AN: I'm getting close to the end in my document, so thats good, right? I'm going to be trying to go for a readmit meeting soon, though, so I might slow down at some point. I'll let you know when the time comes closer.

Review responses:

Willowberry wrote: "Ooooh! Bad Petalfur! Hmmm... I feel as if a battle is coming soon.. either with the Dark Forest or another Clan. Also, sorry if my previous review seemed to imply that I thought that Silverstripe is stupid, cuz dat definitely ain't true. And thanks! I'd be honored if you wrote another story and used the 'kits as a bargaining tool' idea! Like always, keep on making awesome chapters!"

Reply: "Well, I'd say you could be right about the battle, to sound mysterious, but the truth is I'm having a hard time remembering that YOU GUYS aren't as far along in the story as I am, so my sense of time is off. And don't worry, you didn't imply it at all! A), I was feeling paranoid because I realized someone might think she should have caught on by now, and B) I have ADD, so I can jump from one topic to another with no connection to most people. You did't imply it at all. Glad to provide enjoyable writing, as ever! ^v^"

Disclaimer: Beetlepaw, your turn.

Beetlepaw: Topaz doesn't own Warrior Cats, it belongs to Erin Hunter.

~Topaz

Littleflower

"Nice job!" Littleflower called encouragingly to Beetlepaw, who was crouched, shivering, at the other side of the river. Ravenheart had been having some trouble teaching Beetlepaw how to swim, so he'd asked her to help. Swimming had been one of the one things she taught Frogpaw before her injury. "Now swim back!" Beetlepaw looked terrified.

"I can't!" he squeaked.

"Sure you can!" Ravenheart called helpfully. Beetlepaw shook his head. With a sigh, Littleflower dove into the water, paddling over and leaning onto the bank.

"C'mon," she mewed lightly, "Don't be such a drypaw! It'll be fine! I'm right here." Slowly, through coaxing and shoving, she got Beetlepaw across the river.

"Don't worry," Ravenheart told Beetlepaw, seeing his discomfort. "You'll get better with practice. Why not start hunting now?"

"Fishing?" Beetlepaw asked. Ravenheart shook his head.

"The swimming will have scared them away by now. We'll practice some stalking for now. Littleflower, are you coming?" Littleflower purred. She'd gotten better with practice. Now she was almost as good as she used to be.

"Sure."

On their way back to camp, loaded with prey, they met Beechfoot, Leopardspots, and Tawnyblossom coming back to camp, escorting three Shadowclan cats with them.

"What's going on?" Ravenheart asked Leopardspots, who snorted.

"These three say they have to talk to Greystar," she spat.

"We came peacefully!" Sootpaw argued. Leopardspots rolled her eyes.

Littleflower fell behind a little, keeping an eye on their back as she pretended to struggle with some prey. Sootpaw and Pricklefur looked angry, but Mousestar didn't seem so sure of what was going on. She would have thought a leader would be the first one to know anything.

At camp, the murmuring started almost immediately.

"What is it, Mousestar?" Greystar asked, coming out of his den.

"One of my warriors," Mousestar wheezed, pointing shakily at Pricklefur with his tail, "Said he scented Riverclan scent in our territory." Greystar bristled.

"I assure you none of my warriors would cross your borders without a direct order!" he snapped.

"Not just once!" Mousestar continued, "For the past few moons, he said, all over! Real strong! Now either you're losing your touch with these young'uns, or-"

"Or you're out of your mind!" Leopardspots yowled angrily, "None of us would break the warrior code like that, old-timer!" The look Greystar gave her was furious.

"I will remind my warriors to mind our borders in the future," Greystar mewed briskly, "Beechfoot, Tawnyblossom, escort them back to the border. Leopardspots, in my den now." Leopardspots shrank at that, and glumly followed their leader into his den as the group broke up. Littleflower glanced around, startled. Who would do such a thing? Crookedclaw looked like he wanted to shred them for making such an accusation. At least she knew her family was loyal.

"Come on," Ravenheart mewed, interrupting their thoughts, "Lets bring this prey to the freshkill pile, then Beetlepaw, go get some moss from the medicine cats den and make up new nests in the elders den. Littleflower, want to share a fish?" Absent-mindedly, Littleflower nodded, and followed him over to the freshkill pile.

Why would Pricklefur make such a claim?