The air was cool and crisp. Frost covered the moor. From time to time you could hear soft chirps from the sleeping birds snuggled in their nests. Crowfeather had slipped out of camp for an early morning walk. Ugh why can't I get her out of my head.. Crowfeather thought growling to himself.

"No" he muttered stomping his paw to the ground. Crowfeather turned around to gaze at the moor behind him, making sure no one had followed. I have a mate already. Leafpool means nothing to me. Plus I'm going to be a father! He knew that becoming a father should make him happy. But it only filled him with sorrow and loneliness. As he kept on walking, Crowfeather dreamed of what it would have been like to have a litter of kits with the cat he truly loved.

"I guess I should be getting back to Nightcloud. She will be wondering where I have been" Crowfeather guessed. He started to head back, following in the same trail that had led him out onto the moor. As he got closer to camp he could hear shuffling in the undergrowth. Crowfeather turned to where he had heard the sound and sniffed the air. Rabbit. Crowfeather thought, instantly recognizing the sent. He dropped into the hunting crouch and stalked forward. Carefully placing his paws on the grass, making sure he didn't step on a leaf, he crept up to the bush. The rabbit hasn't spotted me yet. Let's just hope I can get him in one leap, so I don't have to put up a chase.

He leaned back on his hind legs and was ready to pounce. But he hesitated. The rabbit shot out of the bush in a squeal of terror and fled. Growling in frustration, Crowfeather went after it. He was making up the distance between him and the rabbit pretty fast. Crowfeather leaped into the air, waiting for his claws to come in contact with the rabbit's flesh. But the only thing that his claws felt was the soft ground.

Crowfeather landed hard on the ground with a big thump. Ugh I should have caught that rabbit. Where did it go anyways? He got up stiffly and turned to look behind him. There was a small hole three tail lengths away.

Crowfeather flattened his ears with embarrassment. I should have saw that rabbit hole coming. Any cat would have saw that coming! And I missed it! Maybe I should head back to camp before I miss another catch. Crowfeather started walking back to camp. He heard a faint screech in the distance.

"Oh no.. is the camp under attack?!" Crowfeather questioned, the fear welling up inside him. He pelted towards camp. There was a moment of silence. Everything seemed to be still, as if they were waiting for something.

"Wait a second.." Crowfeather meowed slowing. If there was a battle, wouldn't there be battle cries and the sound of warriors fighting? Not a single screech.. A moment later another screech echoed in the air, but this time it was filled with pain and agony.

"I think that's Nightcloud!" Crowfeather exclaimed. "The kits must be coming!" He cried gleefully. Crowfeather took off. Running as hard as he could to get to camp. It seemed like it was ages but the camp entrance finally came into view.

The wind seemed stronger up by the camp. Plus it was blowing towards him. Crowfeather narrowed his eyes against the wind as he struggled to move forward. "Why does this always happen to me when something important is happening!" Crowfeather gasped digging his claws into the ground. He could still hear faint yowls coming from camp. "The wind has never been this strong before! But why now?" The wind seemed to grow stronger every second. As if it wanted to stop him.

"No!!" He yowled in surprize as a powerful gust of wind knocked him over. Crowfeather tumbled down the hill and landed in a thorn bush. "Ow!" He screeched in pain as the thorns dug deep into his pelt. Struggling, Crowfeather dug his way out from under the bush.

He limped away and sat down in the tall grass. "Why is there a thorn bush in the middle of the moor?" He grumbled and started to take all of the thorns out. But as he reached for the massive thorn in his paw it suddenly disappeared. "Wha?" Crowfeather meowed in shock. Looking at the place where the thorn once had been. He realized that all of the thorns that had been digging in his pelt had vanished. Ok this is really weird....

Crowfeather turned in the direction of the thorn bush, but nothing was there. "What is happening! Is my mind playing tricks on me?"

"No my dear" a voice whispered.