Xaviar's P.O.V.

I woke up to my den walls. Sun cascaded over my fur and warmed my legs. I stretched and shook out my fur, quickly grooming my fur down for the day. The sun was shining beautifully.

I padded out into the camp and looked around. Owl was basking in the sunlight while Amber and Leopard tussled, play fighting. Claudia's kits, Silver, Stream, Lotus and Storm, tumbled around while Claudia slept beside Thorn. Thorn was watching the four very carefully, making sure none had tried to kill each other. Ocean was watching her two kits roll around, paws flailing. Splash and Goose talked together while their kits chased each other. The apprentices talked too, heads close together.

My head turned towards the entrance, I heard paws scrambling up the trail. Hawk led his patrol into the camp, Stitch, Pebble and Scorch following close behind. "Xaviar!" Hawk called, running up to me. "Cats are coming into our territory! They're acting like the scent markets don't exist! And there are many of them!" I tipped my head to the side and Pebble rushed up. "Its true, Xaviar! There are cats everywhere, they're roamin' around and splitin' up," I ran to the edge of camp where we looked over the territory. I narrowed my eyes and saw cats everywhere.

"Collect all cats on patrol, we need to see what's going on," I ordered, my fur standing on end. The queens and apprentices had their ears perked up in curiosity, looking around. Murmurs drifted through out the camp.

I waited impatiently for Hawk and his patrol to come back from grabbing the patrols, my tail flicking.

Finally, his patrol came back with the rest of the patrollers and hunters that went out on patrol. Claudia and Owl were wide awake now, eyes wide. Owl gathered Amber and Leopard up with her tail and Claudia grabbed Storm and Silver, while Thorn grabbed Lotus and Stream.

"What is it, Xaviar?" Snowball asked, padding up. "Hawk reported that there are many cats taking over our territory. We need to check it out and if needed, attack." I announced, "I will take Hawk down to see what's going on and I'll send him to grab you guys if we need to attack. I'm sure The Tribe of Jagged Rocks will help the attack as well,"

Jax unsheathed his claws and swiped the air. "When I see them I'm gonna shred them!" He growled. Pebble and Raven were growling, their spine spiked up.

"Hawk, lets go see what Jagged Rocks thinks," I meowed, gesturing with my tail for him to follow. "Thorn, Raven, you two are in charge while we are gone," the two well-built cats nodded and stood up straight.

Hawk at my heels, I padded out of the camp through the small hole in the bramble thicket wall we had woven together. I squeezed through and waited for Hawk at the river. We exchanged glances and looked to the river. I padded to the crossing-rocks and hopped over. Hawk followed.

Just as we came over, a patrol of Jagged Rocks patrollers came by. "What are you doing on our territory?" Red sneered, padding forward. Tiger and Night followed, lips curled and claws unsheathed.

"We need Dagger, there are cats taking our territory." I explained, forcing my fur to lie flat. Tiger and Night exchanged glances and Red nodded. "Night, go grab Dagger and Scar," she demanded, keeping her eyes on me and Hawk. Night disappeared and Red and Tiger fell silent, eyes focusing on us. The only thing I could hear was the water rushing by, coming from the Gathering Pool and the river, going down, down, down to somewhere no ones been. "What do you mean, cats taking over our territory?" Tiger growled, tail flicking. "A patrol has spotted cats taking our territories, marking it and moving in. They smell of... Nothing I know of, something I've never smelt before," I replied, ear twitching as the sound of the river was drained as Night came with Dagger and Scar.

"Dagger, Scar, I need your cats to get ready for a battle. Cats are taking over our territory, cats I'm not sure from where..." I explained, standing again. Dagger gave me a questioning look. "Look for yourself! We need your help to try to scare them out of here," Dagger opened his mouth to reply but before he could say anything, Gash rushed over, panting. "There's cats! They're moving into our territory!" She fretted, eyes wide. "Alright Xaviar, I will get my cats ready. We will meet you down in the boulders on your territory." I dipped my head and Dagger and the other cats left while we crossed the river on the crossing-rocks.

