GroveClan Camp:

Grovestar approached Silverstep. "Is Turquoise ready to join the Clan?" she asked.

Silverstep was grooming herself, and gave her leader a brief glance. She continued to groom herself as she replied, "She is. I can be quite... persuasive. However, there is also the option of using her as a spy within The Children of Ember."

"That is a good idea, but what if she spills our secrets to them?" Grovestar asked.

"I think someone is already doing that. The Children keep staying one step ahead. Besides, my plan is to have her tailed the whole time," explained Silverstep.

Grovestar nodded. "When she comes back here, we'll give her some training and what do you mean someone is doing that!?! Clan meeting! Someone in our clan is a traitor."

Silverstep facepalmed but followed her leader to a clan meeting with the rest of the cats. They were whispering amongst themselves about what Grovestar could want. Brokenleg limped even more than usual out of the medicine den when she heard her leader's voice. She took a seat next to Silverstep, forgetting about the 'quarrel' earlier.

"Now...tell me if you are the traitor and you might get to stay with the Clan and if you don't and I have to get out information, you'll be exiled." Grovestar hissed.

"Be prepared for a lot of false accusations," whispered Silverstep. "I don't think this meeting will end well for anyone."

"Oh?" she raised an eyebrow.

"Anyone?" Grovestar asked. Brokenleg shook her head. She knew that she wouldn't look suspicious. She hadn't been able to see Sky for nearly a moon now, so there was no evidence to go off.

"ANYONE!?!" she screeched.

The clan stayed deathly quiet, but everyone started to give each other suspicious looks. "Looks like the traitor is too much of a coward to come forward," hissed Cedarclaw.

Brokenleg almost laughed aloud. "Come on, are you too soft to show yourself? Are you scared?"

"ANYONE!?!!?!!!?!!!!?!!!!" Grovestar screeched so loud, that a twig fell off a tree. Breezewing was so quiet that she could hear her heart beating in her throat.

Soon the whole clan was screeching at the top of their lungs. "Traitor! Who's the traitor?! Is it you?! Or you?!"

Brokenleg watched the situation unfold, suppressing laughs all the while. She knew that any laughing would make it look like she was against the spy, but she didn't even try to hide it.

Grovestar saw Brokenleg laughing. "BROKENLEG! WHY ARE YOU LAUGHING THIS IS A SERIOUS MATTER!"

"I know exactly who the spy is!" she hissed, still laughing. "I know that they're too soft to come forward."

"NO, SHE'S THE TRAITOR!" screamed Cedarclaw. "Once a rogue, always a rogue! It's in their blood!"

"Don't be racist Cedarclaw," chided Silverstep. "A laugh is not enough proof to say someone's a traitor; this is absurd."

"Who is the spy, Brokenleg?" Grovestar said, with a glare to Cedarclaw that said, meet me in my den after this.

"All of you are so close-minded! It's obvious, is it not? Turquoise is the traitor! She knows this camp back to front already, and is happily sleeping in the elders den! No wonder her so-called 'friends' left her here!"

"You're lying. Turquoise just agreed less than a few minutes ago that she would be a SPY for us. Would you like to try that answer again, Brokenleg?"

"So?" Who knows if she's actually trustworthy? Maybe she's going back to report her findings of US."

Silverstep smacked a paw to her head. "Now the traitor definitely knows about our plans for Turquoise so she'll be useless as a spy," she muttered.

"That's what I'm saying! It's so obviously Turquoise! And I was the one being attacked, remember. Just look at this!" She lifted her injured leg, showing the dried blood. This scratch had been given to her by Fox, who knew what the plan would be if any of them were ever discovered.

"Brokenleg...are you sure you aren't the spy? Because you seem very quick to blame a cat that we trust now," growled Grovestar.

"Maybe Brokenleg is right, why should we trust a cat we basically forced to join us?" asked Mallowskip.

Cedarclaw started to open his mouth, but Silverstep shot him a glare. "I trust Turquoise completely. I have my methods that can make any cat completely obedient."

