Gray Wing followed after his patrol through the forest. Well, it wasn't a patrol exactly. The apprentices and their mentors were doing tree-climbing training and Skystar, who was leading the patrol, had wanted to tag along to see if he could figure out new techniques. Gray Wing had tagged along even if he'd rather stay on the ground. He liked hanging out with his friends.

Yesterday there was a battle between ThunderClan and RiverClan. RiverClan had won much to Skystar's relief seeing as Sunningrocks was part of River Ripple's home. Gray Wing agreed. River Ripple had done so much for them and made them all feel welcome when they had first come.

Plus, ThunderClan were worse. They all went out of their way to leave SkyClan out most of the time. Not that Skystar cared. But Gray Wing kind of did.

"Okay, start by digging your claws in to get a better grip," Shattered Ice meowed, breaking Gray Wing out of his thoughts. The gray-and-white tom was helping his apprentice get started on tree-climbing. Falling Feather was already making good progress as her mentor encouraged her. For some reason, Jackdaw's Cry and Hawk Swoop had always been uncomfortable with tree-climbing.

"Do we really have to learn all these skills? Can't we leave tree-climbing for ThunderClan and swimming for RiverClan?" Jackdaw's Cry grumbled.

"Alright," Shattered Ice began with a shrug. "And what would happen if you had to cross the river for any reason? Or climb a tree to escape a predator you can't take on your own? The other clans are bird-brains for thinking they only need their own skills."

"He's right," Skystar meowed as he climbed his own tree. "As much as I hate getting wet, knowing all these skills will make us the strongest Clan."

"I guess," Hawk Swoop agreed.

"But it still hurts my claws," Jackdaw's Cry added in another grumble but under his breath this time.

"Oh, stop whining you two, it's fun!" Falling Feather called from farther above. She was already on the third branch from the ground while her brother and friend were still struggling up the trunk itself.

"Gray Wing! C'mon! Let's leave the mentors and apprentices and try to catch some squirrels," Skystar called down from where he was on the fifth branch! Gray Wing gulped.

He started making his slow way up the trunk, making sure he had a firm grip. Don't look at the ground. Don't look at the ground… He opened his eyes and looked at the ground. Mousedung! He closed his eyes to stop the dizziness he suddenly felt. After a bit he continued only looking upwards. Finally, he reached his brother.

"Slow slug," he teased, nudging his shoulder. "Let's go!" And with that he started racing along the branches, jumping from tree to tree. Gray Wing followed even more slowly, taking his time to assess his jumps.

"SQUIRREL!" He heard Falling Feather cry from somewhere behind him and Gray Wing looked just in time to see the squirrel jump on his head and scramble away. Gray Wing twirled around and swatted, catching the squirrel off guard so that it fell into Falling Feather's claws.

"What a catch!" Quick Water meowed, making her way over to them easily, eyes glowing in amusement. "Although a bit messy."

Gray Wing sighed. He hated trees.

"Can we get back to camp now?" Jackdaw's Cry asked. Somehow he had tangled himself in a branch so that he was hanging upside down. Shaded Moss was helping him but wasn't having any luck. Nearby, Hawk Swoop clung to a branch, eyes shut, trembling nervously under her breath.

At least I'm not the only one who hates tree-climbing.

It was dark, but Rusty could sense something was near. The young tomcat opened his eyes wide, scanning the forest. His stomach growled, reminding him of his hunger.

Suddenly, a flash of movement raced past him. Rusty stopped. He knew it was a mouse, he could hear its heartbeat. Soon his hunger would be satisfied, he licked his lips. Just as he was about to pounce though something growled nearby and Rusty jumped, orange fur bristling.

What the hell was that? He thought nervously. And then he awoke into the hot and stuffy kitchen where his twolegs prepared food. That dream always feels so real. If only… he looked out the window at the stars twinkling above.

His collar rubbed uncomfortably against his neck as he got up and gulped down some of his dry food. He drank some water too, ignoring its strange metallic taste. Once he was fully awake, he pushed himself outside and hopped on the fence, looking out into the woods with a wistful expression as always.

