Oh my goodness, it's been so long since I last posted a chapter for this. ;-; I've been so busy with school and other stuff, but managed to find a time frame to write this. To be honest, I was going to post this earlier, but decided to post it today. Also, happy Halloween!

Guest - Thank you! I hope you continue to enjoy it! ^-^

Springflower - Well, I hope this is to your satisfaction. XD

Captain Scar - Totally, you'll see how much he is of an impact on the Clans later on. Though it might not be in the way you expect. ^^;

firestarisboss - Thank you! XD

Chapter 12:

Bleed's POV:

As he turned away from the she-cat, he could feel the lingering gaze of Shadefrost's on his back, unintentionally making his fur ruffle. As he stepped into the shade cast by the ash trees, he relaxed slightly, his amber gaze darting about the territory slightly all the while pondering on the brief meeting. Not what I expected, but someone's got to have a rough sketch of a backup plan... He considered himself to be always ready for what the forest might throw at him whether be it strange cats, natural disasters, etc.

Stepping back into his normal leisurely pace, the tom stopped every once in a while to scent the air for any more "Clan" cats, each result coming up with the same thing: a satisfied smirk albeit faint, but it was still there. Crossing the border to what appeared to be another Clan territory, he loped along, hardly noticing his surroundings as he began to delve deeper into his thoughts.

Shadefrost seems quite like myself, though she's a little more wary and cold.. Without realizing it, his mouth had quirked into a smile of amusement as he easily sidestepped several boulders and the occasional shrub here and there. Those eyes of hers though.. I've never seen those type of eyes quite like hers, so guarded.. and cold... He made a noncommittal noise in the back of his throat before his eyes flicked over to where a well-worn path laid.

He halted before the path, his eyes glancing up toward where the path rose to a slight slope before they flicked back to his position. Any cat who was passing by would think that the tom had gotten himself lost somehow. Once he was satisfied examining the worn-down path, he resumed his pace, heading onto a different path that branched out from the current trail he was once on.

Lapsing in a thoughtful silence once more, he continued to think of the cold she-cat and if he had knew her more fully, what her personality would be. His tail-tip flicking from side to side faintly, the dark-brown tom snapped back to reality, his amber gaze clear as they were once more alert, chasing the clouds of deep thinking away.

Realizing that he was near his cave, the tom sped up his pace until he was walking briskly, the sun warming his dark-brown fur as he neared the entrance. Pausing at the entryway into the den, the tom glanced back over his shoulder, his amber orbs glinting in the sunlight.

Seeing that nothing looked suspicious, Bleed ducked his head and padded quietly into the den, immediately heading over to a moss nest that was tucked in the corner of the narrow cave. With a quiet sigh to himself, he settled down into his nest, the tip of his tail resting lightly on his nose.

Blinking, he stared at the cave wall of his den unable to doze off into the grasp of which awaited him: sleep. Letting out a breath, he let his mind wander in hopes of dozing off. This is getting me nowhere... he frowned after he had lapsed into a tense silence.

Sighing, the tom closed his amber gaze and allowed his mind to wander. Almost at once, his thoughts were assaulted by images, almost all of which had one thing in common: that pale gaze of the guarded she-cat. Amused, his mouth had quirked into a faint smirk as he pictured her letting down her wary act. She really is a thing to be curious about.

A slight breeze ruffled his fur around his shoulders and he blinked his eyes open at the slight chill. The noonhigh sun poured its yellow rays into the cave, lighting up most of the narrow den. I still have some time left before it becomes nightfall... Not wanting to lay around his den like any other rogue cat would, he rose to his paws before trotting toward the entrance.

Poking his head out of the den, he examined the grassy clearing filled with a copse of trees for any sign of incoming danger. Padding out more fully into the small clearing, he looked around, his jaws opening to scent the air for prey. The scent of the Clan cats' border wafted in the gentle breeze over to the dark-brown loner as he swiveled his head in search for any wandering prey; his cave laid not too far from the Clan cats' border, but far enough for it not to be detected.

The sound of a small snap caught the tom's attention, his gaze darting toward the location of the noise while opening his jaws to catch the scent. Vole! he thought, beginning to creep forward towards it. As Bleed began to draw nearer to the vole, the ferns parted slightly revealing a little brown-grey body.

Judging the distance between his soon-to-be catch, he paused for a moment before he launched forward with a powerful spring, his claws digging into the vole's sides. Bringing the squirming vole closer, he clasped his jaws around its neck, instantly snapping it. That's one down.

Deciding to pass the time hunting, he buried the dead vole for later retrieval before he started to go further into the sparse undergrowth.

Meanwhile, back in the StormClan camp, warriors passed wary glances at the dark-brown she-cat as she headed over to lay beside the warriors' den. It seemed that some of the senior warriors were still wary of the former loner who had appeared very suddenly last sunrise.

Meeting the obvious glares of hostility boldly, Shadefrost stared at them coolly, settling down near a patch of shadow, tucking her tail over her paws. Furs prickled as their gazes met the cold she-cat's and quickly looked away, murmuring to each other in low voices.

Looking away unperturbed, Shadefrost focused on the cats going on their daily chores around the camp.

The rustling of ivy could be heard as the tortoiseshell medicine cat padded out from the depths of her den, a white-grey she-cat leaning against her side. "I trust you can rest here without opening your wounds again?" the medicine cat remarked lightly.

Fleetpaw rolled her eyes and with an exasperated sigh said, "Yes, Fernripple. I'll be fine. It's not like another fox is going to come along, straight into the heart of StormClan territory."

"Well, you never know," Fernripple shrugged, replying wryly before she moved to help the young apprentice lie down. "I'm going to go check on Shadowclaw and Speckwind. Ripplepaw will be here to relieve your boredom soon."

The grey-and-white she-cat nodded, her head now resting on her paws. "Okay, Fernripple."

Turning around, the StormClan medicine cat walked over to the elders' den where Shadowclaw, a senior warrior of the Clan, resided currently. "Shadowclaw, it's Fernripple. I'm here to check your wounds."

A raspy voice, dry from not using it for a couple of days, filtered out of the elders' den. "So soon?" Grey eyes appeared in the entrance as the black she-cat rose from her nest.

"Well, your wounds are getting better and I need to make sure that they're not getting infected."

Wounds given by an enemy warrior from a long-ago battle indefinitely crippled the black warrior, placing her in the elders' den. Most warriors didn't think that she'd recover any time soon, but still treated her like any other cat whenever catching a glimpse of her, from voluntary choice or chores.

"Very well," Shadowclaw nodded as the tortoiseshell she-cat padded inside.

Tearing her gaze away from the elders' den, Shadefrost glanced toward the entryway of the camp, noting how the sun's rays was beginning to turn reddish as it began to set, signalling the end of yet another day in the Clans.

Picking herself up from the ground, she whirled around, padding inside the warriors' den, pelt prickling as she felt the stares of the other warriors lingering on the she-cat's retreating back. These Clan cats are really suspicious of loners and rogues, aren't they? she thought with mild amusement, her orbs gleaming in humor.

:l To be honest, I kind of gave up on the end. I think it showed.. Next chapter will (hopefully) be posted soon! Until then, cheers! Don't forget to review!