Early morning sunlight flitted through the den. Fernpaw blinked her pale green eyes open, as she stretched in her nest. Her paws thudded dully against her brother, Swiftpaw's back. He cracked an eye open, though it narrowed at her.

"Can't you be still?" He grumbled, though he to stood up, stretching next to his sister. "Your always so fidgety in the mornings. Like sharing a den with a fox!" Fernpaw purred at him, and he flicked his ear and padded out of the den, his tail tip flicking her on the shoulder.

Fernpaw followed after him, shaking scraps of moss from her pelt. She blinked as her eyes adjusted to the sun, but purred as it reached through the hollow and warmed her dusky brown fur. In the middle of Leafbare, any sun was welcomed by the cats of ThunderClan.

Her ears pricked as she noticed Cherypaw and Molepaw, each holding their heads and tails high as they padded into the camp, prey dangling from their jaws. Dovewing, Cherrypaw's mentor, followed soon after with Toadstep, Molepaw's mentor. Fernpaw bounded over, her whiskers twitching. "Wow!" She mewed, her eyes round. "Great catch!"

Cherrypaw's fur fluffed with pride, and her eyes were bright. "Thanks, Fernpaw!" She exclaimed. "Bramblestar said if we did well, we would be made warriors this evening!"

Fernpaw purred as she pressed her flank against her friend's. "That's great, Cherrypaw! And I'll be the first cat yowling your warrior name." Cherrypaw blinked warmly at her, but her response was cut off as Bramblestar padded over. He looked to Fernpaw, and Lionblaze and Icecloud padded over.

"Fernpaw," Bramblestar meowed. "I want you go to with Lionblaze and Icecloud to patrol the ShadowClan border. They're been crossing far to often, and it's time someone put a stop to it." Fernpaw watched as his amber eyes narrowed, and turned her gaze onto Lionblaze. The deputy-And also her father- blinked warmly at her.

"Come on, you two," the golden tom rumbled to the two she-cats. "ShadowClan aren't going to sit around and wait to be caught by a patrol." With that, he padded towards the thorn barrier entrence, Iceloud stalking after him, flanked by Fernpaw.

Together, the small patrol stalked towards the border, keeping to the bushes. Fernpaw's fur started to prickle as she got a fresh scent of ShadowClan. By the bristling pelts of her companions, she could tell she wasn't the only one.

As soon as they had scented them, four ShadowClan cats appeared; One was Blackstar, his white pelt rippling powerfully. He was flanked by his deputy, Rowanclaw, his ginger fur gleaming in the weak sunlight. Toadfoot and Crowfrost prowled behind them, claws unsheathed and pelts bristling with the thought of a fight.

Lionblaze narrowed his eyes as he dipped his head to Blackstar. "Blackstar," He greeted formally. "What are you doing here, so close to the border?"

Blackstar flicked an ear nonchantly, as his green eyes gazed at the ThunderClan cats calmly, though there was a flicker of his usual coldness in them.

"If you'll notice," The ShadowClan leader meowed, "ThunderClan is just as close to the border as we are."

Lionblaze's whiskers twitched, and Fernpaw noticed the fur along Icecloud's spine bristle.

"We're the border patrol," Lionblaze retorted. "And besides, we have just as much of a right to be here as you."

Blackstar simple dipped his head. "I understand that," he rumbled. "Crowfrost, mark the borders and let's be getting back to camp."

Crowfrost dipped his head to Blackstar and quickly marked ShadowClan's side of the border, all the while having his lips drawn back to the ThunderClan patrol.

Once finished, the ShadowClan patrol turned without another word and slunk off into the shadows. Fernpaw surpressed a shudder, and felt Lionblaze's tail tip rest on her shoulder. "Don't let those fox-hearts frighten you," He murmered, his warm breath comforting Fernpaw. She purred up at her father and fluffed her fur out, holding her head high.

"Of course not!" The ducky brown apprentice meowed. "I'm a ThunderClan cat; We're not scared of anything!"

Lionblaze let out a purr of amusement as he and Icecloud seat about to remarking the border. "Come on, then," He mewed once they had finished. "We better be off. I need to report to Bramblestar about this."

With a nod, the three cats bounded easily through the woods, their pelts rippling. Fernpaw couldn't help the sudden swell of pride she felt then, running beside her father and mentor.

I'm a ThunderClan cat, she thought to herself. I'm not afraid of anything!