"But how can we trust her if she's been with the Children all this time, and has only joined us literally a few minutes ago? And how can you believe that I am not loyal when I swore at my warrior ceremony that I would be loyal to this Clan until my death?" Brokenleg said, speaking rapidly. However, she wasn't done yet. "And I could argue that you're the spy, Silverstep. I've blamed one cat, who has a lot of evidence stacked against her, and now you turn on me? But I know for a fact that you're not the spy, unless it could be something to do with that revolt of yours?"

Silverstep looked puzzled. "I never said it was you Brokenleg. I'm just very confident in my methods of ensuring a cat's loyalty. Besides, I'm the one who told Grovestar about the spy. If I were the spy, wouldn't that just draw attention to myself?"

"Hmmm. I see your point, and I never truly thought it was you, since you've been loyal to the Clan since I've met you. I'm just worried about those who won't believe you, because I don't want you getting hurt in all this nonsense."

Silverstep inclined her head to Brokenleg. "I don't suspect you either. Personally I wanted to deal with this privately, especially since it was a hunch. Now it's too late and everyone is suspicious of each other."

"Everyone knows rogues are liars!" hissed Cedarclaw.

"Shut up Cedarclaw! No one wants to listen to your bigoted nonsense!" snapped Silverstep.

"ENOUGH!" Grovestar shouted. "You three are seem like the best option for a spy right now,so how about you join Turquoise in the ELDER'S DEN! You'll be released once you have proven that you are not guilty. Clan dismissed."

Silverstep looked at Grovestar. "I will do as you command, but mark my words. If we accept the idea of guilty until proven innocent, this whole clan will tear each other apart." She turned tail and walked into the elders' den with her head held high.

Brokenleg nodded. "I respect your decision, Grovestar. Hopefully, in time, you will see the truth of the matter."

The black and white she-cat limped after Silverstep into the elders' den. She was lucky that she hadn't really had the chance to ever meet Turquoise, and would probably come off as hostile towards her. She sighed as she collapsed into a nest. Her leg hurting, her brain hurting, and the Clans morals skewed beyond recognition was enough for an entire moon of sleep. Silverstep slept next Brokenleg, Turquoise huddled in the corner.

"Yeah, you show that Rogue-lover!" cheered Cedarclaw.

"Shut it, Cedarclaw!" Grovestar, Breezewing, Firestrike and Darkwing all said at the same time.

"We do not single out our Clanmates because of where they came from, what they look like and who they like. You hear me?" Grovestar lectured.

"Yes Grovestar," said Cederclaw sullenly. "But we still want to get rid of The Children right?" Grovestar nodded. "Good," huffed Cederclaw, who stomped over to the warrior den to sulk.

Brokenleg sighed, listening to the quarrel outside. She couldn't sleep through all this noise, even if she tried! She thought back to Sky, and how the Chosen would probably be awaiting her report. Better save it for another time.

Silverstep looked up at Brokenleg. "I hate what this clan is turning into," she sighed.

"Honestly, sometimes I think about what it would've been like if I'd stayed with Tinywing in DuneClan, but then again, prey is plentiful here, and most of these cats are just innocent bystanders to the drama happening here."

"It doesn't have to be like this. We are the richest clan already. We don't need to imprison cats, attack the other clans or even The Children of Ember in constant battles. We don't need to throw scenes at Gatherings, or have medicine cats that attack their clanmates and refuse to heal them. GroveClan can be better than this!" Silverstep took a few deep breaths after her rant. "It has to be," she whispered, looking forlornly at the ceiling of the den.

Brokenleg watched the she-cat, then wrapped her tail around her comfortingly. "I know how you feel."Silverstep nodded gratefully, and leaned against Brokenleg. They gave each other strength and soon we're asleep.

***

Grovestar went up to the she-cats again. "Good morning!"

"Morning!" Brokenleg mewed cheerily, stretching and turning to her leader.

"It is time to see if you are not guilty." Brokenleg nodded.

"So, Brokenleg and Silverstep, tell me all you know about the Children of the Ember and I mean EVERYTHING." Grovestar said.

