A/N: Thank you all so much for sticking with me! I'M BACK!

Chapter 19

Hollystep jumped to her paws panting, her dark tabby pelt matted with dirt and decorated by scraps of moss. "Excellent," she shook herself, though she knew her efforts would be in vain. It wasn't even sunhigh yet, and she knew Snowpaw had more than enough energy to keep going. Her apprentice was in no better shape, his white fur stained brown by their battle training.

"How are you so fast?" Snowpaw trotted back to the center of the mossy hollow, ready for the next round.

"Because I'm not a great lump of fur like you," the tabby snickered as she joined her apprentice. "Cats that are smaller than you are always going to be faster than you—you just have to be smart enough to know how to beat them anyway."

Snowpaw frowned thoughtfully, then nodded. "Okay, I'm ready. Let's try it again."

It was true. Snowpaw was growing bigger by the day. He was already a little bigger than her, and Hollystep didn't doubt for a moment that he would grow as big as Brambleclaw or Blackstar. Their rigorous training through leaf-bare had made them both stronger, and Hollystep didn't plan to let up now that the first thaw of new-leaf had arrived.

"Good," they broke apart for what felt like the hundredth time as the sun reached its peak, and Hollystep sank onto her haunches. "Looks like it's time you started your hunting assignment."

Snowpaw shook himself vigorously. "Alright! What's the assignment?"

Hollystep flicked her tail towards the lake. "Head towards the lake. Catch as much as you can between here and there and on the way back. Tonight Sunpaw and Fennelpaw are tending the elders, so your catch will go straight to the fresh-kill pile along with Hazelpaw's. This thaw brought life back to the forest, we need to take advantage now in case the forest has one last freeze in store for us."

"Yes, Hollystep." The white apprentice dipped his head obediently, though his whiskers twitched in amusement. "Will you be hunting as well?"

Hollystep frowned. "Of course I will. You don't still need me to hold your paw, do you?"

"With Rainwhisker?"

Hollystep let out a mock-snarl and leapt at her apprentice. He fled the training hollow laughing, his tail high as Hollystep landed a glancing blow on his haunches. "Go hunt, you nosy apprentice! You're worse than Cloudtail!" With a roll of her eyes, Hollystep padded after him, veering left after a couple of pawsteps to head towards the WindClan border. She slowed her pace as she sank into hunting crouch, her ears pricked and eyes alert as she scanned the fresh green undergrowth for signs of prey. As much as she loved the rich colors and cool air of leaf-fall, the tiny blooms that lined her path filled Hollystep with hope. They had made it through a bitter leaf-bare, now they could focus on growing strong and adding more warriors to their ranks.

She narrowed her eyes at a rustling clump of grass, easily picking out the scent of mouse as she pulled herself closer. She bunched her muscles, wiggled her haunches, and at the last possible moment pounced on the unsuspecting mouse. Thank you, StarClan, for the life of this mouse and the bounty of new-leaf. You only know how badly we need it. Hollystep buried her catch to collect later and continued down the trail. She managed to bring down a magpie and another mouse before she neared the WindClan border. Close to the border, she chased a squirrel into a tree where she caught it just before it escaped her. She was about to jump back down when she saw the ferns trembling.

"WindClan's been quiet all leaf-bare," Hollystep recognized Spiderleg's voice. "Do you think RiverClan is giving them trouble?"

Thornclaw padded out of the undergrowth first, his eyes dark and serious. Before he could answer, Hazelpaw trotted out of the bracken beside him, his chin and tail high. "Or maybe they're giving RiverClan trouble."

Though he rolled his eyes, Thornclaw humored his apprentice. "And what makes you think that?"

Spiderleg snorted skeptically. "Yeah, what reason does Onestar have to make trouble with RiverClan?"

"Think about it!" Hazelpaw insisted. He lashed his tail energetically as he continued, "Onestar helped us with the badger attack, and then saw how strongly we still defended our borders against ShadowClan. They know better than to use our border to show the other Clans how strong they are. But Barkface has always said he longs to access the herbs that grow in the marshy land by Horseplace, hasn't he? How better to show that WindClan is strong than by reclaiming land RiverClan swept out from under their noses moons ago?"

"He could have a point." Hollystep felt a flash of satisfaction as the entire patrol started and spun to face the tree she was in. She jumped down and landed softly near her Clan-mates. "Onestar has been itching to prove how strong WindClan is under his command."

