Chapter Three: A Rogue's Life

 The dog leaped at Fire , snapping its teeth at his neck. Fire's pelt ruffled in anger as the dog's huge jaws came closer to snapping off his head. Fire clawed the dog's paw, causing it to let out a small whimper. The dog then reached for Fire's tail, hoping to trap the longhair.  The dog leaped at Fire's legs and clawed at his back. Fire blocked the dog's jaws and the dog bit Fire's arm instead.  Fire yowled in surprise and hit the dog in the face.
Suddenly a familiar tom leaped over a fence. It was Barley, a loner who Fire knew as a kit . Barley clawed the dog and sent it running .
"Thanks," said Fire," but I should get back to the clan." He licked his paws and smoothed down his ruffled fur.
"You're welcome," Barley purred. "You're trying to join a clan? Well, good luck joining it!"
 As Fire padded through the forest to the clan, he worried that he would not be accepted into their ranks. "Will the clan believe me? Will I be able to join?"  A crow's ominous song sounded throughout the forest and  Fire's heart beat quickly. He thought about his mate and realized that it was another reason why he had to join the clan.
As Fire approached the clan, Reedpool's eyes widened and his mouth dropped open.
"Of course it was a trap," thought Fire. "He wanted to kill me."
"Did you fulfill the mission?" asked Flamereed, an orange tabby.
"No", meowed Fire." I think it was a trap. There was no kittypet there."
 He walked over to Reedpool.  "I thought you said there were no dogs there, " he said .
Fire saw shocked looking expressions in the crowd of cats gathering around Minnowstar.
 Minnowstar said to Reedpool , " We all know there are dogs in the house. For attempted murder , Reedpool , you are banished."
Reedpool growled and snapped at Minnowstar. He then turned around and walked into the undergrowth. Fire tried to chase him, but Minnowstar stopped him.
"I'm so glad Reedpool is gone," said Feathermoon. "I hated him."  Feathermoon walked over to Fire. They licked each other and purred.
Suddenly an alarm rang out.
"Fishercat! Fishercat! Everyone into the medicine den!"
Fire and the kits stood in the water, petrified.
The long-clawed fishercat lunged towards Fire, its claws outstretched and its fangs jutting out of its mouth. "Give up your kits, you idiot," it hissed.