My clan is strong and healthy. thought Laststar , her eyes flickering shut as she baked in the sunshine contently. Suddenly, a cool breeze blew in her face and she opened her eyes and glanced around the TimberClan clearing. She leapt to her paws as border patrol sent out at dawn padded into camp.

"Anything to report?"She questioned the leader of the patrol, a bulky gray tom known as Cloudfeather. She knew that there was always something to report when on her patrol.

But to Laststar's surprise , Cloudfeather shook his head, "No, nothing new." From behind the gray tom, a pale cream apprentice mumbled, "The clans are quiet."

Laststar shook her head and thought, that's awful strange..,.,"Completely quiet?" Laststar demanded, feeling her russet fur bristle along her spine in unease.

"Yes." responded Pearpaw, her green eyes widening from distress "that's unusual , isn't it, Cloudfeather?" the young cat quirked her mentor , who gave a hesitant nod "Yes."

Laststar muttered, "Well then, we will start sending out nighttime patrols." she rasped, then called, " Ferretnose!"

Almost as soon as she had called her deputy's name, she was at Laststar's side with pricked ears and a chin tilted high with clan pride, "Yes?"

"The clans are much to quiet." she told her deputy, "I want you to send out night patrols."

Ferretnose dipped her head politely, "Okay, Laststar."

Clloudfeather marched across the clearing, head and tail held high, and halted beside the fresh kill pile, plucking a mouse if the top and going to settle down by the warriors.