Twist opened his jaws wide to taste the air. All around the black tom were trees and thick undergrowth, and the sun was sinking in mixed colors of red, orange, and yellow.

Twist caught the scent of mouse and located next to a holly bush. Dropping into a crouch, he silently stalked the mouse. When it was a tail-length away, he wriggled his haunches to pounce, but his tail brushed a leaf, and the mouse darted away.

The loner hung his head. Well, I guess I'm going hungry tonight. Twist thought. Then he shook his head. He couldn't just stand there moping! There was no time to spare. Oh, no! I have to find somewhere to sleep!

Already, darkness was falling as the black tom raced away into the trees.

Twist listened to a bird's call, staring blankly into the darkness of the night. His green eyes glowed faintly. He was wedged in the crook of a tree branch, on top of the moss he had brought up for his bedding. It was very uncomfortable, and sleep would not come.

The loner sighed. He had just managed to find this alder tree when the darkness began to settle. He didn't have much choice but to sleep there. At least it would shelter him for night.

Why must my life be like this? I always imagined a much better life- one with lots of prey, a comfortable den, and… my very own kits- with Amber. Twist shook his head miserably. But then again, this is Amber I'm thinking about. He reflected. I never loved her. And she never loved me. We were just friends, that's all. She wouldn't have left me like that if she truly loved me.

And with that, the black tom slid into sleep with the image of a flame-colored she-cat with sparkling amber eyes. Oh, Amber…

The first thing Twist felt was pain. His back felt bruised and broken. He began to wonder why it hurt.

He saw red fur as he opened his eyes into the early morning light. Hope fluttered in his chest. Amber? But his hope died as he saw that it wasn't a cat. It was a fox. Of course it wasn't her.

Twist realized that the fox must have knocked him out of the tree on to the ground. The vile creature bared its pointed yellow teeth. Twist couldn't move fast enough to avoid the first blow, a swipe to his shoulder. More pain exploded inside him, starting with his shoulder then spreading quickly through his body.

Gritting his teeth against the pain, the loner unsheathed his claws. Narrowing his eyes, he leaped on to the fox's back and dug his claws into its pelt.

Screeching, the fox tried to throw him off. Knowing that he would fall eventually, Twist tried to make the most out of his stay. Hanging on with his back legs, the tom clawed the fox with his forepaws.

Then suddenly he was flying through the air, and before he could prepare himself, Twist crashed into a tree, winded and stunned. In a heartbeat, Twist felt the fox's jaws grasping his neck and the fiery pain that came with it.

Is this it? Am I really going to die like this? Twist thought dully as the world began to spin and the fox swung him around vigorously.

Then he felt the fox let go and drop him, onto the cold leaf-bare ground. Twist thought he heard another cat's yowl close by. "Sandfur, come quickly! We need to get this cat to Gingerleaf!" Twist's vision blurred and darkened as pawsteps thundered closer. Then there was silence.