Coyotestar opened her eyes. A soft, morning, light seeped into her den. She looked around to see that her mate, Brightflame, was nowhere to be seen. She sat up and stretched. He must've gone on the dawn patrol. She shrugged and made sure her fur was nice and neat before walking out of the den. Rosethorn and Mudstone were sharing a bass by the Scouts den. Stormshadow and Foxfire were sharing tongues. A familiar bright orange pelt caught her eye. Coyotestar smiled at him and walked over. "Hey, you." She purred. "Morning Sleepyhead." He grinned mischievously. She leaned against his side and he licked her ear affectionately. "You should've woken me!" Coyotestar protested. "You needed sleep. That battle with Aspenclan really took a lot out of you." He looked at her in concern, "And don't try to deny it. I still see you limping on that back leg of yours. Even Mudstone's taking it easy." "His wounds aren't infected are they?" Coyotestar's eyes darkened with worry.

"No. He just wrenched his shoulder. Whisperstone says he'll be better in a few days so long as he doesn't push it." Flamebright assured her. "What about the rest of the injured cats?" She asked, "Any infected wounds? Is Whisperstone low on herbs?" "You worry to much." Brightflame laughed, "And the dawn patrol brought back cobwebs." "It's my job to worry!" Coyotestar snapped. "Relax. We got this. You can take the day off." Brightflame pressed his muzzle against her cheek. Coyotestar really wanted to take the day off, but she'd promised Sandshadow she'd go with her and the apprentices on a hunting patrol. Unlike the other leaders, Coyotestar was more active. She patrolled and hunted with her clanmates as if she wasn't leader. And when she made a decision, she included her warriors and always considered their advise. "I can't. I promised Sandshadow I'd go hunting with her and the apprentices." Coyotestar meowed. "Okay, but take it easy." Brightflame meowed. She nodded and padded over to Palefrost, her de

Just a quick announcement, Warriors in this are referred to as scouts and Medicine cats are referred to as Healers.) She nodded and padded over to Palefrost, her deputy. he dipped his head when she padded over. "Any news?" Coyotestar asked, sitting down. "Rosethorn picked up some rouge scent by Moonlit Cliffs. She wanted to talk about it with you." Palefrost mewed. "I'll talk to her later." Coyotestar responded, "Anything on the Aspenclan border?" Palefrost shook his head, "No. They've renewed their scent markers, but they haven't crossed the border." "Good." Coyotestar snarled. In the last battle with Aspenclan, she'd lost a life. With luck, she wouldn't loose another one for a long time. "Sandshadow's waiting for you. Aloepaw's going crazy so you'd better hurry!" Palefrost purred. As she bounded over to Sandshadow, she heard him call after her, "Oh and take it easy!" "About time you showed up." Sandshadow purred, "Come on you two! And stop getting the prey pile dusty! The elders will have your tails

"Sorry Sandshadow." Shadowpaw meowed. He was Aloepaw's little brother. A bit more responsible than the wild she-cat. "Let's try the tidal pools. We might find a crab or two." Sandshadow suggested. "You choose, I'm just here to observe." Coyotestar meowed. The she-cat nodded, sounding a bit more sure of herself when she spoke "Tidal Pools then." "I like the tidal pools, they're so peaceful." Aloepaw purred. "Until you run in jumping about and shattering that peace!" Shadowpaw teased. "I do not." She fluffed up her fur. "Do too!" Coyotestar purred in amusement. "Hush you two, or you'll scare all the prey from here to Moonclan's territory." Sandblood scolded. "Now let's go." Sandblood led Coyotestar, and the apprentices to the Tidalpools. They passed the route to the upper moonlit cliffs and lower moonlit cliffs. Coyotestar watched as the apprentices split up to check the tidal pools. Coyotestar and Sandblood split up to find some straying crabs or sand pipers. When the sun began to set, Coyotestar

headed back. She gazed in amazement at the apprentices. At the apprentice's paws lay 3 crabs, 5 small fish, and a sand piper. Sandshadow carried a piper in her jaws. Two crabs lay at the ginger tabby's paws. Coyotestar had caught three sand pipers and few small fish. "Sparrowsong will love this!" Aloepaw puffed her chest proudly, "Then I'll clean her nest and help her with ticks. I learn a lot from her." "Yes, I'm sure she'd like that." Sandshadow purred. "I'll help Mousespots." Shadowpaw promised, "She always talks about being a warrior and how she used to fight all the time." "Yes, she was a formidable warrior." Coyotestar recalled, "Did you know she trained Brightflame? I was made a warrior before him because he'd always hide from his duties. I was the one who convinced him to train so he could be a warrior." "Really!" Aloepaw laughed, "Ooo I'm going to tease him about that forever!"