I dashed back into camp and went through the camp in a rush, going through the thorn entrance and down the trail, heading through the boulders and into the moor. "Hawk, stay behind in case Jagged Rocks comes down," he nodded and sat on a boulder. I dashed through the moor and halted as I neared the mysterious cats.

The cats turned their heads and started murmuring and the ran to an old black and whit cat with a long tail. He could barely stand when they told him. I halted in front of a bunch of cats, different pelts through our the moor. "You're in my territory," I spat, my claws unsheathing and my fur standing up along my spine. A dark grey cat snorted and stood in front of me, "This is our territory now. Who's gonna stop us from making camp? You?" More cats gathered around, growls getting louder. "I'm only coming to warn you and the rest of the cats that if you don't get up and go, we will cause great destruction to your Tribe," I warned, eyes slitted. The black and white cat walked up, his bones jutting out. "Keep traveling you flea-bags, this territory is taken."

"I understand that this was once your territory, but it is now ours. We cannot travel any farther, my Clan is starving and so is the rest of the Clans. We need a home to stay in and is is now ours. Prey is everywhere and none of us have had any for days. So, please, leave us in peace." A growl left my throat. "Very well. But you won't hear the end of this. Your taking our prey and territory and for that, we will kill your cats. So watch your backs, or feel our wrath." I sneered, turning around and trotting back through the moor, catching a sparrow as I went.

I nodded to the cats that had gathered around the boulders. I handed the sparrow over to Skunk and she ran off back to camp. "They are refusing to leave. I understand they are starving but this is our territory! Not theirs! I have warned them to watch out but I highly doubt they will. Dagger and I will watch them and let them prepare. They are boney and too easy to kill." I explained, my voice ringing through the crowd. "I want a real battle, not a battle with kits. We will attack at night tomorrow, where they will be surprised and hopefully a bit stronger then they will be now," Dagger announced, looking at me and nodding. I nodded back and Dagger set off up to his camp and we left too.

As soon as I walked into camp, I went to my den and climbed to the top. "Tomorrow night, we will battle between these 'Clan' cats and we will win our territory back. Prepare for a big battle tomorrow night. Mentors, take your apprentices and battle train until dusk. We need to be strong for tomorrow even though they won't be any stronger. They looked like skeletons," I announced. The camp was filled with murmurs.

"Tomorrow we will attack. Now go practice your battle skills. Mentors, take your apprentices to a separate place and help them with stalking in the grass and quick attacks. Hawk, take the hunters out and Thorn take the border patrollers out to practice harder ways to attack," I ordered, watching them go. Since I trained myself with Hawk as a hunter, I decided to go out for a hunt. "Stitch, come with me for a hunt. We need to feed the Tribe for the battle." he dipped his head and waited for all the cats to go out before heading out. I glanced at the fresh-kill pile and noticed it was going on empty. The last hunting patrol had brung back almost nothing, telling me that the new-comers must've scared them away.

I caught up with Stitch and we padded silently for a while until we came to the edge of the territory, east of the new-comer's territory we wanted back. "So what do you think of Killer and his gang?" I asked, breaking the silence. He shrugged, "I feel like they could be a great addition to the Tribe, they're great fighters. But my pelt keeps itching when I stare into Killer's eyes. It's like, deep into his eyes there's a secret he's keeping to himself. Like there's something he wants to do or say but will never give away," I tried not to flinch at Stitch's oppinion. 'Am I the only one who thinks they are okay?' I wondered, searching for something to say. I just nodded, tasting the breeze as it blew through my fur and through the on-going territory.

A few loud bangs came from the distance. "Do you think that's where the new-comers came from?" I mewed, flicking my tail to the sun-drown place. Stitch narrowed his eyes and leaned forward. "It could be. They came from the north so that might be it. Maybe Twolegs are doing something to their old home and they were forced to move to here," he shrugged and looked around, ears pricked up to catch any sound.

The only sound I could get was the loud bangs from beyond the sun-drown place.

