Firestar turned and gasped. A dark tabby claw was reaching toward him. He tried to swat it away, but it was as if a mouse were trying to kill a monster. Firestar growled and leaped on top of the-the-thing-and raked his teeth across it. It froze, and Firestar felt a swell of satisfaction in his chest, but he gulped down his horror as he realized that it was moving away from him and toward his mate and kits. Firestar thrusts forward, yowling and struggling to reach his loved ones. Sandstorm gives him one last look before collapsing. Her spirit mewed a good-bye and another beautiful she-cat-Spottedleaf-floated down and tugged Sandstorm's soul on the scruff, and into Starclan.

Firestar woke up in a sweat. He had had this dream before, many times. He stalked into the nursury to see if his beloved mate was alright. Sure enough, Sandstorm was fast asleep, their almost-apprentice kits, Leafkit and Squirrelkit, by her side.

Firestar stretched and shivered. It was currently leaf-fall, and they birds were starting to migrate. He padded toward the dirtplace and squatted. He flicked his ears as another figure swooped into the dirtplace. He squirmed uncomfortably, for the scent of a she-cat was drifting in the air and into his nose. He tried to scoot over, but only to squirt urine on every hair on his pelt. Firestar mrowled in annoyance, causing the she-cat to jump and look at him. Turns out it was Mousefur.

"Firestar?Are you-"

"Oh I'm fine," the ginger tom babbled. "Just taking a leak-you know, number 1?"

Mousefur looked at him skeptically as Firestar poked his head out so she wouldn't see his soaking pelt.

"Well, in that case, I guess I'll..." Mousefur trailed off, sniffing the air. Firestar stiffened. Mousefur frowned and said, "I guess it always smells like this; it is the dirtplace, after all." But as she left, Firestar could hear her mutter, "Males..."

"Females..." Firestar muttered in reply, hoping that Mousefur wouldn't hear him.

The sunlight was entering the camp, and the dawn patrol was incoming.

"So?" demanded Firestar, "Any news?"

"Shadowclan isn't crossing the border anymore," replied Dustpelt. "I think our warning at the gathering did a good job. The prey is getting thinner and the numbers are growing less," he added.

Firestar sighed, or maybe he groaned, but he was cut off as someone nuzzled his rump. He purred, knowing it was Sandstorm. He closed his eyes and remembered the day he saved her. And the day that she said she loved him. And the day they curled tails for the first time. And the day they mated. And the day...

"Cut it out!" a voice shrieked. He looked around, suddenly realized he was hanging on to the she-cat's scruff with his teeth, and that his tail was moving around, seeking for Sandstorm's entrance. He blushed madly, but Sandstorm was purring like crazy. Frostfur covered her kits' eyes.

Firestar was at the dirtplace. Whaaa? Thankfully, he had daydreamed the embarrassing event. He stood up and used a secret tunnel to wash out his pelt at a nearby stream.

"Firestar! Firestar!" yowled a cat. When he turned, he was surprised to see a fluffy, white young cat thunderig toward him. Cloudpaw.

"Cloudpaw? What's up? Wut happenin, duuuuuuuuuuuude?"

Okay. He didn't say that. I was just being flirty and silly that day. Moving on:

"Cloudpaw? What is it? Is something wrong?"

Cloudpaw's eyes stretched and schreeched,

"WE'RE UNDER ATTACK, BITCH!"