"You didn't hear it from me." Coyotestar purred. "Come on. Let's head back."The apprentices struggled to carry all their prey but managed. Thank Starclan they ran into Mudstone and Pricklerose who were out on a walk trying to extresize Mustone's shoulder. As the cats set their prey on prey pile Sparrowsong let out a purr, "I haven't seen this much prey in moons!" Aloepaw ran over with a sand piper in her jaws, "I caught this for you! And I can do you ticks while you eat. And after I'll clean your bedding." "You cleaned my bedding and got rid of my ticks yesterday, I'll be fine for another day." Sparrowsong smiled at the apprentice. "But I want to here more stories!" Aloepaw whined. "I'll still tell you a story." Sparrowsong promised earning a pleased purr from Aloepaw. "I brought this for Mousespots." Shadowpaw dipped his head to Sparrowsong and dropped a crab at her paws "She'll love that. Also Coyotestar, she wanted to talk to you." Sparrowsong told Coyotestar and headed off into the elders den with A

Aloepaw

Coyotestar followed her mother into the den. Mousespots was pacing on one side of the den. Her ears pricked as she saw Coyotestar, "Coyotestar! You have to make me a warrior again! I am as strong as ever and I'm growing restless in this den." Sparrowsong gave Coyotestar a meaningful look. Coyotestar nodded, "I'll think about it." "Please! I can't bear to spend another night in here! I want to be running with the warriors and hunting for my clanmates." Mousespots begged. "Alright. I'll make the announcement now." Coyotestar dipped her head and walked out of the den. Leaping onto the oyster rock she summoned her clanmates with a commanding yowl. "Let all cats old enough to swim and hunt for their clanmates.. gather here beneath the oyster rock to hear what I have to say." Coyotestar sat down and waited for her clanmates to gather. "As most of you know, Mousespots was a powerful warrior. Cats from all clan respected her. Yet, her strength and energy has not faded. She wants to be a warrior again, so she shall

I expect none of you to treat her any differently. That is all I have to say." Coyotestar dipped her head to Mousespots and leaped down. "My child, I fear you've made the wrong decision. Mousespots is not even remotely as strong as she used to be." Sparrowsong meowed sadly, but before Coyotestar could ask what she meant, Sparrowsong was already heading back over to the elders den with Aloepaw. Worried that she'd made the wrong decision, Coyotestar headed over to Mousespots who was talking with Brightflame. "Mousespots, Sparrowsong said you weren't as strong as you told me you were, is this true?" "Sparrowsong worries too much." Mousespots meowed. "Hey, it must be a family trait." Brightflame laughed earning himself a glare from Coyotestar. "I promise, I'll be fine." Mousespots promised. "If you're sure..." Coyotestar meowed, now becoming unsure of herself. "Never been surer." Mousespots repeated, "Also, Pricklerose wanted to speak with you." Coyotestar nodded and headed over to the young she-cat.

"Hey," Coyotestar meowed to the ginger she-cat, 'You wanted to talk to me," "Yes, this morning on the dawn patrol, I smelled some rouges. Based on the prints, one adult and two kits." Pricklerose meowed, "I would've told you sooner but.." "I wasn't available, that's my fault." Coyotestar nodded, "I'll take a patrol. Do you want to come?' Pricklerose nodded, "Can Mudstone come." Coyotestar nodded, Mudstone was getting close to Pricklerose, even though he had a mate and two kits. She'd seen how this had hurt Fawnstripe. She shrugged, this didn't concern her, "Ask him. If his shoulder is hurting, leave him. We can take someone else while he rests." Pricklerose nodded and headed over to the warriors den. Coyotestar went over to Palefrost, "Palefrost. I'm leading a patrol to the lower moonlit cliffs. Do you want to come?" "Of course. When are you leaving?" Palefrost nodded. "A nightfall. They would've been caught during the day." Coyotestar responded.

