Three United (SP, SN) (old fanfiction + art) update 7/1

CHAPTER FIVE

Swiftpaw sat bolt upright. “Cloudpaw! You’re back!” she whispered. The pale gray apprentice nodded.

“Wetstar told ThunderClan he was sorry the battle got so drastic. But he reminded us that we crossed the border.” Cloudpaw rolled her eyes. "He was so arrogant about it, too, but no one could say he was provoking a fight, you know?"

“Typical ShadowClan,” sniffed Blackpaw.

Flamepaw raised his head. “Huh?” he mumbled. Then he dropped back down.

“Then what?” Swiftpaw was eager to know what happened.

“Well, first of all, Rushstar announced that Cedarpaw had his full name, Cedarfall. And Shinepaw is now Shinepelt.”

Swiftpaw pictured the golden-tan tom sitting beside his mentor, then imagined the fluffy orange cat who was now a warrior. (this is what the allegiances are for)

“Apparently, Gorsepaw and Furzepaw have their warrior names, too!” Cloudpaw continued.

Blackpaw hissed; Swiftpaw wondered why he was so angry.

“Gorsepaw is Gorsepelt.”

Blackpaw began to growl, deep in his throat. Swiftpaw wished her brother would stop.

“And Furzepaw is Furzetail.”

The growling slowed to a stop, but Swiftpaw could see Blackpaw’s yellow eyes glinting in the darkness.

Flamepaw rolled over in his sleep. (no one cares about Flamepaw I don't care about Flamepaw)



Swiftpaw woke from a dream of mouse hunting. She'd been a whisker away from the mouse in the lush green meadow when an owl's hoot had woken her up.

Swiftpaw needed air. She slipped past Blackpaw’s nest.

Blackpaw was gone!

He pushed past her, into the den. “Making dirt,” he hissed. She wondered whether that was true. His pelt was damp, as if it had rained, but there was not a cloud in the sky. He must have been out long before.

Where could he have gone? His pelt hadn’t picked up any interesting scents; the fur was too wet.

But the expression on his face was alarming. He stared glassily at everything, as if he were hiding behind a curtain of ice. There was a hint of a smile. (don't be weird Blackpaw)

Swiftpaw didn’t want to press him, though. She knew she'd find out when she needed to know whatever he wasn't telling her.



The next day was boring. Swiftpaw amused herself by staring at the clouds, trying to see if there were any stars behind them.

“Blackpaw,” she mewed hesitantly, not knowing if her brother would find it silly, “why does the sun chase the stars away?”

“No idea. But maybe the sun is...” He fidgeted. “...stronger.”

“But StarClan is in the stars!” cried Swiftpaw. “How could the sun be stronger?”

“I don’t know,” her brother replied. But he seemed to be thinking of something.

“Don’t you wish something would happen?” she meowed.

Blackpaw nodded vigorously. Flamepaw, who had just chosen a vole to give to Lightblaze, twitched his whiskers. Dropping the fresh-kill, he mewed, “I’ve been confined to camp for so long! It’s not fair. Swiftpaw, why did we have to cross the lake?”

(forgot to mention this earlier: Lightblaze is supposed to be like Longtail)

“Because we needed RiverClan’s help!” insisted Swiftpaw. “Otherwise, we might not have beaten WindClan!”

Blackpaw flinched. "We would've beaten them eventually," he muttered. "They're so weak and they act like rabbits." Rabbitleap and Owlpaw, anyway. And maybe Furzetail.



Cloudpaw bounded eagerly past, her eyes shining. “Come on!”

Swiftpaw exchanged a puzzled glance with her brother.

They’d been confined to camp for a week and a half, and they were surprised to see the apprentice so overjoyed.

Willowpaw and Skydapple sat at the entrance to the medicine den.

“Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join beneath the Highledge for a Clan meeting!”

Ivystar stood on the Highledge, surveying the Clan.

"Graywing, you have mentored your apprentice well. I know she will do as well as you have done once she is ready to mentor an apprentice of your own." Ivystar waited a minute before continuing.

“Cloudpaw.” The pale gray apprentice leapt up, her whiskers quivering. “Do you promise to uphold and defend the warrior code, even at the cost of your life?”

Cloudpaw mewed, “I do!” Her voice was steady, though her tail was stiff.

“Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Cloudpaw, from this moment on, you will be known as Cloudfrost, in honor of your courage and loyalty…” (by the way her mom is Frostblossom)

Ivystar’s blue gaze flickered over Swiftpaw, Blackpaw, and Flamepaw.

Cloudfrost bowed her head, then padded to the camp entrance; she would sit her silent vigil.

Swiftpaw couldn’t wait until it was her turn to sit vigil; what would her name be?

Willowpaw walked up to Cloudfrost and muttered something into her ear as the Clan began to chant Cloudfrost’s name.

Swiftpaw heard Blackpaw yawn. How could he be bored? Cloudpaw was a warrior now! She'd have to watch him closely.

~~~~~~~~~

Flamepaw’s pelt prickled. The clearing, so close to the camp, was unfamiliar; there were pawprints everywhere, though.

As he looked around, he noticed that nothing was familiar; he was high above the lake, which reflected all of Silverpelt. Five cats sat just below him, and he strained to pick up bits of their conversation.

He looked back. The camp, which he had just left, had vanished.

StarClan!

“They are not aware, you said?” mewed the pretty calico she-cat. Her spring-green eyes looked worried.

“I thought it might distract them from their primary goal, Petalheart.” The speaker was a gray she-cat with long, matted fur and a flat face.

“Yellowfang, you don’t understand!” insisted the calico. “They must know. Jayfeather knew, and it helped him and Lionblaze... and Hollyleaf, before she died.”

“But it didn’t help Dovewing. Or Ivystar!” The white she-cat spoke now. “My kits could have been great warriors together if it weren’t for Dovewing being one of the Three. Instead, Dovewing could hear everything. And Ivystar was left out of everything!”

Now the small black tom—an apprentice, most likely—began. “Well, maybe it would be good to tell one of them…”

“I suppose so.” Yellowfang finally relented. “You’ve been in StarClan longer than I, so there’s really nothing I can do.”

“But what of the others?” It was the old grizzle-furred tom. “Spiderpaw, Yellowfang, Petalheart, Whitewing, who will we tell?” (quit saying people's names like this)

“Well...” It was obvious Petalheart hadn’t thought ahead. Suddenly, the black tom—Spiderpaw—looked up. “Look!” he cried. “Bearscar, someone’s spying on us!”

Mouse dung! He’d never find out whom the StarClan cats were discussing. (wow it's too bad "whom" is so pretentious)

Flamepaw turned to run as Bearscar turned his face upward. The scarred, grizzle-furred brown tom had a fearsome appearance.

“Come back! Wait!” called Whitewing. Flamepaw considered turning; Whitewing seemed like a very nice cat, and so did Petalheart.

But he thought of Bearscar again. There was no way he would go back with the old one-eyed cat. (shut up Flamepaw)

A half-faded cat walked past him. Its face was all too familiar. (oh and now we're ripping off Firestar)

“Ivystar!” Flamepaw choked out. The gray-and-white cat padded past, not responding to his startled mew.

“Not exactly.” Flamepaw jumped; the cat had surprised him.

“Spiderpaw?” he asked cautiously. The black tom nodded. “What Clan are you from?”

Spiderpaw twisted his mouth into a strange shape, then answered. “None.”

“But…”

“None. Okay?” Spiderpaw sighed. “I think I’m from... RiverClan, maybe. But I might not be. I think Bearscar was from ShadowClan, and I know Petalheart is from the same Clan I’m from. And I love pretty shells and things, just like RiverClan cats do.” (I actually kind of like the idea of this part, but I'm also fairly certain it was just pettiness because RiverClan is my favorite Clan and if he's right then there are three super afterlife cats from RiverClan, one each from ShadowClan and WIndClan, and none from ThunderClan)

Flamepaw was confused. Who was this cat?

“I’m one of the oldest StarClan cats,” Spiderpaw admitted. “Only six of the most ancient ones were remembered all this time. I... I knew Sunfrost, and Sparkfoot... They visited in my dreams all the time.”

These names had no meaning to Flamepaw, who shook his head.

“They received new names after death. So did their kit, Flowerfall. Sunfrost became Braveheart, Sparkfoot became Shiningheart, and Flowerfall became Brightspirit. They aren’t really from any particular Clan.” (I remembered Brightspirit and her parents while writing about my super afterlife cats and wanted to make them less special than mine)

“Oh.” Flamepaw didn’t know how to respond.

“But now you have to wake up.” Spiderpaw seemed embarrassed by his confession. “It’s okay, I’m just a normal apprentice. I’ve just been remembered because of my connection to Bearscar. When he was a kit, Sunfrost and Sparkfoot had their kit. He’s Flowerfall—er, Brightspirit’s age!”

“Wow.” Flamepaw really didn’t know who Brightspirit was, but the name seemed familiar.

“And about Ivystar,” continued Spiderpaw, “only some of her lives are here. She still has lives left, though. She won’t be able to speak, hear, or interact with the other StarClan cats until her ninth life is lost.” He grinned at Flamepaw. "That shouldn't be too soon, so don't worry about her dying." (why does this part end here)

~~~~~~~~~

The night was still. Swiftpaw padded into camp; she’d been out on the twilight hunting patrol.

“Nice catch!” Her brother emerged from the den to greet her.

“Thanks,” she mumbled around her mouthful of shrew. “Sorry you couldn’t come.”

Blackpaw shrugged. “I went yesterday. No big deal. And I had plenty of time today.”

“For what?” Swiftpaw didn’t know if she could trust her brother anymore.

“Oh... just stuff.” Swiftpaw didn’t like the way he was avoiding her question.

It had been a quarter moon since they’d been confined to camp; yesterday, Blackpaw had gone on patrol, Flamepaw the day before. (I think the idea is that they still do their duties but can't hang out?)

“Look at what Cloudfrost brought back, though!” Swiftpaw needed to change the subject; the apprentice knew Blackpaw felt uncomfortable.

“Yeah...” But Blackpaw’s claws scraped the ground.

“There was trouble on the WindClan border,” meowed Swiftpaw. Blackpaw stared at her in alarm.

“How bad? Who was it?”

“Calm down, Blackpaw! It was just a couple of warriors. Cloudfrost and I were trying to see if we could spot any fish, and a couple of WindClan cats caught us on the stepping-stones on their side of the river. No big deal.”

“What warriors?” Blackpaw insisted.

“Let me think... one of them was Slushfoot, and I think the other was Furzetail... or maybe Gorsepelt. I don’t know.”

But Blackpaw dropped his gaze. “Okay. It’s no big deal, just like you said.”

"If you say so." Swiftpaw knew, though, in her heart, that this was bigger than curiosity.

Swiftpaw curled up with a sigh and closed her eyes. She felt strangely awake and alert, though; still, her whole body relaxed as she sank into the moss. The last thing her mind caught, or at least the last thing her mind could grasp and understand, was Blackpaw's tail, retreating from the den after him.

Swiftpaw woke abruptly to find herself in a strange forest. Three cats faced her: a slender white she-cat with eyes that somehow reminded her of Ivystar's, a pretty calico she-cat with eyes that made Swiftpaw think of a crisp, bright newleaf day, and a small black tom with a rust-colored flash on his chest and long ears. (for what it's worth I don't think I consciously made Spiderpaw look like Spiderleg, but I'm sure that's not a coincidence)

“Hello, I’m Whitewing. These are Petalheart and Spiderpaw,” mewed the white she-cat.

Petalheart blinked in greeting, then stood. “We have something to tell you.”

Swiftpaw’s jaw dropped. “Are you StarClan cats? You want to talk to me? But I'm an apprentice!”

“Of course we do! You're special!” Spiderpaw burst out. Petalheart glanced at him, and he shut his mouth in embarrassment.

“I mean, yes, we are.” The apprentice rolled his eyes. “I’m a thousand-year-old apprentice. What do you think?” (I have not earned the right to hyperbole)

“Wow.”

“That’s just what the intruder said! Flamepaw!” (who cares!? it's "whoa")

“You know Flamepaw?”

“I know just about everyone.” Spiderpaw lifted his chin proudly. “Everyone,” he repeated.

“Okay. But what do you want to tell me?” she asked, turning to Whitewing and Petalheart.

“First of all, I’m Ivystar’s mother,” began Whitewing. “And there’s a prophecy concerning all the Clans.”

Petalheart joined in. “The prophecy is about you.”

“You, Blackpaw, and Flamepaw.”

“But we’re not certain!” reminded Whitewing, glancing at Spiderpaw. “We know you are a part of it. We’ve already seen you. But one—possibly Blackpaw—must prove his loyalty twice, and Flamepaw, or whoever it is, must overcome his, his...” She trailed off, unsure what was the right word.

“So... what did I do?” Swiftpaw felt uncomfortable.

“You first drove Hawkfrost out of your dreams, then helped resolve the battle.” (no, she got beaten up and then almost drowned)

“But I was the one who kept seeing him!” protested Swiftpaw. As much as she hoped the cats were right, she also hoped they were wrong. I don’t want to be different!

“You mustn’t tell Blackpaw or Flamepaw.”

“Why not?” Whitewing’s request was strange.

“Because we aren’t sure if they are the ones. We were wrong, many, many, many seasons ago, about Hollyleaf. And we could be wrong now.”

As Swiftpaw sighed and turned to leave, she heard Whitewing mutter under her breath, "That's the ThunderClan one, no doubt. Swiftwing has been found. We just need to find the others." ("the ThunderClan one" and they still think Blackpaw and Flamepaw are involved!? what is this)

CHAPTER SIX

“Intruders!” yowled Owlfeather. Darksplash, Graywing, Tallwhisker, and Blackpaw unsheathed their claws.

The WindClan patrol emerged from behind a tree. (how were they all hidden behind one tree)

Darksplash immediately dropped low. He motioned for Graywing, Tallwhisker, and Blackpaw to do the same.

“I can see Rabbitleap... he’s close this way... and there’s Slushfoot. Behind Slushfoot are Berryfoot, Tigerstep, and Quickleap... and there’s Orangetail.”

“We’re outnumbered!” hissed Graywing. “Cowards! Rabbits!”

“Good thing Sparrowflight’s hunting patrol is nearby. If there are any more, she could be a valuable asset.”

Graywing gave a nod to Tallwhisker’s observation.

“All right,” whispered Darksplash, “we give a Lightning Strike from this side. Make sure you remember to cause maximum confusion without letting them get a good look at you. We regroup on the other side. Everyone pretend to be someone else. Then we strike from the front. Any objections?”

Tallwhisker lifted a paw half an inch off the ground, then switched to the other one. “I hear another patrol,” he warned.

Graywing and Blackpaw raised their heads. They could hear Owlfeather trying to reason with the patrol of cats they’d first noticed.

In the background, though, the pawsteps of three or four more cats—maybe even five—echoed softly through the forest.

“Badly outnumbered.” Graywing shook his head in disgust. “Cowards!”

Blackpaw gulped. Gorsepelt might be on the patrol. One of the two cats Blackpaw was scared to face in battle. Or any time. (the other one is Tealpaw)

“I can see them now,” hissed Tallwhisker. “There are five more. Not just four. But two are apprentices. I see Ravenwing, Mossheart, Swallowpelt... and then there are Owlpaw and Starpaw behind them.”

