Prologue- Leaf-fall, half-moon, RiverClan 6:00 AM

Gingersprig bounded out of her den. She lapped at the stream trickling through camp. She stuck her head up and padded over to where the deputy, Oliveskip.

"Gingersprig, would you like to lead a hunting patrol?" he asked. She looked up at him. "Sure!" Oliveskip blinked gratefully.

Cherrywing and Fernpaw padded up to her, sleep in Fernpaw's eyes.

"Come on," growled Fernpaw,"The sun is barely above the horizon! And we've been practicing hunting for days!"

"And tomorrow we'll go on the dawn patrol," replied Cherrywing gruffly, silencing Fernpaw with a flick of her orange tabby tail. Fernpaw's tail lashed back and forth angrily.

Beepaw bounced up to Fernpaw's side. "Quit being so grumpy! I'm excited to go hunting." Fernpaw didn't reply.

"Where's Flamewhisker?" interjected Gingersprig. "He told me to join a patrol. I don't know," mewed Beepaw.

What? Why would he leave his apprentice like that?

"Well, let's go then," decided Gingersprig briskly, padding off, the patrol following in a neatly assembled line.

When the cats reached the river, Cherrywing split up with Fernpaw, leaving Gingersprig and Beepaw. "What should I do?" asked Beepaw. Gingersprig decided,"You can catch some minnows in the shallows."

Later, back at camp, Gingersprig wondered if she should tell Snakestar. After all, Flamewhisker should never have left an apprentice unattended, but it wasn't that big of a deal, she supposed. She thought for a second, and...