I'm back! Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving!

Thanks to the following for reviewing:

-AtlierSky (Thank you and hoped you had a great Thanksgiving too. Even if Thistlestar doesn't think of the TigerClan stuff there is another cat who would).

-nyauwu (lol @ your comment)

-randomwarriorfan

On with this fic! (And I've been writing up a good few chapters during the break, so hope you enjoy!)

The day was bright as Fire Heart led his patrol of Raven Hope, Thorn, Alder and Ash Blaze out of camp. Gray Wing had quickly organized the morning patrols, and promised to be back soon and high-tailed it out of camp. Thunder, Lightning Tail, Owl Eyes, and Leaf were missing as they always were, but they eventually came back with prey. But why the same patrol every time?

Fire Heart shook the thought away, happy to be patrolling with friends, peacefully for once. They headed near the abandoned twoleg nest in a corner of their territory to hunt. Barely anyone hunted there so it would be a good place to go.

The patrol split up to search for prey. Raven Hope went in one direction while Ash Blaze clawed her way up a tree to look for squirrels. Alder stuck her head in a bush as Thorn slowly approached the gap under the twoleg nest.

Fire Heart paused when he spotted a black pelt that he had almost missed because it blended in well with the shadows.

"Heya, Fire. Haven't seen you in a while?"

Fire Heart just stared at his deceased friend, his heart pounding. Why was he here? He was dead! He was supposed to be dead! He died moons ago!

And yet here he was in clear view as if taunting him.

"No luck here!"

He jolted, fur bristling at Alder's loud voice and the cat vanished. He took deep, steadying breaths before looking over to see Thorn cuffing the mottled she-cat.

"Mouse-brain, not only did you scare the prey, but you probably warned everyone in the vici–"

He broke off when the group all noticed someone bounding through the trees. It was a brown tabby kittypet with a pink collar. Instantly, Fire Heart recognized his sister, Princess.

She spotted him at the same moment, her face brightening. "Fire Heart!"

"Who's that?" Ash Blaze growled, jumping down from her perch in the tree, a squirrel dangling from her jaws.

"You're okay! I haven't seen you since before the fire. I thought you might have died!" Princess gasped as she skidded to a halt.

"Hi, Princess," Raven Hope meowed.

"Hi!" She looked at the other three warily.

"I'm okay," Fire Heart meowed. "So is Cloud Tail..." Fire Heart kept forgetting he was a ShadowClan cat now. It was so weird. But at least he was alive and well. And that's all Princess had to know.

"We'll get on with the hunt," Thorn growled. "Leave you for some quality family time." Fire Heart heard sarcasm in his voice, but ignored it. Alder followed him and Ash Blaze, glancing back at Princess with curious eyes.

"You're a long way from Twolegplace," Fire Heart commented. "You must have something important to say."

"Yes, I..." She paused as they heard heavy crunching steps. The three cats dropped to the ground in fear as three twolegs appeared.

"Do you think that's their nest and it isn't abandoned after all?" Raven Hope whispered as the twolegs yowled and looked around.

"I think they're looking for something," Fire Heart meowed. He looked at his sister. "Do you know what it's about?"

Princess frowned. "No…I can't understand everything twolegs say. Sorry."

Soon the twolegs left and they stood from their hiding place.

Fire Heart was worried. Whatever they were looking for they hadn't found…and they didn't even know what they had to watch out for.

Shattered Ice watched Tigerclaw with narrowed eyes as he talked with Leopardfur. He inwardly gagged as the she-cat stared at the "great" deputy with an almost moony look. It made him sick!

I hate her, but I know by StarClan she isn't falling for that suspicious tom's tricks!

"Are you okay?"

He looked to see Mallowtail looking up from her grooming at him.

"Yeah, I just don't like that cat being here," he muttered, glaring at Tigerclaw again. "Always strutting in here like he owns the place. I had to prove my loyalty and some cats still don't like me, yet they don't care that he goes and comes as he pleases?"

"Honestly," Dappled Pelt sighed quietly as she padded over to join them. "I wonder if Thistlestar knows about his visits."

Shattered Ice spotted Silverstream approaching the two deputies and asking something. Leopardfur just waved her tail at her and frowning, the silver tabby backed away.

Deciding to uphold his good clanmate reputation, Shattered Ice got to his paws and approached the she-cat. "What's wrong?" He asked.

"I can't find Graypool anywhere," she murmured, frowning. "She's getting really old. It's dangerous for her to wander off alone."

"I'll go with you to look for her," Shattered Ice meowed, remembering the old, forgetful she-cat was Silverstream's aunt.

"Really? Thanks!"

They hurried out of the camp and headed along the shore towards Fourtrees. He found it hard to believe such a fragile elder could make it this far. But then he noticed a skinny, gray cat limping in the opposite direction near a pit with sharp rocks.

