Aspenheart looked one way, and then the other. Miststar, who rarely ventured from his den, seemed to be less active than ever. It was curious. Aspenheart wondered if he was planning something. Just before the time for a raid, just before any kind of fight-- he was always even more secluded than normal. StarClan save us all... she wanted to sigh. But StarClan had become a kind of joke ever since Miststar stepped up to power. One big fat joke.

Aspenheart sniffed. Sometimes, foxes were out and about at the fox holes, and sometimes they were not. A harsh smell came to her nostrils, followed by a sharp bark. In the distance, she could see a slim rusty body slowly coming closer. It was a fox. And it had spotted her.

Aspenheart ran, and the chase began.