Freezing our pelts as padded through the frosty moorland, we huddled closer together for warmth, attempting to escape the chill of the early leafbare morning as we tried to to do border patrol as fast as we could. As we approached the farther half of our territory, the hills sparkled due to the undisturbed freshly fallen snow from the night before. The pads of my paws sent shivers through my body with each cold step that I took. When we were almost on the edge of our territory, tiny, high pitched wails could be heard echoing from the distance.

"Do you hear that?" My ears perked up as I strained to locate the source of the noise. "It sounds like a kit." I glanced down at my round belly, thinking of the kits that I had yet to deliver, and how I would feel if they were somewhere out in the cold, wailing for help. I couldn't stand the thought.

"It's probably nothing," Jaystar, our Clan leader insisted. "Let's get this done so we can return to the camp. You shouldn't be out here for long, Hazelmoss, especially when you are expecting your kits anytime now."

"I'll be fine, father." I insisted. "But we should find that noise" I told him and the others on the patrol. I couldn't shake the feeling that the noise was giving me. My newly mother senses were tingling.

"Alright." Jaystar nodded, flicking his tail motioning for everyone to follow me. The tiny wails became louder, until it was clear that they were coming from just over the hill, at the base of a large tree. The long branches of the tree had supported all the snow that had fallen, so the base had no snow, just a pile of frozen leaves. In the centre of the pile, was a tiny rusty ball of fur, that was squirming around.

"It's a fox cub!" Sparrowtail gasped. I stood at the head of the patrol, staring at the tiny fox that we had just found. It could barely walk, and it was half the size of the kits that had just been recently delivered to our Clan. Sniffing around, I tried to find any trace of the kit's mother, but it smelled as if it hadn't been there for days, meaning that the kit would soon die.

"We should get rid of it," Fernclaw hissed, lashing his tail angrily as he glared at the small bundle of fur. "It will cause us nothing but trouble if we allow it to grow up on our territory."

"Fernclaw is right," Jaystar sighed, unsheathing his claws. "I'll do it," Raising his paw to deliver a killing blow to the small thing, I jumped in front of him to stop him, making his claws scratch the side of my face instead of the cub.

"Hazelmoss!" He cried, alarmed after hurting his only kit. "What are you doing?"

"You can't kill an innocent little cub, it can barely walk!" I hissed through bared teeth, I could feel blood dripping down the side of my face where he clawed me but I ignored it. I won't let them harm this kit, even it it is a fox.

"Hazelmoss, you're going to have your own kits soon. If this fox grows up on our territory it would only cause harm, maybe even injuring your kits." Sparrowtail hissed.

"I won't let that happen." Jaystar growled. "Step aside, Hazelmoss. Let us do what must be done."

"It doesn't have to be like that!" I prompted, refusing to back down. Once I got something set in my head, I wouldn't let it go, a trait that I received from my father.

"What do you mean?" Sparrowtail asked. "You can't possibly be suggesting what I think that you are?"

"I mean that I'll take care of it. I'll teach it the ways of our Clan." I insisted, feeling uneasy by their bewildered looks.

"We can't have a fox in the Clan!" Fernclaw growled. "Are you mouse-brained?"

"I'll take care of it." I repeated, trying to convince them. I don't need to convince all of them, only one. "Jaystar, please!"

"Hazelmoss, are you sure?" Jaystar asked, narrowing his eyes as he shifted his gaze from me to the kit, to the others on the patrol.

"The warrior code says that a warrior can not neglect a kit in danger, whether that kit be from your clan or not." I prompted.

"That doesn't apply to foxes!" Sparrowtail retorted.

"It doesn't say that," I scoffed, turning to my father to avoid the crazy looks from my Clanmates. "Please, Father. Let me take care of this kit, it will die without our assistance. I truly believe that WindClan can raise this fox kit, not as a fox, but as a warrior."

"Alright Hazelmoss," Jaystar sighed, finally giving in to me. "but if that cub causes any trouble it's on you." Jaystar warned.

"Thank you so much! You won't regret this!" I purred.

"Jaystar," Fernclaw started to protest but Jaystar held up his tail, telling him to be quiet.

"I have made my decision." Jaystar insisted, not sounding too thrilled about his decision. "May StarClan see this young one and grant guidance."