Rise or the rogues: The beginning of the end

Okay, I have a story too. It is currently 30 something pages long and is set in the moons following the last battle. I am planning to write a suequel perhaps a series after this. The series is called Rise of the rogues and this book stitli is THE BEGINNING OF THE END. A big thanks to Shadeflight for co-writing and Ivymist for editing. Enjoy!

Allegiances

THUNDERCLAN

LEADER
Sorrelstar- pale ginger she-cat with brown feet

DEPUTY
Duskfur - Black tom with yellow eyes

MEDICINE CAT
Eaglefeather - unusually spotted brown tom

WARRIORS

Stormwhisker - black tom with blue eyes

icefeather- white she cat with yellow eyes

Sunwillow - golden tabby Tom with amber eyes

Larkbreeze - white tom with brown patches
Apprentice-Fernpaw

Emberleaf- dark gray she-cat with green eyes

Smoke-ear - white tom with one gray ear
Apprentice-Sootpaw

Adderfang - white and black tom

Cinderflame - gray and ginger she cat

Redfur - red tom with green eyes

APPRENTICES

Sootpaw - dark grey tom

Fernpaw - pale grey she-cat

QUEEN’S

Amberfur - GInger she-cat (mother of Brackenkit, Rosekit and Badgerkit.)

Cloudshine - pretty white and cream she cat with blue eyes (mother of Palekit and Ashkit)

Spottedpelt - tortoiseshell she-cat (mother of Birdkit)

ELDERS

Lillyheart- dark tabby she-cat with white patches and blue eyes

Ambermoon- ginger she-cat

Snowbush - white tom with green eyes

RIVERCLAN

LEADER

Tanglestar- dark ginger tom with long tangled fur

DEPUTY

Mosspool - blue-gray tom with blue eyes

MEDICINE CAT

Blossompelt - tortoiseshell she cat
apprentice - minnowpaw

WARRIORS

Reedpelt - muscular red-furred tom
Apprentice-Willowpaw

Duskfin - dark grey tabby she cat

Muddyfur - long-furred brown tom
Apprentice-Ripplepaw

Silverdawn - elegant silver tabby she cat with white splotches

Stonetooth - gray tom with battle-clawed ears
Apprentice-Applepaw

Larkshine- tortoiseshell and white she-cat

Troutfur - handsome ginger tom

Minnowheart-golden tabby she-cat with tufted ears

APPRENTICES
Minnowpaw-pale grey and cream tabby she-cat

Willowpaw-

Ripplepaw-small black and white tom

Applepaw-small mottled she-cat

QUEENS
Leopardfall-golden she-cat with black smudges(expecting Tanglestars kits)

ELDERS
Rippleheart-dark grey tabby tom, oldest cat in Riverclan

Perchtail-greying ginger and gold she-cat


SHADOWCLAN

LEADER
Shadestar-battle scarred golden-brown and black she-cat with ice-blue eyes

DEPUTY
Owlstep-small white tom with black spots

MEDICINE CAT
Featherfrost-white pawed pale red she cat
Apprentice-Plumfur

WARRIORS
Darkpool-dark brown tom with a greying muzzle

Creeksplash-mottled yellow tom with amber eyes (formerly of Riverclan)

Iceflower-pretty long furred silver she cat with a torn ear

Crowpounce-black and grey tom with wide green eyes
Apprentice-Pinepaw

Deadbraken-dark tabby tom with amber eyes

Hawkfur-black tabby tom with bright amber eyes

Dreamclaw-long furred dark cream she-cat

Cedarpelt-ginger tom
Apprentice-Ferretpaw

Nutwing-rust coloured tabby she cat

Emberheart-red she cat with black stripes

Russetjaw-pale yellow tom with a dark red muzzle and underbelly
Apprentice-Tigerpaw

Spottedfern-dark cream tom with black and grey spots
Apprentice-Flowerpaw

APPRENTICES
Plumfur-dark furred she cat with heather colourd eyes

Ferretpaw-grey and white tom

Pinepaw-sturdy tabby tom

Dawnpaw-ginger she-cat

Tigerpaw-dark tabby tom

Flowerpaw-pretty white she-cat

Mudpaw - white tom with one brown paw

QUEENS
Goldensky-long furried yellow tabby(mother of Deerkit, Frogkit and Starlingkit)

Marshwhisker-light brown she cat with green eyes (mother of Stormkit and Mossykit)

Hazelstream-mottled brown she cat (expecting Crowpounce’s kits)

ELDERS
Foxcloud-pale red tabby she-cat

Flamefur-black she-cat with red paws and a splash of red on her chest

Birchnose-brown tabby tom with white paws and underbelly

WINDCLAN

LEADER
Beetlestar-unusually large black tabby tom with one green eye and one blue

DEPUTY
Tigerstripe-golden she-cat with thick black stripes
Apprentice-Jumppaw

MEDICINE CAT
Shrewwhisker-brown and cream tom with a slightly grey flecked muzzle
Apprentice-Ravenflight

WARRIORS
Harepelt-grey tom with amber eyes

Runningstorm-long legged red she-cat
Apprentice-Loudpaw

Swiftheart-pale grey she-cat

Morningmist-pretty pale brown she-cat with heather coloured eyes
Apprentice-Nettlepaw

Rainscorch-blue grey tom with darker flecks
Apprentice-Spiderpaw

Kinktail-dark furred tabby tom with a bent tail tip

Dappledwing-brown and grey she-cat

Rabbitshine-mottled brown tom

Qauilbreeze-dusty brown tabby she-cat

APPRENTICES
Ravenflight-long legged black tom

Jumppaw-grey tom with black ears and paws

Loudpaw-creamy brown tom

Nettlepaw-elegant tortoiseshell she-cat

Spiderpaw-black and white she-cat

QUEENS
Moonstep-sleek silver tabby she cat(expecting Rainscorch’s kits)

ELDERS
Puddlestorm-tortishell she-cat

Snakefire-wiry dark brown tabby tom

Featherheart-silver she cat with darker stripes


ROUGES - DARKCLAN (courtesy of the dark forest)

LEADER
Fang-thin black tom with long fangs

DEPUTY
Slash-muscular black tom with tattered ears

DEATH-GUARD
Scorch-russet furred she cat with white paws and torn ears

Ace-ginger tom with long claws

Quill-gley she cat with darker flecks

Moth-long legged silver she cat

Arrow-black and white tom with green eyes

Barrow-black and white tom with amber eyes

Claw-grey tabby tom

WARRIORS
Talon-black tom with grey and red patches

Red-broad shouldered red tom

Veena-black and white she cat

Dagger-long legged dark grey tabby tom

Scar-snaggle toothed old tom with a ragged brown pelt

Snake-long legged mud coloured tabby tom

Jasper-sleek orange furred tom with darker flecks

Thorn-brown and white tabby tom

Stripes-blazing red tabby she cat with darker stripes

Pepper-pretty tortoiseshell she-cat

Mink-long legged cream tabby she-cat

Dash-long furred black tom with sharp claws



APPRENTICES
Rat-small dark brown tom

Paws-black tom with large red paws

Carla-white she-cat with ginger spots

Dawn - pretty gray she-cat with violet eyes

QUEENS
Dew-skinny grey she cat (mother of Bee and Ice)

CATS OUTSIDE OF CLANS

Coriander - ancient white she-cat

Midnight-Ancient badger spirit

Flo - plump cream and brown she cat kittypet

Raisin-light brown tom with white markings

Prologue

A skinny tom, slunk through the shadows. His dark matted pelt clung to his sides, showing his ribs. He twitched his left ear and two more cats padded to his side. “What are we going to do, Fang!” cried a skinny she cat. Her once beautiful pelt, now streaked with dirt and blood.

“Leave him, Pepper,” a muscular tom growled. “ Fang is doing his best” He spun around and let out a low yowl. More cats emerged from the trees, slinking low to the ground, their belly fur brushing the crackly stalks of bracken. A broad shouldered tom strode forward, pushing past Pepper.
“The cats are getting anxious,” He growled softly “If we do not act soon, they will break up and rise against us.” he warned Fang. Fang whipped around, scoring his claws across the tom’s chest. He crumpled to the ground, howling in pain. Fang stepped over his body.

“He was always complaining.” He meowed, settling down and drawing a paw over his ear. “You see what happens” he glanced at the cats “If you do not follow my lead without question or judgement. I know what’s best for you all, remember that. You need my protection, for some of you are no more than a kit barely eating fresh kill.” the cats let out low murmurs of agreement “Patience, My cats.” he said a growl rumbling in his throat, “Patience. The clans have had a good run. But all good things must come to an end.”
He lifted his battered tail. “Clans have ruled the forests, the moors and the marshes for generations. This will end soon.” He growled, flexing his claws. “The dark forest may have been defeated, but their allegiances run far further than any clan cat could have imagined.” Raising his voice in a yowl he continued.” I will lead you to victory. We will destroy the clans!”


Chapter 1

“C’mon, Palekit!” a dark grey kit called.
“I’m coming, I’m coming!” yowled Palekit. “Don’t get your tail out of joint, Ashkit,” she muttered.
Ashkit scowled at her, flicking his tail impatiently.
“Where are we going anyway?” Palekit growled.
“ We’re going to see Stormwhisker.” he mewed, matter of factly. “He’s going to be my mentor anyway.”
“Who told you?” Palekit muttered. Stormwhisker would be a pretty cool mentor. she admitted to herself grudgingly. “Well, I want Icefeather!’ she retorted. “She is Sorrelstar’s daughter after all!”
“Let’s just go, already!” Ashkit growled grumpily.
“Who put ants in your fur?” she said teasingly.
“Can we just go!” He growled and stomped away across the camp.
Palekit stared after him. A light touch of a tail on her shoulder made her turn around. “Cloudshine!” She cried burying her muzzle in her mother’s soft pale-grey fur. “What’s wrong with Ashkit?” She said.
“Ashkit just needs some time by himself.” She murmured, gently nuzzling Palekit’s head. “Why don’t you go and play with Badgerkit, Rosekit and Brackenkit?” She suggested.
”But they’re so small! They don’t even know how to play moss-ball!” she whined.
“Then why don’t you teach them?” Cloudshine murmured.
“Fine.” Palekit huffed and trotted into the nursery.

Amberfur raised her head, sleepily. “The kits are outside playing with Oakpaw.” She informed her.
“I think I’ll just get some rest.” Palekit said, stretching her jaws in a pretend yawn. Amberfur purred and closed her eyes.
Quickly, Palekit darted towards the back of the nursery. She pawed away a pile of musty moss and squeezed through a small gap in the brambles. She could feel tufts of her fur being pulled away by the thorns, soon the brambles would be covered in cream-coloured fur. Careful to replace the moss, she raced along the edge of the stone hollow. A small gap in the rock face loomed above her. Nervously she skidded past it shivering at the memory of the tale her mother told her.
Long ago, Honeyfern, a legendary she-cat saved a kit from a snake. The snake had lived in the gaps of the ravine, The medicine cat, Leafpool, had filled a mouse with deathberries in hope of killing the snake. The snake had never been seen again. It was just a nursery story, right? Even so she pushed her way through the bracken into the forest. Trembling with excitement she tentatively stepped into a pile of rotting leaves rolling around in them she was careful to disguise her scent. No one knew, but she had been coming this way for a couple of moons already. Ashkit had grown more arrogant and less friendly, so Palekit had decided to create her own fun.

Stretching each paw in turn she shook away the leaves clinging to her pelt. She licked her whiskers carefully, then charged off toward the lake. Halfway there, she slowed to a halt, panting hard. Everyday she was getting better, soon she’d be able to run all the way to the lake. A rustling in the bushes startled her, creeping forward slowly, she glimpsed a flash of black fur in the bracken. “Attack!” She yowled. Launching herself at the fur. Desperately she clung onto the the sleek fur, battering her hindpaws at the intruder.

“Ugh,” the cat groaned. Growling she dug in harder, trying to score her claws across the cat’s shoulders. The black cat dropped onto his back flattening Palekit. Palekit, growled in frustration trying to pummel his back. Suddenly the weight lifted. Palekit leaped up, fluffing up her fur and growling. A soft murrow of amusement sounded behind her. Oh-no, there's two of them! I’ll never be able to fight them off! she thought.

“So this is our little attacker,” an old brown and cream coloured tom purred.
“Who are you?” Palekit growled, trying to stop her trembling legs.
“I’m Shrewwhisker, medicine cat of Windclan, and this is Ravenflight.” He gestured with his tail toward the young black tom, who froze in the middle of washing his tail.
“I’m Pale…” She trailed off, it was better not to tell these tom’s she wasn’t even supposed to be out of camp. “I’m a Thunderclan warrior,” she hissed, arching her back. “And you better leave now, or I’ll make you!”

A purr of amusement rumbled in Shrewwhisker’s chest. “Let’s get you back to your camp.” He said, without any acknowledgment to her earlier comment.
“Hey! Put me down!” she cried as her paws were lifted high into the air. She swung helplessly all the way back to camp, her paws treading on thin air.
“You’re mother must be worried sick!” exclaimed Ravenflight, as he padded next to Shrewwhisker.

“What would you know?” Palekit grumbled as she swung back and forth. She winced at the thought of what Cloudshine would say when she found her. Eventually, Shrewwhisker pushed his way through the thorn barriers, grunting as thorns snagged his pelt.
Cloudshine was pacing in circles, near the entrance of the camp. “Oh, Palekit!” she cried, racing up to them, “I’ve been so worried!” Ravenflight flashed her a I-told-you-so look, but Palekit just scowled. Shrewwhisker dropped Palekit, onto the ground, before dipping his head to Sorrelstar and disappearing into the Medicine cat den.

Palekit was swept up into a flurry of licks from Cloudshine. “Leave me! I’m almost an a apprentice!” Palekit mewed.
“I’m afraid not,” Cloudshine sighed. “You broke the warrior code and have to be punished. Your apprenticeship will be delayed for several moons.” Palekit gaped at her is disbelief.
“Actually her apprenticeship won’t be delayed.” Sorrelstar said, wrapping her tail around her paws and looking down at Palekit.
“It won’t!” she managed to squeak.
“No, the best way for you to learn to obey the warrior code is by becoming an apprentice.”



