"We're lost."

Scab and Heather stopped in their trek. The green trail had stopped at a gorse bush, where strange cats called Lightwillow and Wavestorm had attacked them for intruding. In result Heather had a nicked ear, and Scab had lost so much fur she looked like a skinned mouse. "Yeah, we are," Heather admitted. They had been walking since sunhigh, but Heather felt energized. The golden cat hadn't appeared in her dreams ever since Heather had told Scab about Brindlesong, and she had gotten as much sleep as possible to make up for her lost nights. "We might as well go and ask those weird cats for help," muttered Heather, flicking her tail. Scab glared at the ground, what was left of her fur twitching. "Come on, Scab! Maybe Brindlesong wanted us to find those cats!"
"I don't see why," snarled Scab. "But fine. At least until some of my pelt grows back." Heather stifled a mrow of amusement as Scab bounded off in the direction where the strange cats were staying.
"How dare you come into my father's territory!" A loud screech rang in the empty forest as a small cream she-cat hurled herself onto Heather. Scab's yowl sounded as well, and in the greenery Heather could see a gray cat grappling with her friend. Heather squirmed under the cat's grasp, and tried to shake her off her back. Tiny, sharp claws dug into her back fur. "What - are - you - doing?" Heather gasped as she finally threw the she-cat off her back. The cream she-cat stared defiantly back at Heather with her sparkly green eyes. "Get off our land!" she snarled. 

The cream cat's pelt rippled in the breeze.
"Um, I'm Heather," she began nervously. She couldn't help but take a few pawsteps backwards. "Do you know a cat named Brindlesong, by any chance?" In an instant the she-cat's eyes sharpened with interest. "My father said bring any cats who knows about Brindlesong back to camp. You and your friend is coming with us." The cream tabby's tail lifted high in the air. "Livvy, let that cat go! They know Brindlesong!" The cat called Livvy appeared, berry bushes shaking in her wake. Blood was trickling down her cheek, and a huge bare patch could be seen on her hindquarters. "That loner put up a good fight," purred Livvy. "Well, let's take you guys to camp. That youngster is Pear. She's training to become a warrior," Livvy introduced the cream she-cat. Pear's eyes glittered with excitement as she brought up the rear. Livvy led the cats, while Scab and Heather were squashed in the middle. Heather found the word 'warrior' strange. Did warriors fight passing cats whenever they thought fit? "I wonder what these cats have to do with Brindlesong," hissed Scab. "They probably think the same with us," Heather replied, glancing at Pear. Her eyes were twinkling and her footsteps were light. But when she caught Heather staring at her, she tried to contain her excitement, which earned an amused purr from both Scab and Heather.
"We've arrived!" announced Livvy. "Comb your pelts and smoothen your tails! You're about to see Quail."
Livvy pushed her way through a small tunnel hidden in a small wall covered with vines. Scab and Heather followed, wincing as the thorns dragged on their pelts. Heather stared in amazement. A small clearing stretched in front of her, a large log in the middle. Four nests were hidden in the corner, and a small patch of sand was visible near the log. Cats were spread out all over. A huge dark brown tabby was stretched out on the log, lazily chattering to a pretty tortoiseshell, who lapped lovingly at his flank. "That's our leader, Quail. He's also my father! He's the best warrior ever!" boasted Pear, her pelt bristling with pride. "And that's my mother, Eli."
Heather recognized Lightwillow and Wavestorm, who were sharing a fat juicy vole. Their eyes narrowed in unison at the sight of Scab and Heather. "Those warriors are Lightwillow and Wavestorm. You guys probably met them this sunhigh. They came back with a few scratches." Pear chattered on, while Livvy trotted up to Quail. Quail's eyes narrowed, and Scab rubbed her pelt against Heather's. "Oh, I didn't tell you. Livvy's our deputy. She'll take over our group if Quail's away, or sick. And that's Umber, the black she-cat, who knows best about healing. Winkie and Peck's out now hunting. Peck's my mentor. He's great! He teaches me how to track rabbits into burrows -"
"Pear! You're back!" Tiny bundles of black and white fur sped towards the apprentice, knocking her over. Heather sighed to herself, happy to escape from Pear's babbling. "I thought you guys were napping!" exclaimed Pear. She cleared her throat. "Treekit, Harekit, this is Scab and Heather. They're going to help us find Brindlesong!"
Immediately the kits scrabbled over to Scab. "Have you been fighting?" squeaked Harekit. "Of course she's been fighting, mouse-brain! There are scratches on her pelt." Treekit rolled her eyes. Well, I'm glad they're leaving me alone!
A beautiful cat that looked exactly like Harekit padded up towards Scab. "Hello there! I'm Minkpelt," she purred. "It's hard to see a cat who likes playing with kits nowadays." The two she-cats settled down on a patch of moss, Harekit and Treekit playing on Scab's belly. Heather's eye caught Livvy's. She suddenly looked more serious, and fiercer. The warrior flicked her tail at Heather. "It seems like you are one important cat, Heather. Quail wants to see you in his den immediately."