Shadowspirit stretched, her bones and muscles carrying the dull ache from her river ride, the memory still burning fresh in her mind. She sighed, feeling lost if anything else, she knew she couldn't go back, but Mystery's words rang in her ears still. Inside she knew he was right, but she was determined to follow her instinct, as long as she was away from her clan, she wasn't a danger to them.

She hauled herself to her paws, padding stiffly out of the den and into the sunlight that streamed down onto the unfamiliar world around her. The river ran by a few fox-lengths away, sending a shudder down her spine at the thought of being surrounded by water once more. Shadowspirit sighed, taking in her new surroundings, a strange new forest, beckoning to her more curious side.

"You should go explore some." Mystery's voice sounded behind her and she jumped, spinning around in surprise, "Great StarClan your sneaky!" He laughed and she did as well, his playful grin bittersweet to her, the strange rogue reminded her of Foxflame in many different ways. She looked back to the trees, hesitating momentarily before plunging into the undergrowth.

She reminded herself that she was not in her territory, she had to treat this place as if it was enemy territory, and in some sort of way it was. She slunk slowly and cautiously along, her ears pricked to catch any straying sounds of prey, or foe. The new forest was strange to her, filled with the warm scents of prey, causing her mouth to water until she had almost no choice but to stop for a meal.

Shadowspirit crouched low to the ground, slinking silently forward as she closed in on the scuttling sound of tiny paws on the other side of a lush vibrant fern. Once she was about a tail-length away from her prey, a plump shrew, she tensed her muscles and leaped. As she leaped she realized too late that she hadn't been the only one stalking this prey, another cat had leaped to, and the two cats collided with shocked yowls as the shrew squealed, shooting off into the cover of thick brush.

The other cat growled crossly and snarled, "Hey that was my catch you mouse-brained furball!" Shadowspirit leaped to her paws, the fur along her spine bristling as she got a good look at the cat. It was a large tom, with shaggy gray fur and a thick, muscular frame, there was something familiar about him, but Shadowspirit couldn't remember what. "Don't just stand there scrap, go catch me something else, before I tear off that frail twisted leg of yours!" He snarled furiously, lashing his tail.

Shadowspirit caught a glimpse of his hind leg as he adjusted his stance threateningly, two small marks scarred his hind leg, and realization flashed through her. Anger surged up like a roaring torrent, and she attempted to push it down as she growled, "Don't you remember me?" He scowled at her, staring at her twisted paw, then looking into her fiercely lit yellow eyes.

"Those eyes... Yes I remember you, hah you were that troublesome kit I almost devoured, how about I finish what I started, and this time no other cats will stop me!" He snarled, lunging for her. Shadowspirit leaped to the side, struggling to hold down her anger, but it was so hard... Shadowspirit saw him coming, the tom moved slow as he lashed out at her, his moves heavy with strength, but slow. She swiftly ducked his blows, trying not to let the tiny weak line of her control break.

Shadowspirit hissed and struck back, maintaining her control as she struck him with unsheathed claws, her quick, neat blows eventually taking their toll. Her opponent panted as he tried to strike, and she leaped back, her hind legs meeting the trunk of a tree as she exploded forward. Shadowspirit arched up and on top of him, the rogue grunting in surprise as he was forced to the ground under her sudden weight.

Shadowspirit felt a fierce desire to shred his throat, to let his blood flow over her claws, and she felt the all to familiar red haze begin to cover her sight. She unsheathed her claws at his throat, unsteady and trembling as she fought with herself, then she roared angrily and reeled around, haring away from the fight. She skidded to a stop panting, her fur still bristling with the overwhelming fury.

She snarled, rearing up and striking hard at a skinny low hanging tree branch, the branch cracking slightly but not budging. A laugh sounded behind her, and she growled as the cat meowed, "Small stuff, I know your strong, I know your angry and powerful, but no cat is going to snap that branch." Without looking at the cat Shadowspirit snarled again, releasing all her anger in the blow as she struck the branch, causing it to let out a creaking snap, the broken branch hanging from a strand of splintered wood.

"Nice one small stuff, you surprise me every time." The cat meowed, the remains of her fury echoing in her ears as she sank her claws into the ground, "You should leave, I'm dangerous, I don't want to hurt any cat." The cat let out a very heavily exaggerated sigh he said, "Short stuff, how about you get the feathers outta your ears, turn around, and look at me, eh?"

Shadowspirit growled and whipped around, her low growl dying in her throat as she stared wide-eyed at the cat. He sat there calmly staring at her, and she slowly made sense of what she saw, her jaw hanging open in shock as she stammered, "R-Rotfrost?"