The FireClan cats brushed through the gorse tunnel and into camp, the full moon still bright in the dark sky. Hawkpaw looked up at it and saw no sign of clouds. Does StarClan want us to fight with IceClan? he wondered, but the tiny stars of his ancestors gave no answer.

As soon as every cat filed into the clearing, Thornstar raced to the Clanboulder and gave the standard call to begin a Clan meeting.

Tired warriors lumbered out of their nests and made their way to the Clanboulder. Thistlefang growled in Nightpaw's ear, Eaglewing let out a huge yawn, and Fallowbreeze ran over to her mate, Toadleap, who looked asleep on his paws. Rainpetal padded over to Shadefur, her yellow eyes dark with worry. Hawkpaw and Falconpaw met with them.

"What's going on?" Rainpetal asked, fear edging her mew.

"Birchstar practically challenged us at the Gathering," Shadefur replied. He lashed his gray tail. "This arguing has to stop before things get out of paw."

"But we're being falsely accused!" Falconpaw cried. "We can't just let IceClan keep bullying us. We need to take a stand and prove to them that they can't push us around!"

Falconpaw was standing up straight, her amber eyes filled with determination, her brown tabby fur ruffled in eagerness. Hawkpaw stared at her. She looked so much older and wiser that he hardly recognized her.

Talonstar had overheard Falconpaw and he was nodding in approval. "I agree, young Falconpaw. We can't sit around like a lost kit waiting for the badger to eat us." He turned to his listening Clanmates. "We will prepare to face IceClan until the next half-moon! All warriors and apprentices must practice battle moves and catch lots of prey to strengthen us. More patrols will be scheduled as well. FireClan will not tolerate IceClan's bullying any longer!"

Instantly, cats yowled their support, some calling out Thornstar's name, others growling what battle moves they would use on enemy warriors.

Hawkpaw was silent for a heartbeat by the intensity of his Clanmates' calling for battle, but he got caught in the excitement and yowled along with them. This would be his first battle! He pushed away the fear of not remembering any fighting techniques.

"Now," Thornstar continued, having to screech louder than his Clanmates. "Everyone get some rest. We start preparing at dawn. Ambersky, lead the dawn patrol and thoroughly check the IceClan border."

"Yes, Thornstar," Ambersky replied.

FireClan cats went back to their dens, the heat of battle still fresh in the air. Hawkpaw didn't think any cat could get a wink after tonight, but when the young tom settled in his nest, he was fast asleep.

…

A quarter-moon later, Hawkpaw awoke with a paw prodding him roughly in the ribs. He sleepily opened his eyes to see Flamepaw standing over him.

"Come on, lazy fur-ball!" the ginger-red tom urged. "We're going on a hunting patrol before we practice battle moves."

Early sunlight shown through the gorse den. It was well passed dawn, but sunhigh was still a way's off. Hawkpaw stretched in his nest trying to warm his limbs back up. A chill breeze had come during the night and Hawkpaw could smell frost tipping the thorns of the gorse.

"Alright, I'm awake," he told Flamepaw.

Flamepaw nudged him once more. "Well hurry up, then! Eaglewing and Whitewillow won't wait forever."

The apprentice pushed out of the den as Hawkpaw quickly groomed his dark tabby fur. "I hate the cold!" he hissed under his breath.

Hawkpaw padded out into the camp clearing. His stomach growled with hunger, but he couldn't eat until he did some hunting. He saw Flamepaw with their mentors at the thorn barrier, waiting to leave, but before Hawkpaw could meet with them, he was attacked by a flurry of tiny claws.

"We got you, IceClan stink!" squealed Mistykit as she battered Hawkpaw's belly.

Snowkit swiped clumsily at his tail, her blue eyes bright in enthusiasm. "Yeah! Get out of our camp!"

This isn't a good time for games! Hawkpaw thought in annoyance, but he couldn't suppress a mrrow of laughter.

"Mistykit! Snowkit! Get back here, now!"

Hawkpaw looked up to see the kits' mother, Mossclaw, rush toward them. "I told you to play in the nursery," the queen cried.

The kits backed away from Hawkpaw with sulky expressions, but he flicked their shoulders with his tail. "Don't worry. You'll get your chance to fight some IceClan scum."

Mossclaw shook her head with helplessness. "I can't seem to calm these two down," she grumbled. "They're as excited for battle as the warriors." Without waiting for Hawkpaw to reply, Mossclaw herded her daughters back to the nursery.

Mistykit looked back over her shoulder. "See ya later, Hawkpaw!" she mewled before the blue-gray she-cat vanished into the nursery.

"Hawkpaw!" Whitewillow called from the camp entrance, impatience edging his mew.

Hawkpaw quickly ran over. "Sorry, I got attacked by the kits."