"Still," though he didn't look convinced, Thornclaw's features adopted a thoughtful frown. "I can't imagine them starting a war with RiverClan over a few plants."

Spiderleg had switched sides. "You mean to tell me," he drawled sarcastically, "that Firestar wouldn't authorize a few border raids if Leafpool needed herbs that grew in ShadowClan's territory?"

Hazelpaw looked ready to burst with excitement, his green eyes glowing. "Does that mean we'll get to fight soon?"

"I doubt it," Hollystep snorted. "Onestar is far too proud to ask our assistance in his show for power, and RiverClan would sooner give up their land than come all the way around the lake to ask for our help."

"Hollystep's right," growled Thornclaw. "Whatever may—or may not—be going on along their border is no concern of ours."

There was no hiding the disappointment in Hazelpaw's eyes, and Hollystep couldn't say she blamed him. She wanted peace in the forest, but there was nothing that could compare to the adrenaline of a good fight. Collecting her squirrel, she mewed a quick goodbye and set off to retrieve the rest of her catch. When she padded into the camp she was pleased to see the fresh-kill pile nearly overflowing, and Snowpaw play-fighting with Fennelpaw outside the apprentices' den. She deposited her catch, keeping the magpie for herself and picking out two plump mice for Rainwhisker. Fresh-kill in her jaws, she joined Birchfall near the warriors' den, where he was just settling down with a juicy vole.

"Good hunting?" His amber eyes were bright.

Hollystep purred warmly at her brother. "Brilliant. I'll always prefer leaf-fall, but I have to admit I'm glad to see new-leaf."

"So is Squirrelflight," Birchfall cast an amused, though sympathetic, glance towards the nursery. Just outside Squirrelflight was tearing into a rabbit that Brambleclaw had brought her. Her flanks were so heavily rounded Hollystep was surprised Leafpool was letting her leave the nursery.

"Surely she's due soon?" Hollystep stammered, bewildered.

Birchfall shrugged. "Leafpool said it's hard to tell because it's a big litter."

"Three?" Hollystep guessed, tilting her head and examining Squirrelflight as best as she could from her position.

"My guess is five."

"Hm." Deep in thought, Hollystep started plucking feathers from her magpie. The apprentices had cleaned out all of the brittle leaf-bare moss and filled every den with fresh bedding. She was glad to have soft moss and bracken in her nest again, but she'd lost her collection of feathers and had to start from scratch again.

"Are those for me?" Rainwhisker's hopeful meow startled Hollystep out of her thoughts.

"They are." She pushed the two mice towards him. "You'd better be glad I saved them for you, too," the dark tabby added. "I've lost count of how many times Birchfall's tried to snag one—not to mention the way Brambleclaw's been staring at them like there aren't any more in the fresh-kill pile."

Rainwhisker purred and licked her ear. "They look great," he rumbled. "I don't blame any cat for wishing they'd gotten to them first." He stretched out next to Hollystep and started nibbling on the first mouse.

"I thought you'd just been out hunting," Birchfall swiped his tongue around his jaws as he swallowed a morsel of vole. "What took you so long to make it back?"

"We found another fox trap," the gray warrior mewed grimly. "Dustpelt put the end of a stick in it and it snapped shut faster than you can say 'mouse.'"

Hollystep shuddered, remembering how she'd found Snowpaw's mother killed in the jaws of a fox trap. "I guess you tried to see if the twolegs were actually on the trail of a fox?"

Rainwhisker nodded, his eyes dark with concern. "Yes. We found fresh tracks nearby and followed them. There's a den between the abandoned twoleg nest and the ShadowClan border."

Alarm flared in Hollystep's heart. "A den? In new-leaf?"

"You could smell the milk-scent from three fox-lengths away," Rainwhisker growled, answering the question Hollystep hadn't asked.

Birchfall sat up, looking more alert. "Surely we're going to do something about it?"

"Dustpelt went to tell Firestar about our patrol," the dark gray warrior stood and stretched, his meal reduced to a few bones. "He probably won't make an announcement about it until tomorrow morning, though."

"You're probably right," Hollystep admitted regretfully. "I'm going to sleep, then."

She entered just behind Rainwhisker, aware of Birchfall calling, "Right behind you!" as they retreated. Sleep came slow and unwillingly to Hollystep that night, and her dreams were haunted by the scent of fox.

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the high-ledge for a Clan meeting!"

Hollystep was slipping out of the warriors' den as Firestar's summons rang across the camp. She hurried across the clearing and settled into a spot between Spiderleg and Cloudtail.

