The Half Paws & Moon

The half-moon glowed in in the dark sky as Hazelcloud peeked her head out of the warriors den. Her blue eyes glowed as they detected movement by the entrance and saw Cloudpool on guard. Hazelcloud skirted along the edges of the clearing, her pelt making her clearly visible. She stopped at the apprentices den, knowing there was a secret tunnel in the back carved out by the stream. She picked her way among the sleeping apprentices, Jetpaw stirring as she stepped on a stray dead leaf. She froze as he murmured something in his sleep, then rolled over deeper into his nest. She let out her breath and made her way to the back of the den, gentle snores echoing in her ears that were pricked for any pawsteps or sudden movements. She had to go meet Tux, no matter how strangely the Clan was looking at her!







She pushed out of the tunnel, it scraping her pelt; she had barely just fit in some spots. She looked once more over her shoulder at her home that she was betraying, and plunged into the bracken towards Clearwater Spring, a new found piece of interest in LightningClan territory. Clouds drifted across the sky, blocking out the moons rays and casting a dark blanket of darkness over the sleeping forest as Hazelcloud came to Clearwater Spring. She shivered, hunching her shoulders as a chilling wind whistled through the leaves in the trees above her head. She saw the spring ahead of her, a thin haze hanging above the water, showing leaf-fall was on its way as the nights got colder. Hazelcloud trotted silently to the edge and settle herself on a flat mossy rock and starred up at the stars. They twinkled in the skies of Silverpelt, the sky a beautiful navy blue.






Hazelcloud sighed and looked at the mist above the spring.She longed to be loyal to her Clan, but also to her heart, and she didn't know how she could do both!






"StarClan....give me an answer....what do I do?" she whispered. She looked up at the sky again, at Silverpelt and her ancestors, and saw a single star fall, leaving a tail, a sign it had been there a moment before it blazed onward in the sky. Hazelcloud gasped softly as it disappeared......what could it mean....had StarClan sent a sign.....the answer she had just asked for? She shook her head to clear it and whipped around as she heard the soft pawsteps on the dry leaves. She flattened her ears and unsheathed her claws, scanning the darkness until they picked up bright yellow eyes starring at her, shadowed with amusement. She relaxed, her fur lying flat.

"Tux..." she breathed as he padded up to her. "You came...." She put her cheek to to his and rubbed against him, her body vibrating with her purr. He pulled back and Hazelcloud looked up, confused. He studied her and then glanced at her, then looked at into the distance.

"I can't believe you came...." his voice trailed off, as if he couldn't believe she was there in front of him. She twitched her whiskers and leaned against his broad shoulders, looking up at StarClan
with the handsome loner. Why did he make her feel this way......? Just enjoy the moment, you mousebrain!!! she chided herself, and focused on their breathing.......making it as one. She twined her gray fluffy tail with his, purring, feeling as if she could stay like that forever....by the cat she loved with all her heart.

~♥~

Hazelcloud had woken up at Clearwater Spring at dawn, Tux sleeping next to her, curled into a ball. She had woken him up, hastily explained that she had to go, and started back to camp. She caught a mouse and a fluffy squirrel to say she had been out early hunting for the Clan. As she neared the camp, she heard Tornadostar's familiar yowl to announe a Clan meeting. Hazelcloud bounded down the slope and pushed her way through the gorse tunnel, dropping her catch on the fresh kill pile that had a mouse and a squirrel. Stargaze should send out more hunting patrols, noticed Hazelcloud as she settled herself down to Swiftwing and Leopardshadow. She noticed the rouges that had been staying in their camp, Abyss, Ratchet, and Sun.

Hazelcloud saw Sun glance a at Ratchet, who was twining his tail with Abyss fluffy gray and white one. He didn't seem to notice Sun's sad amber gaze. Tornadostar's mewing brought her attention back to the Overhang Rock and her leader.

"....from this moment until you are warriors, you shall be known as Shortpaw, Wildpaw, Lilypaw, and Sunpaw." Tornadostar was mewing as Hazelcloud twitched her ears towards her leader. The kits stood by Tornadostar, their pelts gleaming from Woddfur's thorough grooming. The dark brown queen looked ready to burst with pride. Tornadostar beckoned the new apprentices forward.

"Windrunner, though you are a young warrior, it is time you had an apprentice. Shortpaw will be you apprentice," Tornadostar said, looking down at the black and white tom. He nodded and touched noses with Shortpaw.

"Cloudpool, you are ready for an apprentice. Your apprentice will be Lilypaw," continued Tornadostar as the newly named apprentice and mentor touched noses. Wildpaw and Sunpaw looked up at the jet black she-cat eagerly as she turned back to them.

"Dazzleshine, you are ready for an apprentice. Your apprentice will be Sunpaw." The cream colored she-cat blue-eyes lit up with astonishment and excitement at a chance to prove her loyalty to LightningClan. She and the golde apprentice touched noses and went to sit next to the other new mentors and apprentices, Wildpaw looked utterly let down that she was the last mentorless apprentice, but Tornadosky beckoned her with her tail. Wildpaw's amber eyes lit up and she bounced forward eagerly as her littermates and Shortpaw cheered her on.