“Is it an invasion?” whispered Blackpaw. He hoped not. They wouldn't leave Gorsepelt back at camp during an invasion.

There was a yowl. All four ThunderClan cats dashed quickly through the underbrush.

“Lightning,” reminded Darksplash. But before they had a chance to attack, something came tumbling into them.

Frozenpaw bared her claws and teeth; behind her, two nearly identical warriors and one older warrior were poised to spring.

Heathernose leapt into the air. She landed on top of Graywing; the two warriors went rolling away.

Furzetail instantly slashed at Tallwhisker’s face. The black-and-white warrior unsheathed his claws and retaliated with a stinging blow.

A paw came hurtling toward Blackpaw’s face.

Gorsepelt was on the third patrol. (I get that Gorsepelt is supposed to be scary, but who cares who you're fighting)

Frozenpaw squealed. Darksplash had pinned her to the ground. His claws, if unsheathed, would pierce her underbelly.

Gorsepelt was forced to give up on his prey. He lunged at the senior warrior, but Darksplash was ready.

Blackpaw swiped at the WindClan apprentice. She ducked. I was too slow. Mouse dung! Blackpaw jumped as she aimed for his legs. The WindClan apprentice was fast.

“Stop!” screeched Owlfeather. “We can’t fight them! There are too many WindClan warriors!”

Blackpaw rolled away from Frozenpaw. The first patrol was watching; as Blackpaw turned, he knew what the second patrol was up to.

“Why do you have to stir up trouble just now?” he muttered to Gorsepelt.

Gorsepelt flicked his tail, pretending to ignore Blackpaw, but as the WindClan cats left, he growled under his breath, "Next time we meet, you're dead. It'll be somewhere your warriors can't threaten my Clanmates. I'll get you then."

Once the WindClan cats were out of sight, Tallwhisker spoke. “I think I might know why they’re here.” (I thought this was common knowledge already)

~~~~~~~~~

The WindClan cats entered camp just after Sparrowflight’s patrol returned.

They’d heard some commotion, but assumed it was a three-cat patrol that crossed the border. (??? "there are too many WindClan warriors")

Now they knew it was an invasion.

“What are you doing here?” Ivystar sounded like she didn’t really care, but Flamepaw knew she did.

Sedgestar’s patrol had popped out of the ground, while three other patrols had covered the territory above.

“We demand to know why you’re stealing our prey,” the WindClan leader snarled. “We’ve talked to your patrols about this for moons, and still you steal! We’re starving in our territory. Now you must either give us prey... or fight for it.”

“I won't fight you. Not yet.” Ivystar stayed calm. “We have not been stealing prey.”

“Oh, really? Ivystar, I know you’ve been taking rabbits and squirrels. Quickleap, Orangetail, Berryfoot, Stripedfur, and Swallowpelt have repeatedly found evidence of ThunderClan cats hunting in WindClan territory!” Sedgestar retorted. “And Iciclewhisker and Slushfoot tell me that they’ve seen ThunderClan warriors in our territory. Again, repeatedly!”

“Isn’t it strange that Heathernose, Rabbitleap, Petalpelt, and a few other more respected warriors have not?” Ivystar looked pityingly at Sedgestar. (that's not a very sound argument but it is rude)

“Nonsense. Even if Quickleap and Orangetail might, the others would not! And Iciclewhisker, Stripedfur, and Quickleap have all brought WindClan rabbits with ThunderClan scent on the bitemarks.”

Ivystar glanced around; for the first time, Flamepaw saw how nervous she was.

Then she looked up again. “I once feared the forest,” she mewed heavily. “I thought the trees were going to hurt me, after one fell into camp.”

Many cats gasped; only Cherryfall didn’t. Instead, the old she-cat flinched. "I remember that," she murmured quietly.

Sedgestar didn’t gasp, either. She replied, mockery dripping from her words, “So you’re afraid of plants? No wonder you can’t stand up to WindClan! You poor thing! And you’re saying WindClan is going to be afraid of ThunderClan’s trees?”

Ivystar stood up. “Listen, Sedgestar. It wasn’t over. The trees never fell again. But there’s trouble coming that no one will be able to stop, especially if WindClan keeps stirring it up.”

Flamepaw agreed. (shut up Flamepaw)

“Just like that tree. We couldn’t stop it from falling. Just like we won’t be able to stop that one.” Ivystar flicked her tail toward a huge birch towering above camp. “It’ll fall someday soon. But it won’t be as big a deal as the one when I was an apprentice.”

Sedgestar snorted. “So now trees fall into camp, and we’re going to be ready. Do you expect us to come running to your side, help you when you’re crushed? No! That will be the perfect time to descend on your border. You won’t be able to stop us.” (they obviously already can't stop you)

Sedgestar’s timing couldn’t have been better. The moment she turned around, a rumble came from above.

Thunder? Maybe it was from the dark clouds shadowing camp.

But it wasn’t dark enough for that. It couldn’t be thunder.

The birch tree above camp began to shake.

A few WindClan cats began backing out of camp; so did a few ThunderClan cats.

Flamepaw stared at the birch. Had Ivystar’s words called up its fall?

Sedgestar raised her tail. “WindClan, retreat!”

Ivystar scrambled up to investigate the shivering tree. As she began circling the birch, ThunderClan cats emerged.

Darksplash explained, “We thought that shaking the tree just a little bit would make Sedgestar and her warriors afraid. Your plan worked really well.”

“Plan?” Ivystar looked a bit surprised. “I didn’t really plan it. But that was excellent timing.”

“I know why they came,” Tallwhisker meowed loudly. Every cat turned to him. “I need to speak with Ivystar alone.”

~~~~~~~~~

Swiftpaw strained to hear the conversation going on in Ivystar’s den. Blackpaw and Flamepaw crouched beside her.

“I met this cat...” Tallwhisker seemed hesitant to continue.

“Go on,” instructed Ivystar.

“He was a tortoiseshell tom. He told me his name was Solstice, and that his father’s father was named... Sol.” (for what it's worth I was going to name him Equinox but I thought it was too cool of a word)

Ivystar gasped. “He killed a ThunderClan warrior!”

Tallwhisker nodded uncomfortably. “Solstice’s voice was very persuasive. He told me that absolute power would be to rule every territory by the lake.”

Ivystar cast her gaze to the ground.

“I met him when I was an apprentice,” continued Tallwhisker. “I was very headstrong and impatient, and I guess I was a bit of a mouse-brain. Quickleap, Orangetail, Slushfoot, and Berryfoot are just the way I was, and Iciclewhisker and Swallowpelt are inexperienced. I think it’s Solstice’s doing.”

“Jayfeather told me that he’d known Sol.”

“Jayfeather!” Tallwhisker let out a gasp. “You met him?” (is it not common knowledge how old Ivystar is…?)

“Y... yes. He told me just how persuasive Sol was. And his brother, Lionblaze, told me Sol was like the cats in the Dark Forest—he just wanted power for himself. He’s using WindClan. And Sedgestar is falling into his trap.” Tallwhisker suddenly seemed to understand. “And he started the war.” (did Tallwhisker…not already understand?)

“Yes.” Ivystar suddenly turned to the entrance to her den. “Swiftpaw, Blackpaw, Flamepaw, go away!” she meowed irritably. “Flamepaw, if you don’t want to be seen, get your tail out of the way!”

“Mouse-brain,” hissed Blackpaw. The three apprentices padded to the fresh-kill pile.

“Sorry!” Flamepaw picked up a plump vole. “I’m going to give this to Lightblaze and Cherryfall.”

Spottedwing, who happened to be selecting a thrush, dropped the bird and mewed, “No need; they were just here, getting their own.”

“Okay!” Flamepaw bounced away. He stopped at the nursery. Swiftpaw followed, carrying a mouse; Blackpaw was right behind her.

Brightflower raised her head as the three apprentices pushed their way into the nursery. Poppykit and Smokekit, each eager to prove they would be the best leader for ThunderClan, raced for Flamepaw’s vole. They were five moons old already; they’d be apprentices in one more. Swiftpaw tried to imagine how crowded the apprentices’ den would be once she, Blackpaw, Flamepaw, Poppykit, and Smokekit were all apprentices.

Mousepelt would have her kits soon, but Swiftpaw doubted they’d be apprentices until after she was a warrior. “Look at me!” Poppykit mewed, balancing on her hind legs. She staggered back and forth until Smokekit kicked out a hind paw and knocked her over. She pounced on her dark smoky-gray brother. (again I don't think I was consciously copying from Mosskit in BP but that's probably how that image got in my mind)

“Kits.” Mousepelt’s voice was filled with amusement. “Remind me again why I’m here!”

Brightflower rolled her eyes. “Two is nothing. Poor Ivystar; Goldenpelt, Frostblossom, Volepelt, and Graywing, all in the same litter!”

Swiftpaw sat up straight. She didn’t know Ivystar had had kits! “Who was their father?” she ventured cautiously. Goldenpelt, Frostblossom, Voletail, and Graywing were senior warriors, but the younger cats might have known their father. (who cares)

Ivystar had a mate! Or maybe she still has one! Could it be Lightblaze? She knew Flamepaw and Blackpaw were thinking the same thing.

“I don’t know. Maybe you should ask Graywing; he seems to remember most about his kithood.”



Graywing raised his eyebrows. “Really? Who told you that?”

“Brightflower! She said your brother was Volepelt, and your sisters were Goldenpelt and Frostblossom!”

“Well, my father was a brave warrior.”

“His name! What was his name?” Swiftpaw was getting impatient.

“Why does it matter so much?” Graywing stared at her curiously.

“It just does!” Swiftpaw was glad to hear her brother supporting her.

“Well, to tell you the truth…”

“Finally!” breathed Flamepaw.

“I don't know his name.”

“What?” repeated Blackpaw, wrinkling his nose. “Why not?”

“My mother never told me.”

“Obviously!” muttered Flamepaw. (why is Flamepaw here)

Swiftpaw sat down. Ivystar had had a mate. Wait a minute. Wait, wait, wait… She knew, deep within, why Ivystar hadn't elaborated on the subject. Spiderpaw had confessed later on that Ivystar and her mate, who he hadn't named, had nearly been driven apart because of Hawkfrost. Could it be that Graywing's father was a cat of the Dark Forest? (I don't think I'd finalized the decision yet…I'll get into that part later though)

CHAPTER SEVEN

“Intruders!” yowled Owlfeather. Darksplash, Graywing, Tallwhisker, and Blackpaw unsheathed their claws.
The WindClan patrol emerged from behind a tree. (I have not earned the right to do this?)

Gorsepelt! Blackpaw stiffened as the tan warrior lunged. The WindClan cat pinned him down and sank his teeth deep into Blackpaw’s throat... The teeth came closer, closer, until they closed. When they opened again, Blackpaw had stopped breathing…

Blackpaw woke up with a start. His dream had been too realistic. Too real to dismiss. He had felt his own death, seen how everything would end.

Blackpaw placed an orange paw on his throat. It was still intact. There were no bitemarks. His only real scar was the one Heathernose had scored across his eye the day before.

Blackpaw crept out of the den, then out of camp. He was glad the dream had woken him, though he still felt shaken; he’d been sleeping too soundly to wake up. But the dream had woken him, and he padded to the ShadowClan border. (he did what and why)

“I’m sure glad we’re not confined to camp anymore!” Blackpaw twitched an ear in agreement with Flamepaw. He looked at Graywing; the warrior was collecting his patrol. (there is no scene break here; did I forget that the last thing Blackpaw did was run to ShadowClan?)

“Swiftpaw! Blackpaw! Flamepaw!” Spottedwing’s voice. The calico she-cat was racing toward the three apprentices, Goldenpelt and Owlfeather behind her.

“Training!” called Owlfeather. “Come on!”

Blackpaw leaped to his paws and bounded after his mentor; Swiftpaw and Flamepaw followed.

Finally! Training!

“I bet Cloudfrost trained every day,” he muttered to Swiftpaw.

His sister rolled her eyes. “Not every day!”

Spottedwing, Owlfeather, and Goldenpelt skidded to a halt, their paws kicking up sand. The three apprentices did the same.

“Now, Flamepaw, you will be with me.” Goldenpelt signaled for the young tom to join her.

Owlfeather stretched his claws and yawned. “Blackpaw, you are with me.”

Spottedwing blinked. “Swiftpaw, you will be on my side.”

Swiftpaw and Blackpaw padded to their mentors.

“Now,” began Owlfeather, “each of us has a partner. We will train in a three-part battle. Each of you will fight the other two, and each of us will fight the other two. You will also fight the mentors. Remember that you can make temporary allies against a common enemy.”

Spottedwing continued. “This is Flamepaw’s first battle assessment. Swiftpaw and Blackpaw have already each had one. We will find how skilled you are in a three-part battle—not that any of us has ever been in a real one, or ever expects one to happen.”

Now it was Goldenpelt’s turn. “After this, you will begin your first and second hunting assessments—my apprentice’s first, you two’s second. This is obviously not the one that will determine whether you are ready to be warriors; we are checking progress.”

“Can we hurry up?” Blackpaw growled under his breath. Spottedwing meowed, “Go!” (there also isn't a paragraph break here)

Instantly, each of them began to battle the others—except their partners. Blackpaw wasn’t sure, but he thought he and Owlfeather won.

“Good job,” meowed Owlfeather. “Especially you, Blackpaw. I like your effort.”

Blackpaw wanted to be a warrior. He wished the ceremony were that night.

It was then that he remembered Cloudfrost. He’d forgotten about it since the battle, but now he recalled how she’d stammered, cut off her sentences.

