A/N: Just a little FYI: there are going to be changes. Frostpaw will be the main character throughout this book, and in the next one, it might be one of her brothers or a character from Oaksong and Sandstorm's litter; I'm not sure yet. Anyway, the point of view won't be changing as much anymore. Just wanted to keep you all updated!  

— Angel

The next morning, Frostpaw was carefully moving around the elder's den, brushing through the thick fur of the elder cats with her claws to help them dislodge any pesky ticks. The sun was high in the sky, casting a warm light over the camp as she worked diligently. It was a quiet day for her, with no training sessions to attend, just the simple task of keeping the clan's elders comfortable and clean. She didn't mind the work; in fact, it gave her a peaceful moment to reflect.

Her task was interrupted when her brother Ashpaw trotted into the den, his eyes bright and a mischievous glint in them. "Hey, Frostpaw," he called out with a grin, his fluffy tail flicking behind him. "Oaksong asked after us. He and Snowdrop want to take us out around the territory."

Frostpaw paused, her brow furrowing as she looked up from the elder she had been tending to. "Again?" she grumbled, her voice dripping with a touch of frustration. She'd already seen the territory several times, so the idea of doing it once more seemed redundant to her. But then, she caught herself. It wasn't a bad idea to revisit it. Maybe it would help with her training or provide some quiet time away from camp.

"Come on, Frostpaw, it'll be fun," Ashpaw urged, flicking his tail excitedly. "We can always use the practice, and I know you're eager to get out of the camp for a while."

Frostpaw hesitated for a moment longer, but then sighed and nodded in agreement. "Fine, fine. But I'm coming back to finish my duties with the elders, okay?" she said with a roll of her eyes.

Longtail, one of the elders she'd been tending to, chuckled from his spot in the den. "Ah, don't worry about me, dear," he rasped, his old eyes twinkling with amusement. He gave her a gentle nudge with his tail as if urging her on. "Go along, Frostpaw. You've worked hard enough today. We'll be fine here."

Frostpaw smiled, grateful for the reassurance. "Thanks, Longtail," she replied softly, before standing and stretching her legs.

As she turned to follow Ashpaw out of the den, she glanced back at the elders, who were now settling comfortably in the warmth of the sun. She felt a sense of peace knowing they were well taken care of, and now it was time to head out for a bit of adventure, however unnecessary it seemed.

Ashpaw led the way, and Frostpaw quickly caught up with him, the fresh air of the forest filling her lungs as they made their way out of camp. She wasn't sure what Oaksong and Snowdrop had planned for them, but she knew one thing—it was better than being stuck inside, scrubbing ticks from old fur.

As they padded through the underbrush, Ashpaw chattered on, asking about training and teasing Frostpaw about her "grumpiness" that morning. Frostpaw couldn't help but smile at her brother's unrelenting enthusiasm, even though she didn't always share it.

When they finally reached Oaksong and Snowdrop, Frostpaw noticed how their uncle was standing tall and proud, his dark tabby fur blending into the shadows of the trees, while Snowdrop's white coat gleamed in the sunlight. Both were watching them intently as they approached.

"Ready for the tour?" Oaksong asked, his deep voice full of warmth and authority.

"Yeah," Frostpaw replied, rolling her eyes playfully at Ashpaw, who was practically bouncing on his paws, excited to get going.

"Great," Snowdrop purred, his blue eyes twinkling. "Let's get moving then."

Frostpaw felt a familiar sense of peace settle in her chest as she followed her family out into the territory. Even if she'd seen it a hundred times before, something about being out in the open, the forest stretching around her, always made her feel connected to the clan, to everything she was training for.

And as the sun beamed down, the forest full of life and quiet whispers, Frostpaw couldn't help but feel a spark of excitement. There was something more to this journey than just another patrol, and she was ready to find out what that something was.

SCENEBREAK

"Now, I want you two to be careful," Snowdrop warned, his voice low and serious as he brushed his tail along his daughter's spines. "Stay close and keep your wits about you."

Ashpaw nodded enthusiastically, his eyes sparkling with determination. "We will, Father."

Frostpaw, however, felt a flicker of unease. The wind carried with it a strange scent, one that set her fur on end. She tilted her head slightly, sniffing the air as they padded along the worn path. The familiar scent of the moors was sharp and fresh, but beneath it, something lingered. It wasn't quite right.

"Do you smell that?" Frostpaw asked, her nose twitching.

Ashpaw stopped in his tracks and sniffed the air, too. "It's strange," he muttered, his tail flicking with curiosity. "I don't recognize it."

Frostpaw's fur prickled as she breathed in deeply. The scent had a familiar tang, something almost... metallic. "It smells like... Harestar," she murmured, her head tilting as she took another long sniff. But no, it wasn't exactly the same. There was something else, something darker.

"Do you think Harestar did this?" she asked, her voice tinged with uncertainty.

Oaksong, who had been walking ahead, stopped and turned toward them. He was silent for a long moment, his piercing blue eyes narrowing as he too took in the scent. "No," he said slowly, shaking his head. "This... this isn't Harestar's scent. But it's close."

Frostpaw felt a shiver run down her spine at the uncertainty in her uncle's voice. "What do you mean?"

"It has the faint scent of dragons," Oaksong explained, his voice low, his tail lashing slightly. "But it's not Harestar. It's something... else. Something unfamiliar. We need to be careful."

Ashpaw's eyes widened. "Dragons?" he echoed in disbelief. "But we haven't had dragons around here for moons. Are you sure?"

Oaksong nodded grimly, his gaze sweeping over the dense underbrush. "I'm sure," he said, his voice hardening. "But whether it's the same dragons we've dealt with in the past, or something worse, we'll need to stay alert. We can't risk any surprises."

Frostpaw's heart raced as she followed Oaksong's gaze into the shadows of the trees. The world around her, so peaceful just moments ago, now felt heavy and oppressive. She could still smell it—dragons, and something else, something that felt like a shadow creeping over the land.

"Let's move out," Oaksong ordered, his voice steady but firm. "Keep your senses sharp. And stay close."

With that, they continued on, but Frostpaw couldn't shake the feeling that something far more dangerous than a mere patrol was looming on the horizon. Something that might change everything.

As they moved forward, the strange scent of dragons grew stronger, lacing the air around them like a thick fog. The peaceful moors, once a place of comfort and familiarity, now felt like a vast, unknown land. And in the back of Frostpaw's mind, a single thought echoed louder than the others: Something is coming.