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        A rocky outcropping was the home of the SkyClan warriors. Tall cliffs stretched all around, their dens being burrows built into them. A lazy breeze drifted through the few trees that entangled the territory, their long branches weaving like bridges to form a whole other world above the ground. Prey was plentiful. Birds twittered through the trees, their songs gone silent with the stretching night. As peaceful as the night was, the cats of SkyClan were restless in their rocky home. Amberstar had left at sundown to see the guidance of StarClan at the Moonstone. the great medicine cat: Gorgeriver had a slip of his paws when gathering herbs. Granted, he was one of the oldest cats in the Clan and an elder like him shouldn't have been climbing on the outer cliffs, but Gorgeriver was their only medicine cat. None of the kits in the nursery had wanted to become his apprentice.
        Eaglecry was a young warrior, mentored by SkyClan's deputy Sweetmoss. He had high hopes that one of Yellowrock's kits: Hiddenkit, Talonkit, or Jumpkit would be made as his own apprentice. He had great ambitions of becoming a deputy or leader someday, someone others would look up too and believe in. Little did he know everything he knew about his life would change this night.
        Currently, Eaglecry sat on the edge of the cliff by the elder's den. His mother, Flightsky was laying down beside him. A great warrior in her time, but now weakened by age. The Clan was still mourning over the death of Gorgeriver. The medicine cat was laying down in the camp below, not even dressed with herbs as no one knew how to tend to the dead. Even from up here, Eaglecry could scent the marigold on Gorgeriver's paws from when the tom had treated Talonkit's scratch earlier that day. THe longer Eaglecry thought about it, the more he realized how much he had respected Gorgeriver. The old tom had been the only medicine cat even when Eaglecry was a kit. Eaglecry remembered going into Gorgeriver's den in his youth and asking the old tom about the herbs. He had a little interest in them, but the life of a warrior was much more exciting than the life of a medicine cat. Eaglecry let out a soft sigh. He would miss Gorgeriver, the entire Clan would. Now that he was gone, there was no one to take his place. 
        "It's so terrible," Flightsky sighed beside Eaglecry, her voice cracked with age. "A single slip of his paws and he was gone. It's almost terrifying that life can end so suddenly."
        Eaglecry nodded in agreement. There had been no warning, no sign from StarClan, Gorgeriver was just gone. "I think I'll offer to take a patrol out." Eaglecry slowly stood up, his tail flicking. He didn't want to think about Gorgeriver's tragedy anymore. "That way a few of us could get our minds off this." 
        "That would be helpful." Flightsky nodded in approval. She turned her gaze to her son to look him over. "It was only yesterday that Gorgeriver healed your wounds from when you fought that badger, and now look at him." 
        Eaglecry flicked his ear, not wanting to look at Gorgeriver. He felt like he lost a good friend. Gorgeriver had been a grumpy cat in his age, but he still cared with the heart of ten warriors. Now, the old medicine cat was laying in the middle of camp, not even dressed with Rosemary because no one knew to do it. Well, Eaglecry knew, Gorgeriver had told him once, but he was a warrior, not a medicine cat. Eaglecry looked at his mother, laying his tail gently across her shoulders. "All we can do for him now is to find someone to take on his responsibilities." Ideally, Amberstar would return and announce to the Clan who StarClan had chosen to be their next medicine cat. Eaglecry was hoping it would be one of Yellowrock's kits. Perhaps Hiddenkit would be interested in herbs and she could receive training from one of the other Clan's medicine cats until she received her full name? Or, maybe there was a loner out there that StarClan had specifically chosen?  
        Flightsky didn't respond to him, so Eaglecry took that as a chance to take his leave. He started down the cliff, searching for Sweetmoss to discuss getting a patrol out. He had just reached the bottom of the cliff when Amberstar returned. 
        Everyone rose to their feet to hear what Amberstar had to stay. The SkyClan leader swiftly bounded over to Rockpile, not wasting any time in calling the Clan together. Her words almost weren't needed. Everyone was already shuffling together eagerly.
        "We lost a valuable friend to an unfortunate accident." Amberstar dipped her head, her quell eyes drifting over to Gorgeriver's body. "And I know there is much indecision on what will happen next, who the Clan will turn to for healing and guidance." Amberstar paused, scanning the crowd. She nodded curtly. "StarClan has sent me an answer." 
        A collective sigh of relief slipped from the lips of the SkyClan warriors. Eaglecry carefully weaved through his clanmates to move closer to the Rockpile. He wanted to know who StarClan had chosen for them and wanted to make sure he heard Amberstar clearly. He glanced up toward the nursery den, hoping it would be one of Yellowrock's kits. 
        "Their words were mystic like they always are." Amberstar continued calmly, lifting her gaze up toward Silverpelt. "But I understand them perfectly. SkyClan will be in good paws." 
        "Who did they choose?" Flightsky called the question on everyone's mind. Eaglecry was thankful for his mother's boldness. He almost felt like Amberstar was toying with them by making them wait.
        "A cat's destiny was ignored." Amberstar looked back to the Clan, speaking the words StarClan had spoken to her. As soon as the words slipped out of her lips, Eaglecry felt everything in him freeze solid. "But fate cannot be passed by." She drifted her gaze to Eaglecry and fear welled up in his heart as he knew exactly what she was going to say. "SkyClan wounds are healed by the eagle's cry." She stood up, her lips curling in satisfaction when she realized Eaglecry knew exactly what she was saying. "StarClan has told us who are medicine cat is: Eaglecry!" 




        The unfamiliar steps through the Mothermouth left Eaglecry's fur prickling with unease. After Amberstar's announcement, he was ordered to go directly to the Moonstone to hear from StarClan and Amberstar decreed he had to go alone. Eaglecry knew the path to the Moonstone well, he had gone once with Amberstar as an apprentice and he had traveled with Gorgeriver these past couple half-moons, helping him reach the gathering of the medicine cats. However, he had never gone beyond the Mothermouth. He was a warrior, not a medicine cat.    
        Eaglecry forced his fur to lay flat. He was used to caves, used to the dens of SkyClan, but the tunnel that led to the Moonstone felt vastly different. It was dark, narrow, and pricked fear within his heart, but his paws continued to guide him through it. He hadn't questioned Amberstar's decision, she didn't give him a chance too, and he blindly followed her order like a good little warrior, but now, he was questioning everything. Why did StarClan choose him? Sure, he had helped out Gorgeriver from time to time and he did know a lot of the herbs already, but this wasn't what he wanted...wasn't it? 
        Eaglecry paused when the entered the cavern of the Moonstone. With it being so late into the night, the stone was already lit with starlight, shining as if the stars themselves were trapped inside. This was his first time seeing it and it took his breath away. No wonder Gorgeriver insisted on meeting with the medicine cats every half-moon, even in his old age. As cold and as damp and as foreign as the cavern of the Moonstone was, looking upon the majestic stone himself, Eaglecry felt...home. All his doubts and uncertainty slipped away and the next thing he knew, he was laying up against the Moonstone and pressing his nose against it.
        Starlight lit up Eaglecry's eyes when he opened them once again. He was standing in the middle of Fourtrees, each oak appearing taller than it had ever been. The stars of Silverpelt hung closer than usual, almost as if the great oaks were the ones holding them up. Eaglecry should've felt pressured under those stars. He should've felt their weight baring down on him, but he only felt at ease as if this was where he should've been all along. 
        "Eaglecry." A voice sounded from the Great Rock. Bounding down from it was a cat with tan fur and brown stripes zig-zagging upon them. 
        Eaglecry perked up at the sight of the tom, a smile gracing his lips. It was Gorgeriver and he looked as strong and as healthy as a newly made warrior. "Gorgeriver, you're alright!" 
        A chuckle sounded from the former medicine cat's throat. He pressed his nose to Eaglecry's in greeting, but then sadness softened his gaze. "My old friend, you knew this was where you were meant to be and yet you didn't follow the path." He tilted his head lightly. "Why?" 
        "I..." Eaglecry flicked his ear and looked away. As much as he wanted to feel uneasy here, he just couldn't. "I didn't know. How was I supposed to know?" 
        "You felt the pull of the herbs." Gorgeriver gave him a sympathetic look. "As a kit, as an apprentice, and even now as a warrior. I saw how you were drawn to them, but you kept pulling yourself away."
        Eaglecry shook his head. "Why didn't you tell me?" 
        "You needed to figure it out on your own. I had hoped you would as a kit, but when you didn't. I took every chance I had to teach you the herbs. You weren't my apprentice, but you needed to be, and now you're behind in your training. Eaglecry, a great evil is coming to the Clans and you play an important part in combating it. Your faith in StarClan, your dedication to the warrior code, and your unwavering stability will be needed to save the heart of one who could destroy the Clans."
        Eaglecry blinked in surprise. An evil? What was Gorgeriver talking about?! Why would he save someone who could destroy them? As many questions as he had, he understood that not even Gorgeriver had all the answers. StarClan could only see so much, Gorgeriver had taught him that. Eaglecry flattened his ears in determination. Whatever StarClan needed from him, he would do his best to see it through. "What do I need to do?" 
        "You need to care for your Clan, Eaglecry. They need you to fight their sickness and take charge of the spiritual responsibility of their medicine cat. You are to help the Clan through dark times. We know you can save the heart of one who would destroy the Clans, but you will not be able to save everyone." 
        "If I can save one life, then everything would be worth it." Eaglecry nodded surely. StarClan was asking him to change his life. Go from a warrior to a medicine cat. Fight diseases instead of other Clan. And now, stand prepared to combat an evil that was coming? He couldn't think of a single reason not too. Gorgeriver was right. All his life, Eaglecry had been called by the herbs in the medicine den. He had even enjoyed the trips to the medicine cat gatherings every half-moon, even gotten to know the medicine cats from the other Clans pretty well. Nothing was going to stop him from taking up this mantle. Not old dreams of becoming a deputy or leader, not even some evil threat. "I'll do it." 
        Gorgeriver smiled at him, relief rippling in his pale blue gaze. "Eaglecry, do you promise to uphold the ways of a medicine cat? To stand apart from the rivalry between Clan and Clan, and to protect all cats equally, even at the cost of your life?" 
        Eaglecry nodded, more sure of this than anything else in his life. "I do."
        "Then by the powers of StarClan, we name you the true medicine cat of SkyClan!" 



        That day seems like a lifetime ago. So much has happened since I became SkyClan's medicine cat. Amberstar is dead and a RiverClan twilight walker is our new leader: Nightstar. Yellowrock's kits all grew up and Hiddenface has had three kits of her own. Three kits who's father is a RiverClan warrior: Cliffpaw, Robinpaw, Creekpaw, and Spiritpaw. The evil Gorgeriver warned me about so long ago, is finally here.
        Yes, yes, I am Eaglecry. I might not have heard your questions, but I saw your expression. It's true, you know, the stories they tell. I became deaf when Blackadder, a rogue RiverClan warrior, attacked me. I was heading to the Moonstone to see if StarClan would allow me to take up two apprentices at once but before I could reach it, Blackadder ambushed me and ripped out my hearing. If you asked me now, I would tell you that I believe I was meant to die. I was suppose to die that day, but if it weren't for Twigtail...I guess Nightstar saw the threat and she defied StarClan by not letting them have me.
        I stepped down a while after that, a clan can't have a deaf medicine cat. I took my apprentice, Lavenderpaw, to the moonstone. I couldn't be prouder of her. StarClan accepted her as SkyClan full medicine cat without hesitation. Her name is now Lavendersky *sigh* I realized that night that I wouldn't be speaking with StarClan anymore...I would not feel their presence or hear their words...not since I am just a cat...a deaf cat.
        I don't know if you could call me a warrior, but I assure you: I'm not an elder. I remember talking with a ShadowClan cat, moons ago. His name was Bateyes, in fact Moonstar was his sister. Though Bateyes was blind, he was one of the greatest warriors in his clan. So, I figured if he could be a warrior, then why can't I? I used to be a warrior before I became a medicine cat, so I don't have to go through any training.
        When the Clan found out I would be a warrior once more they didn't agree with it, Jumptree said I would get myself killed, Nightsky doubted I'll be any help at all, then the apprentices pipped up. Robinpaw said I'd hurt the clan, Creekpaw said I was weak, that I didn't know any moves. Well, he's wrong. I remember my warrior moves, I would practice them on occasion. I sat tall through it all. No, I couldn't hear my clan's outbursts, but it was all to easy to read. Nightstar believed in me, I'm thankful for that. I know the evil Gorgeriver warned me about is here and I know who it is I have to save. Nightstar gave me her apprentice: Cliffpaw to train. I know he's bitter about it. His heart is darkened from the moons he's spent in the Dark Forest and if I don't turn him back toward StarClan, he'll lead his siblings in destroying all the Clans.



        "Cliffpaw killed Spiritpaw!"
        At first, Eaglecry didn't hear the outburst, but he saw his clanmate's expressions. He was laying near the warrior's den, resting after a long hunt with a half-eaten sparrow at his paws. When he followed the Clans' gaze, Creekpaw had burst through the camp entrance, his fur ruffled with wild panic and a deep scratch on his cheek. 
        "Cliffpaw killed Spiritpaw!" The apprentice's lips moved once again and everything within Eaglecry grew cold. There was no way. No way that Cliffpaw killed his sister. There was no way that the apprentice Eaglecry had been working so hard to save had suddenly grown so dark to kill SkyClan's medicine cat apprentice. Cliffpaw adored Spiritpaw more than his other siblings: Robinpaw and Creekpaw. He could never hurt her!
        Creekpaw continued with a story. He had been climbing the outer cliffs with Spiritpaw when Cliffpaw suddenly attacked aiming to kill both him and Spiritpaw. Creekpaw admitted to defending Spiritpaw the best he could, but Cliffpaw was too strong and Eaglecry didn't miss Creekpaw's subtle hint to the Clan that Cliffpaw had been training in the Dark Forest. Creekpaw claimed that Cliffpaw had knocked him to the side before ramming Spiritpaw off the cliff. The poor medicine cat apprentice had disappeared into the waters of the river below and Creekpaw had fled before Cliffpaw could do the same to him. 
        Every word out Creekpaw's mouth had been a lie. Eaglecry saw it on the young apprentice's face. It had been Creekpaw that attacked Cliffpaw and Spiritpaw on the cliff. It had been Creekpaw that caused Spiritpaw's death. Yet, even though he knew the truth, the Clan didn't. Even at his young age, Creekpaw was a master wordsmith. His silver tongue could convince a blind warrior that he could see if he tried hard enough and it didn't help that Robinpaw stepped up to support her brother. 
        They may have been apprentices, but Robinpaw and Creekpaw were known for their skill. Their mentors boasted about Robinpaw's and Creekpaw's swift improvements in training, neither realizing the young cats were fully influenced by the Dark Forest. With Nightstar and their deputy, Shadowpelt out of camp, Robinpaw and Creekpaw convinced the Clan that Cliffpaw was a cold-hearted killer. A cat so devoted to the Dark Forest that he was plotting the Clans' destruction and the Clan believed every word. The Clan believed every word, but Eaglecry knew that Cliffpaw wasn't that way anymore.
        New looks of surprise lit up upon the cats of SkyClan's faces. Eaglecry followed their gazes back to the camp entrance and a gasp escaped his throat seeing Cliffpaw padding into camp. Eaglecry's apprentice looked so broken. His tail dragged on the ground and he didn't even look up to see his Clan staring at him with anger and hatred. It was by Cliffpaw's stance that Eaglecry knew: Spiritpaw was truly dead. 
        "There's the traitor!" Creekpaw's voice echoed off the camp cliffs, though Eaglecry could not ear it. Creekpaw and Robinpaw slid their claws out and moved with hostility toward Cliffpaw. "We dare not call you brother anymore!" 
        Cliffpaw didn't understand what was going on. It was all too clear in his expression and when more members of the Clan slid their claws out and bared their teeth at him, Cliffpaw's confusion turned to full panic. Creekpaw lunched at him and Cliffpaw turned tail and fled from the camp, abandoning his pride and giving into the fear that seeded from his sister's death. Eaglecry was helpless to stop it. Warriors chased after Cliffpaw and there was nothing Eaglecry could do or say to stop it. Lavendersky raced out of the camp to try to come to Cliffpaw's aid, and Eaglecry was proud of her actions, but he knew his place was here. Cliffpaw had been saved in Eaglecry's eyes even though his Clan wanted to kill him. Eaglecry turned his gaze to Robinpaw. While Creekpaw led the chase after Cliffpaw, Robinpaw remained in the Clan to spread her lies further. She was the reason Eaglecry couldn't go after Cliffpaw. She was the evil he needed to do his best to defend the Clan against.  



        Again you come to me with your pesky questions, I understand you were curious to learn of how I became a warrior to medicine cat and back again but really, must you question me about this hard time in my life?
        Eh, very well...since I cannot get rid of you any other way. Yes! I'm still deaf birdbrain! I've simply gotten better at figuring out what cats are about to say, now don't you have any questions that are more interesting?
        Ah, Cliffpaw...Of course you would bring him up...Well, before I can answer your questions about him, you need to understand something first. 
        Cliffpaw was born first out of his siblings, Robinwing came next, then Creekpaw, and Spiritpaw was youngest. At an early age--it may have been the day they were first allowed out of the nursery--Cliffpaw and Creekpaw were greeted by the Dark Forest. You seem surprised. Yes, Robinwing wasn't the first to be tempted by the Dark Forest, that was Creekpaw. Cliffpaw only joined the Dark Forest because he wanted to protect his siblings. Spiritpaw, on the other hand, felt led by StarClan to become a medicine cat. I could see the pride in Cliffpaw's eyes as he watched his sister take on the path of herbs. He was glad she wouldn't be walking the path of darkness like he and his other siblings. Cliffpaw had a good heart, but...anyone can be turned.
        I knew the Dark Forest was pulling him in. He was ever so slowly following his siblings down the path of Darkness. He was letting Robinwing and Creekpaw lead to a life of bloodshed and a lust to see the Dark Forest's will be done. I believe StarClan granted those kits great destinies, but the Dark Forest got to them first. It would've been StarClan's will that Cliffpaw and his siblings become leaders of the Clan. One of them would've gained the name of 'star, another the title of deputy, medicine cat, and the last a senior warrior. SkyClan would've rose in faith and strength and could've possibly rivaled ShadowClan as the strongest Clan in the forest, but the Dark Forest certainly put a stop to that.
        I thought that the Dark Forest had fully won Cliffpaw over the day that Nightstar declared him as her apprentice. Nightstar knew nothing of honor, nothing of the warrior code, she was a twilight walker! Chosen by StarClan to lead but tempted more than once by the path of Darkness. I thought the Clans were doomed to be destroyed by Cliffpaw and his siblings.
        Then, Nightstar made Cliffpaw my apprentice. It was a slap in the face to Cliffpaw. He resented me, was mocked by his siblings because of me, and at first resisted me at every turn. There were times I couldn't even find him to train him. I would find him sleeping somewhere around the territory, training in the Dark Forest instead of with me. I quickly put a stop to that and once he nearly ripped my throat out. I don't know why he didn't. 
        I eventually made a warrior out of him. When I was able to take him out training, I taught him how to fight in battle like an honorable warrior and not a Dark Forest fleabag. I taught him integrity, I taught him mercy. Yes. It was hard, at first, but I saw the way he looked when other members of the Clan praised the noble skills he was learning from me. I think I got through to him. StarClan only knows.
        Hah...It burdens me to know that now Cliffpaw is out on his own. He will be tempted by the Dark Forest again, tempted to return and fight mercilessly for greatness in the eyes of his siblings and dark mentors. Robinwing and Creekpaw would allow him into SkyClan if he turns from righteous ways and forsakes StarClan for good. As long as he obeys their every order, his siblings would welcome him into Darkness again...
        I just hope I taught him enough...
        Cliffpaw can be saved. He can be redeemed in the eyes of StarClan. As long as he stays on the narrow star-shining path of righteousness and not the wide thunderpath that leads to death.
        Cliffpaw is the reason I became deaf, you know. StarClan once warned me of an evil coming to the Clans and a cat that I needed to save. I was called to be a medicine cat to increase my faith in StarClan and it was taken away from me so that I could train Cliffpaw into a proper warrior and steer him off the path of Darkness. I believe I have fulfilled my duty with Cliffpaw, but now I must look to the Clan. They will need me to fight Robinwing. To hold back the Darkness in SkyClan. I just hope Cliffpaw can hold his own. Lavendersky told him to go to ShadowClan, to Northstar, for help. ShadowClan is strong and dangerous and Northstar does not tolerate anything having to do with the Dark Forest. I hope she has mercy on Cliffpaw. 
        Now, begone with you! Can't you leave this warrior medicine cat with some peace?! If you want to know what's next...go find Cliffpaw! He's standing up against his siblings out of love, I know Spiritpaw is dead, but he still has a clan to fight for. Now, out with you! Go talk to other warriors if you wish to hear more stories,but I warn you, stay clear of Creekpaw and Robinwing. They are too far gone to save...though Cliffpaw may tell you otherwise.