Chapter 2

Willowpaw padded silently along the lake shore. Lifting her head towards the sun, she drank in the scents. Windclan scent blew across the lake, making her wrinkle up her nose in disgust. How can they sleep with that stench? She thought.

"Willowpaw!" A sharp voice snapped. Willowpaw spun around, a small lithe tom was was stalking towards her. "I thought I told you to check the shadow clan border! Not Windclan!"

Willowpaw flinched, "Sorry Reedpelt," she said guiltily.
"Sorry catches no prey!" he snapped. "Now you've wasted half of the border patrol, you might as well go and clear out the elders bedding!"
" But-"
" No buts! If you ever want to be a warrior, you need to learn to listen to instructions!" he snarled, before turning around and plunging into the cool water of the lake. How come he gets to swim! She thought, agitatedly. It's always, clean out the dens, Willowpaw! Search the elders for ticks, Willowpaw! Never, go and fish Willowpaw! She thought sulkily. Lashing her tail, she spun around and stomped back into the undergrowth.

Pushing her way through, the undergrowth, she turned and trudged back to camp. She leaped from rock to rock through the thin forest, stopping at the gnarled old oak. Digging her claws deep into the leaves, she ripped up a bundle of musty moss. Carrying her burden she stumbled into camp.
“Hello again, Willowpaw,” a croaky voice rasped behind her.
“Hi Pebblefur.” Flattening her ears, she busied herself in her task.
“Did Reedpelt send you here again?” the old tom asked.
“What do you think?!” she snapped, freezing as she remembered her latest lecture about respecting elders. If Pebblefur was offended, he didn’t show it.
“Ah, youngsters,” he purred. “always think they know best.” He rose shakily to his feet and licked Willowpaw’s ears affectionately.
“Reedpelt’s such a mouse-brain!” she snarled, working her claws into the dust. “He never lets me do anything! I’m almost a warrior, yet I’ve never managed to complete a hunting patrol, or a border patrol. I’ve never fought a battle, never got to sink my claws into the fur of a Windclan warrior. I’ve barely managed to catch a trout! I spend all of my time in here, cleaning out the bedding. I cleaned it out yesterday. It’s already clean!” she cried, her voice raising in a wail.

Pebbelfur, flicked his ear in amusement. “Ah, but would you rather have a strict mentor than a slack one?” He murmured. “My mentor, Hollowflight. A well respected cat. He trained in the dark forest y’know. He was loyal to his clan through and through. Although, by the time I was his apprentice he was ancient.” He settled down and half closed his eyes. “He had shoulder problems, and spent most of his time in the medicine cat’s den. It wasn’t his fault, I know that now. But back then, the only cat I blamed was him.” He rested his muzzle on his paws and sighed. “Maybe, you should try to understand Reedpelt,” he murmured, before soft snores filled the den. Willowpaw shook her head, as if trying to shake off flies. Try to understand Reedpelt. His voice rang in her head, as she charged out of camp. Understand him! He barely makes an effort to see me! Now that she thought about it, Reedpelt had been acting strangely. Ever since the last gathering, he had been avoiding warrior duties and her training. I’ll follow him. She decided.

The sweet song of a lark sung overhead the camp. Willowpaw opened her eyes and arched her back in a long, luxurious stretch. Pushing her way through the reeds, she gazed around camp. The dawn patrol was just returning, prey was plentiful. Drooling, she darted over to the fresh-kill pile and snatched up a plump trout. She bent her head and took a bite her teeth tearing at the succulent flesh. “Willowpaw?” A nervous voice mewed behind her.

“Hi, Ripplepaw.” She mumbled through a mouthful of prey. “Have some if you want.” she pushed the trout toward him. He shot her a grateful glance and tore into the prey, eating it with ravenous gulps.

“Did you eat that whole trout!” exclaimed a small mottled she-cat.
Willowpaw gave her chest fur a couple of embarrassed licks. “Of course not!” she purred, “Ripplepaw’s finishing it!” she said teasingly. Ripplepaw glanced up at the mention of his name.
“It’s really good,” he exclaimed gulping the rest down. “Too bad you missed out Applepaw!” he said to the mottled she-cat. She cuffed him round the ear good-naturally and the to apprentices tumbled over, swiping at each other. A movement at the edge of camp caught Willowpaw’s eye, a brown tom was weaving through the reed to the entrance of camp. Reedpelt.

Silently she slipped away from Applepaw and Ripplepaw, making for the entrance. “Willowpaw.” She whipped around to find herself staring into the amber eyes of Troutfur.
“Oh, h..hi, Troutfur.” she stammered.
“Where are you going?” he asked tipping his head curiously.
“Uh..” Thinking fast she answered “I’m on my way to training! Reedpelt just left. I was uh.. with Applepaw and Ripplepaw. Y’know apprentices.” she babbled nervously. “I uh, have to go. training y’know.” She forced out a purr. “Bye!” She spun around and sprinted out of camp.

Panting, she skidded to a halt and tasted the air. Reedpelt had definitely passed this way. Taking care to tread lightly, she stalked through the tin undergrowth, glad that her silver pelt was now covered in twigs and dirt. Suddenly the breeze drifted toward her, carrying with it two voices. “Swiftheart! It’s good to see you again!” Reedpelt said. “I only saw you yesterday!” An unfamiliar voice of a she-cat purred. Willowpaw shuffled her feet until she could see them clearly. Reedpelt was talking to a pale grey Windclan she-cat. Panic began rising in Willowpaw’s chest. What is he doing! she thought he’ll get his ears shredded if anyone spots him talking to that she-cat! She shifted her feet again, her foot landed on a thorn. Her yelp was clearly heard by the two cats and both tensed. There has to be a perfectly good explanation for this! Perhaps he had been chasing her off their territory.
“Are you sure no one followed you?” Swiftheart asked anxiously.
“Don’t worry.” Reedpelt purred. “You’re safe with me.” he murmured pressing his muzzle against her cheek. Willowpaw stumbled backward, her senses reeling. Didn’t Reedpelt know he was breaking the warrior code?

She whipped around thorns ripping at her pelt. She stumbled further down the slope to the lake shore. The water looked cool and inviting. She raced forward and plunged beneath the sparkling waters. Paddling furiously, she swam through the smooth water. When she stopped and looked around, she could barely see the shore. She glanced down, but couldn’t see the bottom of the lake. Her pelt began to prickle as shadows flickered beneath her. Frantically she began paddling back the way she had come. The choppy water suddenly seemed threatening, dragging at her paws trying to pull her beneath the surface. Her breath was coming in short sharp gulps now, as she struggled to keep her muzzle above the surface. Her nose and tail were numb and blackness was creeping at the edge of her vision. the inky darkness felt warm and welcoming. She couldn’t fight it anymore, the darkness was comforting and eventually she let it engulf her.

Chapter 3

Cedarpelt stretched. His ginger pelt turning to flame in the weak morning light. He glanced at the sun. The dawn patrol should be back soon. He stretched again, stretching his forepaws until they trembled. Sighing he rose to feet and padded out of the warriors den. Poking his head inside the apprentice den he meowed, “Wake up, Ferretpaw. We have training!” The young grey, and white tom mumbled something and rolled over in his nest, flicking Pinepaw with his tail in the process. “Ferretpaw” Cedarpelt sighed, padding into the den and gave him a nudge.

“I’m coming“ He meowed sleepily, getting up. “well hurry” Cedarpelt said, a good-natured growl rumbling in his throat. “or we’ll miss all the prey” Ferretpaw scrambled to his paws. He licked some moss from his shoulder and followed him out of the den. “C’mon,” he meowed, padding out of camp. He spun around when he heard Ferretpaw’s pawsteps fall short behind him. Pinepaw, a sturdy tabby tom, was sitting a few tail-lengths in front of Ferretpaw, a ginger she-cat stood next to Pinepaw. “Ferretpaw!” he called from the entrance, Ferretpaw spun around and hurried to Cedarpelt.

Cedarpelt called the other two apprentices. “Pinepaw! Dawnpaw!” “im sure your mentors have something for you to do” The to apprentices raced off. “let’s go!” he said at Ferretpaw, cuffing him gently over the ears. “you can chat after we’ve hunted for the clan” Cedarpelt twitched his whisker in amusement, Ferretpaw gave his chest fur a couple of embarrassed licks. “I’ll tell you what. How about we go and do some training now, and then we’ll go hunting at sunhigh?” Cedarpelt twitched his whiskers. Ferretpaw leaped to his paws and hared off down the well trodden track toward the training clearing.

“Right,” Cedarpelt growled, “this first move is called the Tiger strike. Watch carefully.” He padded around the sandy hollow, lashing his tail. In one swift movement he leaped forward, his belly fur almost brushing the ground. Cedarpelt scored his claws deep into the ground, as if raking the back of a Thunderclan warrior. He spun around and reared up onto his hindpaws, then shot across the ground again. Cedarpelt stopped and licked his paw nonchalantly.

Ferretpaw was gazing at him, his eyes wide with admiration. “Wow!” he squeaked. “That was amaz-” His purr was cut off as a flash of brown barreled into him, pinning him to the ground.
“Too slow, kittypet,” the cat growled. Cedarpelt stiffened, Ferretpaw hated that insult. His unknown origins were a juicy source of gossip for the clan. He bunched his muscles, ready to leap to Ferretpaw’s rescue. He wasn’t needed.
“Yeah, you got me this time, rouge,” he hissed good naturedly. Grunting, he shoved Pinepaw off him.
“Get off me you lump.” he purred cuffing him gently over the ear. Soon both apprentices were scuffling on the sandy floor. Pawsteps thudded at the entrance to the hollow, and Flowerpaw padded in, her white pelt glowing in the weak light. Instantly, both toms broke apart, smoothing their ruffled fur. Cedarpelt stifled a purr of amusement, both young cats were completely clueless. As far as he knew Flowerpaw ignored both of them.

The only she cat interested in either of them was Dawnpaw. Suddenly Pinepaw’s expression darkened and Ferretpaw dropped his gaze to his paws. Ferretpaw’s fur was ruffled and Pinepaw bristled, what caused such a strong reaction from both of them? Cedarpelt wondered. He soon got his answer. A dark tabby tom with amber eyes strode into the clearing. Tigerpaw.
“Still finding it hard to catch a mouse, Kittypet?” Tigerpaw taunted, “You couldn’t catch a cold if you wanted too.”
Ferretpaw mumbled something and stared hard at the ground. “Once a kittypet, always a kittypet.” Tigerpaw hissed. He talked away and settled down beside Flowerpaw. Flowerpaw shot him a look, and moved next to her mentor, Spottedfern.

Cedarheart flexed his claws, every instinct in his body urging him to shred the young tabby’s ears. He forced himself to stay put and flung a glare of contempt at the apprentice. Tigerpaw dismissed it with a flick of his long tail.
He growled low in his throat. Ferretpaw will be the best warrior Shadowclan has ever seen. He vowed silently. No one will stand in his way then. Not even Tigerpaw.



Chapter 4

Ravenflight rolled onto his back and stretched, relishing the feel of his muscles bunching beneath his glossy, black pelt. A husky voice interrupted him.
“Looks as though someone has been eating more than his share of fresh kill.”
Ravenflight jumped to his feet, to see Shrewwhisker, the ancient medicine cat enter the den. “Hey, hey, hey! I have not! I’m just long-furred!” Ravenflight protested
“Whatever.”
Ravenflight huffed in annoyance and pushed his way into the hollow, breathing in the rich smell of damp earth.
“Morning, Ravenflight!” someone called across the clearing.
Ravenflight grumbled something and headed for the fresh kill pile where he sat, crunching on a vole.
“Great Starclan! Who put fire ants in your nest?” a teasing voice proclaimed.

Ravenflight turned his head to see Jumppaw heading towards him. Ravenflight scowled at him and swallowed his vole.
“Good morning to you too,” Ravenflight said grumpily.
Jumppaw butted his shoulder affectionately, “Oh, Ravenflight!” he purred drawing a paw across his ear. Ravenflight relaxed, and the two brothers shared tongues well into the morning.

The apprentice den shuddered, and a slim tortoiseshell she-cat padded out. Beside him Jumppaw went on full alert, his ears pricked.
“Starclan, help me!” Ravenflight muttered and went back to licking his paws. Ever since Jumppaw had become and apprentice all he talked about was how perfect Quailpaw was. Quailpaw this, Quailpaw that, Ravenflight thought sulkily. He never got to talk to his brother anymore. He was almost glad he had been forced into the role of a medicine cat so he couldn’t mate.
Jumppaw stood up stiffly, his whiskers quivering with anticipation. “H-hi Quailpaw,” he stammered.
“Good morning Jumppaw,” she purred, touching his ear with her muzzle.
Jumppaw sighed and stared dreamily after her. Ravenflight harrumphed and stood to head back into the medicine cat den.
“What’s your problem, Ravenflight?” Jumppaw said affectionately, as he headbutted is brother’s shoulder, “You’ve been in a grump ever since you chose to become a medicine cat?”

His brother’s ignorance made him want to yowl in frustration. I didn’t choose! I was forced! He yowled silently. Suddenly he felt as if someone was watching him. He swung his head around to see Beetlestar’s good eye boring into him, his blue eye skittered around his eyeball. It was unnerving. Ravenflight gulped. Beetlestar kept glaring at him, daring him to tell the truth.
Jumppaw was still gazing anxiously at his brother, “Ravenflight?”
“I’m fine!” Ravenflight spat, making Jumppaw flinch. “I-I just need some time on my own.” He stood abruptly and stalked out of camp.

Ravenflight stalked through the gorse bushes, his claws tearing at the damp grass. He had been seething all morning, his fur was wet from the rain but his blood was boiling. That worthless piece of foxdung! Ravenflight spat as he thought of Beetlestar. He doesn’t deserve to be a leader! Not after what he did to Frostflower! He tipped his head to the darkened sky a yowled. He yowled in anger. He yowled in pain. But most of all, in grief. He felt his knees crumple beneath him and he let them. He didn’t stop yowling until the clouds opened up as if in sorrow.

