The moon was starting to rise by the time Shika quietly entered the village. She hadn't expected to be gone for so long, getting caught up in clan life that she wish she could stay in. Her eyes scanned around, looking for any sign of her tribe mates. All was quiet, except for the sounds of distant owls and the rushing river that ran through the tribe. Letting out a sigh of relief, she padded towards the Northern Temple, passing various member of the Soto Tribe who raised their heads at the she-cat. The blue-gray she-cat placed one paw on the stone steps only to get knocked back by a small smoke gray tom.

"Fril," Shika groaned "Get off."

The tom ignored her "Where have you been? You missed Call-In!"

"Tell me something I don't miss on a daily basis." She grumbled and pushed the tom off her "I got caught up in something."

"What 'something?'" Fril looked her over "Where did all these wounds come from?"

"I'll tell you later." Shika padded upstairs with the tom trailing behind her "Is Tuskel already inside?"

"You already know the answer to that."

"Humor me for once will you?"

Fril stuck his tongue at her as they both entered the temple. Being neither big nor small, the temple was made of mud and hay bricks. The steps and stilts were made of jagged stones with a smooth surface finish. A large tree had grown through the center, a section of the roof was open to allow the tree to breath and stretch. Many shiny white flowers nestled at the base of the tree, enclosed by rocks and other boarding objects. The petals of the blossoms were closed as if they were hiding from something. The cats of the Koto Tribe and some canines from the Soto Tribe were scattered around the enclosed space of the temple.

Chief Tuskel sat besides the tree, exchanging words with Aihu and Tikanni. A few tail lengths away, Tonan slept besides his mate, Viola and their kits: Ema, Lorr, and Ellie. Nan and his sister, Ryor, wrestled on the ground nearly running over Shyam in the process. Miko, Sapol, Vorlar, and Tumblespots were on the tree, climbing from branch to branch making loose leaves fall to the ground. Tala and Whitehowl sat next to the bordered off flowers, the canines seemed deep in conversation. Golden Cloud and Opal Dream lay not to far away, quietly dozing with their pups who were silent for once. Shika chose to climb the ancient tree and took a spot on one of the lower branches.

"It's been later. Tell me why you were caught up."

She gave a quick glance towards the chief before speaking in a hushed tone "I was in a fight."

"With the clan cats?"

"Yes."

"With or against?"

"Well-"

"Yes, Shika, do tell." A voice below them meowed.

The air grew tense as everything fell silent. Shika didn't need to look around to know all eyes were on her and Tuskel.

"You went into the forest, didn't you? How many times have I told you not to go into the forest or near the clan cats?"

"You speak as if you know them." Shika flicked her tail in annoyance "Have you ever talked to one?"

The blue tabby said nothing.

"You should get to know them before you jump to conclusion." The she-cat said before retreating higher into the tree.

Tuskel gave a sigh and left the temple for a breather, leaving Fril to deal with his friend. Tumblespots broke away to sit next to the duo while the others climbed down to settle for the night.

"Shika..." The brindled bi-colored she-cat began.

The blue-gray feline cut her off "Tumblespots, forgive my rudeness, but I'm not in the mood."


The cool night air ruffled the chief's pelt as he walked down the steps and leapt to the large roots that stretched around and through the stone archway. He cast his green gaze towards the hills that stretched above and past the Southern Temple, a scowl grew on his face as he gently placed a paw on the burning sensation in his chest.

Tuskel narrowed his eyes "Forgive me, Shika, but I have my reasons. It's because of him-"

"You wound me, brother." A voice sounded firmly below the tabby, causing the tom to practically jump out of his fur in terror "I though we were family."

"Not with you," the tabby spat out, cautiously eyeing the figure that circled below "You caused so much death. Tumbleclaw and Reedflight didn't deserve the death you gave them. Neither did our father and Hollowstar. You're a monster."

The figure leapt at the tom, startling Tuskel in the process, and sinking his claws into his brother's shoulders. The chief quickly moved his head before the silhouette could latch onto his neck for a killing bite. The toms rolled off of the root and landed harshly on the ground, Tuskel quickly broke away and fled away from the temple. There was no way the tabby would involve his tribe in his affair with his kin. Letting out a confused and irritated growl, the figure chased after him with increasing speed.