Stitch stalked away, tail just above the ground and ears flat to his skull. His shoulders moved in silence as his legs drug him forward, his chest hovering off the ground. I tasted the air again; the foul scent of thunderpath washed my tongue. "Definitely Twolegs making all that noise..." I murmured to myself, turning from the territory line and trying to catch the scent of prey.

*****

Xaviar's P.O.V.

I padded back into camp with just a magpie, Stitch carrying a rabbit and a mouse. All I could think of was Killer and his gang and how Stitch described what he thought of them. I ended up loosing a vole because of it.

Stitch and I deposited our prey and went our separate ways. Stitch left to go to the training center while I went to the nursery. Storm and Stream tussled around while Claudia slept peacefully. Ocean watched carefully as Rain and Wave slashed at each other with sheathed claws while Lotus and Skull murmured together, purring in between. Meanwhile, Angel and Silver practiced pouncing. Owl was sprawled across the flat surface of the nursery floor while Leopard and Amber head-butted each other playfully. Splash lifted her head from her paws to look at me, Jayy and Droplet running around her nest.

"Hello, Xaviar," Splash meowed happily. Owl lifted her head and sat up, dipping her head. Claudia opened her eyes briefly and sat up, shaking out her fur. I dipped my head in return of Splash's greeting.

Skull bolted up to me, slipping on the ground and bumping into my leg. "Oof!" he yelped, shaking his fluffy, white head. 'What a kit,' I purred as he stood up. "I want to be just like you Xaviar! I think you're awesome!" he purred, his eyes shimmering with delight. He had always been the one who liked me the most. Everyone thinks he like me more then his own father, Hawk. My whiskers twitched in amusement. "I'll make sure you get to be the deputy some day," I whispered in his ear, stepping over his tiny body and looking around the nursery. All seemed well here.

"Hey, Xaviar!" a tiny squeal came from a small golden and black kit, her sister coming behind her, curiosity shining in their big eyes. I nodded once, sitting down in front of them. "Yes?" I mewed, my voice echoing. "Do you think the new cats are a good idea?" Amber asked, her voice low but I knew everyone else could hear her. "Because we don't think they are. They seem suspicious and sneaky. They're planning something for sure," Leopard whispered and my fur was rising along my haunches and spine. 'First Stitch, now Amber and Leopard?'

"I don't know why everyone is criticizing them when they only just got here," I muttered. Anger was starting to pulse through me, I knew they were only kits but come on. How could they possibly know? They're only kits and I'm sure Stitch is just... unsure. They'll see. "Oh, Amber, Leopard! Don't question Xaviar. He has been right all these moons, and I do not believe he'll be wrong now," Owl scolded, scooting them over to her with her fluffy tail. I nodded once and stood up, padding to the entrance. I've had enough criticizing for one day. "I think Amber and Leopard are right, something's up with them. Killer doesn't seem... right." I heard Claudia whisper harshly so low I barely caught it. I turned my head to look over my shoulder and I glared at Claudia. "I make the decisions, not you. What I believe hasn't always been right, but I will prove to you this choice is right." I snarled through clenched teeth.

I dashed down the trail and stomped through the camp and out the thorn enterance. 'I already have a fight to prepare for and they're making me even more stressed by making me second guess my choice.' I thought to myself, my eyes slitted. I needed to clear my head. Two kits, Claudia and Stitch doesn't think it's a good idea to have Killer and his gang here? I'll show them.

I breathed in slowly and closed my eyes, listening to the birds chirping above and all around. The air smelt like flowers and heather. The wind ruffled my fur a bit and I began to relax more, the warm breeze was calming me.

Loud bangs and crashes jolted me from my thoughts. My fur rose. "Can't I just be in peace for even a few heartbeats more?" I hissed to myself, unsheathing my claws and listening. The sound of crashing and banging came from far away, not close to here but close enough that it disturbed prey and my Tribe. 'Twolegs... maybe that's the reason the Clan cats came here...' I thought, narrowing my eyes. I will make those cats pay for settling into our territory.