        Robinwing flicked her ear and made her way up to where Hopestar addressed the clan her eyes sharp and like a hawk. She was hunched over and she smirked, her clan all her's.
        Eaglecry padded out of the Leader's den, leaving Hopestar's body inside, "What are you doing Robinwing?" He mewed, his eyes and voice hard.
        "Watching the clan. Someone has too," Robinwing looked at him. Her ears back.
        "That isn't your job." Eaglecry mewed as he read her lips, "That's Russetfall's."
        "He isn't here is he?,"Robinwing got up and flicked her ears taking a threatening step towards him. Her eyes narrowed as she flashed him her teeth.
        Eaglecry stood his ground his narrow amber eyes locked on Robinwing, "We need to find him, HE'S the next leader of SkyClan!"
        Russetfall padded into camp with a mouse in his jaws, a pleasured look upon his face until he spotted Robinwing. His eyes darkened and he gingerly put the prey on the fresh-kill pile. What is Robinwing doing up there? He thought to himself, stopping cold and looking up.
        Eaglecry spotted Russetfall and turned to him, "Russetfall." he call, his voice was gloomy.
        Robinwing snarled at Eaglecry,"Do you really think I would let him? How long I waited for this," she had saliva dripping down her teeth as she flashed them at him, hackles raised.
        Russetfall stepped toward Eaglecry, looking confused. "Yes?" He meowed, not wanting confront Robinwing yet. Or at least procrastinating it.
        Eaglecry bared his teeth at Robinwing, "SkyClan isn't yours!" he snapped, turning back to Russetfall he mewed, "Hopestar is dead." his heart lurched just saying it, "You must go to the moonstone and receive your nine lives."
        "Robinstar! Robinstar!" Creeksplash chanted out, Cavernpaw picked it up along with Nightfrost, Finchflight and the rest of the Clan.
        "You will not be going to the moonstone,"Robinwing hissed,"I will. This clan doesn't have your back Russetfall. This clan is mine!,"she yowled so all could hear.
        "Robinstar! Robinstar! Curse Hopestar's name to StarClan! Robinstar is our rightful leader!" Nightfrost howled.
        Eaglecry flattened his ears seeing all the cats mouth Robinstar, he glared at Robinstar, "The warrior code declares Russetfall be leader!" he mewed hardly hoping to call over the chanting.
        Russetfall bared his teeth and growled. "This clan was never yours and never will be!" He snarled, his voice almost drowned out by the cats' chanting.
        "You want to see how much power I have?! How little faith there is in starclan!,Robinwing snarled.
        Eaglecry growled as he glared at Robinwing, "You will fall, you vile piece of foxdung!"
        Robinwing launched forward at Eaglecry in full murderous glory. Claws poised to kill and teeth snapping,"Death to starclan! I will rule this clan in darkness,"she yelled out.
        Eaglecry met Robinwing with his own claws, using her momentum to roll back and throw her off of him, "Not while I'm alive!" Eaglecry spat as his fur spiked, Forgive me Cliffpaw, he thought before he lunched at the heart of darkness, claws stretched out.
        Robinwing dodged quickly using her speed against him. She snarled and clawed out at him before rushing towards him, no-one was to interrupt this.
        Eaglecry hissed furiously as Robinwing charged him preparing himself for the attack.
        Nightfrost walked over to Russetfall, blocking any way for him to help Eaglecry out, "I think your time is up. After all, there's a reason you're still RussetFALL instead of STAR." She sneered.
        Robinwing screech out slashing at Eaglecry landing near him on her toes to be ready for any attack. She would kill him easily, she was just toying with him. Her teeth ready to meet his throat.
        Eaglecry pulled back away from Robinwing's vicious and deadly mouth, "Run Russetfall!" he called out as he moved to tackle Robinwing, to keep her from harming any of the others, "Run Lavendersky!"
        Russetfall growled and swiped at Nightfrost with extended claws, feeling anger rise in his chest. He tried to dodge for Nightfrost but missed, stumbling a few steps. He heard Eaglecry and suddenly knew what Eaglecry was doing. He bit his tongue from calling out to Eaglecry and turned to run, dashing for the entrance with one last look into camp.
Robinwing was tackled her claws reached up clawing deep into his belly. She was vicious in her attack on the older tom.
        "HA! Pathetic! I may not be on best terms with Robinwing, but at least she's strong enough to fight!" Nightfrost dodged Russetfall's blows and slashed her claws at his cheek. She wasn't aiming for his throat or chest for a reason. "Run away little Russetkit. Flea this Clan like you should have MOONS ago!" She taunted sickeningly as he ran.
        Eaglecry clenched his teeth against the pain, he was going to use his strength to hold Robinwing down, so the other could get away.
        Russetfall broke out of camp, some blood from the cut on his cheek in his eye. Other than that, he was surprised that he hadn't obtained more injuries. Coward, he inwardly ridiculed himself. But he pushed it aside as he remembered that Eaglecry had wanted them to flee and he wouldn't let Eaglecry's sacrifice to be in vain.
        Eaglecry watched as Russetfall, Lavendersky, and the other StarClan followers ran from the camp. he turned back to Robinwing and let out a fury of attacks.
        Robinwing snickered it was dark and wicked jerking upward to latch onto his throat.
        Eaglecry flattened his ears in fury, he lashed his claws at Robinwing planning on doing as much damage to her as he possibly could before he died, Forgive me Cliffpaw, he thought slowly as he felt the world begin to fade, Forgive me... Eaglecry fell to the side as the blood oozed from his neck he closed his eyes grief-struck that he let his clan come to this, "StarClan forgive me," he mewed weakly, "I have failed."
        Robinwing let go of Eaglecry's neck and let out a yowl,"This clan finally belongs to the dark forest! It starts with us and the rest of the clans will follow suit,"she yelled out for all to hear,"Starclan is dead in SkyClan!,"she smiled happily.

How Northlight became Northstar

        Darkstar waited for everyone to gather, he stood tall. "Its time I...admitted something," he mewed slowly. "From the time i was born, I have had a illness, its never bothered me so I kept it to myself, but now..." he sighed. "Its taken all but my last life and most of my sight..." He looked at everyone. "I am no longer fit to lead you all and with Lostraven taking care of her kits..." he looked to Northlight "I am left with no choice to assign a new deputy, Northlight will be that deputy!" His voice was strong and clear. "Northlight, do you accept? This means you will replace me immediately!"
        Northlight froze hearing what Darkstar had said, she was going to be the next leader of ShadowClan? Darkstar chose her? Why not Lostraven? Lostraven was the real deputy! She stood up and held her head high, not entirely sure what she was doing. She had only become a warrior a few days ago, received her first apprentice in Aurapaw yesterday! "I accept Darkstar." She kept her voice strong, the words almost sounded right as she was saying them. "I promise to take care of this clan just as well as you and Moonstar did." She held her leader's gaze. All but one life, was lost from Darkstar and he was fighting to keep the last one. The Clan already knew his vision was on and off and many times he stumbled when he walked. Only now, they knew the truth: Darkstar had a genetic illness that hindered him all his life, but now more than ever. He shared some of the Clan's misgivings about his ability to lead ShadowClan and chose the wise choice of stepping down. Yet, he was stepping down to make Northlight leader? The young warrior turned to Lostraven, the deputy sitting beside her. Lostraven's face was still, her ears tilted back in her disapproval of the decision. Darkstar must not have spoken to her about it. Northlight swallowed in her unease. "Lostraven...I will need your help." Northlight shifted in discomfort. She knew she had some gall asking the deputy for help after Darkstar just dismissed her so easily. "Would you help me lead this clan?"
        The deputy took a deep breath, but dipped her head, her tail flicking. "I would be honored."
       Northlight nodded slowly in thankfulness that Lostraven would be on her side. She looked around the clan, Closesky, Talonpaw, and Lizardpaw seemed to be the only one's happy for her. Redleaf, she could tell, was furious. Redleaf's just upset that Darkstar is stepping down. She shifted her paws. Why's he want me to lead the clan? Lostraven is more than capable! Northlight glanced up at the High Boulder. "Do I..." She looked at the ground, almost biting her lip in unease. Do I go to the moonstone? Will I even be a good leader? She glanced awkwardly at Lostraven. "Uh, Lostraven...What do I do now?"
        Lostraven looked at her, a frown lining her face. "Darkstar said you're the new deputy and should take over immediately. So if I were you, I would go to the Moonstone to receive nine lives." 
        Northlight flicked her ear. The Moonstone...right. She took a deep breath, looking around the camp. She wanted Lostraven to come with her, help guide her in these next steps, but the clan would need her here and Northlight was enough of a slap in the face to the deputy. "Could you watch over camp while I'm gone?" She glanced at Lostraven. "I think I'll take Talonpaw, Redleaf, and Lizardpaw with me. It's time that Talonpaw and Lizardpaw go to the Moonstone."
        Lostraven dipped her head. "I guess that's fine to me. Just come back safe for the clan." She got up and walked away. Northlight flattened her ears. All in all, Lostraven was taking this well, she really deserved to be leader over a new warrior like Northlight. Yet, Darkstar chose me. Northlight looked back over at Clan Rock, the place where the leader addressed the Clan. She couldn't explain it, but...I want this. 
        Redleaf padded out of the medicine cat's den, shaking her head at Northlight. "I wont come. I'm sorry, Northlight, but I want my kits to go themselves." There was a growl in her voice, and Northlight nearly flattened her ears.
        She doesn't support me. Anger shown in Redleaf's eyes when she looked at Northlight. Underlying anger shone in many of the Clan's eyes when they looked at her. They all want Lostraven to be leader, not me. Redleaf whipped away from Northlight, stalking off to the other senior warriors. Northlight shifted her paws. Maybe this wasn't a good idea? What if Darkstar's illness effected his judgement on who the next leader of ShadowClan should be?
        Talonpaw was standing just a few feet away, watching his mother stalk off before walking over to Northlight, a bright smile lit up his face. "Congrats on being made leader!"
        Northlight smiled thankfully at Talonpaw. "Thank you."
        Lizardpaw padded up quickly, his fur fluffed with excitement. "We're going to the Moonstone?!"
        Northlight nodded taking a deep breath. "Yes, and we better get going. It's a long journey." She took one last look around the camp. Lostraven was organizing patrols, but Northlight was constantly receiving un-approving looks from the rest of their clanmates, but no one would question Darkstar's decision. She took a deep breath, praying to StarClan that Darkstar hadn't just made a huge mistake. Holding her head high, she padded out of camp, Talonpaw and Lizardpaw excitedly following after her. Right before she slipped out of camp, she felt Lostraven's gaze upon her back. 
        Questions buzzed Northlight's mind with every step she took toward the Moonstone. Why her? Why did Darkstar chose her over Lostraven? Over all the other senior and more experienced warriors in the Clan? I barely know what it's like to be a warrior. She only received the name Northlight a few days ago. Aurapaw was made her apprentice yesterday! Along the journey, Northlight had to help Talonpaw and Lizardpaw with crossing the Thunderpath. She barely remembered the way to the Moonstone from when she journeyed to it as an apprentice. ShadowClan's medicine cat couldn't come with her because they were tending to Darkstar's illness.
        The two brothers were rather chatty along the journey, they were the son's of Northlight's uncle, their father meeting his fate in battle. Many nights, even as an apprentice, Northlight had stayed up late to help these two with their training and she continued to do it after becoming a warrior. I assumed that was why Darkstar gave me an apprentice so early. Northstar glanced at her two cousins as they crouched to cross another thunderpath. Maybe Darkstar gave me Aurapaw because he wanted me to succeed him? No. This had to be the illness talking. Northlight will arrive at the Moonstone and StarClan will tell her to send Lostraven instead. Lostraven was the right choice.
        When they reached the Mothermouth of the Moonstone cave, Northlight flicked her ear in uncertainty. Lizardpaw and Talonpaw gaped at how wide it was. "I want you to come in with me." Northlight looked at the two apprentices. "You shouldn't be out here alone, we don't know what's nearby. When we go inside, you mustn't speak." Both apprentices nodded eagerly, a new excitement rushing their veins with the glance they exchanged between themselves.
        The tunnel was damp and dark. Northlight led the way, using her whiskers to help guide through the narrow tunnels. Talonpaw followed right behind her, keeping his nose against her tail, while Lizardpaw trailed behind him. With each pawstep, Northlight's heart beat just a little faster. What would happen when she reached the Moonstone? Would StarClan accept her as ShadowClan's next leader? Would they tell her to send Lostraven in her place? Her mouth grew dry with every anxious thought that coursed through her mind. The Clan didn't approve of Darkstar's choice, but no one spoke out about it, so it had to be okay...right? Northlight took a shaky breath, the tunnel opened up to the wide cavern of the Moonstone. She could barely see the outline of the crystal rock in front of her. Northlight lingered long enough to know that Talonpaw and Lizardpaw had walked into the cavern with her, each apprentice taking a seat on either side of the tunnel exit. 
        Shaky steps carried her down to the Moonstone. Northlight's heart quickened with every one and even in the dark of the cave, the moment she stepped next to the crystal rock, she could see her reflection. Night black pelt, glossy and clean, youthful blue eyes full of wonder and nervousness, and right in the middle of her forehead was a white pointed star of fur. Her own reflection brought a calmness to her soul. Maybe Darkstar did make the right choice? 
        Without a sound, Northlight laid against the Moonstone, she tucked her paws under her, and wrapped her tail around her neatly. With one last look at her reflection, she closed her eyes and pressed her nose against the cool and smooth crystal.
        Starlight lit up Northlight's vision when she opened her eyes. She was laying beneath the Great Rock, four towering oaks stretching to the night sky above her. The stars danced and twirled overhead, shining brightly down on the world and so close that Northlight thought she could just reach up and grab one. 
        "Northlight."
        A pitch black she-cat padded out of the stars, her deep blue eyes were shining as she looked upon the young warrior. Around her right eye was a white crescent moon of fur. "Welcome." 
        "Moonstar." Northlight blinked in surprise, her jaw falling slightly. She immediately dipped her head in respect. Moonstar was her grandmother, leader of ShadowClan before Darkstar, and Northlight's idol. "Darkstar sent me, h-he--"
        "We know." Moonstar stepped up to her, smiling gently. "Darkstar is unable to lead his Clan. I believe he chose right when he picked you." A sense of sorrow covered her eyes. "I just wish I could be with Lostraven through this."
        Northlight grew quiet at the former leader's words. Moonstar believed she was the right choice for ShadowClan? She glanced down at the ground. Lostraven had Moonstar's deputy before Darkstar. Darkstar had been made leader over Lostraven because of an injury the deputy sustained, now she was passed up for leader because of her kits. Lostraven had also been Moonstar's best friend in life. "I promise that Lostraven will stay as ShadowClan's deputy." 
        Moonstar gave her a grateful smile. "You are here to recieve your nine lives. We mustn't waste time." 
        Northlight flattened her ears with an uneasy breath; however, the first cat that stepped up to her made her smile and she almost ran to him. "Father." 
        "Northlight," Darkshadow purred in greeting, proudly watching his daughter. His solid black pelt was sparkling with star. "With this life, I give you strength to lead ShadowClan through hardships and bright days." He leaned forward to press his nose to hers. Northlight did so happily, just wanting to touch her father again. However, pain pulsed through her at the touch. She grit her teeth, nearly pulling away. Was this what it was like to receive a life?! Would all nine feel like this?! 
        When Darkshadow pulled away, Northlight was left panting, she stared at her father in disbelief of what had just occurred, but he only looked back at her with sympathy, taking steps away. "I'm proud of you and your sister, know that, Northlight." 
        Northlight flattened her ears when he padded away. What that it? Was that all the time she got to spend with her father? He had been taken from her before she had even become an apprentice, that couldn't be it.
        Before she could protest, another tom padded up to her. He had a pelt as white as snow with dark gray markings like shadows upon it. He looked upon Northlight with eyes of bright blue and they shone like the stars around him. As soon as he reached her, he dipped his head in greeting. 
        Northlight let out a purr. "Blizzardstorm." This tom had been medicine cat when Northlight was born, he helped her mother kit, he was renown throughout all the Clans, and he once confessed to Northlight that he had fallen in love with Moonstar, yet his vow as a medicine cat kept him from her. Moonstar had died before anyone could determine if she loved him back. 
        "It's good to see you again," Blizzardstorm purred upon reaching Northlight, but for a moment, he glanced back at Moonstar. "I have been watching the camp, and to answer everyone's question: Yes. Moonstar and I are now mates as my vow ended the moment of my death." He nearly laughed at Northlight's brightened face, she opened her mouth with questions on her lips, but Blizzardstorm cut her off. "I'm afraid this is not a social visit, my dear one."  He paused a moment for Northlight to prepare herself before stepping toward her, pressing his nose to her's. "With this life, I give you patience. May you use it to think first before acting. Your emotions may guide you, but not control you." 
        Northlight dug her claws into the ground at the receiving of the life. She expected patience to be a tender emotion, but instead it was constant, like the erosion of rock by water. She gasped out when he finally stepped away.
        Blizzardstorm didn't move off right away, but instead looked Northlight up and down. "Your leadership of ShadowClan was written in the stars, my dear one. I received a foresight of it the moment you were born. Do not fret!" He smiled at Northlight's surprise. "ShadowClan has a bright future ahead. You will face unimaginable challenges, but keep your dedication to ShadowClan and you will prevail."
        Northlight nodded to the former medicine cat, to winded for words. Her heart ached when he started to walk away. She could remember so many nights as a kits just sitting in the medicine den and listening to his tales of Moonstar. It was so good to see him again.
        The next tom that padded up had dark brown fur with black stripes lashed across it like he had been whipped. His eyes were a icy blue, but they only looked upon Northlight with warmth. His name was Tigerfrost and he was father of Talonpaw and Lizardpaw. "Northlight." Tigerfrost dipped his head to her, purring softly. "Thank you for helping my sons." When Northlight nodded back to him, he continued. "With this life, I give you serenity to help keep you calm through the stressful times." He pressed his nose to her's. Northlight drank in the life, closing her eyes as the peace of a shaded pine on a hot greenleaf day washed over her. She purred softly when Tigerfrost stepped away from her.
        "Thank you, Tigerfrost." Northlight dipped her head to the tom.
        "No, Northlight." Tigerfrost shook his head, a smile upon his lips. "Thank you." He began to pad back to the starry line of cats; however, he paused and looked back at her. "I'm glad Redleaf is moving on after my death. I hope Darkstar takes good care of her." 
        Northlight looked down toward the ground, Tigerfrost retaking his place in the starry line. Redleaf found love in Darkstar after Tigerfrost was taken from her. Northlight had always wondered how Tigerfrost would've reacted. He loves her enough to let her go.
        "Welcome, Northlight!" A small tabby tom padded in front of the young warrior. He had deep blue eyes that shone like stars and he flicked his tail in excitement upon standing before the she-cat. Northlight had to lower her head so that he could touch her nose. "With this life, I give you hope. Use this life to keep your clan safe. Look to StarClan to guide you and never lose hope." 
        Northlight braced herself for this next life, but like the life of serenity, it was soft and calming. Northlight nearly giggled with glee as a joyful, tickling feeling flushed over her. Yet, when the young apprentice stepped away, Northlight felt a pang of sorrow. This was Duskpaw. Back when Northlight was a kit, he often visited the nursery to help her get the hang of some battle moves after he was done with his chores. Yet, he was ambushed by Blackadder's rogues while on a hunt. He died right when the Clan found him. "Thank you, Duskpaw." Northlight blinked gratefully at her old friend.
        He nodded back to her, emotion in his eyes. "You're welcome, Northlight." 
        Sorrow gripped Northlight's heart once again when he padded away. So many she considered dear had been lost to the Clan and she was seeing them all again for a brief time. I'm honor to have them give me my nine lives.
        The next cat that padded up to Northlight was a silver tom, his scent much fishier than the others. Northlight didn't even recognize him. "Greetings, Northlight." The tom dipped her head to her. "I...I doubt you remember me." 
        Northlight shook her head, eyeing him carefully. "I'm sorry, I don't." 
        "I didn't expect you too." The tom tilted his head curiously at her, noting the careful way she watched him. "I am Ripplepond, former deputy of RiverClan. I was murdered by Blackadder around the time you were a kit. I knew it was my time to die, but I was surprised Blackadder waited so long." He took a deep breath. "Blackadder's time comes soon." His eyes gleamed when he touched noses with her. "With this life, I give you justice to measure right from wrong and make the choices you need to make." 
         Northlight grunted in her pain when the life coursed through her. She dug her claws into the earth, her eyes closing tight. The life pounded like the fall of a pine tree. The muscles in her legs locked up, standing firm despite the pain that coursed through them. When Ripplepond backed away, Northlight stumbled forward, panting heavily. "I will see you again, Northlight, and you will know me by name." Instead of walking back in line with the other cats, Ripplepond's form began to fade before he disappeared completely. 
        A pure white she-cat stepped toward Northlight next. Her eyes were a starlit amber and she purred the moment she stepped up to the younger she-cat. "Hello, Northlight. Do you remember me?" 
        Northlight nodded, a warmed smile stretching her face, but she was too winded to speak. The she-cat before her was Cloudshade, the only she-cat in the forest that had been able to soften the dark heart of a invading rogue. That invading rogue being the reformed warrior: Nightshade. Cloudshade had often played with Northlight and her sister when they were in the nursery. 
        The pure white she-cat pressed her nose to Northlight's. "With this life I give you the gift of willpower. Use it to fight on even when all seems lost and impossible." 
        Northlight took a deep breath when the light rushed through her. A renewed strength coursed through her veins and she breathed deep as if the fresh air was hers to take. "Thank you, Cloudshade." Northlight dipped her head to the she-cat when Cloudshade stepped away. 
        "Tell Nightshade..." Cloudshade flattened her ears sorrowfully. "That I'm always with him." When Northlight nodded, the she-cat went back in line with the others. 
        Northlight blinked in surprise at the next cat that padded forward. He was much larger than her, strongly built and thick with muscle. The tom had a dark ginger pelt ridden with scars, he had nicks in his ears, and his claws stuck out of his fur. He looked up on Northlight with solid eyes of green. "Jaggedclaw." Northlight dipped her head to the warrior in respect. This was the greatest fighter the Clans had ever seen. He had even beaten a badger single-pawed. Northlight's heart fluttered with excitement, how she couldn't wait to tell Closesky and Crismontail that she saw their father.
        The large warrior looked her up and down with studying eyes. "You've grown strong, Northlight." He stepped forward to press his nose to her's. "With this life, I give you courage. May you fight and defend your Clan with honor." 
        Northlight flattened her ears and grit her teeth in response to the pain of receiving the life. A flash like fire swept through her, igniting every nerve in her body. Yet, she refused to cry out in pain, she would bear through it, she had to for the sake of her Clan. 
        A deep breath of air lifted Northlight's lungs when Jaggedclaw finally stepped back. The great warrior dipped his head to her. "Take care of my family, Northlight, please."
        Northlight could only nod in reply, her legs lightly trembling from the effects of that last life. Crisomtail and Closesky were two of her greatest friends in ShadowClan, she would do anything for them. 
        The next cat that stepped up was a tom of solid black pitch. His eyes were even blacker than the shadows around them, but he purred in greeting when he stepped up to Northlight.
        "Bateyes!" Northlight smiled brightly at the older tom. Bateyes was a blind warrior, brother to Moonstar and mate to Lostraven. He was the most recent death in ShadowClan. Bateyes had been killed by Blackadder while on patrol. The very same day Lostraven had kitted. Northlight couldn't wait to tell Lostraven she saw him.
        Bateyes shook his head when Northlight tried to speak. "She knows I love her, but she needs to know that I'm with her always, and I'm waiting for her." 
        Northlight smiled and nodded quickly. "I promise to tell her that." 
        Gratefulness shone in the tom's black eyes. "With this life, I give you generosity. May you give what needs to be given for you Clan." 
        The life rushed into her like a tidal wave on the shore. Northlight had to dig her paws into the ground to keep from getting swept away. She felt so filled after that life, that all she wanted was to give some of it away. When Northlight opened her eyes, Bateyes was smiling back at her in amusement. He dipped his head, then turned to go back to the line of starry cats.
        Northlight sat taller when she saw who would be giving her the last life. "Moonstar." The she-cat dipped her head in respect.
        Moonstar's gaze was as calm as still water when she looked back at Northlight. "Do not doubt yourself, Northlight. Darkstar couldn't have chosen a better cat." She suddenly smile and lifted her head, raising her voice for all of StarClan to hear. "Northlight, with this life, I give you pride and certainty! May you stand strong behind your Clan and know your place among the forest!" The former leader pressed her nose to Northlight's. The warm sense of belonging swirled within the young she-cat. She breathed deep of it and her paws itched with the excitement to run. She couldn't wait to return to ShadowClan. 
        Moonstar then stepped back, the line of starry cats stepping up beside her. "We hail you by your new name: Northstar!" Moonstar's voice carried across the stars. "Your old life is no more! You have received the nine lives of a leader. StarClan grants you the guardianship of ShadowClan! Defend it well, care for the young and old, honor your ancestors, and the traditions of the warrior code. Live each life with pride and dignity! We fully recognize you as the new Leader of ShadowClan!" 
        "Northstar! Northstar!" All of the stars cried out her new name. Northstar lifted her head high, more sure than ever that this was what she wanted. She would return to ShadowClan and she would lead it until her last dying breath. 
        "Return, now, to your Clan." Moonstar stepped forward again when the stars quieted down. Pride shone in the former leader's eyes. "Remember, we watch over you always." 
        "I won't let you down." Northstar dipped her head gratefully to the cats before her with a new found pride and certainty for her place within the forest.
        Moonstar nodded back to her. Like the twinkle of starlight in the dawn, everything around Northstar began to fade. Yet, the new leader held no fear. She lifted her gaze high, taking a deep breath of excitement. She would lead ShadowClan with everything that she had. She would prove to the Clan that Darkstar had made the right choice. Blizzardstorm had said that her leadership was written in the stars. Northstar would make sure it was a story worth reading.

