As time passed, it became increasingly apparent that there was something in the forest stealing ThunderClan's prey. Some time before the battle at Sunningrocks, Bluestar had seemed to think that it was WindClan, but Mistyfoot and Fireheart had been able to talk her out of waging war without any proof.
The Gathering that had followed the battle had been tense. Tigerstar demanded that Bluestar hand over his kits, Bramblepaw and Tawnypaw, but Bluestar refused. Bramblepaw was now Fireheart's apprentice and Tawnypaw
A few days after the Gathering, Lomgtail saw Tigerstar feeding a pack of huge dogs, beasts far larger than any twoleg pet. The horror haunting the forest had a name at last. The day after that, Fireheart gathered a patrol together to affirm his story. Whitestorm, Swiftblaze, Brughtgaze, Graystripe, and Longtail all went with him, looking nervous but determined. Mistyfoot wished she could go with them, but she knew that she was still too heavy from the kitting to keep up with the patrol. Besides, her kits needed her.
As Fireheart prepared to lead the group away, Mistyfoot muzzled her mate and whispered. "Be careful."
Fireheart let out a deep purr. "I will." He promised. He touched noses with her briefly before bounding off, leading the small patrol out into the forest. Mistyfoot watched them go with foreboding in her heart.
Every cat left in camp seemed tense and anxious. Mistyfoot paced in the nursery, trying to get the dog pack off her mind. Spottedkit, Rustykit, and Streamkit were playing, blissfully unaware of the danger. Time passed slowly, and Mistyfoot got more and more anxious.
At sunhigh, she heard Cloudtail let out a yowl of grief. Mistyfoot raced out of the nursery, terrified of what she might see. Fireheart's patrol had returned, and Sandstorm and Whitestorm were carrying the dead body of Brindleface. Mistyfoot looked down at the dead she-cat, grief welling up in her heart. She hadn't known Brindleface well, but she had always been kind to Mistyfoot, and she would be well missed by her Clanmates.
The burrial was rushed and silent. The she-cat was burried by her kits Ashpaw and Fernpaw and her adopted son Cloudtail. Afterwords, Fireheart called the Clan together for a meeting. Mistyfoot sat right near the High Rock, not wanting to miss a word.
Cloudtail was pacing furiously in front of the High Rock, his eyes blazing murderously. "I'll flay Tigerstar!" The white warrior spat with unimaginable venom. "He's mine, Fireheart, and don't you forget it."
Fireheart reminded his nephew bluntly, "And don't you forget that you're under my orders. Right now we have to deal with the dog pack. We'll worry about Tigerstar later." Cloudtail glared at the deputy but offered no arguement.
Fireheart turned to face the Clan, who were huddled around the High Rock with dull grief and shock in their eyes. Cinderpelt limped out of Bluestar's den and up to the High Rock. "Bluestar's asleep." She informed Fireheart quietly. "Better tell her about this when we've worked out a plan, don't you think?"
Fireheart nodded wearily, then turned again to face the Clan. He announced, "Cats of ThunderClan, this morning we discovered that there's a pack of dogs on our territory, living in the caves at Snakerocks." Defiant yowl and anxious murmurs rose from the crowd, but Fireheart silenced them with a wave of his tail. "Tigerstar has been feeding the dogs, and he has led a trail of dead rabbits to lead them right to our camp. You all know what lay at the end of that trail." He gestured towards Brindleface's new grave.
Wails of shock and fear broke out, and Fireheart had to signal several times for silence before they settled down. Mistyfoot was frozen with terror. We'll be hunted like prey! She thought wildly. Those dogs will destroy us all!
When the crowd quieted, Fireheart continued, "We have tried to break the trail, but the rabbits have lain there all night, and the pack will follow the scent they left behind. We must all leave - elders, kits, everyone. If the dogs come to the camp they must not find us here."
Dappletail's frail voice rose from the crowd. "Where shall we go?"
Fireheart answered, "To Sunningrocks. Once you're there, climb the tallest trees you can find. If the dogs follow you, they'll think they lost the scent on the rocks, and they won't look for you."
Dustpelt asked Fireheart what was to be done about the pack. Fireheart hesitated, uncertain. Then he seemed to gain an idea. He explained to the Clan that they would lead the dog pack over the gorge. "I'll need warriors who can run fast." He looked over the crowd carefully before speaking again. "Graystripe. Sandstorm. Swiftblaze and Longtail. Dustpelt. And I'm going myself. That should be enough. The rest of you gather by the camp entrance, ready to move out."