"Is this about the fox?" She asked breathlessly, forcing aside the rumbling in her stomach.

Cloudtail scraped his claws against the ground. "I hope so," the white warrior growled.

When every cat had gathered, Firestar began his announcement. "As I'm sure you all know, yesterday Dustpelt's hunting patrol found another fox trap on our territory. After closing the trap, they tracked the fox to a den on our territory." Growls and furious hisses rippled through the clearing.

"Does it have kits?" Sorreltail's eyes were full of concern, but her tail lashed as if she'd like to chase the fox away herself. Beside her, Whitewing tucked her tail protectively around her two kits.

"Dustpelt?" Firestar beckoned the senior warrior forward with a wave of his tail.

"We could smell milkscent," the dark tabby rumbled. "We didn't see any kits, but we think she may be an expectant mother looking for a den to kit in."

"She'll have to find it somewhere else," Hollystep jumped to her paws, claws unsheathed. Similar exclamations and mews of agreement echoed her own.

After a thoughtful pause, Firestar dipped his head. "I agree. Ashfur, you'll still take the dawn patrol down the WindClan border. Take Brightheart and Spiderleg with you. Brambleclaw, you'll lead the patrol that will chase out the fox. Dustpelt and Rainwhisker will join you and show you where the den is. I also want Hollystep, Cloudtail, and Brackenfur to go."

Fennelpaw turned a dismayed look to Rainwhisker, who only shook his head. Hollystep sighed. Of all cats, Rainwhisker should have known his apprentice wouldn't back down so easily. The dark tortoiseshell tom stood, his tail lashing. "What about me?"

Confused, Firestar blinked. "Did you want to join that hunting patrol?"

"No," Fennelpaw ground out. "Rainwhisker is my mentor—can't I go with his patrol to chase out the fox?"

"I would like to go, too." Snowpaw added with a cautious glance at Hollystep.

Firestar seemed conflicted until Brambleclaw shrugged. "I don't think it would be a problem." He glanced at Firestar and continued, "We'll already have a patrol six warriors strong, and it would be a good learning experience for them."

Snowpaw and Fennelpaw exchanged an excited glance, their tails standing straight up as Firestar nodded thoughtfully.

"Alright then," their leader finally meowed. "I think that settles all of the patrols for the day. Be careful until we have a positive report from Brambleclaw's patrol."

Hollystep trotted to Brambleclaw's side, her tail-tip flicking restlessly. "Let's go," she urged the deputy. "If we wait much longer it'll be sound asleep in its den!"

"Don't get your tail in a knot," Rainwhisker's amused mew sounded beside her. "Its den isn't going anywhere, we should be as careful as we can."

Hollystep snorted, but fell back without further complaint. She beckoned Snowpaw to her with a flick of her ear. "Listen up," she meowed as they trotted through the forest. "A lot of the moves we've worked on for badgers can be used on foxes, too—but you have to remember that foxes look like dogs and behave like cats. They'll be fast, and their teeth are much bigger than ours."

"So what's the best approach?" Snowpaw inquired eagerly, his eyes wide with adrenaline.

"Wherever its teeth aren't," Fennelpaw snickered.

Hollystep rolled her eyes. "I hate to say it but Fennelpaw is right. No matter what happens stay away from its muzzle."

"Its paws and legs are a good target," Cloudtail called back. "But just as much as its teeth you have to watch out for its claws."

"We're getting close," Dustpelt hissed.

The patrol slowed, all ears pricked and eyes alert. Hollystep could smell the milk-scent already. Dustpelt called the patrol to a halt with a wave of his tail. As cautiously as if she were creeping up on a shrew, Hollystep moved to crouch between her father and Brambleclaw.

"I don't think the fox is home," she hissed under her breath. She could see the tunnel it was making its den in, but the scent wasn't nearly as strong as it should have been.

"I think she's right," Brambleclaw murmured. "What do you think, Cloudtail?"

The white warrior nodded minutely. "She's not here."

"Are we going to follow her trail?" Brackenfur's voice was deceptively calm.

Dustpelt shook his head. "We'll lay an ambush here," he decided firmly. "If we attack it in the forest it'll just run back here. We have to let it know that this den isn't safe for its kits."

Hollystep's tail curled in anticipation. "I'll get in the tree," she offered. "And attack from above."

"Good idea," Brambleclaw nodded. "Brackenfur will go with you. Rainwhisker and Dustpelt, stay here. Fennelpaw and Snowpaw, get in the brambles over there, and Cloudtail and I will climb the tree across from the den."