        "She's part ThunderClan! Swiftpool, I can't believe you did this to us!"
        "Wolfstar, I beg you, don't take it out on my kit!"
        "She doesn't belong in WindClan! You must get rid of her!"
        That's the first thing I heard. The first thing I remember. Hello. My name is Brightmask. My mother is Swiftpool of WindClan and my father is Hawkclaw from ThunderClan.
        When Wolfstar found out that my mother betrayed the clan....well, no one can blame him for being furious. WindClan was going through a hard time. Wolfstar was having difficulty keeping the Clan together. So when Swiftpool became mates with a ThunderClan warrrior, Wolfstar snapped. He cast me out right then and there. I was the only one born of my mother's code-breaking, so WindClan was only losing one cat. You see, it had been seasons since a cat in WindClan betrayed the warrior code by falling in love with a warrior of another Clan, and now that my mother did, the Clan hated her. Being the Clan closest to the Moonstone, WindClan thought they were StarClan's favorite Clan. They did their best to please StarClan and my mother just in StarClan's face.
        Wolfstar stripped me of my right to be a WindClan cat. He wanted me out of the Clan as soon as I was strong enough and having no other options, my mother brought me to ThunderClan. We were so sure that Hawkclaw would take care of me, take me in and love me like Swiftpool did. However, even though Foxstar was kind enough to accept me into the Clan, my father turned his back on me. I was shame in his eyes. A reminder of how he broke the code, betrayed ThunderClan. His clanmates weren't thrilled with his actions, but they pitied me enough not to argue with Foxstar's decision. I was starting to think no one could love me.
        It was Lionpaw that I got the most grief from. He was one of the best apprentices in ThunderClan and Cometpaw was his best friend. Lionpaw never let me forget I was part WindClan. He called me rabbit-chaser, weasel-heart. I could beat him in a race across the territory, but he always scoffed my WindClan blood. He didn't know how much I wished I was just one Clan and not two. I was exiled from WindClan at birth and I didn't feel at home in ThunderClan. Even my mentor didn't even like having me around. Maybe if Hawkclaw actually cared about me, things would've better, but once he found out Swiftpool had me, he turned his back on both of us. Oh, well. 
        I grew to be a strong ThunderClan warrior and did my best to prove my loyalty to ThunderClan time and time again. I was making friends, Lionfire and Cometblaze eventually warmed up to me. I was entrusted to lead patrols, but not train an apprentice. A few moons later, Cometblaze became Cometstar. For a time, the senior warrior Silverleaf was his deputy, but she stepped down when she moved into the nursery. It wasn't surprising at all when Cometstar chose Lionfire. Lionfire was a great deputy. He was strong, he was courageous, and he was kind to his clanmates, to me. He still teased me, sometimes, for being part WindClan, but it wasn't cruel like it used to be. I know he respected me, and it surprised everyone when we became mates. 
        I felt like the luckiest she-cat in the forest. I finally felt loved! I felt safe when I was with Lionfire. He protected the Clan and he protected me. Every night we would spend time together before slipping off to the warrior's den. I was ready to have his kits. I wanted to make him as happy as he made me.
        But then he died. 
        He had gone with his apprentice and Cometstar to the Moonstone. There was something Cometstar needed to ask StarClan and he wanted his deputy to come with him even though Lionfire should've remained behind to look after the Clan in Cometstar's absence. I remember saying goodbye to him. I rubbed against his ginger fur and felt his warm, affectionate lick against my ear. I had told him to be careful and told me not to worry. I didn't for his sake. He hated it when I worried. Sometimes I wonder if I had worried, maybe he would've survived? 
        A dog had attacked. They didn't even make it to the Moonstone. A rogue dog just ambushed them beyond WindClan's borders. Lionfire and Cometstar diverted the dog's attention away from Lionfire's apprentice, but while they were running to safety, Lionfire got caught by the fox-dunged beast. Cometstar had watched in horror from the safety of a tree branch as my mate was ripped to shreds. 
        Who knows how long Cometstar would've been there, waiting for the dog to leave him and Lionfire's apprentice alone. Fortunately, a ShadowClan patrol came through. ShadowClan's medicine cat, Frostshard, was being escorted to the moonstone to seek counsel from StarClan. The warriors escorting Frostshard were able to lead the dog away from Cometstar. Cometstar thanked them, but didn't even go to the Moonstone. He and Lionfire's apprentice came straight home. While my Clanmates pondered among-st themselves on why Frostshard was going to the Moonstone, maybe there was something wrong with Darkstar? I didn't care about ShadowClan. My mate was dead. I was no longer loved. 
        You see, my mother, Swiftpool, she died of greencough the leafbare after I left WindClan. Guess her heart was so broken after losing me and my father, that she couldn't go on. My father died in a battle at Sunningrocks about a moon after I became a warrior. I didn't grieve though, he didn't want anything to do with me anyway. Now, Lionfire was dead. My beloved mate was dead. I felt so alone. Sure, I had my clanmates, but I still didn't feel like I belonged. 
        It was moons later that I met Talonfury. He's a ShadowClan warrior. We met at one of the full moon gatherings and I saw him on border patrols some times. It happened so quickly. Next thing I knew, I was meeting him at the border at night. We talked until daybreak. He made me feel...wanted. Every time I looked at him, my heart flew. I'd catch him looking at me at gatherings and I found that I wanted him. I wanted him more than anything. 
        I never thought I would end up like my mother: breaking the warrior code and having kits with a tom from another Clan, but I didn't care. I didn't care about ThunderClan, I cared about Talonfury. I never told ThunderClan who the father of my kits was and they respected my silence. I had moved to the nursery and I couldn't get out to see Talonfury. Eventually, I couldn't take it anymore. I had to see him. With my belly round with kits, I slipped out to go to the ShadowClan border. 
        He must have been on a night patrol, because he didn't come. Granted, he knew I was confined to the nursery until our kits came, but I still waited for him. I held onto every hope that he would show up. He didn't, but our kits did. 
        I went into labor right there in the tunnel underneath the Thunderpath. This was no place to have my kits. I think StarClan was looking out for me, though, because Frostshard was suddenly there. He had herbs in his mouth, I guess he was collecting some nearby, but he helped me to ShadowClan's camp and delivered my kits. When Talonfury found out, he stayed with me, despite the looks he was getting from his clanmates. 
        It was safe to say, Northstar, new leader of ShadowClan was not thrilled that I was in her camp and she was angered when she learned the truth about who the father of my kits were. Talonfury stole my heart again that day. He stood up for me, stood beside me even though we had both betrayed out Clans. Northstar immediately sent word to ThunderClan about me and I awaited my fate. 
        Our kits were beautiful. We named them Longkit, Hollykit, and Jaykit. However, StarClan punished us for our breaking of the code. Longkit was born blind. Hollykit was born deaf, and Jaykit was born mute. I would love these kits with every fiber of my being and to the Dark Forest to anyone who dares threaten them. Talonfury loved them too. I was so afraid he'd abandoned me like my father had abandoned me and my mother, but Talonfury stayed by my side. He said he would face anything with me and I believe him. 
        Duskstar, my leader of ThunderClan, came to ShadowClan's camp to take me back. She was not thrilled. You see. After Lionfire died, Cometstar made Silverleaf his deputy, and she succeeded him. However, something strange was happening in ThunderClan. Silverstar was losing lives rather quickly. Her deputy was Clawpelt, but one Silverstar's deathbed, she changed her deputy to Duskclaw, now Duskstar. It was Duskstar who told us that and I don't think she told Clawpelt. You see, Clawpelt went with Duskstar to the Moonstone so she could get her nine lives, but Clawpelt didn't come back. I got the feeling that Clawpelt didn't know that Silverstar changed her deputy on her deathbed and Duskstar led him to his death, but I could've been wrong...I just know I didn't like Duskstar that much.
        And Duskstar didn't like me either. When she entered ShadowClan's camp, she glared at me the moment she saw me. Duskstar looked over me and my kits and I knew she wanted more warriors for ThunderClan, but upon learning that my kits were blind, deaf, and mute...
        I was exiled.
        Right in the middle of ShadowClan's camp, Duskstar exiled me and my kits from ThunderClan. I felt so hollow. I had been exiled from WindClan for having ThunderClan blood and now I was exiled from the only other Clan I belonged too. Talonfury argued with Duskstar for my sake, but Northstar shut him up. Duskstar had every right to exile me after what I had done. I don't even think Duskstar felt anything when she exiled me. She had done it so coldly and cruelly. 
        I didn't know what to do. 
        Where would I raise my kits? How would I raise them? I certainly couldn't raise a blind, a deaf, and a mute cat all by myself! I knew that Talonfury would follow me everywhere. I knew he would help me, but I couldn't ask him to leave his Clan. He loved ShadowClan as much as he loved me. He shouldn't leave it. 
        It was Northstar that was my saving grace. After Duskstar so cruelly left ShadowClan's camps, Northstar looked me in the eye. She had compassion in her eyes and told me any cat with ShadowClan blood was welcome within ShadowClan. My kits would have a home and Northstar told me I needed to be here with them as well. 
        I will never forget Northstar's kindness and I am much happier now. I live in ShadowClan's nursery. Talonfury is my beloved mate and my kits are growing strong as ShadowClan warriors. ShadowClan is kind to me despite my past and I have even made friends with many of the other queens. A lot of the warriors are even intrigued by my kits. I know many of them want the challenge to train a blind, deaf, and mute cat. I especially see it in Closesky's eyes, but he already has an apprentice and as skilled as he is, Northstar wouldn't let him take on more apprentices than his one. 
        There's a bright future for me and my kits here in ShadowClan, I believe that. All my life, I've been searching for a place to belong, a place to be myself, and I know now, that ShadowClan is this place. I wasn't born here, I don't have ShadowClan blood, but my name is Brightmask, and I realize now that behind my mask, has always been a warrior of ShadowClan. 

        Blackadder ran toward the Great Rock and jumped on it, he turned toward the cats that pursued him and hissed harshly, "You pathetic cats! Can't you see who the strongest cat in the forest is?!"
        "Not you thats for sure! " Ashfur shrieked, wnating to claw his throat open as he rushed to the rock and stopped, waiting for his leader's signal to attack.
        Pebbleskip hissed. "Not you!
        Aurablaze hissed, "Not you!," she snapped angrily.
        Fallenlight waited for the signal to attack.
        Blackadder stood defiantly on the Great Rock, "You really think you can take me on?" he growled looking at all the cats below.
        Northstar stopped a few paces away from the rock her eyes were narrowed as she glared at Blackadder, "You caused too much pain." she hissed
        Dawnrose wished she could speak, so instead she spat toward Blackadder as she clumsily tried jumping up.
        Pebbleskip growled. "You were always mouse brained, Blackadder! It's three clans against one cat. Do the math!"
        Aurablaze hissed, "You killed my father and my mother is dead because of you! You have caused great pain in ShadowClan! Now you will pay!," she hissed racing forward.
        Sorrel looked around, scared
        Blackadder kicked any cat down from the rock that tried to get to him, "If you want a fight than a fight is what you'll get!" he hissed, "Attack!" he shouted signaling the rogues.

        Ashfur barred his teeth an rushed into battle. He hissed and fought off a rouge, he ducked under its claws and headbutted it

        Attack? I want my mother! Sorrel thought to herself.
        May glanced at Sorrel "you dont want me..of course." Without thinking she threw herself on a cat, hoping to die
        "May!" Sorrel squeaked.
        Storm cried out from beside the other kits, her eyes wide.
        "May! Don't die!" Sorrel yowled.
        May with her last strength padded up to Storm and Sorrel. She picked them up and dagged them to safety and with painful breaths, she licked her kits, "Sorrel..i love you..." she mewed weakly.
        "I love you too! But I belong with my clan..." Sorrel mewed softly.
        "The Clans destroyed me Sorrel.." May mumbled as she closed her eyes and died

        Swiftbreeze backed away. "Greypaw, Rainpaw, to me!"
        Rainpaw ran up to Swiftbreeze.
        Swiftbreeze yowled. "Greypaw, Rainpaw, get to Thunderclan and warn Silverleaf and Cometstar!" she ordered, in battle position. She knew she was not allowed to fight, but this was too important.
        Rainpaw started clawing Harestorm's face. "Greypaw, you go tell Silverleaf!"
        Greypaw soon came back with Thunderclan, not too many warriors, following. There were 4 more cats.
        Swiftbreeze yowled. "Thunderclan! Here!" she yowled, then went in a more silent voice. "I'm not sure if this battle is ours to fight. But I do have an Idea."

        Fanged followed the signal to attack."Fools!"

        Ebonypaw burst into the clearing. She saw the fighting, and took a tentitive step forward

        Cookie pounced on Aurablaze. "Revenge!
        Aurablaze hissed as Cookie attacked her.
        Cookie tackled aurablaze "Yu made kits fatherless!"
        Aurablaze looked at her, "Your mate killed my mother!," she snapped smacking Cookie across her face with her claws.
        "That elder deserved to die" Cookie hissed
        Aurablaze hissed, "You will die for that comment!," she raised her claws slashing at her neck. Anger filled her eyes
        Cookie wailed "Jet, my kits!" And died.
        Aurablaze spat on Cookie's body and smirked before running away to join in the battle with Fallenlight. However before she got there Cotton, Cookie's young kit, saw her mother's body and wailing she jumped on on Aurablaze.
        Aurablaze hissed, "A kit? What's a kit doing in battle?," she tried to get the kit off of her.
        Ebonypaw saw Aurablaze and ran forward. She pulled the kit off Aurablaze's back and dropped it.
        "Mother! You kill her" Young Cotton cried.
        Aurablaze nodded her head to the apprintice and ran off to the mewling she heard, she spotted two other kis, "Ebonypaw. Bring that other kit over here. There is another that looks like that one and an older one," she mewed loudly.
        Storm cried out seeing the strange she-cat.
        Ebonypaw nodded and raced off. She quickly grabbed the first kit and brought it back to Aurablaze. Then she raced off again, dodging cats and managed to grab the other kit. Panting, she dropped it with Aurablaze.
        Ebonypaw looked at Aurablaze. "What...n-now?" she asked nervously.

        Fallenlight raced out attacking Northstar. "You clan cats are weak!,"she snarled with a smirk.
        Northstar growled and tackled Fallenlight, "Our clans are, and will always be strong!" she snapped before biting his shoulder.
        Fallenlight stopped as Northstar attacked her she hissed angrily, "I was once a clan cat but not anymore!," she hissed, "Killing was too much fun," the former WindClan warrior smirked darkly and clawed at Northstar's muzzle, hissing angrily.
        Northstar backed away from Fallenlight as her muzzle started to bleed, she let out a growl and lashed her claws at Fallenlight, "Then you're a traitor! Just like Blackadder!"
        Fallenlight smirked,"I know and i'm glad!," she smirked, "So many cats to kill in so little time. All the clans have some that are waiting in the shadows," she smirked and raked her claws at her again.
        Northstar let out a growl, she charged at Fallenlight and at the last second pressed her front paws to the ground, twisted, and used her back claws to smack Fallenlight in the face.
        Fallenlight twisted to the side and hissed blood whelling from the wound on her cheek. She hissed furiously.
        Northstar rammed her head into Fallenlight's side.
        Fallenlight hissed and twisted leaping up and on top of Northstar.
        Northstar rolled to get Fallenlight off of her.
        Fallenlight jumped off and smirked.

        Blackadder let out a loud burst of evil laughter like a maniac as he watched the cats fight below.
        Lionfang roared and leapt at him
        Blackadder spotted Lionfang, he twisted and raked his long claws at him.
        Ashfur manuvered through the fight an for the rock, leaping up "This is where you die, rouge!" he snarled at Blackadder.
        Blackadder snickered, "In your dreams" he growled, he twisted and kicked Ashfur off the rock with his back two legs.
        Lionfang hissed and and crawled under Blackadder's belly and raked it. he then came out and pounced on his back.
        Blackadder raked his claws across Lionfang's muzzle before head-butting him.
        Lionfang raked his claws across he face and muzzle.
        Blackadder tackled Lionfang, "What do you hope to prove?" he growled.
        "I...I will kill you!" Lionfang roared as he gave a huge blow to the dark rogue.

        "You'll never win!" Rainpaw yelled over the noise.
        Harestorn attacked Rainpaw.
        Rainpaw scratched Harestorm's face after calling to Greypaw.
        Harestorm hissed and clawed Rainpaw's eyes.
        Rainpaw closed her eyes and clawed at his throat, then clawed at Harestorm's stomach

        Pebbleskip glanced back to make sure his cats were ready. "Try to block any attack, so we can focus on Blackadder," he commanded. He leapt towards Fallenlight.
        Springlily ran up.
        Oceantide glanced at Blackadder and exchanged a look. There was no way she could help him and remain secretly on his side
        Dawnrose kept trying to reach Great Rock, launching herself up, however being blocked by a rogue.
        Pebbleskip growled in approval seeing a rogue come up. "That's right, fight me," he whispered, drawing her backwards


        Suddenly, Lightning split through the sky, halting the fighting, Lionfang was thrown from the Great Rock leaving Blackadder on it. However beside the traitorous warrior, starry cats appeared, the first was a spotted she-cat, the second a moon printed black she-cat. All over the clearing warriors of the stars appeared!!!

        Creekpaw, Blackadder's first victim, appeared near some of the RiverClan warriors, his timid eyes stared defiantly at Blackadder

        Bateyes, a warrior of ShadowClan, slain by Blackadder's claws appeared beside his daughter, Aurablaze, his claws unsheathed and his dark eyes glaring at the former RiverClan warrior

        Tunnelmud, a WindClan elder, killed by one of Blackadder's rogues, appeared near WindClan's territory, glaring down the rogue.

        Lostraven appeared, killed by Jet. Her eyes narrowed and she glared. She stood beside Moonstar her eyes looked at Blackadder and then to Northstar and Aurablaze

        Rushfeather hissed lashing his tail, another one of Blackadder's victims.

        Blizzardstorm, ShadowClan's previous medcine cat formed besides the she-cat with the moon print. His bright blue eyes were narrowed.

        Fanged's parents snarled as they appeared from StarClan.

        Mintsong randomly popped up next to her daughter, Rainpaw

        Northstar stepped back in shock seeing the starry warriors appear.

        Aurablaze looked shocked, her parents?! She looked at her father and her mother, tears brimmed her eyes.

        Ebonypaw gasped. She ran over and gently picked up Sorrel. "It's ok," she whispered comfortingly, putting her down before looking up.
        Sorrel nodded, looking back at May.
        Ebonypaw nuzzled Sorrel. "It's gonna be okay." she repeated gently.

        Ashfur stopped in his tracks an gazed at the clearing in shock " starclan..." he murmured

        "Mother!" Rainpaw let out seeing her mother, Mintsong, she then turned to Greypaw. "Greypaw?"

        Greypaw fainted onto Rainpaw

        Cotton was sobbng into her mother's, Cookie's, body.

        Fanged recognized Mintsong as the one he killed. He took a step back.

        Blackadder flattened his ears as he looked at the StarClan cats around him.

        Moonstar, the moon printed she-cat, faced Blackadder, "Blackadder you're a traitor to your clan. You couldn't overcome your pain and caused even more grief to the clans, you think you can rule the forest but you can't!"

        Rushfeather hissed, "You have killed mothers and fathers and sons and daughters. You have hurt all the clans. You must learn you leasson," he snarled.

        Lostraven hissed standing next to Moonstar.

        Mintsong looked at Fang, "Miss me?

        Northstar watched Moonstar surprised to see the former ShadowClan leader here, now.

        Ebonypaw stared at Blackadder and Moonstar before looking at Cotton.
        Sorrel looked at the StarClan cats wide-eyed.

        Aurablaze's heart raced.

