Bell had been sent on a solitary patrol for the first time, feeling safe enough to go on her own. I might as well hunt some chipmunk... In the moon after the attack, Bell had grown strong, and was better-fed.

She was running along the thunderpath, following said chipmunk. The reek of the thunderpath was strong, but Bell would not let that deter her from her goal. Almost got it...

Suddenly a massive shape cut across her path, trapping the chipmunk in its jaws.

Bell snarled, "Hey! That was my prey, you mange pelt!" She raised her hackles, preparing to fight the loner if need be.

The gray and white tabby tom turned to face her, the chipmunk hanging limply from his jaws. Dropping it near his paws, he seemed to smirk as he gazed at her. "Well, look at you, little lady. You sure grew up fast. Pretty too."

The she-cat frowned at him, not knowing what he was talking about. Looking him over, Bell saw pale green eyes, almost like Berrypaw's, and a small nick in his right ear...

Lizardpaw was being grouchy again, and her mother was napping. Bell sat at the entrance to the lot, watching as monsters travelled across the thunderpath. She noticed plenty of kittypets venturing as far as the lawns in front of their twoleg dens. Cowards, of course, but they looked like they were never hungry.

Bell's stomach grumbled hollowly.

"Think the prey's gonna listen to you down there, little lady?"

She started, looking up at one of the long-dead monsters. On top of it was a skinny white and gray tom with a nick in one ear. He looked down at her, his tail swinging.

"Name's York."

"...York?!"

York chuckled, still keeping the prey close. "Sure am. So, Bell...Looks like you're not goin' hungry these days, huh?" His green eyes examined her closely.

Bell meowed, "I haven't seen you since I was a kit! Where have you been?"

The tom shrugged. "Around. Avoidin' trouble. Thought I'd drop in on old haunts, say hi to a few friends. You, your mama and that grouchy fellow weren't at the lot."

She replied, "We live in SkyClan now...That is, with the cats on the gorge. We're warriors now," she added proudly.

York smirked. "That explains the muscle. You don't look like the scrawny kit from back then."

Bell didn't know if she should be offended. "Uh...thanks." York didn't look scrawny at all. From what she remembered about him, he worked hard for his prey. "Listen...you can have that chipmunk. I'm pretty sure the Clan has enough..."

The tom's eyes widened slightly. "Thanks. I'll think about ya when I'm eatin' it."

"...I should get back." Bell began to pad away.

York called out, "Maybe I'll drop in on this gorge o' yours sometime, little lady!"

She turned to reply, but he was already speeding off with the chipmunk.


((Bell going back to camp))