Xaviar's P.O.V.

"Aim your paws at his muzzle. No, Clover, at his muzzle!" I yelled, instructing the apprentices to do it right. I turned my head to pay attention to the next group of cats who were practicing. "Good job, Cotton, but actually roll under him, not stalk." I called over and she listened.

"Hey, Killer! Lets see your cats do some fighting moves," Hawk sneered, "Since your so great and all, show us ones you haven't seen here yet," Killer purred and walked into the center of the clearing and dragged Grudge along. I narrowed my eyes at Hawk but he just looked away. "This one I didn't see at all..." Killer mewed, stalking up to Grudge, pouncing on his shoulders and grabbed his neck and placed his paws on his lower back, yanking back on it.

I flicked my tail in interest. "Killer is a good fighter, we could use his skills..." I whispered in my deputy's ear. He twitched his ear in agitation, "I guess, but we can't let them do what they want all the time," he fretted. I rolled my eyes, "I'm not going to let them, Hawk, stop worrying,"

"Keep your head high and keep going!" I yelled, turning my attention to the practice battles in the rocks. My eyes stopped on Sand and Sky who were talking instead of practicing.

I sighed. 'She-cats...'

"Sand! Sky! Let's go, come on!" I yowled, making them jump. "Practice fighting you two!" They dipped their heads and stalked through the maze of boulders.

"Killer's group of loners are making me suspicious, Xaviar." Hawk hissed under his breath, his eyes slits. "I know they are, but we can't let them know any of your suspicions. Just stay normal around them," I whispered, "They aren't even as bad as you think,"

I turned back to the apprentices. "Alright everyone! Practice the flip-onto-their-back trick!" I yelled, standing up to see if everyone was listening.

*****

Xaviar's P.O.V.

We finished the training off with a race to the edge of territory and back. The only apprentices who went the full way and came back were Linger, Jax and Cotton. Linger won, but Jax insists he cheated. They didn't get anything for winning, which Jax was furious about but too bad for him, eh?

"I couldn't blame the rest of them," Hawk had meowed, "That moor and dense undergrowth goes on for a long time. Not to mention the holes, cobwebs and enemy animals that could be anywhere."

Tribe of Jagged Rocks has half of the territory while we have the other half. Their half has a river with fish and a marsh covered in pine trees with frogs, and the mountain the camp is on is all rock. Our half is a long moor with rabbits and dense undergrowth with mice and birds and the mountain out camp is on is rock as well. Our camps are separated by a river that comes from the top of the mountain where we have gatherings.

Hawks' call jolted me from my thoughts. I shook my head and sat up. My stomach was stuffed. With so much territory and the nice warm weather that the Time of Flaming Heat brings, prey was plump and easy to catch.

"Border patrols, come here." Luna, Cloud, Eclipse, Skunk, Thorn and Ash walked up. "Eclipse, take Thorn and Cloud to the Jagged Rocks, in the moor, territory line. Renew the scent markers and check for suspicions." Hawk announced. The three walked out without a word. "Skunk, take Luna and Ash out to the camp-river territory line. Renew the scent markers. Go check the Gathering Pool as well,"

"What about us?" Flame prompted, standing up. "Yeah, we're good at hunting and fighting, too," Death insisted, nodding his head beside Flame. 'What are they? Mates? Siblings?' I wondered, narrowing my eyes in thought.

"Well we don't know your skills quite yet. Which ever your group is best at will determine which you can do best." Moon answered for us both, padding back into camp with tons of leaves for her medicine den. "When will that be settled?" Killer's deep, raspy voice sounded from the front of the crowd. He sat with his tail neatly over his paws. "Tomorrow we can do an assessment for your group of cats and then we'll see what you can do." I replied. "But for now, you can attempt to hunt in the moor for something. I'll send you with one of the patrols to get to know the territory better," Hawk meowed. Killer nodded and Flame sat down.

"Stitch, Raven, Pebble, take out Killer, Flame, Moose, Death, Gorse, Scorch and Grudge to the moor and some of the woods," The three hunters stood up and left, letting the seven cats come to them. Once they were out of sight, I looked over to Hawk. "If anything goes wrong, as in Killer or one of his loners buddies attacks one of our hunters, they're gone." I ordered, eyes slitted. Hawk nodded, "Snowball, Savage, take out Sand and Sunny for their final assessment," The two hunters nodded, taking off. Sunny and Sand ran off to catch up to them.