Was something wrong with Cloudfrost? (what is the point of this!? like I know Cedarpaw was my favorite but what is the point of this)

~~~~~~~~~

“Wake up, Swiftpaw!” hissed Blackpaw. “Wake up! We need to go on patrol!”

Swiftpaw could barely hear his voice. “Blackpaw?” she mewed. “Are you there?” She was back into the Dark Forest. Back where Hawkfrost had been. But now she was alone, except for the shadowy, slinking cats she’d seen occasionally.

The Dark Forest was a nightmare.

“Swiftpaw!” Blackpaw’s voice came again. “Swiftpaw, wake up!”

Swiftpaw strained to see past the dark-leaved bushes. She could make out only blackness. ("next time he drags me in there I'll leave")

A claw jabbed into her left hind leg.

“Ow!” Swiftpaw was jolted awake. “That hurt!”

Swiftpaw yawned and stretched.

“It’s time to go patrol.” Blackpaw padded out of the apprentices’ den. Swiftpaw followed him and saw Spottedwing, Darksplash, and Beechfoot waiting.

“It’s about time.” Darksplash sounded annoyed. (I'm surprised there hasn't been exposition yet about how Darksplash is Swiftpaw and Blackpaw's father and what happened was he fathered Cloudfrost and Willowpaw with Frostblossom, then Swiftpaw and Blackpaw with Mystery Spoiler Cat, but then Mystery Spoiler Cat died and he's the dad to all of his kits and Frostblossom raised Swiftpaw and Blackpaw alongside her own kits and it's not even awkward)

“Sorry,” Swiftpaw meowed. She followed the warriors into the forest, Blackpaw just ahead of her.

Rainstep pelted past them, then skidded to a halt. “Darksplash! Spottedwing! Bring the patrol. WindClan cats on our territory!” The gray-and-white warrior was off again. Swiftpaw and Blackpaw bounded after the rest of the patrol all the way to the border.

Four cats.

Quickleap hopped around below a tree on his hind legs, trying to find a squirrel. Slushfoot lashed her tail as she tried to hook a fish out of the water. Orangetail stretched lazily out on the ground, his mouth wide in a yawn. Berryfoot crouched above a mouse hole, focusing on the dark tunnel.

“We’re evenly matched,” muttered Darksplash, “except that they’re all warriors, young ones at that.”

Orangetail’s yellow gaze lifted. He took in the ThunderClan cats calmly, his claws extending slowly as he muttered something to Berryfoot.

The warrior looked up and froze. “Sorry,” he mewed, obviously intimidated. “I didn’t mean to trespass, but Orangetail told me we had hunting rights in the stream, and…”

“The woods on that side of the stream are our territory, remember?” Orangetail meowed. “The stream belongs to both Clans.”

“Orangetail said we were allowed in the stream,” meowed Berryfoot. “We didn’t think it would hurt to hunt right here.”

“Let me guess,” Darksplash growled, “Solstice.” (why does it matter)

Slushfoot spoke now. “Yeah, it was Solstice—he said Orangetail was right.”

“Mouse-brain,” growled Orangetail, “you just gave it away!”

“Oops.” Slushfoot ducked her head apologetically. “But ThunderClan already knows, so what’s the problem?”

“The problem, Slushfoot, is that you’ve told them they’re right!” Orangetail pushed Slushfoot into the river.

“We’re prepared to fight you right now, in fact!” Berryfoot launched himself at Darksplash. The warrior rose up and tried to bat the warrior out of the air, but Orangetail knocked him over.

Swiftpaw found herself facing Slushfoot. She knew that, behind her, Blackpaw faced Berryfoot. “Come on…” she muttered, not expecting Slushfoot to do it.

But she did. Slushfoot darted forward. Swiftpaw ducked. So did Blackpaw, and Slushfoot tumbled, claws outstretched, into Berryfoot. “Mouse dung!” she hissed as he extracted himself from her grasp.

Rainstep was on them at once, Darksplash right behind, after sending Orangetail back to his own territory. Quickleap jabbed his claws into Darksplash’s flank.

Orangetail had returned, along with Iciclewhisker, Stripedfur, and Petalpelt. The battle was now mostly in the stream, though both banks showed evidence. (why did I make the territories so small)

Quickleap slashed Darksplash again and again, Spottedwing trying in vain to pull him away. Beechfoot leapt at the WindClan cats, landing on Petalpelt and flattening her to the ground.

Iciclewhisker and Orangetail turned simultaneously and Beechfoot had to scramble backward. Darksplash finally managed to throw off his attacker. The warrior was bleeding heavily on one side.

“Beechfoot!” Swiftpaw panted. “Behind you!”

Orangetail swiftly flattened the warrior.

“What do you want?”

It was Graywing’s voice. Rainstep stood a pawstep behind him, panting.

The four WindClan cats who had first trespassed bolted across the border. Petalpelt, Iciclewhisker, and Stripedfur sprang to their paws and began to leave, but Graywing and Spottedwing leapt into their path.

“Not so fast,” growled Graywing. “I want to see Sedgestar. What will she have to say?”

“She’ll say we were brave, coming to help our Clanmates,” meowed Petalpelt. “We did nothing wrong.”

“Too bad you can’t say the same for them.” Spottedwing gave a nod in the direction of the four warriors hiding in the underbrush across the stream. (and now they're hiding what)

“I will see Sedgestar!”

“All right, all right. Come on.” The WindClan warriors whisked away, Graywing bounding after them.

CHAPTER EIGHT

Blackpaw's pelt itched. He longed to run through the forest, straight to the open clearing where Silverpelt shone, but instead, he was stuck in camp. It was midnight, but Swiftpaw and Flamepaw were awake.

He closed his eyes, but it didn't help. When his eyes were open, he saw Swiftpaw and Flamepaw whispering, being silly. When he closed them, he saw Tealpaw and Duskpaw.

"It's no use," he muttered. "The Clans... we're at war. Our allies are RiverClan. No one can save us."

It was really bad, not just a few battles. A few days ago, when the border battle had taken place, Graywing went to the WindClan camp and came back with a torn ear and a scarred muzzle, not to mention patches of fur missing from his tail. Darksplash was resting in the medicine den after having his throat torn.

But WindClan had their troubles, too. Rabbitleap hadn't completely recovered from the battle with all four Clans; Owlpaw's warrior ceremony was probably going to be delayed due to his injury; Brushfoot had been just able to prevent Sedgestar from losing a life. (okay but when does Brushfoot become significant I know he does)

That was just it, he realized. How did WindClan beat us? Sure, there's Heathernose, but one warrior won't change the fighters of the forest… Was Sedgestar really such a fierce leader? Or was there something else behind this?

Sedgestar was the youngest leader, the most impulsive. Wetstar had been older when Dawnstar died than Sedgestar had when Whitefoot died–she developed greencough in leaf-bare and never managed to get nine lives.

Ivystar was the oldest leader. Sometimes she seemed like she was in her own world, a world of suffering. Blackpaw imagined if his sister had been able to hear across the forest, he'd be jealous, too.

Rushstar? Well, she was older than Sedgestar, but younger than Ivystar and Wetstar. She was probably the happiest leader, or would be if not for the war. (who cares)

Blackpaw sighed, gazing at his sister and friend. They were closing their eyes now. Too late–so was he.

Blackpaw's eyes gradually closed. As they did, a smile crept over his face. In his mind, he saw the image of a gray cat. (wow what foreshadowing)



"Today," meowed Owlfeather, "we will be practicing the Lightning Strike."

The Lightning Strike! Blackpaw sat up straighter. Cloudfrost had told them stories of cats who used the Lightning Strike to save ThunderClan from destruction. Cherryfall had even known a cat who, as an apprentice, taught a patrol to fight off a ShadowClan invasion by themselves. One of those cats, Cherryfall had mewed ruefully, had been Tigerstar, back when he was Tigerclaw of ThunderClan. (didn't they just say they were about to do the Lightning Strike in the last chapter)

"This move has existed since nearly the beginning of the Clans. ThunderClan alone has mastered it." Spottedwing's eyes glowed. "They say Thunder himself came up with the move, and though the other leaders figured it out, none could copy him correctly. Wind had the speed, but not the strength; River was too slow; and Shadow couldn't disguise herself as another cat, only as a shadow." (I think the powers were just supposed to be a myth)

Great, thought Blackpaw, a history lesson. Let's move on to the Strike!

Goldenpelt mewed, "A patrol of cats pounces on another group, clawing and slashing furiously, then retreats; they strike again from another side when the enemy relaxes."

"For maximum confusion," added Owlfeather, "call out the names of other cats. If we were doing a triple Lightning Strike, the first time, I'd call Spottedwing by her own name. The second time, I might call her Ivystar. And the third time, I might call her Ferndapple."

"If you use enough speed," meowed Spottedwing, "the patrol cats won't recognize you–especially if you have your claws in their face."

Goldenpelt stood up. "I want you three to hide in the bushes." She nodded toward a bramble. "Try to get us by pouncing, slashing, and retreating."

Blackpaw, Swiftpaw, and Flamepaw crept into the bushes, then watched as their mentors padded past them. Swiftpaw twitched her ear, and the three apprentices leapt out, pummeled their mentors with claws sheathed, and retreated. The older cats shook off their fur and glanced around. Goldenpelt glanced around suspiciously. Spottedwing cast her gaze into the trees. Owlfeather tensed and swung his head around, searching for an enemy. Eventually, though, the mentors relaxed slightly, as if they didn't know their apprentices were about to attack them again, just waiting for the perfect moment. Swiftpaw twitched her ear again, and they repeated the attack from the other side.

"Did we do a good job?" Flamepaw bounced around Goldenpelt's paws.

"Yes. All three of you did a good job," she replied. "Better than I expected for a first try."

Blackpaw suddenly remembered how close he was to being a warrior. Just a few more moons! I'd better practice extra hard.

"In fact," Owlfeather meowed, "if we're going to fight ShadowClan, that's a move we need to know."

Blackpaw tilted his head to the right. "Why?"

"ThunderClan cats train apprentices to climb, right?"

"Yeah..." Swiftpaw sounded just as confused as Blackpaw felt.

"If we strike from the trees, they'll be even less likely to see us coming," explained Spottedwing. "ShadowClan and ThunderClan both have perfect territory for the Lightning Strike; WindClan has little cover, and RiverClan would lure us into the water. But ShadowClan has thick forest, weaving together into a dark cloud of trees, casting shadows over the ground. And ThunderClan...we're built for our territory. Thick forest, but not thick enough to stop sunlight from filtering through, making our pelts look dappled."

No more history! Blackpaw tried to shut out Spottedwing's voice, but it didn't work.

"Many leaders have, in the past, used the Lightning Strike. When Shadow's Clan attacked Thunder's Clan, ThunderClan hid from them, then used the Lightning Strike. Owlstar, the next leader, combined his knowledge of owls with his training in the Lightning Strike to have his warriors drop from the trees. Those are just two examples of the advantages given by the Lightning Strike. Dustpelt–the cat Cherryfall tells stories of–trained a patrol to strike three times to convince ShadowClan that all of ThunderClan was diving out of trees onto them. The Lightning Strike is a powerful move, and we have to take advantage of ThunderClan's strength: hunting."

"Hunting?" repeated Blackpaw in dismay. It was fun, but did he really want his strength to be hunting?

"Sure," meowed Owlfeather. "ThunderClan hunts prey through thick undergrowth, which means we're agile in dense forest, and we have power in our leaps. WindClan are the fastest runners, RiverClan are the strongest swimmers, and ShadowClan are the stealthiest trackers. Therefore, we have hunting, WindClan has running, RiverClan has swimming, and ShadowClan has stalking."

"Take advantage of our strength, pouncing, and we'll win any battle against those mouse-brained attackers!" Goldenpelt finished. "Swiftpaw, you may go attend to your duties. Ask for a story if you have time. Flamepaw, Ferndapple wants to see your hunting skills. Blackpaw, you are scheduled for a hunting patrol."

~~~~~~~~~

Swiftpaw sat. "Cherryfall? Lightblaze? Could you tell me a story?"

Cherryfall nodded her head. "What about?"

"I want stories of LionClan. And TigerClan. And LeopardClan, of course."

"You like LeopardClan the best?" Lightblaze meowed. "I personally like LionClan's sun-ray manes the best. Why LeopardClan?"

"They're fast and agile," Swiftpaw replied. "And I think spots are pretty."

"Thank you," mewed Cherryfall. "I appreciate it." (remember I thought she was a tortoiseshell)

Swiftpaw smiled. "I want stories of noble warriors." Her white chest swelled. "Stories of brave cats and wise cats and noble leaders, with a victorious ending!"

“Before the time of the Clans,” Lightblaze rasped, “there was no law in the forest. Small groups of rogues battled endlessly over dead squirrels. Finally, the majority of cats decided to gather at Fourtrees.”

“Fourtrees?” Swiftpaw tested the word; she’d never heard it before. (how has she never heard of Fourtrees)

“Fourtrees was like the island in our territory.” Cherryfall turned back to Lightblaze. “Continue.”

“At Fourtrees,” explained Lightblaze, “the cats expected to join together into a giant Clan. There was a big battle, though. It lasted all night, and many, many cats died.”

“How many?” Swiftpaw gasped.

“About half,” replied Cherryfall. “Finally, when no cat could fight any longer, the spirits of the cats who died then appeared. They were no longer wounded from the battle. Their message was simple and very clear—unite or die.”

“A red tom with white forepaws called Thunder stepped forward. ‘Clearly, it is I who should lead,’ he meowed loudly and commandingly. ‘I am strong and a brilliant hunter.’” (I think this closely follows the story given in one of the older guides, so I'm okay with the inaccuracies considering legends can get mangled over the years)

“He wasn’t the only one, though,” Cherryfall interrupted. “Shadow, a black she-cat, challenged him. ‘Thunder,’ she hissed, ‘you are not the only one here who thinks he or she should lead. What good is strength if you are not sneaky enough to use it?’”

Lightblaze took up the story again. “Another tom, sleek and silver, rose. ‘And you would lead us into darkness! The water can shape homes, provide food and water, and help cats train themselves to be powerful whether running or swatting!’ This cat’s name was River.” ("the water can provide water")

“Another cat, Wind, who was a brown she-cat, rose in turn to challenge him. ‘Not every cat is meant to swim,’ she called. ‘Every cat is meant to run, though; it is not Thunder or Shadow or River that moves so swiftly, but Wind.’”

“What happened?” Swiftpaw mewed.

“They almost broke out fighting again,” meowed Lightblaze, “but fortunately, a fifth cat had an idea. Sky, a silvery white she-cat, leaped onto the Great Rock—sort of like our Great Tree. ‘Cats,’ she called, ‘we have no need to fight. Runners can join Wind on the moor, swimmers with River in the wettest territory, hunters with Thunder in the thick woods, and trackers with Shadow in the pine forest; I will lead those who have powerful hind legs and can jump higher and farther than others, in the woods bordering Thunder’s territory.’ That was how the Clans were formed.” (why do they remember SkyClan? this was written before Clear Sky was a character so that's why Sky is a silvery white she-cat but still why did they incorporate Sky into their story)

Swiftpaw begged, “I want to hear another story! Please?”

Cherryfall thought for a minute. "There is a legend that tells of a giant adder. In ThunderClan's old territory, someone told me, there was a place called Snakerocks. Long ago, it was in LionClan's territory. LionClan were golden, with manes like the rays of the sun. At Snakerocks, there was a giant snake named Mouthfang who swallowed LionClan warriors whole. Even if she didn't swallow them, her bite was a hundred times more venomous than any of today's adders." (this bears repeating: why did I feel the need to tell stories that are already in canon)

"Wow!" breathed Swiftpaw. "Mouthfang sounds really scary! I'm glad Mouthfang doesn't live here in ThunderClan territory!"

"A warrior who was named Sunpelt decided to defeat Mouthfang. He leaped onto Snakerocks and taunted the giant adder. Sunpelt was a fast warrior, and eventually, he pinned Mouthfang down. He just couldn't kill her, because she had extra-hard scales. She told him she'd starve if he kept her there, but then so would he. Instead, she granted him a wish. He wished she would shrink to the size of a cat's tail, and she did."

"But then," Swiftpaw interrupted, "he could have killed her, because her scales would be thinner. Wouldn't he have killed her? Then there would be no more adders around!"

"She tricked him," Lightblaze meowed bleakly. "She shrank, yes, but she tricked him. He saw before him that there were now a hundred small snakes. He couldn't believe he'd been so mouse-brained as to think she'd really let him kill her. Horrified, Sunpelt ran to the LionClan camp."

