1Riversong lay sharing tongues with Sunpaw. The heat of the day had come and the two of them were resting in their shady den after a long morning of training. Riversong rasped her tongue over Sunpaw's soft, velvety ear. He mewled like a kit. "Hey! Not there!"

"Your ears are filthy, Sunpaw," Riversong remarked, licking again, "Did you ever wash them a day in your life?"

"Everyone knows a cat doesn't need clean ears!" Sunpaw retorted, trying to slip from Riversong's grasp, "Besides, that brings on rain, and I hate rain!"

Riversong pulled her head back and stared critically at her apprentice. "You know, for a cat who didn't spend a lot of time in the elders' den, you know a lot of old she-cats' tales."

"I spent plenty of time in there!" Sunpaw protested, "I listened to Young-at-Heart talk about his days as a rogue cat. He was a good storyteller."

Young-at-Heart had been taken into DuskClan as a young rogue cat. Rogues were either Clanless or exiles from other Clans. They roamed alone or in bands, terrorizing the cats of the Clans. Young-at-Heart was on old, pale gray tomcat with a blue stare like newly-formed ice. He was a very gentle cat, which is why he was an outcast from his band. Young-at-Heart had longed for the order brought by a single, just ruler chosen by powers no cat could understand. DuskClan was the only one to offer him a place. He had been a good, loyal warrior until he became too old to fight for his adopted Clan. Now he lived with the elders.

Riversong nodded. "He was, wasn't he? He joined DuskClan when I was a kit. Did he tell you the story about what he did to Shorestar?" Shorestar was the LakeClan leader, a sand-colored tom with a kinked, patchy-furred tail that had once been his pride: feathered and sleek.

"Uh-huh," Sunpaw mewed, "But my favorite story was when he and What's-Her-Name, uh, Slayer of Foxes, went out and scared those kittypets half out of their minds!"

Riversong nodded. She remembered that story well. Slayer of Foxes had been one of Young-at-Heart's best friends. Slayer, as she was called, was a bright orange tabby with a wide, white-tipped tail like a fox's. Her muzzle was oddly narrow and pointed. Slayer claimed her mother had been a fox herself. The odd she-cat had dedicated her life to killing foxes and badgers. Her surrogate father had been killed by one when she had been a kit. The story went that one day, Young-at-Heart and Slayer had been wandering through their territory one afternoon when they came across a group of young, rude kittypets. The Twoleg pets had tried to scare the two rogues away. The two had fled, but only temporarily. Then, Young-at-Heart disguised himself as a badger while Slayer acted like a fox. They returned to the group of kittypets, frothing at the mouth, rolling their eyes wildly. The kittypets ran off yowling for their mothers while Slayer and Young-at-Heart finished their conversation as if nothing had happened.

Sadly, Slayer had been killed by a monster the following leaf-bare. She had been chasing a mouse out onto the Thunderpath when it hit her. Young-at-Heart wandered alone for a few moons after that, but then decided that he needed companionship. That was when he had joined up with DuskClan. Young-at-Heart spoke often of Slayer and told many stories about her deeds. Riversong was sure he had loved her.

Riversong got to her paws and stretched. "Well, that's enough of that," she meowed, "What do you want to..." She broke off. Sunpaw gazed up at her, his tawny eyes filled with fear. The ground had begun its ominous rumble. Tails bristling, the two cats fled their den once more.

As it had earlier that morning, the monster thundered over their cave. Sunpaw forced his way under Riversong's belly to hide in her fur. Riversong stood up to allow him. She knew it was silly, but if it made Sunpaw feel less afraid, so be it. The huge, black monster rumbled over its Thunderpath. Wait a second! Riversong thought, That's the same one we saw this morning! Only, it's going the other way this time. Sunpaw whimpered. Riversong didn't hear this scared vocalization, but she felt his tiny vocal cords move as he pressed his throat against her leg. She gave a deep purr, hoping he would feel it rumbling through her body like summer thunder. Then, after it felt it had scared the cats enough, the monster left. The stench of smoke and fear hung heavy on the air.

Sunpaw emerged from under Riversong's belly. "It came back," he squeaked. Riversong nodded. She looked up at the sky. The sun was setting.

"Sunpaw, I think this monster has a schedule."

"What do you mean, Riversong?"

"I mean, I think it only comes at sunrise and sundown. You saw how it was going the opposite way from this morning? I think it has a meeting of some sort in the morning, like a Gathering. Then it goes back to its den at sundown when the meeting is over."