Ravenflight heard the sound of faint splashing. Wearily he opened his eyes. His strength had been sapped, he felt he didn’t have the will to carry on living the tormented life that was his. But the sight that greeted him changed him forever.

A sodden bundle of fur lay at his feet. As Ravenflight peered closer, he realized with a jolt of alarm, that it was a cat. He bent his head and nudged the cat onto it’s side. Ravenflight worked quickly, pummeling the she-cat’s stomach with his paws until she vomited up a mouthful of murky water. He then rasped his tongue over her fur, back and forth. Until any trace of lake water was diminished. He worked long into the night, covering her fur in poultices, licking her fur the wrong way until she regained consciousness.

He had left her for a few heartbeats, just to fetch some watermint that grew at the edge of the lake. He padded back towards her unmoving figure and begun sorting the watermint into dosages. Suddenly she stirred. Ravenflight froze. The she-cat slowly raised her head and blinked in confusion.
“You smell funny,” she murmured.
Ravenflight murrowed in amusement, “Hush, save your strength.” He murmured. Her voice sounded thick.
“I’m strong enough!” came the sharp reply.
Ravenflight sighed. Were all she-cats this difficult?
“Who are you anyway? You’re not from Riverclan,” the she-cat asked.
“You’re a clan cat?” Ravenflight asked incredulously.
“Of course I’m a clan cat! I’m not a rogue am I?” she spat crossly.
Ravenflight murmured something and bent down to apply another layer of poultice to her reopened wound.
She flinched back, her ears flat against her head, “Don’t touch me, fish breath!” she spat swiping at his muzzle.

“Calm down,” Ravenflight murmured, “You reopened your wound. I was only trying to put this on it.” He gestured to the poultice with his tail. She glared at him. “Look,” he sighed, “I’m not trying to poison you. It’s only made of marigold, comfrey and goldenrod. See?” He pointed to the neat piles of herbs.
The she-cat glared at him, then gave a slight almost unreadable nod. He bent his head and began to lick away the old poultice.
“What’s your name?” the she-cat asked.
“Ravenflight,” he replied without lifting his head.

The she cat gave a small gasp as Ravenflight pressed down on her wound. “I’m Willowpaw,” she murmured.
Ravenflight paused. “If you’re from Riverclan, how’d you end up halfway across the lake?”
“Wait,” Willowpaw started, her eyes wide, “am I on Windclan territory?”
Ravenflight shot her a sidelong glance, “That’s why I smell funny.”
“Oh, sorry.”
Ravenflight just grunted.
Willowpaw opened her mouth to speak then a light of understanding dawned in her eyes. “Oh.”
Ravenflight paused, “Oh, what?”
“I was swimming,” she said in a small voice.

These Riverclan cats and swimming! Thought Ravenflight.
“I was swimming,” she paused, gulped and continued, “away from my mentor.”
Ravenflight looked at her. “Why?” was all he said.
“Because I had to. He broke the warrior code!” she cried, “Him and that she-cat!” She spat the word she-cat.
“What she-cat?” he murmured absently.
“Swiftheart,” Willowpaw snarled.
Ravenflight froze. “Swiftheart? As in Swiftheart Beetlestar's daughter?”
Willowpaw spat at the mention of her name, “That’s her.”
Ravenflight was shocked, surely not Swiftheart…
Willowpaw started shivering, “I can’t go back! I just can’t!” she wailed.
Before Ravenflight could stop himself he bent his head and licked her cheek. “It’ll be alright,” he murmured. He froze. He was a medicine cat! What was he doing?
I know exactly what I’m doing. He snarled inside his head, I’m helping her. He sat down beside her and lay his tail on her flank. “It’ll be alright,” he murmured again.

Chapter 5

Willowpaw blinked open her eyes. Bright light flooded her vision making her blink. She opened her jaws wide in a yawn and turned to see Ravenflight asleep beside her. She felt her heart skip a beat when she realised he hadn’t left.

He stirred beside her, “No Beetlestar!” he yowled making Willowpaw jump. She glanced around, to make sure no other cat had heard. They were under a rocky overhang near the lake. She must have washed ashore yesterday. No one would have heard.
Ravenflight yowled again.
She tore herself away from the view. Gently she shook Ravenlight awake.
“Ravenflight, she murmured, “Ravenflight, wake up. It was only a bad dream.”

He jerked awake and leaped to his feet, his fur bristling and his eyes wide with fear. “Frostflower,” he murmured fearfully.
She touched her muzzle to his ear, making him jump.
“Oh, hi Willowpaw.”
Willowpaw looked at Ravenflight, “Who’s Frostflower?” she asked, deliberately keeping her tone light.
Ravenflight looked down at his paws. Willowpaw could feel waves of sorrow coursing off him.
“My mother,” he replied, his voice laced with grief.
“What happened?” she asked gently.
Ravenflight’s head snapped up, “I don’t want to talk about it,” he said bluntly.
Willowpaw’s tail drooped, “O-okay.”
“I’m going hunting,” he announced in a gruff voice and left Willowpaw alone beneath the rocky overhang.

“Please, Willowpaw!” Ravenflight begged, his eyes pleading.
“Why in Starclan do you want me to tell your clan you’re dead?” Willowpaw asked in disbelief.
“Please Willowpaw! I’ll explain everything after.” He looked up at her pleadingly, “Please.”
Willowpaw sighed. He had saved her life. She owed him.
“Fine,” she snapped.
Ravenflight immediately brightened. “Thank you Willowpaw! Thank you!”
She huffed. Well, this should be interesting, She thought.

Willowpaw picked her way through through rugged WIndclan territory. Every step she took reminded her of Reedpelt. No! She pushed any thoughts of Reedpelt to the back of her mind. I will not think about Reedpelt! she told herself. She stopped, and curled her tail around her paws. She would wait for a Windclan patrol here. She glanced at the sun. It was sunhigh. She had told Ravenflight that if she was not back by sunset, to go and look for her. Almost immediately the silhouettes of a Windclan patrol appeared on the horizon. She rose to her paws and waited.
“What do you want?” snarled a grey tom.
Willowpaw dipped her head. “Greetings, friend,” she mewed clearly so that her voice was carried to the other cats of the patrol. “I come with news.”

Willowpaw let her head and tail droop as she was escorted to the Windclan camp. She would have to be convincing if she were going to lie to the whole clan. Her flank brushed with that of a pale grey she-cat, she glanced at her and realised with a tremor of alarm that it was Swiftheart. She wondered if Swiftheart knew who she was, that would change everything. She was led through a maze of heather, which oddly muffled the sound of the ever present wind. As she entered a clearing the camp grew silently. Every pair of eyes was trained on her. She gulped.
A harsh voice rang across the clearing. “Well, Harepelt. What have you found?”
She turned, as did everyone else, to see a massive tom standing atop a smooth rock. She gasped slightly, his left eye was an odd shade of green and bounced around his eyeball.


“You don’t like it?” snarled Beetlestar. He thrusted his eyes into her muzzle, so close, she could see the fur on his cheek quiver as she breathed.
She gulped. “I like strangers eyes perfectly well, except when they’re shoved in my face!” she retorted hotly.
A deep wheezing sound erupted from Beetlestar’s throat. Willowpaw stiffened in alarm. Had she somehow offended him?
“I like you,” Beetlestar chuffed. She then realised he was laughing.
Willowpaw dipped her head, “Forgive me Beetlestar, but I didn’t come to sit around your camp.”
“Of course not.”

“Then if you’ll excuse me..” She jumped onto the rock and glanced at Beetlestar he nodded. “Cats of Windclan.” She called, her voice resounding of the earthen floor, “I am Willowpaw of Riverclan. You may have seen me at the gatherings, but believe me this is not what has brought me to your camp.” A ripple passed through the cats gathered beneath her. She took a deep breath and continued. “It was only this morning I left Riverclan territory and traveled within the designated 3 tail-lengths border around the lake.”
“Get on with it!” a grumpy voice called out. She glared at the old tom who had shouted.
“As I was saying…” She shot a pointed glance at the tom, “I had been sent to ask Windclan for watermint. It was then I left then the lake and journeyed farther into WIndclan territory. I was heading up away from the lake to try and catch a patrol when I heard his screams.”
“Whose screams?” asked an anxious voice.
Willowpaw hung her head, “Ravenflight,” she murmured. Shocked mews and yowls met her words. A grief stricken yowl tore at the the camp walls. Willowpaw felt her heart clench for the young tom who obviously loved Ravenflight. A pretty she-cat shoved her muzzle into his fur comfortingly, but the pained look never left his eyes.
Willowpaw raised her head, “A rogue had attacked him, I chased the rogue off Windclan territory but Ravenflight was dead when I returned.” The young tom yowled again and collapsed onto the ground. Willowpaw dipped her head to the distraught clan and lept from the rock.

Beetlestar greeted her, “Well done, Willowpaw,” he murmured.
Willowpaw dipped her head, “Thank you, Beetlestar. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I really must be going, my clan will wonder where I’ve been. I’ll tell Blossompelt I couldn’t get the watermint.”
“No, no!” Beetlestar exclaimed, “I insist!” He gestured to a cleft in the rock, “You should find some in there.”
Willowpaw dipped her head and padded away to the den.
“Hey! Willowpaw!” a voice called.
Willowpaw paused, the tom that had yowled in grief before, approached her.
“I-I just wanted to know if Ravenflight said anything before he died.” His voice ached in grief.
“You were close?” she murmured.
“Brothers,” he whispered.
“He was dead when I returned,” she repeated, “but he fought valiantly. Ravenflight had injured the rogue, it was only the fatal blow to his neck that killed him.”
“Thank you,” he whispered, “I-I hope I see you again.”
“Me too,” Willowpaw murmured, then she left.

Chapter 6

Palepaw grumbled to herself as she scooped up pawful after pawful of moss. It had been a moon since she and Ashpaw had become apprentices, but her punishments still hadn’t stopped.
“Here is some bracken Snowbush could use in his nest,” her mentor’s voice called across the clearing.
Palepaw opened her mouth for a stinging reply, then remembered Sorrelstar’s recent lecture on respect, “Yes, Emberleaf.”
“Good, then after that you can check them for ticks. Lillyheart's been complaining all day about one on her shoulder.”
Palepaw sighed.
Emberleaf shot Palepaw a sidelong glance. "Look, Palepaw. I know you don't like looking after the elders, but someone has to. Maybe you could get Snowbush to tell you a story about the battle of the marsh. He fought in it y'know."
"Yeah." She grabbed a pile of moss and rolls it into a tight ball. She stretched her neck and shoved the ball beneath her chin. Then whipped around and stalked back to camp, leaving Emberleaf staring after.

"Don't forget the tick behind my shoulder. It's been bugging me all day," chided Lillyheart. Palepaw stifled a sharp retort and buried her muzzle in her fur trying to find the troublesome flea.
“There!” she cried, cracking it between her teeth.
Lillyheart purred and shrugged her shoulders. “Great Starclan, that feels good!” she purred. She opened her mouth to say something when a startled yowl interrupted her.
“We’re under attack!”
“Windclan!”
“Protect the kits!”
Startled yowls came from every direction.
“Windclan,” Palepaw spat. She pushed past the elders and raced into the clearing. Cats struggled everywhere and the scent of Windclan was overwhelming.
“They must have brought their whole clan!” she exclaimed in amazement.
“Just about,” a voice interjected. Palepaw spun around to see Emberleaf race over to her.
“Your ear!” Palepaw cried, gaping at the remains of her ear.
Emberleaf shook her head, to clear her eyes of the blood. “It’s nothing,” she mewed. “Stay in the elders den.”
Palepaw flattened her ears in protest. “But I want to fight!”
“You’ll get your chance. Now go.”
“You don’t need me,” Palepaw said in a small voice.
“It’s not that. I do need you! But you’re not ready to fight!” Emberleaf growled, shoving you towards the den before racing off to join the battle.
Palepaw waited until she was engaged with a Windclan warrior, before following her.
She launched herself at a small Windclan tom, yowling ferociously. Her spun to meet her. She yelped fast she felt claws meet her throat and realised just how unprepared she was. His claws raked at her eyes and she yowled, as blood clouded her vision. She lashed out blindly her claws meeting thin air, as he danced around her lashing at her tauntingly.

“Your clan killed my brother! Now it’s your turn!” he yowled. Suddenly Palepaw instinct kicked in. She dived forward, barreling into his hind legs and knocking him to the ground. She wiped blood from her eyes and pummeled the tom’s belly fur. He howled in pain. Suddenly he pushed her up. She tried to twist in mid air, but landed awkwardly on one paw. In an instant he was on top of her, pressing her muzzle into the dirt. She growled in frustration as she struggled to get free.
“Let me go, you fox-breath!” she spat through the dirt.

The tom laughed, and reared up to bring his paws crashing down on the Thunderclan apprentice. She chose his slight moment of hesitation and sprang onto his chest, raking her claws down his belly. He yowled in surprise and tumbled to the ground. The two apprentices scuffled on the bloody ground of the ravine, evenly matched. Palepaw grunted as a stinging blow landed on her ear, she darted forward and grabbed his tail. She bit down. Hard.

He screamed and ripped his tail from her grasp fleeing into the forest. Palepaw grunted in satisfaction. She heard a strangled yowl and spun around to she Emberleaf pinned beneath the weight of a muscular tom. Without a second thought, she flung herself at the WIndclan warrior and raked her claws down his back. He screamed and fled the clearing.
She stood and watched him go, eventually realizing the clearing had grown silent.
“Palepaw!” a harsh voice yelled. “I thought I told you to stay in the elders’ den!” Emberleaf snarled.
Palepaw straightened up and met her mentor’s furious gaze. “I wanted to help you, and I did. Guess you need me after all.”

