Littlescent poked her head into the medicine den. She saw Fleetheart tending to the same injured cat in the corner she saw last time. He was still asleep, but his white patches were gone.

I hope whatever's wrong with him isn't serious, she thought, walking through the entrance.

As Fleetheart turned away from the sleeping cat, she noticed Littlescent coming in. She hopped towards her and began quickly pacing around her.

"Hi, Littlescent," she said. "You know, it's kind of odd to see you here around this time. Normally you're out hunting or on border patrol or something and we don't talk until around sunrise, but here we are right now. Kind of strange, right?"

"Yeah, but I am about to leave so..."

"That's true I guess."

Fleetheart stopped pacing Littlescent and walked over to a brown pouch with a strap on it. The pouch was open, bearing the usual Twoleg symbol on both sides. She began to drag the pouch towards the exit to the medicine den.

"Hey, what did Longstar say you were doing anyway?"

"He wants me to move along the LeafClan borders closer to here, near the silverthorns. I was just told to see if they're moving around that area, crossing into our territory."

"Yikes," Fleetheart said. "You should watch out for that stuff. Nasty stuff. Panzer told me just brushing it gives horrible painful injuries. It's also quick to catch fur so don't get caught, alright?"

"I'll be careful, Fleetheart. I always am."

"What's that say about your brave warrior heart, Littlemouse?"

Panzer walked through the entrance, a spool of Twoleg wraps in her mouth. She walked over to long open box in the corner of the room and spat out the wraps next to it.

How does she always hear us, Littlescent thought.

"Have to be the dumbest cats ever," she mumbled. "I am so glad this camp has no elders. Or she'd probably be dead. Some stupid scatter-brained warrior up there decided to prop the thunderstick against a hole with her mouth! You can imagine how well that went... she just scratched her leg. Hah, didn't see that ending coming did you?"

Panzer walked towards Fleetheart, who was struggling to get the thick strap tightly around her.

"No, you have to go through the hole twice or it won't stay on," Panzer said. "Not like that thing was meant for cats."

Panzer twisted the strap once in her paws and motioned Fleetheart to walk through. She then started pulling and twisting the strap into itself, to Fleetheart's discomfort.

"Any tighter and I won't be able to breathe," Fleetheart said.

"You'll be fine," Panzer responded. "The last thing you want to worry about is this thing tripping you. Learned that the hard way... alright, you're all set. Go find some good stuff."

She walked towards Littlescent as Fleetheart was leaving the den.

"Well, we'll have to talk more once I get back," Fleetheart said. "See you, Littlescent."

Three other warriors were waiting near the entrance for her, each of them large and bristling with energy. They followed behind her as she left the room.

"There will be at least three more joining her," Panzer said. "Longstar isn't leaving any openings. Probably thinks they'll attack; wouldn't be surprising. So what'd you come here for, Littlestuff."

"Actually, I was here to just see Fleetheart."

"Oh, I see. The old little blue cat walks into the room and just like that, I'm stuck with that silent one in the corner. Whatever..."

Panzer started walking towards the cat in the corner but stopped halfway. "Don't forget to go roll around in something before you leave. Sharptooth says it's how leaf cats help hide their scent. It should make you impossible to detect from afar. Don't be shy with it either. Roll around in it real good."

Littlescent stared again at the cat in the corner, wondering now what could be wrong with him.

"Hey, what exactly is wrong with that cat?" she asked?

"His name's Stripeclaw. He came in complaining about a belly ache after he brought in a mouse. Broke out in some nasty bumps that popped on his back and he hasn't woken up since. I don't know what it is but I'm guessing he got infected from that rat. I sure hope that isn't how all these dead mice and rats we keep finding ended up. If they haven't been alive to breed, how do we eat?"

She grabbed a roll of wraps sitting near him and began to unravel them.

"Not like you can do anything for him. Go." She waved the senior warrior away with her tail. "And make sure you roll around before you leave. I don't want to have to deal with you, too."