A gleam of amusement shown in Whitewillow's eyes, but it was gone before Hawkpaw could be sure it was even there. "It's okay. Let's head out."

The white warrior took the lead and Eaglewing, Flamepaw, and Hawkpaw brought up the rear. They dashed through their territory till they reached the stream where the minnows swim. Whitewillow asked Eaglewing, "Where do you want to hunt?"

The gray tom looked deep in thought for a moment before answering, "Let's try by the pine field. That's where many rabbit holes are."

Whitewillow nodded in agreement. "Good idea. We can start there."

All four cats sped off to the IceClan border, carefully scenting the air for any invasion. Eventually they split up to find fresh-kill more easily and stalked through the grass in different directions. Hawkpaw went up north closer to the edge of the pine field to the small stream that divided the territory.

Suddenly, rabbit scent entered his nose and he crouched down expertly. He followed the smell out of the trees and spotted the brown creature nibbling at the grass. Hawkpaw wriggled his haunches, ready to pounce, but a gray streak ran passed and the rabbit fled in terror.

Hawkpaw growled aloud. Some warrior just ruined his catch! He ran after the gray cat to demand why they were so careless on where to place their paws.

He followed the warrior back into the pine field and toward the IceClan border. Their scent didn't stop until the border markings were a few tail-lengths away. Hawkpaw quickly hid in a fern patch when he recognized the gray cat. Eaglewing.

What's he doing way out here? Hawkpaw couldn't answer his question.

The older tom had a small blackbird in his jaws and he seemed to be waiting at the border. Was he waiting for an IceClan patrol? And if he was, what for?

Then another cat came into view with black fur and a mouse dangling by the tail in his mouth. At the sight of him, Eaglewing leaped over the border to greet him. Hawkpaw watched in awe that his Clanmate simply crossed over into enemy territory.

"Good morning, Eaglewing," the tom meowed, his tone completely empty of any scorn.

Eaglewing dipped his head, dropping the blackbird at his paws. "Morning, Pantherfur. Nice catch." The calmness in his voice was unnerving.

Pantherfur shrugged. "It was the first thing I found."

Then the two cats exchanged fresh-kills and began to eat. Hawkpaw barely stopped himself from jumping out of his hiding spot. That prey is supposed to feed the Clan first!

When both were finished, Pantherfur settled and his eyes grew darker in menace. "So how do you plan on getting rid of Oakflower and becoming deputy?"

Hawkpaw's eyes widened in horror.

Eaglewing snickered some. "I think it'll be easier if I make sure she dies in battle with your Clan. And if that doesn't work then I can stuff deathberries in the next prey she eats or something."

Pantherfur nodded in approval. "Good. You can't draw too much attention to yourself or some cats might get suspicious."

"Right, but it shouldn't be too difficult. Oakflower isn't the brightest stone in the river."

A shudder ran along Hawkpaw's spine. They're plotting on how to kill Oakflower! I have to tell Thornstar! But he couldn't leave yet, they might overhear him.

"Once Oakflower's gone, Thornstar has to choose you as deputy," the LeafClan cat continued.

"I can also say I tried to save her and then Thornstar could appoint me because of it!" Eaglewing looked bright in excitement. How could he kill one of his own Clanmates?

Hawkpaw had to get out of here. He had to warn his Clan! He gathered his wits and started to leave. He began to reveal himself out of his hiding spot, but a twig snapped under his paw and his heart plummeted.

"What was that?" Pantherfur hissed.

Eaglewing sniffed the air. "Hawkpaw?"

He gray warrior padded to where Hawkpaw was hiding, but the young tom couldn't be caught eavesdropping; Eaglewing might make him promise to not tell anyone.

When Eaglewing was a tail-length away, Hawkpaw dashed off. He heard paws pattering after him, closing in swiftly. Terror coursed through his veins as he ran on in no particular direction.

"Hawkpaw! Stop!" Eaglewing yowled, the fury obvious in his voice.

But Hawkpaw kept running. He panted in exhaustion, he had never run so long, but he couldn't stop.

Then a rancid smell entered his scent glands. The grass under his paws changed to hard rock with sticky stuff. Hawkpaw halted and turned to see Eaglewing staring at him with dark eyes. Then the ground began to rumble with a faint thundering sound.

Hawkpaw veered around and saw a monster racing straight toward him. horror made his body freeze and the crying of Eaglewing to move made no difference. The monster came closer and closer, but still Hawkpaw couldn't find his footing.

Suddenly, a new scent was on the air, the scent of FireClan, but ancient with the smell of water and stone. Hawkpaw turned to the scent and came face to face with the brown and white she-cat from his dream. Her blue eyes were misty with sorrow.

"Do not fear this path, Hawkpaw, for it shapes your destiny," she mewed.

Then she was gone and Hawkpaw was left in an agonizing darkness…