Suddenly, his eyes narrowed as he made out a dark shape moving amongst the undergrowth deeper in the forest. What? More curious than scared, Rusty hopped down, his bell on his collar jingling.

"You're up late."

Rusty turned to see a plump black-and-white tom, balancing ungracefully on the fence post.

"Hello, Smudge."

"You're not thinking about going into the woods, are you?" Smudge asked.

"Only for a look around," Rusty protested defensively.

"But it's dangerous!"

"And?"

Smudge blinked at him like he was crazy. "Well, um, what if you get attacked by one of the wildcats? Y'know, the ones that sharpen their claws on old bones and eat live rabbits for breakfast."

"Ha, ha."

"I'm serious!"

"Okay, but I'm still gonna go explore whatever you say," Rusty meowed, holding himself high.

Smudge sighed. "Don't say I didn't warn you. I hope I don't hear the news the next morning that you were found dead." And with that he left back into his house.

Rusty rolled his eyes.

(Earlier that day)

As Gray Wing followed his patrol back into camp, cats ran over to meet them. Falling Feather was holding her huge squirrel. Skystar had a crow. Gray Wing and Jackdaw's Cry were carrying rabbits and Shattered Ice even caught a fish in a stream around their territory.

"Wow! Look at all that!" Turtle Tail exclaimed as she skidded to a halt next to Gray Wing. "Looks like you all had good hunting." Gray Wing purred.

"Okay," Shaded Moss began, setting his sparrow down. "I need volunteers for the evening patrol."

"I'll go." Tall Shadow stepped forward with a dip of her head.

"And me," Rainswept Flower meowed, followed by Moon Shadow. Shaded Moss nodded at the three cats and they immediately set out.

"Um, are they on hunting or border patrol?" Gray Wing asked.

"Remember we do both." Skystar stepped up to his brother. "Unlike the other Clans we multitask. Hunt and check our borders. It's not that hard, especially if we find prey on the way."

Another thing that made SkyClan weird. But at least it was smart like his brother said. Who cares what the other Clans think.

"Woah! Can we have that squirrel!" The shrill voice of Jagged Peak yowled as he and Fluttering Bird raced from the nursery over to them. They were the younger littermates of Gray Wing and Skystar. Bright Stream was sunning herself outside of the nursery, her round belly rose and fell. Skystar took his catch over to her. It wouldn't be long until she kitted.

"Of course," Falling Feather purred and nudged it over to the two kits. Jagged Peak's blue eyes lit up. "Thanks!" He dug in. Fluttering Bird repeated it and joined her brother.

Gray Wing turned to Turtle Tail. "Wanna share?" He asked around his mouthful of rabbit fur. The tortoiseshell's green eyes lit up and she nodded. Gray Wing led her over to a flat rock nearby and the two settled down side-by-side, tucking into their meal.

Meanwhile, the kits had finished their squirrel and had started play-fighting. Jagged Peak suddenly swiped Fluttering Bird's feet from under her and she hit her head on a rock. Gray Wing tensed, ready to help his weak sister. From the moment she had been born she had had some unknown disease in her muscles that made her so skinny, unlike Jagged Peak, who's muscles rippled under his shiny gray tabby coat. Quiet Rain had wanted to keep Fluttering Bird in the mountains with her but was afraid she'd die sooner from starvation. So she allowed both her kits to leave in order for them to have a better chance at life.

Dappled Pelt, who had been setting out herbs to dry in the sun while Cloud Spots was out herb hunting had already reached the kits and pulled Fluttering Bird close to her, comforting her with licks while checking her over. "I think you should have a nap in the nursery right now," she murmured.

Fluttering Bird pouted and mewed, "I don't wanna sleep." Jagged Peak, understanding his sister's condition, meowed, "but I'm tired. Can you at least come with me so I can stay warm?"

"Okay!" Fluttering Bird's eyes brightened. She and Jagged Peak were close, so it was understandable that she would only go if he did. As they left, Dappled Pelt tapped Jagged Peak on the head with the tip of her tail in a sign of thanks. Jagged Peak just smiled as they slipped into the nursery.