"Moonleaf, you are without an apprentice. Wildpaw will be your apprentice," meowed Tornadostar as the apprentice was already bundling forward to greet her mentor. Hazelcloud purred in amusement and cheered along with her Clan. New apprentices meant more warriors and that was good. Tornadostar declared the meeting to an end and leaped down from Overhang Rock, the Clan still yowling the new apprentices' names.

~♥~

Victory and Vigil

A yowl sounded at the camp entrance as Windrunner limped in slowly, supporting Berrypaw on his shoulder, Dewflower behind them, and hazelcloud, her white and gray pelt streaked with crimson blood that was not her own. Stargaze, Tornadostar, and Leopardshadow were on their paws in a instant, their paws pounding the dusty ground as they raced to meet the patrol. Windrunner nose was smudged in blood and Berrypaw looked utterly exhausted.

"Shinestream! Wavepaw!" yowled Stargaze. The pretty silver medicine cats appeared in a couple of heartbeats, their jaws grasping bundles of marigold, goldenrod, and cobwebs. Shinestream's blue eyes shone with compassion for her position in the Clan. Every cat could see it was the path StarClan had truelly meant her to walk. She sniffed Berrypaw's wounds and pressed cobwebs on a deep scratch along her flank while Wavepaw chewed up a poultice of marigold and goldenrod.

"....and Berrypaw came back, yowling she had seen rouges, one with red eyes. We were about to turn around to check it out when someone said something. The patrol exploded into battle and I have to say, Tornadostar..........Berrypaw fought like a warrior. We ended up chasing the rouges away, but one thing is bothering me...." Windrunner voice trailed off and allowed the medicine cats to tend to him as he explained that the rouges looked to fully fed and groomed for rouges, but too skinny to be kittypets.
Tornadostar nodded and padded over to Shinestream, murmured something in the pretty spotted she-cat's ear, padding to her den and disappearing.
Hazelcloud was giving her pretty long fur a thorough grooming, licking out the blood until her fur gleamed. Shinestream checked Hazelcloud, ignoring her protests that she was fine.
"Okay," meowed Shinestream loudly looking at the patrol of tired and wounded cats. "I want you all to go and eat some prey then its off to your nests. Understand?" The patrol nodded wearily, Berrypaw swaying a little bit, but Windrunner supported her. Dewflower's blue eyes reflected the icy claw that was piercing her heart and padded into the warriors den, her tail dragging in the dust.
"Good," replied Shinestream and disappeared into her den, Wavepaw following her mentor's example. The patrol all said goodnight after eating and all curled up in their warm nest, relaxing their screaming muscles and aching wounds.

~♥~

Berrypaw woke up the next morning fully recovered, her wounds already hardly visible. She went to Shinestream to have her wounds checked and Shinestream gave her the all clear. She glanced at the sky, and saw with astonishment that it was well past sunhigh, the sun's rays bleeding blood red into a beautiful sunset. She raced over to Sparkstream, her mentor, where she was sunning herself on a warm rock in a ray of sun.

"I'm so sorry, Sparkstream! Why didn't you wake me?" she wailed. Sparkstream opened one eye and gazed at the panicking apprentice.

"Shinestream and Tornadostar told me to let you sleep, so I let you," she explained, her whiskers twitching. Berrypaw was mystified. Why let he sleep until almost sundown when her wounds weren't all that bad. Movement by her leader's den caused her to look up and saw Windrunner and Tornadostar talking and Shinestream had just padded up to join them. They were throwing quick, sneaky glances her way.

Berrypaw's heart sank. What had she done? She quickly tried to remember if she had made any mistakes recently, but she couldn't unless sleeping until almost sundown counted, but the LightningClan leader had told her mentor to let her sleep until she awoke. She was about to pad over there and ask what she had done when Tornadostar broke away from the group of conversing cats and leaped onto the Overhang Rock. Cats gathered, their ears pricked and eyes gleaming with interest.

"As you all know by now, rouges attacked a patrol yesterday," she began, looking at each cat in turn, her gaze resting on Berrypaw a heartbeat longer then the rest. "Our warriors and apprentice chased them off but we don't know when they will be back, so I'm ordering extra border patrols. Stargaze, Shootingstream, Oceansplash, Winterpaw, and Nightpaw will be on the first border patrol. Now on happier news, Berrypaw please step forward." Berrypaw looke at her leader in shock. What had she done to be in so much trouble that Tornadostar had to announce it during a Clan meeting??? She swallowed her fear and padded up to Overhang Rock, her head and tail up straight, but her heart heavy with fear of what she had done that was so terrible.

"Sparkstream is your apprentice ready?" she asked the brown tabby she-cat with white paws. Sparkstream nodded solemnly, meeting her leader's silver gaze head on. Berrypaw's heart began pounding like a mouse trapped in the talons of a owl. What's going on? she thought desperatly. Tornadostar and Berrypaw's mentor purred in amusement as they saw the confusion and fear in her amber eyes.

"I, Tornadostar, leader of LightningClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. She has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and i commend her to you in a warrior of her turn." Tornadostar beckoned the astonished Berrypaw to the front of Overhang Rock.

"Berrypaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code, and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of you life?" Berrypaw's feet seem frozen to the ground and her jaws seemed to be paralyzed. Say "I do", you mousebrain! she screamed at herself silently. At last her jaws parted and a squeaky "I do" popped out. The Clan mrrowed in laughter as Berrypaw worked her claws furiously into the hard stone beneathe her paws.