Brokenleg took a deep breath. "Currently, all the Children sleep and hunt in seperate places, as is tradition. They don't care for each other by hunting and healing others, but rather by supporting them emotionally. Their 'leader,' or the one they look to for guidance, is the Chosen, a tom by the name of Sky. The Chosen are trained from a young age to protect their Brothers and Sisters, but especially the Oracle. The Oracle is also trained from a young age, and it is believed that each Oracle is a reincarnation of the last. The Oracle has the power to speak with the dead, and receives prophecies, much like our medicine cats. The Children believe in a Paradise that is waiting for them in the volcano, which they call Paradise Below. This means that they push cats into the volcano for crimes, to help them see their mistakes by taking the time to speak with their ancestors. No cat has ever come back from the Paradise Below." Brokenleg stopped, hoping she hadn't forgotten anything.

"You're the traitor, aren't you?"

"No, I'm not. Remember that my mother was one of the Children once, and I know a lot from her stories."

"Right. What about you, Silverstep? Cause until someone fesses up, you two will be in here for life."

"And what about Turquoise? Is she not a part of this too?"

Turquoise crept forward. Patches of fur on her pelt were falling out and there were scratches on her muzzle. "It isn't me," she whispered.

"I know it isn't you Turquoise," said Grovestar.

"I have already told you I'm not a spy, and I have figured out a way to prove it. Capture one of The Children, and if they know something that's happened in camp while I was imprisoned, then I'm innocent," said Silverstar.

"Don't we already have Turquoise?" Grovestar asked, confused.

Silverstep tried to explain. "Yes, but we captured her before we knew about the spy. I-"

Thornstrike poked his head into the elders' den. "Can we have a word, Grovestar?"

"One moment Silverstep. Yes Thornstrike?" Grovestar asked.

Thornstrike waited until they were out of earshot of the cats in the elders' den. "There's a problem. Since you locked those cats away, we've had less cats to hunt with. The fresh-kill pile has already taken a hit."

"It's only two cats! Breezewing! Organize more hunting patrols!" Grovestar asked. Breezewing nodded.

"Technically it's Turquoise too, we had her hunting for us as well. There are only 7 warriors in our clan, that's nearly half of us," explained Thornstrike.

"Then hunt all day and night!"

"As you say," said Thornstrike. He padded off to tell his other clanmates about Grovestar's decision. They looked mutinous and grumbled angrily, but did as their leader commanded.

"Once the patrol has 3 pieces of prey come back to camp. Rosepaw, Grovestar and Gorsepaw you're on the first patrol," said Breezewing. "Dewpaw, Cherrymask and I are on the second patrol. Thornstrike and Cedarclaw are on the 3rd patrol and Larchfang and Mallowskip are guarding the camp. Let's go. Every cat, to your places!"

"Aw," sulked Rosepaw, "not that it matters, but I think Dewpaw and me should be on the same patrol. I still need to show him the ropes."

"Ok. Gorsepaw, Cherrymask and Grovestar are on the second patrol and Rosepaw, Dewpaw and I are on the first patrol. Let's go!" Thornstrike flicked a disdainful look at Cedarclaw before bowing to his deputy and heading out.

"Yay!" cheered Rosepaw. "Best mentor ever!" Breezewing smiled.

"Looks like we're going hunting together again, Dewpaw," said Rosepaw slyly.

Dewpaw flicked his tail. "I'm used to it by now," he jokingly purred.

Rosepaw laughed. "Fair enough." She turned to her mentor. "So Breezewing, where are we going?"

Back in camp, Brokenleg sighed. She knew it would be easy to prove her innocence, since she hadn't been to see Sky for nearly a moon now, but who would believe her? And to further the question, who was keeping an eye on GroveClan? She could sense something off about the whole situation, like as if Grovestar and Silverstep had found a loophole.

'They'll realise someday that they got the wrong cat when the Children still get info from GroveClan. It seems like there's an invisible cat or something roaming around and telling Sky everything, she thought, testing her chin on her paws.

Silverstep padded to Brokenleg. "How long do you think they'll keep us trapped in here?"

Grovestar walked back to the camp. "So, any cat ready to admit it?" she asked.

