This is the third chapter. 8 reviews! That's great – I feel so happy I've decided to start writing again. I'm glad I got such inspiration for this story, and hopefully it will hot up soon. It's quite long, but I hope it will speed the story in some kind of direction.

Just a note on British English grammar – we put full stops outside of the quotation mark when we are finishing a sentence with dialogue. It's just we had some confusion with that, and I rectified it (thanks RosenVixen!)

Well, enjoy the chapter – it took me a while, and I hope it's good enough for you, because I've really enjoyed writing it. :P

Signed,

Leo

Chapter 3

I didn't dream that night. I was petrified of what StarClan thought. I didn't even know who they were three days ago, but now I had begun to rely on them for the security of the Clan so much, it was worried what they would do to us if they had realised that we'd forgotten to return to the battleground.

Waking up early out of worry, I had tried to make sure that nobody noticed me leave. I looked around. Nobody apart from Straw was up, who was guarding the camp. I nodded to him quickly, before he could ask me where I was going. Breaking into a run once away from the camp, I tried to rush to the clearing. I don't even know the way! I fretted. What if the other Clans had done it like they said? I followed the stream out towards the edge of the forest and the bank by the river. I didn't know where I was going, my paws just took me there until I saw the big oaks of the clearing. Navigating a Twoleg bridge quickly, I took a deep breath and entered.

As soon as I entered, I froze. I could hear the ground move inside the clearing. What was that? Hiding behind one of the oaks, I watched the shape dig up the ground, and bury the next fallen soldier. Just then, they stood still, and looked round. I shut my eyes in worry. I'm done for!

"Thunder?" a familiar mew called out. I opened one eye.

"Cloud?" I replied in disbelief. "What are you doing here?"

"The other cats forgot to bury the dead, so I'm doing it for them," he replied darkly.

"I remembered as I went to sleep – I couldn't go out then," I looked at the ground, feeling rather foolish.

"I've been here all night," he admitted, burying the last warrior. "They're the ones giving us the guidance because they died – I thought someone should do it".

My ears burnt with embarrassment and shame.

"I understand why you forgot," Cloud seemed to read my mind. "You were caught up in the running of the Clan, so you naturally forgot. I'm sure they understand too. The other Clans forgot as well, remember. It's not like you were the only one".

Cloud had made me feel better, but it made Cloud even more mysterious. He was quite a reserved character, thoughtful and inquisitive – he had a good heart, but would he make a great provider to the Clan? He seemed too interested in his surroundings and StarClan to concentrate on hunting and fighting. I hoped that StarClan would find a place for him in the Clan.

"Come on, Cloud, you've finished," I said to him, who looked thoroughly exhausted. "Let's get back to camp". He didn't say another word, and just followed my lead back towards the forest, his eyes drooping in tiredness. The journey back was silent, and the sun was just rising above the ground, signalling the start of the new day. The forest was buzzing with life, like it was before, and now I had started to treat this forest as home, not an unknown territory. Slipping through the half-finished gorse tunnel, past a slightly confused Straw, we entered the camp. Most cats hadn't woken up yet, but a few were tiredly nosing a small pile of fresh-kill that cats didn't want last night.

"Where did you get to, Thunder?" Oscar bounded up to me, full of energy like always.

"Just went for a walk," I lied, but Oscar didn't seem suspicious. Thank StarClan.

Oscar didn't probe, "So, can I come on the river patrol?"

"Sure," I meowed absent-mindedly, wondering instead how the other Clans were faring. Were they still together? Had they disbanded? Had they grown even bigger with more cats from other places? We'll find out today.

"Yay!" Oscar was pleased (when wasn't he?) and bounded off to help Rose reach a scratch that she couldn't itch on the back of her neck.

"Cats of the Clan!" I yowled from the top of the big rock that had become my den. "Today, we need to continue our security measures of this camp, but we need to spread our territory before the other Clans decide they want. I'm going to lead a patrol around the edge of the forest today, to nose around what's good, and what's not. I'll take Oscar, Lion, Straw and Branch. The rest of you, help with the camp. Good?"The Clan nodded. I jumped down off the really high rock, and into the clearing.

"I think Highrock's a really good meeting place for the camp," Oscar commented, looking up to the top where I had just been standing.

"Highrock?" I tipped my head quizzically.

"Well, it's a good a name as any," he meowed. "It suits it well".

