The night was silent like the night before. The moon was full, lighting the twolegplace brighter than any twoleg light. The stars glittered and spread across the sky like a blanket. Crickets were silently chirping their songs in the fields. An owl's "hoo" could be heard from the lonely path Drake was following.

Drake was alone that night, finding his bush again. He took whatever berries he could find and piled them so he could eat easily. They weren't as good as the juicy mouse he ate earlier with... Henry. He felt agony. Drake accused himself for Henry's death. He could have at least helped by fighting with Henry, but he was too stricken with fear to do anything. Anger started to boil in his body as he bashed away the berries and tried to fall asleep. The pain he felt kept him awake until he became drowsier. In his mind the world around him ceased to exist.

Dead trees... Heavy mist... Foreboding darkness... Absence of stars and the moon. Drake opened his eyes to see these things.

Frightful silence... A faint rushing of water... The reeking mud beneath his paws... This is what Drake heard and smelled.

Drake was in the Dark Forest.

"No... no not again." Drake stood up and double took twice, looking for cats again. The trees were dense, just like last time. His heart was beating hard, remembering the cat he found dead last time. He started to run through the dense forest, blinded by the heavy fog. Each turn, he was afraid to run into a cat that could kill him on the spot, and he didn't want to know what would happen if he did get killed here. Please, he thought, just let me find that nice she-cat again.

Finally, he came upon the dirty river again. It flowed slowly, and when Drake looks at it again, he wonders how the other she-cat he met before could even get across that. It was gross and smelled like mouse dung. It clung to his fur as he dipped a paw into it. Drake scanned the trees on the other side of the river, hoping to see the shadow of the she-cat.

That's when he remembered. She was leading him to StarClan! StarClan was supposed to be the haven to good warriors of the Clans. All the cats there were wise. If he got there, maybe he could find out why he was in this star-forbidden forest.

"Oooh, look what I found. Heh heh, it's an interesting tom cat."

Drake froze. He held his breath. He noticed the voice was a tom's and it was coming from right behind him.

"What are you blabbering about now mouse-brain? Who... oh."

Another voice came after the other. A tom's, just like the first, but it sounded deeper. Drake attempted to glance back to see the cats.

One came out of the shade of the dead tree to reveal himself at a big tortoiseshell dark gray cat with a white chest fur. His eyes were a dark yellow and his legs and paws looked powerful. His muzzle was white and his ears were very sharp. He also seemed to be very transparent, for Drake could see the tree clearly behind the cat through his body.  Every step closer to Drake, he felt the ground shake itself. "Well, you were finally right. You have found an interesting cat indeed."

Drake tremored and shook in fear. he whispered, "W-Who are you?"

The gray tom laughed. "You are special to not know me. You're not part of the clans, are you?"

Drake shook his head slowly, trying not to move abruptly. He was too afraid to even reply anymore.

The cat behind the big tom came out and revealed himself. He was a dark-pelted tom like the big one, except he had black stripes going down his back and onto his tail and had blue eyes. He wasn't as transparent either. He smiled at Drake and spoke. "I think this is a loner. Who do you think summoned this pathetic excuse for a cat?"

The big tom looked around the wide expanse of the river. "I've never heard of a loner that could enter the Dark Forest at will. What's your name mouse-brain, or do you even have one?"

Drake didn't know if he should reply, but he guessed if he didn't, they would rip him to shreds. He swallowed and finally answered, "Drake."

"Hmmm... Never heard that name anywhere. Well, what do you think?" The big tom looked at the other cat.

"I think since we still need something to kill. This cat would be perfect prey for me to play with."

Drake almost fainted. He backed towards the river instead.

"No this one is special. He could be useful."

Drake was able to nudge closer and closer to the river while the two toms were distracted. Swimming the unswimmable river was his only chance to try to escape them.

"But it's a fox-dung loner. He might start to tell other cats about this place. What if he stumbles onto our plans with 'you know who'?"

Drake was at the edge of the muddy river. The jump into it was a tail-length down. He was scared at first, but he closed his eyes and held his breath.

"Wait! He's getting away!"

Drake jumped into the river and felt the mud cling to his pelt like heavy burrs. He struggled to keep himself above the water. The current was getting more rapid suddenly and was rushing him down the river. he could barely hear the toms yell at him as he tried not to drown.

"Get him... Mouse-dung... You..."

"I'm not...That mucky water... No..."

Drake kept gasping for air, but the weight was too strong for him. It was as powerful as his old twoleg's grip. I'm going to drown, he thought. Maybe I'll wake up. Or not. Drake wasn't tough enough as he let himself go limp with the current.

"You mouse-brained tom! Open your eyes! Oh come on!" Drake recognized the sound of the nice she-cat. When he opened my eyes, he saw the she-cat breathe a sigh of relief. Her eyes were stern as she asked, "What were you thinking being in that river?"