Emberleaf snarled, “You could have gotten yourself killed!”
“Yeah, well I didn’t!”
“All the same, you’re not going to the gathering in a quarter moon,” Emberleaf snarled.
“Wha-? You can’t do that!” Palepaw cried.
“Oh yeah? Watch me.”
Palepaw watched as her leader stalked away to where Sorrelstar was issuing orders.
“You fought well, Palepaw.” a voice said.
She spun around to see Stormwhisker padding up to her. “Thanks Stormwhisker,” she mewed glumly.
“What’s wrong? You should get to the medicine cat den. That wound looks pretty serious,” he said, gesturing to her swollen shut eye.
“It - It’s just, well, Emberleaf says I can’t go to the gathering because I didn’t stay in the elder’s den.”
Stormwhisker maorrowed in amusement. “You’ll survive. I did.”
Palepaw felt her mouth drop open. “Your mentor didn’t let you go to a gathering?” she asked, incredulous.
Stormwhisker purred, “Yes. I was quite the apprentice.”
Palepaw gaped at him.
“Now go get those wounds checked young one,” he murmured running his tail over her head.
Palepaw nodded and raced off to Eaglefeather’s den.

“Eaglefeather?” she called into the ivy draped cleft in the rock face.
“Yes Palepaw?”
“Stormwhisker told me to come and see you,” Palepaw explained.
There was a long pause, “Right. Come in. I’m just finishing up with Larkbreeze.”

Palepaw pushed her way through the ivy and waited for her eyes to adjust to the gloom. The seemingly tight stone walls sloped outwards to create a giant cavern. Various herbs and remedies lay stacked in neat piles on dusty ledges. A thin trail of water trickled from the ceiling falling to a small pool near where Larkbreeze lay. His eyes were closed and his breathing heavy. Eaglefeather was crouched over his flank, licking clean a deep gash that ran from his shoulder to his tail. He glanced up as she entered.
“Just wait a moment,” he muttered through a mouthful of herbs.
Palepaw sat and curled her tail around her paws, gazing around the aromatic den. She realised after being so bored as a kit, she had never actually visited the medicine cat.
“Lie here.” He pointed her towards a small makeshift nest. Palepaw obeyed.

Eaglefeather began to nose through Palepaw’s fur, licking clean any scratches. “That was quite a beating you took out there,” Eaglefeather said peering into Palepaw’ wounded eye. “This should do it.” He applied a cool poultice and patted it down with cobwebs. He snagged a dried oak leaf in his claws and gently pressed it onto Palepaw’s eye. He gazed at her again, then stretched more cobwebs across her face. “There,” he said. “Now don’t leave camp until I say so and come back for daily check-ups.”
“But-,” Palepaw opened her mouth to protest, but Eaglefeather laid his tail across her muzzle. “No buts,” he said firmly and ushered her towards the entrance.
Palepaw sighed and muttered, “Yes, Eaglefeather.”

Palepaw glanced up at the full moon with her good eye. After days of daily checkups and new poultices, Eaglefeather had broken the news that she would never see out of her left eye again. It had turned a pale grey colour and an ugly pink scar slashed through her face.
“Cats of Thunderclan!” came Sorrelstar’s call. “Let’s not leave the other clans waiting!”
Joyous yowls of agreement met her words. Palepaw had opened her mouth to join in then snapped her jaws shut. Emberleaf had forbidden her to go to her first gathering. She lashed her tail and flattened her ears.
“Palepaw? What’s wrong?” Ashpaw called
Palepaw didn’t reply and stalked away into the apprentice den. She curled her tail around her paws and waited until she was sure everyone had left the clearing. Slowly, she padded to the camp entrance, then as if a shadow, she slipped into the forest following the group of cats as they talked and laughed among themselves. She longed to bound up front by the others, but knew it would blow her cover. She would have to be patient.

When she was sure everyone left in camp had either left or gone to their dens she slipped towards the camp entrance. She froze as she saw the imposing bulk of Sunwillow. She glanced around frantically, for some means of escape. Her gaze fell on the oak tree hanging over the camp barrier. Dropping into a hunter’s crouch she gathered all her strength and leaped. Her outstretched claws grazed the tree limb and instinctively dug her claws deep into the damp bark. The branch sagged beneath her weight as her hind legs pummeled thin air as she struggled for a foot hold.
Sunwillow jumped to his paws beneath her. “Who's there?” he snarled.
Palepaw gulped, Oh, Starclan! If he looks up…, her thought trailed off as the branch swung so low that at Sunwillow’s full height, her tail would’ve brushed his ear. In one last desperate attempt she hauled herself onto the branch and inched her way towards the trunk.
“Hello?” Sunwillow called, his gaze travelling upwards.
Palepaw froze and flattened herself against the trunk breathing hard. Sunwillow glanced around then settled down. Palepaw let out a long sigh of relief and edged her way around the trunk. Gazing down at the forest floor she paused.
“I can’t afford to travel by foot,” she murmured. Closing her eyes she paused and leapt to the neighbouring tree, legs flailing she managed to pull herself upright. Great Starclan! she thought, I’m a cat, not a squirrel!

Palepaw bent her head to sniff the rotting branch. It had a dank, sodden smell to it. Palepaw gagged. She tentatively placed a paw onto the wood and cautiously inched her way forward. “This isn’t so bad,” she said out loud. She stepped forward and a crack echoed across the windswept lake. “That’s never good.” The branch snagged underneath her then gave way. She plummeted into the icy lake with a startled yelp. Splinters of wood snagged at her fur as she fought the urge to breathe. She frantically paddled her paws thrusting herself towards the surface. She broke the surface, gasping for air. Her hindpaws worked frantically trying to keep her paws above the surface. She glanced back at the remains of the wood bridge. “That’s going to leave a mark,” she murmured. Turning her attention to the nearby shore she paddled forward, surprised to find swimming was easier than she thought.
“You’ll be eating fish before you know it,” a voice called.
Palepaw narrowed her good eye and hauled herself out of the lake shaking the water from her fur. A slim tortoiseshell she-cat emerged from the shadows. Judging by her plump frame and glossy fur, she was Riverclan. “Who are you?” Palepaw snapped.
“Whoa, calm down. There’s a truce remember?” The she-cat glanced at the full moon.
Palepaw followed her gaze.
“I’m Applepaw,” the tortoiseshell introduced herself, “Who are you?”
Palepaw’s mind raced. “I’m, uh, Cloudpaw.”
Applepaw nodded, “I’m not even going to ask why you were swimming, but your clan’s already here. What are you doing so late?”
Palepaw hung her head, "I’d rather not say,” she replied sheepishly.
Applepaw shrugged, “Suit yourself, “ she said simply. “C’mon!” She raced off through the bushes and Palepaw followed slower.

She emerged through the bushes to find Applepaw waiting for her beside a bunch of apprentices. Suddenly she was glad that her and Ashpaw were the only Thunderclan apprentices and that Ashpaw had flat out refused to come tonight. Needed to rest, he had said.
“This is Cloudpaw,” Applepaw announced.
Palepaw dipped her head. A few younger apprentices flinched at the sight of her eye.
“Hey! Cloudpaw!” a voice called, she turned to see a young muscular tom approaching. “Where’s Sootpaw and Fernpaw? I haven’t seen them in ages.”
Palepaw gave him a sidelong glance, “You mean Fernleaf and Sootwhisker? Why, they’re over there with the other warriors.”
The tom’s shoulders sagged, “Oh, okay. Thanks.”
Palepaw butted his shoulder in exasperation. “Oh for the love of Starclan! You can still go say hi you mouse-brain!”
The tom looked startled before realization dawned in his eye, “Thanks Cloudpaw!” She spun around and raced off into the throng of cats.
Applepaw walked over to Cloudpaw. “I see you’ve made some friends already,“ she commented.
“Cats of all clans!” came the authoritative voice.
“Quick! It’s starting! Let’s go find a good spot!” Applepaw cried.
Palepaw hesitated, I’d rather stay here if you don’t mind.”
Applepaw gazed at her curiously, then nodded. “That’s Tanglestar,” she whispered, “Riverclan’s leader.”
Palepaw didn’t answer. She was staring up at the great oak in awe. She’d heard nursery stories about it, but it was bigger than she had ever imagined.
“Riverclan is flourihing,” Tanglestar announced, “We have a new warrior, Troutclaw!”
“Troutclaw, Troutclaw!” Applepaw and Palepaw yowled simultaneously. Palepaw searched the crowd for the new warrior.
“Is that Troutclaw?” She whispered to Applepaw, pointing to a muscular tom who’s head and tail drooped.
“Yeah, he’s been down ever since-”
Tanglestar’s voice cut through their conversation,”Prey is plentiful and we have many new kits.”
Every since what? Palepaw wondered.
“Willowpaw has disappeared,” Tanglestar continued, a somber edge to his voice, “I ask you to keep a lookout for her on your territory. She disappeared almost a half-moon ago,” he dipped his head and padded back.
The Shadowclan leader, Shadestar stepped forward. “I have little to report,” her strong voice echoed across the island, silencing any chatter. “Prey is plentiful and our borders are always strong.”
Sorrelstar swept her gaze across the gathered cats. “Thunderclan is strong, despite a recent attack on our camp by Windclan.” She glared at Beetlestar who flexed his claws but remained silent. “We have two new apprentices. Palepaw and Ashpaw!”
Palepaw sat up erect and swelled out her chest. Applepaw was gazing at her in an odd way. Suddenly she remembered she wasn’t Palepaw to her. “Palepaw, Ashpaw!” she yowled, her fur growing hot.
“Enough!” Beetlestar shouldered past Sorrelstar, almost knocking her from the bough. He glared at her. “What Thunderclan means to say, is that they are too weak to catch their own prey, so they must steal the bodies of dead Windclan cats to supplement their weak clan!”
Shocked yowls greeted his announcement.
“That’s not true, Beetlestar!” Emberleaf called from the throng of Thunderclan cats.
Beetlestar glared at the ginger she-cat, “Hear me now, cats of all clans! What I say is true! Ravenflight, Windclan’s medicine cat was attacked by Thunderclan cats on the border and dragged back to camp to feed Thunderclan’s starving cats!”
Palepaw sat frozen in shock, staring at Beetlestar, her eyes wide with disbelief.
“That’s not true. Is it?” Applepaw asked nervously.
Numbly Palepaw shook her head.
Sorrelstar stepped forward, “And how, exactly, Beetlestar, have you come by this information?”
Beetlestar’s eyes narrowed, “Willowpaw,” he said simply.
“Willowpaw?” Tanglestar croaked, “As in Willowpaw from Riverclan?”
“That’s what i said!” Beetlestar snapped. “She came to my camp to inform us of Ravenflight’s death. We followed his scent trail to the border where it ended. Swamped in Thunderclan scent.”
“I can assure you, Beetlestar,” Sorrelstar’s voice had grown dangerously quiet; Palepaw had to strain to hear her words, “no Thunderclan cat has stepped a fox-length over your precious border.”
“Starclan is angry!” a cat called.
Palepaw glanced up a cloud had wafted over the moon. Suddenly, a deafening crack split the night air and rain pelted from above.
“The gathering is over!” Shadestar called from the branch.
“See you around, Cloudpaw!” Applepaw called over her shoulder as she sped off towards her shoulder.
Palepaw turned and ran towards the shore of the island, if she hurried she could get home before her clan. Besides, she thought guiltily, the bridge. She launched herself into the water and began paddling towards the shore.

Palepaw raised her head wearily, “What’s happening?” she murmured blearily. She knew she must have slept for ages, although it felt like only a second. On returning to camp she had been careful to lick any scent of the lake clean. She emerged into the clearing, rain bucketed into the clearing, turning the usually dusty floor to mud. She blinked her good eye in surprise. Dawn was on the horizon, yet the rest of the clan was only returning now.
She raced up to Emberleaf. Her fur was sodden and her gaze dull, “What happened why are you so late? Is everything okay?”
Emberleaf snorted and shook her pelt, “Some mouse-brain broke the tree bridge. It took moons to convince the clan to swim across.”
Palepaw winced, “Oh, Great Starclan!”
Emberleaf blinked at her through the rain. “Go back to your den. We won’t have training today.”

Chapter 7

Ferretpaw glared across the camp. Tigerpaw emerged from the apprentice den, closely followed by his accomplice, Mudpaw.
“Still drooling over how to catch a toad, Kittypet?” Tigerpaw sneered.
Ferretpaw dropped his head and bit into his lizard.
“To scared to face a tough ol’ forest cat after living with your housefolk?” Tigerpaw taunted.
Ferretpaw ripped a leg of the lizard and swallowed it.
“C’mon kittypet!” Tigerpaw snarled, aiming a swipe at Ferretfur’s shoulder. “Show us what you’re made of!”
Ferretpaw gritted his teeth and kept his head down.
Tigerpaw raised his paw and brought it crashing down on Ferretpaw’s head. Ferretpaw yowled in pain and tried to pull his head free, but Tigerpaw pushed his head deeper into the ground.
“C’mon you weakling!” Tigerpaw snarled.
Ferretpaw struggled beneath his grip.
“Mudpaw.” Tigerpaw snapped.
Before Ferretpaw had time to react Mudpaw had jumoed onto his shoulders and began pummeling his back with his hind paws. Ferretpaw groaned in pain. Tigerpaw chuckled as Mudpaw dug harder and harder, drawing long strips of scarlet liquid. Mudpaw dug his claws into the side of Ferretpaw and threw him across the clearing. Ferretpaw groaned in pain, his eyes rolling back. He began to haul himself to his paws only to be shoved over by Tigerpaw’s broad head.
“Stop,” Ferretpaw groaned.
Tigerpaw murrowed in bitter laughter. “You think you’ve got it so easy. You have a mother! Mine died! It should have been your’s instead of mine! You think you have it so easy,” he snarled.
Ferretpaw groaned and staggered to his paws. “You think you’re so strong,” Ferretpaw murmured, “Strength doesn’t come from taking from others. It comes from a United clan.”
Tigerpaw growled and butted Ferretpaw’s shoulder so hard that he stumbled into Mudpaw’s paws. The two toms batted Ferretpaw back and forth as if her were only a mouse. Ferretpaw’s head was swimming, each blow hitting him harder and harder until he slumped to the ground in exhaustion. He wa dimly aware of Tigerpaw preparing to crush him with his paws. Until a deafening silence fell over the clearing.
“Stop!” yowled Shadestar, “Tigerpaw, Mudpaw come see me in my den. Featherfrost, Plumfur, see to Ferretpaw. The rest of you,” she swung her battle scarred head around and swept the cats with her narrowed gaze, “If any of you, and I mean any of you know anything about this, tell me now.”
Ferretpaw groffily tried to raise his head, but an invisible weight forced him down. He groaned, his head throbbing.
“Hush,” Ferretpaw could just make out the soft voice of Plumfur, “Rest now.”