"Highrock it is," I agreed. I turned to the rest of the patrol. "Ready?" They nodded. "Okay, let's go". We walked through the half-finished gorse tunnel and faced the ravine. It's hard enough for us to climb – intruders would really struggle. I felt comfortable with the thought that we'd be relatively safe with this ravine in the path of the others, the river blocking the easy way down, and the rocks being incredibly slippery and hard to grip. I'm glad the hard part of the elders and kits being down is done...

"So where are we going first," Oscar bounded up to me, his paws itching with movement, willing him to speed through the forest, leaving a blaze of flame behind him. I rolled my eyes.

"Follow the stream back to where we started," I decided "then follow the edge of our forest to where there is river. Then we follow the river to the clearing with four trees, and then back again". I had thought about exploring the whole forest, but I thought it would be better to see if our new neighbours were still alive and together and not living alone or in dangerous groups.

I was also secretly worried about what would happen if other Clans fell? Would disarray be brought back to the forest? Will there be war? Bloodshed? It was a scary thought for me – I had, and would, help these cats in my care as much as possible, but I couldn't count on what the other Clans were doing. What were their motives? Their strengths, their weaknesses? I didn't want any more battles – this forest had seen far too much recently – but I didn't want to seem weak either. It was noticeable that we had a significant cat shortage in the Clan compared to cats such as Wind or River. If we were to fight them, we could be wiped away the forest with one paw! StarClan wouldn't let them! For a few moments I had deeply regretted ever raising my voice at all, but at the same moment I remembered how many kittens we had in the Clan, how much hope this Clan would have in the future. We had future generations within our Clan. We would survive.

I had noticed that my paws had been walking themselves during my thought track, and I had indeed led them to the edge of the forest. The sun was already quite high in the sky, and subsequently the air was quite warm. I didn't think about whether the prey situation would be different in leaf-bare. The rest of the patrol were sniffing at branches and shrubs, taking in the luscious, natural smells of the forest – much different than the unnatural, stinking stench of Twoleg civilisation. I couldn't see how kittypets would want to live there – cooped up in Twoleg nests, eating rabbit droppings for food and becoming as fat as a queen with three litters in her belly.

"What's up?" Oscar had noticed. Oh just go away and sniff at a dead ant or something... "You looked...lost..."

"Nothing, nothing," I dismissed my doubts to just silly paranoia. "Now, let's get to the river. The gap between the river and the edge of the forest had diminished significantly at the edge of the forest. We ran forward and sniffed the air. Cats had definitely been here recently... Oscar bent down to drink some of the water, but got his nose wet and jumped, sneezing the cold away quickly, looking annoyed and embarrassed. The weather was fine, and I was surprised that, if River's cats were still together, that they weren't around now. I needn't have worried.

About half the group were gathered on some rocks in the middle of the river, throwing the water into confusion as to which route it should take around the little island. The rocks didn't just look smooth and warm – they were. River's cats were sunning themselves casually on the pile of rocks in the middle, some of the older cats (although nowhere near as old as Fuzz and Rose) sunning themselves underneath whilst two queens were soaking up the rays on the topic, snoozing in the midday sun. Envy bubbled inside me – just because those cats could swim! The cats on the rocks looked smugly at the patrol whilst we looked on. River himself looked up and saw us, he twitched his whiskers. Heaving childishly, he got up and addressed us.

"Yes, we're still here," he answered our doubts immediately. "These rocks are ours – only we can swim out to the Sunningrocks, you have no use for them". That's true – he can have them. "You haven't come to gawp have you?"

Did I look like that? I licked my chest fur in self-consciousness. "I was thinking that we should meet, at the quarter-moon, to discuss what we're going to do".

"Don't we have the full moon to do that?" River looked bored. Ignorant mousebrain...

"Yes, but we are leaders. Star wanted us to keep and maintain peace, to develop a code of conduct, to forge peaceful, and diplomatic relations with each other". I hoped this sounded slightly enticing.

River yawned, "Oh please, I'm here to serve my Clan, not make you happy".

"We'll discuss how we can get our nine lives to serve our Clans..." Uh, last-resort...

The long-haired tom's eyes shot up but he immediately relaxed again, "Okay," he mewed casually. "Quarter moon. At the four tree clearing. Moonhigh. Don't leave me waiting, I will be wanted to sleep sometime soon..." and with that, he yawned and turned away from me, ready to sun himself again. He's going to be a pawful...

I dipped my head in thanks, and the patrol continued on. Straw was muttering to himself that he always knew River was the most arrogant cat in the forest, whilst Branch was looking up and wishing that it was him on the flat, warm rocks, and not that mouse-hearted lot.

