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Photo of Waterfly.

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Storm's P.O.V:

They padded into the den where Storm was staying and settled down. The grey tom smiled at Storm with kind eyes, "Is your nest comfortable?"

Storm nodded, speechless. How could this tom be so nice to him when he was an intruder?! His mind wondered to Cloud after that. Poor Cloud. Storm hoped he was ok.

Then the blue-grey she cat and the brown tom emerged from further in the den carrying cobwebs and a herb. The she cat set the herbs down and carefully examined Storm's bleeding cheek. She mumbled something to herself and applied the herbs to his cheek. Storm hissed as the wound stung and the brown tom lay his tail on Storm's shoulder in a comforting way that helped him calm down.

"All done." She blue she cat meowed after she placed the cobwebs on his cheek and sat back. "Feeling better?"

Storm didn't say anything but nodded slowly. Then a long haired tom appeared with a shrew in his mouth. He placed in on the ground and hurriedly exited the den.

Storm was extremely confused as to why these cats were now helping him. Wouldn't they toss him somewhere alone and then kill him when they grew tired of him? At least... that's what he'd been told the Wild cats of the forest did. Maybe they were fattening him up just to raise his hopes and then squash them by killing him. He shivered at the thoughts.

Then the silver she cat padded inside the den. Her expression was unreadable though her movements were skittish and Storm knew she was uneasy when she was around him.

The silver cat sat down beside the grey tom and the blue she cat. The brown tom left the den for some unknown reason.

After a few heartbeats of awkward silence, the silver cat spoke up. "My name is Silverstar. This is Clearlight, " she motioned to the tom with her tail, "and Waterfly," she pointed her tail to the blue-grey she cat. "First of all, let's get this straight. Do not try anything mouse-brained or you will end up getting hurt."

Waterfly nodded, "Yes. We have abilities that no rogue could ever imagine." She lifted her paw as if she were to show something off but Silverstar swatted her paw down with a stern look.

"Not yet." Silverstar whispered to Waterfly. Storm narrowed his eyes. What were they hiding? Then Silverstar turned back to Storm, "Now let's start with something simple. Why were you trespassing?"

Storm twitched his whiskers. He actually didn't have a reason for trespassing. So he decided to make one up, "I was being chased by a fox and didn't realise I had entered your territory." He resisted the urge to smile at how smoothly he lied.

Clearlight narrowed his eyes to slits, "The truth, please."

Storm stared at the grey tom in surprise. "How did you know I was lying?"

"I could see it in your eyes. If you're going to lie, make sure you eyes don't betray you." Clearlight smirked softly before he lost all emotion again. "Tell us why you were in our territory." He repeated.

Storm sighed, "I don't know.. I guess I wasn't paying attention?" He sounded more like he was asking a question than answering one but it really was the truth.

This time Clearlight nodded. "Ok." He glanced at Silverstar as if silently asking her what to ask next.

Silverstar watched Storm carefully and he squirmed under her gaze. "If you weren't paying attention.. then what were you thinking about?"

Storm felt his fur lift on his spine, "That's classified information!!" He stood up, his anger spilling over again.

Silverstar rose to her paws and met Storm nose to nose. She towered above him. Sometimes Storm hated being only 12 moons.

Clearlight and Waterfly stared, still sitting, as Silverstar unsheathed her claws. Storm echoed her movements and let out a growl. The silver leader stared at Storm, "Tell me."

Storm shook his head, "What good will it do for you?" He voice was unusually dangerous.

Before Silverstar could answer his question, a yowl was heard. Then a battle screech broke out from outside the den. Everyone padded quickly out into the open and Storm gasped in horror when he saw a white and grey tom fighting with one of the Wild cats. It was Fernpelt from the patrol. "Cloud!" He breathed and leapt to his side, pushed Fernpelt off his mentor and stood over him.

"What are you doing here?" He whispered with wide eyes, "You'll get yourself killed!!"

Cloud rolled his eyes, "I followed your scent into the forest and knew I had to rescue you." He stood up beside Storm and glared at the cats that were now closing in on the two rogues.

Storm bared his teeth at the long haired tom who brought brought him the shrew earlier.

Storm whispered to Cloud, "We won't win this fight... Let's flee."

"No." Cloud hissed stubbornly. Then his expression softened slightly, "You go ahead. I'll fight them off long enough for you to escape. I can feel it in my mind.. It's time." He got into a fighting stance, "I'll miss you, Storm. Good luck."

"No!" Storm pushed his muzzle briefly into Cloud's shoulder, "Don't die now.."

Cloud took a deep breath, "You can't change fate." Then he gave Storm a quick shove and leapt onto one of the cats. Immediately, cats piled on Cloud.

Storm yowled, "Cloud no!!" And dived into the fight. Teeth and claws ripped at his pelt but he only had one thing on his mind: Save Cloud.