Leafpool lifted her head, groggy from sleep. She glanced at the sleeping figure of Nightcloud and padded out. The sun was setting, and they would start out soon.

Sighing, Leafpool meowed, "StarClan, when will this nightmare end?"

No cat answered her. Leafpool looked at the sky again and heard her belly growl. Looking at the medicine den, Leafpool wondered if she should wake Nightcloud and tell her where she was going. But, no, Leafpool didn't need to ask permission. And Nightcloud wouldn't appreciate being woke up.

Leafpool crept out of camp. She decided to get a drink of water first, and bring some water back for Nightcloud. Leafpool warned herself to be careful, Bramblestar and his warriors might be here. She scented the air, and finding nothing, she set out for the stream.

The tabby she-cat walked down the hill warily. Following the lake to a stream, Leafpool stopped. She still had to be careful, this was still TigerClan territory. Bending her head to drink from the stream, she lapped up a few cold drops. Only then did she remember to go to the Moonpool.

Raising her head in alarm, Leafpool dashed alongside the stream to the Moonpool. She needed to go to the Moonpool before night fell. When she arrived, she saw a bunch of TigerClan warriors patrolling the area. Leaning closer, Leafpool could hear what they were mewing.

"I don't get why Bramblestar makes us patrol this area," yawned one cat. Leafpool recognized Tornear.

"Cats will probably come through here," answered another cat. Whitetail, Leafpool recognized.

"Maybe," mewed Ashfoot. Why is she here? thought Leafpool. She was the deputy before this.

Cautiously, Leafpool inched back. She couldn't stay. Nightcloud would be waiting. Leafpool raced away, crashing into a rabbit. When it was dazed, Leafpool swung her claws at it, killing it instantly. Picking it up with her teeth, she took it back to an impatient Nightcloud.

"Here," meowed Leafpool, placing the rabbit at Nightcloud's paws.

"We'll share." Nightcloud licked her paw.

Leafpool bent her head to take a bite out of the rabbit. Nightcloud bent her head, too, and the rabbit was soon gone.

"I was going to bring you back some water," began Leafpool.

"Why didn't you?" Nightcloud questioned.

"Well…I went to the Moonpool."

"To ask our warrior ancestors what to do," guessed Nightcloud.

Leafpool nodded. "Bramblestar has ordered a bunch of guards there. He's clever. He knows that sooner or later, some of us will go there."

"Where you seen?"

"Don't think so. Sorry about the water."

"It's okay," mewed Nightcloud. "Let's go."

Leafpool nodded.

Nightcloud walked out of camp. She scented the air, wondering which way to go. "RiverClan," she decided.

"Leopardstar can help us," agreed Leafpool.

"If RiverClan hasn't been taken over already," Nightcloud pointed out.

"They can't be. There's no scent of TigerClan warriors here, and the only other way is through ShadowClan territory. Blackstar's no fool," protested the tabby.

Nightcloud walked a few steps before scenting a rabbit. Her stomach was still growling. Picking up speed, she raced after the fleeing rabbit.

Leafpool followed, pressing her belly close to the ground. Nightcloud caught the rabbit and placed it to the ground, waiting for Leafpool to catch up.

"We'll share," Nightcloud murmured.

Swallowing the rabbit quickly, the two set out once more for RiverClan territory. They soon reached a path where Twolegs walked on. It wasn't a Thunderpath, though.

"I think we should stop at the horseplace," mewed Leafpool.

"But if we continue, we can reach help faster," argued Nightcloud.

"We don't know if they'll help us," Leafpool pointed out.

"They might."

"And they might not. They could chase us off. Besides, RiverClan aren't exactly welcoming," Leafpool retorted.

"All right."

They crossed the path with ease and continued to the horseplace. They reached it just as the sun went up.

Nightcloud looked at the horses disdainfully. She quickly passed them and neared the barn.

"Smoky!" called Leafpool. "Floss!"

The gray and white tom came into view. The small gray and white she-cat followed.

"You're those Clan cats Daisy went with," Smoky mewed.