"No," said Silverstep, "I'm still not ready to confess to something I'm not guilty of." Turquoise shook her head quickly as well.

"Still innocent." Brokenleg replied, pulling herself into a sitting position and dipping her head to her leader.

"Give me one good reason why I should think you innocent," growled Grovestar.

"I told you about the spy and gave you an easy way to prove I was innocent?" said Silverstep.

"I've lost all association with the Children since joining GroveClan, and the only times I've seen them since were during battles. I've also been left to guard the camp many times while everyone else was at a Gathering or patrol, and in all those times the Children only attacked once, when they saw most of our cats at the Painted Stones."

"You can leave...but if I find out that one of you is the traitor, you are exiled. Now go before I change my mind," Grovestar said.

Silverstep bowed her head. "Thank you, Grovestar." She beckoned to Turquoise, who gave a quick nod to Grovestar and followed Silverstep. "If you would still care to hear my advice, I think Turquoise should remain a warrior and stay here instead of being a spy. Since the spy now knows of that plan, it would be impossible to get working."

Grovestar nodded. "Clan meeting! We have a new clan mate joining us. Turquoise, step forward. You are probably the age of a warrior, but you need to learn our skills first,but for now I name you Turquoisepaw. I will be your mentor."

"Turquoisepaw! Turquoisepaw!" Brokenleg was very happy for her new Clanmate. She would be much safer here than with the Children.

Silverstep lightly brushed her tail against Turquoisepaw's shoulder, causing her to jump and raise her hackles. "Go up to your mentor and touch noses with her," commanded Silverstep. She flattened her fur and came up to Grovestar. Grovestar touched noses with Turqoisepaw.

"Turquoisepaw, Turquoisepaw!" chorused the clan. Turquoisepaw looked up at her new mentor, as if asking the first thing she should do.

"Just enjoy the cheers," Grovestar explained. Turquoisepaw looked around the clan, attempting a smile. It looked painful. "Smile naturally!"

Brokenleg felt her heart wrench. The poor cat had been through so much over the past few days. Turquoisepaw's smile stretched wider, but a few tears started to fall from her eyes.

"I don't think that you're smiling naturally..." chided Grovestar. Turquoisepaw gave up smiling and just started sobbing.

"It's ok." Grovestar tried to comfort Turquoisepaw. Turquoisepaw shrank from her touch. Silverstep gave her a look, and instantly a natural looking smile was plastered on Turquoisepaw's face.

Grovestar nodded. "That's better."

Turquoisepaw looked to Brokenleg, and allowed her to see the panic in their eyes until they turned dull. She padded to the apprentice den at Silverstep's suggestion. What's going on with Turquoisepaw? It looked like she was... being controlled, the black and white she-cat thought.

Silverstep glided over to Brokenleg. "Poor Turquoisepaw. She doesn't seem to be fitting in," she said.

"Yeah. There's still something a bit off about her, though. Like she's not doing this out of free will or something. She keeps looking at me like she's dead inside."

"Terrible." Silverstep lowered her voice to a whisper. "Do you think Grovestar's done something to her?"

"Clan dismissed!" Grovestar said, padding over to the apprentice den. "Turquoisepaw! How old are you?"

"15 moons," she said without a trace of any emotion in her voice.

"Ok! I'm sure you know how to hunt then and fight, so we will skip the basics!" Grovestar said, smiling. "And get some emotion in your face!" she said.

Breezewing called out to Rosepaw, Turquoisepaw, Dewpaw, Silverstep and Grovestar. "Border patrol!" she said. "Let's go!"

The cats did as they were commanded. Turquoisepaw's face twisted into a terrible grimace after Grovestar requested she show emotion. "Which border are we going to?" asked Silverstep.

"The DuneClan border." Breezewing said, nodding.

"Turquoisepaw! Just be natural!" Grovestar hissed in a nice way.

Turquoisepaw returned to her previously emotionless expression. Silverstep looked over at Turquoisepaw, frowning. "Are you still having trouble with her?" she asked. Immediately Turquoisepaw's face went neutral.

"A little bit."

