The rays of the warm newleaf sun soaked into Shellfall's thick pelt. He watched from where he sat near the warriors' den, his paws tucked under his chest, as daily Clan life went on. Shimmerwing ordered patrols from where she stood, waving her tail. Rippleheart listened to her and nodded. Driftheart sat outside the nursery, soaking in the sun of newleaf, while her kits, Ryekit and Amberkit, scampered around her. Dewfrost sat at the entrance of the elders' den when Sunpaw brought her a plump fish. Silverheart and Lightningcloud had returned from a hunting patrol, and Lightningcloud dispersed from his brother to talk to Sparkfire, who greeted him with sparkling green eyes. Sparkfire's belly was swelling, and Shellfall narrowed his eyes. She was expecting kits. Silverheart left Lightningcloud to meet Leopardlight, and when she saw the young silver tom, she pressed her nose to his shoulder and purred loudly.

Blossomwing and Quickbreeze joined each other to leave on a patrol, with Mistsong tagging behind them. Wolfheart watched the patrol go and began to groom herself. Darkshadow exited Starlingfern's den, having sprained her paw the day before. Minnowflight met her dark furred friend and gazed at her with concern in her blue eyes. Runningflame was teaching Moonpaw a battle move at the edge of camp, watching and nodding as Moonpaw performed it correctly the first try. Snowstorm touched her nose to Iceshine and Meadowdawn's heads as the two silver warriors padded over to their mother. Their father, Gooseclaw, watched softly from a few tail-lengths away. Brightpool and Rowanshade shared tongues in the clearing, and Whitefeather watched them.

Shellfall padded over to join Shimmerwing, and the tawny she-cat acknowledged him with a warm nod. She ordered the last of the patrols, and then turned to face Shellfall. "How are you?" she asked the dappled gray tom.

"Oh, I'm fine, I was just wondering if you needed anything from me," Shellfall meowed.

"Hm…" Shimmerwing tilted her head, thinking for a moment. Then she straightened up, her blue eyes glowing. "Actually, Dapplestar asked me to investigate Peartuft and his group. I'm taking Runningflame and Rippleheart. Do you want to come, too?"

"That'd be great, actually," Shellfall meowed. "I've been curious about what they've been doing since leaf-bare."

"Yes, Dapplestar thought it was too dangerous to investigate, but since it's newleaf now, she said it was a good time to go look." Shimmerwing looked over as Rippleheart and Runningflame joined them. "But she also said not to get into any fights." The tawny she-cat leveled a blue gaze at Runningflame.

"Do you really think I'd start a fight, lass?" Runningflame asked, his whiskers twitching.

Shimmerwing rolled her eyes, while Rippleheart snorted. "We'd have to hold you by the back of your tail, if anything," the gray tabby remarked.

"Well, well." Runningflame shrugged. "I promise I'll be a good warrior."

"Great." Shimmerwing nodded. "I've left Rowanshade in charge of the camp for the time being. Let's go. Hopefully we get back by nightfall." With a flick of her brown-tipped tail, the powerful RiverClan deputy led the way out of camp, and her warriors were right behind her. Shellfall thundered behind his friend, enjoying the rush of the warm newleaf air against his pelt.

The warriors kept their pace until they approached the border of WindClan territory. Shimmerwing signaled them to stop. The deputy's piercing blue eyes scanned the rolling moorland above them. "We'll keep five fox-lengths within the lake shore," Shimmerwing decided. "I know they've hidden in the hills somewhere, so we should find their scent then."

The three warriors nodded their agreement, and Shimmerwing crossed the border. Shellfall, Rippleheart, and Runningflame were right after her. The prospect of being so close to WindClan territory made Shellfall's fur prick, and he noticed Shimmerwing gazing at the hills above. She's not thinking about Peartuft. She's thinking about Hawkfire.

"Shimmerwing?" Rippleheart asked. "Are you okay?"

Shimmerwing snapped her head around. "Er, yes. I still only smell WindClan. We need to keep going if we want to catch the scent of Peartuft." Shimmerwing quickened her pace on the lakeshore until she broke into a run, her nose still high in the sky as she sniffed out any foreign scents. Shellfall joined her tracking, and when the odd scent of old oak trees mixed with moorland made him stop.

"I think I've got them!" Shellfall meowed.

"Lead the way," Shimmerwing told Shellfall.

Shellfall took the lead of the patrol and began to climb the moorland, aware that they were still in WindClan territory. As he cut diagonally towards the rolling hills, the WindClan scent began to fade, replaced by the simple smell of grass and heather. This must be neutral territory, he thought to himself.

"ThunderClan!" Runningflame hissed towards the cats just as Shellfall began to approach a large bramble bush. "Stop!"

ThunderClan is here? Shellfall looked over his shoulder and skidded to a halt. He narrowed his eyes as he stared at the moorland, and just when he was beginning to think Runningflame's warning was false, he could spot two cats climbing over the moorland. The silver tabby and bright ginger pelts were immediately recognizable to Shellfall from the Gatherings he had been to. It's Winterfall and Russetstripe.