"He was afraid?" gasped Swiftpaw. "LionClan warriors are supposed to be the bravest and fiercest of all cats! When we fight well, cats say we fight like LionClan. Sunpelt ran away from the snakes?"

"Sunpelt confessed to his leader, Goldenstar, that he had tried to kill Mouthfang but only succeeded in turning her into a hundred small snakes." Cherryfall seemed amused. "I'm sure glad I'm never going to have to go to Ivystar and say, 'Hey, Ivystar, I just divided a giant snake into a hundred little ones. Sorry about that!'"

"Me, too," Swiftstar agreed. "What happened next? Did Sunpelt have to care for the elders like an apprentice?"

"No," Cherryfall mewed. "Goldenstar told Sunpelt that he was actually proud, because even all of the small adders would never be as dangerous as Mouthfang."

"Tell me another story!" Swiftpaw begged. "I like these stories!"

"TigerClan wasn't always striped," Lightblaze meowed. "Once, long ago, TigerClan was bitter, because LionClan had manes, and LeopardClan had spots, but TigerClan were simply golden cats. Thorntooth began to steal LionClan kits; Shadestar put up with it until he stole Petalkit. 'Thorntooth,' she howled, 'that's Goldenstar's only daughter!' At the Gathering that moon, Shadestar gave Petalkit back to Goldenstar. Goldenstar was mad; so was Swiftstar of LeopardClan."

"Swiftstar? I like her!" Swiftpaw was happy to hear someone else with a name like hers. "What happened?"

"TigerClan had to come out only at night for a moon afterward."

"What?" Swiftpaw's eyes widened as she imagined if ThunderClan had to walk only at night. She couldn't imagine not feeling the sun on her pelt.

"In the end, though, they were happy, particularly Thorntooth. Their pelts had streaks of jet black from walking in shadows; that was how they received their stripes."

"What about Petalkit?" Swiftpaw mewed. "What happened to her?"

"No one knows for certain," Cherryfall replied. "Some say Sunpelt was her mentor, and that Petalkit became Petalfang; she had a knack for killing adders. But others say she was a medicine cat named Petalwish."

"Can I hear another?"

"Here's one about LeopardClan," offered Lightblaze. "Swiftstar wanted the river. Goldenstar and Shadestar said she could have it for a moon, but only if one of her warriors could kill the giant boar called Rage. Rage was fierce and had killed several of the LionClan and TigerClan warriors."

"You mean, Rage killed Swiftstar and there was a big battle?" Swiftpaw felt a sinking feeling. "I don't like that story."

"Wrong. Fleetfoot, a LeopardClan warrior, volunteered. She fought Rage until he fell into the river. Exhausted, Fleetfoot hauled herself onto her paws. That was when she learned that there was something Shadestar and Goldenstar didn't mention. Rage had a mate. Her name was Fury, and she was bigger and tougher than Rage had been. Fury and Fleetfoot battled for three days, and then Fleetfoot killed the boar. Shadestar and Goldenstar were ashamed, and instead of lending LeopardClan the river, they gave it to them for good. Swiftstar's Clan caught fish and became stronger." (this is only marginally related but can I complain? any time "Fleet" is used, either as the beginning of a warrior name or as a name on its own in any animal-focused media or fandom, people start complaining that Fleet is a terrible name and that the animals wouldn't know what boats were…which would be a legitimate argument, but "fleet" also means "quick" so the boat argument is useless)

"I can kind of see why you'd like LeopardClan the best," Lightblaze meowed. "Goldenstar and Shadestar weren't very nice–Shadestar in particular. Letting Thorntooth steal those kits! But it's time for you to go. Spottedwing will be waiting for you to join her patrol."

~~~~~~~~~

Blackpaw launched himself forward, grabbing the thrush with both paws and killing it instantly.

"Nice catch!" called Owlfeather. "That'll feed at least one cat! Come on, Blackpaw, let's go get some more."

Blackpaw scraped earth over his thrush to keep it safe. He enjoyed hunting, but the question in his mind remained the same: as a power? A special power, and ThunderClan’s was hunting? That wasn't very useful; every Clan hunted enough to feed themselves. If I could choose a power, I'd choose to fight like Lionblaze! (this Blackpaw is "based on" a previous Blackpaw who was a really good fighter; also, no one said the word "power" until you, Blackpaw, so shut up)

Not that it mattered. No one could choose his or her natural talents, and hunting to feed the Clan was much better than swimming in the lake just to feel water.

Blackpaw didn’t really know why he didn’t want to hunt. Hunting was fun, after all! Shouldn’t he be happy ThunderClan cats were the best?

Blackpaw had made up his mind, though. Hunting was a pointless power.

~~~~~~~~~

Flamepaw’s whiskers quivered. He could hear a rustling sound in the bushes and knew Ferndapple was nearby.

Hope you like this, he thought, and sprang at the robin a few tail-lengths away.

Feathers filled Flamepaw’s mouth for a moment, but he spit them out and picked the robin up. He knew Ferndapple would be proud of him now!

Goldenpelt was a good mentor. She’d taught him how to catch all kinds of prey, just like Owlfeather and Spottedwing taught Blackpaw and Swiftpaw.

I’m going to grow up and be the best hunter in the Clan! No one will ever be hungry!

It was too bad Solstice had taken control of WindClan. Darksplash might die if Skydapple couldn’t heal him enough!

Flamepaw shook his head and covered his catch with a layer of earth.

He listened a moment, then took off in the direction of paws. They were light on the ground, and maybe there were a bunch of squirrels chasing each other.
When Flamepaw arrived, however, he saw something that made him freeze in his tracks.

All of WindClan’s warriors, except the young tan tom with the blue eyes and a pair of dark gray-black cats. Among the warriors Flamepaw could see Starpaw and Frozenpaw, though no Heathernose or Webnose, and he saw Sedgestar in front. He even saw Luna, a kittypet who liked to come to the woods.

“Now,” whispered a large tortoiseshell tom next to Sedgestar, “when they told you the tree would fall, it began to shake. But did they run? No. Keep in mind that when they do not back up their words with the appropriate actions, they are probably lying. Besides, did any apprentices show up in our camp, begging for help after a tree squashed their friends? No. Also, the patrol that met Heathernose’s did not show up in the camp, right? Therefore, they were somewhere else. Those cats must have shaken the tree. You say the ground did not loosen; the tree simply started to rustle its leaves and the branches swayed a little more than normal. You also say it was a fairly young tree, not as thick as that oak right there.” The spotted tom flicked his tail at a giant oak. “The cats pressed their paws back and forth on the trunk, and it shook. No more tales of falling trees, okay? That won’t work unless all cats are in camp and a huge tree shakes on its own.” (why is he babbling this at her, especially right now)

Sedgestar nodded and stretched. “Well, let’s go. We can’t keep this pace; they’ll see us hours before we reach the camp!” (nothing in this universe takes hours shut up!!!)

Flamepaw knew something was very wrong. The WindClan cats were planning to invade, and shaking beeches wouldn’t help.

Without stopping to think, Flamepaw started racing past the WindClan cats. Most of them gasped, startled. The tortoiseshell gaped, openly astonished at Flamepaw’s sudden appearance from behind the ranks of WindClan cats.

“Hey, there goes an apprentice!” came a voice. “Can I get him?” Flamepaw remembered hearing the voice before, but he couldn’t place it until the next cat spoke.

“Sure, go ahead.” Flamepaw recognized that voice instantly. Heathernose. The other cat… the voice was Gorsepelt’s. (this is ridiculous)

Gorsepelt was going to try to kill him!

CHAPTER NINE

Swiftpaw’s heart stopped. The WindClan cats were back, and this time, a tortoiseshell had joined them. (why do you care he's just a cat)

There was only one cat this could be, who would have such a confident, arrogant expression, and stand so tall among the somewhat nervous warriors.

Solstice.

Solstice stood proudly behind Sedgestar, whispering to her that the tree was still sturdy.

Ivystar seemed frozen in fear. I just hope she can deal with the WindClan cats.

Ivystar finally gave a slight shiver and surveyed the WindClan cats. “I don’t like this,” she muttered. “Flamespark said they were all here, but most of them are missing.”

Sure enough, Swiftpaw couldn’t see a number of warriors—Webnose, Ravenwing, Rabbitleap, Spiderfoot, Owlpaw, Starpaw, and Furzetail had disappeared.

“Cloudfrost,” Ivystar whispered, “tell the apprentices to shelter in the nursery. The elders, too. Then you go to RiverClan and get help.”

Swiftpaw crept into the nursery. “Brightflower, Mousepelt,” she breathed, trying not to let WindClan hear. “We have to stay in here. Cherryfall and Lightblaze and Blackpaw and Flamepaw are going to be here. The WindClan cats came back.”

Mousepelt’s expression registered alarm, but Brightflower snarled, “They’re never going to get my kits!”

Cherryfall poked her head into the den, then took a long step to the other side, where she watched the entrance worriedly.

Blackpaw and Flamepaw were right behind her, then Lightblaze.

“We don’t know what we can do to help,” whispered Blackpaw. “The WindClan cats haven’t attacked anyone yet, but we saw one of them who was barely able to restrain himself.”

Swiftpaw tensed. If one cat attacked, then they all would, and ThunderClan might be destroyed.

There was a noise overhead.

“Get back as far as you can,” Cherryfall choked out through a horrified expression. “I know that sound. It’s from when I was a kit. I just need to think a minute, then I’ll be able to remember it…it was terrible, I just need to remember what it is…” (what do you think it is!!!)

There was another sound—retreating pawsteps, Swiftpaw guessed—and Cherryfall shook her head. “I’m going to warn them,” she gasped through the strangled expression on her face. “They need to know. Get back against the wall, especially Poppykit and Smokekit.”

Cherryfall leapt out of the den. Swiftpaw couldn’t help sticking her head out to watch what happened.

When Cherryfall spoke, her voice was hoarse. The elder cried, “The missing cats are digging under the tree right there!” She gestured frantically toward a spot Swiftpaw couldn’t see.

“Get up here!” Ivystar commanded to the warriors close to the Highledge. “If Cherryfall is right, there won’t be much time before it falls!” Cats began to climb, but it was clear that several of them would not make it in time, and a few took shelter in shallower dens and cracks in the camp’s wall.

Swiftpaw pressed herself against the wall with Lightblaze, Brightflower, Blackpaw, Mousepelt, Flamepaw, Poppykit, and Smokekit. “Mother,” mewed Poppykit, “are we going to die if the tree falls?”

“No,” replied Brightflower soothingly. “Everything will be just fine.”

The tree didn’t fall. Cherryfall whisked back inside and helped Brightflower to shield the kits in case the WindClan cats were toying with them.

“Well, Sedgestar? Is that enough?” The voice, unmistakably that of a young she-cat, was full of spite. Ravenwing, thought Swiftpaw. (I honestly do not know whether the spite is directed at ThunderClan or Sedgestar, and I'm guessing the latter)

“Yes. And Ivystar?” Sedgestar added. “Thanks for the idea!”

Swiftpaw shook her head in disbelief. She’d thought Sedgestar was just naïve. Was the WindClan leader really so mouse-brained that she thought she was doing the right thing for WindClan? Or was she an evil cat? She saw Lightblaze wrinkling his face in disgust, Flamepaw and the kits’ eyes round with fear. Well, we are at war…

“While we’re here,” suggested a voice Swiftpaw had never heard before—Solstice, she thought—“we might as well weaken the cats, too.”

Did that mean a battle? Swiftpaw hoped it didn’t. Weak trees were bad enough, but if the Clan was weak, they’d never recover.

She crouched down next to her brother. Flamepaw did the same on Blackpaw’s other side.

Soon, the sounds of battle filled the air. Swiftpaw began to shiver, and the frightened mewling of the kits just made her even more terrified. Every instinct screamed that ThunderClan should run. They were outnumbered, scared, and…wait a minute. Swiftpaw thought about the WindClan cats. Sedgestar was a mouse-brain, but Swiftpaw was sure even she wouldn’t lead her Clan under a falling tree. When it rains, though…

Solstice’s voice was the loudest of all as he issued commands, but they were commands the ThunderClan cats had never heard before.

“First patrol, strike, turn, other side! Second patrol, leader, kits! Third patrol, warriors and apprentices, but remember the brambles! Fourth patrol, stay with me, follow my commands. Get anyone from the dens!” (what do you mean ThunderClan has never heard this before…what do you think it means)

Oh, no, thought Swiftpaw. Someone was sure to look in the nursery. What would happen to the kits and elders then?

A pair of warriors burst in. A second pair began to tear away the brambles.

A blue-eyed tom struck Blackpaw’s shoulder with his claws halfway out. Furzetail.

A green-eyed tom sprang on Flamepaw. Gorsepelt.

The other two were dark-furred. The tom, Spiderfoot, snarled and raked his claws down Swiftpaw’s back. She risked a glance at the she-cat before striking back.

The she-cat was Ravenwing. Ravenwing looked ashamed of herself. Come to think of it, so did Furzetail—and Gorsepelt, too!

Ravenwing sheathed her claws and dragged the last bramble down with her teeth, then padded uncertainly to Lightblaze and crashed into his side.

Something was wrong, Swiftpaw thought. Lightblaze was an elder, yet not a scratch appeared on his body. Ravenwing was an agile warrior, yet she was being pummeled.

Then Swiftpaw remembered what Ravenwing had done with the brambles. Sheathed claws, biting the brambles with her teeth.

Spiderfoot’s teeth sank into Swiftpaw’s scruff, and she let out a yelp.

“Don’t touch him!” Blackpaw’s outraged cry couldn’t have anything to do with Swiftpaw. She was a she-cat!

Spiderfoot let go and clawed Swiftpaw’s flank. She twisted around and saw Gorsepelt, claws halfway out, pinning Flamepaw to the ground.

A blow from Spiderfoot’s claws reminded Swiftpaw that she had an enemy to fight, too.

“Mother!” squeaked Poppykit. “They’re going to kill him! Do something!”

“Blackpaw can handle this,” whispered Cherryfall. “Brightflower, Mousepelt, don’t move. You need to protect your kits.”

Lightblaze sank his claws into Ravenwing’s flank. She hissed and batted at his muzzle. Lightblaze’s head moved, though. Ravenwing clawed his face, narrowly missing his eye.

“Oh!” she gasped. Furzetail’s eyes widened.

Then another cat broke in. “Stop fighting in the den!” Webnose commanded. “Get the apprentices to come out, and we’ll have no chance of breaking the code by battling these kits!” (are you not already trampling on the code? like I don't want to advocate Evil here but the logical thing to do is steal the kits--I know they don't want to do what Solstice wants them to do but if you're concerned about the battle then…theft is the obvious answer)

The warriors hauled them out.

Swiftpaw tried to slip away from Spiderfoot, but he swatted her muzzle and bowled her over again.

“Owlfeather!” The cry was desperate and pained. Swiftpaw’s mentor leaped over her head and dashed to the other side of the hollow.

What’s happening?

