Riverstorm finished setting up patrols, and then joined his. He was leading a border patrol to investigate who the rulers of the rogue group were. Redfoot, Smallfoot, Woodshadow, and Crowpaw had joined it.

Riverstorm led the cats out of camp, and the five of them shot off into the woods, determined to find the source of the rogues. They slowed to a halt once they reached the border, not at all eager to step across. Suddenly, a black and grey cat, muscular and fast, hared across the border.

Riverstorm snarled. "What are you doing here? Are you one of the rogues?"

"Sure, I guess you could say that," he mewed, seeming unbothered.

"Get off our territory!" The deputy growled, and the rest of his cats stood shoulder to shoulder, glaring at the rogue.

"I'm Shadow, by the way," he mewed, licking a paw and drawing it over his ear, his fur flat and unruffled. "And you better scram before I call my leader."

Riverstorm exchanged an excited glance with Woodshadow. "That's why we are here. Can you fetch him?"

Shadow frowned. "What makes you think it's a tom?"

But he turned tail and disappeared.

Crowpaw was staring after him with wide eyes. "Woodshadow, I'm scared," she mewed, her white paw quivering.

Woodshadow gave her a comforting lick. "It's going to be alright," he mewed.

Crowpaw hid behind him as Shadow came back, another cat right behind him.

It was an unfamiliar black-and-white she-cat. Her pelt was covered in so many scratches that it was hard to tell what color she was.

Riverstorm stepped forward. He was glad he was slightly taller and more muscular than the leader of the rogues.

"Why have you been trespassing on SilverClan's territory?" he growled. "And what's your name?"

"I'm Scar," she growled, her voice deep and rumbling. "And I can do whatever I want. You can't stop me. I don't give a mousetail what you think about your Clan's territory.."

Riverstorm hissed at her, flinching at her scars. "Well, you need to stop. It's getting boring."

Scar sat down and picked at one of her claws. "Or what?"

"Or we're going to have to fight you."

Scar raised an eyebrow. "Mhm...but we'll overpower you."

Riverstorm hissed at her. "How many of you are there?" he asked, hoping his voice didn't shake.

Scar stood up. "A lot. Probably more than in your Clan."

Riverstorm sighed. "Well, then, thanks for the information. We'd better go."

"You really think you're leaving without a fight?" Scar said, and with a flick of Shadow's tail, four more cats raced over to join them. The SilverClan patrol was outnumbered.

Riverstorm flicked his tail over his back and murmured to Crowpaw. "Go home and bring reinforcements! Quickly!"

The black she-cat raced away as fast as she could.

Redfoot launched himself at Scar. Hissing, they rolled away, and another tom joined their fight. Shadow and another she-cat leaped at Woodshadow, but the expert fighter dodged them both and gave both several scratches.

Riverstorm tackled two more rogues, and the white she-cat bit down on his tail. He lashed it out of her grip, pinned her down, then jumped up as the tom leaped at him. He lay over both of them, and it took all his energy to keep them down. The white she-cat thrashed wildly.

"Patches, help me!" she groaned.

"Snowfall! I'm pinned too!" the tom tried to wriggle away. Knowing what Riverstorm had to do, he bit down on the tom's neck with a heavy heart. Patches went limp and Riverstorm kicked his body away and fell onto Snowfall. She raced away from him, yowling as he scratched her. Suddenly, Shadow saw the dead tom.

"Patches! No!" he yowled.

He spun around and started towards Riverstorm, who backed away.

"How could you kill my brother!" he cried.

The deputy let out a yowl. "Take that as your warning to leave our territory!"

Suddenly the black and grey tom threw himself at Riverstorm.

Riverstorm backed away further, then leaped.

But Shadow was angry and was a great fighter. He jumped out of the way and tackled Riverstorm, who flipped over.

"Get out of here," Riverstorm muttered through gritted teeth. "Or the same will happen to you!"

Shadow wrenched himself out of the blue-furred tom's grasp and raced away. Riverstorm looked around, and to his horror, saw Scar standing over Redfoot, who lay limp, but his chest moved very faintly.

Riverstorm flung himself at the scarred warrior, who turned. To his surprise, she didn't want to fight him, but turned so her shoulders got most of his attack. Finally, she yowled. "Retreat!"

As she ran away, Riverstorm turned to Redfoot, his heart in his throat.

"Redfoot! Redfoot! Can you hear me?"

Redfoot blinked and stirred slightly. "Riverstorm?"

"I'm here," Riverstorm mewed. "Can you-"

"Riverstorm!"

The deputy whipped his head around at the cry. There was Crowpaw, picking her way to them, leading warriors to them.

"Firesong! Skybright! Ashstar! Breezefang! Thank StarClan you're here - a little late though," he added reproachfully.

Ashstar bounded towards him. "What happened?" she mewed worriedly, leaning down to sniff Redfoot.

"Long story," Riverstorm sighed. "We need to get Woodshadow and Redfoot home."

Breezefang and Skybright gently lifted Redfoot and staggering slightly, and padded back to camp. Meanwhile, Smallfoot, Firesong, and Crowpaw supported Woodshadow.

Ashstar began to walk back to camp.

"Tell me what happened," she ordered.

Riverstorm sighed, his wounds starting to sting.

"We came up to the border. A black and grey cat, Shadow, met us there. He told us that his leader could meet us, and we waited.

It was a black-and-white she-cat with scars all over her body, her name was Scar. We talked, but she was reluctant to give any information. We turned to leave, but they attacked. We sent Crowpaw to get reinforcement. It was two on one, and everyone was outnumbered. I was attacked by a grey tom with splotches and a white she-cat. I had no choice but to kill the tom. I'm sorry, Ashstar, but I had no choice," he mewed wearily.

Ashstar dipped her head in understanding. "Very well. Go on."

"Shadow attacked me, furious because I killed him, because apparently he was his brother, but I managed to chase him off. I then saw that Scar was standing over Redfoot, and I rushed to fight her, despite my wounds. Surprisingly, she just turned away and ran, calling her cats to retreat. Then you guys came."

Ashstar sighed. "This Scar seems weird. Why would she nearly kill Redfoot but not you?"

"I don't know," Riverstorm groaned.

By then they had reached the camp.

Stormheart ran to greet Riverstorm, their two kits following. "Are you okay?" she screeched.

Riverstorm nuzzled his mate. "I'm fine, just some scratches," he lied. "I'll get them treated."

Smokepaw and Hollypaw ran up to him next. "Dad! Did you beat those rouges?"

Riverstorm bent down to touch noses with them. "Yes, we showed them!" he mewed, then with a final nod, he padded to the medicine den.

Willownose was treating Redfoot, pasting cobwebs on his shoulders. Goldenstripe swept past Woodshadow to Riverstorm. He stood still as she examined him, then waited as she grabbed some leaves and trickled some juice into his scratches.

"You should be fine," she mewed. "Now go get some rest."

Riverstorm limped past Mapleshade and Blazepelt, who were sharing tongues beside the den.

He turned in his nest, trying to get comfortable. He couldn't forget Scar's stare as she looked challengingly and sort of longingly at him. Finally, his eyes closed and he fell into a deep sleep.