Nakir sighed after waking from her dream. Much as she'd liked thinking things would be better for Ectri if the hatchling returned, she couldn't believe it anymore. She was no mind reader, but she could sense the anxiety within the dragon-turned-cat. It all led back to the sisters' parents. Nakir had never seen anyone as upset as the two prism dragons. But what was done was done.

She ambled along down a hallway and entered the room where Cavvile was teaching their own offspring how to use their magic abilities. They'd both inherited Nakir's ability to observe distant worlds in their dreams. Her mate immediately noticed her arrival and opened his mouth to speak. She interrupted.

"I don't believe we should continue doing this. Ectri is constantly afraid, as though she's done something wrong just by existing."

"Did you speak to the hatchling herself?"

"No. I spoke with Zari, and she is adamant. She's not about to force Ectri into coming back."

"So it seems banishing her did nothing," Cavvile sighed.

Nakir narrowed her silver eyes. "She's no longer vain. She's standing up for what she believes is right."

"Well, it isn't right. We're the gold dragons. She should know to obey us," Cavvile replied, his voice full of irritation. "You must speak directly to Ectri, tell her it was wrong to run away, and if she comes back without arguing, she won't be in trouble."

"Just what do you intend to do if she doesn't come back?" she challenged.

"Just that should be enough to get her back here. She's timid. I've no intention of harming her."

"But you plan on scaring her into submission?" Javaraa glared at her father.

The gold dragon looked at her with surprise. "You stay out of this."

"Make me," the hatchling replied.

For once in her life, Niz spoke up. "If Ectri doesn't want to come back, she shouldn't have to. You're being arrogant."

"She's right, Cavvile," Nakir said. "A threat can come along at any time. I may need these abilities for something more important. I'm not going to pester Zari anymore."

She turned and left, the two hatchlings not far behind. Cavvile was left alone, to think about his family's words.

OoOoOoOoOo

Songstar felt Bladetooth's gift flowing through her as she sprinted towards the enemy camp. A near full moon floated in the sky and she reflected on her decision about Pearlkit's mentor. Her sister would become an apprentice the next day. Tonight though, they would take back Wavekit.

Hawkstrike and Mossfur were just behind the Clan leader. Bellchime and Stormpaw weren't far behind. Then came Snowstripe, with Steelclaw at the back of the group. Backup wasn't far. Songstar effortlessly jumped over a charred log, wondering why nature hadn't begun rebuilding here. Seemed like they would've noticed a wildfire in such a close territory, especially a recent one.

The terrain abruptly became open. She hurried along the wide-open space, occasionally kicking up ashes in her wake. Stones littered the area and surrounded the approaching cats more definitively the closer they got. The ground sloped downward and they could see bushes in the area below. She halted to look around.

There were many bushes and boulders surrounding the camp. Aside from the slope, there was just a steep drop to the clear space below. There was no guard, which made her suspicious. She moved on slowly, the walls of earth seeming to rise in her peripheral vision. She padded to the center of their camp, her jaws parted. There was Tribe scent here, alright.

She let her tail drop, it's tip hitting the ground, and they rushed into the dens to attack. She heard the battle calls of her Clan-mates as she and Mossfur charged. She was in full attack mode, ready to shred the first Tribe cat that crossed her path.

Then, she froze.

There were no cats here, aside from her and the others. A memory returned to her, seemingly insignificant before, of Firepelt falling asleep while guarding the prisoner den. Flickering Flame had given them a large amount of "information" just after that. She and her friend exchanged a knowing look as the sounds of surprised voices filled the air.

She hurried back outside and looked towards the slope. A line of Tribe cats blocked their only exit.

OoOoOoOoOo

The ambush had left no cat dead, but many badly injured. Pearlkit had heard Nightpaw talking about how Flickering Flame escaped the previous night. They hadn't been expecting him to be able to, with broken front paws. How had none of the camp guards spotted the Tribe cat?

It was late morning. A few clouds drifted in the light blue sky, white and fluffy like that rabbit Rustpaw had brought back earlier. Thunderheart sat at the entrance to her den, looking tired. Stormpaw was among those in the injured den. Pantherclaw was with the apprentice. Bellchime was well enough to tell Nightpaw about squirrel hunting, though she had been warned not to do any actual hunting.

Pearlkit's nerves were making her begin to shake. Today would be day, unless the attack had delayed her apprentice ceremony. She hoped it had. She wondered how her parents had been able to so quickly discover her flaw, yet these cats didn't seem to notice it. How was it that Songstar was the only one? And why hadn't the grey-furred leader told her to leave?

Perhaps the reason for Songstar noticing the flaw was because she was the leader, and had a special connection to MoonClan? But if that was so, then why hadn't Thunderheart figured it out? MoonClan had been described to her as the mystical ancestors of the Clans, or at least, many Clans. Not all. Sitting in front of the nursery, she began to hum quietly to herself.

"Let the cats of RogueClan gather for a meeting!"

The cats who weren't supposed to stay in the injured den began swarming towards Tall Rock. Songstar's amber gaze scanned the crowd of felines, and rested on Pearlkit. Her heart was pounding and she only barely heard the leader say to come forward. She was surprised her legs could still support her. When she stood in front of the stone, she glanced at the nursery. Frostkit was looking in her direction, seeming happy for the first time in a while. Ivorykit had a blank expression. Five words out of Songstar's mouth made her tremble even worse. She knew there were curious eyes fixated on her, but she paid them no attention.

"I will be your mentor."

The leader was in front of her now, and placed one of her grey paws on one of Pearlkit's. Voices rose from around them.

"Pearlpaw, of RogueClan!"

Happy Thanksgiving, people! :P