A/N: Sorry for the wait guys! I didn't meant to be sporadic with the updates to this as my intention was to update this at the same time each week and not get writer's block but guess what...

I GOT WRITER'S BLOCK AFTER ALL.

That, and I've been working a bunch on some big university assignments/tests that were due just recently as well, so my priorities have been in a different place until this moment...

I'll try and do my best with this, but I can't guarantee that the updates will come as quickly or frequently until semester ends, unfortunately... I'll try and work hard on the chapters I do post though :)

'How would you like it if I left you while you were sleeping.'

- How Would You Like It? (Lauren Aquilina)

~~Chapter 11~~

"There are traces of BloodClan's scent on the TallCut Pines Border!"

The border patrol came streaming in with a frantic hurry in their gait, paws thudding on the well-trodden ground, and a wide and desperate light in their eyes. The fear scent was prevalent as well; it billowed out towards Firestar and Bramblepaw in waves, making their neck-fur spike up in response. This was dangerous and unexpected to hear.

The sudden arrival of Ravenpaw and Barley was catching a lot of cats by surprise as well! It was good to see them again, but what could the two barn cats tell them that was so important?

He hoped it wasn't more bad news...

The fiery leader paused for a moment in indecision, glancing between the Clan's new visitors and the returned patrol in a bid to choose which one was more urgent to get to. Did it matter though? In the end he would hear what both said anyway, even if it was through what they told Greystripe.

Yes Greystripe would take care of it, he was sure.

So after giving Bramblepaw a quick dismissal, Firestar got up and headed to group of cats quickly, with agitation and worry clashing together in his mind; how could BloodClan be making a comeback so soon after their defeat? It hadn't even reached two full moons since the battle yet! They needed to get to the bottom of this with no time to waste. He padded right up to Thornclaw as he was the leader of the patrol, noting as he did so, of the disbelief and anger that simmered in the tom's green-hued yellow eyes.

Right, well, no time to spare then.

"Thornclaw?" He prompted him, nodding his acknowledge to the rest of the patrol standing there. "Can you tell what happened then, while on your check along the territory there?"

The golden-brown tabby shook himself out of his stupor and gave Firestar a stiff determined nod, tail lashing as he opened his mouth to speak. What he had to say was certainly alarming to say the least; Firestar's fur started to bristle in response to the news that Thornclaw started to give in regards to his earlier statement, for what a warning it was indeed!

"We were going along the border near TwolegPlace to see how it was going along there; since the BloodClan battle nearly 2 moons ago, we haven't really dared to check there due to any lingering threats there might be... they should have all ran off from us. But we thought we might see if it was safe there today. It's just as well we did, because their stench was everywhere!" He growled with a fire burning in his normally placid eyes.

Mousefur nodded at his words with a serious, focused gaze. She flicked her ears back unknowingly in rumination. "They obviously weren't scared enough by us, or they're planning some sort of retaliatory attack against the Clan in response to their loss."

Firestar's eyes hardened and his tail twitched with restless energy. "That certainly is disquieting to hear..." He said in reply. By the stars, why was so much going on this moon!?

A loud whispered dispute caught his ears and pulled Firestar out of the troubled thoughts he was having to himself; the hisses and growls were getting more tangible to hear as the ones who were at it drew closer to him. The choice of subject made the flame-ginger tom pick his ears and frown, the urge to reprimand rising to the back of his throat with a strength he didn't foresee.

"...Bet this has to be the result of that strange she-cat staying with us. It only makes sense since she came here and now they're attacking us again! I knew she was trouble..."

Dustpelt. of course.

While he knew the tom was argumentative with some subjects, Firestar had been hoping this wouldn't be one of them. Maybe this should have been better discussed with the tabby and other senior warriors when he first brought an unknown cat into Camp not so long after the great battle, even if to assuage their fears a bit more.

Firestar shook his head at the what ifs. That time had come and past. All he could do was get Ruby to interact and help more around camp where everyone could see her intentions were good, and gradually they would move on from their initial distrust. At least he hoped this would be the case.