Tornadostar nodded in approvement and continued with the ancient ritual formed by LightningClan ancestors from long ago. "Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Berrypaw, from this moment you will be known as Berrysplash. StarClan honors your skill and thoughfulness, and we welcome you as a full warrior of LightningClan." Tornadostar rested her muzzle on Berrysplash's head and Berrysplash respectfully licked her leader's shoulder. She mouthed Thank you to her jet black leader and looked down at her Clanmates. Her amber gaze found Windrunner, who was starring at her with admiration and excitement.

"Berrysplash! Berrysplash! Berrysplash!" It seemed that the Clan she called her home and her ancestors approved of her becoming a warrior of LightningClan. It was where she truelly belonged. Tornadostar raised her tail for silence and icy claws gripped the air as the Clan stopped in mid-yowl, their eyes glowing in the darkness as they starred at their almost invisible leader as crickets chirpped in the forest.

"Tonight Berrysplash will sit vigil and guard the camp so we can all get a night's rest," Tornadostar mewed cheerfully. The cats cheered again and yowled Berrysplash's name. She was a warrior now! She couldn't belive it! It's what a Clan cat dreamed of from the moment they're kitted and she, newly named Berrysplash, had accomplished her life's task. Now it was just to live her life in freedom, love, and loyalty.

"Let's celebrate before we all sleep for a whole night," yowled the LightningClan deputy and started tossing the last of the fresh kill pile out to cats.

"Oh, yes, almost forgot. Berrysplash, Leopardshadow, Violetpaw, and Fireblaze are the hunting patrol tomorrow," Stargaze reminded them. They groaned good-naturally and purred at their deptuy.

~♥~

Berrysplash looked at Silverpelt as she sat vigil that night. Windrunner said he was right inside the warrior's den if she needed him. She loked up at the stars and breathed in the crisp, night air.

"Thank you, StarClan, for accepting me as a warrior...." breathed Berrysplash.

The Warning & The Darkness

The wind whipped the LightningClan leader's jet black fur against her skin, her eyes stinging from the rain. She narrowed her silver eyes..........What was happening? She had to find shelter. She had to. Hard rain stinging her eyes and face, she put her head down and started struggling through the strong winds that where surrounding her. The wind was whipping trees about violently, as if they were Bendroos (I know!! But it's funny!!). The clouds were a deep, dark purple, bulging as if they were water balloons. They popped and lightning lit up the sky as another fork flashed in the dark sky. She continue to struggle, but it was too much effort. As she looked up at the sky, eyes slit to keep the rain out and her vision clear, the clouds formed the face of a cat: Lightningstar, the first leader of LightningClan.
"Tornadostar, you have led my Clan as a true leader, but danger is coming. Beware. The darkness is coming, to overwhelm the light, but the star shines brighter, but the wind will run and save the wild, berry and hazel will come together, the leaves will compose their own song, and the spotted lily shall see what is to come...." hissed the cat of clouds. Tornadostar shook her head and wailed.
"What more danger do you speak of!? You already have given us a prophecy!" she yowled as the cat began to just become a meaningless fluff of storm cloud. The cat opened his jaws before he blended into the sky altogether.
"They are connected," he whispered before disappearing. The lightning flashed again and Tornadostar felt a sharp pain in her flank.
"Tornadostar! Wake up!" said a voice. She blinked the sleep from her eyes as she heaved herself to her paws. She looked into the blazing amber eyes of Lightningbolt. He purred and licked her ear as they walked to the fresh kill pile to share a morsel. Is this love? she wondered as her pelt grew hot with embarrassment as her Clan were glancing at her. Lightningbolt purred comfortingly and they shared a plump mouse.

~♥~

Windrunner, Berrypaw, Hazelcloud, and Dewflower were on patrol. Hazelcloud's paws itched to go see Tux, but she knew Windrunner had his eye on her in case she sneake away from the patrol. Once or twice she thought she saw the yellow eyes folllowing her, but she probably just had imagined it. Windrunner gazed at Dewflower, then Berrypaw. berrypaw expertly flexed her muscles as she leaped over a fallen log, flashing a almost unnoticeable glance at Windrunner. She is something, thought Windrunner, flashing her a grin. She smiled, shook her head, and raced ahead until the patrol was the size of a mouse. Windrunner was marking a tree to refresh the LightningClan scent when he heard Berrypaw screech.

"WINDRUNNER! DEWFLOWER!" she pelted back to them, her pretty green eyes alarmed. "Rouges! One with red eyes!" Dewflower rolled her eyes and pointedly turned her back. Hazelcloud exchanged a look with Windrunner, then nudged Dewflower, who turned around.

"Red eyes? A cat can't have red eyes!" meowed Dewflower crushingly. Berrypaw's green eyes told to green fire.

"YOU THINK I'D MAKE UP ROUGES IN OUR TERRITORY? WELL, YOUR WRONG! DEAD WRONG!" she yowled in Dewflower's face. She turned and padded over to Windrunner, openly challenging Dewflower's claim on him.

"Let's go check it out," he meowed, secretly liking Berrypaw's courage and spunk. They were about to turn around when a cold, malicious voice spoke.

"Going to check what out?"

DarkClan Territory........Beware!!!!!

The territory of DarkClan. The border is the other side of the Rocky River, east of the Lightningpath. This cold and dark territory reflects the insides of this evil Clan's hearts: dark and gloomy. Beware......Cross the border and you may just not come back.....