"I'll sort her out for you. She's very obedient, I just need to get the emotions right," said Silverstep, flicking her tail to Dewpaw so he'd follow her. "Off to DuneClan?"

"Sure," he meowed nervously. After everything, it was sort of awkward to go there.

DuneClan-GroveClan border:

Grovestar looked at the apprentices. "Rosepaw and Dewpaw, demonstrate to Turquoisepaw how to mark the border."

"That's kits stuff!" sniffed Rosepaw. She moved over to a tree at the border, then sprayed it. She did over and over to the whole section her example. Turquoisepaw giggled, but followed her example.

Breezewing walked in and rolled her eyes. "Good job! That's still not what I meant but remember being a warrior isn't all fun and games. And also remember for your apprentice test, you have to survive a day in the forest with your fellow apprentices if you want."

"What did you mean then?" retorted Rosepaw.

Turquoisepaw went silent. "I wasn't laughing because I don't take this seriously. I'm laughing because borders make no sense to me."

"Without borders, a Clan cat could just go anywhere they want to. Borders are one of the things that make a Clan a Clan." Breezewing responded.

"I suppose," said Turquoisepaw. "But why don't you just become one big clan? What's so different about GroveClan, DuneClan and EyrieClan that they couldn't live together as one?"

Grovestar looked shocked. "First of all, there are battles and each Clan lives in different places. DuneClan could barely survive in our forests just like we couldn't survive in their sandy dunes. And we all have different techniques and personalities that make us special."

Silverstep stepped behind Turquoisepaw, and laid her tail on her shoulder. Turquoisepaw's eyes dulled. "I'm sorry Grovestar. I will do better to think like a clan cat from now on," she said in the same eerie monotone.

"It's ok, Turquoisepaw," Grovestar said, trying to comfort her apprentice yet again. She sniffed and smelled the unpleasant scent of fox in the air. "Let's go back to camp." Grovestar said, walking back to camp.

Silverstep removed her tail and Turquoisepaw seemed to recover some of her energy. Everyone followed Grovestar back to camp.

GroveClan Camp pt. 2:

"Hello, Lightmoon." Firestrike said, waking up his former apprentice.

Lightmoon looked at Firestrike with admiring but worried eyes, though she dipped her head respectfully. "Hello...Surely these could be a use?",she asked quietly, dropping the herbs gently.

Streamfeather did the same and padded off to check on her clanmates.

"What type of herbs are they?" Firestrike asked.

Lightmoon anxiously took a breath and stated,"Marigold..Juniper berries..Horsetail...I got a little yarrow." Her pelt bristled a bit from nervousness.

Firestrike nodded. "Good," he said. Lightmoon luckily held back a purr of happiness, she silently nodded and picked up the herbs. She was heading to the medicine cat den.

Breezewing was heading to the DuneClan border, but she called out the patrols first.

Tinyclaw trotted to Breezewing. The short Warrior then started,"Can I please join the patrol?",he

Breezewing nodded. "Gorsepaw, Brokenleg and Tinyclaw, you are on the border patrol, go mark the EyrieClan border. Cedarclaw, Streamfeather and Minnowpaw, you are on hunting patrol. Larchfang, Thornstrike and Darkfern, you are also on hunting patrol. Cherrymask and Mallowskip, guard the camp." Breezewing walked out of camp. Streamfeather nodded to Breezewing as she got Darkfern with her.

Gorsepaw nudged Tinyclaw. "Looks like they're making anyone a warrior these days," he muttered, "I bet I can take you and I'm just an apprentice."

Tinyclaw growled,"I may be small but I have more experience than you, Gorsepaw," he responded cooley.

Streamfeather nodded to Breezewing as she got Darkfern with her. All the patrols left camp. Tinyclaw padded after Breezewing,his tail twitching in annoyance. But his two different eyes glistened with excitement as he was going on another patrol.

Grovestar sat back in camp. "Great job, apprentices! We'll try more again soon!" Grovestar went to her nest and fell asleep. The apprentices followed suit.

Tinyclaw padded after Breezewing,his tail twitching in annoyance. But his two different eyes glistened with excitement as he was going on another patrol.