He flicked his tail in a gesture to for Thornclaw's group to go on, letting him know anything else that may be vital to the ThunderClan's safety; he was not disappointed by the obliging response to this signal.

"Ah yes... also..."

Wait... what was Ruby doing during all of this?

Firestar was once again distracted by a thought that sent a prickle down his spine and a worry that started to rise in his mind, making him nearly miss what Thornclaw was saying and taking priority over everything else.

He hoped she was dealing with everything okay...

Wait, no! He was meant to be listening to this report!

And now he was just remembering another note importance as well, something that had completely skipped his mind before now due to everything else.

Ruby had mentioned Jake a while ago, hadn't she? It was a name that sounded so familiar to him for some reason...

"He was always so proud of you! Jake really was..."

Why did his mother's words from a time long ago spring to his mind only now?

Meanwhile...

Even with all the restless energy generated from the unwelcome news, there was whispering and speculating about another factor that made itself known in the home of these cats.

ThunderClan had some new visitors today. They were standing there in the entrance of the reinforced camp walls now, rolling their shoulders and flexing their claws as they waited for the atmosphere and chattering to calm down, ebbing like a storm passing. These cats were in actuality well-known, despite the uncertain demeanor they displayed.

And another thing that was sure to be known about them?

They were here for a purpose. That much was certain.

The first time Barley saw the huddled grey she-cat with those unusual reddish-amber eyes, he thought she was different. There she stood standing there, as if frozen in place. There seemed to be a sort of hidden beauty exuding from her quiet presence and his own distinctive pale golden-brown orbs widened when they glanced over her thin form. A mew startled him and his gaze broke away from her to focus on the sleek black tom next to him instead.

"We should make our report to Firestar now."

Barley nodded, his mind temporarily distracted by that moment as he shook his broad head and answered his friend's words.

"...Oh? Yes, of course…But maybe we should talk to that cat Greystripe instead? It looks like Firestar may be occupied."

Ravenpaw frowned at him briefly with a hidden question in his eyes at the uncharacteristic absent-mindedness Barley displayed, but turned towards the dark grey-coloured tom that was second-in-command of the Clan, having spotted them both from his position in the center of the camp and was moving closer, his thick dark-furred tail waving uneasily behind him.

"This is a surprise! What brings you here Ravenpaw and Barley? Good news or…?"

The two loners glanced at each other and knew they had to warn him - the feeling that gripped their hearts was a familiar one that Barley had once felt seasons before. It was also a feeling that followed Ravenpaw, back from when he first came to be by Barley's side; it was the feeling of constant fear shadowing him. There was a danger afoot that would best be heeded, one that could spell destruction for all they had ever worked for, as well as the peace they had earned for themselves during all this time.

Barley decided to get this over and done with, and so with a nod to his companion, he sat back on his haunches and allowed Ravenpaw to speak for the both of them. It was good to see the confidence that his dark-coated partner spoke with, compared to how he had first acted in the past.

"It's... well... things have been happening outside the Clan territories Greystripe, beyond the moors I mean. It's in relation of strange rogues and what we think may be some remainders of BloodClan? It's not always easy to tell, as the strange cats we've seen don't really come close and have kept to themselves and away from the barn. Barley seems to recognise their behaviour though and some aspects of their appearance... So that's why we're being cautious and forewarning you in advance."

Greystripe's expression stilled for a moment as he took in the full impact that those words brought, and realising the implications that such news gave with it.

"BloodClan... I thought we had seen the last of them when the battle was fought that moon or so ago. They still haven't seen how futile it is to fight us?"

Barley stepped in here. "It seems not, unfortunately. Even from what I know of them, I never predicted how stubborn they'd turn out to be in this situation." He clenched his teeth and dug his claws into the ground, shoulders visibly tensing as some nearly-forgotten memories threatened to be dredged, up from the depths of his mind. No... it couldn't happen now! He thought he had gotten better than this!

"You always were useless, Son. There's no doubt about that."