“Let go of him.” Blackpaw had never sounded so forceful. Flamepaw must still be pinned down. (why are you still listening to Blackpaw)

~~~~~~~~~

Blackpaw hissed again. “Gorsepelt,” he growled, “fight me. Not Flamepaw.”

Gorsepelt shook his head. “I feel like fighting Flamepaw. Sorry!”

With a yowl, Blackpaw launched himself at the warrior. Gorsepelt was taken by surprise, but he recovered quickly. Within a minute, he pinned Blackpaw to the ground.

“Get off of him!” Flamepaw sounded frightened.

Blackpaw plunged back into his dream. The teeth came closer, closer, until they closed. When they opened again, Blackpaw had stopped breathing… (copying and pasting is BAD)

So his dream was right. Gorsepelt would kill him. But he didn’t. Gorsepelt scratched Blackpaw’s face.

“Let him go!” commanded Ivystar forcefully. Does she really know he was just about to kill me?

Then the really odd part happened. Gorsepelt stood up, releasing Blackpaw. Before he could strike back, though, he noticed something odd.

Every cat in the clearing stood, looking in the same direction.

Sedgestar pinned Owlfeather to the ground, sharp claws a whisker’s width from his throat.

“Don’t kill him!” cried Ferndapple.

“Let him live!” growled Darksplash.

“Don’t break the code!” begged Ravenwing. (no one cares)

“Get up!” howled Spottedwing.

“Let him go!” hissed Goldenpelt.

“You said not to kill anyone!” cried Heathernose.

“Ignore them,” commanded Solstice. “He is one warrior. He stopped you from fighting anyone else. WindClan needs your help. He would not let anyone else have your help. You need him to leave the battle.”

“No!” Ivystar seemed to be the only one in control of her voice. She stepped forward and roughly shouldered Sedgestar aside. “I won’t let you kill any ThunderClan warriors!”

Darksplash slid a glance at Solstice. “Your family does have a tendency to kill our strong warriors, don’t they?” Solstice jerked away, stung by the remark.

Go, Darksplash! (how is "your grandpa killed our strong warrior" a burn)

“We’ll be back another time,” Sedgestar promised uncertainly. “We didn’t break the code. And we won’t. But we’ll be back. You can…wait for us to come back. Come on, WindClan!” She broke away, racing out of the ThunderClan camp.

“Owlfeather, Owlfeather, are you okay?” Spottedwing whispered, pressing her face against his pelt. Her voice sounded thin and scared.

“Oh, I’m fine,” he meowed weakly. “Takes a lot more than a couple of scratches to kill a ThunderClan warrior!”

Swiftpaw turned away and started to slink into the apprentices’ den. There was no way she wanted to see the Clan so scared.

Oh, no, Swiftpaw thought, her heart sinking. I’m sure glad I’m not a medicine cat. There’s bound to be a battle tonight, at the Moonpool. (fun fact I didn't like Swiftpaw and wouldn't have written her into the story if she hadn't been my sister's character originally)

CHAPTER TEN

Willowpaw followed her mentor through ThunderClan’s territory. “Skydapple,” she whispered, “what if Brushfoot is one of Solstice’s followers?”

“He won’t be,” Skydapple mewed. “Brushfoot is smarter than that.”

A sound startled them. “Who’s there?” called Skydapple.

“It’s us,” growled Fernfrond; for half a second, distrust and fear flashed across her face. The light brown tabby she-cat was followed a moment later by a small black tom—Darkpaw.

“Brushfoot should be there already,” remarked Skydapple. Fernfrond had evidently decided that although the Clans were at war, the medicine cats could still be friends. Kind of. The ShadowClan cat kept a wary eye on Skydapple as they conversed.

Sure enough, Brushfoot was waiting by the Moonpool’s stream. Surprisingly, he was speaking with Robinfeather. Cedarfall sat by himself, staring into ThunderClan territory.

“Let’s go!” Robinfeather called when she saw the ThunderClan and ShadowClan cats.

“I apologize for Sedgestar’s attack on your camp. I had no part in it, and truth be told, many of us, myself included, would have stopped it, had we been able to.”

Willowpaw still didn’t want to talk with Brushfoot. She fell back to walk with Darkpaw, who shrank back nervously at first, but then walked straighter.

“Here we are,” Brushfoot announced when they reached the Moonpool. Willowpaw had seen it many times before, but she always felt excited and a little nervous before sharing tongues with StarClan.

“Wait!” Skydapple called. Everyone looked at her curiously. “Before we talk to StarClan, I have something I need to do.”

Surprise flashed through Willowpaw. Already? I thought this wouldn’t happen for a couple of moons!

“I, Skydapple, medicine cat of ThunderClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. She has trained hard to understand the ways of a medicine cat, and she will serve her Clan well for many moons to come. Willowpaw, do you promise to uphold the ways of a medicine cat, to stand apart from rivalry between Clan and Clan, and to protect all cats equally, even at the cost of your life?”

Willowpaw quivered with excitement. This was the best day of her life! “I do!” she mewed. “I do!”

“Then, by the powers of StarClan, I give you your full name. Willowpaw, from this moment on, you will be known as Willowcloud. StarClan honors your spirit and perseverance, and we welcome you as a full medicine cat.” (while I didn't do this intentionally, my tendency to latch onto a word and reuse it quickly created the family of Frostblossom, Cloudfrost, and Willowcloud)

“Willowcloud!” called Darkpaw. The other medicine cats joined in—Skydapple, Fernfrond, Brushfoot, Robinfeather, even Cedarfall.

Ha. I bet he wishes he could have seen Cloudfrost’s warrior ceremony. But mine is the best he’s going to get!

Willowcloud watched Darkpaw tear his yellow gaze away. What’s his problem?

Skydapple and Robinfeather bent to lap water from the Moonpool. Brushfoot and Fernfrond were a moment behind; then Cedarfall, Darkpaw, and Willowcloud followed.

Willowcloud curled up by the pool. Someday I’ll figure him out.



“Willowcloud,” came a voice. Whoever it was sounded annoyed. “Willowcloud. Willowcloud! Wake up, you lazy lump of fur!”

Willowcloud shook her head clear and lifted it. She gave a startled squeal of surprise at finding herself face-to-face with Yellowfang.

“You scared me!” she complained, starting to laugh.

“You’re awfully young to have a full name.” Yellowfang sounded skeptical. “I wonder why?”

Willowcloud tipped her head to one side. “Maybe because Skydapple thinks I’m ready?” she replied, a bit more testily than she normally would have.

“Or maybe to show the other Clans that ThunderClan is still strong! Honestly, Willowcloud!” Yellowfang meowed exasperatedly. “You don’t have any sense at all, do you?”

“Not if you define sense as being grumpy!” Willowcloud teased.

“On a different note,” Yellowfang continued in her raspy voice, “has Skydapple mentioned Swiftpaw to you at all?”

“Swiftpaw? No more than usual,” Willowcloud mewed in surprise. “Why?”

“I told every full medicine cat of a prophecy, at a request from Whitewing—you know, Ivystar’s mother—and it went like this: ‘Peace will come on swift wings, past fallen trees, over spiky leaves, through the claws of the night, when fire lights the sky.’”

“Fire!” Willowcloud exclaimed. “But everyone’s afraid of fire!”

Yellowfang hissed. “Let me finish! I know it has to do with a bunch of apprentices—at least one from each Clan. Bearscar said that Spiderpaw told him that he saw a probable sign from a thunderstorm that there were three ThunderClan cats, but he didn’t know when they’d be apprentices. They could be apprentices, or young warriors, or even still kits.”

Willowcloud nodded. “That sounds complicated.”

“You think so?”

Willowcloud mewed, “So who is Bearscar, by the way?”

“Bearscar? Oh, right, you never met him. Come on, Spiderpaw, go get Bearscar.” Turning to Willowcloud, she explained, “Bearscar is on the Hill of Omens. Petalheart is talking to Robinfeather, and Spiderpaw was supposed to be talking to Cedarfall, but he was spying on us instead. A pity, because he, Bearscar, and Petalheart are the only ones who can make him listen.”

A small black cat dashed out of the brush and up a hill, and Yellowfang yowled after him, “It’s about time!”

Yellowfang turned back to the ThunderClan medicine apprentice.

“Willowcloud, what is troubling you? You’ve been acting strangely all night.” Then Yellowfang’s eyes widened. “It’s Darkpaw, isn’t it!”

Willowcloud shook her head. “No! He’s the one who’s acting weird!” (by the way the Willow and Dark plot was eventually that they worked together as medicine cats and decided they didn't need to be in love)

“If you say so,” growled Yellowfang.

“Um, Yellowfang… About that prophecy…”

“Yes?” Yellowfang stared at Willowcloud. “Well, don’t keep me waiting! I don’t have all night! Or are you planning to wait until Bearscar shows up and scares you off?”

“I know why it says the fallen trees.”

“You do?” Yellowfang growled. “I’d love to hear your brilliant idea.”

“It’s Cedarfall!”

Yellowfang lifted her head, eyes shining. “It IS Cedarfall, isn’t it!” (this is ridiculous)

Willowcloud felt proud. Yellowfang liked her idea.

“But why are you only telling me?”

“I’m not.”

“Oh. Okay.”

Then something occurred to Willowcloud. “Then who are you telling?”

“Brushfoot, Robinfeather, and Cedarfall.” Yellowfang didn’t seem to want to elaborate on the subject.

“Who is the spiky leaf? What’s the claws?” Willowcloud begged.

Then she caught sight of the most frightening tom Willowcloud had ever seen, with one creepy amber eye and his pelt crossed with scars. Behind him ran a beautiful calico she-cat and the small black cat—Spiderpaw.

“We don’t know,” mewed the she-cat apologetically. “We can’t tell.”

“What? But StarClan is supposed to know everything!”

“No,” mewed Spiderpaw, grinning. What was he so happy about? “We can’t see who it was.” Probably just being annoying.

“The claws of the night, though…” the she-cat sighed.

“It has to mean some cat from ShadowClan,” Willowcloud pointed out. “They’re the ones who like to fight at night!”

“Wait! I know this! From talking to Fernfrond! It’s… “Willowcloud!”

It wasn’t the same voice. Someone had called her name, drowning out the name of the ShadowClan cat.

“Willowcloud. Willowcloud! Come on, it’s time to leave!”

She opened her eyes to find Skydapple calling her name. “I’m awake, I’m awake.”

“Fernfrond and Darkpaw already left.”

Willowcloud rose to her paws. “Bearscar was about to tell me something before you woke me up.”

“You can ask him next half-moon meeting,” Skydapple pointed out. Willowcloud knew she had a point. “Right now, though, Willowcloud, we have to get back to camp. Ivystar will be waiting. I just hope no one is worried about us.”

Willowcloud waited until Skydapple looked away, then rolled her eyes. No one would be worried about them! They’d gone to the Moonpool, for StarClan’s sake!

She saw Robinfeather suppressing a smile. “She means well,” the RiverClan cat mouthed. Willowcloud rolled her eyes again.

“Come on, let’s go back to camp,” meowed Cedarfall, padding down the stream’s bank.

“Good-bye.” Brushfoot stared into Robinfeather’s eyes. “I’ll see you at the Gathering.” (Brushfoot is supposed to be weirdly intense, not in love with Robinfeather)

The Gathering. A whole quarter moon away. Willowcloud didn’t care. The Gathering could wait. She didn’t care if she never had to face WindClan again. Or ShadowClan. Especially the ShadowClan medicine cats. Something about Darkpaw bothered her.

“Willowcloud! Come on! Get your head out of the clouds!” Skydapple yowled.

Willowcloud bounded down the hill. Oh, well. Bearscar had told her what she needed to know.



“Back at camp!” announced Skydapple.

Suddenly, Willowcloud realized exactly what she had to do. “I have to tell Ivystar something,” she told her mentor, and padded toward the ThunderClan leader’s den. (but why)

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Swiftpaw curled up tighter in her nest. Blackpaw’s tail swished back and forth, back and forth. She could see his yellow eyes glinting in the light from the reddening sky.
Flamepaw had left already, and Blackpaw was going to leave soon, but it was almost nightfall, and her guards were still being prickly. Blackpaw was, unfortunately, following their lead.

Duskpaw still snarled, and Swiftpaw was too afraid to talk to Sunpaw—he was probably unfriendly, too; he hadn’t said much more than Duskpaw, and mostly he was talking to his brother and sister. Even Moonpaw wasn’t quite as friendly as before.

Blackpaw stood up. “I’ll be right back,” he meowed quietly, and then tried to slip away.

Sunpaw leaped in front of him. His pelt shone with golden fire. “Where are you going?”

Blackpaw was so lucky—Sunpaw was actually talking to him! Swiftpaw doubted her brother saw it that way, though…only she-cats would understand whatever was going through her mind, she was certain of it. Not that she knew what exactly she was feeling. (shut up Swiftpaw)

“I’m going to make dirt,” Blackpaw lied. Swiftpaw could always tell when her brother was lying. His voice kind of changed.

Apparently, Sunpaw wasn’t fooled. Maybe he knew what a lying voice sounded like from Duskpaw and Moonpaw.

“Sure,” he meowed mockingly, “and I’m a hedgehog.” (I wish I had actual commentary for more of the story but I don't it's just bad everywhere)

“You’re just as prickly as one,” Blackpaw muttered. Swiftpaw suppressed a laugh. She had a feeling Sunpaw wouldn’t like that.

“I heard that!” Sunpaw growled. “I am not a prickly hedgehog!”

“Leave me alone, prickly hedgehog,” Blackpaw meowed. “I don’t speak to hedgehogs.”

Duskpaw was bristling, his yellow eyes blazing. What was his problem? “Go ahead,” he challenged. “You can fall in for all I care—but give me a chance rip your pelt off first! It’s not like you’ll need one underground!” (another missing word)

“Fall in?” Blackpaw leaned down to look at the ground.

“Yeah, fall in, didn’t you hear me the first time?”

“I didn’t realize I would fall in somewhere just because I stepped on the ground,” Blackpaw meowed. “I step on the ground every day. You ShadowClan cats are afraid of such silly things.”

“It’s your fault,” Moonpaw spat. “You ThunderClan cats followed the tunnels to our camp, and then dug up just enough to make it collapse like a badger set.”

“Well, maybe you should move somewhere else and make a camp there!” Blackpaw mewed, as if the ShadowClan cats were too mouse-brained to understand him.

“We can’t!” Duskpaw apparently felt stung by Blackpaw’s words. “There’s nowhere else we can go. Nowhere!”

Swiftpaw stared at Blackpaw. He’d been with the cats who’d gone. She had never realized her brother could be so heartless.

A cough came from the other side of the camp. Swiftpaw and Blackpaw turned, alarmed. It had sounded like Ivystar, although much stronger—Ivystar sounded like she was about to die whenever she coughed. (I'm guessing "stronger" means the cat sounds stronger not the cough?)

Muddytoes was coughing. Maybe he had a cold or something.

Then there was a squeak. “Hey, who’s that?”

A pair of kits dashed out from a bush—no, a den, which must have been the nursery. A pair of cats, one white and one brown, gazed after them. “Whitedapple and Moleclaw,” Moonpaw whispered softly when she saw Swiftpaw looking.

“Who are you?” squeaked the silver tabby kit.

“I’m Swiftpaw,” Swiftpaw mewed. “This is my brother Blackpaw.”

“Are you sure you’re apprentices? I thought you were warriors,” the black kit mewed warily.

“Why, because ThunderClan are small cats?” Blackpaw growled. “You two kits look pretty small yourself, don’t you think?” The silver kit ducked her head, embarrassed. Swiftpaw saw Duskpaw giving Blackpaw an angry glare. He was the prickly hedgehog, not Sunpaw.

Swiftpaw watched as a third kit joined the first two. The third kit was a tom, a little tabby who was the color of a sandstorm. He darted over to join the black kit and the silver kit.

“No,” the black kit squeaked earnestly, “because they get to be warriors sooner. You like to eat ShadowClan kits.”

“We do not!” Blackpaw meowed. “We have to wait just as long as you do to be warriors, and we aren’t cannibals!” Swiftpaw saw Duskpaw sigh and roll his eyes.

Sunpaw glared at him. “Quiet.”

There was a ring of familiarity to the story, though. Then it hit her. ThunderClan kits were told that ShadowClan and WindClan cats would eat them. They were all taught to hate one another.

Swiftpaw didn’t believe anymore that they ate ThunderClan kits. Everyone knew once they were three moons old that the Clans didn’t eat enemy kits—just scare them. Maybe, though, if she hadn’t been told that, she wouldn’t hate the other Clans quite so much.

“Palekit!” the black kit complained as the third kit—who must have been Palekit—pounced on his tail.

The silver kit batted at the black kit’s ears.

“Get off me, Mintkit!”

“Let’s get Poolkit!” Mintkit squeaked, batting Poolkit’s ears again. Palekit swiped at his brother’s ear. Poolkit ducked.

They were just like Poppykit and Smokekit.

How different are we, really? (why did I bother with this)

~~~~~~~~~

Blackpaw dug his claws into the moss of his nest. “Mouse dung!” he muttered. The three apprentices weren’t sleeping. He’d never be able to leave with them awake.