Standing up I padded toward Moon's den. I stuck my head in and looked around. She was putting the leaves in the big cracks we made when we first found this territory. It took a while to get the cracked rocks to come out but it worked. Moon turned around and blinked at me. "Yes?" she meowed. "Hawk and I have to have a discussion while the camp is quiet," I mewed, pulling my head out of the medicine cat den and gestured with my head for Hawk to come over too.

He obeyed and padded over, a look of concern over his face. Moon padded over and sat down, Hawk, too. "Moon do you believe Killer and his gang of loners are a good idea to let into this Tribe?" I prompted, my tail flicking slightly. "Not really, they make my pelt itch," she growled. "Well, what could go wrong? There are more of us then there are them," I shrugged. Hawk nodded, but I could tell neither were convinced.

"They make me feel like something bad is going to happen," Hawk confessed, "we can't trust them Xaviar, they're loners. Something bad is bound to happen."

"I'm sure nothing is going to happen. We're fine you two," I insisted. Hawk shook his head. "I'm telling you! Something bad is bound to happen any day now." Hawk wasn't going to give up, I could tell. Either he had a dream sent from the Tribe of Glittering Stars, or he just honestly believes what he's saying.

I shook her head in disbelief. "Hawk, we're fine. Nothing bad is going to happen," I insisted. "The Tribe of Glittering Stars would've said something if we were in any danger." Hawk opened his mouth to reply, the fur along his spine rose in frustration. I silenced him with a wave of my tail. "No more." I growled, standing up and heading toward my den. I hopped onto the top of the den and laid down, basking in the sun.

Hawk slumped his shoulders, eyes glazed with annoyance. "Don't worry, Hawk," Moon reassured him, sighing, "If Xaviar thinks it's alright to have them here then it must be true,"

My tail flicked in irritation. 'I am the leader and what I say goes.' Closing my eyes, I let sleep drift me away.

*****

Xaviar's P.O.V.

Luckily, I had no dream what-so-ever. The Tribe of Glittering Stars must agree with what I've choosen.

I sat up and looked down over the camp. I saw Death was growling at Jax, both of them with there fur raised along their spines. I narrowed my eyes to slits and watched them carefully.

"I caught that rabbit Death! Give it up!" Jax sneered, unsheathing his claws. "No way, I got to it first so I get to eat it. Get another rabbit! There's plenty!" Jax growled and leaped at the rabbit, grabbing the rabbits back in his teeth. "Give it! It's mine!" Jax hissed through the rabbits brown fur. "No! It's mine!" Death yelled through the rabbits scruff. They pulled back and forth until Eclipse came by and ripped the rabbit out of their mouths.

"If neither of you will eat it then I will!" She spat, taking it to the other side of camp. My eyes followed her. "Hey! What gives you the right to take it? Death had it first!" Flame snapped. Gorse came over and nodded, "Yeah! Give it up!" He hissed, they both unsheathed their claws.

"Back it up you two," Raven meowed calmly, pushing them back. "This is our Tribe and you'll listen to us," The two apprentices growled loudly and hissed arching their backs. 'What a bunch of evil cats,'

Scorch joined in, growling and shoving his face in Ravens. "Who do you think you are, touching them? They aren't yours to boss around." He hissed, teeth clenched. "Get your stinky face outta my brothers face!" Pebble yelled, shoving Scorch over with his shoulders. Scorch got to his paws and hissed, eyes slitted.

'This will be their test,'

"I recon you get on outta here before someone rips your heart outta your chest." Pebble spat, unsheathing his claws. "Who's going to do it? You?" Scorch teased, a smirk crossing half his face. "Try me."

Pebble leaped at Scorch and bit down on his shoulders. Scorch bucked him off and pinned him down. Jax lunged at Scorch and knocked him off his paws and onto his side. Jax pinned him while Scorch tried to get up.