"Should've stayed a clan cat, Pounceflame." The form meowed as he tackled the chief causing them both to fall into the nearby stream that ran through the village "All those moons of peace, quiet, and laziness has made you soft." The figure tore out clumps of stripped fur as he pinned Tuskel underwater "You were always the weaker of us, yet you were smart enough to run." The water below the pair slowly started to turn red as the tabby struggled weakly against his assailant "If only Pooltail and Barkfeather could see you now." The silhouette dug his claws into the tom's neck "To know that you'd be joining them soon enough." He increased the pressure, watching as Tuskel's eyes widen and he began to struggle anew.

"Tuskel!"

"Another time then." The figure sheathed his claws "Tell you tribe that their days of peace are over." With that, the form left his brother and retreated into the forest.


"Do you think Miko found him yet?" Fril asked as he and Shika sat in the doorway, eyed trained on the archway for any movement.

"Miko can find anyone. She's the best tracker in the tribe."

"Then why do I have a bad feeling about this?"

The blue-gray she-cat laid her tail on the small tom's shoulders "Because you're worried."

Fril opened his mouth only to snap it shut as a screech of terror echoed throughout the night, jolting awake the tribe cats.

"Miko!?" Shika called as she raced out of the temple with Fril and the others following behind "What hap-" The silver eared tribe cat's blood ran cold as she spotted Miko standing above the bleeding and unconscious form of her father.

The silver tabby was shaking and her voice wavered when she spoke "He w-was like this w-when I found him. W-who has the audacity to attack him like this?"

The tribe cats murmured to themselves as Tumblespots sniffed at Tuskel's wounds. The she-cat went ridged with shock and her eyes widened in horror. Shika was about to ask about her reaction when Fril spoke up. His voice was clear and calm despite what lay before him.

"He's still breathing, but it's shallow." He cursed under his breath "I can't help him while my herbs are locked up in the Medicine Hut."

"So he's going to die!?" Tonan yelled out.

The tribe cats started to panic, Tuskel had been leading them for so many moons and he still had a lot to teach Miko.

Shika frowned before something dawned on her "I know who can help him, but she lives in the forest."

"So she's a clan cat." Ryor bitterly stated.

"I'm not putting Tuskel's life into the paws of attempted murderers!" Miko hissed out.

"He'll be dead before he gets help." Fril meowed.

"Please, Miko," Shika persuaded "Finchcall is the kindest Medicine Cat I know. She wouldn't hurt Tuskel."

The silver tabby she-cat dug her claws into the ground before letting out a defeated sigh "Fine, but I want you and Fril to stay with him until he has the strength to come back."

The duo nodded as Miko and Aihu gently picked up Tuskel and laid him on Shika's back. The tabby gave the pair a small and sad look before ordering the tribe to go back to the temple. Not a moment later, the twosome ran into the forest with Shika leading the way.


"Fril, run on ahead and tell Forestclan what happened." Shika ordered.

"You want me to go into a clan camp?" The small tom squeaked, almost tripping over a root in as he struggled to keep up with the she-cat.

"Yes, you're currently the fastest out of us and I have another cat to worry about."

"B-but won't they-" Fril trailed off as they passed Bear Rock "W-what if they-"

"They won't kill you!" Shika snapped slightly "They're my friends."

Fril hesitated for a few heartbeats before running ahead, ducking under low hanging branches and leaping over rocks, while following the scent of forest cats. He stopped as he came across a large tree whose long roots twisted and stretched along its elevated perch before disappearing into the ground right next to a white and gray she-cat and a spotted she-cat. Swallowing thickly, the tom padded out from his place in the shadows and froze once the pairs' eyes shifted towards him. Their claws unsheathed and their tails twitched angrily.

"What are you doing on Forestclan territory?" The gray and white she-cat demanded.

Fril shrank back, any word he was going to say fell flat as their glares increased in hostility and suspicion.

"I-"

"We need to speak to Froststar urgently." A voice panted out behind him.

The silver spotted she-cat eyes widened "Tumblespots? What's wrong? Did something happen?"

"Our chief is gravely wounded; we need Finchcall's help."

"Poolheart, go and wake up Froststar and Finchcall." She glanced over at her clanmate "You'll have ample time to catch up with your sister later." She added upon seeing the look on warriors' face.

'Sister?' Fril thought as Poolheart flicked her tail and disappeared into the etching darkness that stretched behind the spotted she-cat.

"May I ask your name?" The spotted warrior directed her orange gaze towards Fril.

"It's Fril." The tom stood up on shaking limbs, leaning on his mother for support "And you are?"

"Spottedberry." The she-cat meowed as Tumblespots nudged the small tom towards the opening where Poolheart had disappeared.

"W-what are you doing?" He squeaked.

"Calm down, Fril." Tumblespots meowed.

"You're coming with us to meet the clan."