This chapter will focus on StepLight and give an inside look at the ForestRose territory.

StepLight blinked. Did she hear correctly? Did ShiningFeather really say they were going onto ForestRose territory? Noticing that her mentor was waiting for an answer, she spoke, "Ummm, why are we doing something like that?"

"StepLight, do you doubt your leader?" asked SpiritCave, his eyes watching. They weren't accusing or anything, just watchful. She really wanted to know how spiriters were able to look so wise and kind.

"I don't," she replied quickly. "I…I'm just wondering why. Usually we only talk during the gatherings and even then we never go on their territory. In fact we never do usually. It's to prevent battles and such."

"A good answer," purred ShiningFeather. "Spoke like a true warrior of OceanTide."

StepLight's fur burned at the praise.

A scent filled her nose and began to drool in her mouth. It was mackerel. She turned her head to the scent and saw CrashingDark walking over carrying a huge one in his jaws.

"Good," spoke ShiningFeather. "Let's get going now."

StepLight looked at her leader in confusion. What was with the fish? Why was CrashingDark carrying it?

"Come on StepLight," spoke SpiritCave. "We need to get going now." He paused and looked back at the ocean. StepLight was confused and followed his gaze. However she could not find anything wrong with the ocean. The moonlight was bright tonight and she could see the rhythmic movement of the waves but that was normal.

"What are you looking for?" she asked.

SpiritCave blinked like he had forgotten where he was. "Oh. Nothing. I just…" He shook his head. "It's not time to reveal that yet. Come on StepLight. Let's go." He placed his tail on her shoulder and pushed her into the territory of the other tribe.

StepLight went without too much fuss but she sense there was something wrong with SpiritCave. It was like he was really worried about something. She did know that spiriters sometimes got visions of the future. Maybe he was worried about a typhoon or something? Oh well. Nothing she could do about that.

The young learner focused her attention around her. The huge leafy trees had surrounded them giving her a claustrophobic like feel. It felt odd to be outside the cave but unable to see the sky. In fact it was quite dark. Much darker than it had been outside. Scents flooded her senses. Scents that she knew nothing about. What were they?

She could hear sounds of things rustling in the forest overhead. Monkeys maybe? Or something else that lived in this territory? She shivered, remembering StepRock's story about the vampire bat. She hoped nothing would swoop out of nowhere and try to drink her blood.

"A bit overwhelming?" spoke SpiritCave.

"Yes," spoke the learner. Her eyes settled on her mentor and CrashingDark ahead of them. Both were walking tall and proud. She lifted her head trying to copy their movements. She felt a bit braver.

"We should be near the camp now," spoke SpiritCave.

StepLight saw ShiningFeather crawl through a pile of spiky branches. CrashingDark put down the mackerel and pushed it through before doing the same. SpiritCave gestured for StepLight to do the same. She dropped to the ground and pushed through the prickly branches. They caught and tugged at her fur but she continued on until she was on the other side. The sight forced a gasp out of her.

She was in an open clearing. Moonlight was pouring in through the break in the canopy. The trees around it were huge with roots that poked out of the ground. From what it looked like, the roots actually made dens for the ForestRose cats. Her eyes settled to the cats staring at them. All were ForestRose and all look annoyed.

"ShiningFeather. Why are you here?" asked RedFern approaching the small group. Warriors were watching the group closely.

"Relax," spoke SpiritCave. "We mean no harm. ShiningFeather only wishes to speak with ShiningBlade."

RedFern examined the group closely before turning her head to look at SpiritLeaf. The spiriter slightly nodded and RedFern returned her attention to the group. "I will go get him."

"No need." ShiningBlade climbed down from an opening in a tree. StepLight watched in amazement as he was able to climb head down, his back legs twisted in a way to support him. Once the gray tom was at the bottom he approached ShiningFeather. CrashingDark stepped forward and placed the fish before the ForestRose leader.

"I give you the language of the ocean," spoke CrashingDark, dipping his head to the leader.

ShiningBlade looked down at the fish for a few moments before nodding. He looked up and lifted his paw. StepLight couldn't believe what happened next. With the paw he slapped ShiningFeather across her face!

