Hello again. Why you are looking marvelous today! Simply. Marvelous. I have to ask: Am I the only one not obsessing over One Direction? Can someone please explain what makes them the best thing since Chuck Norris?

Hunting had never been her thing. Even back in the gang, Vesper had never really had an aptitude for it. Killing prey was tiresome work.

But again she chided herself, she shouldn't be complaining.

She dipped into a hunter's crouch and sucked in a deep breath. The musty scent of dirt, the tepid taste of moisture. Again she inhaled. More dirt, some dead leaves and the faint odor of cats. She was aware that she was dangerously lingering on the outskirts of someone's territory, but she also knew it was necessary. The gang wasn't ready to move on so she was stuck evading these cats, whoever they were.

She sighed in frustration at the apparent lack of game in this part of the forest. Trying to ease her disappointment, Vesper stepped around the bushes and continued on. As she padded through the unknown forest she pondered how hard it would be to find her way back. She had been careful not to leave a significant scent trail, or risk alerting the local cats. She had taken a path along a stream and gone over some small No-fur bridge that had been deserted-

"Ouch." She had been so lost in retracing her steps that she had tripped over a tree root. She got up, embarrassed at her clumsiness. She looked at her surroundings, realizing she was in a clearing. The grass was a pretty green and miniscule white flowers popped up around the middle. But almost immediately her eyes zeroed in on something else. A fiery orange cat was standing about five fox-lengths from her. At first he seemed almost as surprised as she was, but his expression quickly morphed into aggression.

"You're in Thunderclan territory, rogue!" He hissed. His fur stood up making it look like his back had caught fire.

Vesper was frozen. "I-I didn't… I mean-"she stuttered. He bared his teeth and surged toward her. All she saw was orange fur as he slammed into her. Instantly she reacted. He clawed at her stomach but she kicked out with her hind legs. He evaded the kick, but she used his own dodging maneuver against him as she flipped him over her head and on his back. He let out a huff of air, the impact knocking the wind out of him.

Hunting wasn't her job. Fighting however was.

She didn't spare a second and went on the attack. He had gotten up but Vesper had already darted around to his side. With one paw she sunk her claws in his neck, with the other, she pushed him down under her weight; trapping him. He screeched and thrashed but couldn't get free. Blood bubbled from under her claws. His eyes went wide as he realized how dire the situation was. If he couldn't shake free, he was dead.

Suddenly his paw flew out, raking claws down Vesper's face. She yowled and sprung up away from him. She blinked, blood trickling into her eyes. The other cat had gotten on his feet and growled. But his throat was badly damaged and it sounded more like a hoarse cough.

"Who are you? What are you doing on Thunderclan lands?" He coughed, blood staining his throat scarlet.

Vesper hissed. She didn't answer; too suspicious he would use her reply as a distraction to attack once she was focused on being civil.

"You are on Thunderclan land!" He repeated. "Leave now or I'll make you."

Vesper was torn between running and staying. Everything in her told her not to turn her back on an enemy, but she didn't want to fight this cat. The whole reason she had escaped the city had been to avoid these kinds of things. She hesitated too long. The cat snarled and sprang at her. But this time she was ready. They tumbled toward the edge of the clearing; each too quick for the other to pin. One was on top blindly slashing at their opponent, and then other slipped out and took their place.

But then she abruptly rolled off of the cat as though she had been jerked away. The unanticipated move had Vesper on her feet instantaneously, adrenaline pumping. She saw the orange cat lying on the ground, struggling. At first she stared, baffled at what had happened. Then looking closer, she saw one of his legs was caught in a tree root. The exact tree root she had tripped on, when she first arrived.

This was her chance to finish him, but taking down an opponent that couldn't fight back was something she hated doing. Again she thought of the point of coming here. At the same time, she could hardly risk running back to the gang's hiding spot and have him following her or even worse, bringing some friends along.

Then she heard a crack and saw him breaking free of the branch. As soon as he was clear, he turned to her and sank back into an attack stance. Somehow she was relieved but then he lunged and any relief she had vanished. She feinted to one side then dove to the other. He missed her and she saw her chance. With a feral cry she dove for his throat. She pounced on him and with a swift motion of her claws, red poured out of his neck. A small moan came from his lips before the life drained from his eyes. Then everything fell silent; he was dead.

Vesper stood motionless, looking down at the cat's body. The first feeling she felt was remorse. But she pushed it aside angrily. He had attacked her first, she hadn't asked for this to happen. It was his territory; he had just been defending it. She reminded herself, feeling shame burn through her.

She stood there for a moment, and then she remembered something she had thought earlier.

What if he had friends? A gang, like she did. Family who would want revenge. Panic sluggishly dripped into her thoughts. Yes, it would make sense that he wasn't alone. He had said something about a clan. Obviously he had a group. A group that would be looking for him. Her stomach clenched and her gaze darted around the clearing suddenly paranoid. She wildly tried to think of a plan.