Ashpaw and Fernpaw pleaded with Fireheart to let them go too. Whitestorm took their side, saying that their anger would make them fearless. Fireheart finally agreed, and he prepared the warriors to head out. Out of the corner of her eye, Mistyfoot noticed Darkstripe slinking away from the crowd, followed closely by Bramblepaw and Tawnypaw.
Mistyfoot bounded over to them, halting threateningly in front of Darkstripe. "And where do you think you're going Darkstripe?" She hissed. Darkstripe had irritated her since the day he had challenged Fireheart about her.
The dark tabby hesitated before sneering, "None of your business, traitor."
Mistyfoot chose to ignore him, looking down at the apprentices instead. "Where is Darkstripe taking you?" She asked in a softer tone.
Bramblepaw shrugged. "He only said that he knew a good place to hide."
Mistyfoot turned her icy blue glare on Darkstripe. "You mean to say that you would save yourself and these apprentices and let the rest of the Clan get torn apart, is that it?" Darkstripe didn't answer, turning his gaze away slightly. The queen snarled, "You're the traitor, Darkstripe, not me. I wouldn't be surprised if you planned this all with Tigerstar! You knew about the dog pack all along, didn't you?!"
Darkstripe looked a little guilty, but he still sneered, "I don't have to answer to a RiverClan turntail."
Mistyfoot narrowed her eyes. "No, but you will answer to your leader and deputy." She swept her gaze over all three cats. "Follow me, we need to get back to the Clan." Bramblepaw and Tawnypaw followed imediatly, followed more reluctantly by a furious Darkstripe.
As they padded back into the camp, Fireheart bounded over to greet Mistyfoot. "What happened?" he asked with concern.
Mistyfoot explained briefly, keeping her gaze trained on Darkstripe as she did. "I don't trust one hair on that traitor's pelt." She growled.
Fireheart gave her a quick, comforting lick on the ear. "Don't worry, I'll get Whitestorm to watch him." He pulled away with a sigh. "I have to go talk to Bluestar now. Can you go get the kits ready to go?"
Mistyfoot nodded. She touched noses with her mate for a moment, then pulled back, bounding away to the nursery.
Spottedkit, Rustykit, and Streamkit all seemed confused by the wailing and the heavy stench of fear-scent. "What's going on?" Rustykit asked curiously.
Mistyfoot forced her voice to be calm as she explained, "There's a pack of dogs in the forest. We need to go to Sunningrocks now so they don't find us."
Spottedkit puffed out her chest proudly. "If a dog found me, I'd fight it!" She boasted.
Mistyfoot felt brief amusement at the kit's words, but it soon melted away in the face of the danger they were in. "Not these dogs." Before Spottedkit could offer more protest, Mistyfoot grabbed her by the scruff of her neck and lifted her up. The kit squealed in protest, but Mistyfoot in protest. The she-cat spoke to the other two kits through a mouthful of Spottedkit's fur. "Follow me."
She led the kits out to the camp entrance. Spottedkit let out a squeak of excitement. "Do we get to go out in the forest?" She asked eagerly.
Mistyfoot sighed. Her kits had no idea of the danger they were in. "Yes, we do." She mumbled through Spottedkit's fur. Her kits' eyes widened with excitement.
Frostfur padded over and gentley picked up Rustykit by the scruff. Mistyfoot blinked gratefully at her. A few moments later, Whitestorm came and picked up Streamkit.
Bluestar padded out of her den, followed by a weary Fireheart. He rubbed muzzles briefly with Mistyfoot. "Be careful." He murmured, his voice filled with love and fear. He gave Spottedkit a quick lick between the ears. She giggled and swiped out at him with sheathed claws. The deputy smiled lovingly at his daughter, then turned to Whitestorm. "Stay beside Bluestar." He mewed quietly. "Look after her."
Whitestorm set down Streamkit so he could speak. "You can rely on me, Fireheart." He seemed to be perfectly aware of how fragile Bluestar was in her current state of mind.
Fireheart leaned down and gave his older daughter a quick lick between the ears as well. Frostfur padded closer so Fireheart could do the same for his son. He shared one last glance with Mistyfoot before bounding away to join his dog-luring patrol.
Mistyfoot wanted more than anything to go out with him, to face the ultimate danger by the side of the cat she loved. But her kits needed her now, and so did her mate. With a quiet mew of sadness, Mistyfoot turned and followed her Clanmates out into the forest.