Palefrost nodded again, "Yes. Even rouges have brains after all, whether or not they use it is up to them." "Should just be a family passing through, we may not have to fight." Coyotestar hoped, her pelt still stung from the scratches and bites from Aspenclan. Aspenclan were ferocious warriors, they'd fought hard. Palefrost dipped his head, "I'd suggest eating before we go. We'll need our strength." "Yeah, good idea." The two cats headed over to the prey pile and plucked a crab and a fish, then settled by the leaders den and ate. Mudstone was talking to Pricklerose by the camp entrance, over by the nursery, Fawnstripe glanced at them, hope fading from her eyes. Stormshadow brushed against the she-cat and sent a fierce glare at Mudstone who missed it completely. The two she-cats went back into the nursery with the kits. Coyotestar sighed, feeling a pang of sympathy for her old friend. Fawnstripe and Mudstone had been mates for a while, the kits hadn't been enough to keep Mudstone around.

Fawnstripe had grown more and more hopeless, Stormshadow was furious, she'd said Mudstone needed to be less greedy and spend more time with his mate and kits. Coyotestar watched in disbelief as Mudstone got up and headed over to the nursery. He tried to enter but Stormshadow drove him out with a hiss, he ducked as she swiped at his face with claws unsheathed. Stormshadow narrowed her eyes, "You got lucky. I'd tear you to shreds if you weren't my clanmate. It's to late to get to see Fawnstripe. She's moved on and doesn't want you anymore. It's not like you ever wanted her, jerk!" Sheathing her claws, Stormstreak slid back into the nursery. Coyotestar felt a rush of pride for her friends control, Stormshadow was one of the fiercest and bravest scouts in the den, she'd never held back what she wanted to say. Palefrost had seen it too, "Wow. Mudstone's finally gotten what he deserves. He's messed with the wrong she cat." "Yeah, Stormshadow will shred him when she gets the chance" Coyotestar replied.

Mudstone cast one more look at the nursery and then walked away with his head held high. Coyotestar snorted and got up, "Mudstone, Pricklerose, let's go!" The two cats bounded over and the patrol headed off. The moon was high in the sky by the time the cats got to the lower moonlit cliffs. Up ahead, Coyotestar could hear voices. "They'll be here soon! I can smell them" A voice growled, Coyotestar's ears twitched, were the cats talking about them? She crouched down and peaked out from behind a rock. She saw a young, silver tabby she-cat and a reddish and black tom kit, and a silver tabby she-kit practicing the hunters crouch. 'They're just hunting' Coyotestar thought, pleased. Signaling for her patrol to follow, she approached the cats. At once, the mother's head shot up, her eyes wide, "Luna, Solar! Hide! They've found us!" The two kits dashed into a bush. "Who are you and what are you doing on Tidalclan territory?" Coyotestar demanded. "Hunting." The she-cat responded, a little too quickly.

"I'm just trying to feed my kits." She persisted. "We have our own kits to feed!" Mudstone snarled, unsheathing his claws. Palefrost silenced him with a glare, "While we appreciate your drive to protect your kits, as Mudstone said, Tidalclan has kits of it's own that need to be fed." "Then... what if we joined you?" The she-cat offered, "I would hunt for you and my kits would be loyal to you and only you.. Please, We just want to live." "Hmmm," Coyotestar narrowed her eyes thoughtfully, "What do you think Palefrost?" "I'm not sure if we can trust them. Besides, three more mouths to feed, but more hunters and fighters should Aspenclan attack again... I think we can keep an eye on them until we're sure we can trust them." Palefrost thought out loud. 'Great starclan, never put me through that again' Coyotestar thought amused. She turned to the other she-cat, her kits had left the safety of the bush and were standing with her.

"You may join us, but keep in mind. We'll be watching your every move." Coyotestar meowed. "Thank you! I'm called Nova." Nove smiled, she bent down to lick her kits ears. "We'll announce your arrival in the morning, if you still want to join. Meet us here at dawn." Coyotestar instructed. "Thank you, and we will!" Nove purred gratefully. "Come on, let's head back." Coyotestar turned to her clanmates and led the patrol back to camp. Brightflame greeted her, "What'd you find?" "A mother, and two kits were hunting. She asked to join our clan. We agreed, if she's there at dawn she can join, but we'll keep a close eye on her and her kits." Coyotestar meowed. "I don't like them, something seems off about them" Mudstone growled. "You've never liked loners." Birghtflame grinned, "Besides, she said we'd keep an eye on them." Mudstone growled, but didn't argue and headed over to the scouts den with Pricklerose.

Coyotestar and Brightflame headed over to their den and curled up beside each other to sleep. "Brightflame? Coyotestar asked, "Do you think I'm doing the right thing?" The reply was a soft snore. Coyotestar sighed and closed her eyes. But sleep was a long time coming.