Moonpaw shone silver in the moonlight. He could see every darker dapple on her pelt.

Duskpaw was barely visible. Blackpaw wouldn’t have seen him at all, except for his blazing yellow eyes and the almost-violet shimmer to his pelt.

Sunpaw was the most visible, though. The moonlight turned him silvery gold.

Then a rasping meow startled him. He nearly shrieked with surprise. What was Ivystar doing in the ShadowClan camp?

“Catmint,” she rasped. He strained and saw her, her silver-and-white pelt illuminated by the moon.

Fernfrond and Darkpaw took the leaves, hopping around the places where there must be holes. Blackpaw’s whiskers twitched.

Ivystar’s dark blue gaze rested on him. “Come, Blackpaw,” she rasped. He pelted after her as she dashed through the forest, back to ThunderClan territory.



By the time they reached the camp, night had fallen. Ivystar was trembling, and Blackpaw could smell her fear-scent. What on earth was wrong? They were at the ThunderClan camp, not deep in ShadowClan territory.

“I’m taking this catmint to ShadowClan,” Frostblossom mumbled through a mouthful of sweet-smelling leaves. Blackpaw’s mouth watered at the scent. He almost wished he could take some for himself, but he knew catmint was a precious herb.

“Well,” Ivystar murmured, “go to your nest. You need some rest.” The gray-and-white she-cat padded away, her ruffled fur sticking up in unruly tufts.

What was wrong with Ivystar?

~~~~~~~~~

Swiftpaw was drifting off by the time Frostblossom carried the catmint to the ShadowClan camp. Nightfoot padded over to dismiss the three apprentices—still sitting alert—and rouse Swiftpaw.

“Moonpaw, Duskpaw, Sunpaw,” Nightfoot hissed, “go to sleep. Swiftpaw, wake up and come with me.”

Swiftpaw rose stiffly to her paws. Cold had settled in for the night and the ShadowClan camp was even colder than the ThunderClan camp.

“Well, Swiftpaw,” Nightfoot muttered, “stop telling midnight claw stories of owls and join Frostblossom.” She curled her lip. “Really, ThunderClan cats need to stop being so arrogant. Digging tunnels to trap us, sending spies to our camp—who’s on the wrong side now?”

Ha. Wetstar was by far the most arrogant leader, but of course Swiftpaw didn’t want to point this out to the sister of the ShadowClan deputy.

“Come on, Swiftpaw,” Frostblossom whispered, “we’re going to run part of the way until we get into our own territory. ‘Kay?”

“Okay,” Swiftpaw whispered, and followed the white warrior as Frostblossom hared away through the thick pine forest.

Nightfoot.

Mission accomplished. (no not really)

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

An icy chill hung in the air. Whitewing and Birchfall padded side by side through StarClan’s hunting grounds.

“So what’s been going on, Whitewing?” meowed Birchfall.

“Yellowfang told me that there’s another prophecy,” Whitewing mewed. (uh it's kind of been a while)

“What?” Birchfall stumbled on a root. He regained his balance and stared at her, yellow eyes wide.

“You’ve been talking about a prophecy? And all this time I thought you were seeing Yellowfang about Ivystar! Wait—wait a minute, is the prophecy about Ivystar?” Birchfall gazed at her questioningly.

“Er—no.” Whitewing’s white pelt prickled with embarrassment. Why hadn’t she told Birchfall what Yellowfang had been telling her? “At least, I don’t think so. There are these cats, and Bearscar says—“

“You met Bearscar?” Birchfall’s mouth opened wide, sharp teeth gleaming. “Was Petalheart with him?”

“Yes, and Spiderpaw. Stop staring at me like that! Remember Brightspirit and her parents?”

“Shiningheart and Braveheart,” Birchfall meowed, nodding. “Go on.”

“Spiderpaw was Brightspirit’s friend when they were new to StarClan. They have the same connection to the world as Bearscar, and they talked to him. Because of some conversation they had, Bearscar thinks there are three from ThunderClan. We know of four cats for sure.” Whitewing slapped her tail over her mouth. (details are bad why did I like details)

Someone could be spying. After all, Ashfur was still in StarClan; Whitewing was pretty sure Thistleclaw had returned. Then there were all the unimportant cats, the ones nobody knew. They didn’t like the more popular StarClan cats. (I was treating the Thistleclaw thing as canon apparently)

“Where are the others from?” Birchfall’s fur was beginning to rise. “RiverClan, right? Not ShadowClan or—or WindClan?”

Whitewing was silent for a moment. “There will be at least one from each Clan,” she whispered softly. “Yellowfang hasn’t told me who’s from ShadowClan or WindClan.”
“Who are from the other Clans?” Birchfall sounded wary.

“I know of Swiftpaw for sure. I think her brother Blackpaw and their friend Flamepaw are also part of it, but I can’t know for certain.” She sighed. “I wish I knew. I’d tell you in a heartbeat, but Yellowfang only told me about the ThunderClan cats.” (Blackpaw and Flamepaw are not part of it!!!)

“Who else? From RiverClan?”

“Yellowfang didn’t tell me who it was. She said it would be better if only the medicine cats knew, but I think ‘fallen trees’ must mean Cedarfall.”

Birchfall nodded. “Makes sense. I just hope there’re more from RiverClan and only one from WindClan and ShadowClan.”

Whitewing mewed, “I couldn’t agree more. But remember that if there is to be peace—if the prophecy really is for now, and it’s not about some other fallen tree and swift wings, (I can't tell if she's being interrupted or if I just forgot to finish the sentence but either way the punctuation is wrong)

“Mother! Father!” cried a voice. They turned around, and Dovewing skidded to a stop behind them. “I’ve been tracking you all over the forest.”

Whitewing saw Birchfall gazing proudly at his older daughter. “Good job catching up,” she mewed. “We were just talking.”

“About what?”

Whitewing looked at Birchfall, a faint trace of amusement flickering across her face. “About your sister, Ivystar.”

~~~~~~~~~

Swiftpaw padded after Spottedwing. Her mentor was limping, but she was determined. She wasn’t going to let those mangy WindClan cats think they could keep her in camp.

Blackpaw bounded up beside her, Flamepaw bouncing behind him. “Hi.”

“Don’t do anything mouse-brained,” Swiftpaw hissed. Blackpaw looked offended. “What?”

“It’s just that you don’t seem to trust me anymore sometimes,” he confessed. “You watch me all the time, and it’s like you’re supervising everything I do.”

“I’m sorry!” Swiftpaw stared into her brother’s yellow eyes.

“You know, ShadowClan’s going to be really weak tonight,” Blackpaw meowed.

Swiftpaw glared at him. Why had he mentioned ShadowClan?

“Just changing the subject,” Blackpaw said hurriedly. “No reason, really.”

“I can’t wait!” Flamepaw squeaked.

Blackpaw snorted. “We’re almost there. It’s really not as great as you think.”

“So? I know what it’s like! I was there two moons ago!”

“Two moons ago. Yeah. I was there too. A lot has changed since then, Flamepaw.” Swiftpaw had to agree with her brother—tensions had risen in the forest over the past two moons.

“ThunderClan,” Ivystar rasped, her dark eyes flickering, “we are here.”

In the moonlight, Swiftpaw could see Ivystar’s silver-and-white pelt as the ThunderClan leader hauled herself onto the fallen tree, Ferndapple right behind her. Spottedwing had trouble, but Owlfeather limped over and supported her. Swiftpaw braced herself, then sprang onto the tree, scrabbling at the dead bark and following the warriors.

“ThunderClan is late,” meowed a smooth voice. Wetstar gazed down at the ThunderClan warriors. “Ivystar, did something hold you up?” His silver pelt flashed in the moonlight.

Swiftpaw glanced at the other leader in the tree. She couldn’t see the tabby’s eyes, so she couldn’t tell which leader was sitting up there until Rushstar swept her long, plumy tail. “Drop it, Wetstar. All that matters is that they’re here now.”

“Drop it?” Wetstar muttered angrily, his yellow eyes flashing. “I’ll drop you.”

Then Swiftpaw saw the other leader on the tree, perched high above the ShadowClan and RiverClan leaders. Sedgestar was nowhere to be seen, but it wasn’t Webnose, either.

WindClan’s new leader was Solstice.

“Hello, cats of the Clans,” was Solstice’s greeting. “I’m glad to see that we are all here now.” Swiftpaw could almost believe him, but she remembered seeing him in the ThunderClan camp, and she knew it was all an act.

“Tealpaw!” Blackpaw hissed excitedly. He bounded off to join the ShadowClan apprentice. The other two apprentices with her, Sunpaw and Moonpaw, skittered away when the ThunderClan apprentice passed them. Swiftpaw rolled her eyes. ShadowClan apprentices were mouse-brains.

Swiftpaw glanced at Sunpaw again. His pelt glowed and almost flickered—the mottles, Swiftpaw realized—in the moonlight; not silver like many of the moonlit pelts, but with golden fire.

She padded over to sit by him, feeling shy as she sat down. He inched away slowly, but didn’t scramble away like with Blackpaw. She inched closer to him. She could feel his hostility coming in waves and felt like she was going to wail.

“Swiftpaw,” he greeted her coldly. “You’re the ThunderClan apprentice. Spy.”

Well, at least he was talking. “Sorry, Sunpaw. I wasn’t really spying for plans. There’s this thing that Willowcloud mentioned where I have to find the night’s claws, a ShadowClan cat. We were trying to figure out who it was, and we got caught.”

“Nightfoot,” Sunpaw muttered instantly.

“Yeah…Nightfoot.” Swiftpaw felt awkward. Why did Sunpaw have to be so…golden? “Um, so, how’s it going in ShadowClan?”

“You saw,” he growled.

“I’m really sorry,” Swiftpaw mewed gently. “We thought you were attacking RiverClan’s camp in a plot with WindClan.”

“I hate WindClan!” Sunpaw snapped, so forcefully that Swiftpaw felt her fur puff out. “I hate all three other Clans!”

“StarClan,” Swiftpaw tried. “They are another Clan too!”

“And StarClan turned their backs on us!” Swiftpaw could hear the anguish in the spiky-furred apprentice’s voice. “I’m not saying they’ve waged war as well, just that they don’t care about ShadowClan like they should. We’re starving in our territory and being attacked and spied on, and what’s happening to the other Clans? Nothing!”

“Oh.” Swiftpaw flattened her ears. She’d always thought of ShadowClan as the bad cats in the forest, along with WindClan—or at least mouse-brains. Now she was starting to rethink that. “I’m sorry.” She was about to say more, but Solstice cleared his throat loudly from his perch on a high branch on the Great Tree.

“Are we ready to begin?” He turned to Ivystar. “I have been told that, traditionally, ThunderClan speaks first. Ivystar, would you like to begin?”

“I will.” Ivystar’s voice was cold, and Solstice pretended to look hurt. “Solstice, why do you represent WindClan?”

“Why do I represent WindClan?” Solstice repeated, apparently dumbfounded by the question. “Why, I am the WindClan leader!”

“Very well, then, but where is Sedgestar?”

“She is my new deputy, at the base of the tree. She has taken back her old name, Sedgeclaw. Webnose is our advisor.”

“Ah, I see.” Ivystar narrowed her eyes. “You took control of WindClan.”

“No!” Solstice looked horrified at the suggestion. He was a very convincing actor; Swiftwing almost believed him, and she’d seen what he was like. “Sedgeclaw resigned and offered the position to me, and Webnose agreed!”

Webnose looked dissatisfied, as if he’d rather be the leader, or at least the deputy. Sedgeclaw looked just miserable, hunched over and staring at her paws. This apparently wasn’t her idea.

“Whatever you say,” Rushstar muttered.

Swiftpaw strained to see Wetstar’s expression, but it was unreadable. Was he really going to ignore Sedgeclaw’s discomfort?

“She has not run out of lives,” Solstice continued smoothly. “She still has some lives left, although I doubt she would want me to disclose the amount.”

Wow, he was a good speaker. He was so comfortable up there on the Great Tree. That was exactly what made Swiftpaw nervous. He was probably a strong leader. A bad one, yes, but strong. He was the real enemy in the forest, yet not one cat had laid a claw on him. Wait, no, one cat had: a scar stood out against the white patch below his right eye.

“I will continue to speak,” Ivystar hissed, her unkempt fur rising. “Our medicine apprentice, Willowcloud, has received her full name. We have a new warrior, Cloudfrost.”

“Willowcloud! Cloudfrost! Willowcloud! Cloudfrost!” called some of the cats in the clearing. Swiftpaw joined in, but Sunpaw was silent as stone, his ice blue eyes colder than ever before.

She noticed with a pang that only the ThunderClan and RiverClan cats were cheering, although Owlpaw of WindClan was beaming and waving his tail happily. Deep scars crossed his pelt. He bounced up and down until Rabbitleap whispered something. Owlpaw sat down, a hurt expression on his face.

“ShadowClan is doing well,” Wetstar growled, though it was obviously a lie. Now that Sunpaw had pointed it out, the ShadowClan cats were thinner than normal. “We have no new warriors or new apprentices, but Tealpaw is close to receiving a warrior name.”

The gray apprentice’s chest swelled with pride. Blackpaw looked elated as well. Swiftpaw snorted. He was such a mouse-brain.