The Journey & The New Territory

Okay before the post......I was on YouTube and found these awesome videos.......Bluestar's Iris.........Ashfur's Hurt.....and Leafpool is Sober of Crowfeather!!! Bluestar's Iris is about Bluestar's life through her eyes! Ashfur's Hurt....well we all know why lolz. And Leafpool and Crowfeather we all know that story XD. These vids really touched me and are really moving. They are made by the tribbleofdoom. Give a round of apaws for these YouTube Video Makers!!! Okay, now for the post!! Enjoy and comment!!!

A monster raced by, stirring up pebbles and its foul stench into the dark warriors' scent glands.

"Arg! Destroyers! I hate them!" hissed an almost invisible tom with blood-red eyes.A brown and white tabby nodded in agreement.

"Yes!" growled Twistedheart. He had always been bitter ever since Rosethorn, his mate, had died baring his kits. They had perished within a night. He stalked ahead of his deputy and hissed in anger when he trod into a stinking Destroyer puddle. The Clan had lost most of it's cat traveling to the forest that was rich with prey. They had only Brokensoul's puny memory of his mother's nursery tales to go by. A black tom stalked ahead of the group, his head held high and his tail straight. His muscles rippled beneath his pelt powerfully. His yellow eyes gleamed as he led DarkClan to the outskirts of The Destroyers' Clan.

"We are almost there, my Clan," he purred as the morning lights showed the deep green forest ahead. The cats raced forward, giving yowls and caterwauls of delight as they smelled woodland prey. Instantly they all shrank back, hissing and pawing at the air in front of them in attempt to block out the bright sun.

"It's too bright, Shadowstar!" spat Coldspirit. Cats hissed in anger and slunk into the darkest shade they could possibly find. They all looked in accusation at Brokensoul, who was already to defend himself.

"Yeah I know! 'Why'd you bring us here?' and stuff! Well, don't ask because beyond this forest is another forest! A dark and scary one! We shall border LightningClan, a Clan of light and hope. The opposite of us," he spoke loud and clear. The angry cats flattened their fur and stopped snarling at the light brown tom. A dark forest? In harmony with a Clan of complete opposite of theirs? Shadowstar hissed in satisfaction and continued leading the way through the forest.

~♥~

It was two days later and DarkClan had made it to their new territory. They had settled in and the camp was almost secure. They just had to send a patrol to LightningClan.......which they would do......

The Clearwater Spring!!!

A clear crystal pool where the Medicine Cat collects water for wounds and apprentices fetch soaked moss for the elders. It's called the Clearwater Spring, because it's water is pure and clear. Sometimes it attracts rouges, because they see the sun reflecting off of the water, which makes it sparkle. Comment here when your really thirsty!

The Decision & A Surprise

"Shadowstar.....we have to go! The Destroyers are destroying everything!" meowed the light brown tom. His eyes were wide with fright, but hardened amber in determination. His leader sighed and got to his paws. His yellow eyes gleamed in the darkness.


"Okay, Brokensoul. I see now we have nothing left here. We must leave, but where will we go?" he added, puzzled. Brokensoul thought back and something pricked his mind, and a idea came to him.


"LightningClan!" he hissed, remembering of the stories his mother use to tell him. "A group of cats that feed on all the prey in the blood of DeathClan!" DeathClan were their ancestors where their fighters went to kill after they perish.


"Perfect!" Shadowstar's yellow eyes gleamed. He padded to the Dark Rock and leaped onto it. "All cats ready to kill, come join us beneath the Dark Rock!" Cats began to gather beneath the blood stained rock.


"The time has come to accept we must leave our home, the home we have always known. We will skirt around Twolegplace and go to the forest beyond the forest we come to and see what we find," he mewed solemnly. He flicked his tail and the killing Clan filed out of the dark and cold camp, leaving it more deserted then their stone hearts, which is saying a lot.....

~♥~

Hazelcloud's POV

Hazelcloud stalked the mouse, that was nibbling on a seed. She placed a paw gently on the ground, and then another. Crack! Her paw met a twig which snapped. The mouse darted forward, the seed forgotten, and with an irritated yowl, Hazelcloud pounced and killed it. She purred happily and her blue eyes glimmered in amusement. What a catch! She was near Clearwater, a pond that was as clear as the blue sky, when she heard the sound. She pricked her ears and listened.

"....no one will ever love me, will they, Lily?" signed a miserable looking black and white tom. "I just want someone to love..." He turned and padded away. Hazelcloud gasped in sorrow for the tom cat, and he glanced self-consciously around. He seemed to look straight at young Hazelcloud hiding in the shadows. She pushed against deeper into the undergrowth as his deep yellow eyes pierced right through her heart.

"Oh!" she gasped. She watched him pad into the forest, the shadows swallowing the dark tom up. She had to know who he was....why he seemed so mysterious!!! She saw him disappear into the shadows. She raced after him.

"WAIT!" she yowled, shouldering aside the ferns in her path.

~♥~

Tux's POV

He saw a sparkling glow between the trees. Wonder what that is, he wondered to himself. He trotted over to the glow, that got brighter as he advanced on it.

"Oh just a spring....." he sighed. The pool rippled and he saw a beautiful golden and white she-cat with green eyes as green as a lily's petals.