        Fallenlight stopped and backed up

        Lionfang was slowly bleeding to death. (This rper had wanted to kill Blackadder himself, but everyone had decided that all of Blackadder's victims would slay Blackadder so everyone would have a part in killing. Lionfang's rper did not take it very well and kept putting Lionfang in the way of StarClan appearing. He forced our hands by making lightning strike the Great Rock and knock Lionfang away. To be spiteful, Lionfang's rper decided to kill Lionfang.)

        Rainpaw growled at Fanged, then nudged Greypaw to wake him.

        Blackadder let out a hiss as he turned toward Rushfeather and the other StarClan cats, "You can't hurt me!"

        "Blackadder you don't realize how weak you are!" Bateyes growled.

        "You were never worthy enough to be a true warrior!" Creekpaw let out.

        "Your reign of terror ends today, Blackadder!" Blizardstorm mewed, his voice echoing.

        Rushfeather smirked, "Starclan has more power then you think, Blackadder" he hissed.

        Lostraven growled

        Northstar looked around the clearing her heart racing but her eyes calm, Blackadder was gonna get what was coming to him.

        Ebonypaw picked up Cotton and brought her to Sorrel. She licked Cotton and Sorrel and looked at the Starclan cats.
        Storm cried out, her mother was killed.
        Ebonypaw quickly grabbed Storm and brought her to her siblings. "Shhh..."

        Greypaw soon got up.

        Swiftbreeze's heart raced.

        Eclipsepaw watched with awe

        Blackadder flattened his ears and was actually starting to feel something he hadn't felt in a long time...fear.

        Spottedstar, the spotted she-cat, stepped up, "Blackadder you are a villain, a threat to all clans, and a disgrace to RiverClan. Though you may be strong and fierce you have lost all your nobility, honor, and righteousness."
        "As told from the beginning of your reign of terror." Moonstar stated, her eyes narrowed.
        "The Dead Will Have Their Revenge!"

        Creekpaw let out a hiss and ran forward he sunk his teeth into Blackadder's back causing the warrior to flinch against the pain, "I was right about you, you where never worthy for anything!"

        Rushfeather ran forward towards Blackadder, his claws unsheathed and his eyes set for revenge. "This is for taking me away from my mate and kits!," Rushfeather spat, biting down on Blackadders shoulder.

        Lostraven cried out loudly and slashed at him. She hissed, "This is for hurting my clan!," she slashed at Blackadder's side

        Blackadder let out a gasp of pain as Lostraven and Rushfeather got him.

        Blizzardstorm leapt at the boulder an snarled, unsheathing his claws and slashing across Blackadder's muzzle and left eye "This is for killing Moonstar that day!" he raged.

        Bateyes let out a growl and raced forward he jumped and raked his claws deeply across Blackadder's shoulder. Causing the rogue to stumble against the pain, "I never got to know my kits you mangy fleabag!" he growled.

        Tunnelmud ran forward and raked his claws down Blackadder's tail bringing blood, "You took me from my son!" he roared.

        Blackadder let out many gasps of shock as he took all the blows. The pain was growing and becoming overwhelming.

        Northstar gasped seeing the StarClan cats gang up on Blackadder but she gasped the most at what Blizzardstorm had said, Blackadder killed Moonstar?! she thought in shock. Northstar flattened her ears, so he's the one who took away her beloved leader.

        Aurablaze stood in shock. Then hissed, "Moonstar was murdered!," she lashed her tail standing beside Northstar, after a moment she shook her head and looked at her clanmates.

        Ebonypaw wrapped her tail around the kits and watched, frightened herself. She used her tail to cover the kit's eyes.
Storm whimpered.
        Ebonypaw licked Storm's ears.

        Swiftbreeze yowled, and ran toward Blackadder. "Even though you did not to much to my clan, you ripped the clans apart!" she hissed, and slashed him across the side, leaving deep cuts. "This is for hurting many clans."
    
        Ashfur watched StarClans brutal strikes one after another, why wasnt Blackadder dead yet? Thats when he caught on "There killing him as slowly as possible, the worst death possible..." he murmured to himself.

        Moonstar stepped up to Blackadder she shoved him over and pressed her claws against his chest, "You ripped every one of my lives away," she growled, "You took me away from my sons, my friends, and my clan!" Letting out a growl Moonstar raked her claws across his chest. Blackadder's eyes grew wide in pain.

        Spottedstar stepped up when Moonstar moved back, the former RiverClan warrior was panting on the ground, blood covered him. "Blackadder you poisoned me, tricked me, defied me, and killed me." Spottedstar growled, "You killed Ripplepond and caused the death of Streampool, and worst of all you defied, corrupted, and damaged RiverClan!" The former RiverClan leader raised her claw and slashed it across Blackadder's face.

        Lostraven watched.

        Rushfeather hissed, his eyes narrowed.

        Fireleaf and Orangenight hissed.

        Northstar stared up at Moonstar and the other StarClan warriors, breathless.

        Fallenlight wanted nothing more to do with this, she took one look at Harestorm before taking off.

        Ebonypaw looked at Fallenlight nervously.
        Cotton struggled to get away from Ebonypaw "Get away from me!" She scratched the apprentice's nose.
        "Ow!" squealed Ebonypaw, looking at Cotton. "I know your mother died, but I'm trying to HELP you." whispered Ebonypaw.

        Fanged ran to save his leader but was to slow.

        Slowly the blood streamed out of Blackadder he looked up at the StarClan cats and put his ears back, "As you said..." He coughed blood weakly, "The dead will...have...their revenge." Blackadder's dark amber eyes slowly closed and his head fell to the Great Rock. The dark warrior was dead.

        Well, well, well, look what trespassed in the Place of No Stars? Are you scared, little kit? You should be. Here is where killers and murderers like me wander to no end. Nothing to do except plot our revenge. Oh, good. I can tell by the look in your eye that you recognize me. These scars are terrifying, aren't they? You want to know how I got them? It was your precious StarClan that gave me these scars. They made me bleed out upon the Great Rock for all the Clans to see! Surprised? I thought so. You see your dear warrior ancestors aren't what they make you believe. You either follow StarClan or you are condemned by them--like I was. Stray from their self-righteous path in any way and you are abandoned by them. Just ask Bloodmoon. He's around here somewhere. He'll tell you the truth about your pathetic warrior ancestors!
        Oh, yes. I am the Blackened Adder StarClan warned the Clans about. Still, the Clans tell my stories and I assure you, they are under-exaggerated. I am far worse than the Clans truly know. I've certainly killed more cats than I can count. But I wasn't always this way. 
        It may surprise you, but I was once a loyal RiverClan cat. I jumped when my leader said to jump and I followed the warrior code. There wasn't much I wanted out of life. I wanted to be best fighter and hunter in my Clan, certainly, but I also wanted Streampool. 
        You see, I grew up with Ripplepond, Streampool, and Creekpaw. Does it surprise you that they were my best friends? It should. We did everything together: trained, hunted, invaded ThunderClan. And I fell hard for Streampool. She was the fish in my rivers, the breeze on a greenleaf day, and I thought she was falling for me as well. 
        For some fox-dunged reason, Ripplestar saw it fit to make Ripplepond a warrior before Streampool, Creekpaw, and I. All because Ripplepond turned tail in a battle for Sunningrocks. Sure, he brought back reinforcements, but I was the one who didn't back down even when the odds were against us! No. Ripplepond was favored by our beloved leader. So, he was given everything. 
        I was furious, of course, but I found a way to let it go. You see, with Ripplepond now too busy with his warrior duties, I could spend more time with Streampool. We did so much together that I truly that when we became warriors, she would be mine. I even took the time to help her pathetic and weak, little brother, Creekpaw. He wasn't warrior material, he would've made a better medicine cat! Yet, I helped him improve in his skills like the humble cat I am. The day after Ripplestar lost his last life, I took Creekpaw to the river to train. It was going well, at first, but then he wouldn't shut up about Ripplepond. 
        Creekpaw had the gall to suggest that Ripplepond was better than me! He was wrong! I am superior to Ripplepond! I'm stronger! I'm faster! I could beat him in a fight every day, I'm that much better than him! It was I who deserved to become Spottedstar's deputy, but because Ripplestar favored the fishbrain with his own name, I was overlooked! I was in a far better position to protect the Clan! And NONE of them realized that!" 
        Heh, heh, heh, I see that I'm scaring you. Good. You want to know what happened that day Creekpaw wouldn't shut up? I'll tell you: I killed him. 
        He was my first kill you know. I remember the way his blood ran through my teeth when I sank my fangs into his throat. Nothing had ever tasted so sweet. I don't remember lunging for him. I just remember a flash of red, a power in my veins that I couldn't control back then. And the next thing I knew, Creekpaw was dead. Right then and there I knew I needed to learn to control that power. Not because I felt guilt over Creekpaw, no. That weakling deserved to die. I needed to control that power, that flash of red, so that I could use it to my advantage. I would become the most powerful cat in the Clans if I did. 
        No one found out that I was the one who killed Creekpaw and that night, when Spottedstar returned from the Moonstone, I was made into a warrior alongside Streampool and Pebbleskip. However, Spottedstar also chose Ripplepond as her deputy that night. She, too, was blinded by Ripplestar's dilutions that Ripplepond was somehow special. I tried to get over it. I turned my attention to Streampool. I was already the best warrior in the Clan, the only other thing I wanted was her, and yet, she chose Ripplepond too. 
        It was then that I decided Ripplepond had to go.
        RiverClan was falling. Every fishbrain cat in the Clan was being blinded by the dilution that Ripplepond was our savior! So, to save RiverClan from themselves, I destroyed them. 
        I took my time and was patient. I needed to know everything to be able to destroy Spottedstar and Ripplepond and make RiverClan rise again. One greenleaf, rogues had taken over Sunningrocks, stole the territory from ThunderClan and were savagely attacking ThunderClan and RiverClan. I told Spottedstar we needed to fight back. We could handle a bunch of filthy rogues, but no. She decided to beg Moonstar of ShadowClan for her help. ShadowClan was the most feared Clan in the forest back then and it was all because of Moonstar. Moonstar graciously agreed and together our Clans chased those flea-bitten rogues out of the territory. Their leader was a cat named Nightshade and I told Spottedstar we needed to kill him to teach the rogues to never return to Clan territories! Yet, Spottedstar rolled on her belly when Moonstar told her 'no.' Moonstar welcomed Nightshade into ShadowClan and Spottedstar did nothing! Cometstar of ThunderClan did nothing! Moonstar was openly insulting and asserting herself over us by welcoming Nightshade when he yielded to her. She was proving once again how ShadowClan was the strongest Clan in the forest and we did nothing! Spottedstar proved that we were weak! 
        It was because of that battle at Sunningrocks that I was able to convince my clanmates to my point of view. Oceantide, Stonestep, Stormhaze, Whitecloud, and many more. They all agreed that Spottedstar and Ripplepond were slowly destroying RiverClan. We feared that if Moonstar of ShadowClan wanted something from us, Spottedstar might hand over the entire territory. So, we took action. 
        Oh, yes. We did exactly what you're thinking, little kit. We killed Spottedstar at least seven times. Adders, poison, badgers, foxes, drowning, anything we could to rid our precious leader of her lives. And I was clever enough to get away with it every single time. Spottedstar thought they were all accidents or that she died in place of a Clanmate. Ripplepond and Streampool, however, they knew the truth. Thankfully, they were too busy protecting their own kits: Fogstorm, Springlily, and Poolfrost. I was dead set on killing Fogstorm. You see, she was so much like her father. She shared his pelt, his personality, she grew to be a respected warrior just like him. So, I plotted to kill her. We had her pinned by the gorge and Stormhaze was going to throw her over when Stonestep betrayed me! The foolish tom had fallen in love with her! And that was biggest mistake of his life! He knew if he ratted out my plans to Spottedstar, I would kill him. So, he kept quiet and he kept at Fogstorm's side. I should've killed him, but I thought I could use Fogstorm against him. If I kept her in constant danger, he would do exactly as I say. And for a time, he did. 
        Spottedstar was finally on her last life, I had to threaten Lupinespirit, our medicine cat to get her to tell me. I almost killed her too, but...the Clan needed a healer. Spottedstar couldn't die yet. Not with Ripplepond still around. So, I finally ended it. When Ripplepond and Streampool went out for a stroll, I took Stormhaze and we went after them. We killed them both. Streampool had made her choice. She was nothing to me now, and Ripplepond's blood never tasted so good. We dumped their bodies into the river and I was ready to take over the Clan. 
        When Spottedstar called the Clan together to select her new deputy. I confronted her. I admitted all her crimes against RiverClan, all her weakness! My supporters cheered me on and I demanded that Spottedstar step down. 
        Heh. Heh. Heh. She had the gall to challenge me. Spottedstar was small, weak, and in her final moments, she dared to challenge me. To exile me from RiverClan? By then, I had full control over the red power that consumed me whenever I killed and I killed Spottedstar right in front of the Clan before anyone could even breathe. I proved my strength time and time again! RiverClan was now mine! My supporters even begged for me to go to the Moonstone. 
        But then StarClan intervened. 
        Clouds covered the sun and Ripplestar himself appeared on Reed Rock. Thunder rumbled through the air when he spoke and my clanmates trembled like cowards. Ripplestar declared that StarClan was against me. Anyone who supported me would be condemned by their warrior ancestors. He announced that Stonestep would be the new leader of RiverClan as a reward for him betraying me! I was horrified. I argued with Ripplestar, claiming my right to lead RiverClan, but he silenced me with a mighty shout. He stated that StarClan had spoken and he disappeared. 
        I wasn't going to let some dead and weak cats stop me! I challenged Stonestep and tried to rally my followers, but StarClan turned them all into cowards. Oceantide, Whitecloud, and others turned their backs on me because they didn't want to displease StarClan. Only Stormhaze stood by my side and the both of us were chased out of RiverClan that day.  
        I swore my revenge. If StarClan was going to turn their backs on me, then I would rage war on them! It wasn't hard. You see, I had gained support in the twoleggedplace. All I had to do was prove my strength and rogues eagerly flocked to me. When I promised them a  piece of Clan territory, I had enough followers to rival RiverClan. I was patient though, and worked slowly. I waited for RiverClan to let their guard down. Stonestar returned from the Moonstone and I heard he made Pebbleskip his deputy. I let my story seep through the Clans like a poison and I even gained support from cats in the other Clans: Fallenlight in WindClan, Duskclaw in ThunderClan. My rogues and I raided the territories. We attacked the Clans while they were on patrol. Killed many of their warriors and you know what? 
        I even got to Moonstar. 
        That surprises you, doesn't it? No one truly new how Moonstar lost her final lives. That's right, lives. I had come to learn that the ShadowClan leader liked to take strolls through the territory at night and the perfect opportunity arose. Late, one rainy night. My rogues and I cornered Moonstar. I reminded her of how she treated us when she aided RiverClan against the rogues at Sunningrocks. Moonstar was impressive. She showed no fear and she even killed one of my rogues in the fight! But it didn't matter. I had plenty of followers. I would lose as many as it took to make sure Moonstar was dead. We finally got her pinned and I clamped my jaws around her neck. Moonstar had a lot more lives left than I thought, but she was helpless under the weight of my rogues and I never released my jaws from around her neck until she was dead for good. Moonstar died eight times in my jaws.  
         With Moonstar dead, ShadowClan was crippled. The tom who took her place, Darkstripe, was a weak leader compared to Moonstar. I didn't have to worry about ShadowClan getting in my way with him as their leader. I terrorized the other Clans. I led an ambush on WindClan and stole one of Scarstar's lives. I killed warriors on SkyClan and ThunderClan patrols, but I always kept a close eye on Stonestar and RiverClan. I remember following a young RiverClan tom, his name was Rushfeather. He had been a kit when I was exiled. I learned quickly that Rushfeather had fallen for a SkyClan she-cat named Hiddenface. She was ugly, if anything. Hiddenface was missing half her face from an accident when she was an apprentice. I don't know what Rushfeather saw in her. For his foolishness, I killed him. I would've killed Hiddenface too, but she was tucked safely in the SkyClan nursery carrying Rushfeather's kits. Little did I know those kits would be very important to me later on.        
        In keeping a close eye on RiverClan, I too, became a fool. Do you remember Streampool and Ripplepond? They had kits: Fogstorm who became Stonestar's mate, Springlily who had a fling with a ShadowClan warrior, and then Poolfrost. Poolfrost was very much like her mother. She was tender and sweet. She was training to be a medicine cat when we met in the territory. I spotted her when she was gathering herbs. She looked so much like her mother, I couldn't stop myself from slipping out of the reeds to talk to her. She was afraid of me at first and rightfully so, but her kindness allowed her to give me the benefit of the doubt. We met many times over the next few moons. She heard about what I was doing to the Clans, but she believed me when I lied. I probably could've told her my pelt was white and she would've believed me. I didn't want anything to happen to her. I loved manipulating her. 
        She had to step down as a medicine cat when she was expecting kits, my kits. She named them Adderkit and Frostkit and I got to meet them twice when she slipped them out of camp. They were both strong. I saw greatness in them, especially Adderkit. He was as easy to manipulate as his mother, but Frostkit had my sharp mind and wasn't so easily fooled. She was believing the stories she heard about me, I could tell, but Adderkit. I could turn him into whatever I wanted.         
        I had plans for my kits. Plans for them to take over the Clans. Everything was falling into place! My rogues had grown powerful! The Clans were trembling before me! Paranoia that I would strike poisoned the air! But then...I underestimated ShadowClan. 
        You remember Darkstar? The weasel-minded leader who weakened the great ShadowClan? Well, he stepped down. Apparently, he had an illness the medicine cats could describe. It took away every single one of his lives, except one. I knew the truth though. It became clear when I first walked this Place of No Stars. StarClan took away Darkstar's lives. They didn't see him fit to lead, like they didn't see me fit to lead! They took away his lives, but let him live and breed his weakness. StarClan told Darkstar who should succeed him and that who, was Northstar. 
        Northstar became a leader and a mentor all in the same day. She was so young, I laughed when I heard the news. I could've sent my rogues to murderer her on her way to the Moonstone, but I didn't. I didn't think she'd be any trouble...but she was the one who chased me to my death. 
        I was raiding a ShadowClan patrol with my rogues and Northstar may as well led her entire Clan against me! My foolish scouts didn't realize that she had set a trap for me! Apparently, she's Moonstar's grandaughter. Moonstar must have told her how she died, so Northstar came upon me with a vengance! My rogues and I were chased to Fourtrees and we put up a deadly fight! Yet, the battle caught the attention of patrols from other Clans and they raced to Fourtrees to aid the ShadowClan warriors. Pebbleskip, deputy of RiverClan, led his patrol against me and Lionfang was among them. 
        You need to understand, I had Poolfrost right where I wanted her. Under my manipulation, she would've done anything for me, but Lionfang stole her away. That fox-dunged, self-righteous warrior broke my manipulation and turned Poolfrost against me! She later had his kits: Otterkit and Shimmerkit. So, when Lionfang came charging into Fourtrees, I met him in battle on the Great Rock! 
        I would've killed him. I was stronger, faster, and my battle moves were more advanced! I would have had him bleeding out on the Great Rock, but then StarClan intervened once again. 
        A bolt of lightning struck the Great Rock, throwing Lionfang and I apart. I managed to keep my place, but I had lost sight of him in the blinding light. Next thing I knew, Moonstar was standing beside me, her moon-printed pelt shimmering of starlight. All around the clearing, warriors of StarClan appeared, and I recognized them all. They were all my victims: Creekpaw, Bateyes, Spottedstar, and many more. Moonstar declared that my time was up! It was time to put an end my reign of terror! She stated that the dead would have their revenge! 
        Look at my pelt, little kit. Look at my scars. StarClan did this to me that night. I bled out slow. Each one of my victims make a mark on me that my death would be as agonizing as they could possibly make it. You're told StarClan cares about you when you're a kit. That StarClan watches over you. Well, take a look at me and remember: StarClan only cares as long as you follow their rules. 
        I spat Moonstar's words back in her face before I died. All my blood painted the Great Rock red and the warriors of the Clans looked on in horror. My rogues fled for their lives. Without me, they were nothing, but I'm not finished. Moonstar said that the dead will have their revenge, and I swear I will. 
        You see, little kit. StarClan has the power to walk in the dreams of leaders and medicine cats. Well, I have the power to walk in the dreams of anyone. Already, I have pulled weak minded apprentices and warriors into this Place of No Stars, and they believe every word I tell them. I have rallied the warriors of the Dark Forest, this Place of No Stars, and we are building an army. An army to destroy the Clans and StarClan. 
        I see how enticed you have been with my tale. Its very intriguing, is it not? Don't look too alarm. Yes, Bloodmoon, Lovestone, and Ambershade have been sitting there for most of my tale. They won't harm you unless I say so. Like I said, little kit. I am building an army. I could teach you battle moves that would allow you to win a fight without breaking a sweat. Do you want to meet my son, Adderpaw? He's training with Robinpaw right now and I just had Cliffpaw kill a weakling of a warrior who was going to betray us. He'll become a fine servant of the Dark Forest. Would you like to feel the warmth of blood on your paws? Its sweet taste upon your lips? Join me, young kit, and I will make you into one of the most powerful cats in the forest! All you have to do is obey my every order. I see the temptation in your eyes. Don't hesitate little kit.
        Join us. 

The two were getting away to climb cliffs together, to escape the chaos their clan was enduring. 

However, their brother, Creekpaw, a Dark Forest apprentice, followed them. 

Creekpaw goaded Cliffpaw into fighting him and, 
in that fight, Creekpaw maneuvered himself so that Cliffpaw knocked Spiritpaw down the cliff,

into the raging river below. 

Cliffpaw, stunned at what he had just did, didn't notice his brother racing back to camp.

Creekpaw lied to the Clan, and convinced them that Cliffpaw had killed Spiritpaw instead of the other way around. 

Nightstar and Shadowpelt are currently out of camp.

Lavendersky: *After hearing Creekpaw's story* Creekpaw, that can't be true.

*Cliffpaw appears at camp's entrance in shock and eyes full of grief*

Nightsky: *noticing Cliffpaw entering camp* It's Cliffpaw!

Sandslash: *narrow-eyed and hostile* It's Cliffpaw.