Eventually, we came to a dead end – the river was either snaking off towards the four trees place, or splitting off two ways back into the forest, one snaking off back towards camp, and the other snaking off towards an unknown part of the forest, making me feel slightly insecure in the knowledge that I had no clue what lurked or preyed upon visitors to that region. I looked to the sky – it was only sunhigh, there was plenty of daylight left. I was debating whether to try and find Shadow and ask her to the Quarter-Moon meeting, or delve deeper into our territory. Better safe than sorry, Thunder. Territory it is.

"Right, we have plenty of daylight left," I addressed the patrol, the sun beating down on us, making me feel tired and weary. "I think we should look further through our territory before risking it on others. If we see Shadow, good, but if we don't, I hope that StarClan will let me talk to her, or something". The other cats nodded, except for Straw, who clawed at the grass with annoyance. What's he got against her? We haven't even met her yet...

I ignored it, and walked on. Making a big leap over the smaller stream, I landed on the middle land in between the two streams. The other cats followed, Oscar almost jumping straight into me (of course), and Branch just making it, his paws scraping against the bank, tainting the river with brown with the mud he kicked. Nodding, I trekked into the unknown for the first time. The unfamiliar struck slight fear into me, but I had to be strong for the others. Gulping my doubts, I held my head high and padded into the cover of the trees again. It was odd that I was so close to the camp, yet I had no certainty that there would be nothing on the other side.

We immediately came across a smaller clearing in the middle of this mini island, with dusty ground in the middle. Looking back to the patrol to say stay, I tentatively put one paw on the ground. It was sandy underpaw, and felt soft and light to walk on. I felt as though if I fell here, I would be cushioned by such comfort and softness. I wasn't sure what use this place would be, but I was sure it could be quite useful for something.

The other cats had followed me, feeling the nice feel underpaw, and mewing to each other, approval rippling through the quiet conversation, still keeping an ear out for any sign of intruders.

Putting my tail up, I had decided only a certain amount of time should be devoted to looking at sand all day, and called for them to follow me. The patrol didn't argue, thank StarClan, and we exited the clearing. It was only a few heartbeats when I thought I could voices. My neck fur rose and I pricked my ears. Foxdung! I knew it was too good to be true! The others had noticed my apprehension, and I immediately felt very cowardly – I was supposed to be their leader, not a frightened kit. Straightening up, I padded lightly toward the voices, looking through a bush. The voices sounded familiar – they were the queens, with their kits! My neck fur flattened, but I didn't make a sound. I didn't want to scare the queens in not wanting to be in the nursery.

Padding away lightly, I turned to the patrol, lifted my tail to signal to turn around, and led back to the fork in the river. It still wasn't particularly late, but I was hungry.

"I suggest we eat," I addressed the cats – they too look famished. They didn't need asking twice; they immediately went to hunt. It didn't take too long; prey was abundant in the mid-greenleaf weather, and everyone managed to hunt fairly easily, albeit Branch hunting rather clumsily. He needs some attention and some training. If we get attacked, he'll be as much use as a dead fox. I shrugged off the thought for that moment, but I noted it, mulling over how we could help him in the future.

Hopping over the other stream, we were closing to the rushing sound. Wanting to make sure the territory was completely safe, I ventured to a clump of trees next to the river, and I saw a Twoleg path which I vaguely recognised. Then I looked down at the river and found the source of the rushing – a gorge. I stepped back in fright, but readdressed my worries. No cat should come here! Just rushing after a mouse, and... I stopped the image. The Clan needed to know about this.

Oscar was surprising brave – he looked over the edge, moved his face back, and grunted grimly. He may be a bundle of energy, but I thought that he may be much more than what he was at face value. The others were slightly more apprehensive, but not even Branch was fazed. We may not be the biggest, but there's no doubt we're a brave bunch.

Feeling a surge of pride in my cats, we crossed the path towards the four trees clearing, and on familiar ground. I knew this quite well know; I had passed here many times and it had little covering – one could see the clearing very clearly, the luscious green oaks towering over the top of the rest of the rest of the forest.

We entered the clearing – I had forgotten about the lack of dead cats. Although there were patches of dirt just around the outside of the clearing, the grass inside were lovely to walk on.

"The cats have gone!" Branch remarked.

"They must have been taken by StarClan!" Oscar's eyes lit up in wonderment. The other cats mewed agreement. I won't say anything, I humoured myself. Sighing slightly, we left the clearing. The day was wearing on – soon we'd have to get back to the Clan and feed them before the sun was slipping away. We had a lot of the day left, since Greenleaf evenings had a knack of wearing on for a long time compared to leafbare – a mystery we'd never find out.