"Lily...." he breathed, edging closer to the water's edge. She moved and vanished, only the sun reflected off the spring's surface.

"Oh......Lily i just want someone to love, Lily," he mewed softly, glancing around self-consciously. He padded into the forest, the shadows swallowing up his dark patched pelt. He heard a twig crack and looked around, stopping in mid-pawstep.

"WAIT!" a feminine voice yowled. He glanced over his shoulder and saw the most beautiful she-cat ever. His eyes widened as he saw the most beautiful she-cat he had ever set eyes on. She was graceful as she ran, delicate as she stepped, and loving when she turned her blue gaze on him. She was a creamy white, with darker cream-gray ears, muzzle paws, tail-tip. and face. She had had deep blue eyes.

"W-w-who are you?" he stammered. The pretty she-cat tipped her head.

"Hazelcloud. I'm a LightningClan cat! And....I think I love you," she whispered, looking at him. He could see it in her eyes that he felt the same.......after one look...........Thank you, Lily! I will always love you, he thought to himself. He glanced at Hazelcloud and purred lovingly.

"And I you, Tux....." came a whisper in the wind. "This is your time to love again....she is your soul mate sent by StarClan.....meet at the half moon every night....." came the whisper in his ear again. Hazelcloud looked at him and purred.

"I'll meet you at the Lightningpath this half moon." Hazelcloud purred and raced away.

"By the way, Hazelcloud, I'm Tux!!" he called after the graceful she-cat. She waved her tail in acknowledgement and disappeared. He signed and dreamed of the half moon that was a feew days away when he went to sleep that night in his den........

A Newcomer

The sun barely warmed their pelts as the patrol trekked Smoothskinplace border. Stargaze, Shadowsong, Jetpaw, Hailstone, and Changepaw took turns marking trees to reinforce the scent line.






"Jetpaw, Changepaw, how about you to take lead of the patrol and show us your tracking skills?" suggested Stargaze, watching Changepaw swerve among trees like StarClan guided her. But her blindness didn't stop her eyes from revealing emotions; nervousness flashed in her mis-colored eyes. Jetpaw's amber eyes flashed with determination and anticipation.






"Okay!" he meowed enthustiactically, while Changepaw trailed behind more slowly. They took lead and led the patrol toward Tree Bridge when Changepaw stopped and scented the air.






"I think I'm scenting a rouge....and by the freshgness of the scent, we just missed her!" she mewed excitedly. Shadowsong and Hailstone tipped their heads to one side. Stargaze shrugged and scneted the air. A sharp, sweet scent hit the roof of her mouth.






"She's right. There's very, very recent scent. We're following it," hissed Stargaze. She flicked her tail to cross the Tree Bridge, but gave a warning that it was slippery. Hailstone and SHadowsong crossed first, claws unsheathed to grip the slippery bark. Then Jetpaw, who probably just wanted to proove that he could, and Stargaze. Changepaw stayed and refused to cross.





"Changepaw! It's fine! Come on, Changepaw," called Stargaze convincingly. Changepaw shook her head disbelievingly and took a pawstep onto the Tree Bridge. She quickl crossed in fear she'd fall into the icy water and be swept away by the current. She led the patrol, since it seemed her nose was sharpest.





"This way!" she yowled suddenly, racing ahead suddenly. Hailstone and the rest of the patrol dashed after the swift, pretty apprentice as fast as their paws would carry them. Changepaw skidded to a halt and raised her tail for silence as the patrol came crashing through the bracken behind her. Stargaze and Shadowsong followed her blue-green gaze to a ginger and white she-cat gulping down a scrawny mouse. Jetpaw leaped up and began to curl his lip into a snarl, but Hailstone jerked his tail.





"Sit down, mousebrain!" she hissed irritably. Jetpaw sat down and sulked, but continue to watch the cat eat their prey. Stargaze decided that someone should sneak forward and get behind the she-cat while the others leaped out and surrounded the prey-stealer.





"Hailstone, you sneak up behind her. You're the lightest and most graceful so you go." Stargaze whispered and Hailstone sneaked up behind the dappled ginger she-cat. The patrol waited until Hailstone was in place.





"Now!" yowled Stargaze. They surrounded the she-cat and and snarled.





"Prey stealer!" growled Shadowsong. He advanced but a warning hiss fom Jetpaw stopped him in his pawsteps. The she-cat flattened her ears and hissed menacingly, but the fear showed in her amber eyes. She lashed out a quick unsheathed paw and crouched to the ground. Hailstone noticed the fur around her neck was flattened, as if a collar had recently been removed.





"And a kittypet," she spat disgustingly.





"I'm sorry!" mewed the former kittypet. "I was hungry and my Nofurs abused me food and water so I ran away." She turned her brilliant amber gaze on Stargaze, pleading with them.





"You're coming with us," she spat, unmoved by the pleading gaze. The ginger she-cat crouched lower to the ground, unsheathing her long curved claws.





"Abyss!" she screeched, hissing at the patrol and leaping at Changepaw. Changepaw ducked and slid her claws out, snarling. A white flash appeared out of no where and a slender pretty white she-cat launched herself at Stargaze and Shadowsong. Scoring her claws down Shadowsong's flank, she whipped around and growled in Stargaze's face. Stargaze felt fury pulse through her to the tips of her claws. The next thing she knew she was pinning the delicate white cat to the forest floor. Hailstone was pinned by the rouge and Jetpaw bowled her over, and pinned her to the root of a tree.