“RiverClan has a new warrior, Brightfur,” Rushstar meowed. “We have two new apprentices, Mallowpaw and Scorchpaw. Their mentors are Shrewfur and Honeytail.”

“Mallowpaw! Scorchpaw! Mallowpaw! Scorchpaw!” cheered the ThunderClan and RiverClan cats. Owlpaw was mouthing the words along with them.

“This Gathering is over.” Solstice hopped down branch by branch until he reached the base of the tree, leaving the other three leaders to glare.

“Wait,” Wetstar called. When Solstice turned, the ShadowClan leader swallowed hard, thought for a moment, and meowed heavily, “Never mind.”

Sunpaw’s tail bushed out. “Say it!” he hissed under his breath. Swiftpaw was impressed that an apprentice dared to give even the tiniest hint that he disagreed with his leader’s choice to be quiet.

“Very well,” Solstice meowed. “Good-bye.” He beckoned with his tail, and the WindClan warriors whisked after him, across the tree and through the forest.

“Let’s go,” Ivystar growled tersely, following Owlpaw across the tree. Swiftpaw reluctantly followed her.

I like Sunpaw, Swiftpaw decided. Maybe he’s just a good fighter and has an impressive pelt, but I think he’d be a very good friend. Very, very good. I wish he were a ThunderClan cat.

The thought pulled her up short. She wished he were in ThunderClan? Was she in love with the ShadowClan apprentice? (for what it's worth, she spends the next book pining after him and then realizes it's just a silly crush and she's not ready for a relationship or willing to try with him)

I can’t! It’s against the code!

But whatever Swiftpaw was feeling, she knew she would have to wait and see.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Swiftpaw crouched down low in the grass. She crept closer to her prey. There was no chance that it would get away. She was going to get this one.

“Swiftpaw?” Blackpaw prodded her with his paw. “Swiftpaw?”

The mouse darted away and the meadow, lush with plants and full of prey, vanished.

“What?” she moaned, back in her nest in the ThunderClan apprentices’ den. Starlight filtered through, but the sky was lightening—it was almost dawn.

“Come with me?”

“Where?”

“Lake?”

Swiftpaw wrapped her tail tighter around herself. “Not now!”

Blackpaw shrugged. “Suit yourself.”

Swiftpaw felt herself drifting off. Blackpaw could explore all he wanted; he wasn’t waking her up. He couldn’t. She was ready to hunt now.

She opened her eyes. She was going to catch that mouse!

Oh, no. She was no longer in the lush, plentiful meadow. The moss of her nest had been replaced with dying trees and no prey-scent. Worse, she wasn’t alone.

“What am I doing here with you?” she snarled. “I hate you!”

“Hello, Swiftpaw,” Hawkfrost meowed smoothly. “I’m glad to see you. You haven’t come here for a while.”

“I don’t want to train with you anymore,” Swiftpaw told the dark warrior. “You lied to me.” She fixed him with her green gaze, which he met calmly.

“I didn’t lie,” Hawkfrost reminded her. “I said, ‘I am Hawkfrost, a cat of the Dark Forest. I am from RiverClan—your allies. I can train you to be a great warrior. I was led astray by my father, but I have learned the error of my ways.’ I am Hawkfrost, and I am a cat from the Dark Forest. I was once a RiverClan cat, and RiverClan has allied itself with ThunderClan. By ‘great warrior,’ I meant ‘good fighter.’ My father, Tigerstar, led me astray. I know what I did wrong, but¬…” Hawkfrost’s pale blue eyes glittered like ice. “That doesn’t mean I’ve changed.”

“What do you want with me?”

“Why, I want to train you, of course!”

“And what if I don’t listen to you?”

“Then,” Hawkfrost meowed, lifting a light brown paw to his face and grooming his claws, “you die.”

Swiftpaw shook her head. “I won’t listen. But I won’t die either.”

“How do you know that?” Hawkfrost growled, clearly amused.

“When I woke up, it was almost time for the dawn patrol.” She waited as her words sank in.

The amusement quickly drained from the dark warrior’s face. “The dawn patrol!” he howled, outraged. “Not again! Well, I’ll just have to kill you quickly!”

Swiftpaw took off running. She felt herself fading before she really knew what was happening. Hawkfrost howled again with rage, but Swiftpaw was right.
“Swiftpaw, wake up!”

She opened her eyes quickly. “Spottedwing!”

“We’re going on the dawn patrol,” her mentor reminded her.

“I know.” Swiftpaw stretched. “I’m going to thank Ferndapple when we get back.” Her mentor probably thought it was sarcasm, but Swiftpaw meant it. It had saved her twice.

“Have you seen Blackpaw?”

“He just went to the lake,” Swiftpaw explained. “He invited me, but I was tired.”

“You didn’t stop him?” shrieked Spottedwing. “Are you crazy? We have to go find him!” (I mean it's not good but calm down)

“Sorry,” Swiftpaw mewed. Her mentor bounded away to join Rainstep and Sparrowflight near the fresh-kill pile.

“Good, you’re up.” Volepelt padded from by the medicine den to the four cats ready to patrol. “Let’s go.”

“And find Blackpaw on the way,” Spottedwing mewed quickly. “He’s missing. But we should find him—he’s by the lake.”

“Blackpaw?” Volepelt’s gaze sharpened. “Missing? All right. To the lake.”



“It shouldn’t be this quiet,” Volepelt muttered. “Something is wrong.”

“Stop worrying about nothing,” Rainstep mewed. “You don’t have anything to worry about.”

“He’s right, though,” Spottedwing murmured, “it is unusually quiet today.”

Swiftpaw’s pelt prickled with unease. What was wrong?

Then she saw a black shape dart out of the bushes. Spottedwing and Sparrowflight had seen it too.

“There’s Blackpaw!” hissed Volepelt. He motioned to where Blackpaw lay, farther ahead on the path.

“What’s that?” Swiftpaw breathed. The black shape looked like a shadow among the underbrush.

“I’d say fox, but it’s too small and dark,” Spottedwing whispered.

The black creature seemed to be hunting Blackpaw. Its ears pricked up and it slunk closer.

The black animal was a cat.

“WindClan!” Volepelt roared as he charged forward. “Go back to your own side of the border!”

The black cat—apparently a WindClan cat—Spiderfoot?—bounded away quickly.

Blackpaw opened his eyes, looking frightened.

“Did he try to kill you?” Swiftpaw mewed. She couldn’t see her brother clearly.

“Who?” Blackpaw shook his head in confusion. “Wha…” Then his eyes widened. “I fell asleep, didn’t I!”

“Yes, you fell asleep,” Rainstep muttered. “Look, Blackpaw, you’re supposed to sleep in camp, not by the lake.”

“Sorry.” Blackpaw ducked his head, embarrassed.

“Well, let’s go,” Volepelt meowed. “Finish the patrol and get back.”

The rest of the patrol was, surprisingly, uneventful. The one patrol they saw kept to its own territory, and the black cat didn’t return. (again this should be a bigger deal than you're acting like it is

Then Volepelt stopped and turned, staring coolly at Swiftpaw. “What, may I ask, happened to you?” he meowed.

She hadn’t noticed until now, but Hawkfrost had managed to scratch her flank.

“Nothing,” she mewed, her voice trembling. She hated the lie, but if she told, what would happen? There was only one thing to do.

Lie to Hawkfrost instead. (I guess this means "pretend to go along with his evil plans?")

CHAPTER TWENTY

Darkness.

Darkness surrounded him as he walked.

The stone was rough and cold beneath his paws. It scratched at his paw-pads, but he could not stop moving forward. He was ensnared in the world of blackness, the world of icy rough rock. (fun time activity: guess whose POV this melodramatic dream is!)

It was pitch-black, and he could not see. But something made him keep going.

He was alone. Ha! At least this part makes sense! There was no one else there. No one but him. He couldn’t tell what his surroundings were, but he recognized the feeling of cold, dizzying fear.

It was like he was walking a narrow beam—diminishing in size every step of the way—over a deep, shadowed precipice, but now he couldn’t turn back, couldn’t stop, couldn’t even see where he was going.

Help me! he pleaded. I can’t see. I’m going to die!

No one came to his aid. Oh, well, that was normal. He growled bitterly. There were only four cats who cared about him, and they didn’t even count—his parents and littermates. Besides, when had they ever helped him? In battle, maybe, but he couldn’t recall for sure.

The perch felt narrower and narrower by the second. He tried to feel for the edge, but his paw would only move forward—how wide was the ledge?

Step by step, he padded along the narrow pathway. He tried again and again to measure the width, but his paws moved faster and faster, carrying him toward certain doom when the ledge ended.

Then he felt relieved, as if all reason for fear had disappeared. I made it.

The relief was short-lived. He took another step and went tumbling down, down, down, landing with a heavy thud at the bottom of the precipice.

He woke in his nest, gasping for breath and glancing around fearfully to check that everything was all right.

It wasn’t. For a moment, he couldn’t think what was wrong, but then he noticed what the problem was.

There was an empty space in the den. One that wasn’t normally empty. And he felt the loss; it pierced his heart like a thorn.

The fear returned. Oh, StarClan, please tell me that—what I think is happening—please tell me it’s not happening!

~~~~~~~~~

“Wake up, you lazy lump!” Flamepaw prodded Blackpaw. “Get up!”

“Here, let me try,” Swiftpaw offered. She bent down, took a deep breath, and yowled, “Blackpaw! Time for training!”

Blackpaw leaped to his paws. “I’m up!”

“Good,” Owlfeather muttered.

“Let’s go,” added Spottedwing.

Goldenpelt beckoned them with her tail. “Come on.”



When Flamepaw returned from training, he decided it was time to ask Skydapple something.

“Who’s your sister?” (where is this coming from? is he supposed to have been spying in chapter 12?)

She looked puzzled. “Ferndapple is my sister.”

Flamepaw sighed and rolled his eyes. “Your other sister.”

“Other sister?” For a moment, fear flashed across Skydapple’s face; then she hurriedly mewed, “I don’t have another sister. Just Ferndapple. Sorry.”

“You do too have another sister,” Flamepaw muttered, but padded away.

He had the same results when he asked Ferndapple, except she unsheathed her claws instead of flinching.

Flamepaw decided to ask for another story from the elders.

“First, change the moss,” Cherryfall growled. “I don’t have an endless supply of stories, you know.”

Flamepaw reluctantly gathered moss and replaced the old bedding. Lightblaze winked and whispered, “You’re the only one who does that for a story, instead of being ordered by your mentor.”

“All right,” Cherryfall meowed, “what would you like to know?”

“Who is Ferndapple and Skydapple’s other sister?” (why are they being like this though? even if you want to sweep her under the rug there are better ways to do that than this, especially when Mystery Sister has two kits in ThunderClan)

Cherryfall blanched. “They—they don’t have another sister,” she squeaked, as if someone were squeezing out all of her breath.

“They do too!” Flamepaw yowled. “They so have a sister!”

Lightblaze’s expression was that of pure fear. “They do not have a sister!”

Flamepaw frowned. “Then…” He thought for a moment, recalling what he’d overheard: “I’ve told you time and time again, no one forgets about sisters. You’ll never forget your sister, and Ferndapple and I will never forget ours. Swiftpaw and Blackpaw don’t need to know, though; don’t tell them about how you miss Dovewing, and they will never know the truth about their parents.” (well I guess he was spying then)

He decided not to say anything more about it. He’d find out more later.

“Oh. Okay,” he meowed. “Sorry. ‘Bye.”

As he left the elders’ den, he thought, Something is definitely going on. (is it really)

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

“Get down low,” Cloudfrost hissed. “We won’t have cover for long, so we have to hide in the grass.”

Swiftpaw crouched. She felt as if everyone in the forest were staring at her, although she didn’t really think they were.

This was a dangerous mission.

“We have to go straight to camp,” Ferndapple had ordered—Ivystar was staying behind—“and we can’t be seen. Not until we crest the hill with the boulders.”

“Got it,” Frostblossom had replied. She had relayed the message to the cats following her. Now Swiftpaw had to creep along, her belly fur brushing the ground, to avoid being seen…in just the grass.

It’s not natural!

Maybe it was for WindClan, but Swiftpaw was definitely not WindClan. WindClan were a bunch of rabbity mouse-brains.

Cloudfrost stopped. “I hear something,” she breathed. Swiftpaw glanced questioningly at her, but then it happened.

“I knew it!” Cloudfrost hissed. “Rain!”

A blinding flash lit the cloud-covered sky, followed by an earsplitting clap of thunder. Rain fell heavily from the clouds, sheets of water pouring from the sky.

“Back to camp!” Ferndapple yowled as a strong wind blew in. It tugged at Swiftpaw’s already rain-soaked fur. The moor was becoming muddy. She struggled to follow the older warriors back to the cover of the trees. She felt more protected there, but she couldn’t relax until she reached the apprentices’ den.

“Don’t waste time going upriver to the stepping stones,” Ferndapple ordered breathlessly. “It won’t kill us to run through the stream, and it should help with some of the mud. Besides, we have no time to waste.”

Swiftpaw plunged into the icy water beside her half-sister. Cloudfrost, although an excellent swimmer, had her eyes stretched wide with fear. So, Swiftpaw realized, did the rest of the warriors.

Then she realized what Ferndapple had meant by saying, We have no time to waste.

“The camp,” she panted, out of breath. “The tree.”

Cloudfrost gave a short nod, and then the camp came into view. (how small is this territory)

~~~~~~~~~

The hills surrounding the camp were muddy, and Furzetail was nearly swamped. Gorsepelt was by his side; the two brothers struggled into the nursery, where Iciclewhisker and Fernfur were urging Sagekit on.

The kit complained, but Iciclewhisker shoved him out of the den. Fernfur followed, carrying Icekit; Iciclewhisker, Squirrelkit dangling from her jaws, began to climb the hill.
Gorsepelt and Furzetail stumbled from the nursery.

“Watch out!” Sedgeclaw called, from the top of a rock inside the camp. “We don’t have much time!”

Solstice had found a hole, inside one of the rocks, where he was sheltered from wind and rain. He wasn’t afraid of the boulders; this was probably part of his plan to control WindClan.

Gorsepelt lifted a paw, covered in dark mud, off the ground, unsheathed his claws, and hooked it around a stone in the hill.

It gave way, and the two brothers tumbled backward into the camp.

The boulders rolled down the hill, almost at the same time. It wasn’t Gorsepelt’s fault; the hills had simply given way, allowing him to pull the stone free.

“Duck,” Gorsepelt hissed, and the boulder nearest them came closer, closer, until it was almost on top of them…

Gorsepelt threw himself backward, and Furzetail pushed at the same moment. The stone they sheltered behind—the one Gorsepelt had pulled from the ground—lifted and blocked the oncoming stone. Their rock fractured as it contacted the rolling boulder, but it had the desired effect.

The boulder was knocked off course, and it went rolling diagonally down the hill. No more stones followed it down.

