I feel the tear of flesh under my claws and the gurgling flood of blood pulsing from the newly formed wound. I grin, and oh does it feel good. I don't recognize the cat beneath me, not that I care. This is just a dream after all. Just a dream.

I wake up to a worried yowl. "Riverfur?!" Stormstar stirs next to me, and I blink sleepily. The fur on my paws is clumped messily where water must have dried. I lick them lazily. "Riverfur?" I mumble, confused. Stormstar is rising to her feet, arching her back. She steps out onto the ledge outside her den. "Sunstep. What is the meaning of this?"

I peer out from behind her, and spot a golden tom, green eyes full of worry. "Riverfur is missing!" The sun hasn't hit the tree line yet. Stormstar seems to take notice of this. "Maybe she's on the dawn patrol? Falconclaw?"

The tortoiseshell tom shakes his head. "I only assigned Hollyfall, Slatepaw, Rosefoot, and Smokepaw to the dawn patrol." Stormstar pops her jaw thoughtfully.

"An early morning hunt perhaps?" She asks, hopefulness clear in her voice.

Sunstep falls to the ground, letting out a wail. "I searched every bit of the territory."

"By yourself?" Stormstar's green eyes narrow. "Sunstep, you must be exhausted, get some rest. We'll send out a search party. Sorrel will come with me and Stonewhisker to search the forested parts of our territory. Brackenfang, Cloudberry, Robinpaw, search the rocky sections. Reedheart will assign Fawnleap to look after the kits while we're gone. Falconclaw, make sure that the dawn patrol returns."

I self-consciously heave myself out of the den, aware of the Clan's judgmental gaze on my pelt. We make our way through the forest, following her scent trail, which is accompanied by another, muskier and smelling of wild mushrooms. "Another rogue?" I ask, curiously.

Stonewhisker's eyes narrow. "Perhaps." We reach a small clearing, and I smell the fresh tang of blood. I rush over to an aspen tree, and sure enough, the bark at the base of the trunk is stained with the red substance. "Blood." I wrinkle my nose in confusion, and Stonewhisker seems to get more agitated as we continue through the forest. Soon, the lush growth drops away into a steep cliff face, and even I am getting worried. Riverfur and the rogue's scent trails haven't separated, or changed course. Both lead straight to the edge of the cliff, and then the rogue's doubles back to a nearby stream.

As we peer over the cliff, we gasp simultaneously in horror. A broken, bloodied body lies at the bottom of the drop, white fur stained red, mouth agape. Stormstar and I clamber down the cliff while Stonewhisker guards the top. As we haul the body up the face of the cliff, I hear Stonewhisker let out a low moan. He buries his muzzle in her fur, tears pricking the corners of his eyes.

"Who.. Who would do something like this?" He raises his gaze to the sky, grief-stricken, and all I can do is watch.