Emberpaw padded out of camp with the dawn patrol. Despite how early it was, the young cat felt energized and ready to learn. The rest of the cats on patrol looked tired and seemed grouchy, so he kept this energy to himself.

"We are checking the ShadowClan border," Aspenleaf meowed. He looked at Emberpaw. "Shadowclan live in the pine trees. Its gloomy and dark in there, but the ground is also covered with pine needdles. Why would that be important?"

Emberpaw thought for a moment as walked alongside his mentor at the front of the patrol. "It would be important because it would make a cat's steps silent." He paused for a moment, thinking harder. "It could be an asset for us to know that if we ever tried to invade their territory. We wouldn't hear them and they wouldn't hear us."

"Right," Aspenleaf confirmed.

Emberpaw remembered the stories he heard about the ShadowClan cats. They were ruthless and cunning, full of trickery and deceitful lies. He shivered as he imagined a ShadowClan cat sneaking up behind him.

Soon they made it to the border. The scent marks on the ShadowClan side were slightly dull, showing that they hadn't been renewed since yesterday. "Their dawn patrol will be out soon," Palewhisker mewed. "We better do this fast, otherwise we'll get caught up in another pointless confrontation."

"You scared of ShadowClan?" Bumblecreek teased.

Palewhisker rolled her eyes. "No. They're so busy ridiculously parading around their strength and hostility they scare all the prey in this entire area."

"That's ShadowClan for you," Sandur added.

"Why are ShadowClan always so hostile?" Swiftpaw asked, trying to keep her voice down.

"Because they're afraid of ThunderClan and try to make up for it by seemimg all fierce. But we all know they're no match for a one of our warriors in a fight." Bumblecreek boasted loudly, not caring how far his voice carried into the pines.

"Quiet!" Sandfur hissed at him. "We are at the border! We're not trying to provoke any unnecessary fights." As the eldest warrior in the patrol, it was quite humiliating for anyone to be lectured by her. Bumblecreek muttered something to himself.

"Tell your young warrior he better learn to keep his mouth shut," a voice hissed. Cats emerged from the shadows on the other side of the border. It was the ShadowClan border patrol.

Emberpaw's pelt bristled. The one who had spoken was obviously in charge of the patrol and held a lot of authority. Her eyes were narrowed angrily and her tail lashed, and her dusky gray pelt blended in perfectly in the gloom.

A black pelted cat beside her taunted, "we all know ThunderClan cats talk big but can't back up their words."

"You don't think I can back it up?" Bumblecreek hissed. "Why don't you cross the border, then, and let me prove it to you?"

Aspenleaf raised his tail to silence the young warrior. To the leader of the other patrol, he meowed. "Actually, we were just leaving."

Her green eyes glittered with an unreadable expression. "ThunderClan must truly be vulnerable if you're so keen to get away."

Aspenleaf narrowed his eyes. "Sorry, but if you haven't realized, this is the dawn patrol. Unlike some clans, we actually manage to get up at dawn. So naturally, we happened to have already finished our job here. Maybe next time you'll find out how sharp our claws are, Ravensky. Or maybe not, seeing how your cats like to sleep in." And with that, Aspenleaf flicked his tail, and the Thunderclan cats followed behind him, with hisses aimed at their flanks as they receeded into the forest.

Once they got a ways into their own territory, Sandfur whirled around to face Bumblecreek. "You almost caused a skirmish!" She growled.

Bumblecreek shrugged. "ShadowClan need to be reminded that ThunderClan is not a clan to be messed with."

"I'm glad you seem to think you're leader, Bumblecreek, but unfortunately that's not the case," Aspenleaf said gently. "We can prove our strength in other ways, rather than provoking other clans." Both Emberpaw and Swiftpaw watched with wide eyes as the warrior was lectured.

"Sandfur, lead the patrol back to camp and report to Blazestar. I'm taking Emberpaw to train." Sandfur nodded.

"Can we join?" Palewhisker asked, motioning to Swiftpaw. Aspenleaf nodded and the two other rival cats went back in the direction of camp.

"I was thinking about a game of chase," Aspenleaf said, his eyes sparking with excitement.