Orders given, the ThunderClan warriors split up. Hollystep climbed deftly to one of the lower branches of the tree, Brackenfur on her tail. They didn't have to wait long. Only a coupled moments after they took their postitions, the stench of fox drifted to Hollystep on the breeze. She flicked her ears to get Brackenfur's attention, and they both sank into ready crouches.

The fur along Hollystep's spine stood on end as the creature's triangular face appeared through the undergrowth. It walked with a slow gate, its stomach round with unborn kits. You'll have to find a new nursery! Despite Brackenfur's experience, Hollystep felt Brambleclaw's eyes on her. Taking the hint, she scooted a little closer to the edge of the branch. Brackenfur accepted her lead with the tiniest dip of his head. Just before the fox bent to crawl into its den, Hollystep let out a vicious caterwaul.

"Now!"

She and Brackenfur fell on the fox with their claws unsheathed. Cloudtail and Brambleclaw swarmed down their tree and Rainwhisker and Dustpelt exploded out of the undergrowth. With a pained howl, the fox spun, its jaws snapping at it tried vainly to keep every warrior back. Hollystep landed on its back—her balance was off center but she sank her claws in and held on anyway. As it spun and snapped at her Clan-mates, Hollystep lunged forward and clamped her teeth down on the fox's soft ear. It snarled and shook itself fiercely, sending Hollystep tumbling to the ground. Winded, the dark tabby staggered to her paws.

Despite having the advantage, the warriors were struggling. Blood matted Cloudtail's long fur, and Hollystep could see a long scratch on Brackenfur's flank. Spitting out a mouthful of blood and fox fur, Hollystep launched herself back into the fray. She shoved Fennelpaw out of the way of the fox's teeth and slashed at its muzzle.

"I'm the one that took a bite out of your ear," she hissed furiously. "Keep your eyes on me!" She reared onto her hind legs to keep lashing at its nose. The fox snapped its jaws, getting more frustrated every time Hollystep managed to evade its sharp teeth. Without warning, in pounced. Hollystep let out a startled cry as it sailed clear over her.

"Hollystep, look out!"

Before she could move, she felt a flash of white hot pain as the fox gripped her scruff in its teeth. The fox shook its head, sending stars to Hollystep's eyes as she was shaken vigorously from side to side. With its mouth occupied, Brambleclaw and Rainwhisker attacked with renewed. As suddenly as it had snatched her, the fox dropped Hollystep and turned tail. It fled yelping, Snowpaw and Fennelpaw hot on its heels.

"Are you alright?" Rainwhisker asked breathlessly. Despite the blood welling out of a bite on his shoulder, his blue eyes were filled only with concern.

"Yeah," Hollystep coughed. She forced herself to her paws. "What about you? That looks like a nasty bite on your shoulder."

"You should see your scruff," Cloudtail snorted. Hollystep rolled her eyes, but Brambleclaw spoke before she could fire off a retort.

"You all fought brilliantly," he rumbled. "Brackenfur, wait here for the apprentices—make sure they chased it all the way out of our territory. We'll go make our report."

Hollystep fell in step beside Rainwhisker as they trudged back to camp. Her veins sung with their victory, but every step sent a burning pain through the wound on the back of her neck.

"It's not that bad, is it?" She muttered, almost hoping Rainwhisker wouldn't hear.

The gray warrior's whiskers twitched. "Don't be surprised if Leafpool orders you to stay in camp for a day or two."

"That's just fantastic." The tabby she-cat lashed her tail. Rainwhisker sighed, but didn't dare try to comfort the independent warrior.

Firestar was waiting for them beneath the high ledge. "How did it go?" He called, his eyes raking the patrol and taking in every injury.

"Well," Brambleclaw reported. "Brackenfur and the apprentices are making sure it's left our territory."

Their leader's eyes warmed. "Good. Go have your wounds seen to. I'll make the announcement at dusk."

Even though Rainwhisker had warned her, Hollystep felt a fresh wave of irritation when Leafpool tutted under breath and shook her head. "You'll have to stay in camp for a few days, Hollystep. I want to keep a close eye on this wound."

Fantastic. The dark tabby rolled her eyes towards StarClan. Her bad mood dissolved almost as soon as it settled over her as Ferncloud nosed her way through the bramble screen.

"Leafpool," she purred. "It's time—Squirrelflight it kitting!"