A paw prodded Blackfang's side and he woke up to see his friend Lionfur standing over him.

"Dawn patrol"? he asked.

"Yeah," he replied. Blackfang got out from his nest blinking the sleep away from his eyes. He saw Ashpaw, and Brackenfoot who were pacing around impatiently waiting by the entrance.

"Took you long enough," Brackenfoot said, rolling his eyes. The patrol started walking through the marshlands of ShadowClan. "Let's check the ThunderClan border," meowed Brackenfoot, the leader of the patrol. Once they arrived at the Thunderpath they were surprised to see a tiny kit getting hit by Thistleclaw. "Thistleclaw have you no shame?" Brackenfoot asked in disbelief.

"This kittypet was trespassing on ThunderClan territory," growled Thistleclaw.

An amused purr broke out from Lionfur. "Look out Thistleclaw. That kittypet looks fierce you'll probably be in the medicine den for at least a moon!"

Visibly stung, Thistleclaw leaped at the kit and delivered a hard blow to the head. Once the poor kit scrambled back to his paws he started limping across the Thunderpath. Thistleclaw growled and approached the path.

"Uh, uh, uh," meowed Blackfang. "This is ShadowClan territory. You can't set a paw on our side of the Thunderpath. Or is the mighty Thistleclaw too powerful to listen to these rules?"

Thistleclaw gave Blackfang a piercing stare. "I know perfectly well where I am, Blackfang," he growled. "That kittypet strayed into ThunderClan territory. I was teaching him a lesson about boundaries." Thistleclaw looked Blackfang in the eye and went on. "Something for all cats to keep in mind,"

Blackfang allowed his eyes to show the amusement he felt to anger Thistleclaw further. "So instead of regaining Sunningrocks from RiverClan you find your time better spent attacking a lost kittypet not even half your size. Your courage definitely doesn't disappoint us,"

"Blackfang," Brackenfoot said, reproachfully, but there was amusement in his eyes.

The mocking meows of laughter Thistleclaw heard from the patrol made him dig his long claws hard into the Thunderpath. "He's your problem now. Drive him off and be done with it," Blackfang and Lionfur edged forward, trapped the kit and brought him back to ShadowClan territory.

"Ashpaw escort him back to our camp and have him see Sagewhisker for his injuries," The apprentice nodded and led the lost cat back to camp.

Once they arrived back at the camp they were greeted by Spiderclaw, the clan deputy and also Blackfang's father. "A kittypet, what's he doing here?" Spiderclaw asked.

"The dawn patrol found him getting beat up by Thistleclaw near the Thunderpath," replied Blackfang.

By now, most of the clan including the queens and elders were out of their dens coming to see what all the noise was about.

"Those injuries aren't anything too special coming from Thistleclaw," Spiderclaw said.

Meowing his agreement Blackfang went over to the medicine den and called Sagewhisker. "Sagewhisker, the dawn patrol found a lost kittypet getting beat up by Thistleclaw near the Thunderpath,"

"I didn't think even Thistleclaw would hurt a three moon old kit. I'll begin treating him now," said Sagewhisker.

Blackfang dipped his head to the medicine cat before padding over to the fresh-kill pile. He chose a large rabbit and went over to the nursery. There he was greeted by Featherstorm.

"Hi Blackfang," she meowed.

At the mention of Blackfang's name, his sister, Snowkit's head shot up from where she was playing with the other kits. "Hi Blackfang!" She meowed cheerfully.

"Hi Snowkit," he meowed. "I brought you some fresh-kill," he meowed to the queens.

The queens thanked him and the kits old enough to eat fresh-kill began devouring the rabbit. Rosefeather, Blackfang and Snowkit's mother, called Snowkit over, to nurse.

"Why can't I eat fresh-kill?" Snowkit whined.

"You're not old enough yet," Rosefeather meowed kindly.

"Why?"

"Your only three moons," Rosefeather replied.

Snowkit kept arguing while the queens talked to Blackfang.

"What do you think of the kittypet?" Poolcloud asked.

"I'm not surprised that Thistleclaw hurt that kit like that. It just shows how bloodthirsty he may be. I think Cedarstar might have to ask the kittypet some questions after. Something tells me by the fear in his eyes that he didn't just go to ThunderClan territory because he was curious of what lay beyond Twolegplace,"

"Maybe he can't go back to his Twolegs for some reason," Brightflower suggested.

"The poor kit. I hope Cedarstar takes him into the clan," Rosefeather meowed sympathetically.

Blackfang realized that only Featherstorm hadn't spoken once she thanked him for the fresh-kill. Maybe it was because her mate, and Raggedkit and Scorchkit's father was rumored to be a kittypet.

"Excuse me. I have to go on a hunting patrol soon," Blackfang got up and nuzzled Snowkit.

"Already?" Snowkit asked. "Can you play moss ball with me later?"

"Sure," Blackfang replied with an amused purr.

Blackfang dipped his head to the queens and backed out of the den. He suddenly realized how hungry he was and saw Lionfur and Blizzardwing sharing a squirrel. He went over to them and sat down. They nodded to Blackfang, and once again Blackfang was asked the same question as before.

"What do you think will happen to the kittypet? Do you think Cederstar will let him stay in the clan?" Asked Blizzardwing.

"He can't, he's just a kittypet. Kittypets aren't meant to be in clans. They're just Twoleg toys with four paws and fluff," Blackfang meowed convincingly.

The three cats continued talking about the kittypet until Blackfang finished his share. He got up and said "I have to leave now. I'm going on a hunting patrol, until sunhigh," He nodded goodbye and left.