"You will come with us!" growled Stargaze and the patrol led the two rouges to the camp. Unknowingly, a dark brown ocelot tom had watched from the trees above while hunting for a squirrel for his two friends: the ginger she-cat and Abyss.

~♥~

"Wait here," growled Hailstone as she lead the rouges beside the Overhang Rock. "And stay!" The ginger and white she cat looked around the camp, her amber eyes stretching wide. Abyss knew she was scared.

"It's okay, Sun!" she mewed soothingly, even though she didn't know if it would be. Sun knew Abyss had doubts and they shared them with a swift glance. At the sound of pawsteps made them turn their heads. A jet black she-cat with silver eyes was coming towards them with the pretty blue-gray she-cat with starry eyes, and a she-cat with bright orange paws.

"Greetings, rouges. What are your names?" asked the black she-cat. Another black cat, a tom from the smell of it, came to stand next to the black she-cat. Abyss swallowed and returned the silver gaze steadily.

"My name is Abyss and this is Sun. We ran away from our Twolegs, because they didn't care for us," explained Abyss. She glanced at Sun, who was crouching on the ground, looking at her paws defiantly. Suddenly, a challenging yowl soundedfrom the entrance and a flash of brown hissewd and spit, clawing like all the Four Great Clans.

"Ratchet!" yowled Abyss and flew to him as if she had wings. They touched nuzzles so softly, so lovingly, that the cats seemed to all look away to give them a heartbeat's privacy. The jet black she-cat raised her tail for instructions and looked at the two rouges.

"Who are you and why did you attack my warriors?" she asked icily. Ratchet looked at her defiantly.

"You wanna know why?" he hissed. "Because I can no longer hide my feelings! I love Abyss! I love her and I'll fight for my life to protect her! So you harm one hair on her pelt......you don't wanna know!" He stepped in front of Abyss and Sun, who looked utterly brokenhearted and was looking at Ratchet. Abyss stood by Ratchet, purring loudly and looking at him with goo-goo eyes. He starred right back. Sun's amber eyes glazed over and she collasped, unexpectantly. Ratchet and Abyss ran to her, Abyss crying.

"Sun! Wake up! I knew you loved him, but we're meant to be together! I'm sorry!" she mewed miserably at her friend's body. Sun opened her eyes and gazed at one cat in the group surrounding her.

"Help me. That black tom with blue eyes," she whispered. Shadowsong's blue gaze clouded with confusion, but helped her up so she could face Ratchet.

"I'm going to sleep," she whispered to Abyss and Ratchet and leaned on Shadowsong, who guided her to the medicine cat's den, puzzled deeply. Abyss went after her and stopped when Ratchet whispered something in her ear. They went up to the cat they learned was called Tornadostar and talked.

"Can we stay here for alittle while?" asked Abyss. Tornadostar nodded solemly and flicked her tail towards the warriors' den.

"That is where you shall sleep. You will participate on patrols once you are well enough and once your friend, Sun, is better. I'll be in my den consulting with my deputy, Stargaze," she replied and disappeared in cave that swallowed up her black pelt. The blue-gray she-cat with starry eyes that had fought them while they were hunting followed her. Ratchet nuzzled Abyss and she blushed, her coat fluffing up in embarrassment. Together, they padded into the den and laid dow.

A Secret Affection & A Deadly Secret & New Love

Lightningbolt glanced at the LightningClan leader, who was sunning herself on Overhang Rock with Stargaze and Leopardshadow. He felt his pelt burn with embarrassment; Tornadostar would never like him when she had other toms looking at her and sucking up to her. Her silver gaze rested on him for a moment and continue scanning the busy clearing. He signed and decided to take his apprentice out for a bit of battle training.
"Flickerpaw," he called. The pretty orange and white she-cat bounded over to him, boucing with excitement and her amber eyes shimmering with hope.
"Battle training?" she asked hopefully, keaning forward with her ears pricked. Lightningbolt nodded and purred in amusement. She was sure to become an excellent warrior when he was through with her. Her spunky attitude made training her battle techniques easy. He and her trotted to the entrance of the camp and almost collided with Tornadostar.
"I-I-I'm so s-sorry, Tornadostar!" he spluttered in embarrassment. You stupid mousebrain!!!! You screwed up your only chance!!!!! He was astonished when he heard her purr in amusement.
"It's fine, Lightningbolt! Stargaze and I were just taking Violetpaw out for some battle training, seeing Leopardshadow is still wounded from that fox," she explained. Her gaze traveled to the head warrior, who was moping by the medicine cat entrance. An idea formed in his mind.
"Hey! What a coincedence! I was taking Flickerpaw battle training, too!" Tornadostar looked at him expectantly as if saying I'm not the one asking! You are! "So.....you wanna battle train along with us?" he finished lamely.
"Sure!" exclaimed Tornadostar. Stargaze limped up just then, wincing in pain.
"Tornadostar, I have a bellyache. I'm sorry, but I don't think I can go!" She mewed miserably. Sympathy welled up in Lightningbolt; Stargaze was always there, for every cat in LightningClan. It was so unlike her to let a bellyache distract her from her Clan.....it must be a bad stomach ache.
"Violetpaw!!! Come on! We're battle training with Flickerpaw and Lightningbolt!" Tornadostar called to the pretty apprentice. She trotted up and they set off to the training hollow. Lightningbolt tried to keep his paw steps normal and tried not to flex his muscles too much, but he couldn't help it. He watched Tornadostar out of the corner of his eye, watching her pelt ripple powerfully in the sun. They reached the training hollow, the apprentices whispering ands casting looks at the leader and him.
"Okay.....what do you do if you sent cats in your territory?" asked Lightningbolt, fixing a bright amber gaze on his apprentice, hoping she'd get the message she had to answer this right.
"Tell Tornadostar, who I can tell you----" Lightningbolt slapped his tail into her mouth and gave a nervous mrrow of laughter. He could feel Tornadostar's silver gaze burning his pelt curiously.
"Correct! And today I'm going to show you how to rade off an intruder!" he mewed loudly. "Pretend I'm a LakeClan cat, sniffing on your side of the border. what are you going to do?" Lightningbolt teased his apprentice, pretending she couldn't take him on, while for the last few moons she had been ahead of the other apprentices in battle. The she-cat snarled menacingly and leaped. He thought fast and ducked, but she was ready. She whipped around, on her toes, and crashed down on top of him. Tornadostar watched with interest as his apprentice obliviated him. The play fight ended when Lightningbolt pretended to run away, whimpering.
"Excellent technique, Flickerpaw!" Tornadostar exclaimed. "Did Ligthningbolt teach you that tail yanking technique?" Flickerpaw nodded and Tornadostar through him a glance that seemed to say Good job!
The battle training lasted until sunhigh, the mock fights continuing until Violetpaw was almost as good as Flickerpaw. On the way back, he felt Tornadostar's gaze on him again, and it felt more then just admiration......but he figured he was imagining it and as he settled down that night, he couldn't help thinking his leader thought more of him then she had this morning....