"Winterfall, Russetstripe?" Shimmerwing's voice was tight with suspicion as she addressed the two warriors. A low growl emerged in Rippleheart's throat, while Runningflame caught the eye of Russetstripe. Shellfall watched their interaction as they held each other's glance for many heartbeats. Shellfall dragged his head away when Winterfall spoke.

"Shimmerwing," the silver tabby greeted Shimmerwing. "What are you doing so far from home?"

"I could ask you the same thing," Shimmerwing grunted.

"We're out here scouting Peartuft's new territory," Russetstripe told her.

Shimmerwing eyed Russetstripe with narrowed blue eyes. "Have you not returned to WindClan by now?"

Russetstripe bit her lip. "It's complicated."

Shimmerwing sniffed, but clearly wasn't interested in Russetstripe's affairs. She turned to Winterfall, who gritted his teeth in frustration. "These cats will kill you if they find you."

Winterfall snorted, but a bitter smile crossed his face. "Sadness will continue unabated if something is not done. I am ready to die if need be." The gentle acceptance in Winterfall's voice made Shellfall blink in surprise. Winterfall is taking this hard, isn't he? Sympathy for the tabby twinged in Shellfall's voice. He's taking a lot on his own shoulders, especially if Rootstar and Sunfire aren't around to help him. A single warrior, taking control of a Clan that he isn't even the leader or deputy of… I'm not sure if I admire him or sympathize with him.

"Noble," Rippleheart growled, "but foolish. Why would you come here actively seeking to throw away your own life? How can you protect your Clan if you come here to get killed?"

"There are things in life worth dying for," Winterfall told the gray tabby. "I thought you'd of all cats would agree."

"You're right," Rippleheart agreed, "but that doesn't mean you throw yourself in harm's way just to die a glorious death, thinking you're defending your Clan."

Shimmerwing nodded in agreement. "If Sunfire and Rootstar still are not well, who else is going to lead ThunderClan? You're the only cat they have left."

Winterfall sighed, clearly not interesting in continuing the argument. "What are you all doing so far from RiverClan?" he asked again.

"Dapplestar has ordered us to investigate suspicious activity in the hillside," Shimmerwing replied, the rough wind making her whiskers twitch.

The ThunderClan warrior sat down on his haunches. "Houndheart, Peartuft, and a few other warriors have turned on their Clan. They killed a warrior of ours – my brother – and then have started their own group in the hills. We just met them." Winterfall nodded to a large gash on his shoulder. Shellfall looked over at Russetstripe, who held scratches on her throat and chest.

Shimmerwing's eyes widened with shock. "Why have they turned against you?" she asked.

"Who knows." Winterfall laughed self-deprecatingly. "Guess they've forgotten the meaning of loyalty. I'm not quite sure I know it, either."

Shellfall narrowed his eyes. He doesn't know the meaning of loyalty? Winterfall had stepped up to the plate to lead a Clan that had no leader or deputy and had fought Peartuft and his cats several times. And yet he said he did not know the meaning of loyalty. What's really going on here?

Shimmerwing let out a snort, clearly not buying any of it. "No wonder your cats have turned against you, talking like that. You have to command respect and loyalty. How can you do that when your own understanding of loyalty is as fragile as a newborn kit?" Her nostrils flared as she glared at Winterfall.

The silver tabby unsheathed his claws but made no move to attack. "Don't you think I've tried?" he snapped at Shimmerwing. "Do you not know how horrible it was for my Clan to see their camp in ruins when their most senior warriors turned against them and killed a Clanmate? How would you feel if that happened to you, Shimmerwing?"

Shellfall held back a derisive growl. Runningflame, Shimmerwing, and Rippleheart would never turn on Dapplestar, never mind kill another Clanmate. Winterfall's comparison was weak, alluding to something that may have happened in ThunderClan, but never in RiverClan. It seems our warriors' loyalty to Dapplestar is stronger than ThunderClan's loyalty to Rootstar.

"I wouldn't know," Shimmerwing growled, "because we all have sworn our lives to Dapplestar. It's a shame your warriors couldn't do the same." Shimmerwing lifted her tail. "Come, RiverClan. We're wasting our time talking to these two." She turned on her heel, ready to continue into the hills. Shellfall was about to follow her until Winterfall spoke again.

"Wait," the tom called out. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean any harm by what I said, and I didn't mean to offend."

Shimmerwing looked over her broad shoulder. "Are you going to sit here and cry over the past or are you going to do something to secure your Clan's future?"

Shellfall fixated his burning gaze on Winterfall. Winterfall met Shellfall's eyes before turning to speak to Shimmerwing. "Our Clan shall never fall, no matter what happens, or what world we find ourselves in."

Shimmerwing nodded. "Then let us help each other. We are on neutral territory, so we are not enemies here." The tawny she-cat turned to look at her warriors. "Let's continue."

Rippleheart frowned at Winterfall. "How could you let them turn on you?" he asked. "Why did you not kill them when you had the chance?"

Winterfall sighed. "Because that's not how we do things in ThunderClan," he meowed. "Rootstar is known for his mercy."