Shattered Ice froze and slowly got Silverstream's attention, staring with wide green eyes at her. She nodded in understanding. They had to calmly approach her in order to not startle her.

She was too close to a bad place for comfort. One wrong move and it wouldn't end well.

They slowly stalked after her, hoping she wouldn't suddenly see them, forget who they were and try to run. (It'd happened many times before, but near camp where it was safe).

After a few moments, Graypool turned away from the edge, climbing the steep slope away from the pit. Shattered Ice wondered where she could possibly be going.

He was ready to catch up and guide her away, but another figure had appeared from the direction of Fourtrees.

Who in StarClan is that?

It was a brown tom with white legs. He ducked down and Silverstream reluctantly followed. "We have to help her! That rogue will attack her!"

"I'm afraid we'll startle Graypool! She's still near the edge! Maybe that tom will just ignore her."

At the same moment, the tom spotted Graypool and made his way toward her. As he approached, Graypool gasped in surprise and stepped back. The rogue approached and murmured something to her, although the two RiverClan cats were too far away to hear what it was.

Shattered Ice stalked through the grass with Silverstream on his tail to get within earshot. What could a random rogue possibly want with an elder?

"Don't act like you don't know me," he heard Graypool rasp. "You promised me I would be raising kits, Oakheart, but I never did. I never got the chance after my own died."

Shattered Ice and Silverstream exchanged looks. Oakheart was the deputy before Leopardfur. What was Graypool meowing about? Sure his brother had been Graypool's sister's mate but…what did that have to do with anything?

"I haven't seen you in days," Graypool went on. "Where have you been? Keep avoiding me after you broke that promise, huh?" The tom stared at her startled, but did not interrupt her rambling.

"So is it true that she really wanted to keep her kits in ThunderClan? What changed?"

Shattered Ice's jaw dropped as Silverstream stared in confusion. ThunderClan kits…? And what promise?"

The tom merely stared. Why didn't he just leave?

"Thistlestar took over and you tell me that's her reason for keeping them? And what happens if he finds out? They could have been safe in RiverClan, y'know. Why aren't you answering?"

Finally the tom growled, "What're you rambling on about the Clans, old she-cat? Get outta my way, I have to find that stupid spy of mine!"

Flustered, Graypool took a step back, realizing that the tom was not at all Oakheart. The pebbles beneath her tumbled down the slope, throwing her off balance. With a yelp, she rolled down the hill, scrambling to grab onto something. Head first, she slammed into one of the rocks at the bottom of the shore, then laid still.

"NO!" Silverstream screeched. She charged the tom, yowling with fury. The tom stared wide-eyed before he dodged and sprinted back the way he came.

Shattered Ice raced straight for the elder, only skidding to a halt when he reached Graypool. He crouched beside her. A small trickle of blood ran down the rock from the back of her head. Her eyes were wide opened and glazed, forever frozen in fear.

Shattered Ice lowered his head. Graypool was dead. Silverstream joined him, crying over her aunt before helping to situate her onto Shattered Ice's back.

As they headed back to camp, Silverstream asked, "who even was that?"

"I really don't know," Shattered Ice replied. What had he meant by finding his spy? And what about Graypool? Was that her crazy talk or was she serious?

"And what was Graypool meowing about uncle Oakheart? And ThunderClan kits?" Silverstream asked as if she had read his mind.

Shattered Ice thought it over. Graypool had mentioned some ThunderClan queen…and how she had planned to give up her kits before Thistlestar became leader…or found out…or something?

He shook his head confused.

"It's ThunderClan drama," he simply meowed. "If Graypool hadn't known about it she wouldn't have been caught in it all."

The sun was rising over the trees as Bluefur and her patrol approached Snakerocks. The undergrowth was lush and green, although the leaves were starting to fall.

"Hold on," Dustpelt warned Ashpaw as the apprentice dashed toward the rocks. "There are adders around. Be careful."

Ashpaw skidded to a halt.

"Are you okay?"

Bluefur jumped a bit as Brindleface padded up to her.

"Yes. I'm...fine."

No. She wasn't.

How did he find out?

"What do you sense?" Dustpelt asked Ashpaw.

"Are you sure?"

How?! It was her closely kept secret!!

Ashpaw raised his head. "Rabbit!"

"Yep."

"If you say so."

How did he find out?!

"Yes. What else?" Dustpelt prompted.

"I can hear monsters on the Thunderpath." Ashpaw suddenly frowned. "There's dogs nearby."

Bluefur looked around. "Dogs..."

The patrols had reported a lot of evidence of dogs. And there seemed to be more than one.

"We'd better take a look around," she murmured. "You two check the trees. We'll go around the rocks."

Dustpelt led Ashpaw back into the forest while Bluefur and Brindleface began looking around the rocks. Bluefur noticed one of the huge round rocks looked pushed aside. Behind the gap was a dark hole, creating a cave.

