Disclaimer: peofun1 doesn't own Warriors. The amazing Erin Hunter does.

Claimer: All your Thunderpaw are belonging to meh.

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Chapter Nine: Moonfire

Firestar slept poorly that night. His dreams were full of mayhem and confusion. He heard the screams of cats and the howls of dogs, and one word repeated over and over: wolves.

Sunlight filtered in through entrance to his den. Daybreak had just come, and few cats were awake at this hour. Firestar took the chance to slip away into the forest unnoticed. Thunderpaw's scent from the night before was stale, but Firestar tried to follow it regardless. It led him to the river at Sunning Rocks and stopped abruptly. The river washed away all scents, just as Thunderpaw had said.

Firestar sighed and sat down on the bank. Why did he feel so wretched? Thunderpaw had obviously killed Twigpaw. Her story was completely ridiculous, and she had a reason too. So why did he feel so terrible about driving her out?

The answer was simple: He believed her story.

Firestar stood and started to prowl around for something to eat. He hadn't noticed until now that he was starving. A mouse was fool enough to wander his way, and he sank his claws into its spine, and then savagely tore it apart with his teeth. It was gone in just a few bites.

He let his paws wander while his mind churned relentlessly. What were these wolves? Was Thunderpaw right that they would destroy the Clan? Should he be worried?

These wolves were obviously ruthless killers, and if Thunderpaw told the truth, they would meet again. But how could he warn the Clan? They were convinced that these wolves didn't exist. There was no way that he could convince them to start preparing for them.

Looking up, Firestar realized his paws had driven him to his sister, Princess's Twoleg nest. He jumped up onto her fence out of habit and called, "Princess."

Almost at once the pretty tabby queen emerged from the nest and leapt up beside him with a purr of welcome.

"Hello Firestar!" She mewed happily, touching her nose to his. "How is Clan life? Are you eating right?" Princess paused for a moment to study him. "What's wrong?"

"Princess, do you know a calico cat with a black scar on her face?" Firestar asked without thinking.

Princessed binked. "Yes, I do." She said. Firestar was taken aback. "She turned up here some time ago. She loved to pick fights with other cats an tease the dogs. Some said she came from the mountains. Not long after she disappeared again."

"Have you seen her since?" Firestar asked.

"Just yesterday, actually." Princess close her eyes, trying to remember her perfectly. "She asked if I knew you, and I told her I did. She left me a message for you." Princess looked Firestar in the eyes again. He could tell that she was worried for him, and this message had only increased it.

"'They are coming at sunhigh. I don't know from where. Don't expect me to help.'"

Firestar's heart did a summersault. This was exactly what he was afraid of. The wolves were coming, and there was no way to warn the Clan. If he told them to prepare for the wolves, they would think he'd gone mad.

"Firestar?" Princess mewed, concerned. "Firestar, who's coming? Are you in danger?"

"I have to go." Firestar said, turning to leave. "Stay in your nest and stay away from the forest!" He called over his shoulder, and then bolted into the forest. He hadn't realized it, but it was almost sunhigh already.

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Firestar burst into the camp and looked around wildly. He had expected to see huge, monstrous dogs tearing every cat apart, but instead he saw the peaceful camp lazing about in the sun.

Graystripe interrupted Brackenfur in his report from a patrol to call, "Is something wrong, Firestar?"

Firestar shook his head and forced his fur to lie flat. Yes, everything was wrong. Any second now, their camp would be attacked and possibly destroyed. But he couldn't tell them that. He could only wait, and hope that Thunderpaw was wrong.

Almost as if on cue, something flew out of the gorse tunnel behind him and barreled him over. Expecting the worst, Firestar yowled and started to claw furiously at his opponent. He flung it from him and saw that it was not a wolf, but a small, calico cat.

"Thunderpaw?" Firestar said, utterly confused. "What are you—" He broke off when he saw that she was bleeding profusely from several wounds and half her tail was missing.

"Wolves!" The small cat panted. "Surprised me at Sunningrocks…Got my tail…Comning now…" Her eyes rolled back in her head and she collapsed into the dust.

"Cinderpelt!" Firestar screeched as Graystripe ran about the camp readying his warriors. Cinderpelt limped as fast as she could over to the limp form of Thunderpaw and sniffed her. She drew back with a snort.

"She smells terrible." The gray cat growled. "But I don't recognize the smell."

Firestar groaned. The wolves were coming. Around him he heard the muttering of the Clan. They were unsure of what to do, and waiting for an order from him.

A howl sounded from close by in the forest. Some cat screamed and all Hell broke loose.

Firestar leapt onto Highrock and screeched, "SILENCE!"

The panic driven stopped dead in their tracks to listen to their leader. Firestar opened his mouth again as another howl came from right outside the camp. Huge shapes burst through the bracken surrounding the camp. They surrounded the cats and hearded them into a small knot in the center of the clearing.

The wolves were not like any dogs Firestar had ever seen. They were twice as big as even the dogs that had previously attacked them, and twice as savage-looking. The wolves were huge monsters with bulging muscles rippling under their shaggy fur. Each battle-scared maw was pulled back in a snarl, with long, curved fangs bared and dripping with saliva.

But it was their eyes that frightened Firestar the most. Their eyes were not dull and lifeless like the dogs he had seen. They glowed with intelligence that greatly surpassed any cat in the forest. They were constantly scanning, searching, sizing up their enemy and deciding the best plan for attack. These animals were smart.

One huge wolf padded quietly out of the gorse tunnel. It was a pale silver color with a black moon-shaped scar over one eye. Its scarred eye was blind, a pale pink color. Its good eye was icy blue.

"I am Moonfire, Alpha Feamale of the Blood Moon Pack." She snarled. "What pathetic creature leads you?"

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AAAAHHH! The wolves are attacking!

Most people prolly wouldn't have described the wolves as intelligent. But I've always loved wolves, and I think the way they have organized packs is so cool. Wild cats in reality don't have the kind of hierarchy that wolf packs invented.

So, please read and review. But I don't care how much you hate wolves, no flames!

peofun1