"Rainstar, I think they're in trouble. They always keep their borders marked." Dawnberry paced around Rainstar's den, tail lashing as her thoughts raced. "Maybe they were attacked, or they're running out of prey."

Rainstar looked at Dawnberry, clearly unconcerned. "Sit down, Dawnberry. You've been pacing this entire time. Frankly, it's making me dizzy." He stared at her until she sat, wrapping her tail around her paws tightly. "MudClan is our most laid-back neighbor. You know that sometimes they forget to mark their borders," he reminded her gently.

The cream deputy dragged her claws on the ground with frustration. "But, Rainstar..." she trailed off, unsure of where she was going with this. All she knew was that she had a gut feeling that MudClan was in trouble.

Rainstar sighed. "Alright," he relented. "Tomorrow you can lead a patrol to the border. You must not cross into their territory, understand?" the tom asked, his amber gaze piercing her.

Dawnberry leaped up and nodded vigorously. "Yes, Rainstar! Thank you!" She trotted out of the den, tail and head high, already wondering who she was going to take. Not Honeystrike. He would want to stay with Acornpaw. Maybe Kestrelpaw and Toadstorm. The she-cat nodded to herself. Toadstorm was a good fighter, and Kestrelpaw needed the experience. Let's see...Who else do I want? After a moment of thinking, a name popped into her head. Wrenfeather. He was level-headed, especially in stressful situations. He would try to be peaceful instead of jumping into a fight. Dawnberry fought back a smile as she thought of spending time with Wrenfeather, even if only for a patrol.

After notifying her patrol of their mission, the cream she-cat padded towards the fully stocked fresh-kill pile, meowing a greeting to the warriors gathered there as she grabbed a plump mouse. Dawnberry carried the prey over to the large pile of moss-covered rocks that served as the warrior's den. The she-cat bounded to the top easily and sat down, the mouse tucked between her paws. She didn't want to eat just yet, instead preferring to observe the Clan.

The stars above twinkled as the Clan settled down to eat. Earlier that day, Dawnberry had taken all of the apprentices, save for Acornpaw, out hunting. Kestrelpaw had been feeling better and he needed to do some duties before the day ended. The three toms had done well and now the Clan was feasting. It was a good end to the day. However, Acornpaw was still unconscious in the medicine den. Her condition hung a dark shadow over the Clan, even as they thanked the apprentices for their food. Acornpaw was well liked, due to her passion for helping. Everyday after training, she tended to the elders. She brought them food and water, and checked them for ticks. Honeystrike was so proud of her.

A huffing sound shook Dawnberry out of her thoughts. Turning, she saw a black she-cat. "Hello, Juniperflame," she purred.

The black queen dragged her heavy body onto the rock the deputy was perched on. She sat on it with a grunt. "Hello, Dawnberry. How are you?"

"I'm well," she replied. The cream tabby sent a pointed glance at Juniperflame's very pregnant belly and pushed her mouse in front of her friend. "How are you? The kits are bound to be due soon. Are you getting enough to eat? Drink?"

She shrugged and leaned down to take a bite of the mouse. "Thank you, and I'm fine. The kits are fine. I'm getting enough to eat and drink, and I'm getting enough rest as well." She flashed a glance at Dawnberry and chuckled. "You're about as worried about me as Honeystrike. You don't know how many times he's asked me those same questions."

Dawnberry smiled softly at her. "There are a lot of cats that care about you," she reminded her.

Juniperflame nodded, but she didn't look convinced. Her gaze turned to the chatty, relaxed Clan below. She looked like she had something on her mind. "I'm worried," Juniperflame meowed suddenly, not turning to look at the deputy.

Dawnberry felt a pang of fear. "About what?" she asked gently, trying to keep her voice neutral. She didn't want to give anything away about the upcoming patrol.

Juniperflame looked at Dawnberry. "Something's coming," she whispered, her eyes fixed on Dawnberry's.

The cream deputy looked away, a prickle of uneasiness worming through her. "Everything will be fine," she promised, meeting the queen's green eyes.

"I hope so," Juniperflame murmured as she wrapped her tail around her stomach protectively.

/~/

It was dawn. The sun was just rising above the trees and it's warm rays were trickling into camp. Dawnberry was sitting at the entrance, fidgeting impatiently. Kestrelpaw was sitting next to her, twisting around to groom the base of his tail.

A tuft of moss was stuck to his head, which the tom hadn't noticed. Dawnberry reached over and gently plucked it off.

The tom looked up at her with huge amber eyes. "Thanks, Dawnberry!" he chirped.

He sounded like a kit again and a rush of affection swept through Dawnberry. When his parents died in a battle against BreezeClan, Dawnberry had taken it upon herself to raise Acornpaw and Kestrelpaw, then Acornkit and Kestrelkit.

A cough shook the deputy out of her thoughts. She looked up to see Wrenfeather standing in front of her.

"Are you alright?" he asked quietly, his amber gaze sparking with concern.

Dawnberry nodded. "Yeah, I'm fine." She stood up and looked at the patrol. Toadstorm had arrived as well and was talking to Kestrelpaw. Clearing her throat, she stepped forward. "Are we all ready?" she asked, gazing at each member in turn.

The cats nodded and Dawnberry spun around, taking the lead as she padded out of camp. Wrenfeather walked beside her, his ears pricked. Behind them, Toadstorm and Kestrelpaw chatted quietly.

A breath brushed the she-cat's ear and she shivered, seeing Wrenfeather bent close to her out of the corner of her eye.