Lavendersky: *hearing Cliffpaw's entrance, voice full of hope* Cliffpaw! *she starts toward him but Yerrowstripe cuts her off*

*Clan mutters in disgrace as Cliffpaw starts forward*

Creekpaw: Uh, Why I oughta- Let me at him let me at him! Here hold me back! *gives tail to Grassclaw.*
Grassclaw: *Grabbing Creekpaw's tail* Ok!
Creekpaw: *starts toward Cliffpaw pulling against his tail, claws out* Let ke at him! Let me at him!
Grassclaw: *Releases Creekpaw's tail* Ok!
Creekpaw: *stopping and frowning back at Grassclaw* I think you're missing the basic point here.
Grassclaw: *Looking down at his paws* Oh...

Sandclaw: What's he doing here?

Nightsky: Look at the wounds on his pelt.

*Cliffpaw stops seeing everyone looking at him*

Robinwing: *Stepping forward* Why have you come back?

Cliffpaw: *looking worried and small* I had nothing to do with-

Robinwing: *Cutting Cliffpaw off* You don't belong here!

Cliffpaw: Please, it was an accident.

Lavendersky: Robinwing, listen to him!

Robinwing: *biting at Lavendersky* Silence! *She turns toward her brother* Cliffpaw, the Clan has looked past our half-clan heritage, but you continue to betray us by killing Spiritpaw?! There is only one punishment for that!

*Cliffpaw steps back his eyes growing wide*

Nightsky: Yes!

Sandslash: Kill him!

Yerrowstripe: Scar him for life!

Robinwing: *Raising her head and shouting strong and clearly* Exile!

Lavendersky: No!

*The hum of music starts to play, as the clan pounds the ground to the beat*

Lavendersky: *Trying to get to Cliffpaw* No! Cliffpaw!

Creekpaw: Deception
Nightsky: Disgrace
Grassclaw: Evil as plain as the scar on his face

Creekpaw: Deception
Starpaw: (An outrage!)
Nightsky: Disgrace
Starpaw: (For shame!)
Sandslash: He asked for trouble the moment he came

Creekpaw: Deception
Starpaw:(An outrage!)
Yerrowstripe: (He can't change his stripes)

Nightsky: Disgrace
Starpaw: (For shame!)
Yerrowstripe: (You know these Outsider types)

Grassclaw: Evil as plan as the scar on his face.
Nightsky: (See you later, agitator!)

Creekpaw: Deception
Starpaw: (An outrage!)
Sandslash: (Just leave us alone!)

Nightsky: Disgrace
Starpaw: (For shame!)
Grassclaw: (Traitor, go back with your own!)

Sandslash: He asked for trouble the moment he came
Nightsky: (See you later, agitator)

*Creekpaw, Yerrowstripe, and Grassclaw chase Cliffpaw out of camp*

Jumptree: Born in grief
Sandslash: Raised in hate
Nightsky: Helpless to defy his fate
Russetfall: Let him run
Eaglecry: Let him live
Creekpaw: But do not forget what we cannot forgive!

*Cliffpaw reaches the ShadowClan border, Creekpaw attacks him*

Clan:
And he is not one of us
He has never been one of us
He is not part of us
Not our kind!

*Cliffpaw receives many wounds from his brother and doesn't fight back*

Clan:
Someone once lied to us
Now we're not so blind
For we knew he would do what he's done
And we know that he'll never be one of us

*Cliffpaw lays on the border line, bleeding and badly wounded*

Robinwing: He is not one of us!

Creekpaw: *Standing over Cliffpaw* Deception

Nightsky: *Turning her back on Cliffpaw and leaving him at the border* Disgrace

Sandslash: *back at camp* Deception

Grassclaw: *Following Nightsky* Disgrace

Creekpaw: *evil smirk on his face as he glares at his brother* Deception

Lavenderky: *stepping out of the bushes and running up to Cliffpaw*  (ohhhh...)

*His form fades and is next seen in a river-tangled land, on a sleeping island home of a clever and strong clan. The scar-pelted tom pauses at one of the dens, a low purr escaping his throat before he enters. Inside are the sleeping bodies of mothers and their kits. Yet, the tom stops in front of a silver-blue queen, a young black kit curled around her stomach. Besides the kit lays another, a white she-kit with silver swirls. The scarred tom bends his head toward the little black kit, catching the two white stripes on the kit's muzzle that look like adder fangs*

Blackadder:
Sleep, my little Adderkit,
let your dreams take wing;
one day when you're big and strong,
you will be a king.

*In a blink the tom is standing on Reed Rock glaring down at the camp below him.*

I've been exiled, *the tom jumps from the rock, walking the length of the camp*
persecuted,
left alone with no defense; *The tom glares at a den full of strong cats*
when I think of what
that brute did,
I get a little tense. *His claws sink deeply into the ground*

*More shadowed cats appear beside the scarred tom. He looks over, a glint in his red amber eyes*

But I dream a dream so pretty;
that I don't feel so depressed.
'Cause it soothes my inner kitty,
and it helps me get some rest.

*The tom jumps up on Reed Rock once again his claws unsheathed as he looks at the dead warriors below him. Each let out growing growls of excitement.*

The sound of RiverClan's dying gasp! *Flashes of battles, blood, and war*
Lionfang squealing in my grasp! *Flashes of the tom fighting against Lionfang on a large, great rock*
StarClan's mournful cry! *The scarred tom looks up toward the sky*
That's my lullaby! *Growls and roars erupt from the dead cats below him*

*Blackadder jumps off the rock once again padding to each of the dens*

Now the past I've tried forgetting, *Images of his betrayal flash*
and my foes I could forgive, *Image of Ripplepond and Blackadder fighting*
trouble is I know It's petty,
but I hate to let them live. *Image of Ripplepond's dead body*

*A dark red tom with black splotches jumps forward*

Bloodmoon: So you found yourself somebody, who'd chase Rain right up a tree!

Blackadder: Oh the battle may be bloody,
but that kinda works for me.

*Blackadder looks to the other dark cats*

The melody of angry growls, *Dark Forest cats let out growls*
a counter point of painful howls, (Yiow!) *Lovestone tackles Darklightning*
a symphony of death, oh my! *The scarred tom's face turns to a sweet grin of pure evil*
That's my lullaby!

*Blackadder appears back in the nursery*

Yes- I'm- gone-,
but Poolfrost's still around;
to love this little lad, *Blackadder licks Adderkit*
'till he learns to be killer,
with a lust for being bad! *Image of Adderstar looming over the Clans*

*Blackadder slips out of the nursery, as Darklightning and Lovestone slip in*

Darklightning: Sleep; ya little termite!
Uh- I mean precious little thing!

Lovestone: One day when you're big and strong;

*Blackadder stands on the Great Rock all below him Dark Forest cats growl, and roar in victory*

Blackadder: You will be a king!

The pounding of the drums of war;
the thrill of Adderkit's mighty roar.

Hawkclover: The joy of vengeance;

Bloodmoon: Testify!

Blackadder: I can hear the cheering;

All of the Dark Forest: (Adderstar! What a guy!)

Blackadder: Payback time is nearing,
and then our flag will fly,
against a blood-red sky!
That's my lullaby!

*All of Fourtrees is alive with the sounds of roars and growls from the Dark Forest cats*

Greatest Leader of ShadowClan ~ Moonstar's life

Born the daughter of Darkstar and Silverwind, Moonkit loved to play outside the nursery with her blind brother, Batkit, and denmate, Blizzardkit. From birth Moonkit seemed to be special, daughter of the ShadowClan leader and spoken fondly by the medicine cat.
Moonkit and Blizzardkit spent their nursery days helping Batkit learn to conquer his blindness. Eventually the young tom didn't look blind at first look, unless of course you looked at his eyes.
Moonkit was the leader of the nursery. When Lostkit was born a few moons after Moonkit and her brother, the four seemed to organizing battles all over the camp; getting in the ways of warriors and taking on apprentices in play fights. Many times Moonkit had to defend her brother, warriors were always saying how he should become the medicine cat's apprentice however Batkit wanted to be a warrior.
The day of their apprentice ceremony Moonpaw received Silentstep as her mentor, and before Batkit could get his mentor Blizzardkit stepped up saying he wanted to the medicine cat's apprentice. and Thus Batpaw received Foxheart as his mentor.
Moonpaw trained her heart out, in a few days she became an expert with blending into the shadows and in a moon she had most of the fighting moves down perfectly. All her free time she spent aiding her brother, helping him learn to fight and hunt without his sight, "Being blind just gives you an advantage," she'd tell him, "ShadowClan lives and thrives in the dark of the night and all of us must learn to see without our sight, you being blind just makes it easier for you." Moonpaw became a respected apprentice in the clan, however since she and Blizzardpaw were on different paths they drifted apart, Moonpaw's best friend soon became Lostpaw.

To be typed

        It started with Blackadder, a warrior in RiverClan. He fell hard for Streampool; however, Streampool chose Ripplepond, a more honorable warrior, over him. Blackadder grew bitter and jealous and was determined to be recognized. So, he started showing off his strength. He grew to be recognized as one of the strongest warriors in the Clan and eventually grew to believe that he should've been chosen as deputy instead of Ripplepond. Driven by bitterness and ambition, Blackadder spread rumors and poisoned the minds of many of clanmates into believing that he was best chose for RiverClan's leadership. Little by little, Blackadder discretely took away Spottedstar's lives with poison, adders, traps, and ambushes. When Spottedstar was on her last life Blackadder and his followers surrounded Ripplepond and Streampool when they were alone. The deputy and his mate ran the river red with their lifeblood after Blackadder's claws tore into them. Spottedstar called the Clan together to choose her next deputy, no one knowing the truth about Ripplepond's death. Before she could speak, however, Blackadder spoke up, declaring his claim upon RiverClan. Just to prove his strength, he murdered Spottedstar in front of everyone, stealing away her last life.

        Blackadder thought that this show of his strength would turn the Clan to him. However, he was betrayed by one of his closest supports: Stonestep. StarClan revealed to RiverClan that Stonestep was to be the next leader of RiverClan, and they, themselves, exiled Blackadder. Those who supported Blackadder left with him and Blackadder became the leader of a rogue band of exiled RiverClan warriors and rogues who wanted a piece of Clan territory themselves. They raided all the Clans: attacked WindClan's camp, killed ShadowClan warriors who were on patrol, and even stole the lives of Moonstar, Leader of ShadowClan, by delivering her a wound that even her lives couldn't heal. Blackadder gained supporters and eyes everywhere, but he kept his eyes upon RiverClan. He followed a RiverClan tom named Rushfeather who had a forbidden love with Hiddenface of SkyClan. Rushfeather was on his way back to RiverClan after Hiddenface had his kits: Cliffkit, Robinkit, Creekkit, and Spiritkit, when Blackadder murdered him.
        
        Everyone in SkyClan knew of Hiddenface's code breaking and her kits received the disapproving stares of the Clan. Robinkit grew in bitterness of her half-clan heritage, hating what she was and the treatment she received from the Clan. Their first night out of the nursery, Cliffkit and Creekkit were targeted by the Dark Forest. Creekkit was drawn into the aspect of becoming the powerful warrior they promised he be. Cliffkit only staid to keep an eye on his brother. In the morning, Creekkit then told Robinkit about it and Robinkit was hooked. She and Creekkit each believed that their sister, Spiritkit was too soft for the Dark Forest, so they never told her about it. Cliffkit never told her about it to protect her from it. Every night the three trained in the Dark Forest, growing in the desire to become the greatest warriors in all the Clans. Robinkit and Creekkit believed everything that the Dark Forest told them and even grew more comfortable in the forest's starless skies than they did their own Clan. Robinkit grew to Robinpaw and she became the strongest trainee in the Dark Forest, only to be rivaled by her brother: Cliffpaw. Although Cliffpaw first trained in the Dark Forest to look out for his siblings, he was slowly becoming as dark as them. Spiritkit ended up becoming the medicine cat apprentice under her adopted sister: Lavendersky.

        While Robinwing and her siblings were training in the Dark Forest, Blackadder continued his torture throughout the clans. He ended up falling in love with Poolfrost, daughter of Ripplepond and Streampool, and she had his kits: Adderkit and Frostkit. Yet, one day, all five Clans cornered the dark tom at Four Trees. There, a battle erupted with Blackadder's rogues verses the Clans. Blackadder fought against Lionfang (a RiverClan tom who stole Poolfrost away from him) on the Great Rock when suddenly lightning split the air, Lionfang was thrown from the rock, and all around Blackadder appeared StarClan warriors, the one's he had killed and the one's where he had some part of their death. One by one, the StarClan cats attacked Blackadder, ripping his pelt to shreds, and he bled to death on the Great Rock swearing that he would have his revenge. While Blackadder was dying, StarClan sent Ripplepond and Streampool back to RiverClan, reborn as Fogstorm's (Streampool's and Ripplepond's other daughter) and Stonestar's kits: Streamkit and Ripplekit. 

        Meanwhile back in SkyClan, Robinpaw, consumed by the Dark Forest and her anger for her heritage, led her mother, Hiddenface out into the territory alone and killed her. Creekpaw covered it up by making the Clan believe a fox had done it. Eaglecry, warrior medicine cat who got his hearing torn away by Blackadder was assigned as Cliffpaw's new mentor by Nightstar (Nightstar is considered a twilight walker. She follows the Dark Forest, but was chosen by StarClan to lead. She originally was Cliffpaw's mentor to push him further to the Dark Forest; however, seeing the change in Robinpaw, Nightstar gave her apprentice to Eaglecry in order to save him.). Eaglecry started teaching Cliffpaw the warrior code, slowly bringing him back to the side of light by showing him honor and integrity. Spiritpaw became medicine cat apprentice to Lavendersky, her adopted sister. Robinpaw always knew her sister was against her, but when she learned that Cliffpaw turning his back on the Dark Forest, she teamed up with Creekpaw to get rid of them. While Cliffpaw and Spiritpaw were on a stroll together, Creekpaw ambushed his brother. During the fight, Cliffpaw accidentally knocked Spiritpaw off the cliff they were climbing. She fell and disappeared into the raging river below. While Cliffpaw was dazed and waiting for Spiritpaw to surface, Creekpaw headed back to camp and told everyone that Cliffpaw killed Spiritpaw. By the time Cliffpaw did return to camp--Spiritpaw lost to the river--Robinpaw and Creekpaw had turned the Clan against him. Lavendersky, knowing that Robinpaw was evil, told Cliffpaw to flee to ShadowClan, claiming the ShadowClan leader: Northstar, knew that Darkness was brewing in SkyClan. So, Cliffpaw fled for his life. Robinpaw and Creekpaw were made into warriors: Robinwing and Creeksplash. With Spiritpaw and Cliffpaw gone, Robinwing and Creeksplash worked together to kill their uncle Jumptree, leaving Treepaw and Cavernpaw parent-less and open to their influence. They slowly leeched their influence into the hearts of SkyClan cats.

        Meanwhile, in RiverClan, Adderkit, tempted by his father, Blackadder, in the Dark Forest, is pushing his influence on the Clan and works to take it over like his father had planned before him (Poolfrost never told the Clan who Adderpaw's and Frostpaw's father were. Frostpaw turned her back on her father's training, choosing the warrior code instead). Adderpaw and his sister rose to warriors: Adderbone and Frostlake. At this time, Stonestar lost his lives to illness and battles (Blackadder's rogues ambushing the traitor a couple of times). Stonestar's deputy: Rain, a former loner, became leader after him (Rain never took on the surname 'star' choosing to remember her heritage and pride as a loner. This angered a bunch of cats in and outside the Clan. Adderbone ended up using this anger to gain supporters for the Dark Forest). Adderbone eventually managed to convinced Rain that RiverClan needed to show that they were strong (the other Clans harking on them for having a rogue leader with no 'star' in her name and calling them weak time and time again). To do that, Adderpaw recommended raiding ShadowClan. Under Northstar, ShadowClan was viewed as one of the strongest Clans in the forest (ShadowClan also had the least amount of Dark Forest followers within it). Raiding ShadowClan and coming out victorious would announce their strength to the forest, but also shatter the long standing alliance between the two Clans (an alliance that held between Spottedstar of RiverClan and Moonstar of ShadowClan and continued down through succeeding leaders). Convinced by Adderbone's silver-tongued words, Rain ambushed ShadowClan during the day since the Clan was more active at night. ShadowClan warriors were killed in the fight and Northstar swore her revenge. 

        Back in SkyClan, Nightstar had vanished. Her deputy: Shadowpelt journeyed to the Moonstone and became Hopestar, leader of SkyClan. Her name was changed to signify the hope StarClan was putting in her to turn the darkness in her Clan back to light. However, the pressure became too much. Robinwing had secured too many followers, over half the Clan following the Dark Forest. Burdened by the task StarClan had sent her and her own stress of succeeding, Hopestar ate and slept less. She wore herself into the ground and grew so ill that all her lives were ripped away from her (Robinwing taking a few herself). Hopestar failed the task that StarClan put upon her.

        Upon Hopestar's death, Robinwing took over. With the support of her followers, they chased Hopestar's deputy: Russetfall, Lavendersky, the medicine cat, and the rest of the StarClan followers out of SkyClan. Eaglecry sacrificed himself so that they could escape and Robinwing seized the leadership of SkyClan. Robinstar then proclaimed that her brother, Creeksplash, would be her deputy, she also set up new laws in SkyClan. Rockstripe was chosen to become SkyClan's medicine cat, he was to travel to the Dark Forest and learn from the dead medicine cat: Darklightning.

        The SkyClan cats that still follow StarClan fled for their very lives. Some fled to the twoleggedplace, others to WindClan, but most crossed the border to ShadowClan, knowing that Northstar had welcomed Cliffpaw upon his exile. Northstar, leader of ShadowClan, allowed them shelter within their camp. Yet, she took Stormfire, Cliffpaw, and SkyClan's medicine cat: Lavendersky, to the Moonstone to seek guidance from their warrior ancestors. At the Moonstone, Stormfire, the only follower of the Dark Forest in ShadowClan, trembled in the presence of their warrior ancestors, and fled to Robinstar's SkyClan.

        When Northstar and Lavendersky pressed their noses to the Moonstone, they awakened in a bloody battlefield. The warriors of StarClan were locked in war against the Dark Forest and losing. When the medicine cat and leader appeared, the cats of Darkness went after them. Lavendersky was wounded, but able to flee to the waking world. Northstar was ambushed, but saved when her grandmother: Moonstar, threw herself into the fight. Moonstar was taken prisoner by the Dark Forest, Blackadder believe they could use her spirit against Northstar. StarClan lost the Moonstone that night, making it impossible for the cats of the Clans to seek their guidance.

        After Lavendersky tended to her and Northstar's wounds, they, along with Cliffpaw, headed to WindClan to warn Scarstar and Berrywatcher to keep away from the Moonstone. They ended up finding more escaped SkyClan cats held up there. When Scarstar realized that ShadowClan was also housing SkyClan cats, she suggested that the two and a half Clans join together, believing that they would stand stronger against the Darkness within the forest if they united. The Clans ended up finding a cave in Highstones that would house all of them. The exiled SkyClan cats plus the queens, kits, and elders of WindClan and ShadowClan were moved to the cave with guards from both ShadowClan and WindClan. The Clans worked together to provide for each other, but ShadowClan cats patrolled ShadowClan's territory and WindClan cats patrol WindClan's territory in order to not rouse suspicion in the other Clans. When Gatherings came around the exiled SkyClan cats did not attend and WindClan and ShadowClan acted as if their Clans were going on as normal, never allowing the other Clans to hint that they were working together.

        Not long later, Northstar began to suspect the activity of Darkness within RiverClan, especially after RiverClan's harsh ambush upon ShadowClan. In an effort to combat that Darkness and take revenge for what RiverClan had done to them, Northstar went to ThunderClan, striking a bargain that ShadowClan would help ThunderClan regain Sunningrocks from RiverClan if ThunderClan assisted ShadowClan in ambushing them. Lightningstar agreed and RiverClan sustained a heavy defeat when both ThunderClan and ShadowClan ambushed their camp.  

        RiverClan was at a loss. Warriors were killed and spirits were broken. During the fight, Adderbone convinced Rain and the RiverClan deputy: Blazepelt, to flee to safety. He even went with them to "protect them." However, when Adderbone brought them to the border, he turned on them, chased them from the territory and threatened their lives if they ever came back. While on the run, Rain and Blazepelt were ambushed by a group of Blackadder's living rogues. Rain was fatally wounded, but she had one task left before surrendering her last life. With Blazepelt's help, she headed to ShadowClan. 
       
        Rain was on the verge of death when they finally reached ShadowClan's camp. She profusely apologized to Northstar for the ambush RiverClan had dealt ShadowClan and explained that Darkness had risen in RiverClan through Adderbone. As much as Rain wished she could rekindle the alliance between RiverClan and ShadowClan, she knew her time had come. Rain lost her last life in ShadowClan's camp. Northstar then swore to Blazepelt that she would see him become RiverClan rightful leader. In the meantime, Blazepelt was taken to the Highstones Camp for his protection. 

        When Adderbone returned to RiverClan after chasing Rain and Blazepelt out, he lied to them about their leader's and deputy's fate, stating that their rogue leader and her lover abandoned them. Distraught and hopeless, RiverClan called Adderbone to be their next leader, believing in his strength. Adderbone went to the moonstone immediately and received nine lives from the cats of the Dark Forest, becoming Adderstar, leader of RiverClan. 

        Adderstar changed once he became leader. Though the Clan believed him loyal and honorable, Adderstar quickly became dark and cruel. He drastically changed the life of RiverClan. All warriors, apprentice, kits, queens, and elders were required to train in the Dark Forest at night. He corrupted and poisoned the minds of many cats, young and old. While his clan trained in the Dark Forest, Adderstar met up with Robinstar at the border every night, the two of them plotting their darkness upon the Clans. They agreed to merge RiverClan and SkyClan then they would seize the entire forest one territory at a time.