"Bluefur!" Dustpelt called.

Bluefur and Brindleface joined the other two near a small, steep-sided clearing. A stagnant pool of water sat at the bottom, choked with fallen leaves. The ferns had been crushed, as though large creatures had walked around. A rabbit carcass lay nearby. A little way down the slope, Ashpaw just barely managed to avoid stepping in a large pile of dung.

Bluefur suddenly felt uneasy. Dogs didn't usually stay in the forest for even a day. "We need to warn the rest of the Clan that there's dogs around."

"Pack pack, kill kill."

She shook Spottedleaf's warning away.

"What should we do about it?" Ashpaw asked.

"There's nothing we can do other than keep our guard up," Bluefur decided. But she would tell Tigerclaw. Maybe he and Thistlestar could come up with an actual plan for once.

As they headed back to camp, Bluefur couldn't help but feel suffocated by her surroundings. Her secret out there, the dogs, it was all too much, and she found herself thinking something she barely ever would in her life.

Goosefeather was right. I should have just listened to him!

Thunder and his gang reached the ravine. "Where to hide today," he mused aloud.

"What about a tree?" Owl Eyes asked.

"You mean like we've been doing?"

"Come on!" Lightning Tail urged. "We're near the entrance!"

Thunder sighed and started up the same tree from last time. "Fine, but if anyone complains about my big head again, they're outta the club!"

Down below in the clearing, a patrol was just dropping their catches off. Tigerclaw was talking with Bluefur, both warriors looking worried.

Thistlestar was nowhere to be seen, which was odd. Back when he was in ThunderClan, the leader had always seemed to be out and about, breathing down Thunder's neck, it seemed.

The kits were as active as usual, dancing around and scuffing each other, whiskers twitching. But Snowkit was by his mother, Speckletail, who seemed to be…teaching him the hunting crouch, perhaps?

Cricketleaf and Brackenfur were chatting with Ashpaw outside the apprentice's den. Fernpaw sat by them, but was staying silent as her friends talked.

Suddenly, she looked up and Thunder froze as she made eye contact with him. Slowly, he put his tail tip to his lips in a sign for her to stay quiet. Behind him, Lightning Tail helpfully made threatening signs with his claws at the apprentice.

Wide-eyed, she nodded slowly, but Thunder wasn't sure how long she'd keep her promise.

Tigerclaw had disappeared into Thistlestar's den and the patrol had settled down during the whole interaction. As soon as Thunder realized this, a screech sounded above.

He looked up and gasped.

An eagle!

Everyone was scurrying to their dens…but Snowkit! He was still in the clearing! Where had Speckletail gone?

Tigerclaw and Thistlestar had burst out from behind Highrock as the eagle dove. Tigerclaw raced for Snowkit, but the eagle was already there.

"NO!" Speckletail jumped out from behind the nursery and raced to the kit, but the eagle was already lifting off into the air, heading towards the treetops of SkyClan's forest.

…Oh, no…

Fern and Gray Wing walked through the forest.

"...and now! I think he's coming for me!" Fern wailed. "I shouldn't have left!"

"Hey, listen," Gray Wing meowed. "Stay with us. Stay with SkyClan and we will protect you from Slash."

"Can we please at least rescue my sister, Beech?"

Gray Wing tensed, but he knew he couldn't say no. He looked back into the quiet forest of his Clan and then back at Fern.

"Okay. We should be back by tomorrow at dawn, I'm sure."

"If we make it out alive."

He pretended to not hear her as he spotted the flame-colored form of Fire Heart leading his patrol back to camp.

"Fire Heart!" He bounded towards his former apprentice. "Hey."

"Hi," Fire Heart meowed cheerily although he looked slightly troubled. Oh, don't we all look like that at least once in our lives? "Who's that?" He cast a curious look at Fern.

Thorn and Ash Blaze growled but Alder and Raven Hope just looked curious and cautious.

"Just a friend. She needs my help. Tell Skystar I'm going on a mission and won't be back till tomorrow."

Fire Heart gaped, closed his mouth, gaped again, then closed his mouth. "Um, uh, okay? But where are you going?"

"Thanks!" Gray Wing yowled, drowning out his question and raced back to Fern. "Let's go!"

"Okay, everyone," Skystar announced. "Today we're gonna have a competition."

Air Leap and his clanmates were all up in the trees. Only Milkweed, Acorn Fur and Cloud Spots were back at the camp, but Fire Heart's patrol would return soon.

Thunder and Gray Wing were off on their usual secret rendezvous. And so were Leaf, Lightning Tail and Owl Eyes.

"Cool! What do we win?" Birch asked his mentor.

"Hmm, let's say bragging rights?" Air Leap's father suggested. Everyone grinned.

"Prepare to be humiliated, losers!" Sparrow Fur crowed.