"Yes," meowed Leafpool. Thinking it was impolite to ask a favor this way, she mewed, "Greetings. I am Leafpool of ThunderClan and this is Nightcloud of WindClan."

"I see," answered Smoky. "What are you here for?"

"Um…." Leafpool was unsure of how to start.

"There's this evil cat that took over our homes," meowed Nightcloud.

"His name's Bramblestar," added Leafpool. "He chased us out of our homes, and now we have nowhere to go."

"We traveled here," continued Nightcloud. "We were hoping that you would let us stay with you for…um…"

"A while!" blurted Leafpool.

Floss and Smoky exchanged looks. Smoky leaned over to whisper something in Floss's ear. Floss whispered back.

Nightcloud and Leafpool exchanged appalled glances. Smoky finally lifted his head to speak to the two Clan cats.

"Sure, you can stay here," he meowed casually. "You might want to stay out of the Nofurs' sight."

"Nofurs?" asked Nightcloud.

"Nofurs are Twolegs," hissed Leafpool quietly.

"Oh," whispered Nightcloud.

Floss looked them over. "Come in, do. You look exhausted."

Too tired to protest, they entered the barn. Smoky showed them where they could rest.

"It's hidden from the Nofurs," he explained.

Just then, Leafpool caught sight of a familiar cream-colored pelt.

"Daisy!" Leafpool exclaimed.

Daisy turned around. Catching sight of Leafpool, she dashed over.

"Leafpool?"

"That's me!" purred Leafpool. "How did you come here?"

"When Bramblestar chased us out, I headed straight across WindClan territory and back here," explained Daisy.

"But we were on WindClan territory, and we didn't see you," meowed Nightcloud.

"Well, I didn't stop. Kept on going until I reached the horseplace," meowed Daisy, her gaze turning to Nightcloud. "Who's this?"

"Nightcloud of WindClan," mewed Nightcloud.

A Twoleg entered the room. Nightcloud gave a squeak of alarm and jumped back into the hiding spot. Leafpool darted in after her.

"How are we going to get water?" whispered Nightcloud. "I'm not drinking that stale Twoleg water!"

"The lake's not far away. And there's mice here."

"Wait until the Twoleg's gone," warned Nightcloud.

They heard the door slam shut, and the Twoleg left. The two cats crept from their hiding place, still wary.

"It's okay, they're gone," purred Daisy.

"I'm going to hunt," meowed Nightcloud.

"I'll go for a drink of water," answered Leafpool.

"Okay, see you."

Leafpool nodded and walked out. Nightcloud watched her go. The Twoleg nest suddenly seemed so safe compared to any Clan territory.

Yawning, Nightcloud caught two mice, eating one and saving one for Leafpool. She left the mouse outside the hiding spot and fell asleep.

Leafpool came back from the lake with her mouth dripping with water. She saw the mouse and knew that Nightcloud had left it there.

How nice of her to leave me one, Leafpool thought as she munched on the mouse.

Leafpool finished the mouse and crept in beside Nightcloud to sleep. Smoky and Floss were already asleep, but Daisy wasn't. When the cream colored she-cat saw her return, she walked over to her.

"When do you think that this will end?" murmured Daisy.

Leafpool suddenly remembered Daisy's three kits. "Where are your kits?"

"Oh, they're here. They were already asleep when you came," Daisy purred.

"Where are they?" questioned Leafpool.

"Here." Daisy led her to a small nest, where three kits lay asleep. Leafpool saw the three kits, cuddling together, fast asleep.

Leafpool suddenly had a thought. How could she say this?

"Daisy," she began.

"Yes?" asked Daisy.

"Uh, would you like to, uh, join us?" Leafpool questioned.

"Join you! I'd love to, but my kits can't travel, and I won't be any help much."

"You're right," muttered Leafpool. "Never mind."

"I think you should go to sleep if you're leaving tomorrow. You'll need your energy," advised Daisy.

Leafpool shot Daisy one more glance. Daisy seemed different here at the horseplace. More….wise. At the ThunderClan camp, Daisy had been timid, just a nursery queen.

Leafpool slid into the hidden spot next to Nightcloud. She curled up into a ball and let sleep take control of her.