The trees overhead wavered in the passing breeze. A pale ginger pelt raced through the ferns, making the arching fronds dip. A gray black blur pelted after the other. The bushes rustled as the two shapes weaved among the tree and plants. A brown tabby cat suddenly burst from a bramble bush snarling, and paused a moment before bolting after the smaller cats. The ginger she-cat raced alongside the tom as the tabby slowly caught up.

"Faster!" she yowled as the tabby raked her tail with a claw. Pain lanced up her spine and she dug her paws into the damp ground.

She skimmed over a patch of slush, and risked a glance over her shoulder to see the brown tabby tom chasing them to spin out into a prickly briar patch. Surpressing a triumphant yowl and pulled herself forward to run beside the dark tom.

"We're almost there," he panted. The she-cat simply nodded, ready to burst.

Soon a deep bush loomed infront of them and they shot inside, slowing down as they neared a drop. The tom skidded down first, ignoring the stones that dug into his pads. Once he landed below, the she-cat bounded down quickly, wincing slightly at the sharp pain in her paws. Once she stood on the flat ground, she looked up. She was in a deep hollow with stone walls covered in ivy and other shrubs. Caves were dug out from what the cats reckoned were twolegs.

"Hurry," the tom's hiss broke into the she-cat thoughts.

Quickly she followed up up a small rockfall into a crevice in the wall. Squeezing through into a large opening she could scent another cat.

"Lionstar!" the ginger cat panted, quickly catching her breath. "Rogues! In the territory." With that said, she collapsed.

A golden tabby tom padded up to the ginger she-cat. "Rest, Beechpaw. We have sent a patrol to chase them out."

Reassured, Beechpaw closed her eyes and let sleep engulf her.

"Beechpaw?"

"Beechpaw, wake up."

The ginger she-cat blinked open her eyes. She was still in the leader's den, but light still filtered through the crack.

"Are you okay?" a worried voice broke through her thoughts.

"Mother?" Beechpaw murmured.

The voice hesitated, and when it spoke it was soft with sympathy. "No, Beechpaw. It will be awhile before you join her."

The ginger she-cat opened her eyes, and looked at the kind face of her mentor, Poppyflower. The pretty red she-cat bent her head and licked her between the ears.

"The rogues are gone," she continued gently. "Lionstar's patrol chased them over the slope by WindClan."

Beechpaw sighed in relief and got to her paws unsteadily. Nodding to Lionstar, her mentor helped her up with her muzzle and the she-cats padded out of the den.

"Beechpaw!" for the fourth time, the ginger apprentice heard a cat say her name.

"Hello Coalpaw," she meowed. "Are you okay?" Coalpaw was the tom she had run side by side with.

The tom nodded and sniffed at Beechpaw. "You were exhausted. You shouldn't have come with us."

The she-cat let out a low hiss. "I had as much capability to be there as you or Hazelclaw."

Coalpaw studied her for a moment before shrugging. "If you think so." Brightening, he added, "Ivyleaf had her kits! Come see, they're adorable."

Beechpaw nodded and trotted after him to leave Poppyflower to pad over to Tawnyfeather. They reached the brambles that protected the queens and kits, and wove through. Beechpaw purred at the sight that awaited her. Ivyleaf, a dappled brown she-cat, lay on her side with two kits suckling at her belly. One was black and white, and the other was ginger and white. Both were healthy from the looks.

"We've got two strong warriors here," a gentle voice remarked from the other side of the nursery. "Ivyleaf had a pawful getting the two out."

Beechpaw purred and dipped her head to the pale creamy cat. "Where are the kits, Snowdust?"

"Outside with Brackenshadow," replied Snowdust happily. "Their father has created a real bond with the three. At this rate they'll be just like him!" There was no worry in her voice, just joy.

Beechpaw nodded. "Well I'm on the sunhigh patrol, I'll talk to you later!"

Coalpaw hastily mewed a farewell and followed his friend out. "Let's get moving, Hazelclaw and Poppyflower will be waiting."

"Of course," replied Beechpaw and loped to the entrance tunnel of brambles.