Chapter 2
Birchtail, son of Blackstar and Dawncloud, padded through the ShadowClan territory. He was out hunting, and enjoyed the early hours of the morning when the mist was on the ground and the sun was still rising. He was completely unprepaired for what happened. He was just about to catch a squirrel when a strange she cat he had never seen before came out of nowhere, leaping on the squirrel and crashing into him. The squirrel got away as the two cats' fur puffed up and Birchtail hissed at her.
"Who are you and what are you doing on ShadowClan territory?" he demanded.
The she-cat trembled, clearly just as shocked as he was. "Why do I have to tell you anything?" she retorted, her voice betraying nothing about her, except for that she was apparently brave, defying a clan cat.
Her words left him momentarily speechless. Most rogues would attack him or run away in fear. Not stand up to him in defyance the way she did.
"Well, this is my territory! So who are you?"
"That is none of your business!" she replied instantly. He had to admit, the she-cat impressed him with her courage.
"Where do you come from?" he demanded.
"Behind me," she replied nonchalantly.
"Where are you going?"
"Ahead of me."
He was beginning to think that she was irritating him on purpose. She sat down suddenly and began to groom one paw.
"Excuse me, but you are supposed to be afraid of me," Birchtail snarled.
"You really aren't that threatening. You don't scare me at all," the she-cat replied simply. "So much for ShadowClan being the scourge of the forest!"
And now she was insulting his clan. Just brilliant!
"My father is Blackstar, the clan leader, for your information."
Her blue eyes lit up with interest and she lowered the pale ginger paw she had been grooming. "Is he now?"
"Yes!" Birchtail meowed. "Now tell me: Who are you?"
"Well, if you really must know my name is Mintleaf."
"A warrior name? What clan are you from and why haven't I seen you before?"
"I-I can't tell you. I'm sorry, but I must go. But first, what's your name?"
"Birchtail. And why can't you tell me?"
"I-I just can't. Good-bye!" she mewed before racing away. Birchtail sighed. And just when he thought he was beginning to like the pretty, brave, irritating she-cat. Wait a minute- pretty? Where did that thought come from? He shook his head and resumed hunting.
