Fire alone will save our Clan.

Darkness clouded the young she-cats vision. Her ears were pricked high. She could tell something was near. Her wide emerald eyes scanned the rich undergrowth, not recognizing where she was at, but strange scents lulled her deeper into the forest. Rusty's stomach growled like a lion. She parted her maxilla and mandible slightly to let the scents of the forest flood her senses. Musty scents of mold mingled with the distinct scent of a small, furry creature. Rusty saw a flash of gray pass her vision. Mouse. She saw it hiding in the leaves. This would satisfy her hunger. Lowering herself into a crouch, poising herself for the attack. It was downwind of her. She knew the mouse had no idea she was present. Rusty sprang, sending a shower of leaves behind her, and the mouse dove for cover. But she was onto it. She hooked the creature with her thorn sharp claws, then slamming it into a tree. The mouse was alive but dazed. It tried to escape, but Rusty was faster. She flung it farther this time, but the mouse managed to scramble away until Rusty caught up to it. Then, a noise rumbled nearby. She whipped her head around, the mouse escaping. Rusty saw it retreat into the foliage. Angry, the She cat gave up on the hunt, still hungry. The sound rattled on. Her green gaze swept around the forest, looking for whatever made the noise. Suddenly she opened her eyes, blinking. Her two leg had been filling up her bowl with hard brown pellets. Rusty's collar wrapped around her neck uncomfortably. In her dreams, her neck fur was being cooled by the wind. It was the third time since full moon since she had that dream. And every time her hunger was not satisfied. Rusty's mouth watered, the dusty scent of food pellets chasing away the warm scents of her dream. But she carries on, standing above her food bowl and bending her neck to start eating it. The food was dusty and dry on her tongue. She took one last mouthful and then walked over to the cat door, hoping the scents of the garden would remind her of the vivid dream she had. Outside the moon shone brightly, a light drizzle coating the leaves in the trees. She began to pad down the garden, the leaping onto her favorite spot: the fence. She could spot other green gardens, and the dark green forest. The drizzled ceased. She heard her two legs calling for her one last time. They would greet her with gentle words and pet her, then welcome her into their warm bed. But Rusty ignores the calls. Her fur raised. Was that a noise in the forest? Was someone watching her? But suddenly a familiar voice meowed behind her. "Hello, Rusty. What are you looking at?"

Rusty raised her head to see her friend Smudge balancing himself on the fence. "Hi Smudge." She felt her ginger fur weighing down on her from the rain. "Are you going into the forest?" The black and white felines orbits stretched.

"Just for a look." She promised, tensing her muscles.

"I wouldn't go there!" His protesting mew surprised her. His nose wrinkled. "There are huge wildcats in there who eat kittens and sharpen their teeth on bones!" Rusty found it hard to believe. "I'm just going for a look, I'll be back!" Smudge ignored the scorn in her voice. Smudge shrugged, smiling and leaping off the fence. Rusty leaped off the fence, staring in awe at the forest. She pricked her ears, hearing a strange noise. Pawsteps? Rusty began to prowl forwards. But the faint rustling behind her became louder, and the she cat realized she was in danger. Her attacker hit her like an explosion, sending her knocking