Ferretpaw blinked open his eyes. He was standing in the pine forest, soft needles sinking beneath his weight. Breathing deeply he picked up the scent of many cats. Puzzled he glanced around. He was in Shadowclan territory, wasn’t he? Panicking now he began to run until he came to a stop in a mossy clearing.
“Welcome, young one,” a voice startled Ferretpaw; he spun around only to find a lithe tortoiseshell she-cat.
“Who-who are you?” he hissed.
To Ferretpaw amazement she purred in amusement, “You have much to learn, young apprentice. You are not in familiar hunting grounds. Correct?”
Ferretpaw gazed at the wiry she-cat in confusion. She obviously lived here, so why would she ask him where they were?
The she-cat sat and beckoned for Ferretpaw to join her. “I am Tawnypelt.”
Tawnypelt! the name fizzed through Ferretpaw’s mind. “You’re the she-cat that was born in Thunderclan!” he cried jumping to his paws.
A brief look of annoyance flashed across her gaze, “Yes.”
“You’re from Starclan!”
“Yes.”
“Why are you here? Am I dead? Are you coming to take me with you?” Ferretpaw cried.
“Oh for Starclan’s sake! Sit down!” she snapped.
Ferretpaw dropped to his paws.
“I’m not here to take you, no you’re not dead,” she snapped before Ferretpaw could reply.
Ferretpaw felt he needed to say something, “I see,” he murmured carefully.
The old she-cat snorted, “I doubt you do. Follow me.” She bounded off through the forest.
Ferretpaw raced to catch up, “Where are we going?” he asked as he drew alongside her.
“You ask too many questions,” she growled.

Eventually Ferretpaw and the Starclan queen emerged from a thicket. A dozen starry gazes turned to look at them.
“Tawnypelt!” a muscular tabby tom with amber eyes called across the clearing, “You made it!”
“Of course I did, you overgrown furball!” she butted his shoulder playfully, “I couldn’t let my big brother down!”
Ferretpaw glanced around his gaze fell to rest on Cedarfur.
“Cedarfur!” he cried, “Are you dead?”
Cedarfur raised his head, “No you mouse-brain! I’m sleeping just the same as you are.”
“Oh,” Ferretpaw said, his fur growing hot from embarrassment.
“Cats of Thunderclan, Riverclan, WIndclan, Shadowclan and Starclan!” a muscular tom, with ginger fur and green eyen yowled above the chatter. He lept onto a moss covered rock, his fur glistening with stars.
“Firestar,” a small Thunderclan she-cat breathed in awe.
“We have forseen a new threat rising against the clans,” he began.
Another cat stepped forward, an even older ginger tom with a broken jaw, “We can not see it clearly, for the future is clouded.”
“We do not wish to see the clans destroyed, not after we’ve gone through so much,” a brown tom, with ragged fur spoke.
A black and white tom with an exceedingly long tail spoke, “All we can see that there is a hope.”
“This hope,” a black she-cat with green eyes began, “lies in cats from each clan. You,” as she stepped back Tawnypelt nudged Ferretpaw forward. He glanced around and saw cats from every clan slowly make their way into the center of the clearing.
“You five cats,” Firestar spoke again, “Are the only help for the clans. You each have the courage to face the battle ahead.” His gaze became distant and he began to speak; his voice echoing around the clearing, “Five will meet closest to the stars and await the coming of Dawn.”
Ferretpaw blinked, his message made no sense. How could you meet somewhere close to the stars? He opened his mouth to ask, but the gathered cats began to fade and Ferretpaw was left in darkness.

Ferretpaw opened his eyes to bright light streaming through the den. He sat up, a jolt of searing pain shot through his back. Featherfrost turned to gaze at him with sharp, ice blue eyes as he sat up.
“Shadestar wishes to see you in her den as soon as you can,” she murmured sniffing his pelt thoroughly, “can you manage?”
Ferretpaw nodded still confused by his dream. He hauled himself to his paws and winced as pain gripped his paws.
“Plumfur will help you,” Featherfrost said, rushing to support some of his weight.
In an instant, the young medicine cat appeared beside him. Supporting his shoulder she helped him across the clearing to Shadestar’s den.
“Tigerpaw’s a mouse-brain by the way,” she said.
Ferretpaw blinked at her in surprise, “I thought you liked him.”
Plumfur purred, “I used to admire him,” she admitted, “But after he did that to you, I don’t think I can stand to see his filthy pelt again.”
Ferretpaw licked her ear affectionately, “Thanks for staying so loyal to me.”
“I have to, you mouse-brain! I’m your littermate!”
Ferretpaw grinned, “I know, and I’m proud of it.”
Owlstep poked his head through the entrance to Shadestar’s den, “Come in. Shadestar will see you now.”
Plumfur helped Ferretpaw to lie down once in the den. He was surprised to find it so spacious, with the sturdy walls of the tree’s trunk covered in ivy.
Shadestar sat up in her nest, her tail curled around her paws elegantly. “I spoke with Mudpaw and Tigerpaw earlier when you were in the medicine den, I also saw Pinepaw and Flowerpaw. But I need to hear your side to the story.
Ferretpaw gulped; Plumfur gave him an encouraging nod, “Well,” he began, “I suppose it really started from before I was born. In the battle over the lake, Tigerpaw’s mother was killed.” He saw Owlstep nodding slowly and Shadestar watching him intently. “Tigerpaw’s mother was killed by a Thunderclan apprentice. My mother, Dovefeather was best friends with Lizardstep, Tigerpaw’s mother were the best of friends and would’ve died for each other.”
“Get on with it!” growled Owlstep, “This is just a nursery story!”
“Owlstep!” Shadestar snapped at her son, “Leave us.”
Owlstep hesitated then dipped his head and stalked from the den.
“Carry on,” Shadestar prompted.
Ferretpaw gulped but carried on, “Lizardstep and Dovefeather fought side by side, to defend their camp. Both should have been in the nursery, Dovefeather heavy with kits and Lizardstripe nursing four of her own. The battle eventually reached camp and my mother was cornered against the nursery entrance. She wouldn’t let any cat harm her best friends’ kits. One cat, at a crucial moment in the battle leapt forward to deal a killing blow. If it hadn’t been for Lizardstep, who had sacrificed herself for Dovefeather, I wouldn’t be here,” he heaved a ragged sigh and continued, “Her last dying wish was for Dovefeather to look after her kits. My mother gave birth to me and Plumfur the following day. She nursed me, Plumfur, Tigerpaw, Toadkit, Marigoldkit and Quailkit. She didn’t have enough milk and only Plumfur, Tigerpaw and I survived. Tigerpaw became bitter towards Plumfur and I because we survived and his littermates didn’t. Besides that, he loved Dovefeather as a mother and when she was killed by a rockfall he was devastated. She was the only one he truly loved. He hated me for being happy and began…” his voice trailed off.
Shadestar tilted her head, “Don’t worry, Ferretpaw, I understand.”
“You do?”
Shadestar nodded, “We’ll deal with Tigerpaw later. Take Ferretpaw back to the medicine cat den, until he is fully healed.”
Plumfur helped Ferretpaw to his paws, “C’mon. Let’s get you to the medicine cat den.”

Ferretpaw dozed uncomfortably, unfamiliar voices whispered, “Five meet Dawn, closest to the stars.”
Cats screamed in the background and growls echoed through the void. Ferretpaw jerked awake, his heart thumping in his chest.
“Ferretpaw! You’re awake!” He turned to see Flowerpaw lying next to him. She licked his flank comfortingly, “Are you okay?” she murmured anxiously, genuine concern flashed in her emerald eyes, “you were crying out in your sleep.”
Ferretpaw steadied his breath, “I’m fine. It was just a dream.”
Flowerpaw gazed at him, “But you’re special Ferretpaw. I know you are, I can feel it,” she blinked at him, “Even in the nursery, you saw things before they happened. It was more than just a dream.”
Ferretpaw blinked at her surprised by her faith in him, “Well,” he began, “I couldn’t see, but I could hear cats screaming for help.”
“And?” she pressed.
“Five will meet Dawn closest to the stars.”
Flowerpaw closed her eyes. Ferretpaw couldn’t help noticing how pretty she looked. “Perhaps, it was a message from Starclan?” she suggested.
Ferretpaw lowered his head, but couldn’t bring himself to admit he had shared tongue with Starclan, “Yeah, maybe.”
An agonized shriek tore through the still morning air. Both cats jerked upright.
“Your dream!” Flowerpaw cried.
Ferretpaw struggled to his paws, every muscle in his body screaming for him to rest, “The kits!” he rasped.
Flowerpaw shot him a frantic look, before rushing off towards the nursery. Fighting exploded into the camp, Shadowclan cats fell like flies as the tried in vain to defend their clanmates. Ferretpaw gazed helplessly around the clearing as his clanmates were slaughtered. Shadestar was battling a russet she-cat with white paws close the medicine cat den.
“What do you want with us, rogue?” Shadestar spat as the two she-cats traded blows.
The rogue kicked Shadestar back, and both she-cats began to circle each other.
“Well?” Shadestar spat.
The russet she-cat let out a cackling laugh, “It’s not what we want. It’s what the Supreme Commander wants,” she yawned mockingly showing her teeth, “And he wants you dead.” She leapt onto Shadestar and slashed her neck.
“No!” Ferretpaw yowled in shock.
Shadestar fell limp, an odd silence fell over her in the centre of the battle. The rogue sat down and licked the blood off her paws. She gazed at Ferretpaw who stood in the medicine cat den frozen with shock, “I don’t believe we’ve been properly introduced,” the she-cat purred, “I’m Scorch.”
Ferretpaw yowled in rage and leapt onto the she-cat, who flipped him onto his back with a flick of her white paw. She pinned him down easily; Ferretpaw could see her well muscled body sleek from years of training. She pressed her muzzle into his face, “Don’t annoy me, kit.” She shoved him away and leaped towards Owlstep. Ferretpaw struggled to his paws in time to see Owlstep disappear under a flurry of paws. He limped forward, only to be bowled over by a burly tom. Ferretpaw slashed at the cat’s muzzle. His blows were easily matched by the rogue. The rogue spat at Ferretpaw and Ferretpaw saw the tell tale signs of an approaching death blow, Ferretpaw rolled out of the way at the last moment. The rogue fell onto the ground and whirled around hissing angrily. Ferretpaw gulped a the rogue leaped towards him. Ferretpaw struggled beneath his grip until the weight suddenly vanished. He he looked up to see Plumfur holding the rogues limp body.
“You-you killed him!” Ferretpaw exclaimed incredulously.
Plumfur tossed the rogues body away, “I couldn’t let him kill you, now could I?”
“But you’re a medicine cat! You can’t kill! What about the warrior code?”
“These rogues live by no code, in order to survive we have to adapt,” Plumfur said, before racing off into the battle.
Ferretpaw heaved himself to his paws and saw Tigerpaw battling with a particularly strong-looking she-cat. He launched himself onto her and pummeled her back with his hindpaws. Plumfur’s words echoed in his ears, Theses rogues live by no code, in order to survive we must adapt, Ferretpaw glanced at Tigerpaw struggling weakly beneath the rogue’s well hardened muscle. Without a second thought, he grabbed her neck in his jaws and snapped it cleanly. He tossed her limp body away and raced over to Tigerpaw.
“Are you alright,” he hesitated, “brother?”
Tigerpaw’s eyes rolled showing the whites of his eyes, his breathing laboured; a large gash ran from his chest to flank, “Brother,” Tigerpaw murmured.
“Hush. Save your breath, we’ll get you to the medicine cat den,” Ferretpaw murmured comfortingly.
Tigerpaw didn’t move, “No. Too late for me,” he rasped, his chest heaving at the effort to stay alive.
“No!” Ferretpaw cried, “I will save you!”
Tigerpaw gazed at Ferretpaw with half-closed eyes, “Why, brother?” he rasped, “Why save me? After all I’ve done?”
Ferretpaw gazed at Tigerpaw, “Because I love you, Tigerpaw. You are my brother and I love you as one. No matter what you did to me, I will always love you,”
Tigerpaw struggled to breathe his chest heaving, “I’m sorry Ferretpaw, I truly am.”
Ferretpaw pushed his muzzle against Tigerpaw’s and for a moment, an oasis of calm in the midst of a battle, the two cats shared a moment of brotherly love. Tigerpaw heaved one last breath and his eyes closed.
Ferretpaw let out a grief-stricken yowl and collapsed beside Tigerpaw.