"What's this really about?" he murmured, his features gentle as Dawnberry turned her head to look at him.

The cream she-cat sighed. "I'm not sure," she confessed. "I just know that something is wrong with MudClan and they may need our help."

Wrenfeather was silent for a few moments and Dawnberry was afraid that he was going to reject her theory. "I trust you. If you think something is wrong, it's worth checking out," he finally meowed.

Dawnberry heaved a sigh of relief. "Thank StarClan," she meowed. She glanced at him. "Honestly, I don't even think I believe myself," she confessed. "What if I'm wrong and MudClan was just being lazy again, like Rainstar said?"

Wrenfeather snorted. "I highly doubt that. You're the best deputy we've had since Bramblepath." A shadow crossed his features at the thought of his dead mentor.

Dawnberry nuzzled his shoulder, attempting to comfort him. "I don't think so. For being a barn cat, she was formidable in battle and could keep everyone in line." She let out a mrrow of laughter. "I think even Rainstar was afraid of getting on her bad side."

Wrenfeather just stared into the trees and he was silent for a very long time.

The forest was eerily quiet when they reached the MudClan border and Dawnberry shivered. Toadstorm was the first to break the silence.

"Well, if this doesn't scream trouble, I don't know what does."

Dawnberry flicked her tail to the right. "Wrenfeather, Toadstorm, you go that way. Kestrelpaw and I will go this way." She jerked her chin to the left. "Meet back here with anything you find."

The cats nodded and went their separate ways. As Dawnberry and Kestrelpaw padded along the border, the deputy realized that she couldn't smell the border markers. She frowned. MudClan should've refreshed their borders by now. Something must be really wrong.

Surprised screeches reached the wary pair's ears and Kestrelpaw dashed off, Dawnberry in close pursuit. When they reached the source of the sounds, they skidded to a stop.

Toadstorm was being held down by an apprentice-sized cat. Her muscles rippled under her gleaming fur, and her long claws pricked at the warrior's neck. Behind her, three larger cats surrounded Wrenfeather.

A dark ginger tom bared his teeth at Toadstorm. "You let yourself be beat by an apprentice? The Clans these days are pathetic," he snarled.

Dawnberry jerked to attention. "What did you say?" she hissed, surprised. She glanced at Wrenfeather to make sure he was okay. Blood dripped down his face from a shallow scratch on his forehead and his fur was ruffled, but he looked alright.

The tom took a few steps towards Dawnberry. "Really?" he growled. "It hasn't even been that long, and you already forgot about us? About me?" his voice cracked, but then his eyes lit up with a crazed glow. His gaze flickered to her shoulder, where a large scar spread across it. "The last time I saw you, I gave you that scar. You never thought a puny apprentice like me could fight you and win. But I did." He took a step closer, now nose to nose with the deputy. "You turned tail and ran, yowling for your mother like an abandoned kit." The ginger warrior let out a loud cackle.

Dawnberry's eyes widened in horror and she stumbled back. She saw Wrenfeather, whose glare told her that he also knew who these cats were. "We drove you out," she choked. Her mind flashed with bloody images of the battle that had ensued. It was the same battle that had killed her father and many other good warriors. Her gaze focused again, and she realized that she could not appear weak. Toadstorm and Kestrelpaw didn't need to know that this threat was so great that even she was afraid. She glared at the tom, who she had known as Redpaw. "What are you doing here?" she growled.

Redpaw opened his mouth to respond when Toadstorm screeched.

"Get off me, you piece of fox-dung!" Her throat was bleeding slightly.

The ginger tom sighed. "Let her go, Gravelpaw."

The apprentice got off of the spotted warrior and shook her short grey-and-black fur before stepping back to stand beside Redpaw.

"Good fighting, Gravelpaw."

"Thanks, Redripple!" The young apprentice beamed with pride.

Dawnberry twitched her tail in surprise. Redpaw gaining a warrior name and having an apprentice confirmed her worst fears. "DarkClan is still alive?" she whispered in disbelief. Her heart seemed to stop and she felt like collapsing. She didn't recognize the other warriors in the patrol, so the exiled Clan must be strong if they had new members.

A lump formed in her throat as panic began to overtake her. DarkClan was a force to be reckoned with, and they were the cause of many of her issues today. Many cats in her Clan still showed the effects of the trauma they had to undergo when the murderous Clan ruled the forest.

A warm pelt pressed against her side, supporting her. She glanced over to see Wrenfeather standing strongly beside her. The deputy stood taller, glaring at Redripple. "We'll drive you out just like last time. The Clans are stronger now. We won't bend to your rule again," she spat.

Redripple chuckled darkly. "We'll see about that," he replied, his voice as smooth as honey. He stared at Dawnberry, something changing in his gaze. "You'll be seeing me soon," he growled before whipping around and bounding back into MudClan's territory, his patrol following.

Dawnberry blinked a few times, staring into the forest where they disappeared. Her legs began to shake and she allowed herself to collapse. At this point, she didn't care what Kestrelpaw and Toadstorm thought. They should be scared.

They should all be scared.

"We need to tell Rainstar," the cream deputy whispered. He won't be happy. No, he'll be furious. And afraid. Will we be able to protect the forest again? We should be able to, but we don't know how many members DarkClan has. We're already down one Clan since they already took over MudClan. If they continue to spread like this, conquering territories, who will be left?

Will the Clans be wiped out? Will the forest only know bloodshed?

Will anyone survive?