A/N - Just a few missing scenes from Loner's Wild

(Set after chapter 5 of Loner's Wild)

As Littlepaw crept back across the ShadowClan boundary lines far away from where most cats patrolled, he slowed down and started moving cautiously amidst the short field grass.

Brokenstar had brought rogues from the houses into the camp to bolster his leadership, and most clan cats didn't bother treating them as kin, which came with the unfortunate side effect of no one keeping an eye on them, which led to them wandering around doing their own thing – oftentimes disguised as "under Brokenstar's orders," which no one believed.

Still, it wouldn't be wise to get caught by any of them, especially since Brokenstar wanted every cat monitored to avoid potential coups against him.

Littlepaw felt his lip curl up from the herbs he was carrying with instinctive distaste.

He passed by some familiar landmarks and slowed down even more as he saw the camp boundary come into view. He relaxed slightly, glad to be home – such as it was – again.

"And where have you been?"

Littlepaw was thankful that the herbs he was carrying gagged his yelp, but he still leapt several inches into the air in surprise at the sudden low growl.

A dark ginger molly emerged from the grass in front of him, emerald eyes narrowed to slits. Littlepaw tried to remember her name, and wished he had Rusty's skill with names at the moment. He blinked as the loner's name triggered something familiar, and he realized the rogue standing in front of him was named Red, after the dark rustic color of her pelt, he surmised.

Littlepaw collected himself and raised his brows, before lifting his chin to show her the herbs he was carrying, and prevented him from answering.

Red snorted. "Of course." She glanced over her shoulder towards the camp for a moment, before turning back to Littlepaw, jerking her chin. "Well, get on then. I suspect the clan will need those before long."

Littlepaw stared at her in surprise and she bared her teeth at him and hissed.

He wisely fled back to camp.

Runningnose sorted through the herbs Littlepaw had placed in front of him appreciatively, nodding. "I will have to thank that loner next time I see him for these. They'll be invaluable in the coming months."

Littlepaw glanced out towards the camp, then back at his mentor, frowning. "Why? Do you expect trouble?"

Runningnose glanced up at him with a frown, then looked back down at the herbs. He shook his head with a sigh. "It's just the way things are." He flicked his tail towards the camp proper. "You've seen the way things are, the way our kits and apprentices are treated."

Littlepaw grimaced. He'd seen the results of Brokenstar's… training and treatment of the clan cats too many times for comfort. He was honestly surprised that he hadn't been put through the same regiment, and he suspected that Brokenstar considered medicine cats useless in a fight.

"You aren't useless," Runningnose meowed with a chuckle, startling him. "Give yourself some credit, at least."

"As a medicine cat, sure," Littlepaw replied. "But as a fighter? Probably."

Runningnose chuckled. "Well, you're young, and there's always plenty more to learn down the road, wherever it may lead."

(Set after chapter 9 of Loner's Wild)

Littlecloud glanced at his mentor as they made their way back towards ShadowClan territory.

"I got my name, but I don't…feel like a medicine cat," he murmured, ears turning as various sounds rose from the moor around them. He didn't know how WindClan could hunt in such a place. Practice, he surmised, same as adapting to ShadowClan's hunting grounds.

Runningnose's chuckle broke into his thoughts and he looked at his mentor curiously. The older cat met his gaze and smiled slightly, whiskers lifting. "Well, if you don't feel like you've earned it now, you can always go back and do it again."

Littlecloud tilted his head. "You can do that?"

"Of course. Cats change their names all the time." The rheumy amber eyes grew distant. "You're not the first cat unsure of themselves the first time around, so if it bothers you that much, you can reaffirm yourself later." Runningnose lifted his head to stare up at the night sky and its swirls of stars. "StarClan might not be listening to us at the moment, but that doesn't mean we have lost faith in them."

Littlecloud frowned, ears going flat as his tail drooped. "Might it be that they're displeased with us about Brokenstar?"

Runningnose let out a gusty sigh, head hanging low as if he carried a heavy weight around his neck. "Maybe," he meowed lowly. "We didn't speak up when he lied about Yellowfang. We didn't stand up for ourselves when he took in those rogues. We couldn't drive him out with our own power…" He gazed bleakly at Littlecloud. "ShadowClan has fallen so far in such a short amount of time, hasn't it?"

The little tabby tom gazed at his mentor and slowly shook his head. "Things may be dark now, but I'm sure we'll rise again."

"One can only hope," Runningnose rasped, and the two continued home.

(Set somewhere after chapter 12 of Loner's Wild)

Snag and Red sat stiffly in the center of ShadowClan's camp, keenly aware of the clan's eyes on them. The air was thick with tension, and a few quiet whispers buzzed around them, too low to be heard.

Nightstar sat on a stump, gazing down at the two ginger cats.

"So," he meowed, loud enough for the whole camp to hear. "You two wish to join our clan as full-fledged clan cats?"

"We do," Snag meowed. He swallowed hard. "I know we were rogues that ran with Brokenstar-" Hisses broke out throughout the assembled cats at the dead leader's name, which made Snag twitch. "-but after seeing what he did, we want to be better. If you'll have us."

Red glanced around at the ShadowClan cats, seeing only hard or neutral faces. A small tabby caught her eye, and she was surprised to see that he was looking at her, a thoughtful expression on his face. He noticed her looking at him, and his face became unreadable.

A shudder ran down her spine and she fought to stay still.

"Loathe as I am to admit it, we are rather short-pawed at the moment," Nightstar sighed, shoulders slumping. "ShadowClan needs every cat it can get, and everyone here has worked hard to get where they are, and these two are no exception."

He lifted his head to the skies. "By StarClan's grace, I strip you of your rogue titles, and grant to you the rank of Warrior of ShadowClan." He looked at Snag. "Henceforth, you shall be known as Jaggedtooth." He looked at Red. "And you as Russetfur. May your claws stay sharp and strong for the clan you fight for."

The clearing fell silent, and the two warriors shifted their paws awkwardly.

"Jaggedtooth! Russetfur! Jaggedtooth! Russetfur!"

Everyone stared at the little tabby tom who was chanting the names of the two rogues, blue eyes bright. Exchanging looks, the rest of the clan followed suit.

That was as far as the clan was willing to go, and most then returned to their clan duties.

Russetfur shook out her pelt and glanced at Jaggedtooth, who was mouthing his name.

"It fits, doesn't it?" she teased, and he glanced at her before rolling his eyes and ambled off.

"Congratulations," came a quiet mew, and she shifted to see the little tabby approaching her.

"Littlecloud, right?" Russetfur meowed. She dipped her head, which surprised him. "Thank you."

"I-I mean, it's customary to welcome new warriors like that, so I was…was just…" he stammered, and Russetfur shook her head with a sad smile.

"Don't worry about it." She looked around the camp with fresh green eyes. "I understand their wariness and reluctance."

Littlecloud nodded slowly. "If you're sure…" He then nodded. "If you need help with anything, just let me know." He hesitated, then bowed his head low again. "Thank you."

Russetfur blinked in surprise. "Whatever for?"

"For not turning me in back then."

She frowned, thinking hard, before her ears warmed. "It was nothing, really," she mewed gruffly.

Littlecloud gazed at her for a few moments, then got to his paws. "I wish you the best of luck. I'm sure you'll do great things for our clan."

"Not much else I can do, but I'll do what I can," she mewed. Littlecloud bowed low one last time and headed off, leaving behind a bemused former rogue.