A small rustle in the bushes caught Brightpelt's attention. She shared a glance with her brother Runningwind, and got up. Cautiously, she padded to the cluster of bushes. She opened her mouth, and caught a whiff of a cat, not from a clan.

Loner? Maybe a rogue?

She followed the scent trail to a small pond, where a cat was standing with bristling white fur, with ginger patches on it. He eyed Brightpelt with hostile and fearful eyes.

"Relax, im not gonna kill you!" She hissed to him. He seemed to calm down a bit, but didn't move.

"Why are you on Ravenclan territory?" She questioned, taking note of how matted his fur was, and how skinny he was. She couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy towards the glaring tom.

"I didn't know this was your territory, I'll leave if you want." He hissed back.

"Eat first. I'll probably get my fur clawed off for letting you, but it doesn't matter. I cant stand here and watch a cat suffer." She growled, quickly catching a squirrel and giving it to him. He sniffed it hesitantly, then devoured it hungrily. He finally finished, and began to groom his matted fur, not that it made a difference.

"Here, let me." Brightpelt volunteered, padding over to him, and picking out the most matted clumps of his fur with her claws, and grooming mud and sticks from his pelt.

"So far, you're the nicest cat I've met so far…" He meowed, the tenseness in the air gone.

"Is that so? I guess I just like to help cats…" She whispered back. He purred slightly.

"Whats your name?" The white cat asked, sounding genuinely curious.

"Brightpelt…" She meowed, now sitting in front of him.

"Oh… I think Brightheart suits you… Mine is Thunderclaw." He replied. A wave of embarrassment swept over her, making her look away.

"Wait.. Your name is Thunderclaw? So you were in a clan before?" She meowed, turning her attention back to him.

"Yeah…I used to be in Iceclan…they kicked me out, because I was framed for killing a kit. But, it was actually the deputy." He meowed. His voice seemed reluctant, as if he didn't want to tell her. A fresh pang of sympathy struck her. She was about to say something, when her brother slipped through the bushes, and sat wide eyed at the pair.

"Trespasser?" He hissed, glaring at the loner.

"Sorta.. He didn't know this was Ravenclan territory, he's just leaving." Brightpelt quickly answered, not wanting to get the loner tom into trouble.

"Well, leave then." Runningwind growled. The tom looked from Brightpelt, to Runningwind and stood up.

"I'll follow you out." The only she-cat offered, getting up as well. Her brother shot her an approving look, and stalked off, leaving her and Thunderclaw alone again.

"Right, I'll show you to the end of our territory, I know a place you can rest and hunt at for a while." Brightpelt meowed, already padding off, with Thunderclaw close behind. They finally reached a small clearing, with another pond filled with tiny fish, to small to eat, and a rock with a long crack going down the middle, opening up to a small cave, the perfect size for around 3 cats. She helped him gather some moss to make him a bed. He curled up in in and rest his head on his paws.

"Thank you, Brightpelt." He meowed quietly.

"Your welcome." She purred back.

"Wait, before you leave… Uhm… will you meet me here tomorrow? At sun-down?" He asked nervously, not meeting her eyes.

"Sure. I can say I went hunting." She purred.

"Well, I have to go now. Until tomorrow." She whispered, backing out of the den.

"Until tomorrow." He repeated.

Brightpelt made her way back to the camp entrance, where her brother sat waiting, continuing his vigil. He acknowledged her with a nod, continuing they're no speaking rule. She nodded back, and sat down on the other side of the entrance. As hard as she tried, she couldn't take her mind off Thunderclaw.

I hope he'll be ok tonight…