As the sun set, the Clan started to share tongues. Gray Wing's mind wandered, wondering how the others were doing back at the mountains. If only he could tell them somehow that they were faring well so far.

(Present)

Rusty slowly stalked the mouse that he had his eyes on. This is it! He thought. The moment you've been waiting for! We'll see the look on Smudge's face when I come back unscathed and with a mouse to match! Just as these awesome thoughts went through his head, he heard pawsteps behind him.

He tensed and slowly turned around to see a black tabby tom, glaring at him with cold yellow eyes. …okay, so Smudge was right about the wildcats, so what? This one looks friendly… Oh, who was he kidding? This tom looked like he wanted to murder him.

"What do we have here?" Another voice sounded behind him and out of the corner of his eye, Rusty spotted a powerful brown tabby slip out of some ferns, amber eyes burning into his pelt. The ginger tom slowly turned around and almost let out a horrified yelp. He was looking at a huge spiky gray-and-white tom, even bigger than the two tabbies behind him.

Why me?

"So, wanna tell me what a lazy kittypet like yourself is doing on my territory?" The gray-and-white tom hissed, amber eyes glaring into his own green ones. Rusty felt a lump in his throat. Finally, he managed to say something. "You own this forest?" Or what he could only think of.

The tom scoffed. "ThunderClan owns this part of the forest. Well, we used to own all of it until idiotic SkyClan joined and we had to give up some of our territory for them!" He spat at the end. Rusty backed up only to bump into the brown tabby. The gray-and-white tom noticed and smirked.

"Want to teach him the same lesson like the last idiot, who wandered in here?" He asked. "Remember him, Tigerclaw? I wonder if they're related."

"W-wait, who?!" Rusty asked desperately to stall for time to escape. They were obviously going to kill him. "What did he look like?"

"He was black and had one white paw with a purple collar…or was it red? Whatever." The spiky tom snorted.

"But…that sounds like Tiny!" Rusty exclaimed, memories of his half-brother that once visited, disappearing into the woods, His mother had been hysterical, No one had ever seen him again. And now Rusty knew what had happened. The wildcats had gotten him, And now he was about to meet the same end as his half-brother.

"Ah, so you know him?" The spiky tom purred. "What a small world we live in, huh?"

Rusty ran. He hadn't thought his moves through correctly but he thought it would be best to run while they still acted all friendly and such. "GET HIM!" Was yowled from behind him and Rusty heard pawsteps pounding after him. Rusty put on an extra burst of speed.

Claws ripped at his tail tip and he moved it up and dove under some brambles. The ground under him crumbled and he found himself in an old rabbit burrow. He crawled along until he found another opening.

He jumped out only to be crashed into by the dark tabby with yellow eyes. He stumbled, regained his footing and dashed off. He tripped over roots and rocks, twisting his paw and gaining scratches.

I'm not going out like this! He thought as he spotted a raging river in front of him. Suddenly, claws caught his side and sent him into the river. Too weak to do anything…he let himself sink and his vision blackened. The last thing he saw were gaping jaws coming down on him.

Well…it was nice knowing ya world.

And he blacked out.

Thistlestar strutted into camp, smirking. Tigerclaw and Darkstripe followed, also proud. Frostfur peered out of the nursery to see who had come back and eyed them warily before retreating.

After dismissing the other two, he waltzed over to Spottedleaf's den. "Spottedleaf!" He called as he walked in, still smirking. The dark tortoiseshell was curled up in her nest, looking so small. She scrambled to her paws however, as he entered.

"Y-yes?" She asked, nervously backing away as he advanced on her.

"Remember how you thought that orange kittypet might be the prophecy savior?" She nodded, eyes wide. "Well, it was a load of shit. He just drowned in the river. He isn't worth anything. I told you: Kittypets are weak."

And with that he flicked his tail under her chin and left. Spottedleaf looked after him, trembling.

What has he done?

River Ripple had been sleeping among his nest of reeds when he heard yowling and then a splash. Usually, he was used to saving the ThunderClan cats from drowning in the river, so on instinct he quickly got to his paws with a stretch and padded out to the shore. He spotted Thistlestar and his two cronies walking away, laughing about something.