"Does that mean the meeting is at sunhigh?" Sunpaw asked. Riversong shrugged.

"It might be," she meowed, "It might be."

"Are we going to stay here, Riversong? It is really nice here. The prey is plentiful, there's shelter, there's a stream not too far off...It's perfect."

Something pricked Riversong's heart. Why not? She sighed. Foxpelt. The weight of what she knew descended afresh on her shoulders. Sunpaw looked up at her, concern shining through his light brown eyes. He drew closer to her side. "Riversong...?" he mewed.

Riversong padded into their den. She dropped down onto the nest. Sunpaw curled up beside her. "Sunpaw," she whispered, "Can you keep a secret?"

Sunpaw nodded. "What's wrong?" he asked.

Riversong took a deep breath. "You remember Foxpelt?" she began. Sunpaw nodded again. "Remember how Brightstar said he was killed by a badger?" Nod. "Well, he was...But it wasn't the badger's fault. Not entirely, at any rate. You see, I was on moonhigh patrol when it happened. It was me, Sleetfur, Foxpelt, Wingfoot, and Racepaw. A loner named Tempest who was really good friends with Foxpelt told us a badger named Scars was taunting some LakeClan cats."

"The badger had a name?"

"Foxpelt and Tempest had driven him off a few times. He's not a straight thinker anymore. He just corners cats and acts like he's going to kill them, except he never does. But, Foxpelt was int front of him, a wall to his back. Foxpelt kept telling Scars to cut it out, go away, but Wingfoot..." She paused, gulped for breath, and continued. "Wingfoot was behind him. He bit the badger. Scars ran Foxpelt straight into a wall. That's how he died. Only I saw it."

"Wingfoot killed Foxpelt!" Sunpaw cried. His eyes were wide. Riversong licked his ear to try and calm him down.

"Indirectly, but yes. And I think he knows that I know. That's why I left, Sunpaw. It was mostly about losing you, but also because Wingfoot wants to get back at me. He wants to drive the witnesses from DuskClan."

Sunpaw was silent, this new information seeking a place in his mind. He was excited by this knowledge. It made him feel important to help keep his mentor's secrets. At the same time, though, he longed for Riversong to laugh and say 'Fooled you!' But he knew she was being serious. After a while, he spoke. "So you're letting Wing-head have his way?" he asked.

"For the moment, yes. But not forever. I need to find out more before I go back, though. Like why he did it, or how he knew how to make it look like a battle death. That's another reason why I left DuskClan: outside evidence."

Sunpaw stood up. "Well, let's get going! I liked Foxpelt a lot, Riversong. If Wingfoot really did what you said he did, then I want to make sure he pays!"

"Lie back down, Sunpaw. We'll leave tomorrow morning. Get some rest."

Obediently, Sunpaw lay back down. He curled up beside Riversong. Riversong gazed up at the stars of Silverpelt thoughtfully. Well, now Sunpaw knows, Foxpelt, she thought, We're that much closer to avenging your death. I swear by my back stripes that Wingfoot is brought to justice. But I can't just do it with Sunpaw and myself. I need help. Send me a sign. Please, something to tell me I'm not alone.

She sighed and lay her head on her paws. The lights of Silverpelt were back to being distant, lifeless points of light in the dark sky. Riversong felt abandoned. Was StarClan trying to tell her what she was doing was wrong? Should she give Sunpaw back to DuskClan where he belonged and continue by herself?

Sunpaw rolled over in his sleep. He purred softly. "Okay, Foxpelt," he murmured softly. Riversong realized he was still dreaming. "I'll tell her. Riversong...don't give up. You're on the right track. Watch for the wise tree. He knows which way to go...He knows..."

Riversong shook Sunpaw gently. The tomcat opened his light brown eyes sleepily. "Wha'ss wrong?" he asked drowsily.

"That thing you were just saying...About the wise trees and..." Sunpaw gave her a look of dozy confusion. Riversong gave up. "Never mind. Go back to sleep." Sunpaw didn't have to be told twice.

Riversong stared up at the stars of Silverpelt. Watch for the wise tree, eh, Foxpelt? She mused, Thanks. I'll keep a close watch of every tree we pass tomorrow. I'll even ask some of them if they're 'wise.' Sunpaw will think I'm nuts, but if that's what it takes to prove Wingfoot is a murderer, that's what I'll do. She lay her head back down and fell asleep.