After two moons, Leafbare had finally settled upon the forest as white blankets draped the forest floor as far as the eye could see. Flakes drifted from the tree tops like leaves in the wind which carried the promise of more cold and bitter nights. Lilyheart plodded through the thick snow, her chin held high as she carried a plump pigeon in her jaws. She quietly entered the camp and spotted Valorclaw at once. Dropping her catch at his paws, Lilyheart sat back and began washing a forepaw. Valorclaw leaned forward to sniff at the bird hesitantly.
"Wow, I'm surprised you could find any prey in this weather!" he began pawing at the prey eagerly.
"Lucky I guess." Lilyheart shrugged. "You know those hunting techniques you showed me have really made an improvement!" she added purring.
"Do you want some? There's plenty here." Valorclaw smiled nudging the bird towards her. Lilyheart shook her head.
"No thanks, I've already eaten. You must be starving!"
Valorclaw nodded in respect. His belly growled in agreement as he bent his head to take a bite. He ate the bird hungrily and sat back to watch Lilyheart finish grooming herself.
"Best fresh-kill in moons." he murmured, praising his mate. Lilyheart smiled back at him, then quickly turned to face Eaglestrike the deputy as she sensed him heading towards them. He had long, powerful hind legs with a murky brown tabby pelt. His broad muzzle was lighter than his pelt, and he was clearly a strong warrior. He paced towards Valorclaw and Lilyheart with grace then dipped his head in greeting.
"You are both needed for border patrol today, we leave now." he meowed firmly. Valorclaw nodded.
"We're ready." he answered simply. Lilyheart got to her paws and stiffly followed Eaglestrike to the camp entrance where the rest of the patrol consisting of Thistlefire, Timberfang and Foxwhisker was waiting. Eaglestrike gave the signal with a flick of his tail and led the patrol out of camp. They traveled across Dawnclan territory, eventually meeting the stream at the centre. It was frozen solid now, and Valorclaw had expected to hear the sound of rushing water and birds chirping. Instead, he was met with silence. The patrol headed onwards upstream with the river where it turned left into Duskclan territory. They came to an abrupt halt as they met the border. Eaglestrike was frowning at something up ahead.
"Duskclan patrol." he warned quietly. No sooner did their patrol emerge from the bushes on the other side of the border and stood glaring at the Dawnclan cats, pelts bristling.
"Dawnclan thieves!" hissed Tawnypaw, a small white, orange and grey apprentice. A larger tom stepped forward from the group to face Eaglestrike, their whiskers almost touching. He had strong muscles under his russet coloured pelt, a white muzzle and bright glowing yellow eyes. He snarled as he unsheathed his claws. Thistlefire did the same, but was silenced by a wave of Eaglestrike's tail.
"Come to take more prey from us?" Snakefang mocked, glaring at the patrol opposite. Eaglestrike matched his gaze.
"We have stolen nothing from you." he replied coolly, raising his chin in defiance.
"You have no proof!" Valorclaw spoke up, angry at the accusation. A black Duskclan tom with one white left paw dived into a nearby bush and returned a moment later with the feathers of a thrush clamped in his jaws. He set them down on Dawnclan's side of the border then backed away.
"Ravenwing found THIS on our territory! It has your stench all over it!" Snakefang spat at Eaglestrike who bent down to sniff the feathers. He inhaled the scent, then sat back with a sigh.
"It seems what they are saying is true. I assure you, this will not happen again." he apologized reluctantly. Snakefang snorted in disgust.
"It's happened more than once. We've found remains of squirrel and rabbit too, all covered in your scent! Prey on our territory belongs to Duskclan. If we find more prey being stolen, then we'll rip you to shreds!" Snakefang snarled at the Dawnclan patrol, the cats from Duskclan yowled in agreement before turning and marching back into the heart of their territory.
"What a bunch of fox-hearts!" Foxwhisker snorted angrily. The patrol marked the border, then trekked back towards camp.
"Everyone know Duskclan are always looking for a fight. The feathers could have been on our territory and just have blown across the border." Timberfang, a dusky brown tom commented after a moments pause.
"That's true, but we must tell Thornstar about this. Duskclan are always serious when it comes to battle, they could invade at any minute and we'd be powerless." Eaglestrike warned carefully as he led them back downstream. Valorclaw nodded and slowed down to let Lilyheart keep up. "We'll show them." he purred as he rubbed his head against her cheek affectionately. She returned the gesture and followed Eaglestrike back to camp. The sun had appeared and melted the snow, leaving patches of white every now and then. Dark clouds loomed in the distance, leaving promise of more snow and rain.
After three sunrises the stream had thawed in places, leaving blocks of ice racing down the stream of icy cold water. Whispersong sat at the waters edge, watching as the broken pieces of ice clotted up behind a large frozen rock.
"Oh Valorclaw, what can I do to get you back? Maybe I should apologize... no, no. He'll just storm off with that fancy Lilyheart again." she dug her claws into the frosty grass.
"If I could just get rid of her... I could set a trap an-and... kill her!" the thought seemed so perfect, Lilyheart would be gone for good. But Whispersong finally shook her head.
"No... I couldn't kill a cat from my own clan, could I?" Suddenly, there was a rustle of leaves and the crunching of snow behind her. Whispersong whipped round, then darted immediately under a bramble thicket, concealing her pelt. A heartbeat later, Lilyheart padded out of the undergrowth. She looked around nervously, then followed the river bend upstream quietly.
What's she doing here? Whispersong asked herself. She carefully creeped out of her hiding place and followed Lilyheart upstream, keeping to the shadows and making no noise. At last Lilyheart stopped. Whispersong watched in disgust as she rolled in some animal dung, then quickly got up and carried on walking. Whispersong sniffed the air, instantly recognizing the foul scent.
She's on Duskclan territory! She watched as Lilyheart crouched down, then leaped elegantly through the air. Whispersong stared in shock as Lilyheart picked up the dead mouse, and carried it safely back onto Dawnclan territory. Her emotions changed as an idea suddenly came to her. Slowly, she drew back her lips baring her sharp teeth in a wide, evil grin.
Perfect.