EyrieClan Camp:

Lightingtail walked up to his sister. They both were going to go on a hunting patrol to see if they could get more food. There has been less and less prey and its starting to worry them

Kestreleye padded after them. "Can I come along?" she said looking at Lightningtail, "I think I need to get out there to clear my head."

"If you need an extra paw I can go. We need as much prey as possible," Hollybreeze offered.

"I'd love to have you along Hollybreeze," said Kestreleye. "But I don't know if it's up to me."

"You are both welcome to come," Stormclaw mewed as Lightingtail was preoccupied with staring at Kestreleye.

Stormclaw rolled his eyes at him. "Do you guys want to go now?" she asked.

"I'd love to," purred Kestreleye, still lost in Lightningtail's eyes.

Hollybreeze rolled her eyes at Kestreleye and Lightningtail. "Sure."

Stormclaw, Lightingtail, Kestreleye and Hollybreeze all left the camp.

The hunting patrol returned successfully and placed their catches on the fresh kill pile.

EyrieClan Territory:

The hunting patrol padded through the territory, alert for any signs of prey.

"Look," hissed Kestreleye under her breath, "there's a vole just over there!"

Lightingtail crouched. He motioned for Kestreleye to go the other side, and when she was there, he pounced. It fell right into Kestreleye's paws.

"Nice catch!" Stormclaw mewed.

Kestreleye delivered a killing bite. "Thanks," she said, burying the vole. "Do you see any more prey?"

Stormclaw sniffed. She then flicked her tail to the side. "There. It's faint but there might be some prey there."

Kestreleye and Hollybreeze crept towards the scraggly bush Stormclaw had indicated. Kestreleye pounced at the bush, and out stumbled a squawking partridge. "Quick, it's getting away!" yowled Kestreleye.

Stormclaw and Lightingtail worked as a team. Lightingtail jumped up and slammed the partridge down. Stormclaw grabbed it with both her paws and delivered the killing bite.

"Wow, I had no idea you two could be such a good team," said Kestreleye. "Let's see if we can find any more prey laying around." The hunting patrol set to work until they amassed a decent amount of prey. Mewing happily, they headed back to camp.

EyrieClan camp pt. 2:

"Well done!" said Eyriestar. "Well done all of you, I think we'll eat well tonight."

"Decent catch," said Eagletalon, as if she was trying to remember how to give compliments.

"Now everyone, gather below the Sunkissed Stone!" called Eyriestar. He waited for the clan to gather. "Now it's time to divide up the prey for the day. Queen, kits and elders, you go first." They took their share. "Then apprentices, take some for yourselves."

Dahliapaw and Shrillpaw picked up a crow that they would share, knowing that they needed to save prey.

"Next comes the warriors who brought us this meal: Kestreleye, Stormclaw and Lightningtail!" Kestreleye padded over to the prey pile and grabbed a partridge. "Wanna share?" she asked Lightningtail in a sultry tone.

Lightingtail blushed. "S-sure," he mewed.

Stormclaw smiled at the two lovebirds and grabbed a piece of prey. "Did you want to share with me Hollybreeze?" she asked

Hollybreeze nodded and dug in. Eyriestar look mournfully at the small vole left in the pile, before padding over to it and swallowing it in one gulp.

He climbed back up on Sunkissed Stone. "Just one more..." he started to say before coughing up a furball. He belched, then turned back to his clan. "Just one thing. I need a patrol to go with me. We're taking back Painted Stones. We've let it slide too long, we need that prey for EyrieClan. Shrillpaw, Ravenshade, Stormclaw will mark the border and we'll be patrolling it from now on. As soon as you're finished eating, follow me there. Meeting dismissed!"

Stormclaw padded up to Ravenshade and Shrillpaw. "You guys all set to go?" she mewed

"It's not like I have much of a choice," snarked Ravenshade, stretching.

Stormclaw ignored the snarkiness in Ravenshade's voice. "Let's go then," she said and left the camp.

"Yup!" Shrillpaw finished off his half of the crow, and rushed over to the two warriors.