Looking around my surroundings, I padded into the moor and stalked through the heather, keeping my tail low and ears flat to my skull. The scent of freshly killed prey bathed my tongue. A growl started to raise in my throat but I forced it down. 'Stupid Clan cats! Hunting on my territory! I'll show them...' My lips curled in a snarl but I forced myself to keep quiet. I stalked closer until I was so close I could almost touch the hunters and patrollers.

I breathed in slowly and calmed myself down, making sure I didn't pounce now. It would be way to easy to just kill them all now. With their ribs and their cheek bones jutting out, no muscle or fat to be seen. They looked like they have been traveling for a while without food. I stalked around the group of cats until I was on the other side of them. Turning around, I quickly stalked away from their group and headed to the part of my territory where it was all trees and undergrowth.

I halted and gulped down a gasp as I saw another group of cats. Probably more then the other one in the moor and they seemed more healthier then the moor-cats. My breathing picked up faster as I realized I was giving these cats more time to eat and settle in when I could be killing them and forcing them out... Jagged Rocks needs to check out their territory too, there might be more of them there then there was here!

Rushing away from the undergrowth I heard the tree-cats yowling behind me and I forced myself not to look back. I stalked around the moor-cats and rushed away and out of the moor.

We must attack these cats before it's too late. They're getting stronger and we must act now before we give them too much time to practice and settle. I was gasping for air by the time I entered the camp again. I rushed out of camp through the small hole that led to the river that kept Jagged Rocks from Rotting Skulls.

I bolted to the river and skidded to a halt just at the waters edge, almost falling in. I balanced myself and in one leap, I was at the crossing-stones. Hopping from one to the other, I crosse easily and headed into Jagged Rocks territory. The ground was sharper then I thought, rocks stabbing my pads and threatening to pierce through. I looked around. I had no sweet clue where the camp would be. I ran ahead and darted back and forth until finally, I bumped into a patrol.

They growled threateningly and I forced my fur flat, calming myself. "I checked our territory on the moor and where the trees are. The moor-cats aren't healthy but I saw that the tree-cats are healthy and looking strong. I think it is best for us to fight tonight." I explained, my voice steady and calm. The patrollers exchanged glances. "What if this is a trick?" Snow growled. I shook my head, "It isn't, check your territory by the other river and the marsh. There will be strong cats there, and probably more then the moor-cats." I insisted, practically begging for them to get Dagger to help us destroy the Clan cats.

"We will tell Dagger and get back to you," Red sneered, lip curled and a growl raising in his throat. I dipped my head in thanks and ran off, toward the river again.

'We must be ready for this. Two Tribes, three healthy and strong groups of cats and one beaten and not-so-healthy group of cats. If we aren't prepared, something will go wrong for sure...' I told myself in my head as I made my way across the crossing-stones. 'We have to beat them and get our territories back. We had them first and I will not let some traveling flea-bags take it away.' I crossed the river on the crossing-stones and sat there, waiting for them to come back.

*****

Xaviar's P.O.V.

I was practially asleep by the time I heard paws running on stone toward the river. I shook out my fur and stood beside the river, waiting for them to come. Dagger, Snow and Red padded to the river. "We have decided to come with you to beat these 'Clan' cats. I saw the amount of cats there and we will grab our hunters and patrollers to help your Tribe." Dagger announced, "When the darkness is black and the moon is up, we will meet you in the river-territory," I nodded. "I will bring my cats to help you get your territories as well. Thank you," He dipped his head and I padded away, back into camp.

I hopped onto my den and gathered the cats once again. "When the moon is up fully and the world around us is pitch black, we will meet up with The Tribe of Jagged Rocks to destroy these Clan cats. They won't be able to get us out of their heads when they move on. We will darken their dreams and drown them in their own blood." Teeth and claws glinted as the cats below me unsheathed their claws and smiled evily. "We won't let them get away with being in our territory any longer!" The cats chanted, "Kill! Kill! Kill!" And I smiled, feeling great as Killer and the rest of them exchanged glances. 'They'll see how strong we are and if they dare try anything, like Hawk and Moon are worried about, they won't have a chance.'