Littlescent left the medicine den and darted out the front entrance into the clearing. The square stones under her pads were cool with the pale light of the moon. She could not help but stretch her paws and ruffle her fur before moving towards the back entrance that led to the medicine den.

As she moved across the clearing, two patrols headed towards the entrance of camp. Sharptooth was in one of them, dragging a small thunderstick by himself across the clearing. The other cat helped the second patrol coming in carry several dead mice and a few pigeons.

I hope what Panzer said about finding all this dead prey isn't true, Littlescent thought, taking her eyes from the patrols. Food running out should be the least of our problems right now.

She reached the other side of camp, a long patch of moist ground lay in the shadow of their structure. Littlescent looked around to make sure no one was looking and crawled into it, closing her eyes and thrashing around in the soft soil below. She found rolling around to be a great way to scratch, and she kept rolling, sliding forward with her rear paws.

"Heh, Littlescent you're funny sometimes."

Littlescent stopped rolling to find Fleetheart's group staring at her. She whispered something in one of the warrior's ears, making his ears shoot up.

"She really does something like that?" he asked.

"All the time," Fleetheart responded. "See you later tonight, Littlescent."

The group quickly ran down the thunderpath towards the Lower Territories.

Always doing stuff like that, she said, rolling around with less vigor. Just like when we were kits.

~~

Panzer could've warned me about this part.

Littlescent winced with every gust of wind as they moved through her dirty coat. The mud had caught on to her skin through her short fur and began to itch; the wind only aggravated it.

She continued her quick dashing along the quiet thunderpath. The moonlight shined brightly among the largely intact Twoleg Structures of the Upper Territories. The others had told her to watch out for activity from the Twoleg warriors, but she had yet to encounter any.

This was the place where Panzer said her last owner was, the old healer, Littlescent thought, scouring the nests for signs of life. She said her Twoleg had a large nest with a bright entrance... maybe I'll search for it on my way back, have a look at an unbroken Twoleg den for once. Her  owner is supposed to be nice to cats, anyways.

Littlescent continued to examine the area. There were no scents of food and fake-fur that Panzer said she would smell. Instead the area was dark with no one on the thunderpaths, nothing to smell or even look at besides the structures and the stench of nearby inactive monsters.

On the opposite side of the thunderpath, a large patch of grass sat, filled with objects forgein to her. She knew they were where the Twoleg kits once played. Now abandoned and overgrown, it was silent. The grass seemed out of place to her; the only purpose it served was to allow pets to hide from wildcats as they scavenged close to the borders.

A loud grumble started up; Littlescent jumped back into the shadows of the nests and crouched down. She turned towards the quick approaching sound, and a large monster rolled by. The Twolegs sitting in the open back were speaking to each other. They constantly looked up at the sky, turning a long, complex object towards it.

I don't think I've seen a thunderstick like that before, placed on the back of a war-monster. But why? The ones set in the ground are larger, so why make them smaller and less powerful just to put it on the back of a monster?

The war-monster kept moving down the thunderpath, heading further in the direction she was to go. Littlescent sat up once it was out of sight, only letting her breath go at that moment.

I don't care if they do fight the sky-monsters. I still hate that smoke they make.

Littlescent crossed the thunderpath and headed towards the grass patch.

Wonder why Longstar would even tell me to hide from Twolegs. To them, a cat walking around at night isn't a big deal.

She noticed that where the thunderpath ended the tall grass ended too, clashing with the intersecting path. She looked between the blades of grass, trying to spot a LeafClan patrol. Beyond the tall grass, she saw only flat mud patches, a dirt trail, and a few trees. As another gust of wind blew by, she caught the scent of other cats.

Wildcats don't usually patrol the old BreezeClan territory. It was always too close to occupied Twoleg nests for their comfort... leaving an open route for pets to cross into clan territory. I should stay for this. The dirt coating and this grass should give me the cover to get close enough to listen to them. And the blowing wind should cover my moving the grass.

Littlescent looked down the dirt trail and saw that the tall grass extended along its length. She hid herself again and slowly walked along the edge of it, watching the wildcats with every step. Another gust of wind carried the scent of another cat.