        In the deep depths of the Dark Forest, Moonstar, captured leader of StarClan, was able to reach the light inside of Nightsky, a SkyClan warrior under Robinstar. She convinced Nightsky to escape to ShadowClan, and during the gathering Nightsky sought the help of Cliffpaw, now Cliffheart. Cliffheart helped her slip into ShadowClan ranks when the gathering was dismissed. Nightsky pleaded her case to Northstar and shed her guilt for following the Dark Forest. Hearing that Moonstar vouched for the she-cat, Northstar welcomed her to return to the true cats of SkyClan at Highstones. However, Nightsky had one more task to complete beforehand. Under the watch of ShadowClan warriors in ShadowClan's camp, Nightsky returned to the Dark Forest to help free Moonstar. The two were able to get away thanks to the sacrifice of the Dark Forest warrior: Bloodmoon. Bloodmoon had been Moonstar's former mentor in ShadowClan. He went to the Dark Forest after medicine cats couldn't save him from a fatal wound. Bloodmoon feared death and pleaded for StarClan to let him live, but his faith in them was lost the moment he died and that journeyed him to the depths of the Dark Forest. Bloodmoon's spirit was killed by Blackadder, his sacrificing giving Moonstar and Nightsky the time they needed to escape. For his sacrifice, StarClan sent Bloodmoon's spirit back to the Clans that he might have another chance at life. He was reborn as Cedarkit, son of one of ShadowClan's finest warriors: Closesky. Cedarkit later grew to Cedarstar, leader of ShadowClan. 

        In the living world, a few days after a tense and claw-biting gathering, Adderstar took a patrol to SkyClan declaring it time. Robinstar led SkyClan to RiverClan's camp, and the two Clans merged together as AdderClan. To celebrate their joining, Adderstar and Robinstar led the dark clan to ambush WindClan. 
      
        WindClan was caught off guard by the attack. With only half of their warriors in camp, they suffered greatly. Scarstar lost a life to Robinstar after taking one of Adderstar's lives. Eagleheart was killed by SkyClan's deputy: Creeksplash, warriors were greatly wounded, the moors ran red with blood. Cheetahheart, by Scarstar's orders, fled the camp and headed for Highstones where WindClan deputy, Leafclaw, led a patrol of WindClan, exiled SkyClan, and ShadowClan warriors to back up the ambushed camp. Falcontalon, Deputy of ShadowClan, ordered a young apprentice to send word to Northstar at ShadowClan's camp.

        With the reinforcements, WindClan survived and drove out AdderClan. Northstar arrived with ShadowClan warriors after the battle and drove the AdderClan cats back across the border to RiverClan. Scarstar ordered a retreat to Highstones for all of WindClan, abandoning their camp completely. Berrywatcher, WindClan's medicine cat received help from Lavendersky, SkyClan's exiled medicine cat with treating the wounded. Northstar then ordered that ShadowClan abandon camp as well to keep her Clan out of the risk of an AdderClan ambush. So, WindClan, ShadowClan, the exiled SkyClan cats, and Blazepelt of RiverClan lived on in the Highstones camp together.

        After the union of the Clans and some time spent recovering, Northstar and Scarstar agreed to send a patrol to ThunderClan to determine where Lightningstar and his Clan stood in the great battle between StarClan and the Dark Forest. Northstar led the patrol herself, Scarstar too hindered by age to make the journey. The patrol found ThunderClan under attack by AdderClan and quickly jumped to their aid. Robinstar was killed once in the battle. However, the losses to ThunderClan were still great. Lightningstar lost a life to Adderstar and ThunderClan warriors: Dogtooth and Goldenfrost were killed. ThunderClan apprentices: Spiderpaw, Darkpaw, Mousepaw, and Sunpaw left to join AdderClan while RiverClan warriors: Earthheart, Firetail, and Willowstream(?) left AdderClan to aid ThunderClan.

        Northstar spoke with Lightningstar after the battle, informing him of the Clans tucked safely in the protection of Highstones. Lightningstar agreed to ally with them, wishing to see the AdderClan menace driven out of the forest. However, he would not abandon his Clan's territory. Lightningstar only sent his queens, kits, and elders, along with a few warrior guards to the Highstones Camp with Northstar and her patrol. When reaching Highstones, Lavendersky discovered that the patrol had been followed by two rouges, one with the slight scent of SkyClan. That cat turned out to be Lavendersky's long lost apprentice: Spiritpaw and her friend: a loner named Mitten. After moons of believing their sister dead, Cliffheart and Lavendersky rejoiced upon seeing her.        

        Not long later, Robinstar gave birth to Adderstar's three kits: two she-kits, Viperkit and Jaguarkit, and a deformed tom named Deadkit. Adderstar and Robinstar denounced their son, giving him to one of the other queens to grow up as an orphan with no knowledge of who his family really was.

        High in the fields of StarClan, Moonstar rallied the star warriors together and ambushed the Dark Forest located at the Moonstone. With the loss of Lostraven, Moonstar's oldest friend and deputy, StarClan won back the Moonstone. Eaglecry then appeared in a dream to Lavendersky telling her that the final battle was coming and StarClan was with them. For her sacrifice, Lostraven's spirit was sent back to the Clans as the young kit: Opalkit. Opalkit eventually grew into ShadowClan's medicine cat: Opalmist.

        The leaders of Highstones agreed, AdderClan had to fall. Blazepelt led a patrol to ThunderClan, informing Lightningstar of the decision to face AdderClan on the Full Moon for the battle for the forest. Lightningstar solemnly agreed and gathered the rest of his Clan to Highstones to better prepare. Blazepelt then took his patrol to AdderClan and challenged Adderstar himself. The Leaders of AdderClan spat in his face, but accepted his challenging vowing to him that the Clans would die come the full moon. After Blazepelt had left, those who lived in fear under Adderstar's and Robinstar's leader decided to flee. A few of them made it out at the sacrifice of one, the reincarnated Ripplepond and Streampool being two of them that escaped.

        Blood covered the moon the night of the Dark Battle. Northstar boldly demanded that AdderClan leave the forest and their lives would spared, but Adderstar wouldn't yield. He swore that his bloodstained paws would personally end the five Clans forever. When the battle began, all of StarClan witnessed, but none intervened. Many warriors lost their lives that night: Lizardstripe, Tabbywing, Wildspirit, Crimsontail, Blazepetal, Blazeclaw, Tigerpaw, Whitefox, Poolfrost, even Lightningstar, Northstar, and Scarstar lost lives that day. Some warriors fled the Clans all together.
        
        When Adderstar lost his first life, Blackadder led the fury of the Dark Forest into battle alongside AdderClan and were countered by the forces of StarClan that appeared to defend the Clans. Ripplepond and Streampool of RiverClan regained their memories of their past lives and together they took on the dark spirit of Blackadder.

        All night the battle raged. The ground ran red with blood, bodies of cats from both sides littered the area and fallen spirits faded into the mist. The dawn was stained red when finally both Robinstar and Adderstar laid motionless upon the ground, the lifeblood of their last lives seeping down to the roots of the four great oaks. Robinstar had been killed by her own sister, the medicine cat: Spiritwhisper and Adderstar had finally been slain by Blazepelt. Ripplepond and Streampool silenced the spirit of Blackadder forever and peace could finally breathe upon the forest.

        As the morning light warmed the five territories, StarClan appeared to all Clans, announcing that Spiritwhisper would be the next leader of SkyClan. Northstar, Lightningstar, and Scarstar accepted the to-be leader and encouraged both Spiritwhisper and Blazepelt by calling them the right leaders for their Clans. Blazestar and Northstar rekindled the alliance between ShadowClan and RiverClan while Lightningstar and Scarstar declared their Clans' independence once again. From there, the Clans returned to their rightful territories after moons of chaos the Clans had a chance to start again.

       Hello Reader,
         This is just a summary of the largest plot this Rp has ever seen. It took years to complete, many members coming and going as it did. There is more to the story that has not been written above, countless side tales of characters not mentioned that have been lost with time. Other parts of the story have been modified due to the change of Rp leadership. For instance, Hopestar of SkyClan's rper disappeared a few weeks into leadership, so we pushed the plot by making Robinstar leader. The same case occurred in RiverClan with their change in leadership. Stonestar's rper disappeared so Rain stepped up. Other characters have failed to be mentioned in rp due to lack of importance. A character named Darkstar actually succeeded Moonstar of ShadowClan, but his leadership was short lived when his rper stepped down after a couple months. He chose Northstar to succeed him and she went on to lead ShadowClan for seven years before her last death. It may seem like ThunderClan didn't have much of a role within the Dark Forest Plot, but their struggles were mostly internal. The plot began with Silverstar as leader, but when her rper disappeared, Duskstar (a follower of the Dark Forest) stepped up when her rper was voted into leadership. Later, it was revealed that Duskstar's rper didn't want to lead ThunderClan, so she stepped down, having Duskstar abandon ThunderClan. The new leader voted into leadership led as Lightningstar and still leads the Clan to this day. ThunderClan also had many apprentices and trainees in the Dark Forest, but Lightningstar kept the faith of most of his Clan and those apprentices eventually fled to AdderClan. 

       
As time goes on, this rp will expand and members will constantly come and go. The story of the Dark Forest Plot may have ended, but the story continues. The characters that endured still live on in rp, facing more challenges and trials everyday. With the passage of time, the Rise of AdderClan will probably be forgotten by our members, but that's alright. It just means we'd be able to do something like it again in the future. I couldn't be prouder of how this plot turned out and I only hope that even new members read and enjoy a piece of our history. Who knows, maybe this plot teach us all something. I just hope we have more like it in the future. Now that I've gone through one years long plot, I hope I can help make the next one go smoother.

~Moonpower

        Cliffpaw crouched in the shadows of the pines. A few paces away, an adder rested in a rare patch of sunlight that filtered through the dark trees of ShadowClan. Cliffpaw took slow and deep breaths, keeping his paws steady as he silently stepped forward. He had never gone after an adder before and they were a prey so dangerous that the other Clans hardly bothered with them. ShadowClan, however, snagged every piece of prey that they could get and Cliffpaw needed to be able to catch the deadly snakes if he was going to spend the rest of his life here. I can be just like them. Cliffpaw took another step closer, his paws silent among the pine needles that scattered the ground. He'll prove to his new clanmates that he'd be a good addition to the Clan.     
        Cliffpaw paused a only a few steps away from the adder, it still had no idea he was there, which was good. That meant his stealth skills were improving and if the adder knew he was there, Cliffpaw would find himself six feet under after just one bite of the creature. He bunched his muscles, remembering to be calm and not stress the situation. Patience was a virtue when hunting from the shadows. ShadowClan didn't have any underbrush so blending with the darkness was the only way to catch good prey. Though, Cliffpaw was used to blending with darkness. 
        With a powerful leap, Cliffpaw pounced and pinned the adder under his paws; however, he missed the snake's head by a whisker. The adder recovered from its shock in a heartbeat and immediately bared its fangs to strike Cliffpaw. Cliffpaw barely pulled his paw out of the adder's reach and retaliated with a powerful blow to the adder's head. The snake was knocked away and stunned. Cliffpaw didn't hesitate to kill it. 
        A breath of relief slipped from Cliffpaw's throat. He stared down at the adder, pride welling up in his chest. He'd like to see the cats of SkyClan try catching something so dangerous!
        "Nice catch."
        A start of fright jumped through Cliffpaw's pelt at the unexpected voice. He whirled around and surprise froze him in place. He partly expected a patrol of warriors to find him out hunting like this, but it was Northstar, the leader of ShadowClan, and she was alone from the looks of it. Cliffpaw swallowed nervously. Northstar had allowed him to stay in ShadowClan's camp after SkyClan exiled him and for a time, he believed he would go back to SkyClan once things smoothed over there, but things weren't smoothing over and he was realizing that he preferred ShadowClan over SkyClan. So, he was working hard to prove that he could be one of them, but the decision was ultimately Northstar's. She was a fair leader and compassionate, but when it came to her Clan, she was fiercely protective of it and didn't just welcome outsiders on a whim. 
        When Cliffpaw couldn't find any words to say, Northstar nodded toward the adder on the ground. "That's your first adder, correct?" 
        "Uh..." Cliffpaw glanced down at the dead snake and nodded slowly. "Yeah. 
        "Hm." Northstar hummed calmly, watching him for long moments that stretched anxiousness in Cliffpaw's paws. "Walk with me." Her words cuffed Cliffpaw with surprise. "Bury your prey, and walk with me." Cliffpaw quickly did as he was told. He made sure to walk a step behind the ShadowClan leader, any attempt to show his respect; yet, his couldn't get himself to walk with the confidence that he knew he needed to show. If Northstar was going to consider welcoming him into ShadowClan, he had to be sure of himself, but, unfortunately, he wasn't sure of much these days. 
        "I hope you understand what it means to become a warrior of ShadowClan, Cliffpaw." Northstar mewed calmly and Cliffpaw caught his breath. So she was considering him! He could have a new home here! "Because a warrior of ShadowClan, you pledge yourself to the Clan." Northstar stopped and looked him over. He was fully aware of her gaze trailing over his SkyClan features, his long legs and hardened paws. Cliffpaw even had a bit of RiverClan in him as well, his medium length fur was surely as thick as a RiverClan warrior's. "ShadowClan doesn't have room for warrior that hesitate when going into battle." 
        "I wouldn't hesitate!" Cliffpaw blinked right back at her. He had never hesitated to jump into battle, his Dark Forest training had beat that into him. "I owe ShadowClan my life!" And that was certainly true. When Cliffpaw had fled from SkyClan, they had sent a patrol of warriors after him to finish him off. Lavendersky had healed his wounds before he crossed the border, but it was ShadowClan that had housed him. Robinstar and Creeksplash surely would've gone after him if he was on his own and he would be as dead as the adder he just buried. 
        "You truly wouldn't hesitate?" Northstar's question wasn't questioning, just curious. "What of SkyClan, Cliffpaw. One day we will rage battle against them. You would be able to fight your Clanmates." 
        "They are no longer my clanmates." Cliffpaw sighed heavily and looked away from her. "SkyClan isn't what it used to be." His mother was dead, his uncle was dead, and he had caused the death of his beloved sister, Spiritpaw. "Warriors are supposed to follow the warrior code; yet, the cats of SkyClan follow the Dark forest." It was ironic, the words he was saying. How often had his old mentor, Eaglecry, lectured him about the warrior code? And he was, finally making the realization that Eaglecry had tried to teach him. He would never be a warrior if he stayed with the Dark Forest, he'd only be a killer. No. A warrior follows the warrior code and defends their Clan with their life. "Robinstar has turned SkyClan away from the warrior code, therefore, they are no longer my Clan." He took a deep breath, it felt good to admit that. All his life, he had been trying to find something to follow. He followed StarClan until the Dark Forest tempted him away and he followed the Dark Forest until Eaglecry taught him honor. That honor was all he had now. StarClan may never forgive him for his crimes, but Cliffpaw could prove to himself that he could follow something and stick with it. That something would be the warrior code. 
        "A Clan follows StarClan, follows the warrior code." Cliffpaw lifted his gaze to meet Northstar's. "Robinstar has turned SkyClan away from the warrior code, away from StarClan. So, really, they're just a bunch of heartless rogues." That's all the Dark Forest was, wasn't it? Blackadder had been a RiverClan warrior until he was exiled. Lovestone had been a SkyClan warrior until turning her back on StarClan. Robinstar and Creeksplash hated the Clans, so why would they be considered Clan cats? Anyone that was against the Clans couldn't be considered a part of them. 
        Northstar appeared thoughtful at Cliffpaw's admission. Cliffpaw wished he could read the thoughts behind her eyes. "If Robinstar leads a bunch of rogues. Then where is SkyClan?" 
        Cliffpaw blinked at her. "What?" 
        "Where is SkyClan?" Northstar repeated the question easily and started walking once again. Cliffpaw stepped quickly after her. "A bunch of rogues have stolen SkyClan's camp and territory so where did SkyClan go? Have they been destroyed?" 
        "No!" Cliffpaw started at the leader's question and even stopped in his tracks. When Northstar turned to look at him, he winced, realizing he probably answered too quickly. She was testing him. Testing his resolve and dedication to SkyClan. He spoke carefully. "SkyClan is with us." 
        Northstar's brow furrowed. "With us?" 
        Cliffpaw nodded back to her, holding his head up in finding that confidence he needed earlier. "SkyClan is with us, ShadowClan. SkyClan lives in Russetfall and Lavendersky and the other SkyClan warriors housed in our camp." 
        She squinted at him. Cliffpaw hoped she was intrigued by his boldness to already consider himself a ShadowClan cat and not insulted. "Does SkyClan live in you?" When Cliffpaw flattened his ears and hesitated to answer, she asked again. "Does SkyClan live in you, Cliffpaw?"     
        Cliffpaw tore his gaze from her. Did SkyClan live in him? Technically, yes, he had SkyClan blood, but he knew what Northstar was really asking. She wanted to know if SkyClan still lived in his heart. He had to be able to be able to turn his back on them completely if he was ever going to be fully dedicated to ShadowClan. "I...I was exiled." 
        Northstar flicked her tail and from that single action Cliffpaw knew she didn't like his answer. "Would you go back?" 
        "I couldn't." He couldn't get himself to look her in the eye. He could never go back, not with Robinstar leading the Clan. Not when his Clanmates condemned him for training in the Dark Forest. 
        "As I recall." Northstar stepped around him and Cliffpaw flattened his ears, feeling like a piece of prey that was being stalked. "Eaglecry came into ShadowClan's camp, stating that Hopestar was allowing you to return." She paused and looked right at him. "Yet, you didn't go with him." 
        Cliffpaw looked directly at his paws. He remembered that day. It hadn't been too long ago. Hopestar had been deputy when Cliffpaw was exiled and when Nightstar disappeared, Hopestar took over SkyClan as leader. It must have been Eaglecry that convinced Hopestar to reconsider Cliffpaw's exile because Cliffpaw's former mentor came running to ShadowClan with eagerness. Upon seeing Eaglecry again, Cliffpaw had grown fearful. He was certain that Eaglecry was angry with him. He was certain that Eaglecry believed he killed his sister on purpose, but Eaglecry had smoothed his fears that day. He wanted Cliffpaw to come home to SkyClan, but Cliffpaw couldn't get himself to go. His siblings, Robinwing and Creeksplash were still in SkyClan, likely plotting to take over. If Cliffpaw had gone back, maybe he could've stopped them, but he remained in ShadowClan out of fear. Eaglecry looked disappointed when he left and Cliffpaw feared his old mentor would curse him like everyone else in SkyClan. "I couldn't go back." 
        Northstar narrowed her eyes at him. "And why not?"
        "Because...well..." Cliffpaw felt himself shrink. How could he explain to Northstar that he had chosen not to go because he had been a coward? She'd question his loyalty to ShadowClan for the rest of his life if he did. Back when he was hunting the adder, he was so set in joining ShadowClan and he still wanted too, but Northstar was asking the hard questions and she had every right too, but Cliffpaw didn't want to answer them. He didn't want to think about SkyClan, most of his memories of that Clan were horrible and dark. He didn't want to go back because he didn't want to be that way anymore. He wanted a fresh start. 
        "I couldn't go back..." Cliffpaw took a deep and slow breath, making sure to answer as honestly as he could. "Because I don't belong there." He lifted his gaze to look Northstar in the eye. "SkyClan may be in my blood, but RiverClan is in my blood too and you don't see me running off to them! Just because my blood is SkyClan and RiverClan, it doesn't mean that I can't be loyal to ShadowClan! ShadowClan took me in when I was lost. ShadowClan believed me when I told my story. ShadowClan took me in even though I killed my own sister! I have a new life in ShadowClan that I didn't have in SkyClan, so I belong here!" He finally tore his gaze from Northstar, sadness creeping on his face. "Things would never be the same if I ever went back to SkyClan." Even if the the forest was safe from Robinstar, if he went back to SkyClan, he would still be treated like a follower of the Dark Forest. SkyClan knew of his training and hated him for it. ShadowClan knew of his training and was offering a second chance. He could never go back. 
        Long moments stretched on as Cliffpaw waited for Northstar's reply. He couldn't get himself to look at her and was fully aware that he probably looked like some pitiful kit wailing because he didn't have a home. That would've been a good angle to gain a leader's compassion--Lightningstar or Scarstar for example, but feared the leader of ShadowClan would take his little pity party as a sign of weakness. 
        "Cliffpaw," Northstar finally spoke, her tone causal as if she were carrying on a common conversation. She started walking through the territory again. "Do you know why Closesky was given 'sky' as his warrior name?" 
        Cliffpaw's brow furrowed in confusion at the sudden change of subject. She wasn't going to acknowledge anything of what he just said? "Uh..." He followed after her more slowly. Closesky was one of the senior warriors in the Clan, he was legendary, having mentored at least four apprentices into full, powerful warriors. Cliffpaw was intimidated by the tom and he was pretty sure that Closesky didn't like him. And, since Cliffpaw had recently come to ShadowClan, he had no clue why any of the warriors had the names they had. "No." 
        "Closesky's father was Jaggedclaw, one of the greatest fighters ShadowClan had even had." Cliffpaw found himself not surprised by that fact, but he managed to keep it from his face as Northstar continued. "Jaggedclaw's father was Closeheart." Northstar paused and looked at Cliffpaw. "Closeheart of SkyClan."
        Cliffpaw blinked in surprise, but the more he thought about, the more he should've known. Closesky had a long form similar to a SkyClan's cats and the way the tom had fought...Really, anyone should've known. 
        "Jaggedclaw named Closesky after his father just as Moonstar named my father after her own." Northstar continued calmly, not acknowledging Cliffpaw's surprise. "Everyone faces trials in their life. Closesky's trial was to overcome his grandfather's mistake and shame his SkyClan blood, but it was hard for him." 
        Cliffpaw blinked in confusion. It was hard for Closesky to shame his SkyClan blood? It sure seemed like if any cat was ShadowClan through and through, it would've been Closesky. "Why?" 
        "Closesky had inherited the SkyClan skill of leaping." Northstar flicked her tail toward Cliffpaw's long legs. "He could bound over any enemy, out of their reach, and land straight on their back. However, his mentor scolded him through training for using his natural SkyClan skills, we are ShadowClan warriors, not SkyClan squirrels." She glanced at Cliffpaw, her words another test. Yet, Cliffpaw didn't react to the insult to SkyClan cats. Northstar blinked approvingly then continued. "Closesky's mentor believed that Closesky wouldn't deserve to be a warrior until he fought like a ShadowClan and a ShadowClan warrior alone." 
        "How did he become a warrior then?" Cliffpaw flicked his ear. He had seen Closesky fight and the moves the tom used mimicked SkyClan moves. Plus, Closesky even taught his own apprentices those moves. 
        "Moonstar." There was an admiration in Northstar's tone. "She called Closesky up beside his brother to become a warrior. When Closesky's mentor objected, Moonstar shot him down. She decreed that Closesky was a ShadowClan warrior through and through, because he used our enemies' skills against them. She declared that Closesky would train the entire Clan how to combat SkyClan's battle moves and she gave him the name 'sky' to remind the Clan that he had embraced his SkyClan blood to better ShadowClan." 
        Cliffpaw huffed in new respect for Closesky, but he furrowed his brow in confusion and looked at Northstar. Crimsontail was Closesky's brother. Wouldn't he have had inherited the SkyClan features as well. "What about Crimsontail?" 
        "Crimsontail is a ShadowClan warrior, but he never inherited the SkyClan skills like his brother had." Northstar replied calmly. "Crimsontail fights like a ShadowClan warrior, he's one of the greatest in the Clan." She paused and smiled softly at Cliffpaw. "ShadowClan has more cats with SkyClan blood than you think, young Cliffpaw." 
        Curiousness prickled at Cliffpaw's pelt. He wanted to ask who else had SkyClan blood, but that wasn't important right now. Northstar had asked him if he wouldn't hesitate to go into battle against SkyClan. "I will fight for ShadowClan." He met her gaze. "I've learned the ShadowClan skills and I'm comfortable with the skills I've learned from SkyClan. I can use them to better ShadowClan too. I could even embrace my RiverClan blood if ShadowClan needed it." He shuffled his paws with uncertainty, but he wanted to make this work. "I won't betray ShadowClan." 
        "I want to believe you, Cliffpaw." Northstar smiled softly at him. "But how are you willing to go for ShadowClan? You left StarCaln for the Dark Forest when they promised you training, and you left the Dark Forest for the warrior code. Then, you betrayed and left SkyClan after the dead of your sister. You have broken your loyalty out of selfishness and quit when times got hard. Why should I believe your dedication to ShadowClan would be any different from what you've sworn yourself to before?"  
             Her words struck him hard because they were true. Cliffpaw turned his gaze downward in shame. He couldn't deny that betrayal followed him all his life and even though he had left the Dark Forest, he still felt called to it. Northstar had no reason to trust him. "I won't betray ShadowClan because ShadowClan is all I have left." He lifted his gaze to meet Northstar's. "Everyone I ever cared about is dead or lost to the Dark Forest. The only one left for me in SkyClan is Lavendersky and she doesn't need me. Here in ShadowClan." Cliffpaw smiled fondly. "I have Scorchfire and Owlshadow, the greatest friends I never thought I'd have. I feel like I'm actually getting the chance to be who I am and I belong." He nodded surely the ShadowClan leader. "You can trust me to stand strong for ShadowClan, because I'd die for ShadowClan."     
        A spark shot across Northstar's eyes that gave Cliffpaw hope. She smiled at him. "Well then, Cliffpaw. We better bring your adder back to camp and show our clanmates just how far you've come."        