Suddenly, as if an unseen instruction had passed through the band of rogues, the fighting stopped. Scorch released Ferretpaw, “Be glad the Supreme Commander doesn’t want you dead. Next time you won’t be so lucky,” she flicked her ears and the rogues fell into a defensive circle. Ferretpaw jumped to his and glared at the rogues.
“My kit!” came the anguished cry from Goldensky, “They have Starlingkit! My kit!” She ran forward trying to save her beloved kit. Scorch scowled and lashed her tail. Without breaking formation a sleek orange furred tom slashed his paw across the queen’s chest, killing her instantly. Gasps of shock rose from the gathered cats, who shrunk back against the edges of camp. Scorch swept her gaze around the dilapidated cats. She flicked her tail and the rogues parted for her to get through, without breaking her stride, she grabbed the terrified kit in her jaws and disappeared into the night.
The surviving cats slowly began, to emerge from the shadows.
“Shadestar?” Foxcloud said nervously, “What happened?”
Shadestar staggered to her feet, “Rogues,” she hissed. She gazed around the tattered camp, “Owlstep, make sure the elders and queens have somewhere to sleep. Deadbracken, Nutwing, stand guard.” She looked at Ferretpaw and her eyes softened when she saw the sorrow in his eyes, “Ferretpaw, take care of the apprentices.”
Ferretpaw nodded numbly and headed towards the apprentices’ den, “Hey guys,” he rasped.
Flowerpaw looked up where she'd sheltered with Pinepaw, “Ferretpaw! You’re alive!” She ran over to him and pressed her muzzle against his cheek.
He forced a pur, “Yeah barely.”
Pinepaw ran over, “I saw you battling the rogue that took one of Shadestar’s lives! Did she hurt you?
“Shadestar lost a life?” Ferretpaw exclaimed. Both apprentices nodded.
“Where’s Mudpaw?” he asked glancing around anxiously.
Pinepaw and Flowerpaw exchanged a glance.
“He’s uh, actually he died,” Pinepaw said finally
“Oh,” Ferretpaw murmured, “so much death.”
“Well, you’re not dead, and neither am I or Pinepaw. I couldn’t bare to lose you or my brother,” she glanced at Pinepaw.
“Is Plumfur alive?” Ferretpaw cired.
“Calm down, you furball! You won’t lose me that easily.”
“Plumfur!” he leapt to his feet and nuzzled her cheek.
Plumfur sat down beside the apprentices, “Featherfrost sent me to check on you three.”
“We’re fine, really, Plumfur,” Pinepaw meowed.
Plumfur didn’t reply and began nosing through Pinepaw’s thick fur.
Pinepaw grunted, “Do you guy know who was, um, killed?”
Flowerpaw gazed at him solemnly, “Too many,” she mewed, “Well Goldensky and Shadestar lost a life.”
“Emberheart, Dreamclaw, Flamefur and Birchnose,” Pinepaw counted.
“And Tigerpaw and Mudpaw,” Ferretpaw added.
“Great Starclan! That’s half the clan!” Dawnpaw exclaimed, padding over to join them, “Are we going to do something? My mother died because of them and my sister is missing!”
“It’s alright, Dawnpaw,” Ferretpaw soothed, “We’ll find Starlingkit, I promise.”
Dawnpaw glared at him and rested her head on her paws.
“These rogues are obviously more organised than we expected,” Ferretpaw said thoughtfully.
Lillypaw nodded in agreement, “They were as trained as we were, more so even.”
“Hmm,” Pinepaw murmured, “There were too many rogues, the over powered us.”
Dawnpaw looked up, “They didn’t fight like foxes, they fought like clan cats, but without any honour.”
“That red she-cat with the white paws was obviously their leader,” Plumfur mumbled between a mouthful of herbs.
“No,” Ferretpaw murmured thoughtfully, “she wasn’t.”
The apprentices stared at him.
“She said, It isn’t about what I want, it’s about what the Supreme Commander wants,” Ferretpaw repeated Scorch’s words. “She said he wanted Shadestar dead.”
The apprentices stared at Ferretpaw in shock.
“Who’s the Supreme Commander?” Dawnpaw asked.
Ferretpaw shook his head, “I reckon Scorch was like a deputy or something. We could be dealing with something bigger than any of us can imagine.”
“So Scorch was the leader in that attack? Pinepaw asked.
Ferretpaw nodded, “But why take Starlingkit?”
“I don’t know but we need to get her back,” Dawnpaw meowed grimly.
Everyone nodded in agreement.
“A large attack force would be useless, we don’t know their full size,” Flowerpaw muttered.
“Maybe a rescue team of three or four cats would be most effective,” Ferretpaw jumped to his paws, “Yes! Let’s go ask Shadestar!”

Ferretpaw tasted the air, “C’mon,” he mewed to his companions. Shadestar had been reluctant to let Ferretpaw, Pinepaw, Dawnpaw and Plumfur go search for Starlingkit. She had insisted that Flowerpaw stay behind in order to rebuild camp.
“Where are we going exactly?” Pinepaw asked grumpily.
Dawnpaw glared at Pinepaw, “Probably to find some prey, since someone can’t live without it,” she snapped.
“Calm down, both of you. You’re acting like kits!” Plumfur snapped, “Let’s get moving.” She stalked towards a bush and dived forward, swiftly grabbing a shrew and cleanly snapping it’s neck. “Here,” she tossed the shrew towards Pinepaw, “We can catch more on the way.”
Pinepaw looked up at her gratefully and sunk his teeth into the shrew consuming it in a mouthful. He looked up and swiped his tongue around his jaws, “Hmm, thanks Plumfur! Let’s get moving.”
Dawnpaw scowled at him, Pinepaw just shrugged and his eyes gleamed in amusement.
Plumfur flicked her ears as a drop of water fell from the pines, “Rain’s coming. We need to get moving, find shelter.”
“No,” Ferretpaw argued, “We have to keep moving.”
Plumfur stood silently for a moment then nodded her agreement.
“There scent leads this way,” Dawnpaw announced, heading off towards the Thunderclan border.
The band of cats followed Dawnpaw until she stopped suddenly, “Their scent ends here.”
Ferretpaw exchanged a glance with Pinepaw, “I think we should ask Thunderclan for permission to journey through their territory,” Ferretpaw said.
The others paused then nodded their agreement.

The apprentices pushed their way through the undergrowth.
“Ugh, how can Thunderclan sleep with that stench?” Pinepaw muttered.
“How can they walk?” Dawnpaw meowed with frustration as a bramble ensnared her paw.
“We are adapted to our territory.” A lithe she-cat emerged from the bushes followed by a patrol of Thunderclan cats.
“Good one, Pinepaw,” Dawnpaw hissed, as the cats formed a tight defensive circle.
“What did I do?” Pinepaw hissed back.
Plumfur stepped forward, “We just want to speak with Sorrelstar.”
The she-cat snorted, “You’ll be seeing her alright.”

“Sorrelstar,” Plumfur dipped her head respectively as she addressed the Thunderclan leader, “we have come to ask your permission to travel across your territory. Yesterday a band of rogues attacked our camp and kidnapped one of our kits. Their scent leads through your territory.”
Sorrelstar nodded her head slowly, “We have picked up traces of rogue scnt on our territory lately.” She fell silent for a moment then spoke, “We can not turn down your plea for help if a innocent kit is involved,” she paused, “You may travel through our territory.”
Relieved murmurs passed through the Shadowclan cats.
“Thank you Sorrelstar,” Plumfur dipped her head and gathered up the cats with a sweep of her tail, “C’mon, let’s get moving.”
“You may rest in our camp for tonight,” Sorrelstar announced.
Plumfur hesitated then dipped her head in agreement, “Thank you again, Sorrelstar.”

Ferretpaw slept uneasily in his hastily assembled nest of moss and bracken. The bracken crunched uncomfortably as he tossed and turned unable to sleep with his nose full of unfamiliar scents.
“Hey,” an unfamilair voice called. “You, with the tail that looks like dead fern.”
Ferretpaw stiffened, “Who’s there?” he growled softly.
“I’m from Thunderclan, obviously,” the voice hissed.
“Obviously.”
A cat pushed it’s head through the entrance. Ferretpaw gasped at the gaping wound scoring her face.
The she-cat scoffed at his horror, “You haven’t seen nothing yet,” she mewed. “Here,” she shoved something into Ferretpaw’s nest, “These will help.”
“What are they?” Ferretpaw asked, sniffing them suspiciously.
“They’re swan feathers, you mouse-brain!”
“Oh,” Ferretpaw felt his face grow hot. He gazed at the she-cat suspiciously, “Why are you helping me?”
The she-cat narrowed her eyes, “Take me with you,” she mewed her voice softening with desperation. “Please! I have to get out of here! There’s nothing for me here now,” she paused, “Please, you’ve got to help me.”
Ferretpaw fell silent, how could he help this strange she-cat escape from her own clan? He sighed, “Fine. When we leave, wait until we have crossed the border, then follow.”
The she-cat nodded, her eyes bright with relief, “My name’s Palepaw.”
“I’m Ferretpaw,” the two apprentices shared a glance before, Pinepaw interrupted them with a snore.
“I-I better go,” Palepaw muttered.
Ferretpaw nodded. A strange sense of longing yawned in Ferretpaw’s belly as he watched the Thunderclan apprentice silhouette disappear into the shadows.

Plumfur gazed at the band of cats and nodded for them to start moving. Ferretpaw glanced back at the Thunderclan camp, trying in vain to catch the Palepaw’s eye. He sighed and turned back to the group.
Dawnpaw dropped back beside Ferretpaw, “Why do you look like you’ve got ants in your fur? What’s wrong?”
Ferretpaw sighed, “Nothing, really I’m fine.”
Dawnpaw looked unconvinced then shrugged and bounded up to Pinepaw.
“Their scent leads up this way,” Plumfur pointed with her muzzle up alongside a small river that meandered its way down the ridge. “Towards the moonpool,” she added.
The band of cats trekked along in silence, occasionally pausing to drink from the stream.
The bushes rustled and the Shadowclan cats froze, drawing their lips back in the beginning of a snarl.
“So where are we heading first?”
Ferretpaw winced as Palepaw pushed her way out of the bush and at down in front of Plumfur.
“We?” Dawnpaw snarled, “There is no we. Go back to your clan. We have permission to travel here.”
Palepaw’s eyes widened in mock indignation, she got to her paws and paced towards Dawnpaw. Hard muscle rippled beneath her pelt and her scar flashed a direct warning, “Oh, but there is a we,” she mewed, “I was invited, by Ferretpaw.”
All eyes swiveled towards Ferretpaw.
“What do you mean he invited you?” Plumfur growled.
Palepaw sat down and drew her tongue over her paws casually, “It’s pretty self-explanatory.”
Ferretpaw gulped, “Fine!” he snapped after Plumfur glared at Ferretpaw, “I invited her. I had to! She, um, uh-”
“She what? Frog-brain?” Dawnpaw snapped angrily.
“She asked me if she could come,” Ferretpaw admitted, “What was I supposed to do? Say no?”
“Yes!” Plumfur snapped, turning to Palepaw she growled, “As for you, go back to your clan.”
Palepaw jumped up, her eyes blazing, “Why should I listen to you? I make my own decisions!” Lowering her gaze, she added, “I want to help you.”
Plumfur glared at the apprentice, “Fine!” she snapped, “But you have to listen to us.”
Palepaw nodded silently.
Plumfur glared at her and stalked towards the Thunderclan border.
Palepaw fell in beside Ferretpaw.
He nodded to her. “You made it,” he said.
Palepaw glared at him, “Of course I made it,” she snapped, “I made a promise. And I never break a promise.”
Ferretpaw just nodded, something in her eyes told him not to disagree with her.

Chapter 8

Ravenflight padded along grimly. His head bent against the rain. He glanced to his side and saw Willowpaw padding along determindly beside him.
“We can stop for a while if you want,” he shouted above the wind.
Willowpaw looked up, the rain streaming down her muzzle, “No. I don’t mind.”
Ravenflight nodded and turned back to the path. He was amazed by her dedication to him. She had only known him for less than a moon, and yet when Raveflight asked her to accompany him to get his revenge on Beetlestar, she had agreed without hesiation.
Suddenly Willowpaw gave a strangled cry.
Ravenflight whirled around to see Willowpaw struggling to pull herself free from the mud.
“Ravenflight!” she gasped, struggling to pull her paws free, “Help me!”
“Hang on, Willow!” he cried then froze. The abbreviation had inadvertantly slipped off his tongue. He glanced at Willowpaw, she was still frantically trying to free herself. “Hang on!” he repeated.
He glanced around wildly, his eyes fell on a long, sturdy-looking stick. Grabbing it in his jaws he heaved it over to Willowpaw.
“Grab onto this!” He shouted his voice muffled by the branch.
Willowpaw grabbed the stick in her jaws and Ravenflight pulled.
“Keep pulling!” Ravenflight gasped. He heaved backwards, his paws slipping on the slick grass. Finally Willowpaw staggered forward, her chest heaving.
“Thanks, Ravenflight,” she gasped, before stumbling over to lean on his shoulder.
Raveflight licked her cheek, “We need to find shelter.”
This time she didn’t argue, just nodded in tired agreement.
Ravenflight looked around, “There!” he cried pointing his muzzle towards a small cave in the hillside.
He bounded off towards it, with Willowpaw following. He carefully sniffed the entrance.
“Are you sure this isn’t a fox’s set?” Willowpaw asked anxiously.
Ravenflight drew a deep breath, “No,” he murmured reassuringly. He padded deeper in, surprised to find it was more of a rocky overhang then a cave. “This goes quiet deep, but not deep enough for a fox or badger to live in.
“Lucky us,” Willowpaw murmured, curling her tail around her paws and drifting into sleep.

Ravenflight woke to an odd silence, he glances out of their makeshift den surprised to find the clouds had cleared and a jubilant sun smiled down on them. “Hey!” he said, “The rain has stopped.” He looked around for Willowpaw; she was nowhere to be found.
“Willowpaw?” he called anxiously.
“I’m up here.”
He emerged from the den, to find her sitting above the overhang gazing back the way they had come. He leapt upwards and grasped the edges with his claws, hauling himself up beside her.
“Isn’t it beautiful?” Willowpaw breathed. She gazed out across the valley. The lake glistened in the early morning sun, surrounded by the green of dense forests.
“Yes, it is,” Ravenflight agreed. He gazed at Willowpaw, her eyes half closed as she basked in the early sun. “Willowpaw?” he asked anxiously, “Do you want to go back?”
Willowpaw turned and looked at Raveflight. She was quiet for so long Ravenflight was almost afraid when she answered, “No,” she murmured, resting her head on his chest, “My place is with you now, wherever that may be.”

“Wake up!” a voice hissed in Ravenflight’s ear.
“Wha-” he mumbled before someone slapped their tail across his muzzle.
“Be quiet!” WIllowpaw hissed, slowly lowering her tail.
Ravenflight nodded, “What’s wrong?” he whispered.
Willowpaw peered over the edge of the overhang, “You fell asleep. It’s sunset.”
Ravenflight opened his mouth to protest, but closed it again when he caught Willowpaw’s gaze.
“Foxes,” she whispered.
Ferretpaw cautiously peered over the edge. Three tawny shapes slunk through the shadows.
“Cat. Want cat.” the lead wolf barked.
Ferretpaw almost fell off the edge in surprise, “they speak cat?” he whispered incerdecoulsy.
The fox’s head snapped around, “Cat!” it barked, catching a glimpse of Ravenflight.
Willowpaw glared at him, “Run!” she hissed, bunching her muscles and leaping to a ledge above them. Ferretpaw stared in dismay at the distance, but leapt all the same. His claws scraped the surface as he tried to pull himself up. “Willowpaw,” he gasped.
“Hang on!” she cried leaning over to grab his scruff.
“I’m hanging on!” he snapped. Suddenly a wave of pain flooded his senses. The foxes stalked beneath Ravenflight. A dark russet female barked something at Ravenflight, blood and fur dripping from her teeth.
Great Starclan! Ravenflight thought, She bit my tailI
Willowpaw reached even further forward and heaved backwards, grit and debris showered down on the foxes.
Ravenflight pulled his hind legs up and collapsed panting at Willowpaw’s feet.
She nudged him gently, “C’mon,” she murmured, “We have to keep moving. They’ve got our scent and a taste of your blood. They won’t stop until they have us.”
Ravenflight smiled at her ruefully, “If I had been trained as a warrior, I would’ve made that jump.”
Willowpaw shook her head, "fish-dirt! That jump would’ve been difficult even for a fully trained warrior.”
“Then how come you made it?”
Willowpaw turned away, “Let’s keep moving.”