The wildcats' heads perked up as they all looked towards the path. Littlescent stopped walking and turned towards the path as well. She saw a lone cat padding around in the open, heading towards the dirt path. She stopped as her head perked up, also catching the scent of the wildcats.

The wildcats sprinted towards her, the cat fled towards the grass where Littlescent was, trying to hide, but the wildcats were too fast. The jingle of the cat's large collar alerted them of an easy target.

"Stop! Can't run from us, kittypet," one of the toms shouted. The she-cat stopped right in front of the grass, knowing she couldn't outrun the wildcats. She slowly turned around; the three patrolling clan cats had already surrounded her. Littlescent watched from her spot nearby, belly low to the ground.

"You, lost kittypet," one of the toms started. "Our territory off limits to pets, explain self."

The pet trembled at the sight of the wildcat's wide eyes. "I-I didn't mean to g-go through your territory. They told me it was empty and s-safe to cross through... I was just p-passing through—"

"Passing through?" He leaned closer to the pet, snorting into her face. "No just pass through LeafClan territory. Why the passing through?"

"I was g-going to BreezeClan's territory. L-last I heard from them they said were around here—"

"Wrong!" The pet looked away and backed towards the grass. The other cats joined in, hissing and swiping at her. "You make mistake, kittypet. This territory belongs to LeafClan now. Breeze cats move further away."

"Please, I d-don't want any trouble," she wimpered, her tail wrapping around her legs. "Just let me go, please."

"Certainly someone joining BreezeClan knows they move territory, always. Some future clan cat you be. You walk right into trouble not knowing this."

"N-no, I was just passing—"

"All same." The wildcats surrounded her, one moving behind her into the grass. She was shaking even more now, only making the other wildcats swipe and taunt her more.

I know they don't like kittypets. But would they kill one for something this small? Wolfstar couldn't allow anything like this, could he?

"Collars make good trophies in our clan." The lead cat raised his paw to strike her.

"No, please!" The pet jumped between two of the wildcats towards the nests. The third darted out of the grass and caught her. The lead cat pinned her to the ground by her neck as the other reared up to pounce.

Littlescent couldn't watch anymore. She shook her body as hard as she could. The wildcats' ears perked up at rustling grass.

"There more of you kittypets," the lead cat shouted. "Go find the little mice."

Littlescent dashed further into the grass, running as fast as she could from them. The two wildcats had moved in the wrong direction, but were still chasing. Littlescent sprinted towards the path she had walked down, trying to lose them in the nests. She crouched low in the shadows cast by the steps of a nest as the wildcats emerged from the grass.

One of them let out a loud hiss. "You not pass border again, kittypets!"

I don't think they can scent me from here. What a relief.

Littlescent heard a high pitched cry eco through the air. She looked at where she just ran from, berating rapidly.

"That what happens when you cross over, pets," her pursuer shouted. "Keep trying, please." Both cats walked back into the tall grass. Littlescent still stayed where she was at and made sure they were gone. Then she stood and wiped her paws on the concrete below.

I can't believe they would do something like that. There's no way Wolfstar would allow this. I think I've seen enough to tell Longstar.

She looked again at the grass to ensure the wildcats had moved far enough away to not hear her. She slowly made her way across the steps she hid behind, crouching low along the nests and hiding in every shadow she crossed.

Those wildcats should pay for what they did to that poor pet. She was just trying to pass through. Really though, I'd expect to see them just turn her around but to go as far as... I don't know what they did to her. If it's anything like what other pets have said in the past, they must have—

Littlescent stopped as a large shadow appeared in front of her. Two large, hazel eyes made her fur shoot on end.

"Don't hiss. You give yourself away."

The large shadow slowly walked towards her as she crept backwards.

"Back off. This is StoneClan territory." Littlescent's back arched and her ears swiveled back, ready for a fight.

"Not here to hurt. I want to talk."

"No! I saw what your clanmates did to that defenseless pet back there, and I'm not about to let you do it in our own territory. The Upper Territories are patrolled. I will call for help, and they will attack unless you leave."