(This part below is an AU and did not happen in Rp.)

        “I say these words before StarClan so that their spirits may hear and approve my choice!” Falconstar’s words rang out across the clearing. Cliffheart still felt grief tearing through his heart as he looked down at the body of Northstar. Many seasons had passed since Cliffheart had joined ShadowClan. Russetfall was at his rightful place as Russetstar, Leader of SkyClan. Spiritpaw had returned to the Clans and struck down Robinstar once and for all before taking her place as SkyClan’s medicine cat. Owlshadow sat by the nursery her belly round with Cliffheart’s kits.
        “Northstar was a great leader.” Scorchfire sighed softly from his spot beside Cliffheart and Cliffheart nodded in agreement. He still remembered the day Northstar had made him a warrior of ShadowClan. Northstar had beamed with pride for him and the Clan welcomed him with heartfelt cheers. Even Lavendersky was proud to hear he had become a warrior even though he had left her and SkyClan behind.
        Northstar’s body was laid out under the Clan Rock and she almost appeared as if she were sleeping. Cliffheart felt hollow just looking upon it and found himself constantly questioning why StarClan took her away from them. Why did StarClan take their great leader? The forest certainly wouldn't be the same without her. Northstar lost her final life over the night. Cliffheart had the honor to be with her through her last moments. Her loyal deputy, Falcontalon, was as ever at her side. “You are a warrior of ShadowClan, Cliffheart.” Northstar had told him with a purr, “Don’t let anyone tell you different.” The ShadowClan leader then leaned her head back and breathed softly for StarClan to take her. Everyone knew she was more than eager to see her lost loved ones again. Frostshard, the clan’s medicine cat had done everything he could to help Northstar fight off the deathly greencough that had taken over her body. It seemed the forest had grown darker without the beautiful ShadowClan leader. Northstar was able to keep the peace between the Clans ever since Robinstar’s fall, she had rekindled the alliance with RiverClan, given advice to the leader of ThunderClan, restored the territory they stole from SkyClan after Russetstar received his nine lives, and made peace with Leafstar, WindClan’s leader after Scarstar’s passing. Cliffheart couldn’t help but look at Falconstar, anxious to know if the tome would be able to match Northstar’s pawsteps?
        While Falcontalon and Frostshard left so Falcontalon could receive his nine lives and become the next leader of ShadowClan, Cliffheart and the rest of the Clan sat vigil around Northstar’s body. Everyone in the Clan staid up that night, sharing one last night with their leader. Even Brightmask, the former ThunderClan queen and her kits, Longsight, Hollyflower, and Jaysong stayed up to honor the leader that had welcomed them in. Cliffheart’s own apprentice, Cedarpaw, was huddled with his siblings for comfort. Frostshard, Closesky, Crimsontail, Lizardstripe, and Talonfury took Northstar’s death as hard as Cliffheart had. Petalflower, Frostshard’s apprentice had the option to go with Frostshard and Falcontalon but decided to stay and be with Northstar. The elder Darkstripe had fallen silent as he stared at the body of the leader that succeeded him.
        Now, Cliffheart and the rest of the Clan sat below Clan Rock. Frostshard had returned with Falconstar, the new leader of ShadowClan. It seemed even the new leader was distraught by Northstar’s death for he didn’t call the Clan together until moonhigh the night he returned.
        “I say these words before the body of Northstar, so her spirit may here and approve my choice.” Falconstar mewed calmly as he looked down at their fallen leader. “Cliffheart will be the next deputy of ShadowClan!”
        Words were lost from Cliffheart's lips and he stared at Falconstar as if the leader had grown two head. It wasn’t until Scorchfire nudged him that could he get a word out. “Falconstar, this is an honor.” Cliffheart stood up, glancing at the other warriors before meeting Falconstar's gaze. “This is an honor I never thought I'd have.” He turned to look at his clanmates, “I promise I’ll serve ShadowClan to the best of my abilities.”
        Falconstar seemed to chuckle and Cliffheart knew why, he had made that promise so many times to Northstar and the rest of his clanmates. “No one doubts you’re loyalty, Cliffheart. We all know you’ll do us proud.”
        “Cliffheart! Cliffheart!” Scorchfire and Owlshadow didn’t fail at being the first and the loudest to call out his name.
Pride welled up in Cliffheart's chest as his clanmates cheered his name and accepted him as their deputy. He couldn't help but look up at the stars. Somewhere up there, a new star shined in the night sky and would forever be watching over them. If it weren't for that star, he would've never found a home in a Clan ever again.  
        “Darkstripe, Redfang, I believe it’s time we lay Northstar to rest.” Falconstar mewed from his place on the Clan Rock, “The Clan must move on.”
        Cliffheart watched as the elders moved toward Northstar’s body before taking her out of the camp to be buried.
        “Cliffheart.”
        The ShadowClan deputy turned to face his new leader. Falconstar had jumped down from the Clan Rock and padded over to him. “I suggest you organize tomorrow’s patrols, when you’re done I’d like to speak with you in--” he cut off and glanced over at the leader’s den, “In my den.” He mewed slowly.
        Cliffheart nodded, “I’ll be there soon Falconstar.” He watched as Falconstar left toward Northstar’s former den, I would not want to be in his place. Cliffheart thought slowly, it would be hard for Falconstar to lead where Northstar left off.
        “So, deputy, can I lead a patrol tomorrow?” Scorchfire teasingly nudged Cliffheart. 
        Cliffheart smiled, thankful for his best friend’s support, “Sure, Scorchfire, you can lead the dawn patrol, take Loneraven, Longsight, and Chasingflame with you. Make sure you check ThunderClan’s border, we don’t want them causing trouble.”
        “Dawn patrol?” Scorchfire repeated with a roll of his eyes, “Good grief.”
        “Lizardstripe we need a hunting patrol tonight.” Cliffheart went on ignoring his friend, “Batflight, Jaysong, and Roseleaf can go with you.”
        The senior warrior nodded before slipping off to gather his patrol.
        “Would you like us somewhere?”
        Cliffheart blinked and turned hearing Closesky, behind him was his brother Crimsontail and his mate Swiftleap. Cliffheart did his best not to wince. He knew the clan was expecting Closesky to become the ShadowClan deputy, “We should have a patrol head out now to check the border, since none went out at dusk.”
        Closesky nodded, “We’ll take it then, mind if Cedarpaw comes with?”
        Cliffheart shook his head, he had a feeling he wouldn’t be training Cedarpaw in the morning so that would allow the apprentice to sleep, “Go right ahead.”
        Closesky nodded once again before he turned toward the cats behind him, “Let’s go.”
        Cliffheart watched the senior warriors head out, I mentor his kit and now I took his place as deputy. He thought slowly, he tried not to shiver. Ever since coming to ShadowClan it was clear Closesky wasn’t really fond of him but you could say time worn down his dislike and Cliffheart was able to prove his loyalty to the older tom.
        Cliffheart was about to turn toward the nursery to check up on Owlshadow but he caught her being ushered into the den by the other queens; I guess I’ll have to speak with her in the morning. He thought slowly, he glanced over at the leader’s den, Falconstar is waiting for me. He took one last look around the camp before starting toward the new leader’s den.
        “Cliffheart.” Falconstar greeted as the new deputy slipped into the den, “How did it go?”
        “Well enough.” Cliffheart nodded calmly, he sat down and curled his tail over his paws.
        Falconstar chuckled calmly, “You’ll get use to it.”
        “I hope so.” Cliffheart replied with a slight smile. He looked at Falconstar to find the Clan leader slowly moving his gaze around the den.
        “Her scent still lingers in here.”
        Cliffheart nodded slowly. He had scented Northstar when he first entered the den, “It’ll take time...”
        Falconstar glanced at Cliffheart, “Time for what?”
        Cliffheart flicked his ear, “For the scent to fade,” He mewed slowly, “For the clan to adjust,” He looked at Falconstar, “For the forest to move on.”
        “I’ve been wondering how the other Clans would react.” Falconstar mewed slowly as if he accepted Cliffheart’s answer. “Duskstar would surely be up to her tricks again.”
        “And ShadowClan will fight her off, like always.” Cliffheart replied strongly, “Northstar may be gone but the Clan remains strong.”
        Falconstar glanced at the new deputy once again, “I plan to keep to what Northstar left, the alliance with RiverClan will stand, SkyClan still owes ShadowClan after we sheltered them through their fallout, I can only trust Russetstar will keep to the peace.”
        “Leafstar of WindClan surely will.” Cliffheart nodded calmly, the WindClan leader was always calm, he never lashed out at gatherings, he never pressed the borders, but he always spoke of WindClan’s strength in a similar way Scarstar did.
        “The only Clan to worry about is ThunderClan.” Falconstar mewed with a flick of his tail.
        Cliffheart nodded, “Scorchfire’s dawn patrol will be checking the ThunderClan border, I’ve told them to be alert.”
        Falconstar nodded, “You’re a fine choice for deputy Cliffheart.” He mewed calmly with a small smile at the patch-furred cat, “No one can doubt your loyalty to ShadowClan.”


        “Cliffheart! Cliffheart come quick!” Redash called from the nursery.
        Cliffheart was just entering the camp from a border patrol when he heard Redash’s call, he rushed over to the nursery, leaving Closesky, Cedarpaw, and Hollyflower at the camp entrance. “What is it Redash?” 
        “Owlshadow started kitting right after you left.” Redash explained, she blocked Cliffheart’s way when he tried to enter the nursery. “She just had your kits, Cliffheart!” she squealed, “Four healthy kits!”
        Four? Cliffheart let out in disbelief, he was finally able to push past Redash and enter the nursery. Owlshadow was laying in her nest with four strong kits curled up by her belly. Cliffheart couldn’t let out a purr seeing his mate and kits; he padded over to Owlshadow and pressed his head against her’s, never taking his eyes off his kits. Two of the kits were she-kits, the other two were toms. One of the toms was mostly black with white and ginger splotches, the other tom was white with ginger and silver streaks, one of the she-kits was black furred with orange paws and spaced white spots, the last kit was a ginger she-kit with black and silver spots, “They’re beautiful.” Cliffheart whispered softly as he licked his mate’s ear.
        Owlshadow purred, “I was thinking…perhaps we can name this one,” she pointed to the black tom with white and ginger splotches, “Eaglekit. And our little she-kit,” She moved her tail to motion toward the black she-kit with orange paws and white spots, “Hiddenkit.”
        Cliffheart felt a sudden grief in his heart followed by love for his mate, “Those names are perfect.” Eaglekit and Hiddenkit, named after Eaglecry and Hiddenface. Eaglecry had been SkyClan’s warrior medicine cat before Lavendersky he had to step down after being deafened by the tyrant Blackadder and moved on to be Cliffheart’s SkyClan mentor. The old tom had taught Cliffheart all about the warrior code and turned him from the Dark Forest to StarClan. Cliffheart never did get the chance to express his gratitude to the deaf tom for Eaglecry was slain by Robinstar after allowing Russetstar and his followers to flee. Hiddenface was Cliffheart’s mother. She may have broken the code by mating with Rushfeather of RiverClan, Cliffheart’s father, but she fought for her kits every day of her life, only for Robinstar to kill her in the end.
        As Owlshadow licked Cliffheart’s cheek the deputy turned to his two unnamed kits, the ginger she-kit and the white tom, “How about…” Cliffheart paused as Owlshadow looked back down at their kits, “Songkit and Smokekit?” ShadowClan names for ShadowClan kits. The ginger she-kit with the black and silver spots would be Songkit and the young white tom with the ginger and silver streaks would be Smokekit.
        “They’re perfect.” Owlshadow purred looking up at her mate; Cliffheart purred in reply and licked his mate’s forehead.
        “Congratulations.” Brightmask purred softly from her nest in the back of the nursery, Frostshard had announced that she was going to be expecting another liter just a few days ago; it was easy to see the former ThunderClan queen was happy to be back in the nursery.
        Cliffheart looked up at Brightmask, “Thank you.” He mewed softly as he watched the other queen. Brightmask was just like Cliffheart, she wasn’t from ShadowClan, in fact she was half-ThunderClan, half-WindClan. She was exiled by Duskstar after taking ShadowClan’s Talonfury as her mate. Northstar had pitied the queen and her kits and allowed them to stay in ShadowClan.
        “I hear ShadowClan has new kits.” Falconstar purred as he slipped into the nursery, his eyes seemed to brighten seeing the kits curled up by Owlshadow’s belly.
        Cliffheart nodded, “Falconstar these are Eaglekit, Hiddenkit, Songkit, and Smokekit.” He replied looking at his leader.
        “They’ll be fine additions to ShadowClan.” Falconstar assured with a purr, he was going to say more but Softmist cut him off.
        “Don’t you have duties you should attend to?” the experienced queen asked scoldingly as she looked at Falconstar and Cliffheart, “Owlshadow needs her rest, now get out, out!” She had taken a few steps toward the two toms to push them out of the den. Cliffheart reluctantly allowed the queen to see him out the last thing he saw of Owlshadow, was her chuckling purr.


        Cliffheart stood beside Falconstar with most of ShadowClan behind them; they were paused in the shadows, looking down at the clearing called Fourtrees, “ThunderClan is late.” He mewed calmly, “Even SkyClan has beaten them here.”
        “ThunderClan is always late.” Falconstar replied calmly, Cliffheart could sense a nervousness coming off of the new leader. This would ShadowClan’s first gathering after the death of Northstar, the first time they would face the other Clans without her.
        “We shouldn’t be giving them time to get there before us.” Cliffheart mewed calmly as he glanced at his leader; it would be a total embarrassment if ThunderClan showed up to the Gathering before them, considering the fact that ThunderClan ALWAYS showed up late.
        Falconstar nodded, he glanced at Cliffheart and seemed to take a deep breath before signaling for the Clan to move on. Out of the shadows the Clan emerged to take their place at Fourtrees.
        Cliffheart followed Falconstar to the Great Rock as ShadowClan merged with SkyClan, RiverClan, and WindClan. As his leader bounded on top of the rock, Cliffheart stayed below listening calmly.
        “Falcontalon, it is good to see that ShadowClan has shown up before ThunderClan, is Northstar well?” Russetstar asked calmly when Falconstar reached the other leaders.
        “I’m afraid Northstar has joined the ranks of StarClan over the past moon.” Falconstar replied calmly, “Her life was long and none could have done more than she had.”
        Cliffheart glanced up at the rock to check the leader’s reactions; Blazestar, RiverClan’s leader, seemed to freeze after hearing of Northstar; Leafstar, WindClan’s leader, simply flicked his ear.
        “What Northstar has done for the Clans will never be forgotten.” Russetstar mewed with a dip of his head before he looked at Falconstar, “I must honestly say I don’t envy you for being her successor.”
        As Falconstar nodded in polite response, Blazestar spoke, “RiverClan grieves for Northstar.”
        Cliffheart turned away from the leaders satisfied Falconstar wouldn’t have any trouble. He was about to go look for his sisters when Ripplepond, RiverClan’s deputy, padded up to him, “I noticed Northstar isn’t here,” he mewed calmly, “And I see Falcontalon is stepping in her place, does that mean you’re stepping in for Falcontalon?” there was amusement in Ripplepond’s eyes. Cliffheart flicked his ear; he was standing where Falconstar had stood during gatherings when Northstar was leader. Deputies always took their place below the Great Rock to support their leader. When leaders were unable to attend the gatherings their deputies would step forward but no one ever stepped up to take the deputy’s place below the Great Rock.
        “Falconstar is the new leader of ShadowClan.” Cliffheart replied calmly as he matched Ripplepond’s gaze.
        “And he made you deputy?”
        Cliffheart turned to face Obsidianflower, SkyClan’s deputy.
        Cliffheart nodded. “He did.”
        “Congratulations.” a pretty black and silver she-cat purred as she stepped up beside Obsidianflower, beside the she-cat another she-cat came up, her blue and amber eyes were clouded and blind.
        “Spiritwish! Lavendersky!” Cliffheart purred seeing his sisters, the medicine cats of SkyClan.
        “I always knew you would do well in ShadowClan.” Lavendersky mewed calmly turning her blind gaze to Cliffheart.
        “I believe he deserves it.” Ripplepond mewed calmly looking at Cliffheart, “Congrats.”
        Cliffheart dipped his head in thanks before Ripplepond turned to mingle with other cats.
        Obsidianflower watched Cliffheart for a long moment before she nodded and turned off, Cliffheart watched the older deputy. Obsidianflower had saved some of SkyClan during Robinstar’s take over, by leading them to WindClan, where they sought Scarstar's help.
        “I’m so happy for you, Cliffheart.” Spiritwish purred as she pressed against her brother, “You deserve it!”
        “How is Owlshadow?” Lavendersky asked calmly as Cliffheart purred at Spiritwish, “Has she kitted yet?”
        Cliffheart nodded looking at Lavendersky, “We have four healthy kits.” He purred, “Songkit, Smokekit, Eaglekit, and Hiddenkit.”
        Sorrow seemed to cross both of the medicine cats’ faces at the last two kits’ names, “They’re great names.” Lavendersky mewed softly; Cliffheart could tell she was thinking of her former mentor and her foster mother.
        “Look its ThunderClan!”
        “Bout time they showed up!”
        Cliffheart and his sisters turned to see Duskstar leading her clan into the clearing.
        “It’s about time Duskstar.” Blazestar seemed to scold as the ThunderClan leader jumped up on the Great Rock. Cliffheart said a quick good-bye to his sisters before taking his place below the Great Rock. Ripplepond was on one of his sides, Obsidianflower, the other. Clawpelt, ThunderClan’s deputy was seated besides Obsidianflower and Fallowmeadow, WindClan’s deputy was seated on Ripplepond’s other side.
        “Don’t patronize me, rogue!” Duskstar hissed facing the RiverClan leader, Cliffheart took a deep breath, so it was going to be one of those gatherings, “I see Northstar doesn’t have the decency to show up.” Duskstar went on as she cast a glare at Falconstar.
        Falconstar stepped forward, Cliffheart could only will his leader all the courage he could, “Northstar has joined the ranks of StarClan!” he called out for all the Clans to hear, “I, Falconstar, lead ShadowClan now.” He gave Duskstar a warning look. “Everything that Northstar stood for I will defend.” He turned his gaze to Blazestar, “The alliance between our two Clans will stand for we have been able to strengthen each other for many seasons.” Falconstar turned back to the cats of the five Clans, “ShadowClan is as strong as ever! We won’t hesitate to protect our borders—he cast a side glance at Duskstar—prey is good and ShadowClan grows stronger with the birth of new kits! Owlshadow has had four health kits and Brightmask just moved to the nursery for she is expecting Talonfury’s kits once again!”
        Duskstar had let out a hiss when hearing Brightmask’s name. Cliffheart couldn’t help but sit taller hearing Falconstar speak of his mate.
        “Who have you chosen as your deputy?” Dashsprint, a WindClan tom, called out from the crowd.
        “ShadowClan’s new deputy is none other than Cliffheart!” Falconstar called strongly, “His loyalty to ShadowClan is unmatched, no one in ShadowClan doubts his skills, or his ability to put the Clan first!”
        Cliffheart sat tall as the Clan cats muttered about him, he knew his past, they all knew his past, and there was no doubt that there were cats that held misgivings about him. There were plenty of cats in ShadowClan that could’ve been made deputy, many cats with ShadowClan blood.
        “He’ll never make it to leader.”
        “If he does ShadowClan’ll be doing everything SkyClan says.”
        “Or RiverClan wasn’t his father from RiverClan?”
        Falconstar looked down at Cliffheart but the deputy just held his head high, he could see Blazestar’s uncertainty in the way he flicked his ear, he could see the interest in Russetstar’s eyes, the mockery in Duskstar’s face, and even Leafstar’s suspicious glance.
        “Cliffheart! Cliffheart!”
        The ShadowClan deputy turned spotting Closesky through the crowd, the senior warrior was standing strong and shouting Cliffheart’s name with confidence.
        “Cliffheart! Cliffheart!” Crimsontail and Swiftleap added their voices in, Scorchfire was quick to follow. Soon all of ShadowClan was chanting the new deputy’s name.
        “Cliffheart! Cliffheart!” Lavendersky and Spiritwish chimed in, Treeflight and Cavernshade, Cliffheart’s cousins followed suit.
        Obsidianflower, Ripplepond, and even Fallowmeadow were soon cheering the new deputy on, congratulating and accepting him as ShadowClan’s new deputy. Cliffheart turned to Falconstar up on the Great Rock to see pride shining from the tom’s blue eyes, Cliffheart then turned his gaze to the stars and shining full moon, I understand Northstar, He thought with pride,and I thank you.