"If that's everyone, let's head off to Painted Stones. I'm so pumped!" roared Eyriestar, marching over to the camp entrance and waiting for the others to follow. "I hope DuneClan cats are there so can fi- I mean, I hope they aren't 'cause fighting is bad."

Shrillpaw laughed aloud at his leader.

"Yay!" Shrillpaw ran at full speed out of the entrance, tail held high.

Eyriestar laughed with Shrillpaw, trying to keep up with him. "You're right, I am a pretty funny guy," he panted, keeping pace with his apprentice.

Ravenshade rolled his eyes at Shrillpaw and Eyriestar's antics and followed them.

Painted Stones:

Shrillpaw dashed into the clearing. "YES I WON!" He screeched

"You sure about that?" Eyriestar said. He picked Shrillpaw up by the scruff of his neck and place him behind Eyriestar. "From where I'm sitting, it looks like you came second."

"Could they get any more childish?" whispered Ravenshade to Stormclaw.

Stormclaw panted beside him. She reminded herself to never race Shrillpaw again. He was too fast.

Shrillpaw gave a teasing hiss, and cuffed his mentor's shoulder playfully. Eyriestar gave Shrillpaw a gentle nudge that sent the awkward cat to the ground. "Looks like someone's a sore loser," he laughed, giving Shrillpaw a wink.

"Maybe I misunderstood, but wasn't there supposed to a point to coming here besides roughhousing?" Ravenshade said snidely.

"I think you're the one who's the sore loser!" He smiled at Eyriestar. "And anyways, we need to get to marking the boundary."

"Sure, keep telling yourself that Shrillpaw," Eyriestar said smiling back. He tried to make his face more serious. "But he's right, it's time to mark our territory here. Sniff out the old DuneClan scent markers and spray some over our scent over them. Keep an eye out for any DuneClan cats. If you see one, let me know. I'll take them down no problem."

"Finally," sniffed Ravenshade, padding off to do as he was told.

Shrillpaw nodded, his ears flopping everywhere, then turned and started sniffing around the edges of the Painted Stones, the edge that faced away from their territory. He found an old scent a few fox lengths from the stones, and marked the border there.

Eyriestar went to numerous places, marking the border with a proud expression on his face. He was disappointed to find no DuneClan cats to beat up. Ravenshade worked diligently, marking stone after stone that DuneClan had marked before. He gave Stormclaw a sideways look to see if she was still doing her job.

Shrillpaw decided to go around the edge of the stones, following the faded scent line. In the bushes along the other side, he found a trail of prints that smelled strongly of squirrels, and decided to follow it.

The scent of the squirrel began to be mixed with a new, unfamiliar animal. Shrillpaw moved further and further from his companions in pursuit of the squirrel. Eventually he found the source of the squirrel smell, but munching on the squirrel's body was a large tod fox. It looked up, and sniffed the air.

Shrillpaw dashed up the nearest tree and froze there. Something about this fox seemed somehow familiar...

The fox got to its feet. The tom towered over Shrillpaw, being easily twice his size. It sniffed the air again. Shrillpaw have a slight whimper. He hoped foxes couldn't climb.

Shrillpaw's whimper immediately drew the fox's eyes. The fox bared his teeth, his fangs dripping with drool. Using his sharp claws, the fox gingerly got its hooked claws into the tree bark. It began to climb, slowly at first, but faster and faster as it neared its prey.

"HELP!" Shrillpaw screeched. He knew he'd be close enough for the others to hear, and he might be able to hold the fox back for long enough for the others to get there.

Eyriestar heard his apprentices call and came running, calling for his clanmates' help. The fox paid no mind to that distant sound, and struck out with one of claws, trying to bat the apprentice off the tree.

Shrillpaw scrambled higher. At least he was fast. The claw just missed Shrillpaw. The fox was slower, but it was taller too. The sounds of the rest of the group drew nearer. This time the fox reached out with his fangs, trying to grab Shrillpaw's dangling tail.

Shrillpaw saw the glistening white teeth out of the corner of his eye, flicking his tail out of the way. The fox managed to grab him, but only pulled out a tuft of his red and white fur.