Willowpaw leapt onto the last ledge of the cliff, “C’mon Ravenflight!” she called down, “You’re almost there!”
Ravenflight closed his eyes, Starclan, help me! he prayed silently. Taking a deep breath, he gathered his muscles and leapt. He closed his eyes as he soared through the air, only opening them when his paws were safely on the ground.
“You made it!” Willowpaw cried, pressing her cheek against his.
Ravenflight purred, “You doubted me?”
“Never,” she replied fiercely. Turning away she gazed down the way they had come.
“No sign of the foxes?” Ravenflight yowled over the wind.
She shook her head, “We still better keep moving,” the wind whipped her words away.
Ravenflight turned to look at where they were headed. His eyes widened in surprise as the forest came to an abrupt end. A giant spiderweb of twoleg nests stretched into the distance. “Uh, Willowpaw. You may want to see this.”
Willowpaw turned around slowly, her eyes widened and her jaw dropped open in disbelief, “I’ve never seen so many twoleg nests!”
Ravenflight licked his shoulder nervously, “What are we going to do?”
Willowpaw turned to face him, her gaze determined, “I think I know how we can lose those foxes.”

Ravenflight dropped back and let Willowpaw take the lead as they neared the first thunderpath.
“Are you sure going into this twolegplace is a good idea? No one’s been this far away from the lake before.”
“Just trust me,” she called over her shoulder.
How could he not? He loved her too much to leave her. I’m never going back to the clans, he thought fiercely, If I did, I could never be with Willowpaw.
In front of him, Willowpaw tensed. “Stay low,” she hissed, crouching to the ground.
Ravenflight dropped into a crouch, there was no shelter, just windblown ground. “What is it?” he whispered, almost afraid to ask.
Suddenly the group of foxes exploded from a hollow behind them, snarling and barking hungrily.
“Run!” He yowled, launching himself forward. he arched his back, the familiar sensation of the wind whistling through his pelt. He could feel himself gradually pulling ahead of the mad, hunger driven foxes.
“Keep going!” he yowled, as Willowpaw gradually fell back. He glanced around desperately for somewhere to escape.
The thunderpath! he thought suddenly.
He kept running then veered to his left, heading straight towards the Thunderpath. he glanced back and caught Willowpaw’s gaze, her eyes narrowed.
“Let's do this,” she gasped.
Ravenflight launched himself across the thunderpath, the cool black stone, stinging his pads. He kept running, even as he heard an approaching monster in the distance. With one final leap, he landed on the other side and collapsed panting on his side.
Willowpaw crouched beside him, she made a strangled cry. “Starclan, help us,” she whispered
Ravenflight looked up, a giant monster pounded past, blasting Willowpaw and Ravenflight with acrid smelling wind. One of the foxes lay motionless on the thunderpath.
“The monster killed it!” Willowpaw whispered.
The two surviving foxes slunk along the edge of the Thunderpath, growling and baring their first teeth at the cats. Eventually they turned and bounded away.
“I think we lost them,” Ravenflight commented. He turned and flattened his ears.
Willowpaw turned to, her eyes widened in dismay as she stared at the threatening twoleg place. She gulped, “There isn’t anywhere to go but forward.”

Chapter 9

Cedarpelt stumbled forward, his vision blurred by exhaustion.
“Keep moving,” snarled the skinny long furred tom, “The Supreme Commander wants you alive.”
Cedarpelt forced himself to walk forward, despite his muscles screaming at him to stop. His wounds from the battle at camp stung fiercely, but the rogues hadn’t let him stop to clean them. He vaguely remembered the battle with the rogues. The silver she-cat, Moth had knocked him into unconsciousness. When he awoke, he found himself being dragged along by another rogue, surrounded by an enormous battle patrol.
The she-cat at the front of the group raised her voice, “We’ll rest here tonight,” she gestured toward a abandoned twoleg nest on the outskirts of a twolegplace, “We’ll reach camp tomorrow.”
She flicked her ears, simultaneously, two rogues shoved Cedarpelt towards the she-cat.
She purred contemptuously, “Ah,” she mewed mockingly, “The mighty clan warriors, how far they have fallen.” At her signal his two guards , pushed him forward, so that he fell at her paws.
“I’m Scorch, a member of Darkclan and a high ranking officer of the Death Guard,” she mewed.
Darkclan? Death Guard? That sounds oddly familiar, he thought.
“And you?” She chuckled to herself, “Oh, of course. You are Cedarpelt. A warrior of Shadowclan, mate to Goldensky and father of, well,” she flicked her tail. A skinny she-cat stepped forward, holding a kit in her jaws.
“Starlingkit!” Cedarpelt cried launching himself towards his kit.
The two guards fell onto Cedarpelt, who struggled beneath them. One of the guards placed a massive paw on his head, pressing him into the ground. Eventually he stopped struggling exhausted by his wounds and lack of food. The guard twisted his head around so that he was looking straight at Scorch.
“It is up to you whether your kit survives,” she mewed her voice laced with venom, “Continue to misbehave and she dies.”
Cedarpelt glared at Scorch, “You won’t get away with this!” he hissed, “My clanmates will find me!”
Scorch chuckled, “I’m sure they will, in fact, the Supreme Commander is counting on it.”
Cedarpelt growled low in his throat. The paw on his head pressed harder.
“Take him, away,” Scorch mewed.
Cedarpelt didn’t struggle as the two guards grabbed him by the shoulders and dragged him into a makeshift den. It was damp and full of rotting leaves. All the same Cedarpelt sank gratefully onto the ground and fell asleep in a instance.

A paw prodding him woke Cedarpelt.
“Are you alright?” a voice asked.
Cedarpelt wearily opened his eyes, surprised to find a she-cat from he had seen in the crowd before looking at him anxiously.
“Who are you?” he rasped, his throat dry.
“I’m Dawn,” she replied.
“Dawn?” Cedarpelt asked. He suddenly remembered his dream the night before the attack. “Wh-”
Dawn looked over her shoulder anxiously, “I must go,” Before Cedarpelt could reply, she had disappeared.
He sighed and closed his eyes, drifting back into sleep.

“Wake up!” a voice hissed in Cedarpelt's ear.
“Huh?” he mumbled his head swimming.
Suddenly sharp claws dug into his ear, “I said, wake up!”
Cedarpelt hastily got to his paws and kept his head low to avoid another attack.
“The boss says we’re moving out and she wants you up front,” he growled. “Get moving!”
Cedarpelt slowly emerged from his den, trying to catch a glimpse of Dawn. No such luck.
“Welcome Cedarpelt,” Scorch purred, “How nice of you to join us.”
Cedarpelt glared at her.
“Oh, calm down,” she mewed, “if you cooperate we won’t touch a hair on your pelt. If not,” she held up her paw, her claws glittering coldly, “well, I think you can guess.”
Cedarplet remained silent.
Scorch raised her tail, “Let’s move. The Supreme Commander is expecting us before sundown.”
Cedarpelt padded along silently with his head down for the rest of the journey.

“Well Cedarpelt. We meet again,” A shadowy figure emerged from the edge of the clearing in the middle of the twoleg place. Four more shadows flanked him
The figure emerged into the light from the moon, Cedarpelt gasped, “No, no… It can’t be!”
“Search your feelings, know that it is true,” The speaker fully emerged into the light. His fur gleamed black and his yellow eyes bore into Cedarpelt.
“No!” Cedarpelt yowled, dropping into a crouch, “No,” he murmured. He looked up at the speaker, “Brother,” he breathed,
The rogue nodded, “I am no longer a pitiful kit as you once were, I am Fang, Supreme Commander of Darkclan!”
Cedarpelt’s eye glazed over, a flood of memories came rushing back, memories he had tried so hard to bury.
“Remember, brother,” Fang murmured.
“I can’t,” Cedarpelt panted, “I won’t!”
Fang purred, “Oh but you can remember, can’t you Beetle?”
“Beetle?” Cedarpelt rasped, “No!” he yowled as he began to remember, “No!”
“I finished what you couldn’t start,” Fang hissed, his eyes gleaming as remembrance glistened in Cedarpelt’s eyes. “Yes, I killed our mother.”
Cedarpelt’s eyes widened, “No!” he yowled, “No!”
Fang sat atop a mound of twoleg thing, fashioned into a vantage point, “Bring the kit,” Fang ordered.
Cedarpelt sprang to his feet, “You just leave her alone, Pebble!”
Fang’s eyes narrowed, “I am not Pebble, but Fang.” He flicked his tail and a young she-cat dropped the kit in front of Cedarpelt.
He rushed forward and began licking Stralingkit, “It’s alright,” he murmured as the kit snuggled into Cedarpelt’s fur, “It’s alright, now.”
Fang got to his paws and padded toward Cedarpelt, “You’re a courageous warrior, I’ll give you that. But I have plans for you and that kit.”
“What plans?” Cedarpelt growled, pulling Starlingkit closer to him.
“I know you are an honourable cat, if you make a promise you will keep it, yes?” Fang paced around Cedarpelt.
Cedarpelt glared at him, then nodded curtly.
“I’ll make you a deal,” Fang said, “You stay here and permanently become part of Darkclan and I let your kit live.”
Cedarpelt narrowed his eyes at Fang, “What sort of a deal is that?” he spat.
Fang shrugged, “Your kit will be well looked after and you will be fed.”
Cedarpelt fell silent, he couldn’t let Starlingkit die. He took a deep breath, “Very well,” he murmured.
Fang leapt up onto the pile of twoleg stuff, “Do you, Cedarpelt,” Fang yowled, “pledge yourself to Darkclan today.”
Cedarpelt gulped, “I do.”
“Do you promise to defend your Supreme Commander and see through any mission no matter the cost?”
“I do,” Cedarpelt murmured.
“Then, I, your Supreme Commander, name you Beetle and grant you the place of scout in this clan,” Fang yowled.
Cedarpelt looked a the ground a hollow feeling opening in his belly. A she-cat bent down and picked up Starlingkit, who let out a startled squeak.
“Wait!” Cedarpelt cried, “You said she’d be safe!”
“She will be, just not with you,” Fang mewed. “Stick! Come take Beetle to the scout’s den,” he ordered.
A young skinny tom appeared next to Cedarpelt, “C’mon,” he said, “It’s best if you forget about your kit, she will be safe with the queens.”
Cedarpelt gulped, he was beginning to think he had made a terrible mistake.

Chapter 10

Willowpaw gazed at the twoleg place, monsters pounded across unseen thunderpaths. Her sense were all muddled by the confusing scents of the thunderpath.
“Where are we headed now?” Ravenflight asked as he struggled to climb to the top of a twoleg fence where Willowpaw sat.
“I guess in that direction,” she pointed towards the sunrise.
She bunched her muscles and leapt from the fence. A volley of barks filled her senses, “Dogs!” she yowled.
“Where?” Ravenflight asked, his fur bristling.
“I don’t know!” she cried, “My senses are all muddled!”
“This way!” called a voice, Willowpaw and Ravenflight turned to see a skinny tortoiseshell she-cat peering through the bushes. “Quick!” she hissed.
Ravenflight and Willowpaw exchanged a glance, before diving into the bush. The she-cat leapt onto a fence and ran along it until she was next to a twoleg nest. Willowpaw followed her, her heart pounding in his chest. She gasped as the tortoiseshell launched herself onto the roof of the nest. Willowpaw gulped and followed, just in time to see two massie dogs hurl around the corner. They spotted Ravenflight on the fence and began throwing their weight against the wooden planks.
“Ravenflight! Jump!” Willowpaw screeched.
Ravenflight closed his eyes then leapt, his claws scraped the edge and one paw lost it’s grip.
Willowpaw rocketed forward and grabbed Ravenflight’s scruff and alongside the tortoiseshell pulled him to safety.
“Phew! Thanks-” Ravenflight began until Willowpaw quieted him with a look.
“I’m Willowpaw and this is Ravenflight,” Willowpaw mewed. She saw the look of surprise flash in Ravenflight’s eyes before he dipped his head to his rescuer.
The she-cat dipped her head in return, “I’m Jinx. You are clan cats,” she mewed suspiciously, “Why are you here?”
Willowpaw and Ravenflight exchanged a glance, “We left the clans,” Ravenflight explained.
Jinx narrowed her eyes, “Are you here looking for that cat name Beetle?”
Willowpaw shook her head, “No. We have never heard of any one called Beetle.”
Jinx flicked her ears, “Come,” she mewed, “the dogs will be back soon we need to get to the camp.” She turned and padded across the twoleg roof and leapt onto other.
Willowpaw caught up to her, “Wait there are more of you?”
Jinx merely nodded, “We’re here.” She turned towards a small hole in the roof of the twoleg nest. She beckoned for them to follow her. Willowpaw shrugged and squeezed into the hole. Letting her eyes adjust to the darkness she noticed rotting planks of wood holding the twoleg nest together.
“You live here?” Ravenflight asked.
She gave a curt nod and jumped onto the ground. Willowpaw landed beside her, the odd feeling wood clicking beneath her claws.
Jinx looked at her, “You’ll get used to it.”
“Jinx?” a scared voice asked, “Who are.. they?”
Jinx sighed, “Listen Bee, gather the others and meet me in the front of the nest.”
“O-okay Jinx,” the scared voice stammered.
“Others?” Ravenflight asked.
Jinx shot him a look, “Just be quiet or you’ll scare the fur of them.”
Ravenflight shrugged at Willowpaw good-naturedly.
Jinx lead them through an opening in the twoleg nest and leaped atop another twoleg item. She nodded for them to follow.
“Why,” Ravenflight gasped as he jumped up beside the two she-cats, “is it that you two have a love for jumping?” He pulled himself up and slid uncontrollably across the unnaturally smooth surface.
“Why did you bring them here?” an accusing voice hissed.
Willowpaw turned to see a group of skinny, starved cats assembled below them.
Jinx raised her tail and any chatter ceased, “They were in trouble. You all know just as well as I do that we can not abandon a cat in need. Many of us were in similar conditions.”
An old tom emerged from the shadows, “In my day, young’uns didn’t used to think they know everything.”
Jinx sighed with a hint a asperity, “Listen, Bert. These cats won’t cause us any trouble.”
“How do you know that? They’re clan cats aren’t they?”
Gasps of fear erupted from the gathered cats.
“Listen!” Jinx yowled, “Listen you scaredy-mice! These cats haven’t even heard of Beetle! They don’t even know who Fang is! They won’t cause us harm!” Jinx turned to Willowpaw and shook her head exasperatedly, “Honestly,” she muttered, “Some times I feel like I’m raising kits!”
Willowpaw purred, “I know what you mean,” she mewed shooting a meaningful glance at Ravenflight.
Ravenflight stopped a look of confusion flickered in his green eyes. “Hey! What was that supposed to mean?”
Willowpaw shrugged and followed Jinx, leaving him standing there with a bewildered look on his face.

