Prologue

Squirrelflight crept out of her den. Night was her favorite time, she was alone. She was tired of the glares she received each day, especially from Brambleclaw. Her own clan didn't trust her… It was time to end all this. Squirrelflight quietly slipped out of camp, and left her clan.

After all, no one would care.

Chapter 1

Brambleclaw led the boarder patrol along the eastern Thunderclan boarder. He didn't get why they had to patrol along the boarder, on the other side was rouge and loner territory, no clan had wanted the too tall pines for part of their territory.

Firestar and Sandstorm were on the patrol with him. Sandstorm sighed as she spotted a squirrel. Normally the warrior would of caught it, but ever since Squirrelflight had disappeared… Brambleclaw turned to the warrior and the leader. Firestar had his tail draped around Sandstorms shoulders, murmuring something in her ear. "ill meet you guys ahead." Brambleclaw told them.

The two warriors nodded. Brambleclaw raced ahead, checking the scent markers. As usual, nothing had changed. But, something was different. Brambleclaw sniffed. He could smell the never changing scent of prey, and other cats too. But it wasn't a scent he'd scented before… Brambleclaw took a curious step across the border. He was shocked to see that some cat had marked their boarders, just like a clan cat. Brambleclaw's pelt bristled in annoyance. Stupid rouges. He'd have to tell Firestar about this. Brambleclaw turned to leave.

"INTRUDER!" A cat howled from above. Brambleclaw looked up in time to see a white cat jump down from above. Brambleclaw jumped back, but not in time for the cat's claws to sink into his back. Brambleclaw hissed, not about to back down from a fight. Brambleclaw dug his claws into the rouges flank. The cat yowled. Brambleclaw let the cat go. It did go, yowling as it ran. "REDPELT! SQUIRRELSTAR!" Brambleclaw winced at the Squirrel part. Now the rouges were naming cats after leaders?

Brambleclaw only had a few heartbeats to lick his wounds when two cats rushed into the clearing. Before he could react, he was pinned to the ground. A cat with a red pelt that had a paw on his neck hissed. "Squirrelstar, we've got the Intruder!"

Brambleclaw heard the soft rustle of leaves as a new cat approached. As she grew closer, Brambleclaw's captives jumped up. Brambleclaw jumped to his feet. The she-cat, apparently the leader, was a female version of Firestar. Just like Squirrelflight, Brambleclaws eyes misted when he thought of his former mate. He shook it off. He couldn't let the rouge see any sign of weakness.

The leader hissed. "Now tell me, intruder, why you were hunting on my clan's territory!" Brambleclaw reeled back in shock. He'd heard that voice before… It was a voice he'd both hated and loved. The pieces fit together. Brambleclaw gulped.

"Squirrelflight?"