River Ripple rolled his eyes. Just like Thistlestar didn't like him much, the silver tom's feelings were mutual back at the ThunderClan leader. He jumped into the river, diving deep down, searching for any cats and spotted…a ginger kittypet.

He quickly swam to him and grabbed his collar. He resurfaced and set the young tom on the shore before he started to pump the water out of his chest. After a while, he coughed up water and passed out again. But…he was alive was the important thing.

Looking around, River Ripple wondered what to do. Where to take him? He couldn't take care of him. He wasn't a healer and he didn't know how to care for young cats. RiverClan, maybe? No. SkyClan! He knew Skystar needed more warriors and maybe, just maybe, if they healed this kit up and gave him a chance he could prove himself to be a warrior. After all, he had just escaped Thistlestar and his two lackeys. A hard feat for any intruders.

He gently picked the tom up again and swam the river before slinking carefully through the ThunderClan territory to get to SkyClan's territory.

Tall Shadow loved going on the evening patrol or anywhere at night. She was good at stalking and easily blended in of course. Except for her bright green eyes. The sun had long set and they had finally reached the ThunderClan border. The last one to check before heading home. Her brother had a squirrel in his jaws while Rainswept Flower had a vole. Tall Shadow had yet to catch something.

Just as they started marking their border along ThunderClan's, a cat raced towards them with something in his jaws. Tall Shadow knew who it was even before he came into view. His fishy scent and green eyes were obvious.

"River Ripple? Hi! What's up?" Moon Shadow asked. "It's the middle of the night, buddy." Tall Shadow rolled her eyes as River Ripple reached them and set down an injured kittypet. He looked small and pitiful, his fur wet and claw marks all over him. One of his front paws was twisted.

"Just delivering a cat in need," River Ripple meowed, drawing in slow breaths to calm his heartbeat from his run. "Thistlestar attacked him and he almost drowned but I saved him."

Rainswept Flower's blue eyes were wide in horror as she stared down at the young cat. "Oh, StarClan…"

"Okay, let's get him back to camp. Cloud Spots and Dappled Pelt will help him," Tall Shadow meowed and led them all back to camp.

Gray Wing woke up to voices outside and peered up at the sky through the gap in the warriors' den. What the…it's not even dawn yet! What's going on? He stumbled out of the den to see his Clanmates crowded around the medicine den. Has Bright Stream kitted yet? He thought worriedly. Cloud Spots said she wasnt due until a moon, so what was going on.

It was then as he pushed his way through the crowd that if it had to do with Bright Stream, she would be in the nursery. So it was definitely something else if River Ripple's appearance was anything to go by. He only visited each moon and he already did his moonly visit.

"What's going on?" He asked Turtle Tail.

"They found an injured kittypet kit. Thistlestar tried to kill him but River Ripple rescued him." Gray Wing's eyes widened as Jagged Peak brushed against him, repeating his question. Turtle Tail explained it again.

"A kittypet?" He asked, bewildered. "What was he doing in the forest anyway?"

"What's Skystar got to say about it?" Gray Wing asked.

"Well, you know how he is about kittypets. Ever since he met Bumble and realized she could never be interested in the wild life he assumed all kittypets were the same," Turtle Tail meowed. "He'll probably send him back home once he's healed up."

It was true. When they had first arrived, Turtle Tail had befriended a kittypet named Bumble. She had visited them sometimes but never seemed comfortable in the wild.

Skystar pushed his way out of the medicine den. "Everyone, go back to bed. We will discuss the kittypet more in the morning." There were grumbling protests but everyone obliged and dispersed. Skystar dipped his head to River Ripple. "You should stay. I don't like the idea of you going through ThunderClan again and it's very late anyway."

"Very well," River Ripple agreed, dipping his head back.

"I'll make you a nest in the warriors' den!" Gray Wing offered. As he went to collect fresh moss from their supply they kept tucked away in a crevice behind the medicine den, Gray Wing wondered about the kittypet's fate. And what was he even doing all the way out here? There's something different about him that's for sure.