Chapter 10

Night had fallen by the time Willowcloud reached her destination. A small river fed into a larger one that eventually dropped into a lake. Willowcloud had found this spot when she had just become an apprentice. She had been angry with her new mentor and decided to leave the Clan for a day or two. She was smaller at the time and the journey had been longer. Now she realized just how much she had grown. It was easier to run across rough terrain because her pads were hardened from running across rocks and boulders. She'd pushed herself during training when Birdclaw wasn't looking.

Her pale gray fur was bleached white with the moonlight that gleamed down at her. She had to blink at the harsh glow when she saw that the rocks were stained silvery white. Small caves made the perfect dens. She'd made a nest in one of the dens once and had shared it with any small prey that might be around.

If there are any foxes or badgers around, I would have scented them, Willowcloud thought as she tested the air for signs of danger.

For now the air was seemingly calm. A few silvery wisps of clouds moved across the starlit sky. Down below the roar of the river echoed in her ears. A few crickets could be heard as they sang to one another. It was here she felt at peace the most. This was where she would spend the rest of her life. It was far enough away from LeafClan territory that she wouldn't have to deal with them. DuskClan cats might come here every now and than to fish, but that was rare.

Willowcloud sighed in contentment as she found a cave to her liking. Lichen hung over the entrance and provided a nice barrier for her. The moonlight would be well-hidden for her. She glanced around to make sure there were no other cats around. Rogues and loners must have liked the area as well. She saw sets of pawprints near the muddy banks of the river as she collected moss for a nest.

"With this I can build a den and not have to worry about my so-called Clanmates," she said out loud after gathering as much as she could.

She nodded in approval to her sentence before turning back to her den. The moss was cold and damp, but it would have to do for the night. She would collect more in the morning when the sun dried it out.

. . .

Birds were singing above the roar of a river. Somewhere in the distance a dog barked. Willowcloud jumped when she realized that she could not feel the warmth of her mother's pelt. She looked around in confusion as she wondered where she was. Than she remembered.

Oh. I'm in exile, she told herself. She felt stupid for not remembering what had happened the previous day. Normally she would have reminded herself of the hate she felt towards her Clanmates.

This time she tried not to think about it. She was on her own now, and would need to learn how to take care of herself. Hunting wasn't an issue - greenleaf was still in full-swing. Cleaning herself up was a different story. Most of the time cats in the Clan would share tongues and help one another clean ticks and fleas off their pelts. She could only do so much on her own, and grooming wasn't the first issue on her list of things to do.

She shook moss off of her pelt as she tried to struggle with waking up. Living on her own meant that she could sleep in until sunhigh. She wasn't used to that kind of life-style. Now it was morning, and the birds were busy collecting insects and seeds for their families.

Must be nice to have a family to take care of, she thought bitterly.

Willowcloud had to remind herself that families would only involve more work. She wasn't ready to start one, and needed to figure out what to do for herself.

She thought of the many things that could happen while she was on her own. She could teach herself how to fish, or become a better hunter. Fighting skills had always been her strong point since Toadfur became her mentor.

Her pelt brushed against the cave wall as she emerged into the sunlight. It wasn't past sunhigh like she'd expected. Instead the golden rays revealed that the sun had only just risen. She opened her jaws to taste the air, and detected a hint of moisture.

Rain will be on it's way, she told herself. She could already see clouds beginning to billow across the sky. Wind tore at her fur as she padded across the rocky terrain. The air itself felt warm and humid. She could tell that the rain was close.

"Maybe the prey will come out more," she said out loud.

Talking to herself didn't make things better, she realized. Willowcloud's fur bristled slightly as she tried to recall what her mentor had taught her. Birdclaw had told her that living on your own was not good. Toadfur had told her the opposite. Sometimes living on your own could improve the way you lived. She knew that living on her own would become a good experience. But now she had no experience, and was used to living life as a warrior.

"I doubt that will happen." Willowcloud stiffened when she heard a tom speak. She whirled around, hackles raised and fangs bared. "The prey around here knows better."

"W-Who are you?" Willowcloud demanded.

"I have no name," the tom replied. He stepped out of the shadows, revealing what he looked like. He was an odd-colored cat; brown black and dark ginger patches of fur was splashed upon his pelt. His eyes were a deep shade of green. Willowcloud stared at him in shock. She'd never seen a cat like this before. "I was left to fend for myself when I reached my third moon. My mother never named me, and my siblings were stillborn."

"Oh." Willowcloud found herself relaxing under the tom's stare. "Well, what are you doing here? This is the boundary between Clan territory," she hissed.

"I heard of the Clans, but I never thought I would live to see them," the tom explained. "I didn't realize there was another cat here."

"Well there is, and I don't appreciate dealing with intruders," Willowcloud spat.

I have to defend my territory, Willowcloud thought.

"I've never seen a cat with blue eyes before either," the tom admitted.

Willowcloud stared at him in disbelief. What sort of mousebrain was this cat? Most rogues or loners would have run off by now.

"Get out." She said both words slowly and loudly while gazing at him accusingly.

"Of course," the tom meowed with a dip of his head. "I wouldn't want to intrude on whatever...you're doing."

With that he rose to his paws and turned around. Willowcloud watched as he disappeared into the thicker undergrowth. She knew he would not return. As long as she wished it, he would leave her alone. And she was just fine with that.

A/N: I wonder who the mysterious tom is...could he possibly be from another Clan? We shall find out. Please review!