"You smell that?" Brackenfoot asked. Berrypaw sniffed the Sunningrocks a few more times.

"RiverClan." Berrypaw answered. She sniffed again. "And it's fresh." Just then, Lionpaw leaped out of a bush and grabbed a vole that was a few mouse lengths away from Berrypaw's tail.

"Gah!" Berrypaw fell over. "What was that for? And where's Grassear?"

"Uh, sorry." Lionpaw apologized. She pushed the vole to the side. "Grassear's hunting higher up the river." She tasted the air. "Do you smell something?"

A bush on their side of the river began to shake. They twisted around. A large, brown spotted cat jumped out at them and gripped Brackenfoot on the back. Yowling, Brackenfoot twisted over onto his back, causing the cat to tumble off. The cat came in with a front paw strike, landing the mark right on Brackenfoot's nose. Lionpaw jumped on the cat's back, her claws unsheathed. She shifted all her body weight to her right, causing him to roll onto his back. She jumped off and swiftly jumped back on, pinning his legs to the ground. Brackenfoot padded over angrily, his nose bleeding.

"Who are you and why are you trespassing on our territory!" He shouted. The brown cat just laid there, his breath rasping. "ANSWER ME!" He demanded.

"I am Swiftriver of RiverClan." He wheezed. "You have been stealing prey from us!"

"What!?!" Brackenfoot gasped. "That's ridiculous! If anyone's stealing food, it's you!" He looked over at Berrypaw, who was sitting motionless on the sidelines. "Berrypaw, go get Brightstar. She'll want to know about this." Berrypaw hurried off without a word.

wwwwww

"So, you think we are stealing your food?" Brightstar spat at Swiftriver. "I think it's the other way around. Ground pray is especially scarce and this is one of the least harsh leaf-bares ever!"

"You know very well that we wouldn't do that!" Swiftriver hissed. He started struggling, but Lionpaw held on tight. "This is one strong warrior you have here."

"Warrior! Ha!" Brightstar laughed. "This is an apprentice!"

"What!?!" Swiftriver mewed.

"We'll discuss this at the next gathering." She said. "Lionpaw, you can let go now."

"Finally!" Lionpaw hopped off the cat. "I was getting bored. Anyway, I better get this mouse back to Grassear before he gets worried." She clamped the mouse in her jaws and padded off calmly. Swiftriver got up and jumped into the river quickly, afraid that the giant apprentice would come back.