"Wait... I know you. You're small cat with Longstar during clan meeting. The one with no scent."

"I don't care who you are." Littlescent stopped backing away. "Last chance to leave."

"If you just saw me, you'd know me, too." The large figure stepped into the moonlight, revealing a dark brown wildcat at least twice her size.

"You're one of Wolfstar's gaurds. Horsepelt I think... leaf cats hardly come this far into the Twoleg nests, but you'll come no further."

"I was leaving your territory to check on noise." Horsepelt began sniffing at the air. "Someone has crossed border again."

Littlescent kept her threatening stance. "Yeah, a harmless pet who just had some bad information. Your cats just... I still don't know what they did to her, but it can't be good. I'm starting to think Panzer was on to something when she said wildcats—"

"My patrol coming," he whispered. "You need to hide, now."

"Who's—"

"Now!"

Littlescent dashed past Horsepelt into the shadow he had hidden in. She hid behind some steps to a nearby nest, completely shadowed. Once she saw the eyes of the three LeafClan cats, she shut hers and perked her ears up. One of the wildcats poked his nose around the air.

"I smell another cat," he growled.

"There was kittypet hiding here," Horsepelt replied. "I turned her around. I heard loud cry, what happened?"

"Kittypets tried to cross border. We got one, small she-cat. They won't come back."

Horsepelt narrowed his eyes. "What you do with her?"

"We carved Twoleg symbol into her." His muzzle curled as he said it. "That cross-one they put everywhere. She still alive. Now she can show furless owners how much she likes being their pet."

Littlescent dared not open her eyes, but she listened for a response. But the four cats just stood silent. After several seconds, Horsepelt finally spoke.

"You know, this will have to be reported. Wolfstar has to know what happened."

"We smelled you, wanted to report to you first since you in charge."

Horsepelt shook his head. "One of you to go back. Report what happened. Other two stay and finish patrol. I have stuff to do here... and I'd choose words carefully. Wolfstar hates needless violence. He already mad enough patrols harassing StoneClan without orders."

Littlescent thought at the wildcats' silence. I hope you're thinking about your punishment, wildcat. Even Wolfstar should not let you off for that... he might if it was one of our cats. Maybe.

"Got it." The lead wildcat of the patrol ran back towards the grass clearing into LeafClan territory while the others lingered behind. One of them turned back towards Horsepelt.

"Did you find the prey, Horsepelt?"

"No stone cat patrols this area. Probably hunted clean."

He turned back towards the grass and disappeared into it. Only when Littlescent saw their forms linger far into the grass would she open her eyes. She decided to stay in the shadow while Horsepelt stood in full view in the moonlight.

He had the easiest shot to kill me right then and there. Or at least scare me off our own territory like my clanmates... what does this cat want from me?

Horsepelt motioned her to leave the shadows. "See? I only want talk. No fight."

Littlescent stayed concealed. "That doesn't change the fact that you're in StoneClan territory."

"Please give words a chance. If I wanted fight, I would've taunted you with patrol. And if you wanted me gone, you would call others without telling me first."

I've never heard of a LeafClan cat that does anything like this. I always just saw them hiss at us and occasionally cross the border. He wants to speak to me that bad.

"Why are you on our territory?" Littlescent carefully stepped out of her shadow, her claws unsheathed.

"I was sent by Eagleclaw. Wanted to see if borders had prey." Horsepelt sat, lowering his ears.

"You have an entirely abandoned Twoleg area as your territory. Why search ours for prey?"

"Well..." Horsepelt hesitated. He took a few paces back and forth. "Wolfstar not want others knowing. But they will learn. Surprised you haven't figured out; bet BreezeClan has... Eaglestar having trouble keeping with duties as second. Too many of us. Several teams just for marking, two trained medicine cats now, too many warriors to count.

"Used to be same for vermin in our territory. Rats, pigeons, mice, Twoleg area is perfect for them. They stopped mating when Twoleg fire-fallers attacked. They hid, they died. Now there not enough for us. We will have none in a few nights. Scouting new territory is now top order."

Littlescent sheathed her claws. "Why didn't you tell the