"No!" Stagwind screeched. "Leafnose!" Leafnose was lying motionless on the ground, blood flowing freely out of her wounds.

Goldenfeather shouldered past Brownstripe to drag Leafnose's body to safety. The dogs growled and snapped at Brownstripe's tail.

Stormleaf rushed to help. Icetail pounced onto a dog, yowling furiously. He managed to make the dog leave the nursery but it flung him towards Highledge.

Webfoot and Frostleaf fought the dog closest to the nursery. It backed off but attempted to tear Webfoot's flank.

Redfur appeared with Appleshade and together, they threw the dog off balance. Brownstripe tore at its exposed belly.

Suddenly, the other dog appeared and bit the nearest cat, which is Redfur, and flung him off the injured dog.

Patchheart snared and ripped its belly. The dog gave a yowl of pain and limped away in fear. There was only one dog left in camp.

Nightstar gave a vicious bite on the dog's neck that sent the dog howling after the other dog. The skirmish was over.

Frostleaf was gasping for breath as Stagwind hurried to treat their injured clanmates. Grassheart's voice broke the slience. "Redfur!"

Stagwind ran to Redfur's body. Fireclaw and Stormleaf ran to their kit. Stagwind tried to stop the blood from flowing out with cobwebs but Redfur's breathing stopped.

"My kit!" Stormleaf yowled.

Stagwind dipped her head in defeat. "There was too much blood."

Goldenfeather stared at her dead littermate in horror.

Grassheart whispered, "He's dead, isn't he?"

Fireclaw gave a yowl of grief, "He could have lived longer with a mate! He was too young to die! Why didn't StarClan help him?"

"Yes," Frostleaf replied hoarsely.

Nightstar suddenly appeared and mewed in shock, "Two deaths? Trouble is truly coming!"

~~~~

The elders carried their fallen clanmates to the burial place. Fireclaw and Stormleaf followed.

Nightstar gathered the Clan and announced, "This attack is too vicious. I can't believe that two dogs would take the life of two of our Clanmates."

"Maybe it is a sign from StarClan," Ashwhisker rasped. "That some things are supposed to never happen."

"That may not be from StarClan," Nightstar sighed with a look at the elder. "But I will step up the patrols. Brownstripe, please organise the patrols."

Brownstripe nodded as Stagwind came to Frostleaf's side to treat her injuries.

"Stagwind, I want to talk to you," Nightstar mewed. "We need to discuss this. Brownstripe, you too."

"Yes, Nightstar," she replied.

"Come and see me if your wound gets worse," Stagwind instructed, finishing treating her. Frostleaf nodded and headed for the freshkill pile.

As she took a bite from a vole, she saw Goldenfeather and Grassheart talking to each other. When Grassheart went for a patrol, Frostleaf sat next to Goldenfeather.

"So, how's the prey running?" she asked mischievously.

Goldenfeather flattened her ears in embarrassment and sputtered, "What do you mean?"

"You and Grassheart of course!" Frostleaf replied. Goldenfeather blinked and said, "He's so nice. I really like him."

"Good luck then," Frostleaf said, giving a friendly cuff on her ear.

"Brownstripe tells you to lead a patrol near Sunningrocks with me and Longdrop," Specklebreeze mewed to her.

"I have to go now," Frostleaf mewed quickly to Goldenfeather. She rushed to the camp entrance where Longdrop was waiting.