Every part of Moonpaw's body was awake. His muscles were tense, his ears twitching.

The rabbit wasn't far ahead. It was washing it's nose, unaware that a deadly hunter stalked it. Moonpaw crept forward so lightly, so was about to make the final leap when a brown and white shape crashed down onto the rabbit. Moonpaw was so shocked that he fell over backwards!

The shape killed the rabbit in seconds. When Moonpaw got a closer look at the creature, it turned out to be a cat. From the smell, it was a she-cat. She had the most unusual coloring, though.

Nearly all of her was white, except for her face, paws, tail, and ears. Thise were eyes were an icy blue.

"Hey!" yelled Moonpaw. "That was my kill!"

The cat's jaws dripped blood as she laughed crazily. "Do you know how long it's been since I saw decent food? Do you?"

Suddenely her face changed. Now it was hopeful and asking. "Are you a Shadow Cat?" she asked. Moonpaw, taken aback by her sudden mood swing, stuttered out," You mean ShadowClan? "

The brown and white she-cat shrieked with joy. "I knew I'd find you! Sorry about the rabbit. I'm Tao. What's your name?"

"I'm Moonpaw," he answered. "Why are you looking for me?"

"The spirits said to look for the Shadow Cats," she said. Her eyes hardened.

"I was an apprentice of SunClan. My mentor had just started teaching me, and I was progressing fast. Then the howls came. We heard them every full moon, just over the rocky rise that protected our Clan. We thought maybe some Twoleg dogs had gotten loose. But when they attacked, they weren't dogs. My father said they were wolves, and to get out of the camp! I wanted to fight,but he through me into the bushes, so I ran."

By the end of her story, Moonpaw's eyes were huge. So there are other Clans far away? he thought. "What are wolves like?" he asked.

"Hope to the spirits you never meet one. They're like dogs, only stronger, faster, and smarter. They hunt in packs, and they howl at the moon. They destroyed my Clan. I was alone in the forest, hungry and thirsty, when the spirits sent a cooling rain my way. Then they told me to look for new life with the Shadow Cats, and I've been looking for you ever since."

Moonpaw wondered what to do. He could leave her here, or take her back to his father. He thought maybe that spirits were this Tao's StarClan. If StarClan wanted this cat to live in ShadowClan, he'd better take her back.

"Ok, follow me," he said.

"Why?" asked Tao.

"Because my father is the leader of ShadowClan. He'll probably let you stay when he learns StarClan sent you. "

"But this StarClan didn't. The spirits did," answered Tao.

"Right, ok."

Moonpaw led back to camp, hoping that his father wouldn't be angry with him. When he walked back in, every cat stared at Tao. But she held her head high, and refused to stare back.

"Come on, this way," said Moonpaw.

He walked to the entrance to his father's den, and called," Blackstar, may I speak with you?"

"Come in, Moonpaw." Tao followed Moonpaw to where his father was tearing moss off the walls of the den.

"Hello, Blackstar. This is Tao, and she says StarClan sent her."