A/N: This is related to my other story, Perfect Disaster, so if you haven't read that I suggest you do. This happens long before Perfect Disaster, just so you know :) I don't really have anything else to say, so… on to the story!

Dusk is an uncertain time, balanced between the dark and the light, the day and the night. Too much of one or the other could plunge the Clan into evil.

Beware the jaws of darkness.

Chapter 1

Duskheart stumbled yet again as she staggered through the forest. Her mate, Gorsepelt, steadied her and licked her ear. "Just a little longer and we'll be out of your father's territory," he promised. It was all Duskheart could do to nod wearily.

Her father was Oakstar, leader of ShadowClan. Gorsepelt was from RiverClan. When Oakstar had found out that Duskheart had taken a mate from another Clan, he'd been furious. He decided to exile her, though many warriors wanted to kill her. Gorsepelt refused to leave her, and now the two were outcasts, traveling away from the Clans and into the unknown.

Duskheart had no idea where to go after they reached ShadowClan's border. Everything that she knew was ending; everything seemed to be crashing down around her. She glanced gratefully at her mate. At least she had Gorsepelt.

"Thank you. For coming with me," she meowed. He looked sideways at her. "Of course." He purred and nuzzled her. "I love you." Duskheart sighed happily. "I love you too."

Soon the two were standing on the edge of Clan territory, staring out at the land before them. Ahead of them was a thunderpath. After that rose Highstones. And beyond that were mountains. To their left was more Clan territory. To their right were rolling green hills. It was at these hills that Duskheart looked. She didn't fancy climbing those mountains, and going through another Clan's territory wasn't really an option.

Gorsepelt was watching the hills also. He glanced at Duskheart. "Shall we head for the hills?" He meowed. Duskheart nodded. "I think so."

She crouched along with Gorsepelt by the side of the thunderpath, looking down first one way then the other. A monster appeared as a dark speck at first, growing larger as it came closer. Finally it roared past them.

"Now!" Gorsepelt yowled, and the two of them hurtled across the rough path into the grass. Duskheart hated the sticky surface of the thunderpath, and she shook her paws in annoyance. "Yuck, yuck, yuck," she muttered. Gorsepelt purred in amusement.

Duskheart set off into the hills. Gorsepelt walked at her side. Small bushes dotted the hillsides, offering little cover. Duskheart found herself glancing often at the sky, fearing a hawk or some other bird of prey. Hopefully a hawk would think twice about attacking two cats.

Soon the sky began to grow dark. Duskheart's paws ached, and her head drooped. Gorsepelt led her to a small bush, and the two curled up underneath it. Duskheart was asleep as soon as her head hit the ground.

Duskheart was awoken by voices. She raised her head sleepily, trying to remember. Am I supposed to be on the dawn patrol? Beside her, Gorsepelt shifted. Duskheart glanced at him, then shot to her paws.

"We stayed out all night! We'll be caught for sure-" Suddenly she stopped as she remembered what had happened. Gorsepelt blinked groggily at her. "What?" He groaned. Duskheart sheepishly shuffled her paws. "Nothing."

Then she realized what had woke her. Voices. She padded quietly to the outer branches of the bush and squinted out into the sunlight. They'd slept late- it was almost sunhigh. In the long grass a few feet away, four cats stood muttering. When Duskheart crept closer, she could just barely make out what they were saying.

"Well, what are we going to do with them? We can't just leave them there. Maybe they're here to take over our territory!"

"Two cats, here to take our territory? Highly unlikely, Viper. They're probably just passing through."

"You would say that, Star. Not everyone is going to be your best friend, you know."

"Enough, you two! She's awake!"

Three of the cats outside whipped around as the fourth, a dark gray tom, waved his tail at Duskheart. The black one- Duskheart was pretty sure he was called Viper- bared his teeth and took a threatening step forward. Gorsepelt stepped up beside Duskheart, a growl rumbling in his throat. A long-furred cream she-cat hurried to Viper's side, whispering urgently in his ear, while the last one, a light brown tabby she-cat, walked forward calmly.

"We mean you no harm," the tabby meowed, then added with a sharp glance at Viper, "Most of us, anyway. I'm Dwyn, and this is Viper, Star and Arven." Dwyn motioned to the cream she-cat when she said Star, and the gray tom was Arven. Duskheart dipped her head in greeting. "I'm Duskheart, and this is Gorsepelt," she meowed. Dwyn and Viper exchanged glances. "You wouldn't happen to be from the Clans, would you?" Arven meowed.

"As a matter of fact, yes we are. Why?" Gorsepelt meowed in surprise. Arven shook his head. "No reason," he meowed casually.

Dwyn spoke again. "What are you doing here?" She asked coolly. "We're just passing by," Gorsepelt meowed quickly. "We're looking for somewhere to, umm…" He trailed off. Star flicked her tail. "Settle down?" She offered, looking significantly from Gorsepelt to Duskheart. Duskheart's fur felt hot. "You could look at it that way," she meowed slowly.

Dwyn eyed them, before meowing "Well then, I suppose you could stay a day or two with us." Viper charged forward. "Dwyn, what are you thinking? We can't just-" But Dwyn stopped him with a severe look. "We will take them to Brisen," she growled. "Come." The tabby turned and stalked away. Viper, with a last angry glance at the Clan cats, ran after her. Arven and Star lined up behind Duskheart and Gorsepelt, who looked at each other worriedly.

It appeared they had no choice but to follow the mysterious cats.

A/N: How did you like it? Please review and tell me!