After leading Ravenflight to his own devices, Jinx had led Willowpaw to their bedding area.
She pushed a scrawny mouse towards Willowpaw, “Here, it’s not much, but it’s the best we can offer.”
Willowpaw glanced around at the other cats, half-starved, they clung to each other for warmth. She looked up at Jinx, the strong willed tortoiseshell she-cat eyes were filled with pain. Willowpaw pushed the mouse back, “No, there are those who need it more than I do.”
Jinx dipped her head gratefully and grabbed the mouse in her jaws before weaving between the cats.
“You’re Willowpaw? Right?”
Willowpaw turned to see a pretty black she-cat around her age looking at her with inquisitive green eyes.
Willowpaw nodded.
“I’m Charcoal, although my friends just call me Char,” she mewed.
Willowpaw gazed at Charcoal, despite her obvious hunger, she held her head proudly.”You must be related to Jinx,” Willowpaw murmured, noticing the same proud air in which Charcoal held herself.
Charcoal looked pleased, “Yes,” she nodded, “She’s my older sister.” She settled down beside Willowpaw, “Isn’t she great?”
Willowpaw nodded again, ‘She certainly is.”
Charcoal looked up at Willowpaw, “Do you want to come sleep with me and the others?”
Willowpaw looked at her gratefully and rose to her paws, stretching each in turn.
“You must have journeyed along way,” Charcoal commented. “Why did you leave the clans?”
Willowpaw yawned, “I’ll explain later.”
Charcoal nodded and pushed her way into a small crevice in the side of the nest. “Hey! Guys!” she called, “Make up a new nest, we have a visitor!”
She pushed her way in and beckoned for Willowpaw to follow. Willowpaw reluctantly squeezed in after her, amazed to see the crevice opened up to form a big cave made from wood.
Half a dozen eyes turned to watch them as they made their way over to the far side of the den. Charcoal settled down on a nest made from what appeared to be the soft pelt of a twoleg. Willowpaw tentatively lowered herself onto a similar nest when Charcoal beckoned to the spare one.
“Now for the introductions!” Charcoal announced, “I’m Charcoal.” She pointed to a group of three cats, two toms and a she-cat. The first tom had stunningly beautiful amber eyes and a rich-stormy grey pelt clung to his skinny frame. “That’s Cloud,” Charcoal said. The next tom was smaller in frame than his littermate, but Willowpaw instantly noticed the strength in his hind legs. His yellow eyes stared at her curiously. “That’s Wheat,” Charcoal introduced. The she-cat sat slightly apart from her brothers, with her tail tucked delicately around her tabby paws. She too, blinked up at Willowpaw with unquenchable curiosity. “And Orchid.”
“I’m Thunder,” a tom pushed past Cloud and sat in front of Willowpaw. His strong muscles rippled beneath his brown and white pelt.
Charcoal snorted, “He’s been here for less than a quarter moon, and already thinks he owns the place.”
Willowpaw dipped her head to him.
“And I’m Sky,” a pure white tom stepped forward, he gazed at Willowpaw through ice-blue eyes with curiosity and admiration in his gaze.
Willowpaw dipped her head again, startled by the emotions in his eyes.
Charcoal opened her mouth until a slender she-cat pushed past her. Charcoal glared at her.
“I’m Swan,” her white pelt clearly identifying herself as Sky’s littermate. Her eyes were a softer shade of blue that Sky’s. She narrowed her eyes at Willowpaw and the threat was clear. This is my place, her gaze seemed to say.
She whipped around, letting her tail brush Willowpaw’s muzzle and stalked from the den.
Sky gazed after her, a pained expression on his face, “She’ll come round,” he murmured, although he sounded like he was trying to convince himself rather than Willowpaw.
Charcoal glared after her, “She’d better.”
She settled down beside Willowpaw and before long soft snore came from her sleeping form.
Willowpaw sighed and settled down.
She lay awake for ages, listening to the murmur of voices outside the den, the creaking of the twoleg nest. Eventually she sat up.
“Can’t sleep?” a voice said.
Willowpaw turned to see Skypaw watching her. She nodded, “It’s been a long day.”
“Want to go for a walk?” he asked.
“Why not?” she shrugged.
Sky lead her out of the den and into the deserted twoleg nest.
“You’re a clan cat aren’t you?” he said turning to look at her.
Willowpaw returned her gaze, “Yes.”
Sky nodded, “I could tell.”
“You could?”
He nodded, “The way you gave that mouse away, your compassion for cats you’d never met before.”
Willowpaw looked at him, “You could tell I was a warrior just from that?’
He sighed, “We were always told clan cats were our enemy, my mother told us otherwise. I think she knew a warrior before,” he paused, “before she died.”
“I’m sorry,’’ she murmured.
Sky looked up, ‘’Tell me about clan life.”

By the time Moonhigh came Willowpaw had explained every aspect of clan life.
“So you actually swim and eat fish?” Sky asked incredulously.
Willowpaw purred, “Yes, I can teach you.” She sprinted through the twoleg nest towards a large puddle she had noticed earlier and turned to face Skypaw.
“Hey! Why’d you run off?” Skypaw looked hurt.
Willowpaw flattened her ears teasingly, “Come and get me!”
Sky narrowed his eyes and leaped at her, she dodged easily and sent Skypaw floundering in the puddle.
“Hey!” he cried.
Willowpaw sat down on the edge of the puddle, “I said I’d teach you.”
“Yeah! In a real lake.’
Willowpaw shrugged, stifling a purr, “Oops, my bad.”
Sky growled and shook out his fur. A few water droplets landed Willowpaw’s fur, but they slid off easily.
“Hey, why didn’t you get wet?” he growled.
Willowpaw shrugged, “Every Riverclan cats’ fur sheds water like a duck.”
Sky glanced up at the whole through the roof, “There’s a small pond near here if you want to check it out.”
Willowpaw jumped up, “Oh, yes please Sky!”

As they neared the pond, Willowpaw could see the gleam of water in the moonlight.
“Are you sure this is safe?” Willowpaw asked as they slipped through a twoleg fence.
Skypaw nodded, ‘Of course, the twolegs will be asleep.”
Willowpaw still crouched low to the ground as she made her way across the patch of unnaturally short grass. The silence made her weary.
“C’mon Willowpaw!” Sky yowled.
She cringed, but when no twolegs emerged she felt herself relax. Glancing around one last time, she sprinted across the short grass and dived into the pond. The pond was no lake, yet Willowpaw felt more at home here than anywhere. She opened her eyes and scanned the bottom. It was surprisingly deep. A shimmer near the bottom caught her eye, a cluster of golden fish swam below her. She dived deeper scooping up two fat fish in her jaws. She broke the surface, her prize hanging limp and tantalizing.
Sky gaped at her, “I didn’t know there were fish in there!”
Willowpaw dropped the fish and pushed one towards him, “Try one,” she invited, “They’re delicious.”
Sky ripped a piece of pale flesh from the fish’s body, chewing thoughtfully he announced, ‘I’ve never tasted anything like it!” He soon demolished the rest. He licked his jaws. “Hmm, I wouldn’t mind living in your clan if I got to eat that for the rest of my life! Now about that lesson?”
Willowpaw nodded to the pond,”Follow me.”
He gingerly lowered himself into the pond, “That’s cold!” He gently eased himself under so only his muzzle was dry.
Willowpaw nodded, “Good. Now push off towards me.” She paddled slowly in the center of the pond. He slowly glided towards her. “Excellent!” she exclaimed, “The important thing is to stay calm as soon as you start to panic you’ll slip under.”
He tried it again and at Willowpaw’s instructions gently began to paddle and steer himself.
Willowpaw glanced at the sky. The deep indigo colour was gradually giving way to a lighter shade. “Dawn’s almost here, we should get back. Besides, you learnt well.”
Sky nodded and hauled himself out, dripping wet. He shook his fur vigorously. “Great! Now I’ll be wet for a moon!”
Willowpaw froze, a bird, a morning dove was halfway across the grass from them. She silenced Sky with a look and slowly began to stalk forward. She put each foot down lightly, lifting her tail so it wouldn’t make a sound. Suddenly a twig snapped and the dove turned to see Willowpaw, it let out an alarm call and launched into flight. Willowpaw leaped for the bird. Her jump carrying her towards it. Her paws landed squarely on it’s wings and with a quick bite, it was dead. She turned around holding the dead bird in her jaws. The dove was big and plump, it’s wings trailed on the ground as Willowpaw bounded back towards Sky.
“That was amazing, Willowpaw!” he exclaimed, “It looked like you flew through the air!”
Willowpaw mumbled her thanks around the bird.

“Look at the size of the dove Willowpaw caught!” Sky announced as soon as they entered the nest.
“Wow! Well done Willowpaw!” Charcoal exclaimed, looking slightly envious.
Willowpaw dipped her head in thanks, “You can share it out if you want.” She dropped her catch and retreated further inside, leaving Sky and Charcoal to deal with it.
‘Willowpaw!” Ravenflight mewed, as she walked into him, “Where've you been all morning?”
“I went for a swim with Sky,” she explained.
He narrowed his eyes when he saw Sky.
“We have to help them!” Willowpaw blurted out.
“What?” Ravenflight said.
“Help them! They’re starving and can barely hunt for themselves! All they can afford to do is sit here and rely on twoleg scraps!”
Ravenflight looked at her, “Okay,” he agreed, “What’s your plan?”

Chapter 11

Palepaw padded along beside Ferretpaw, “So where do you think those rogues are?”
Ferretpaw sighed, “No one knows.”
Palepaw nodded. They had been following a faint scent trail out of clan territory and since the rain came, the scent had been even fainter.
“Hey! Palepaw, Ferretpaw! Come look at this!” Pinepaw called.
Palepaw exchanged a glance with Ferretpaw and bounded towards the tabby.
“What?” Palepaw snapped.
Pinepaw looked startled for a moment then regained his composure, “There are clan scents here!”
“The clans? Are you sure?” Palepaw felt her heart pounding in her chest, “What if they’re looking for me?”
Dawnpaw talked towards them, “Of course they’re not looking for you! No one with a rabbit’s brain would go looking for you!” she snapped ungraciously at Palepaw.
Palepaw bristled, “You’re not exactly worth a search either!” she snapped, glaring at the tortoisheshell apprentice.
Plumfur tasted the air, “Dawnpaw’s right,” she announced; Palepaw felt her face flush, “They aren’t looking for you. Or anyone for that matter. Their scent leads straight up this way,” she pointed with her muzzle towards the cliff.
“It follows the rogue’s scent!” Pinepaw exclaimed. “There’s Riverclan, Windclan and Shadowclan.”
“Shadowclan!” they all said simultaneously.
Ferretpaw rushed forward and tasted the air, his eyes glazed with fear and he began trembling uncontrollably. “No!” he whispered, then his eyes rolled and he collapsed.
“Ferretpaw!” Plumfur yowled, “Palepaw, Pinepaw, get some moss and wet it in the stream.”
Palepaw hared off after Pinepaw, “What happened?” she panted as she found a patch of moss and began clawing it into bundles.
“I don’t know,” Pinepaw shook his head sadly.
Palepaw dipped her bundle in the stream, then carried the sodden ball back to Plumfur.
Plumfur didn’t look up from licking Ferretpaw, “Good, now dribble the water into his mouth. He only fainted, he’ll be fine.”
Palepaw breathed a sigh of relief that Ferretpaw would be alright and dribbled it into his mouth. He sat up coughing and began to tremble again.
“Cedarpelt!” he gasped.
“Cedarpelt?” Palepaw asked.
Ferretpaw nodded, “It’s his scent. I saw him!”
“What do you mean you saw him?”Pinepaw asked.
“He was wounded and bleeding, he was their prisoner.”
“Who’s?” Palepaw asked urgently.
Ferretpaw sighed, a haunted look in his eyes, “The rogues. They had Starlingkit as well.”
Plumfur sat thoughtfully, “If I didn’t know better, this was a vision,” she paused, “from Starclan.”
Pinepaw and Dawnpaw’s eyes widened, “I thought only medicine cats had dreams from Starclan,” Pinepaw said.
Plumfur shook her head and looked at Ferretpaw with concern, “Are you okay?”
Ferretpaw shook his head as if he were clearing water from his pelt, “Yes. But we have to keep moving. I saw them. In a twoleg place.”
Dawnpaw stood up, “Then we’re heading in the wrong direction! Twolegplace is over there!” She gestured frantically to the other side of the lake.
Palepaw snorted, “Now who’s the mouse-brain? There’s obviously another one over this ridge.”
Dawnpaw glared at her.