Feather observed the cats in front of her warily. They seemed dangerous, lean and strong. Like Igor. She shook herself. They're nothing like Igor. They're nicer. At least, I hope…

When the she-cat- Squirrelflight- asked for her story, she braced herself. Will they welcome me if they here my story? After all, I might need their help…

She started talking, trying to ignore the other cats around her, the ones she knew no one else could see.

"I live far from here, behind the Twolegs' dens. I have a few friends there: Snow, Tuft and two others. We were happy and there was plenty of prey around. Then new cats moved in."

She took a breath before continuing.

"At first it was fine. There was plenty of prey to go around. Then the cats started showing signs of wanting to control us. We had to mark borders but that didn't do anything because the cats would still cross. Sometimes they would sit just barely on their side of the border and laugh like a pack of well-trained hyenas.

"Then, one day, they came right over the border and took some of our prey. They declared themselves leaders of the entire area and if we didn't agree we could fight them. I was the only one in our small group who had ever needed to use any fighting moves at all, so we would've been crushed anyways. The cats demanded we give them our territory and all the prey we found. We decided to go into hiding.

"Sneaking into an abandoned Twoleg nest, we found refuge there. One of us would go outside through the back exit and carry back prey for us while another would make a show of hunting before giving the catch to the leader of the rogues pack. We lived in constant fear. I rememeber once, Tuft couldn't find any prey out back and snuck in front to hunt. She caught a bird and was dragging it back when the leader caught her."

Feather shuddered.

"She came back barely alive, scratched and bleeding. It took almost two moons for her to get back on her paws and another two for her to be able to walk and hunt without pain. Ever since, we have lived in constant fear. Sometimes we didn't even get to hunt, to scared to go out. We learned to live with barely any food and fear a constant companion."

"That's how we've been living for more moons than I can count. I decided to come here and see if I can change that."

Stunned silence followed her confession.

"What is the leader's name?" Squirrelflight asked when she finally found her voice.

Feather's eyes flashed. "Igor."

Jayfeather couldn't help being impressed. The cat in front of him had some serious courage. She radiated an aura that of power that awed him- and confused him. You can ask StarClan about her tonight he thought. Tonight he was going to the Moonpool. There was something about this cat that wasn't normal and he hoped StarClan would know.

"You said that you were the only one in your group that had ever fought anything. What did you fight?" he asked Feather.

"A badger." Seeing Jayfeather incredulous look, Feather hastily continued. "I was hunting out back when I heard a crack behind me. I turned and a badger came lumbering out of the forest at me. Terrified, I fled but the badger chased after me. I realized that if it got to close to my friends, it might find them to be easier targets. So, I turned and started using the few fighting moves I know to keep the badger angry. Then I scampered up a tree with a few stones and flung them one by one at different trees. Confused, the badger stopped as it tried to figure out which tree I was in. Then I padded away softly. Once I had enough distance, I pelted away back to the Twoleg den.".

"Wow." was all Jayfeather could say.

"So where are we going?" Feather asked.

"We're taking you back to camp, to see our leader. He'll decided what should be done." Squirrelflight answered.

"Do you think he'll make me go back?"

Squirrelflight hesitated. She wanted to say no, but she knew that wasn't true. And this cat obviously wanted the truth.

"Probably." is what she meowed instead. Feather didn't reply.

"Which way?" she asked.

Jayfeather turned and started walking towards the ThunderClan camp.

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