Chapter 4

Thin walked out of her hole. She yawned as small rays of sunlight warmed her fur. She'd slept in a little but not too much. She saw White emerge from one hole so she must've slept in, too. White trotted over.

"Good morning, Thin!" she said.

"Good morning," Thin responded. She hated the nickname more when she heard it aloud.

"Storm and Gold are out scouting the area around the thicket if you were wondering. But, I actually have a small question if it isn't too much to ask..." White trailed off.

Thin sat down and curled her tail around her front paws. "What's the question?"

"Well, I was wondering... Maybe could we join your group? It seems a little small like ours and everyone seems to be getting along well."

Thin nodded. "Sure. We could use some extra cats."

White's face lit up. "Thank you so much, Thin!"

"Anytime," Thin replied.

White walked off torwards Maple and Pine to tell them the news. Thin couldn't see Storm-flight anywhere. He was probably gaurding the thicket.

Pine looked happy as White told him but Maple hissed quietly. Thin thought it was a hiss at least.

Suddenly, Storm and Gold burst into camp. They had a few wounds but nothing bad. They rushed to Thin.

"Thin," Storm said urgently. "We were out scouting and a group of cats attacked us randomly."

"How many?" Thin asked.

"Only five," Storm said. "But they're all very good fighters."

"We'll have to have a talk with them," Thin said. "How close?"

"We were attacked at the Pine," Gold said.

"The Pine..." Thin thought for a second. The Pine was about twenty cat-lengths away. "Hmm. Tell me if they get closer. For now, go to Chestnut to get your wounds checked. We don't want them getting infected."

"Of course not," Gold agreed. Storm dipped his head and flicked his tail signaling for Gold to follow him.

They shouldn't be much of a threat yet. They aren't very close. Thin thought. We'll be fine.

Until they burst into camp and attack us! She worried in reply to her thoughts.

Like in my dream... White said I knew about the attack...

We need to talk to them now. Before it's too late.

Chestnut walked up to Thin. Cloud was surprisingly following close behind her. "Cloud is practically fully healed," she said. "But go easy on that leg, Cloud." She turned to him.

"Yeah, Thin," he said. "I can go back to hunting but not fighting yet."

"That's great news!" Thin said happily. "You should go back to Storm and Gold, Chestnut."

Chestnut nodded and walked away.

"You can go hunting with Wave this afternoon," Thin told Cloud. "Right now, we need to go talk to that group of cats."

"I can come with you!" he said.

"No," she replied. "It could come down to a fight."

"Fine."

"Thank you."

Cloud walked away and Thin called Wave, Pine, Maple, and Storm-flight to come with her to talk to these cats who had been found.

***

When they finally found the cats, it was almost mid-day.

This stood sraight with her tail held high and walked over to the small group of cats. "What are you doing here?" she asked.

The lead cat hissed. "We can go whereever we want."

"You attacked two of my cats."

"They were threatening us."

"Oh, really? How?"

"They hissed at us!"

Thin growled. "That gives you no right to hurt them. This is our territory, cat."

"My name is Fade," the cat said. "And this territory is mine."

Maple growled but Thin signaled for her not to do anything to the group of cats. "If I am not mistaken, this is our hunting area and therefore our territory."

Fade hissed. "This forest is mine. And if you have any problems then take it to the mid-forest on the next new moon tonight. Like all the other cats."

Thin hissed. "Fine."

"Until then, you'll have to deal with us." Fade walked off with her group. Thin was glad it hadn't come down to a fight.

***

The cats got back to the thicket and Thin walked up to White to tell her the news.

White growled. "So they won't back down?"

"Nope. Apparently we need to take the problem to the mid-forest."

"That's pretty far."

"Fifty cat-lengths isn't far," she said sarcastically.

White batted her. "Yeah yeah. No need to be like that."

"Anyways new moon isn't until tomorrow so I'm going to get some rest."

"Ok, Thin. I'll set up a hunting group."

Thin walked to her hole and lay down. She soon fell into a dreamless sleep.