The gray tabby grunted in response. Winterfall looked back at Shimmerwing. "Thank you for your help," he meowed. "My biggest concern is Peartuft finding other cats that will join him. I recall RiverClan having some trouble with rogues in the past. Do you think any of them may have joined Peartuft?"

Shimmerwing tilted her head in thought. Shellfall recalled back to the attack on Cash's camp. Since their priority was simply killing Cash to defeat his rogue group, they had not focused all their might on Cash's cats. However, he knew that several of them had fallen in battle. The next battle against Penny had been more brutal, with Penny and Crystal both dying. Other cats had died as well, either in the flood or by the claws of RiverClan cats. Jean, Leo, Minerva, and Kato are far away, so they couldn't have joined him. He thought back to the Twoleg cats he and Nightfire had encountered. Could any of them have joined Peartuft since they had scattered after the Twoleg den collapsed? That Twolegplace is awfully close to the moor.

Shellfall decided to speak. "I'm sure a few survived," he meowed. "We didn't kill them all. It's just a matter of knowing who they are and where they went."

Shimmerwing clicked her tongue. "They haven't attacked us in a while, so I don't see revenge as a reason to leave. Maybe they wanted a group of rogues to take them in."

"Iceheart attacked a rogue in our camp once," Russetstripe chimed in, the first time she had spoken since she had greeted the RiverClan cats. "The rogue was powerful, and nearly killed her and Hotaru. When I tracked them down, the rogue escaped. That must mean he's still around. Whether he joined these cats, I don't know."

Runningflame was listen to the cats speak with a dark expression on his face. Shellfall recalled that whenever they spoke of rogues, Runningflame often vouched his support to kill them or simply didn't speak at all, with shadows in his eyes. Has he had an encounter with them he doesn't like to talk about? He gazed at Runningflame but knew this wasn't the time to ask.

"Well, it looks like you've found their camp," Shimmerwing meowed, examining Winterfall and Russetstripe's fresh wounds. She peered through the bramble bushes behind the two cats. Shellfall thanked the gods that the wind was in their favor, blowing their scent away from the north. The tawny she-cat walked closer to the bramble bush and peered down. "This is it. There aren't many cats here."

"But I'm sure there'll be more," Winterfall sighed. "Peartuft is cunning, manipulative, and deceiving. He could get any cat on his side if he tried hard enough."

"Where is Peartuft?" Shimmerwing asked. "I don't see him."

Shellfall followed Shimmerwing and looked down, following her gaze. In the dip below the bramble bush, a handful of cats moved around. Shellfall recognized one as Houndheart, his massive dark brown tabby pelt, standing out against the pale colors of the hills. A few other cats, a tortoiseshell cat and a ginger-and-brown cat were tending to some dens. But there was no sign of Peartuft's notorious dark gray tabby pelt.

"He left after we did," Winterfall reported.

Shimmerwing sighed.

"I'll take a look," Runningflame meowed. "I can get closer to the camp from another angle."

Shimmerwing nodded. "Yes, go. Be careful."

"I'll come, too," Russetstripe added. "I know the hills and how to stay blended."

"Sure." Shimmerwing nodded. "Keep him safe and keep watch. If we're found, the mission will fail."

"Keep him safe?" Russetstripe's whiskers twitch. "Like any cat could control him."

"Hm?" Shimmerwing tilted her head in confusion, but the ginger she-cat was already gone. Winterfall shifted his paws nervously as the RiverClan cats waited with him for Runningflame and Russetstripe to return. Shellfall leaned over, checking the camp again, when a dark gray tabby pelt appeared. It's Peartuft!

Two cats followed behind Peartuft, and Peartuft padded over to Houndheart, exchanging a few words with him. Shellfall strained his ears, trying to listen, but they were too far away to pick up anything from their conversation. Winterfall bit his lip, his claws sheathing and unsheathing into the ground. Rippleheart was quiet, a pensive expression on his face.

When what seemed like an eternity later, Runningflame and Russetstripe appeared, their ginger pelts bright against the heather. Runningflame shook out his fur and glanced at Russetstripe before turning to Shimmerwing. "They're adding new cats to their ranks, and they seem to be settling in just fine. It's nothing like a Clan, and I wouldn't even say it's similar to Cash's group, but they are a group of rogues."

Russetstripe sighed. "It's a rogue party down there," she commented dryly. "Peartuft was greeting them as weary travelers, and how they were going to stay with them for a while. It's not a good sign, at all."

"Well done." Shimmerwing nodded crisply to the two cats. "Well, we have enough information for today. Let's report to Dapplestar. Good luck to you, Winterfall, Russetstripe." The tawny she-cat dipped her head to the two warriors.

Rippleheart turned away, saying nothing. Runningflame nodded to Russetstripe, and Shellfall followed Shimmerwing who began to walk away. Deep in thought, Shellfall wondered what Dapplestar would make with this information. Would she lead an attack to destroy Peartuft and his group before he got too powerful, like she did with Penny? Or would she decide to ally with Peartuft? Shellfall felt a chill run down his spine as he thought about what action she would take. Either of them would be sure to hit a blow within one of the Clans.