StepLight was about to launch herself at the leader when SpiritCave pushed her back with his paw. She looked up at the spiriter in confusion her eyes wild in anger. How dare he put a paw on ShiningFeather! SpiritCave slowly shook his head and gestured for her to continue watching them.

"I accept your gift," spoke ShiningBlade. RedFern came forward and took the fish away before he continued. "ForestRose will eat your gift with pride. Why have you come here?"

ShiningFeather nodded. "I came to speak with you privately."

"Of course," said ShiningBlade. "Witnesses?"

"Only the spiriters."

StepLight looked back and forth between the leaders. The conversation was odd. It looked like they were trying their best to be polite.

"Alright then. We will speak in the spiriter cave then. SpiritLeaf?"

"Of course," spoke the spiriter, leading the way to the back of the camp.

StepLight followed her tribemates closely. She felt nervous. What had happened? Were they really allowing the OceanTide cats to just walk through the camp like this? Feeling eyes on her she glanced over at what she thought was the fresh-kill pile. StepRock and StepCloud were there, a huge odd looking piece of fresh-kill between them. Their eyes did not have the kindness that was there during the gathering. They were now ForestRose cats, ready to defend their tribe against any danger.

"That's an iguana," spoke CrashinDark roughly as the small group reached the den in the back. The roots of a large tree had created a nice space. Even though she was outside, StepLight could smell freshly ground henna. A quick glance at SpiritLeaf's darkly dyed paws confirmed that henna had been freshly ground for dye purposes.

"Wait here StepLight," spoke SpiritCave, gesturing to a spot next to the opening of the spiriter den, before following the leaders and his fellow spiriter inside.

StepLight obeyed. Out of the corner of her eye she saw CrashingDark doing the same on the other side. The gray tom's fur was illuminated from the moonlight while his golden eyes watched the ForestRose cats with mistrust.

"You wondering about the slap thing?"

StepLight jumped. Was CrashingDark speaking to her? She peeked out of the corner of her eye again and saw he was watching her, waiting for a reply. "Ummm, yes," said StepLight, her eyes forward again. How embarrassing would it be to act dumb around the deputy?

"It's a show of weakness," replied CrashingDark. "The leader who is visiting another's camp suffers the blow to show that they are vulnerable and mean no harm to the other tribe. If SpiritCave had not stopped you, you could have thrown us in a war with ForestRose."

StepLight looked down, her ears drooped. She felt ashamed. She could have caused a war between the tribes just because she didn't understand what was going on!

"Don't worry about it," said CrashingDark. "It didn't happen so don't beat yourself up over it."

"Thanks," murmured StepLight. She wondered what was going on behind her. What were the leaders discussing in there? She strained her ears to listen but she could only here the hushed tones of their voices. Well, it was said that the Spirit Wind protected the spiriter's den so maybe that was what was preventing her from hearing it right now.

Now a bit bored she watched the ForestRose cats go about their nightly business. They were a lit tense but they still did things that surprised the young learner. From what she could gather only the kitter den, healer den, elder den and spiriter den were actually on the ground. From the way the cats disappeared into the leafy green overhead, it made StepLight realize that the rest of the cats actually lived up in the trees themselves! Were there dens up there? She really wanted to go see for herself but by the way the ForestRose cats just zipped up into them it would be impossible for StepLight to follow. They were just different.

"At least I can beat them in the ocean," she thought.

Hearing a noise behind her, she turned to see ShiningFeather and SpiritCave leave the spiriter den. Their faces were grim.

"Ummm, ShiningFeather?"

ShiningFeather shook her head to her learner. This was something that could not be shared. "We need to return to camp," said the old leader. "Our tribe needs us."

"Did you take care of everything?" asked CrashingDark.

"Of course."

"Come on StepLight," said SpiritCave. "It's time to go."

That faraway searching look entered his eyes again. He seemed to see something in the distance and pain appeared on his face. "No," he whispered, "Why now?"

"What?" asked StepLight.

Realizing that the learner was next to him, he shook his head. "Nothing. Come on. Let's get out of here and return to OceanTide."

StepLight watched as the three older cats began walking away. She glanced back at the spiriter's den. What had happened in there? What had been discussed. Somehow she had the feeling she would find out soon enough. Turning forward again, she ran to catch up with the others.