There was no way she could leave the body. Anyone who found it would see her fur in his claws and would know her scent. She would have to hide it, hope scavengers got to it. But where?

She searched her mind, becoming more stressed at each stupid idea. Bury it? No she would never be able to dig up that much dirt. Get some predator to find it? Vesper recoiled from the idea of purposely leading some hungry fox to it.

The river! The thought struck her. It wasn't too far from where she was. She could drag it in, cover up the scent in the clearing, and the body would wash away from the area, so she was ok. Well hopefully. Although it was likely it would pulled away in the current, there was always the chance it would get caught on something. But she didn't have time to think up something better.

After she had left the body in the stream she decided to find somewhere to sleep. The sun had sunk into the trees, making the sky a blended collage of red, and purple. The way the light hit the air you could see every piece of dust and debris floating slowly around her.

There was hollowed tree a little ways from the river that she decided would be her camp. Vesper scared a couple of squirrels out, and then settled in. She lay there, trying to fall into the oblivious stupor of sleep, but was kept awake by images of the battle flashing through her mind. The dead cat, blood, a snarl. She hadn't even known his name. She couldn't decide whether that made this worse or better. There was something about ignorance that was very appealing. Her mental turmoil made it almost impossible to close her eyes, but in the end, exhaustion took over and she slipped into a dream.

She was back at Shake City. Standing on that grate over the metal snake that shook the city, and made a shrill squeal as it passed. What it had been named for. The noise slowly died down and she stepped off the grate. The rough thunderpath scratched her paws, but she barely noticed anymore. Through the light fog she saw a shape coming toward her. As it got closer she could deduce it was a cat. Vesper squinted trying to make out its face. Creamy white fur, light brown patches defined its fur. Something in her stirred, it was so familiar. The cat stopped, now out of the fog. Her heart almost stopped in shock.

It was Cecile. She felt as though she had waded into an icy pool, freezing her from the inside out. Vesper's eyes widened and her fur stood up. This could not be happening. She was dead. There was no way.

Cecile's gaze was frigid, almost like the eyes of the dead. As Vesper remembered her in life, she had always been kinder than most. Her blue eyes sparkled with warmth.

There was no warmth now.

Vesper let out a shaky breath, trying to contain her fear.

"Cecile?" She asked her voice afraid of the response.

Cecile stood there, narrowing her eyes. Watching her with a hatred that hadn't been there in life.

The dream shifted.

The smell of spring was around her. Fresh flowers blooming, life radiating out of everything. She could pick up the sounds of a creek nearby. A faint wind ruffled her fur and closed her eyes in contentment. She didn't know where she was but it was wonderful. It felt as though just being here washed her stress away.

Vesper hadn't had many experiences with woodlands since she had lived her entire life in the city. There had been a park that had been a few blocks away from where the gang hid. It had been kinda like this, but somehow this place seemed magical, ethereal, something she couldn't quite understand.

When she opened her eyes, it confirmed her hunch. Trees stood higher than she had ever seen, their branches shooting out like a canopy that hugged the sky. The floor was squishy dirt that was kind to her paws. Flowers were everywhere. Colors she had never imagined seeing so close so each other complemented the scene in perfect harmony. She was entranced its alien feel.

Absorbed in the landscape, she hadn't noticed the cat beside her.

"Vesper."

She jumped and shot backward.

It belonged to a tortoiseshell, looking at her with a gentle expression.

Vesper could see she wasn't aggressive, but couldn't help feeling nervous. She backed away farther to what she decided was a comfortable distance then asked suspiciously, "Who are you? Where are we?"

"I am Spottedleaf. We are in Starclan."

Vesper puzzled over this. Starclan? What is she talking about?

"What is Starclan?" She asked.

Spottedleaf took in her confused state and smiled. "It is the place for warriors after death."

"I'm dead?" Vesper was growing steadily more concerned.

"No, but I have brought you here to share a message with you. It is of the utmost importance."

Vesper frowned. Why would this strange cat come to her if it was an important message? Vesper didn't even know who she was. Maybe it's just my overactive imagination, Vesper tried to convince herself. Dead cats are dead. They don't come back.

But it wouldn't hurt to get the message. Maybe it would just make the dream end faster.

"So what is it?" She asked.

Spottedleaf's demeanor became serious, "You are the fourth. You must save the clans from destroying themselves. You must join with the other three in the last battle."

Vesper felt even more confused at this," Um what? What does that even mean? I've never even seen any clan-" She cut herself short remembering the orange cat that had spoke of something called Thunderclan.

Spottedleaf nodded, "You will. Soon."

And with that the dream faded.

Boring? Not Boring? Anyway, for those of you that didn't get the metal snake thing, it was the subway. Or metro, I don't really get the difference between the two.