Drake coughed up water and layed on his side. His gaze drifted to the river, which was narrower than it was before. He must have drifted far with the current, because there were not many trees as there were. He looked at the she-cat again. "I wasn't thinking."

She walked around me and helped me to my paws. She held me up with her shoulder and started to walk forward, "Well, hopefully we'll make it to StarClan this time and you can explain everything."

"Before we get there, can I ask what your name is?" Drake thought now was a good time as any.

"That depends. Can I ask yours first?" She sounded jokeful.

"Drake."

"Ferncloud. Nice to meet you Drake. Let's hurry now."

"There it is Drake, StarClan."

They arrived at the border in no time. The dead trees stopped at the line and were replaced by glorious, life-filled trees. The mist disappeared as it met the light of StarClan. Nothing separated the Dark Forest from StarClan, so any cat could just walk into each one without anything guarding the border. It was just a few fox-lengths away. Ferncloud smiled as she let Drake walk himself.

"Stop right there Ferncloud! Drake is mine!" Suddenly, the gray tom with the black stripes appeared between the dense trees behind and dashed towards them. Ferncloud looked back and without any waiting, she started to run.

"Hurry Drake, hurry!"

For the last and final time, he was not the fastest of his litter. Drake wished he could shout that out now, but he was too exhausted running for his life. The tom behind him must have been twice as fast as Drake and was getting swiftly closer. With a unknown strength, Drake ran so quick, he couldn't focus on where he was going. He just kept speeding up until he finally reached the border and crossed. He stopped just in front of Ferncloud, almost ready to throw up.

The black striped tom didn't pass the line, but stopped and yelled at them. "Ferncloud, he was mine! If he's on Dark Forest territory, he stays on Dark Forest territory!"

Ferncloud walked to the border with a swing in her step. "But he's not from the Dark Forest, is he? He would be a trespasser on your territory then, so you have no call where he can go."

"Don't try to pull one over with me. I know the rules and have been here longer than you!"

Ferncloud chuckled. "Heh, doesn't seem like it."

A new voice broke in. "What's going on here?" Luckily, it didn't come from the Dark Forest, but it was just as scary because it came from right behind Drake. He jumped back towards Ferncloud as she also turned to see the newcomer.

A big dark tabby tom was standing on the path that led deeper into StarClan. Strangely, his jaw was disfigured and looked broken. He stared at all of us. "First, both of you stop bickering like 'paws and be quiet. Next," He stared straight at me with his bright and furious yellow eyes, "tell me why this cat is on our territory."

Ferncloud's pep had evaporated altogether. "Crookedstar, I found this cat. He is a loner who is somehow getting here in his sleep. He's actually alive."

"No, no, no you are not stealing this one." The black striped tom broke in. "He was on Dark Forest territory. He belongs to us."

Crookedstar, as it seemed his name was, walked up to Ferncloud. "Is this true Ferncloud?"

"Yes Crookedstar, but isn't summoning cats here within their dreams against the rules since the last time?" Drake had no idea what any of them were talking about. He only hoped Ferncloud would win the argument.

Crookedstar shifted to the other tom. "This is true. We had a deal Darkstripe. You cannot interact with cats through their dreams, especially loners or kittypets. Who summoned him?"

Darkstripe looked away and closed his eyes. "Well I didn't, and neither did any other Dark Forest cat. He came here on his own, and if he's on Dark Forest territory, we have the right to see what we do with him."

Crookedstar was unmoved as he replied. "I have trouble believing that this cat somehow just appeared in your territory. If it is true that he was on your territory, then you do have the right to judge him how you see fit."

Drake was shaking again. If he went over there again, he'd for sure end up like that other cat he saw. Ferncloud ran and stood in between Drake and Crookedstar, "No, please!"

Darkstripe smiled, his teeth shining with blood lust.

"However, since he is on our territory now, we will decide his fate."

Darkstripe's smile vanished. "What?!"

Ferncloud went to Crookedstar and put her head against his shoulder. "Thank you. We'll find out why he's here, don't worry."

Darkstripe held one paw out towards Drake, claws outstretched. "B-b-but he is mine. I was going to-"

"Stop Darkstripe. It's over." The other big tom came out of the shadows of the dead trees. He didn't look the same as before. He was frustrated, but calm. Angered, but sane. "Let's get out of here. This place reeks of  mouse-brains."

Darkstripe clenched his teeth and walked back into the mist and trees. Crookedstar peered at the big tom as he too went back into the forest.

"Let's go loner. Follow me." Crookedstar walked back on the path into StarClan. Ferncloud came over to Drake and tilted her head in the direction Crookedstar went. Drake followed silently, able to finally relax, for he had finally found somewhere he wouldn't have to worry about getting killed. Hopefully...