        Cliffheart was a great deputy to ShadowClan, advising Falconstar, and protecting the Clan, Cliffheart proved himself time and time again that he deserved to be a part of ShadowClan. Many seasons passed Cliffheart watched his kits become warriors of ShadowClan: Songbreeze, Smokestorm, Eagleflight, and Hiddendream. After a ThunderClan raid Falconstar had lost his final life. Cliffheart made the journey to the moonstone alongside Petalflower where he received his nine lives from Talonclaw, Jumptree, Rushfeather, Hiddenface, Eaglecry, Frostshard, Closesky, Falconstar, and Northstar. Cliffheart received the name Cliffstar, when he returned to ShadowClan he announced Scorchfire as his deputy, and led ShadowClan through a time of triumph. Every battle they fought was won and soon all the Clans feared them, but Cliffstar kept the peace. Never once did Cliffstar allow SkyClan or RiverClan to control him for he knew where he belonged. He was Cliffstar, Leader of ShadowClan.

Cliffheart Speaks: Fog of Freedom.

Well, well, if it isn't the kittypet I found in the forest way back when. You sure have a knack for getting yourself in trouble. Don't you remember what I told you I do to you if I ever caught you here again? This is ShadowClan territory.

You wanted to see if I survived? What kind of mouse-brained question is that? Really? The Great Battle could be heard from the Twoleggedplace? That was a deadly and dangerous night. Many cats lost their lives, two of ShadowClan's most finest warriors Lizardstripe and Crimsontail died in that battle, and even Northstar lost a few lives, but I survived, StarClan knows why.

Excuse me if my tone isn't thrilled, I should've died in that battle like my siblings did. I walked the path of darkness, trained to kill all who opposed me, if it weren't for my mentor I wouldn't have found my way back to StarClan. I fought for my adopted Clan in the battle, I fought for the sake of ShadowClan, the sake of all the Clans, I fought to undo everything my siblings and I were trained to do.

I was fighting one of those AdderClan filth's when I spotted my brother. Creeksplash was attacking Northstar, overwhelming her with furious attacks and strikes. Northstar had taken me in, mentored me in the ways of ShadowClan, and called warrior. I had to fight my brother. We collided right before my brother threw a killing blow and the two of us were lost in a sphere of claws, fangs, and blood.

And the next thing I knew my jaws were clamped on my brother's neck. His warm lifeblood was gurgling inside my mouth as my claws pinned him down. He seemed to chuckle out his last few breaths and with one of his bloody claws against my chest he spat blood as he told me that I had always been one of them.

I try not to believe it, but its hard every time I look at Splashpaw, my niece, I can see it in her eyes she sees me as one of them since I killed her father, my own brother. I helped her out when she found the Clans at Highstones, when everyone else was against the daughter of Robinstar's deputy, I tried to lift her up, but it was difficult with Spiritstar distrusting her.

Hmm? Oh yes, I guess you don't know. As it happens Spiritpaw, SkyClan's medicine cat apprentice, wasn't killed when I knocked her into that ravine. She was saved by a loner named Mitten, who is now called Silvercloud. Spiritpaw eventually found us and was made a full medicine cat, we were all so relieved to see her returned...She joined us in the battle against AdderClan, working beside the other medicine cats to patch up the wounded, however she got locked in battle with our sister Robinstar. I was so scared for Spiritwhisper, I thought that I would lose her again, but Spiritwhisper was the one who finished off Robinstar for good. The Heart of Darkness struck down by a medicine cat. When the battle was finished StarClan appeared and they named Spiritwhisper to become the next leader of SkyClan. I haven't talked to her since. She needs to lead SkyClan on her own, I can't be around to protect her anyone and besides I'm a warrior of ShadowClan and must put my Clan first, but I couldn't be prouder of her.

So what now? Well the Clans are at peace and StarClan is allowing me to life a normal life in ShadowClan. A life I've never had. It was a shock at first I thought maybe it would be a transition like watching the sun rise, but it came as fast as monster on the Thunderpath. I had a hard time adjusting. I was so use to looking over my shoulder, expecting the Dark Forest to grab me and drag me back to their shadowy depths, but that weight was lifted from my shoulders. Though I can say that a new weight is heavy on my shoulders.

Owlshadow, my mate, she's expecting my kits! I never imagined that StarClan would bless me with kits, I am the last cat in the territories that deserves to have kits...but they're on their way. I just hope the sins of my past won't hold them back like Creeksplash's sins stalk Splashpaw, or how since my father was RiverClan the Clan looked down on me. I'm going to try and be the best father I can to my kits. I want them to be proud ShadowClan warriors. I want them to be able to walk freely in the territory without a haunting ghost following them. Because...

I'm finally free of the Dark Forest.

(yay! I found an old thing!)

Scarstar~ 9 lives, moon’s full of sorrow

I padded up to Mothermouth, panting and exhausted. I had not eaten since I had left, and I had refused company on my long trek to gain my nine lives. I still don’t understand why I was chosen to be the new leader. I’m the age of an elder, my pelt is covered in scars, and one good swipe in the right place will kill me. With a sigh and grumble about Starclan’s choices, and made my long descent into Mothermouth, to the cave with the Moonstone.

“I never get tired of this view.” I meowed in awe as I stared at the glittering stone that made the Moonstone. Placing my paws carefully on the ground, and stepped forward and laid down in front of the large stone. “Here goes nothing.” I mumbled, and pressed my nose to the stone, my eyes closing.

When my eyes opened again, I was laying in my home of the moorlands. Blinking, I got stiffly to my legs and looked around, when the shimmering bodies of my ancestors came down to greet me. I recognized some of them, but many were foreign to me, and I shook my head to clear it.

“Scarfur, what a nice surprise.” A familiar voice mewed, and I glanced around to see Sweetmoss of Skyclan.

“Sweetmoss? What are you doing here?” I asked, confused that a Skyclan cat would be here with so many Windclan warriors and tunnelers.

Sweetmoss laughed softly, watching me, “I’m here to give you a life my friend.”

“But why? You are not of Windclan descent.” I complained.

“But we were friends, so long ago.” Sweetmoss purred softly before stepping back into the rank of cats.

“We are first, however.” A she-cat meowed, and I did not recognize her in the least bit. The tom who stepped with her, I did, because it was my father: Blackfrost.

“Dad, is that my…” I meowed softly, head bowed and ears down slightly.

“Yes my kit, this is your mother, Jasmineleaf.” Blackfrost growled, like he always did. I remember him a bit from when I was a kit, but he had died before I had become an apprentice.

“Hello, Scarfur.” Jasmineleaf purred, and as if I was a kit again, I bolted forwards and buried my nose in her fur. She stepped away from me, and I felt like crying now, but I bit my tongue and held it back for another time, another day. She stepped forward again and pressed her nose to mine. “I give you, your first life, the life of motherhood. With this life, I hope you treat all your clanmates as if they were your own kits.” She meowed.

As Jasmineleaf stepped away, Blackfrost stepped forward and pressed his nose to mine. “I give you your second life, my daughter. The life of Survival, with it, I hope you learn to check before being sure, and to survive the elements with your clan.” He growled.

I purred softly and stared at them, “Thank you mother, father.” I meowed softly, my voice cracking. They both stepped back, to be taken by two new cats. One was just a kit, only a few moons old, while the other was a mottled young warrior tom.

“Stealthkit! Stealthkit!” The young kit squeaked, making me laugh.

“It’s Scarfur, Maplekit.” I murmured gently, then glanced at the tom, “Hawkfur.” I meowed carefully.

“My dear Scarfur, how it has been to long.” Hawkfur meowed, wrapping his tail around Maplekit. “I remember when we were all kits together, getting into trouble and having a good time.”

“I miss those days, but Greencough to much for me.” Maplekit meowed sadly.

“My best friend, and my dear mate. I wish you well in this times in Starclan.” I meowed.

Hawkfur was the first to step up, pressing his black nose to my pink nose, “I give you, your third life, the life of love. Just because I perished so soon in life, doesn’t mean you should be alone. The clan is your family, treat them like it like you would have myself and if we had, had kits. You will not always agree with everyone, but listen, and try to understand them.” He stepped away from me, but not before licking my cheek in farewell.

Maplekit was next to step up, “I give you, your fouwth life, the life of youth. You are gwowing up Scarfur, there are times though, when you can still play like a kit again. Don’t let age deter you away fwom the fun.”

They both brushed against my fur before stepping away again.

Next was Willowstar and Foxstep, the two who had been there when I was attacked so long ago.

Willowstar stepped up first, nose against mine, “I give you, your fifth life, the life of Leadership. I wasn’t always nice to you Scarfur, giving you the name you have, but sometimes, a leader must make a hard decision. Make the right decision, and it will go a long way, make the wrong decision, and it could turn worse than you could have imagined.”

I growled softly at the old leader, “That’s comforting…”

Foxstep took the leader’s place silently, “I give you, your sixth life, the life of knowledge. You are still young, even if older to become a leader. Your know much, but not all, and you will learn much as a leader. Use your knowledge well.” She meowed carefully.

Up next, alone, was Wolfstar, the leader preceding me. “I give you, your seventh life, the life of Acceptance. We are not all clanborn, but that doesn’t stop us from being good warriors. Even though the Warrior code says “reject the soft life of a kittypet” doesn’t mean to reject the kittypet itself. Sometimes, the bravest of warriors was born into the gentlest world of a kittypet. Our great ancestors, were once loners and rouges, and even kittypets.” He meowed with an odd gleam in his eye, like something was going to involve kittypets in the future.

Lastly, and two of the strangest, was Sweetmoss and her daughter, Lavenderpaw.

Lavenderpaw stepped forward, looking so small and strange in this place, but I noticed her eyes shined bright, not blind like before. “I give you, your eighth life, the life of trust. Sometimes you have those cats that seem a bit off, lying about something, but maybe they are right. Trust your clanmates before you deny them, it may save you, it may not. Trust your instincts as well, it’s right more than you think.” She purred softly, “However it was wrong for me, oh well.”

Lavenderpaw gave way to her mother, who was purring more, “I give you, your ninth life, the life of Truth. The world out there is hard, but you can’t let that get you down. Don’t lie to your clanmates, they will grow suspicious of you and no longer trust you. Be truthful to them, and they will be truthful to you in return. Remind yourself of the truth as well, because if you tell a lie long enough, even you will start to believe it.” Sweetmoss meowed, who them stepped back into the ranks of the others.

“SCARSTAR! SCARSTAR!” All the cats around yowled, and everything started to fade away.

“Wait! I have so many questions! Why me, why not a younger cat to be leader?!” It was to late, as my eyes suddenly opened, and I was sitting there again next to the Moonstone. “Why me?” I whispered and I made my old legs move and take me out of camp. Scarstar, I don’t think I’ll ever get used to that. However, I know, that after today, I will no longer allow my clan be known as the scaredy-cats of the five clans. I thought as I left Mothermouth, and started on my way back home, my thoughts swirling around my family, my friends, and my mate.

Lightningfur and Yarrowpaw

2. Strength, Speed, and lack there of!



"Yarrowpaw, what are you doing?"

Lightningfur hated to admit it, but training Yarrowpaw to fight was less than an easy feat. A moon and a half into training, and the apprentice proved to be fiercely determined...

and yet his fighting was so off course that it amazed the young warrior. Yarrowpaw was trying to dodge hits that his stocky body could shoulder off. He was striking towards Lightningfur with hits that were doing only half the damage they could be doing. He was lunging towards Lightningfur, trying to sidestep when he could easily slam his shoulder into his mentor if he got close.

"Stop." Lightningfur ordered, shaking his fur and sighing.

"Stop? What for? I was doin' fine." Yarrowpaw assured with both humor and annoyance. Even when annoyed his apprentice couldn't seem to shake off his natural happiness. Lightningfur scratched his thoughts away, it was time for mentoring.

"You were doing the exact opposite of what we've been working on. You're trying to be faster than you are trying to be stronger."

"Hmph. That's good, right? I can be fast and strong." Yarrowpaw commented off-handedly, yet Lightningfur could see how his blue eyes flickered to the side. The warrior flicked an ear.

"You were doing your moves fine a few days ago. Your strength is promising, even Silverstar was impressed at your last spar...Yarrowpaw, you've never showed such desire to be fast before."

It was true. Yarrowpaw was known for his lumbering slowness and somewhat common laziness in some situations, which could be seen when the tom was napping or cleaning nests with his slow movements.

Yarrowpaw snorted and gave a smug smile...though Lightningstar could tell it was forced.

"I wanna impress the clan even more. So I reckon I gotta fight with speed and strength."

"Yarrowpaw. I can tell it's more than that."

The apprentice suddenly didn't seem so confident, his eyes gazing down at his paws. Lightningfur was glad his apprentice was terrible at lying, and even worse at wanting to lie. That meant fixing these problems would be easier. It certainly never felt right when the big ball of sunshine turned cloudy and sad.

"Well...I mean...Tunnelpaw and Twitchpaw always trip me and they move so quick. N'then papa gets mad when I trip alot, and I don't wanna make the clan mad..." Yarrowpaw admitted.

Lightningfur blinked before he gave a hum of understanding. Yarrowpaw always seemed to want to please, almost worryingly so. Lightningfur replied calmly.

"Yarrowpaw, you're doing more harm than good when you try to fight with speed. You're not built for it, and you've tripped and stumbled more than ever...Yarrowpaw, you are a good fighter. It's clear that you can fight, but Tunnelpaw and Twitchpaw are moons older than you, so of course you'll be slower than them."

Yarrowpaw flattened his ears, kicking a small pebble, and Lightningfur continued, wanting to sound more understanding than scolding. He wasn't in trouble, but Lightningfur needed to get their training back on track.

"Some cats are fast, some are nimble, but some do better using stamina and strength. That's you. Clawpelt is strong and bulky like you. He's deputy for a reason. And you're only about 2 moons into your training. Yarrowpaw, you will grow more experienced with training, but you can't train properly if you force something that has no need to be forced. You will be fine."

"But...but papa wan-"

"Your father needs to understand that you are built like your mother. You can take hits and throw them back much harder than any fast cat could...no matter what he says, the clan will always be proud of you, even if you're not as fast as Tunnelpaw or Twitchpaw."

Yarrowpaw seemed to relax a bit at that, glancing up at his mentor with a quiet yet meaningful voice.

"You...you really think I'm strong?"

"For a cat your age, you are more muscular than I expected. And you'll grow larger as you age, so don't give up so easily. And don't be bothered by other cats. I'm your mentor, I'm the only one you should learn from." Lightningfur nodded, a glint of humor in his eyes.

Yarrowpaw's smile returned with full force, and Lightningfur was relieved that his words seemed to work. Take that, Sunthroat, he could be a good teacher, he thought with a hint of smug humor.

He shook his head, he'd think of his friend's woes later, instead nodding to the young apprentice.

"Now, are you going to fight like we've trained you to?"

"Alrighty! Yeah, I reckon I can! Sorry for bein' a bother, it was silly of me to try runnin' like a rabbit." Yarrowpaw bounced around now like he usually did, and Lightningfur hoped that meant he'd actually use moves he'd trained with.

Lightningfur merely nodded at the apology, before crouching.

"Remember. Keep your eyes on your opponent, but keep your paws firm on the ground. I'm going to try and knock you over. Don't let me. Got it?"

"Got it!" Yarrowpaw cheered, blue eyes once again shining with determination.

Lightningfur surged forwards, swiping two paws at Yarrowpaw's shoulders. Earlier today, Yarrowpaw had been trying to dodge them, but this time he remained on his paws, bristling his long fur up to help cushion the blows to his shoulders, which he tensed up to brunt the hits. Yarrowpaw gave a grunt at the force, but glared back with promising defense.

Lightningfur inwardly felt relieved, good, they were back on track now. He leaped back, only to move back in, this time towards Yarrowpaw's side.

Instead of Yarrowpaw trying to whip around and leap on him like earlier, the apprentice grunted as another paw hit his side, before he remembered what Lightningstar had taught him.

Yarrowpaw lifted his hind leg up to kick strongly at Lightningfur, forcing the warrior to leap back to avoid an unpleasant kick to his muzzle.

This was where Lightningfur would instruct next. Yarrowpaw's kick had unbalanced him. The tom had positioned his legs incorrectly. Lightningfur quickly swiped at his legs, and Yarrowpaw shouted as he was topped over.

The apprentice gave a puff and a pout.
"See? I get tripped."

Lightningfur gave a faint snort of laughter.

"You tripped because your legs were too close together. Unbalanced. It wasn't you being clumsy by nature, it was just a lack of balance. Brackenshade tells me Peachpaw does the same thing."

Yarrowpaw quickly sprang back up, ready to continue and giving a thick laugh at imagining his even larger sister tripping up. He exclaimed.

"Alright! I wanna try again. Where's the best place to put my paws?" He asked.

Lightningfur padded up to him, nudging him into a crouch before moving his legs.

"Wider than what you did before, that way when you kick, you won't get tripped even with the lack of a fourth leg. Front paws out a little father than shoulder-width. Back paw extended a bit further. There."

Yarrowpaw shifted into the comfortable position, giving a bursting smile as he gasped.
"Oh! Oh, that does feel better! I don't wobble as much."

"That's the gist of it. Practice your balance every day, got it?"

"Aye-aye, Lightnin'fur!"

Lightningfur cuffed his ear lightly at the snickering tone of the apprentice, but soon stepped back and nodded.

"Let's try this again."

-------------

By the time the sun was setting, Yarrowpaw felt that he had improved his balance and kicking very well. Wait till Tunnelpaw got a look at this! He bounced, his dusty pelt shaking as Lightningfur sighed in weary acomplishment.

"Good. It's best we head on back to camp. Good work today...and now you know not to curb to taunting?"

"Yup! I decide that I'm strong enough that I don't need to be super fast."

"Have you decided you'll be arrogant too?" Lightningfur couldn't help but snide with faint humor.

Yarrowpaw complained.
"I ain't arrogant! I'm just proud of my trainin'." He snorted, before smiling again.

"Right...come now, we're going home." Lightningfur rolled his eyes, before padding calmly back towards camp.

Yarrowpaw scampered after his mentor, blue eyes bright as stars as he looked at Lightningfur.

"Lightnin'fur?"

"Mmh?" Lightningfur glanced back at him.

"Thanks for bein' the best!" Yarrowpaw's goofy grin was certainly a familiar sight to Lightningfur, but the sincerity in his voice surprised even Lightningfur. The warrior gave a faintly awkward yet appreciative look before he chuckled lightly.

"You better not be trying to mooch extra prey out of me...I suppose you're not so bad yourself."

"Is that extra prey still an option?"

"No, but a nest cleaning is." Lightningfur smirked and continued on as Yarrowpaw groaned in distressed defeat.

"Aw shucks."

Get ready for my Drabbles Collection!!!




1. Knowing

(Yarrowcloud and Shadowblossom)

"I killed him."

"I know."

"Felt his blood between my paws. He was...he was so...dark."

"I know."

She looks at him with the deepest misery he could ever see. Inside, he knows he understands an aspect of her pain. To see family strewn out, dead and red and to feel at blame.

But this was different, and he knew. She had to kill her own brother. The brother who had killed their sister. The brother who had been overcome by the disgusting darkness that had plagued the clans for moons.

And while it was all seemingly over, Yarrowcloud knew better. Shadowpaw would never forget what she had to do.

She had to. He hoped she realized that. There was no way to pull Darkblood away from his demons. She had to do it to protect those she loved that were still alive.

Yarrowcloud knew she'd always see Darkblood and Blossompaw in her memories and dreams. It was then he knew if anyone could help her, he could at least try.

He let her find solace in his thick pelt, the young warrior gazing down at the frighteningly still and staring black furred apprentice. She continued once more, voice so dull and scared that it broke his heart. She used to be so bright and alive. She was far too young to lose that spark.

"I didn't want...I had no choice, I had to..."

"I know." He says again, patient and understanding. He too is a far cry from his usually optimistic persona, but the events at hand had shattered happiness and left ugly scars.

"We used to be a happy family..."

"I know."

And he does, those words hit him the hardest, because his family had been broken apart moons ago too. His mother dead, his father warped with hate for him. His brother and sister seeming so...distant...

"I just wanted him back..." Shadowpaw chokes.

Again, he says

"I know."

It's words one should not repeat, but even the aloof Yarrowcloud knows they're words she would fare better hearing. No excuses. No sympathy. Just empathy. He rests his tail on her shaking shoulders. She is his friend, and he is hers, and he won't leave her to fight this battle alone anymore.

Nobody will heal by the sunrise tomorrow. Not after Adderclan. But one day they will.

Shadowpaw will heal and Yarrowcloud realizes he wants to stand by her side when she does.

She whispers one last statement as she watches the dead bodies get lifted away, gazes at the dark and bloody figure of her brother.

"I was so scared..."

He says the words.

"I know."

But this time he follows up after them, ginger fur blending with black as he sits close to her side, a sense of companionship and protection. He continues.

"But I'm here for you no matter what."

It's a promise, and while it does not bring that wonderful smile to her muzzle, it does brighten the fearful darkness in Shadowpaw's eyes, and Yarrowcloud thinks that's the greatest thing he can do for her right now.

It might take the rest of her life, but as Yarrowcloud and Shadowpaw's figures begin to highlight with rising sunlight, Yarrowcloud knows she'll get through this, they both will.

There's no more words to be said.