~♥~

The camp was deserted again. Leopardshadow yowled for her Clan to show themselves, but not even a mouse stirred. This time a cat padded in, starry and transparent.

"It is coming! The time is near!" rasped the ancient cat. Leopardshadow knew this wasn't a StarClan, but who and where had it come from?

She woke with a start and looked around wildly. Her nest of moss was a mess and matted with blood. Her wound had reopened! Shinestream padded in and saw the bloody nest and fur.

"Leopardshadow! I told you not to sleep on your side!" she exclaimed angrily. She cleaned up the blood and had Changepaw change the bedding. Sadness reflected in her mis-colored eyes; Leopardshadow guessed she thought she was ugly, but she really was a beautiful white she-cat. Leopardshadow thought about her dream and fell asleep, but not before deciding she must keep this secret for now.....and that secret would turn deadly.

~♥~

Dazzleshine and Razorclaw were sharing tongues beneathe Overhang Rock when Dazzleshine decided to go hunting.

"Let's go hunting!" she purred. Razorclaw got up and purred, rubbing against her cheek.

"I'd love too!" he meowed, his green eyes pools of love. She looked away, astonished at the rush of emotion she felt from just looking at him....

"Okay! Let's go!" she mewed. They padded through the forest, pelts brushing. Before long they spotted a mouse and Dazzleshine dropped into a crouch and leaped gracefully on top of it, finishing it off with a swift delicate bite to the neck.

"Great catch!" Razorclaw meowed lovingly. He and Dazzleshine continued on the peaceful walk through the forest when Razorclaw stopped Dazzleshine with his tail and crept up on a squirrel nibbling on a nut. He pounced and killed it.

"Good catch," Dazzleshine mewed shyly, looking at her paws. They finished hunting together after distrubuting a squirrel, a sparrow, and a mouse to the fresh kill pile. As they set their prey down, razorclaw meowed something that startled Dazzleshine.

"I love you, Dazzleshine," he said with so much love and softness in his voice, Dazzleshine was stunned. Hoiw could this tom love her so much? She was just made a warrior!!!

"I love you too, Razorclaw," she blurted out and purred as she said it too fast.

"I know," Razorclaw said and they went to lay down together in the warriors' den.

(Dazzleshine, comment in the Warriors Den and Razorclaw, you too!)

Hurting

She didn't know where she was...........it was so dark............Leopardshadow struggled to pinpoint a familiar landmark or scent, but nothing was as she knew it. The LightningClan camp was............abandoned. Where did they all go? Leopardshadow ran through the camp, checking the dens, but all scents were stale. Where are you?? How could you leave me all alone? Leopardshadow thought desperately. She collasped in the middle of the camp, silent sobs shaking her.
"Where are you?" she whispered to the empty camp. An eerie breeze rustled the trees above, blowing dead leaves around Leopardshadow and the LightningClan camp, making it look moons abandoned.
"Leopardshadow? Leopardshadow! Wake up, sleepy mouse!" A paw jabbed Leopardshadow in her flank. Her amber eyes snapped open, looking into the violet eyes of her apprentice, Violetpaw. She instantly remembered her dream and wondered if it was just a nightmare. It probably was. Her side ached from the fox's sharp claws that had pierced her skin. Violetpaw bounced enthustiastically.
"Go clear out the elders bedding and bring them some fresh kill," Leopardshadow snapped at her. Violetpaw held her gaze, frightened, and bolted across the clearing, her eyes filled with confusion and hurt. Leopardshadow immeadiately felt bad, but shook her guilt off. She had stuff to do.

