Tigerleaf crouched down against the cold ground, keeping himself out of view. How dare Pineclan send a cat out into out territory! He thought. Looking at her, it wasn't anyone he had seen before, and it definitely wasn't Leafstar, Pineclan's leader. This was a white and gray tabby, the opposite of Leafstar's dark black fur. The she-cat let out a frightened meow.

"Starpaw, where are you?"

Oh no. Starpaw was Leafstar's son, and the most well-behaved apprentice in Pineclan. He had seen him at the last gathering, sitting beside a warrior. He was named after his black pelt dappled with silver spots.

"Starpaw!" she cried again. Tigerleaf wasn't sure wether he should reveal himself and offer to help find the apprentice, or confront her about crossing the border.

"Tigerleaf?" He turned around to find his apprentice, Hailpaw, watching the she-cat with wide eyes. "Who's that?" he asked.

"I don't know." Tigerleaf turned to him. "Stay here," he ordered. Hailpaw nodded and crouched against the grass. Tigerleaf took a deep breath and headed over towards the she-cat.

"Excuse me?" he asked. The she-cat turned around and she jumped back in alarm.

"Great Glimmerclan," she said. "Were you hiding there the whole time? Wait, I'm in Mossclan's territory, aren't I? Whoops."

"Yes, I have, actually. What are you doing in our border?"

"I'm Crystalpool, Pineclan's deputy. Leafstar's son, Starpaw, has gone missing. Have you seen him?"

"Black pelt, dappled with silver spots?" he said.

"Yes! Have you seen him?" she cried, looking at him desperately. Tigerleaf shook his head. Crystalpool looked behind her suddenly.

"Leafstar's coming!" she cried, as Tigerleaf only just noticed Leafstar's dark pelt hiding among the long grass.