By the way, just so you guys know, this story takes place long before Scourge came to form BloodClan. Just clearing up any possible confusion.

The next morning as the sun climbed into the gray dawn sky, Frostpaw set out. Her body was weighed down, and she felt more stiff and sore than before. The mysterious fish that she had gobbled down last night seemed to bounce about in her otherwise empty stomach. She felt with a pink tongue around her muzzle, tasting traces of salt leftover.

Frostpaw left the alley and skirted around the corner, pressing low to the ground. The sun brought warmth with it, which she relished in.

She was looking forward to leaving Twolegplace. Something about the place set her fur on edge. It was mostly the Twolegs that lived there, of course, and the strange and perilous things they surrounded themselves with. This included the fast and unpredictable monsters, the grimy Thunderpaths that the monsters ran on, and the vicious dogs. Just the other day she had passed by a shaggy dog, stimulating it to bark furiously and strain on the string that its Twoleg held. She had managed to get away that time without being chased, but it was a close call, and she did not want to take any more chances.

Her plan was mostly nonexistent. She knew that she was in Twolegplace, definitely, and that meant that she was beneath ThunderClan territory. Had anyone ever explored the land to the right of Twolegplace? Maybe she would find the herb there, maybe not. It was indeed "beyond the territory of the Clans" though, so why not check?

It crossed her mind then that she might fail. She might not ever find the herb. What if she spent her entire life searching in vain for it, while the Clans tore themselves apart and died out? She hung her head. Right then, it felt as if that was her destiny; to be caught up in this journey forever.

She approached a Thunderpath and waited as a black monster roared by, its shiny black shell reflecting back her tired and sad face. With a sigh, she raced safely to the other side and kept going.

The stones beneath her sore paws were rough and unfamiliar. She suddenly felt an ache deep inside of her to walk across the soft forest floor instead. In her mind she saw herself as an apprentice, bending leaves of grass as she sifted through them for herbs. So many countless days had she performed this task with glee. But, no, oh no, then she was looking up with an herb in her mouth, perhaps a powerful herb, one that might save the Clans, and then she was smiling, expecting praise from the one who had taught her, loved her, the one who had never given up on her, and the wind only rustled through the grass and there was no one looking back at her…

Frostpaw stopped and quivered, tightening her body, folding in on herself. She had to stop falling so far in the depths of her mind like that. A salty tear fell from her eyes and splattered onto the stones.

She had just worked up the courage to stand when a sly voice called out from behind her. "Well hello there." Out from a shadow cast by the sun stalked a massive black tomcat. His muscles gleamed beneath his ragged fur. Both of his ears were nicked, one worse than the other, and a gruesome scar stretched across one cheek. Frostpaw found that her gaze seemed to linger on that scar; it looked a little infected and could probably use some marigold poultice.

The tomcat's eyes flashed when he caught her staring. Sliding his outstretched claws along the stones with an eerie screech, he came closer to her and breathed in her face. "Would you like to know how I received that scar?" he asked, smiling a criminal. "I can assure you that it involved a lot of blood on my opponent's face as well." His thick tail curled onto her shoulder.

Frostpaw carefully backed away a few steps. His breath was foul. "N-no thank you."

An overly dreary frown took over. "Oh, no one ever does want to hear it. It's such a fine story, so I find my lack of an interested audience quite disappointing." He looked at her, his sharp eyes analyzing her every move.

Frostpaw merely stared back.

He pulled back and circled once around her, stopping and gazing away with his profile facing her. "Many sad youngsters like you have been wandering here lately. It's been rather hard to keep up with all the new faces." He turned to look at her again. "Tell me, are you planning to stay here?"

"Well…" Somehow she got the feeling that saying no might insult him. She decided to tell the truth without explaining too much. "I'm sort of looking for something."

The tomcat drew closer, narrowing his eyes. "What kind of something?"

Frostpaw pawed at the ground. "I need…an herb, of sorts."

He chuckled rather loudly, but it seemed almost false to her. "An herb? Why, look around you, there are plenty to be found."

"No, it's a special one." She tried to think of how to describe it. "Pure and unique….I'd know when I see it, probably. Just, if-"

She stopped when she heard a low guttural growl coming from the tomcat's throat. "You know what? Why not you just keep walking, because I don't have the time to deal with your problems." His voice was thick and angry now as he stood up and started to leave.

"Wait!" she cried. This cat might have the answer, if he would just listen to her. She caught up to him, dazed, but he just shouldered her aside and then turned a corner, disappearing from view.

Frostpaw came to a stop, staring bleakly at the place where he had been just moments before. Now what? She didn't feel like leaving anymore. There was clearly something going on here. A cold wind blew from the south, chilling her. After much hesitation, she lifted her heavy paws and started after the tomcat even though she knew she wouldn't catch him. She was curious as to where he had gone. From his appearance and state of manner, he seemed to be some sort of leader. Most likely he knew this place like the back of his powerful paw. What kind of business did he to attend to? She rounded into another alley.

"Psst, hey," sounded a voice. Frostpaw lifted her head and squinted hard into the dark clouding the back. She could just make out a crouched feline figure. Who was it now? There were so many strange cats around Twolegplace.

"Hello?" she mewed, stepping closer.

"I-I, um, I think I can help you." The figure pressed lower. She got the impression that this conversation was very hard for it.

Frostpaw sat down, trying to show that she meant no harm. "Help me with what?" There were countless ways in which she could use help, but she wasn't sure if this shrouded cat could actually help.

"That herb you mentioned," the cat said. "I, well, I think I know what you're talking about."

Frostpaw stared at it. How would it know about the cure? Did it know the whole prophecy? She shrugged. It was probably just bluffing.

Still. She felt a flicker of hope rise in her chest. "What do you mean?" she pressed.

The figure emerged from the shadows then, revealing to be a young tomcat about her height with wide green eyes. His pelt was in a terribly untidy condition. He was a dirty little scrap of black and orange fur. His ribs showed underneath, and there were three long, thin scars across his left flank.

The condition of these poor cats; it was very sad.

"I, um, it kind of requires a lot of explanation, and…" The young tomcat looked at the ground.

Frostpaw lowered her muzzle so that her nose touched the top of his head. "What's your name?"

The cat trembled slightly and flinched away from her. "Sorry," he muttered, and then looked back at her and said," They call me Kinx."

"I'm Frostpaw," she returned with an attempt at a sweet smile. Then she lay down so that her paws were stretched in front of her. "You can tell me, if you want. I'll offer to share some stories in return."

Kinx looked as if he were about to back out, but then he sat down too.

"Okay."

Feel free to review! I always appreciate it. c: