Chapter 1

'Tail down Glacierpaw,' Rainfall thought. 'Your prey will run off!'

Though he knew his apprentice couldn't hear his thoughts, Rainfall still pleaded that Glacierpaw knew he was about to scare off his prey.

At the last moment the silver tail flattened to the earth.

Rainfall watched through narrow eyes as the apprentice pounced and landed squarely on the squirrels back.

Glacierpaw moved his paws and looked back at his mentor, puffing out his chest in pride.

"Well done!" Rainfall praised. "You can take that back to the queens and then get something for yourself."

"Yes Rainfall," Glacierpaw said, picking up his squirrel and following the older cat back to their camp.

The apprentice went straight to the nursery and disappeared inside. Rainfall deposited his kill on the fresh-kill pile and sat down.

Being deputy of a Clan looked down on was hard work.

But as long as he could serve his clan until he breathed his last breath he didn't care.

"Rainfall!"

The deputy turned to see Fogstar walking towards him with Moongleam, the medicine cat.

"Is something wrong?"

Fogstar stopped and nodded slowly. "Come with me."

He turned and led his companions back to his den above the HighLedge.

Once in the shade he made himself comfortable. "StarClan has sent me a warning of some sort."

"You mean like a dream?" Moongleam suggested.

Fogstar nodded. "A bloody one."

"Do tell," the she-cat yawned, shuffling her paws impatiently.

"These dog-like creatures had trapped and killed a group of cats."

'Does he mean wolves?' Rainfall thought.

"But," he continued, "another group of dogs came and killed off the first group."

Moongleam was speechless.

"What's that supposed to mean? And what's it got to do with Clan cats?" Rainfall asked.

"Yes how could we be attacked if there are no dogs around here?" Moongleam snapped.

Fogstar shrugged. "I'm not sure, but until we learn more carry on with your duties."

The two nodded and backed out of his den.

"Do you think that dream of his made any sense?" Rainfall thought aloud.

"I don't know," Moongleam admitted. "But we should keep on eye on him just in case."

The deputy nodded and went in search of his apprentice. Glacierpaw was eating a vole near the fresh-kill pile.

Rainfall walked over and poked through the pile. He picked out a plump mouse and settled beside his apprentice.

"So what are we going to do tomorrow Rainfall?" Glacierpaw asked.

Rainfall swallowed his mouthful of mouse and said, "We're taking the dawn patrol out, so be sure to get plenty of rest."

His apprentice nodded and continued eating.

'What a silly dream,' the deputy thought, 'for a wise leader like Fogstar to have.'

His mind continued to drift and he missed the medicine cats screech of shock from beside him.

"Moongleam! Moongleam what's wrong!" Rainfall hissed.

Moongleam let out another wail. "The vole! The vole! Look at it! It's been torn apart!"

The deputy whipped his head around to his apprentice. "Who did this?"

Glacierpaw shrunk back in fear. "That w-wasn't there before!"

"No," Moongleam whispered. "This is a sign from StarClan."

"What does it mean?" Lizardtongue asked.

Moongleam was silent for a moment. "There is a storm approaching, and I fear ThunderClan is right in the middle of it."