Death shoved Jax off of Scorch and bit down on his neck. Jax yowled in pain and kicked Death in his hind leg. My eyes darted per to Pebble who jumped onto Scorch's shoulders, making him go face first into the rocky ground. Flame and Gorse yanked Pebble off of Scorch's back and bit down on his neck. Raven ripped Gorse away and clamped his jaws around Flame's neck, throwing her into my den. She laid there for a moment then regained her balance.

Gorse slashed at Raven but Raven dodged them, hitting him in the chest with a heavy blow, sending him staggering backwards.

Death and Jax rolled on the rocky ground until they came to the edge of the camp. My eyes widened, 'Will he do it?' I wondered, leaning forward.

Jax hissed in Death's face, slashing his eye and nose. Death stood on his hind legs and just as he went to roll Jax off, Cotton grabbed his scruff and pulled him back. Dust clouded briefly around the two as they clawed at each other, Jax joining in.

I looked to where Raven and Gorse were fighting, but now Raven was attacking Moose and Gorse was attacking Thorn.

"I think I've seen enough," I murmured to myself, jumping off of my den. "Alright! Break it up! Enough everyone!" I yowled.

Thorn and Gorse turned my way, stopping. Raven and Moose stopped fighting and sat down. Cotton stopped attacking Death but Death and Jax kept fighting.

"Hawk, break those two apart." I demanded. Hawk trotted over to the two apprentices and ripped Jax away. Raven grabbed Death and set him down beside Flame who was laying down, looking dizzy still. "Put me down, put me down!" Jax ordered, legs flailing. Hawk dropped him and Jax took off and sat beside Sky and Clover.

Snowball and Savage padded in with their apprentices just as I went to the top of my den. "All cats old enough to fight gather to hear my words," I yowled. All queens came down, except for Claudia who stayed in the nursery to keep an eye on the kits.

Snowball and Savage hurried over and climbed up beside me. "Did they pass?" I whispered. The two nodded and jumped down again, taking a spot beside the two apprentices. Sand and Squirrel were squirming in their spots, pelts itching with excitement and probably worry as well.

"Death, Flame and Moose, step forward," I ordered and the three hesitated. Gorse, his face covered in dried blood, nudged Moose forward. Moose padded forward and Death and Flame followed. I jumped down in front of the three and spoke up. "These three have shown me how great they are at fighting. Their skills are amazing for such young cats." I announced. "Moose, your mentor will be Stitch," Stitch padded forward and touched noses with Moose.

"Stitch, I believe you'll pass on your great abilities of hunting and your patience with such a young and new cat," He dipped his head and the two sat down in the crowd. "Death, your mentor will be Cloud," Cloud padded forward and touched noses with Death. Death growled low but stopped as Cloud took his nose off his. "Cloud, you are a strong, nice patroller. I think Death will become you when he becomes a full border patroller. Your fighting skills are great and Death's skills will become improved as you teach him," they both went back and sat in the crowd of cats.

"Flame, your mentor will be Ash," Ash came up and touched noses briefly with the ginger cat. "Ash, you are strong and serious with a tint of joking. Flame is not from what I've seen. I know if you two get along, it'll rub off you and she'll become a better patroller then ever," Ash dipped his head and sat down, Flame following soon after.

"Sand, Squirrel, come forward." I demanded. The two almost identical cats came forward and stood in front of me. The only way I can remember whose who is Sand has sandy-yellow eyes while Squirrel has tree-green eyes.

"Sand, Snowball says you have succeeded very well with your final assessment. You've shown me and Snowball that you are a great fighter and your great at stalking. Sand, even though your name will stay the same, your now a full hunter." I touched the top of her head with my nose and she sat back down.

"Squirrel, Savage also says you have succeeded well with your final assessment. You're excellent at stalking too and very good at catching prey. Even though your name won't be changing, you'll still be known as a great hunter." I touched the top of her head with my nose and she sat back down.

"Sand!" "Squirrel!" "Moose!" "Death!" "Flame!" The Tribe cheered the five cats names. The five looked quite happy with themselves.

'More hunters and patrollers, the better. Now Killer's gang can get a bit more respect when Flame, Moose and Death start their training and show Moon and Hawk his gang is fine for our Tribe,'