They were alive. (all of this is so anticlimactic)

~~~~~~~~~

“Robinfeather!” Cedarfall meowed urgently. “Robinfeather!”

His mentor woke up at the first clap of thunder. She scanned the trees and nodded. “They’re about to fall. Come on. We have to get the apprentices.”

Mallowpaw and Scorchpaw were huddled together in the apprentices’ den. “Get out!” Cedarfall roared. They scurried out and away from the camp.

Whitepaw and Splashpaw didn’t have to be told twice; they had already crossed the stream and left the dangerous part of the territory. Most of the warriors were gone; the queens and kits were at the alternate camp.

“To the queens!” Rushstar called, sweeping her plumed tail. “We must gather by the nursery!” (apparently I didn't actually bring up how pointless the branches were wow)

~~~~~~~~~

Duskpaw could barely see. The rain fell in sheets; it blocked his vision. The ground turned to mud.

“Sunpaw?” he called. “Moonpaw? Tealpaw?”

Sunpaw and Moonpaw called back to him. There was no answer from Tealpaw.

Duskpaw swallowed hard. He took a step forward and plunged into the mud. The trap had worked. He tumbled down, choking on the slippery mud.

Jaws reached down and grabbed him. He felt himself being pulled out, but he could not see who had saved him.

~~~~~~~~~

“Get the kits out,” Ferndapple mewed, her voice low and strangled. “Get them out!”

Swiftpaw bounded into the apprentices’ den. “Blackpaw! Flamepaw! Get out! …Blackpaw?” One nest sat empty. Flamepaw had noticed the storm already but thought nothing of it—that is, until Swiftpaw dragged him out by the scruff, mumbling, “The tree, mouse-brain.” Flamepaw wrestled free of her grip and tried to run off, his paws sliding in the slippery earth.

“Where are you going?” she shrieked. Flamepaw wasn’t heading for the entrance or the nursery.

“Medicine den,” he called back, barely audible through the pouring rain and echoing thunder. “There’s room.”

Swiftpaw saw the wisdom and snatched Poppykit from the ground. Brightflower was carrying a mewling gray tom—Smokekit was weaker than Poppykit, and she had to carry him away from the rain-soaked ground.

Swiftpaw reached the medicine den just as a loud crack echoed through the camp, above the howling wind and pounding water.

The tree began to fall. (can you tell from the length that I was bored of writing this book)

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

With a creak, the birch tree toppled over. Brightflower thrust Smokekit forward into the medicine den, collapsing on the ground before the tree could hit her. Flat like a snake, she scuttled forward, but the huge branches of the birch tree came down around her, and Swiftpaw lost sight of the terrified queen.

“Brightflower!” she cried. The other cats in the medicine den stared out in hollow-eyed shock.

“Brightflower?” Flamepaw whimpered after a moment.

Then her yellow eyes peered up out of the tangle of leaves and branches. “I’m okay. It missed me.”

Smokekit lay dazed on the floor of the medicine den. Brightflower pulled herself out of the gap between the birch branches.

She bounded over to her son and began to lick his fur fiercely.

“How long will we be trapped here?” Flamepaw whispered.

“I don’t know,” Skydapple meowed gravely. “We could be here for a long time.”

Swiftpaw gazed out at the stormy sky. The rain pelted down outside, and the only interruptions were the flashes of lightning and the roars of thunder.



Night had fallen and day had broken. It was the second day of being trapped in the medicine den.

A strange noise caught Swiftpaw’s attention. Along with Skydapple, Willowcloud, Poppykit, and Flamepaw, she rushed to the entrance and peered out. Darksplash stared out from the far corner of the cave, where he lay sprawled on a mossy nest. From what they could see, the tree had lost most of its branches as it fell, and the warriors were clearing these branches away.

“Come on,” Graywing’s voice meowed. “They must be in here. The other dens were destroyed, but the medicine den is still here.”

“Thank StarClan,” Skydapple breathed. “We’re saved.”

Swiftpaw climbed out through the new gap. Darksplash breathed a sigh of relief. Skydapple and Willowcloud followed Swiftpaw out, and Flamepaw scrambled after them. Brightflower carefully lifted Smokekit out, Poppykit at her heels. Skydapple returned to Darksplash with a mouse, and Swiftpaw gazed around the camp.

Most of the branches had been cleared away; the dens were gone, but they could be rebuilt. The trunk of the tree was too heavy to lift, but it wouldn’t be in anyone’s way once enough of the remaining branches were cleared.

ThunderClan was safe.

Yes, Swiftpaw thought. Thank you, StarClan. (well that was boring)

Flamepaw spies a bunch. Important things he discovers one way or another:

-Ivystar used to work with the Dark Forest. She tried to be a double agent against them, but they corrupted her as well.

-Brambleclaw died in the DF battle. Brackenfur was appointed deputy. Ivystar at least feels responsible for Brackenfur's death, and it is unclear whether that's reasonable.

-The exact circumstances of Ivystar becoming deputy seem questionable as well.

-Ivystar's mate was Hollowflight, whom she met through the DF. She told Graywing it was Toadstep because Toadstep was no longer around to contradict that.

-Rosethorn, working with Wetwhisker, somehow brought back the DF after its cats were killed, because they just went to the true final afterlife after their second deaths.

There is other stuff going on, though. The fighting continues, which also helps the sickness spread.

Blackpool and Tealheart are still meeting, Cloudfrost and Cedarfall are still meeting (somehow) and Willowcloud is in on it now, and I feel like there's one more of these but I can't remember who.

I think there was also something significant about Brushfoot. It's also possible that I only made him look like that as a red herring, but any way around it it's just bad.

Ravenwing chases Solstice away, but the war does not end.

StarClan knows that the "spiky plant" is either Gorsepelt or Furzetail, but not which one of them it is.

Flamespark, Dusktalon, Moonspeckle, and Sunfrost get their warrior names.

The sickness has gotten so bad that the war is at a standstill. There aren't enough healthy cats to keep fighting.

Solstice reappears just long enough to bring everyone the news of a place where he knows there's a lot of catmint. StarClan actually seems to think this is legitimate. They tell the medicine cats that StarClan can't go pick herbs, but they can carry them back to the Clans (to keep them magically fresh) if living cats pick them.

Nightfoot, Gorsepelt, Furzetail, and Cedarfall set off to go find the herbs. They try to bring Swiftwing, but for some reason she's not allowed to go.

Tealheart shows up and tells Swiftwing that she has to come with her because StarClan says so. Swiftwing argues but eventually gives in. Blackpool and Flamespark go with them.

Cloudfrost and Willowcloud get enough POVs to tell you that Poppyseed, Silkheart, and Shinefeather get their warrior names.

Dusktalon flips out about Tealheart going on the journey and tracks down the now-united patrol of eight cats.

(In some versions I wanted to send Maple and Tiny with them, but I think I dropped that.)

Nightfoot is sick, and the Tribe offers to let her stay with them. This for some reason does not cause an outbreak of the disease within the Tribe. I never decided whether Nightfoot survived or, if she did, whether she came back to the Clans or stayed with the Tribe.

This leaves Cedarfall (the oldest, and also the only medicine cat) as the de facto leader of the patrol, but hardly anyone respects him.

Swiftwing feels guilty about talking to Furzetail and says it's just because Gorsepelt used to scare Blackpool.

Back home, lots of cats, including Ivystar (eighth life), die of sickness.

There is a very clear problem as Gorsepelt bullies Blackpool, Cedarfall, and Dusktalon while Blackpool and Dusktalon snipe at each other. No one is sure what to do about this. No one likes Dusktalon or wants him along. No one thinks Cedarfall is cut out to lead the patrol. No one likes Gorsepelt except for Furzetail, and even Furzetail wishes Gorsepelt weren't along on the patrol. No one wants to listen to Tealheart talk about the prophecy. No one wants to deal with Flamespark trying to pry all their secrets out of them. No one wants to deal with Blackpool's angst. No one wants to deal with Swiftwing being scared and confused.

Flamespark is poking around in a dangerous area and sort of breaks into a cave, where the rogue Rust has been trapped for a long time, wandering.  He survived by drinking cave water and eating bats, but he's been slowly dying.  He has a hard time adjusting back to the light when Flamespark helps him out.

The rogue named Rust becomes their guide to the catmint place, which is called Heather Rise. Rust is creepy, rude, and scary, but he gets them there, so they can't complain.

Heather Rise is close to Mothermouth, and Cedarfall meets Wetwhisker there. She tells him she's going to curse the patrol so at least one of them will die on the way home. His gut reaction is "well I'd better keep Rust part of the patrol," but he feels guilty, so he tells everyone what she said. Dusktalon is terrified.

Swiftwing and Furzetail admit they have feelings for each other, but neither wants to pursue them, because the Clans are at war.

Journeying stuff. Back home, Solstice is still ducking in occasionally, but he never stays long because he doesn't want to get sick. Willowcloud and Darkfur (ShadowClan medicine cat) work together to heal their Clans, and they do not get into a relationship.

Gorsepelt finally snaps and drags Rust. The next day Rust tries to fling Gorsepelt into a gorge. Dusktalon goes and gets the others, and they rescue Gorsepelt. Rust tells Dusktalon he's going to kill Tealheart and then just leaves. Everything would be fine, but Dusktalon goes after Rust, and the others track him down. Tealheart is the most worried about him because at least he's her Clanmate. When Tealheart tries to protect Dusktalon from Rust, who is in the process of destroying him in battle, Tealheart dies. No one tells Dusktalon they blame him, but everyone knows.

Other parts include Gorsepelt finally being a decent person, Dusktalon becoming less of a creep, Blackpool growing out of his Fighting Issues, Swiftwing becoming confident, and everyone understanding that Cedarfall is just weird, not a problem.

Anyway, they make it back. Ivystar is dying again.

Uh…

Ivystar dies, Ferndapple appoints Swiftwing deputy, Ferndapple dies, and Swiftwing becomes Swiftstar.

The surviving warriors (for the most part) are healed.

The war threatens to break out again, but Swiftstar gets rid of Solstice, and the Clans agree to end the fighting.

Swiftstar and Furzetail end up together.

???

The happiest ending you can give a story about a bunch of cats dying of a mysterious illness.

Furzetail found himself staring at Blackpool again. He tried to imagine that the black and orange warrior was Swiftwing’s brother. He couldn’t; Swiftwing was so gentle and graceful, while Blackpool was a fighter. (FurzexBlack) He turned back to Swiftwing and gazed longingly at her. If only she’d speak to him! She spoke to the other cats. She’d ask Cedarfall if the patrol could try something her way, she spoke to her brother and friend, she even hung out with Tealheart a lot. Swiftwing had tried to befriend Gorsepelt, and had attempted conversation with Dusktalon. But never had Swiftwing spoken even one word meant for him. (shut up Furzetail)

There was a chill in the night air as Duskpaw slipped out of camp. He couldn’t believe Tealpaw was leaving again! Her scent was easily picked up among the pine needles. Duskpaw began to think it would be easier than he had thought at first.

But as he padded to the ravine, following the older cat’s scent, he ran into someone. (someone)

Tealpaw had stopped, and now she glared at him. “What are you doing?” she hissed.

“I could ask you the same thing!”

Tealpaw unsheathed her claws and bared her teeth. “I am going to the lake for a drink of water.”

“The lake is that way.” Duskpaw flicked his tail in the opposite direction from where Tealpaw had been heading. “And we’re near the ThunderClan border.” His eyes widened. “Are you going to steal prey?” (I think the prey thing was supposed to be sarcasm, but why is she heading away from the lake? she should be staying roughly the same distance from the lake)

Tealpaw rolled her eyes. “ThunderClan has a new night patrol... or had you forgotten?”

Duskpaw growled. “What are you up to, Tealpaw?”

She avoided his intense gaze.

“Come back to camp,” Duskpaw insisted. “Don’t do whatever you’re trying to do.” (did I forget Duskpaw already knew what was going on? was the prey thing not sarcasm?)

Tealpaw whirled away, tail lashing in anger. “Don’t try to stop me,” she meowed, her voice cracking. “I’m going to do it again, and you won’t be able to do anything about it.” Duskpaw heard her mutter under her breath, “Once I’m a warrior, and away from mouse-brained apprentices who follow me halfway across the territory.”

“You’re the one who led me here,” he pointed out accusingly. He reveled in her surprise. (why is she surprised)

“You just leave me alone!” she hissed. She turned and stalked back to camp.

Duskpaw stared sadly after her. Come back…

He wanted to call after her, to apologize, to let her forgive him. (for what) But the words wouldn’t come. Duskpaw padded forlornly after the she-cat, his tail dragging in the dust.

Swiftwing had never realized just how long the sunset lasted. The sun was dark red, just beginning to dip below the horizon. Furzetail had said this was his favorite time of day. Swiftwing didn’t understand. It was getting dark, and the ground looked deceptively smooth, a minefield of holes to fall into. She supposed the sun was pretty, but she honestly had more important things on her mind than the appearance of the sun. (wow, how edgy, she doesn't care about the sunset) Such as a decision she’d made earlier that day.

“Isn’t it beautiful?” Furzetail broke into her thoughts.

“Sure,” Swiftwing meowed. The full meaning of her decision hit her, and she began to feel uncomfortable. Was it right? She shook off her doubts; of course it was right.

“Hey, Swiftwing,” Furzetail began hesitantly, “I’ve…I’ve been thinking. About us.”

Swiftwing’s heart pounded. There were so many ways this could go, she couldn’t get her hopes up that he’d make the decision for her.

“So have I,” she whispered.

“I just wondered…well, when we get back to the forest, we’ll be enemies. Bitter enemies.”

Swiftwing nodded.

“It would be really dangerous, in these times, to be together. But maybe we can change that. This mission might bring the Clans closer, and then it would work.”

“I’m sorry,” Swiftwing mumbled. She could feel her white-tipped ears burning. (white-tipped ears? you don't have white-tipped ears) Why did he have to ask now, as she was about to make her decision? “But I can’t.”

“Why not?” She’d clearly hurt him deeply. He was actually in love.

“I can name more than one reason,” she whispered.

“Go ahead,” he growled. Not angrily—just miserably.

“First, I’m being a hypocrite. (oh hey she acknowledged it!) Second, even if we do manage to bring the Clans closer, it’s still a big maybe. Third, we’re both really young, and we shouldn’t be so wrapped up in this stuff.” (all three of those are good points; thanks, Swiftwing)

“Oh.” Furzetail turned away. “All right.”

I’m sorry, she wanted to say. I really am. But she was afraid of wailing it aloud, for all the world to hear. And she was afraid she might let slip later to someone else that she had liked Furzetail. But mostly she was afraid of love. (no bad wrong)

The crimson sun was almost completely below the horizon. Furzetail’s favorite time of day was almost over. (wow meaningful!!!)

"So, when do we get to Heather Rise?" Gorsepelt narrowed his eyes.

"You don't know everything. We made it this far!" (no Cedarfall the Cedarfall reaction to that is to ignore him entirely)

Cedarfall bristled as Gorsepelt went on: "Probably in the wrong direction!" The crisp air seemed to heat up. (okay this is only a couple paragraphs…in a book full of this the CedarxGorse subtext would be too much…why did I let myself stop) Cedarfall felt his fur begin to rise. (I think at this point Gorsepelt was still supposed to be a terrible person, but this really isn't out of line; I get that it's rude, but it's a valid concern)

"Stop it!" Cedarfall turned to see Tealheart. She stood there, fur silver in the sun. (yeah of course she's standing there…he just turned to see her)