The fox spat out the fur, but continued to climb. The branches of the tree up here were thin and soon Shrillpaw would run out. But as the fox drew nearer to the apprentice, the branches under his heavier body began to creak ominously. Seeing this, the fox moved nearer to the trunk and grabbed a hold of the branch Shrillpaw was clinging to. The fox shook the branch furiously, trying to send Shrillpaw plummeting to the ground.

"Shrillpaw, we're here! Where are you?" shouted Eyriestar from the ground far below.

"Up here!" Shrillpaw yowled. Sure, the fox was trying to kill him right now, but he had all the time in the world!

Eyriestar looked up at the situation, and cursed. Slowly but surely, he climbed up after his apprentice while Ravenshade examined his claws below.

The fox shook the branch Shrillpaw was on harder and harder until the whole thing started to creak. Shrillpaw heard an ominous cracking from the branch. He spotted the fox shaking it heavily, and decided what he needed to do. He stepped to the very end of the branch, wobbling precariously. Luckily he lived in the mountains, so he knew how to climb.

He drew his legs in underneath him, and sprang off the branch just as it gave way, and tumbled to the ground along with the fox. He stretched out his claws and landed in the next tree, nearly falling off before getting a grip and heaving himself up.

Eyriestar saw the fox fall to the ground. As it struggled to get up, he pounced. He pinned the fox with his two sharp claws, then quickly tore out his throat. He looked back up for Shrillpaw. "Hey, you good up there?!" he hollered.

"Yup, just fine. Not about to fall out of a tree, noooo not at all," hissed Shrillpaw sarcastically.

Stormclaw raced towards the ruckus and saw Eyriestar pinning down a fox. She quickly went and helped him keep the fox down. "What do you want us to do Eyriestar?"

"Get some bedding. We'll need it in case he falls." Eyriestar started climbing the new tree that Shrillpaw was struggling to hang on to. "Hold on, I'm coming!" Eyriestar panted. Stormclaw quickly found some moss and placed it under where Shrillpaw and Eyriestar were.

"Yeah no, take your time."

"You're awfully rude for someone who's life I'm trying to save," grunted Eyriestar, pulling himself branch by branch. At last he came near to the spot of the tree where Shrillpaw was clinging to a branch that looked like it was about to break. "Grab my tail!" yowled Eyriestar, sticking out his tail as close to his apprentice as he could reach.

Shrillpaw reaches out his claws, trying and failing to hide a smile. He grabbed onto Eyriestar's tail, and heaved himself closer to the large tom.

"Foxdung, that hurts!" yowled Eyriestar, but he pulled his apprentice to the thicker branches of the tree and helped climb with him down the tree.

"Thanks!" mewed Shrillpaw, happily skipping along as if nothing had happened at all.

Ravenshade caught him by the scruff of his neck."Not. So. Fast. Shrillpaw," he drawled monotonously. Ravenshade gestured with his tail for Eyriestar to say something.

Eyriestar looked confused. "Great job finding a fox for me to kill, Shrillpaw. Up top!" He stuck out his paw for Shrillpaw to bump. Eyriestar slowly put his paw down when he saw Ravenshade drawing a claw over his neck. "Um... Don't wander off and find really cool things to kill again Shrillpaw. You could've died if I didn't get there in time, not that that would ever happen. So next time you want to wander off, tell me I guess. Or better yet, bring me!"

Ravenshade rolled his eyes but knew better than to expect more from his leader. Shrillpaw ignored the lecture, and Eyriestar sighed. He beckoned the rest of the cats to follow him back to camp.

EyrieClan Camp pt. 3:

The patrol returned to camp. Eyriestar leaped to the Sunkissed Stone. "We've done it!" yowled Eyriestar. "Painted Stones is ours!" He yawned. "Alright, time for a nap." He crept into the Leader's den.

Ravenshade rolled his eyes. "I can't believe we're still letting that mouse-brain be leader," he said to Hollybreeze snidely.

Shrillpaw raced into the apprentice's den, and nearly jumped on top of Dahliapaw. "We managed to claim Painted Stones, and I was nearly killed by a fox!" Dahliapaw's expression was priceless.