"Wait up, Aspentail!" The pale gray-streaked she-cat skidded to a halt just before she hit the river.

"What is it, Graydawn?" Graydawn, an elder, hobbled over.

"Remember that you have to check for enemy scents before you escort the elders to Sunningrocks." Aspentail let out a noisy sigh and rolled her eyes.

"Oh come on!" She moaned. "It's perfectly safe!" Graydawn shrugged and began to cross the stepping-stones. Take your time! Aspentail thought sarcastically as she waited impatiently for the eldery she-cat to cross. It's not like I have stuff to do or anything. Aspentail had been chosen to escort the elder Graydawn across the river to sun herself on Sunningrocks, but the black she-cat was not at all happy about it.

"Aspentail!" The long-tailed she-cat looked up as she heard her name. A ThunderClan warrior, a brown tom, had pinned Graydawn down. The gray elder was struggling frantically, but the warrior was undaunted.

"This is a warning: stay away from Sunningrocks!" He yowled. "It belongs to ThunderClan!"

"No!" Aspentail screeched and launched herself at the stepping-stones. The brown tom had tossed Graydawn's body into the river so Aspentail changed her course. The black-and-gray she-cat swam steadily towards the fast-sinking elder and grabbed the scruff in her jaws. Heaving Graydawn onto the nearby bank on RiverClan's border, Aspentail collapsed. I'm sorry, Graydawn. I should've protected you. I promise I'll make it up to you and your denmates someday, this I solemnly swear.