His father's apathetic grunt echoed in his ears like the distant drones of a fly.

It took the effort of squeezing his eyes shut and the gentle sensation of Ravenpaw poking him with his nose, to finally help Barley recover from the brief lapse of awareness he just experienced. He shook his head to clear it fully and sent a grateful look to the smaller black tom by his side. "Thanks."

Ravenpaw gave a small smile. "Anytime, Bar."

A sudden wailing sound made itself heard from an area nearby, jolting all three cats out of their musings and drawing their attention to the source of the unexpected noise. It took them all by surprise when they spotted the thin form of Ruby nearby, her body shaking furiously in the clearing like a rapidly rustling bush. Greystripe's own eyes widened as he realised she must be having one of those episodes that he heard Cinderpelt talking about.

"N-N-N-No..." The she-cat whispered as her body rocked back and forth constantly, her eyes glazed and fearful at the implications that cursed name brought with it. "Anyone but them...! Please...Not BloodClan... Not BloodClan!" She coughed after the last word, teetering on wobbly legs that threatened to collapse underneath her.

The motion snapped the observing party out of their muddle. With no direct instruction given, the two loners swarmed forward to catch her as she finally fell; this situation was familiar to them, as both Ravenpaw and Barley had depended on each other, each time that their own demons of the past threatened to drown them in darkness. This time would be no different either.

Greystripe looked uncomfortable and unsure of what to do but he came to join them as well, propping Ruby's shoulder up onto his and resting his ear against her chest to listen to her breathing. Ravenpaw nodded in approval and that led to the grey tom's visible tension slackening in relief. Barley raised his own head to offer ThunderClan's deputy a frown, along with a query of his own for this particular role they found themselves in.

"So who is this she-cat exactly? I don't recall seeing her here before... Is she a new recruit?" The black-and-white tom sniffed the trembling grey cat curiously, wrinkling his nose at the faint smell of herbs that lingered in the she-cat's pelt.

It must be from old injuries, he surmised.

Ravenpaw copied his motions as he scrutinised the she-cat as well, realising that he didn't recognise her from anywhere either! "Hmm... you're right. She doesn't smell familiar at all. Does this mean Firestar's taking in other cats like him and Cloudtail?"

Greystripe winced, drawing their eyes to him as he swallowed uncomfortably. "Well.. not exactly. This cat here is named Ruby. From what he told me, Firestar found her collapsed in a worser state than this when he was walking on the border near TwolegPlace, so he brought her back with him for treatment. To be fair, at first we weren't intending to invite any new cats to the Clan as Firestar knows the others here, and the other Clans probably wouldn't take it so well. In a time such as this, in a short time just after The Battle, no Clan cat is truly keen to discover any unknown cats in our respective territories - even if they do turn out to be just one cat like in this case. Unless you've known them prior, It's so hard to know who to trust, unfortunately."

Greystripe paused to let that sink in, releasing a weary sigh as he did so. "That brings me to my next point, actually. What are your next movements from here? Did you just came to warn about those strange cats or have something else in mind? We could probably offer you help - there's no need to doubt that! Just let Firestar and I know what you wanted to do."

Silence reigned for a few heartbeats as the two loners thought carefully over what the deputy said. After a bit, Barley flattened his ears in unease and drew himself up in anticipation of what he was going to ask, along with Ravenpaw doing the same next to him. This was going to cost them a bit of their pride to admit to, so it was better to blurt it out now rather than make it in any way strained.

"We... Well Ravenpaw and I... were wondering if it would be possible for us to stay here for a little while? We don't trust those rogues staying near us to keep to their area, and they seem to be a dangerous sort to deal with... We need the time to organise a plan of attack with them, I think. Also to find out whether they actually are BloodClan or not. I don't like the idea of them being able to sneak around us while we sleep."