~♥~

The Prophecy

Shinestream and Wavepaw padded side by side to the Moonstream. The half-moon hung in the sky, bleaching the medicine cats' pelts to silver. Shinestream led the way around a clump of brambles, carefully avoiding the tendrils that would tangle in her fur. A frustrated yowl sounded from behind Shinestream and she turned back.
"Shinestream! Help me, please! I'm stuck," Wavepaw mewed miserably, looking at her mentor. Her gray fur was knotted into the brambles. Shinestream twitched her whiskers and aided her apprentice in her freedom from the brambles. She gave a mrrow of laughter as Wavepaw shot out as Shinestream chewed through the last piece of fur.
"Patience is a virtue, young Wavepaw," she pointed out gently as they continued on their way to the Moonstream and Crystal Pool.
"Shinestream! Look! I can see the Moonstream from here!" Wavepaw exclaimed bounding forward enthusiastically. Shinestream caught up with the energetic apprentice and guided her to the Crystal Pool. The Moonstream reflected the moon and stars of Silverpelt.
"Lap up some water from the Crystal Pool and lay down. StarClan will send you sleep." Shinestream answered Wavepaw's unsaid question before she could mew it aloud. Shinestream lapped up some of the water that tasted like the nighttime stars and frosty moonlight and curled up, her tail over her nose.
She awoke in a starry clearing, cats with frost in their fur all looking at her. A pale yellow tabby with a black tipped-tail padded forward.
"Greetings, Shinestream. We are glad you have come for we have important news to pass on," he meowed. She dipped her head at the pale tabby.
"Greetings, Lightningstar. What does StarClan wish to share with me this half moon?" she inquired. Lightningstar exchanged a look with a brown tabby tom with big, amber eyes, who nodded in an unspoken agreement.
"Shinestream, we have received a prophecy," Lightningstar meowed slowly. Shinestream understood instantly and leaned forward, ears pricked.
"The time has come, but yet to pass for the tornado to lead the storm, but for the wild to save the lightning," he meowed in a voice that was not his. It was like it belong to an older, wiser cat, Shinestream noticed. She shuddered at the ominous words and nodded in thanks.
"What do you think it means?" she asked her warrior ancestors. Lightningstar and the brown tom exchanged another look, this one sad.
"That we do not know we hope you would understand it more than we did," he admitted to the LightningClan medicine cat. Shinestream's paws seemed to freeze to the moon-bleached ground of StarClan's hunting grounds. StarClan, not know the answer to her question? But they knew everything!, she thought in dismay. The cats began to fade in with the forest.
"NO! Wait! Please! What am I suppose to do?!?" she yowled at the fading warrior ancestors, but they did not answer and disappeared completely.
"Shinestream! Shinestream!" A paw prodded in her side and Shinestream recognized her apprentice's voice. She leaped to her paws and started racing back to camp.
"We have to get back to camp immediately, Wavepaw!" she called over her shoulder as she raced through the forest, back to her home.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Tornadostar! I need to talk to you," Shinestream meowed breathlessly; she and Wavepaw had raced all the way to the camp, not stopping once. The jet black she-cat looked genuinely surprised, but beckoned with her tail to follow her into her den. Wavepaw took a step to follow, but stopped when Shinestream gave a shake of her head and pointed towards their den with her muzzle. Wavepaw trudged to the medicine den, tail drooping and shoulders hunched. Shinestream caught up with Tornadostar and followed her into the den.
"Yes, Shinestream?" she asked, licking her paw and drawing it over her ear. Shinestream's paws itched. She could at least act like she cared!
"I've recieved a prophecy!" she blurted out. Tornadostar about choked on her own tongue, it hanging half way out of her mouth. SHinestream felt a glow of satisfaction; a message from your medicine cat was important!
"A-a-a p-prophecy?" Tornadostar stammered. Shinestream nodded and repeated the words of the StarClan warrior.
"The time has come, but yet to pass for the tornado to lead the storm, but for the wild to save the lightning," repeated Shinestream. The leader's silver eyes seem to glaze over and she shook the disbelief away.
"What does it mean? Do you know? Did you ask StarClan?" Tornadostar blasted her with questions. Shinestream gathered her thoughts before before attempting to answer her leader's desperate questions.
"No, I don't know what it means and neither does StarClan. They were hoping I might know what it means," she replied. Tornadostar crouched close to the floor and fixed her silver gaze on her paws.
"Tell nobody about this," she ordered Shinestream. "And you may leave." Shinestream left the den, shocked at her leader's reaction. Did she already know what it meant?

Poll Results

The results of the poll are in..............



Poll Question: Who do you think Thornclaw's mate will be?



Hazeltail~18 votes *WINNER*

Icecloud~1 vote

Briarlight~2 votes

Cinderheart~0 votes

Blossomfall~0 votes

Rosepetal~0 votes

Other~1 vote (I have no idea who the other she-cat it could be so please comment)



Total Votes~22



The most likely she-cats are Hazeltail, Icecloud, and Briarlight. Rosepetal has a crush on Foxleap. Blossomfall has a crush on Toadstep. Lionblaze likes Cinderheart and his mate is going to be either Icecloud or Cinderheart, but most likely Cinderheart. Tell us who you think it will be and why in comments, if you want. Thornclaw deserves to have a mate after all he's been through and the Erins have confirmed it in Arthur Chat.