-This story takes place a little over a year after the formation of DesertClan-

Goldenblaze looked around the clearing, her mouth half open and ears pricked, searching for a sign of prey. It was only starting to return after the harsh leafbare that took Moonstar. The loss was still a fresh wound, having happened only a moon ago.

She looked towards Nightfire, her best friend, just in time to see the other cat's tail gesture towards a prairie dog in the brush. The small animal had popped its head out of a hole in the ground a few tail lengths away from where the cats stood.

Goldenblaze began to creep around to the other side of the hole. Carefully, she put one paw in front of the other. She almost stepped on a dry leaf, before catching herself and shifting her step. She moved until she was directly across from Nightfire and nodded. The black she-cat lurched forward and the prairie dog ran back down into its hole.

"Fox dung!" Goldenblaze cursed, "What did we think was going to happen?!"

"Yeah that was pretty mouse-brained." Nightfire laughed.

"This isn't funny, that would have been good prey."

"It's okay! Its new leaf now and the prey will soon be abundant!"

"I know," Goldenblaze sighed, "Come on let's try closer to the river."

The two cats headed towards the slope that led down to the river, Nightfire was more energetic, running ahead and back, while Goldenblaze padded along slowly. Around them the world was starting to come alive again after the harsh cold, new ferns were unfurling, bushes were starting to replenish their leaves, and flower trees were budding. A gentle breeze swept through the grasses, ruffling her fur. Nightfire is right to be excited, the very air seems alive today.

As they neared the huge river, prey scent began to become abundant. Nightfire ran up to her, "There is a ton of prey here! What do you want to go after?"

"Hmm, something big to make up for the prairie dog." held open her jaws, tasting the air for a hare or maybe a gopher. She quickly caught the scent of a quail, and... something else. That smells a little off. Not sure what it is though. Her paws prickled with nervousness.

Nightfire had scented the quail too, and she had pinpointed where it was. Her tail was low as she stalked towards the stump it was perched on.

Goldenblaze shifted her paws, searching her memory for the strange scent. The black she-cat was getting closer to the quail, seemingly not noticing the odd smell. Oh Starclan, what is that smell?

Nightfire bunched her haunches, her blue eyes focused on the quail. As she launched herself at the bird as Goldenblaze realized.

"Stop! Nightfire!"

It was too late. Nightfire landed on the quail, killing it instantly. She looked up and came face to face with a bobcat. The big tan cat fixed her with it's yellow eyes and let out a chilling cry before swiping at her face. Nightfire pulled back just in time and turned to run. The bobcat dragged its claws across her back as she dashed towards Goldenblaze.

"Bobcat! Why didn't I smell it?!" Nightfire gasped with pain.

"I think it's been rolling in something and that disguised it's scent!"

"Why is it here? Don't bobcats sleep through the day?"

"I don't know but now it's our problem!"

While the two cats had been yelling the bobcat had started running towards them, it's teeth bared and the fur on its back rising. It barreled in between then, turning to the side as it passed and scratching Goldenblaze's pelt. She jerked back and the bobcat turned to face them again. Adrenaline from the attack coursing through her veins Goldenblaze charged at the big cat and raked her claws across its face.

While the bobcat was distracted, Nightfire ran around behind it and jumped on to its back, digging her claws into its spine. The bobcat let out a screeching cry before bucking and shaking to attempt to dislodge the cat on its back, but no to avail.

It turned its attention once more to Goldenblaze, lunging forward to bite her. She dodged and returned the attack, sinking her teeth into the bobcats foreleg. It shook again, this time knocking Nightfire off its back. Her body hit the ground with a thud but she wasn't down for long. Springing to her paws she sprinted out of sight.

Goldenblaze gasped, partly with pain and partly with shock. What was she doing? I thought we had each other's backs! She had let go of the bobcat and it used this break to score it's claws across her flank. She stopped thinking about Nightfire and turned her full attention to the fight.

It's basically just a bigger cat right? Not even that much bigger. Yowling, she rose up on her hind paws to scratch at its eyes. The bobcat screamed with pain but she could tell that it was only partly blinded. Goldenblaze backed up slightly as it raised its head and tried to blink blood out of its eyes, its tail lashing.

She turned for a second to lick her side, but the bobcat noticed her weakness and charged, sinking its teeth into her shoulder and lifting her up like a piece of prey. That's what I am to it, Goldenblaze thought as she hung from its jaws, pain searing through her whole body. I'm just a nuisance or maybe a meal.

She gave up, there was no way to win against the bigger cat. As she closed her eyes, the bobcat's body jerked to the side and dropped her. She fell to the ground, blood welling in her shoulder and around her various wounds.

Looking up towards the bobcat she saw that it was being swarmed by cats, one of which was Nightfire!

"I found a patrol to help us! I didn't have time to tell you!" The black she-cat yelled over the sounds of the battle.

Goldenblaze noticed the ginger splotched pelt of Snowdrop, as well as Silvershade and Earthstrike. They were all fighting the bobcat ferociously as it's movements slowed and it yowled from the pain of its many wounds.

It soon slumped to the ground, dead, and the four cats padded over to where Goldenblaze lay on the dirt. Silvershade looked worried, "We need to get you to Rabbitpad! Can you walk?"

"I don't think so." She answered.

"Then we will go get her! Nightfire, you stay here with her, you're the second most injured."

Nightfire nodded and the other three cats ran off towards the camp. Goldenblaze looked at her before mewing, "I thought you had just left."

Nightfire looked a little hurt but not surprised. "I suppose that's what it looked like."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be. I wish I was faster."

"I'm glad you did that. We wouldn't have killed it without them."

"Most of the time they just run away. What are we going to do with its body?"

"I don't know. I guess we can roll it into the river."

"That works."

Both cats looked towards the body of the bobcat. "Oh!" Goldenblaze exclaimed, "Is the quail still there?"

"Yeah it is. That definitely wasn't worth it for a quail."

"Well we can still eat it! Bring it over, fighting is exhausting and I'm hungry."

Nightfire laughed, "Sure!"