(Firepaw POV)
Firepaw and Graypaw were on a hunting assessment. " Let's split up, we'll catch more that way."' suggested Graypaw. Firepaw agreed and headed off towards the Twolegplace. Suddenly, Firepaw scents a mouse and sure enough, a big juicy mouse is sitting in a clearing, napping. Easy prey, Firepaw thought to himself. He dropped into a hunting crouch and sprang landing right on top of the mouse. Before he finished it, he realized it was already dead." That's odd.", he said to himself. Just then a gray and black shape landed on top of him, pinning him down. It put it's forepaw on the back of his neck and said," Looks like I got a trespasser here. I'm gonna teach you a lesson you'll never forget." Hearing it's voice, Firepaw knew it was a she-cat and feeling her claws in the back of his neck proved she wasn't making idle threats. Firepaw quickly flipped over, knocking her off, then got to his feet to face his attacker. He faced the she-cat and almost couldn't believe it. She's no bigger than an apprentice. Yet she fought like a warrior. "What are you doing in Thunderclan territory!" shouted Firepaw, unsheathing his claws.
"Thunderclan territory!? This is our territory!" she spat back.
Our?! thought Firepaw. Just then, a large golden tom jumped from the bushes and tackled Firepaw, flipping him onto his side. Before Firepaw could react, the gold tom sunk his teeth into Firepaw's scruff, enabling him to move. The gold tom then released his scruff and put both of it's forelegs on Firepaw's stomach. Firepaw saw and felt that this tom was about Tigerclaw's size. At first, Firepaw thought it was Lionheart until he heard. " Good job, Mane" from the she-cat and saw a large amount of lion mane like fur on his neck. Mane just grunted.
" Where are Karo and Kiwi?" asked the she-cat.
"Capturing that gray cat that was with this ginger cat", answered Mane. Graypaw. thought Firepaw. Just then, two more shapes appeared from the bracken, a light gray tom and an all black she-cat. Clamped in between both their jaws was the unmoving shape of Graypaw. They dropped him on the ground close to Firepaw. " Got him.", said the black she-cat.
" Good job, Kiwi." said the gray she-cat. A grunt came from the light gray tom. " And you too, Karo." Firepaw stole a glance at Graypaw, fearing he was dead until he saw the rise of his chest. He let out a breath of relief.
" Graypaw... Graypaw, are you ok?" asked Firepaw.
" Yeah. Just a scratch." Graypaw whispered. He turned his head to look at Firepaw. " And you?"
" I'm ok. Just need to catch my breath." Firepaw glanced up at the golden tom, Mane, who still kept his forepaws on Firepaw's side. He seemed to be watching Graypaw, most likely so he won't run off. Firepaw noticed the three smaller cats talking privately while glancing at them now and again. Firepaw looked at Mane again. Mane then glanced at Firepaw for a second then looked up at the gray she-cat. She looked at Mane then nodded. Mane lifted his paws off of Firepaw then whispered," Try to run away and we'll chase you down and drag you back by your tails." He then walked a couple tail-lengths away and sat down, guarding them. Firepaw inched over towards Graypaw. He could see his friend was not seriously hurt but looked really tired.
"How many are there?" Graypaw asked glancing around, trying to scent any other intruders or Thunderclan cats.
"Four, three apprentice sized ones and one Tigerclaw sized one." responded Firepaw.
" We're definitely in trouble if they decide to fight."
"Especially with that golden tom and that grey she-cat. They're tough."
" Which one do you think is the leader?" asked Graypaw.
" I'm guessing that grey she-cat. She..." Firepaw started as he was interrupted by the three smaller cats mewing," Agreed." They then turned and walked over to Firepaw and Graypaw. " Alright you two, we'll offer you a deal. First tell us your names and we'll tell you ours."
Firepaw and Graypaw exchanged a look then Firepaw said, " We're Firepaw and Graypaw."
"Ok... some odd names there but a deal's a deal. I'm Wolf," said the gray she-cat. "That's Mane," gesturing with her tail towards the blond tom." That's Karo," gesturing towards the light gray tom." And that's Kiwi." gesturing towards the black she-cat.
" Nice to meet you." Firepaw said sarcastically. He, along with Graypaw, got to their feet and stood in front of the three cats.
" You said something about a Clan which means more cats. We want to speak to the leader about territory. Are either of you the leader?" Wolf asked.
"No, Bluestar is." answered Graypaw.
" Oh, ok." She twitched her tail and Firepaw and Graypaw were pushed back onto their stomachs by Mane. " We just want something to persuade her more." Kiwi then walked behind Mane and before they could say anything, Firepaw and Graypaw felt claws on their tails. They started to wail in pain but Wolf didn't seem to care. Kiwi then returned with two clumps of ginger and gray fur in her claws. Wolf then turned to Kiwi," You can scent where the other cats are. Find the one called Bluestar and say that if she does not come to meet me alone, the cats who bear this fur will not be returning." Kiwi picked the fur from her claws, put it in her mouth, nodded to Wolf, then stalked off towards Thunderclan camp. Firepaw and Graypaw could only watch and hope that Bluestar would find out someway to help them.