"We'll see," Quick Water hummed, amber eyes narrowed with determination.

"We're gonna race from tree to tree and whoever reaches the Great Oak first, catching prey on the way wins!"

"Ooh, this'll be fun!" Cinder Flower wriggled while Ivy Breeze clung onto the branch, looking a bit nervous.

Blossom and Nettle made up the rest of the group and were behind the two young she-cats, exchanging excited looks.

"Be careful," Skystar warned. "Three…two…one…GO!"

Air Leap leaped forward with his clanmates. He raced along the branch and jumped into the next tree with practiced ease.

"I think I see a squirrel!" Blossom called.

Air Leap looked around, but nearly fell when he heard a screech above them. They all simultaneously looked up to see a hawk swooping past, carrying prey in its talons.

He exchanged a smirk with his father.

"Double prey it seems?"

"Let's get it!"

They both raced ahead, but started climbing upwards of one of the trees. Their clanmates followed, confused, but at least having some sense of direction.

Once the son and father reached the topmost branch, the eagle passed at the moment. Air Leap tensed and jumped at the same time as Skystar.

Air Leap had a great jump, but Skystar would always have the best. The brown tabby fell short and he fell towards a branch. He scrambled, digging his claws in until he was clinging upside down from the branch.

Skystar, meanwhile, had caught the eagle and brought it down. "Take that, you big–" He cut off with a gasp.

Air Leap scrambled up as his clanmates started reaching them. Cinder Flower crashed into him, but he barely reacted.

"Aw, C'mon! That's not fair! Skystar, you have a super jump!" Birch climbed up after Sparrow Fur.

"That's a kit! Not prey!" Air Leap exclaimed.

Skystar started prying the dead bird's talons open and Air Leap hurriedly helped. The kit was mewling in pain, but slowly losing consciousness.

He could see why. The talons had been digging into his sides, drawing blood.

"Okay, everyone, competition is over! Back to camp! Sparrow Fur, bring the eagle!" Skystar ordered as he picked the white kit up.

"Can I say I caught it?"

"No."

Sparrow Fur pouted but obliged. Ivy Breeze caught sight of the kit and gasped and soon the rest noticed.

"Oh, no!"

"What happened to the poor kit?"

"Someone get Cloud Spots and Acorn Fur!"

Air Leap followed his father down the tree and the two raced side by side back to camp.

Cloud Spots observed Acorn Fur as she carefully trickled marigold onto the cuts. Then she took great care and gently wrapped cobwebs around the kit's torso.

It was a ThunderClan kit. The scent was on him.

Thunder burst in at the moment. "He's alive!" He gasped.

"How'd you know about him? You've been out all day."

"Uh…Lightning Tail told me."

"He was gone too."

"I meant Sparrow Fur, duh."

Cloud Spots rolled his eyes, deciding now was not the time to pry why the tom was being so sneaky and secretive. It seemed half the Clan was. Even Gray Wing and he was the deputy!

Fire Heart told Skystar he was on an important mission. Cloud Spots shook his head. Who could possibly require his help when he has his Clan to take care of?

"He'll be okay," Acorn Fur sighed, settling back on her haunches. "He just needs rest."

"How did a eagle get him?" Cloud Spots wondered aloud.

"I heard he can't hear," Skystar's voice sounded as the leader squeezed in. He looked at Thunder. "Where have you been all day, kit?"

"...hunting. But then the prey was hiding so…patrolling?"

Skystar sighed and looked back at the kit. "I'm so glad we were in the trees at the time."

"Me too," Cloud Spots murmured. "His mother must be devastated, thinking he's dead." He looked at Skystar. "Should we let ThunderClan know he's okay?"

"Wait," Thunder meowed. "Thistlestar doesn't like slow cats, so at least let him recover and then we can decide what to do." He dipped his head quickly to his father. "If that's alright with you."

Skystar purred. "Of course."

"Now out," Acorn Fur murmured. "Both of you. He'll have a hard sleep tonight and he's only just begun."

Cloud Spots realized she was right. The kit had dozed off surprisingly quickly despite his pain. He knew poppy seeds should not be given in this situation. The kit would have to feel everything so that Cloud Spots and Acorn Fur could tell when it hurt or infection set in.

Careful not to wake him, Cloud Spots touched his nose to the kit's head. "Sleep well, little buddy."

He blinked open big blue eyes at that moment and looked up at Cloud Spots.

"Whoops. Sorry," the black tom apologized for disrupting his sleep.

For a moment the tom-kit was silent, confused, as he stared at Cloud Spots' lips and in hindsight, the medicine cat should have known he wouldn't understand.

But then the kit brightened with a smile and mewed incoherently, "S'all right."

I know that was unrealistic, but oh well. I had this chapter of how Snowkit would be rescued since I first started this story. But hey, at least he's alive!

Review!