A Border Meeting

     Back at camp cats bustled as they followed Ghoststar's orders to prepare for the rouge attack. Brambles were being woven into the camp wall and dens strengthened, mentors were out with their Apprentices refreshing and securing their fighting skills, warriors had mock battles with each other, and herbs were sorted and resorted. Ghoststar had spent her day weaving brambles into the dense foliage that made the camp wall. Her white paws stung from being pricked and there was a good scratch across her nose. She now sat in her den taking a break from the cold and physical exertion.
      For the most part she was satisfied with the work that was being done. The camp was looking stronger and more fit for defense, cats were beginning to refresh and solidify their battle moves. Still, Ghoststar couldn't help but worry. The snow had killed most all the herbs in the forest and their stocks were running low. She could only prey they would have enough to heal cats after a deadly battle with rouges. Not only that, but the snow also affected the prey pile. Hunting had been a tough job in the past moon and the cats had only caught enough to keep off the edge of hunger. Will we be strong enough to fight for our lives? "Ghoststar?"
      The white she-cat jumped at the sound of her name. Featherstorm stood there with a mouse between her jaws, ears pricked. She dropped it at her leader's paws and took a paw step back. "I didn't mean to startle you, I just thought you'd be hungry. We had a successful hunt today actually." The silver she-cat purred, giving her cold paws a lick. Ghoststar purred gratefully, taking a bite of the warm creature. It was refreshing to have something warm in her belly.
       "Thank you, Featherstorm. You've turned out to be a very good warrior." She praised, tucking her paws in tighter beneath her. Her thoughts were swamped with images of cats pelts being torn and screeching in the air. The snow drifted by lazily, chilling the air and giving no comfort to the worried cat. Featherstorm puffed up her chest at the compliment, then noticed her leader's anxious behavior.
        "Ghoststar, are you okay?" Her ears swiveled back as she asked, blue eyes filled with concern. Ghoststar was about to answer that she was fine when there was a yowl from the Nursery. The white she-cat was on her paws in a second. The rouges have attacked! They've gone straight for the Nursery! She bolted toward the den, ignoring the numbness of her paws. The buzzing of her nine lives filled her body with energy and she was ready to defend the expecting Dawnflight against any and all rouges that dared show their claws. She felt Featherstorm hard on her paws.
         "Dawnflight are you okay!?" Ghoststar growled as she pushed into the den, her white fur bristling and claws unsheathed. The ginger and white Queen lay on her side, her plump belly tensing then relaxing over and over again. She let out another painful wail. Ghoststar realized what was happening. There was no scent or sign of rouges. Dawnflight was going to have her kits. Now? Of all times? When we're waiting an attack! Ghoststar felt a new rise of anxiety but pushed it away.
        "Featherstorm, fetch Scorchtooth now!" She snapped, beginning to lick the pain stricken Queen on the head. "Shh, its okay. You're going to be fine." Dawnflight's eyes were filled with anguish as she claws the den's bedding and quivered with effort. Scorchtooth hurry! 

***

   Outside of camp Spade, Snakefang, and Thistlefur continued their patrol. Snakefang had been lucky to catch a squirrel and dug in the hard snow to bury it to fetch later. The air was chill and quiet, the only sound was the soft crunching of the cats as they padded on through the trees, shadows being dappled across their pelts as weak sunlight shone through the branches. Spade suddenly stopped when a familiar, yet foreign scent met his nose. Roseclan. It was too strong to just be a old border scent mark. This was fresh. There was a patrol nearby. His green eyes searched the thinner trees across the border, narrowing when he caught sight of calico, black, and ginger fur. 

   Three cats were chatting happily as they remarked the border, kicking up snow as they went along. Snakefang noticed Spade had stopped and padded over to him. "Whats the matter? Snow froze you solid?" His tone was slightly lighter than when they fought in camp. The brown tom flicked his nose ahead to where the Roseclan cats were. Snakefang followed his gesture to see them, and his hackles immediately rose. Thislefur came beside them as his clanmates watched with narrowed eyes. "They better not cross the border." 

     Snakefang recognized Almonddash, their deputy. He was taking his clanmates dangerously close to the thin line of scent that separated the two territories. 

   

    Almonddash lead his patrol at a trot through the snow. They mewed about a good hunt they had yesterday when suddenly he stopped, raising his thickly furred tail. "Wait..." His nose twitched and his eyes began to scan across the border. Fresh Twilightclan scent. The calico tom's heart began to thud as he imagined Darkmoon crouching in the thick brush in Twilightclan territory. 

   Tension crackled in the air.