Following the Thunderpath carefully, watching out for monsters, we walked on our way home. Suddenly, a yowl from the other side of the Thunderpath alerted us to the side. Shadow was looking us with ominous eyes, her neck fur disturbingly flat and her breathing calm. She disappeared for a few moments, but strangely appeared out of the bushes. How in StarClan did she manage that? She came towards and faced us.

"What did you want?" she asked monotonically.

"I wanted to ask you something," I began in hope that she'd listen to me.

"Why should I listen to you? You're my enemy – for all I know your Clan could be infiltrating my camp as I speak". Her eyes flashed at such a thought, but maintained her steely composure.

"I'm not attacking your Clan," I assured her, "and I wanted to ask you to attend a meeting. At the quarter moon, in the four trees clearing".

"Why would I want to do that? Oh I know," her eyes focussed on mine, shooting talons through the air with her steely gaze "you're going to overpower us. You want us out – you want our territory!"

"No!" I exclaimed. "We need you with us too! StarClan told us to develop the warrior code together – we need you as well. Otherwise none of us will get our nine lives, and we won't get anywhere with each other".

Her eyes clouded with thought for a moment, and returned to her fixated state. "I will come to the meeting at Fourtrees. But rest assured, I will heavily guard my camp with my warriors – if one foreign paw sets foot in my marshlands, you won't have a paw left to walk on". With that, she turned and disappeared through the bush. We watched her walk to the other side of the Thunderpath and retook her position underneath a bush, watching us with intent to kill if necessary. I sighed. Both River and Shadow seemed hostile (Shadow was much further than 'seemed') – it was going to be hard to make peaceful relations with them. But I hardened my resolve – it was doable, and I was going to make it happen.

The journey was quite short, even though the skies had gotten redder, indicating dusk on the way. It must have been longer than that – but my intent to get home was burning, and I could smell the camp. We were still pretty new to each other, but it seemed as though I could taste a foresty, mousy smell within the camp. It felt homely.

The gorse bush was tidy, and the thorny branches were weaved into a tunnel for us to enter the camp with. The camp looked amazingly secure – the wall of thorny tangles around the outside of the camp were weaved together to keep holes out; the warriors den was looking fantastic – the branches forming a wall to keep out intruders and the cold, and a tunnel that gave it only one access to the den to keep it secure. The elders' den was looking cosy and comfortable – a cushion to Fuzz and Rose's aching bones.

I was impressed. Some of the other cats had been hunting, and they had eaten – leaving a small pile left for others. The patrolling cats ran to the pile, looking famished, and bit into whatever they can find. I'm sure they've eaten enough – I just hope they anticipate the troubles we'll get into when we get to leaf-bare.

"You look troubled, Thunder," Fox padded up to me softly, trying not to brush her swollen belly on the floor.

"I should be happy," I admitted. "I asked River and Shadow whether they'd want to meet at the quarter-moon to discuss how we're going to look after these Clans".

"But...?" she wasn't stupid – she knew there was more.

"But...they seemed so hostile," I confessed. "I don't know how I could ever do a deal with them. River couldn't care less about us, and Shadow's so mistrusting, she actually watched us leave from the other side of the Thunderpath. How on earth am I supposed to do a deal with them? I haven't even talked to Wind yet..." My troubles were spilling out like blood, but Fox was still looking at me thoughtfully.

"I believe you can do it," she mewed. "StarClan made you talk on that night, you were destined for this. You can do it – I have faith, we have faith, StarClan has faith".

"Thanks," I dipped my head. "But how can I talk to Wind? Meeting River and Wind was just lucky coincidence".

"You'll have to go to her – if Wind won't come to the leader, the leader must go to Wind. You must try. I would go with you, but..." she looked at her belly "I could burst at any moment". I twitched my whiskers in amusement. "But I think you should take Cloud. He's seems the thoughtful type, and isn't the fighter type. Just hope you'll get found by a cat from her Clan pretty quickly so you can go with them. Going alone with Cloud will be dangerous..."

"That's a good idea – thanks again," I blinked my gratitude. She nodded, and walked back to the nursery. I watched her leave. She helped me regain my confidence. Nodding to myself that I could do this, I jumped on the Highrock and addressed the Clan to tell them about our patrol.

Good? Bad? Sorry for the lateness... :( I have been busy, and I have exams VERY soon. :(

Please review, they're a huge help to me – they give me things to improve on and inspiration to write more, so if you've not/enjoyed this chapter, tell me why! Constructive please, but if you chuck me in some infamous group, I couldn't care less. :P

Signed,

Leo