Chapter Five

Ravandawn rolled back under the weight of the larger cat, and hissed at him "Don't you dare attack me rouge!" The rouge chuckled and swiped at her "I do have a name you now." he said "I'm called Astuto." "I didn't ask your name she hissed, scratching his chest. And hissed and bit into her back "And I didn't ask you to attack me."

Ravandawn stiffened and pinned him down. "This is the territory of my clan!" she scowled "We don't take kindly to you living on it."

Astuto rolled out from under her. He started to shake, softly at first and then harder. Ravandawn choked her head. Was the rouge...laughing? Indeed he was, Astuto seemed quite amused with something that Ravandawn had done.

"Excuse me, I don't see what's so funny?" she said angrily "Oh you Clan cats are so amusing." Astuto smiled "You are always so angry 'Get out of my territory!' 'Don't talk to me!' 'Grr, I'm so big and tough!"

Ravandawn was dumbfounded. How could this cat find something funny in a battle? Didn't he care that she was trying to kill him?

"And the best part?" Astuto was still talking "I don't even live here! I just came to explore! But Clan cats never seem to ask questions. I always fight, fight, fight with them!"

By this point Ravandawn was steaming with rage. How dare this cat trespass, fight her, and then still have the audacity to make fun of her! Who did he think he was?

"You still stole prey!" Hissed Ravandawn. "How do you explain that?"

"Oh how could I forget the prey." said Astuto "You'd think it all that there was, with the way clan cats talk about it. You put one paw in their 'territory' and their convinced that you've taken every last mouse in the woods. Wake up! There's plenty of food outside of the woods. I just came here for the squirrels."

Ravandawn gnashed her teeth. Oh she would give this mouse-brain a piece of her mind. She jumped in front of him and clawed his face. He hissed with pain."Oh I'm sorry that we can cats have kits and elders to feed!" she hissed "Every piece of prey counts for us." Astuto looked mildly surprised at her outburst "Then do tell me." he said "Why territory means to you." "Glad you asked." She said and they writhed on the ground "You see not all rogues are as docile as you. Some of them want to fight us, take our home, or just take all our food. Food that we need for our clan."

Ravandawn dug her claws into his soft underbelly making him yowl.

Astuto flipped Ravandawn over so that he was on top of her. She swiped at him with rage, but could not get back up. He turned his head studying her "You're not like any other clan cat I've met before." he said "You seem to be willing to talk with me." He chuckled "It's kind of refreshing."

he said. "Well you're the first rouge I've met that didn't put of a decent fight!" she hissed with desperation "I've taken out cats much bigger than you." It was a lie. Ravandawn had never met a rogue before Astuto. He could tell "No you haven't" he said "I'm not a very good fighter and even I'm keeping you do-OWN!" He scowled as Ravandawn sank her fangs into his chest.

"Fine then, I'm not some great fighter." she said "But I am the second in command in my clan. And I have cats who are probably looking for me." she said "They Put a skinny, young, she-cat in charge. I don't have very much faith in this clan of yours."

"Their some of the best cats that I know." she said. Astuto tackled her again, and bit her. She felt blood run down her fur from both of their cuts. Than she spotted something that gave her hope from the corner of her eye.

"Why don't you say hello to one." she said, as Bearheart grabbed Astuto. The toms wrestled and bit into each other as Ravandawn caught her breath.

Astuto pulled himself away from Bearheart "Well this little meeting is getting to crowded for me." he said "See you later!" And with that he ran into the woods.

"And stay out!" shouted Bearheart. He turned to Ravandawn "How hurt are you?" he asked "Fine enough to walk back." she said "And your cut up to." Bearheart nodded and followed her out of the clearing.

"What was the battle like?" He asked "Well he made fun of clan cats." said Ravandawn "And then he told me that he lives away from the clans." Bearheart perked up "That's good! And I bet that he won't come back after that beating." "I don't know." said Ravandawn "He seemed pretty cocky." "But he ran away fast." responded Bearheart "I think that he is just one big coward." "Ravandawn nodded "Yeah I need to talk to Otterstar about all of this.

The cats finally stumbled back into camp. Flintfleck was the first to spot them "Great Starclan! What have you gotten yourselves into?" he asked "We met the rouge." said Bearheart "But we fought him off." "We're fine Flintfleck." said Ravandawn "I need to report back to Otterstar." "No" said Flintfleck "You need to come to my den."

Ravandawn opened her mouth to protest but Bearheart interrupted her "That is a good idea, there's plenty of time to tell Otterstar." Ravandawn sighed "Fine." Her wounds were starting to really sting. She followed Flintfleck into the medicine den.

A while later she sat on one of the moss nests, as Flintfleck covered her claw wounds with some kind of herb mush. "Okay that's all of them." said the old medicine cat. "You should rest here now."

Ravandawn sighed. She didn't want to wait any longer before telling Otterstar, but she could use a nap. Suddenly a howling Rabbitkit burst into the medicine den, with a thorn in his paws. Flintfleck ran over to him and left Ravandawn by herself. The black she-cat curled up in the soft moss and let sleep claim her.