Greystripe didn't even seem to stop and consider anything - he just nodded with agreement straight away, startling both of them with his quick answer. "Of course you can. ThunderClan has many reasons to thank you two, what with you guys helping us fight off BloodClan last time among other things. You should know you two are always welcome here. I'm sure there'll be no protests. We'll just need to confirm this plan with Firestar as soon as he's finished with Thornclaw's discussion; they should be finished by now actually..."

The dark grey tom let his voice trail off, and it wasn't hard to pick up his unsubtle mutters involving Cinderpelt's whereabouts as he sent concerned looks at the shocked and shivering cat leaning against his flank for support.

She most-likely could do with a sprig of thyme, if Barley was correct in his medicine knowledge... although he wasn't sure about suggesting it as he wasn't familiar with this new cat yet. He couldn't help but be somewhat intrigued with her though... something about her drew her to him; whether it was to be a difference that he could glean from her appearance, or the way in which she reminded him of herself in a way - he didn't know. But somehow... he wanted to know.

Don't be silly, he told himself. You have Ravenpaw! And Ravenpaw should really be all he felt he needed... and yet...

Who was this cat named Ruby, and where does she come from, to know the effects of such horrors?

Barley's mind was so cluttered with such thoughts that he completely failed to notice the presence of Firestar, and Greystripe's greeting of the leader, preferring instead to gaze off into the sky in a blank sort of way. The different voice succeeded in drawing him out of his musings with a jolt, as he was taken off guard.

"Barley and Ravenpaw! It's always good to see you two. I'm sorry for the delay - I was just discussing some plans for the current troubling news with Thornclaw; he was with the patrol that spotted some rather unwelcome visitors near TwolegPlace..." The flame-ginger tom released a rather weary-sounding sigh. Like Barley, it seemed he had a lot weighing down his mind as well.

Just how much had been going on around this Clan lately? Barley wondered. It seemed like a lot, judging from their leader's behaviour. He seemed to carry himself in a way that said 'What trials are you sending our way next, StarClan?'

Barley didn't know how Clan cats coped with such an approach to these entities that seemed to deal down punishments at their whim. He wasn't about to ask either. It mustn't be an easy way to live.

"It's no trouble Firestar - Greystripe kept us up to date on what's happening around here. We've also informed him of the rise of BloodClan's activity increasing again." Ravenpaw told his ginger friend, aware of Barley's preoccupied countenance as the black-and-white tom stared listlessly at nothing next to him. This was just a normal situation in their interactions so Ravenpaw wasn't worried.

Firestar looked as though he wanted to groan in frustration. "So you've noticed it too? Looks like this is a bigger problem than I thought..." He closed his eyes for a second, as if to prepare himself, and then opened them again as he drew up his shoulders. "Okay, something needs to be done about this so... Greystripe! Can you organise a new patrol to investigate these unexpected sightings and maybe start preparing some battle plans just in case. We need to get ready for the worst, since we know how these cats think. I'll keep talking to Ravenpaw and Barley; they might have some ideas of their own too."

Greystripe sent another fleeting worried glance towards the frozen grey cat next to him but nodded at the order. Squaring his shoulders, he gently prodded Ruby in the direction of Cinderpelt's den, exchanging words with Brightheart who appeared on the way there.

Firestar's unusual serious expression loosened a bit as that was going on and he let himself slump a little. "Now that that's organised, at least we have some headway in what we're going to do about this..." He met the sympathetic gaze of Ravenpaw and hung his head a bit at the sight.

"Honestly...So much has been happening during this past moon."

Ravenpaw dipped his head at that. "I don't doubt it, Firestar. You look as though you can't catch a break, and I've seen cats at their lowest point so I would know. Maybe you need to relax a bit and talk to Sandstorm? I'm sure she could make you feel better." A little twinkle appeared in the sleek tom's green eyes as he suggested that.

Firestar just sighed and shook his head at those words. Did Ravenpaw really know how to deal with everything that was happening? Did Firestar himself? Would Sandstorm understand?

Could he lead the Clan through this, in a time that seemed like a never-ending version of another Darkest Hour? Not so long after the first?

All he could do was hope so. He was still pretty new to being leader, after all.