The two patrols left shortly before sunset. The RiverClan border patrol started at Sunningrocks and decided to work their way toward Fourtrees.
It was Bramblepaw who first scented a rogue around the owl tree. He followed the scent and found a golden tabby she-cat, obviously a rogue. With a hiss Bramblepaw sprang on her. When Ferncloud and Ashfur went to help him, Firestar stopped them.
"Wait." he hissed, "Let me see how Bramblepaw does alone." Ferncloud and Ashfur hesitated, then decided to watch.
Bramblepaw fought fiercely to drive away the intruder. He drove her toward the twoleg bridge, onto RiverClan territory. Suddenly, Bramblepaw was knocked off of his paws by another tom. The other tom was almost a mirror image of Bramblepaw. The only difference was that the RiverClan tom had ice blue eyes instead of amber eyes. Then another RiverClan she-cat appeared and attacked Bramblepaw. The second apprentice was a beautiful golden tabby she cat with amber eyes and a dappled coat.
Seeing that Bramblepaw was outnumbered, Firestar, Ferncloud, and Ashfur leaped into the fight, and each pinned down one the hostile cats.
"ThunderClan! Why are you on RiverClan territory?" snarled the tom as Firestar released him.
"You ask that of me, but not that rogue? My apprentice was chasing that rogue off of our territory when you attacked him. We were patrolling the border on the ThunderClan side before that!" hissed Firestar.
"Our mother is welcome on RiverClan territory anytime!" came the tom's reply.
"Who are you? You look like just a couple of apprentices!" called Bramblepaw.
"That's because we are apprentices, mouse brain! I'm Hawkpaw and this is my sister Mothpaw. And if you ever set a paw on RiverClan territory again, you will be sorry." Snarled the tom.
"Well, I'm Bramblepaw. You look almost exactly like me. Why?" asked Bramblepaw curiously.
"How should I know? Just get off of my territory!" spat Hawkpaw. Firestar gestured for them to go.
"Come on, Bramblepaw. We'll have your warrior ceremony at moonhigh." Firestar meowed.