl trailed behind them. Icefeather! Dawnwing bristled, I always knew she was not to be trusted.

"Icefeather, what do you think?"

"I'll listen out for sounds, my hearing is sharper than yours. You two can scent for them." Icefeather replied coolly.

I need to warn Moonshadow and Stardust before we all get found out, Dawnwing thought desperately, but those wolves are standing right in front of the tunnel entrance, I remember that I had dug an emergency exit somewhere. Dawnwing thought quickly. Yes, I remember now. The exit is near some brambles, I'll need to get past those wolves and Icefeather to reach the brambles. She tossed the mice that she had caught behind her and darted. The mice landed in some ferns and the ferns rustled loudly.

"There's something over there!" One of the wolves barked. The two wolves raced towards the ferns, believing that they had found what they were looking for. But Icefeather didn't follow the wolves; she had heard Dawnwing dart away behind her and followed her in pursuit.

Dawnwing dashed madly through the undergrowth, cracking twigs and rustling leaves of bushes as she brushed past them. She could see the brambles ahead. She was nearly there. She crashed through a tiny opening through the brambles and tumbled down the tunnel entrance. She quickly got up and ran. Using her hearing to sense where Moonshadow and Stardust were, she picked up Moonshadow's hoot and Stardust's questioning mew coming from her treasure cave. Dawnwing swiftly turned and exploded into the Treasure cave.

"The scarred wolf is here!" Dawnwing burst out.

"The scarred wolf!" Moonshadow exclaimed in shock.

"Not the wolf himself but his followers; two wolves and you know who." Dawnwing hooted quietly. There was the noise of someone rushing through the tunnels; talons scraping on the tunnel floor, cursing as She got lost.

"I think someone's following us. Quick, follow me!" Dawnwing hooted. She darted back out of the cave and into the tunnels with Stardust following swiftly behind and Moonshadow keeping an eye behind them. They rushed through the tunnels as fast as they could; their pursuer was still keeping up with them. Wow, if she can still catch up with us, she's got really sharp hearing. Dawnwing thought with fear. Soon, there was light up ahead of them. The tunnel sloped upwards and the two owls and cat climbed. Dawnwing listened for any sign of danger above them; there was the rustle of prey and a starling chattered, there was no sound of danger. Cautiously, Dawnwing climbed higher and peeked under the thorny bushes. The wolves had disappeared but she could still hear their voices nearby.

"You idiot! We're looking for fugitives, not dead mice," A voice snarled.

"Well, where's Icefeather?"

"How should I know?"

"Stop blaming me and start being helpful!" a voice complained.

While the wolves were busy accusing each other, Dawnwing crawled out from under the bushes and whispered; "quick, let's get away from here." She stood away from the hole and kept watching for danger as Moonshadow and Stardust climbed out. Then they all fled through the undergrowth towards the west.

***

The sun was setting, and clouds scudded across the pale yellow sky.

The thorny bushes rustled as Icefeather shoved past the thorns. Ignoring the pain, she stood up and looked above at the sky. It was sunset, there was no point in going back to her boss; what would she say to him anyways? I'm not going back yet, not without a prisoner to take home, she thought, if I return now, I would get the boss's favourite punishment like those dumb wolves.

She beat her wings and flew through the birch forest, searching for a creature. Soon, she spotted a small grey pelt beneath her. Icefeather swooped down on the creature, talons ready to grab it. It was a squirrel nibbling on a acorn, it shrieked when Icefeather grasped it firmly with her talons and it struggled feebly in her grip.

"Let me go!" It squealed.

"Keep quiet or I'll make you." Icefeather threatened.

"Put my child down right now!" a furious shriek sounded from below.

Looking down, Icefeather saw a fully grown grey squirrel beneath her. Quickly, she turned tail and flew away towards a shadowy pine forest.