Rainstar's Destiny/ Thunderstar's Path:

Note: Rainstar's Destiny and Thunderstar's Path are the same book, so please don't think this is a

2-in-1 story. Thanks! :3

Also, if you think of a better title for the book, feel free to tell me!

Allegiances

RiverClan:

Leader: Ripplestar- Dark gray tom with blue eyes

Deputy: Oakblaze- Dark brown tabby tom with amber eyes

Medicine Cat: Dappledpool- Tortoiseshell she-cat

Warriors:

Marshtail- Brown tom with a long black tail

  Apprentice, Gingerpaw

Daisyheart- Tortoiseshell she-cat with one green eye and one amber

Apprentice, Maplepaw

Cloudspots-Young white tom with black spots and sky-blue eyes

Fishcreek- Ginger she-cat with dark gray ears and tail

Apprentice, Stormpaw

Leopardsky- Unusually golden spotted she-cat with blue eyes

Apprentice, Lightningpaw

Whiteflower- White she-cat

Fastriver- Ginger she-cat with white paws

Minnowmoon- Gray and black she-cat with blue eyes

Riversplash- Dark gray tom with one black paw

Darkcreek- Dark gray tom with icy blue eyes

Pebblespot- Light gray she-cat

Willowlight- White she-cat with blue eyes

Rosefoot- Light brown she-cat with darker brown paws and amber eyes

Redstripe- Dark brown tom with reddish tabby stripes and amber eyes

      Apprentice, Lightningpaw

Apprentices:

Maplepaw- Calico she-cat with green eyes

Lightningpaw- Yellow tom with darker stripes and amber eyes

Stormpaw- Dark gray tom with icy blue eyes

Gingerpaw- Ginger tom with white paws

Kits:

Minnowmoon's kits: Stormkit, a gray and black tom with blue eyes, Thunderkit, a black she-kit with yellow eyes, and Rainkit, a gray tabby she-kit with icy blue eyes

Fastriver's kits: Leafkit, a white and tortoiseshell tom with amber eyes, and Petalkit, a tortoiseshell she-kit

Rosefoot's kits: Sunkit, a white tom with ginger spots, and Hollykit, a dark gray she-kit with black flecks

Elders:

Tigerleap- Orange tom with black stripes

Patchtail- Black and white tom

ThunderClan

Leader: Miststar- Gray-blue she-cat with blue eyes

Deputy: Deerblaze- Dark brown tom with long, black legs and amber eyes

                      Apprentice, Birchpaw

Medicine Cat: Goldpetal- Golden-orange tabby she-cat with amber eyes

Warriors:

Adderheart- Dark brown tabby tom with amber eyes

        Apprentice, Branchpaw

Sycamoreclaw- Brown tom with a white chest and yellow eyes

Crystalwater- White and gray she-cat

Juniperfur- Dark brown tabby she-cat with green eyes

Mudswipe- Gray tom with brown legs

Skypatch- White long-haired tom with gray patches

Stoneclaw- Very dark gray tom with a broken claw

Ratclaw- Small brown tom with long claws

Poppyleaf- Brown she-cat

Moonleaf- Gray she-cat

Silverfang- Gray she-cat with a bad temper

Daisyleaf- White she-cat with brown legs, tail, and ears with green eyes

Apprentices:

Branchpaw- Light brown tabby she-cat

Birchpaw- Light brown tabby tom

Queens:

Sparrowchirp- Light brown she-cat, mother to Jaykit and Mousekit

Elders:

Treespider- Black tom with brown paws and muzzle

Peachfur- Orange she-cat with a white underbelly and paws

Berryclaw- Cream colored tom with a brown tail

WindClan

Leader: Stormstar- Dark gray tom

Deputy: Stonedust- Small gray and brown she-cat

Medicine Cat: Hawk- Very dark brown tom, used to be a loner

        Apprentice, Fleckpaw

Warriors:

Dustwhisper- Brown she-cat with amber eyes

Windstorm- Very pale gray tom

Heatherdawn- Pinkish light brown she-cat

Fallenspring- Bright ginger tom

Fuzzyface- Black tom with a very fluffy face

Thornnose- Dark gray tom

Morningfur- Creamy gingerish she-cat

Daisypetal- Creamy brown she-cat

Hazelstripe- Brown she-cat with a long black stripe running along her spine

Birchfeather- Light brown tom

Sunwing- Ginger tom

Scarnose- Black tom

Apprentices:

Pouncepaw- Ginger tom

Tigerpaw- Orange and black tabby tom

Lilypaw- Brown she-cat

Firepaw- Orange tom

Clan Kits and Queens:

Willowdash- Black she-cat with a white dash on her chest and tail, mother to Swallowkit, a brown she-kit and Pidgeonkit, a gray tom with amber eyes

IceClan

Leader: Hailstar- Gray and white tom

Deputy: Wildshadow- Black tom with dark gray stripes and patches

Medicine Cat: Coldspirit- Dark gray tom

Warriors:

Snowbreeze- White she-cat

Whitefrost- White tom

Doubtshadow- Gray she-cat

Icestep- Gray and white she-cat

Frostwater- Gray she-cat

Blizzardpounce- White tom with darker flecks

Swiftsun- Ginger she-cat

Smokemark- Black tom with dark gray tabby stripes on his face and tail

Shadeypath- Dark gray tom

Blacksun- Black tom

Apprentices:

Shadowpaw- Black she-cat with white spots

Wishpaw- Yellowish brown she-cat

Sandpaw- Ginger tom with brown patches

Kits and Queens:

Smokedash- Black she-cat with gray stripes, expecting Blacksun's kits

ShadowClan

Leader: Tawnystar- Tawny-colored she-cat with green eyes

Deputy: Tigerstripe- Big dark brown tabby tom with amber eyes

Medicine Cat: Robinnose- Red she-cat

Warriors:

Rowanfur- Brown she-cat

Yellowswipe- White she-cat with dark gray stripes and yellow eyes

Berrytail- Brown and cream tom

Honeynose- Yellowish brown she-cat

Ashshadow- Gray tom

Rumpledpelt- Very dark brown tom with fur that never seems to be groomed

Ratdodge- Brown tom

Mousepounce- Light brown she-cat

Embermoon- Black and silver tom

Lilyfire- Brown and orange she-cat

Pinetail- Black tom

Apprentices:

Frogpaw- Black tom

Frostpaw- Very small white she-cat

Blazepaw- Orange she-cat

Kits and Queens:

Blackshadow- Black she-cat, mother to Needlekit, a brown she-kit, and Marshkit, a brown and black tom

Nutfur- Brown she-cat, mother to Blackkit, a black tom, Birdkit, a gray tom, and Seedkit, a brown tom

Loners:

Moongaze- a large she-cat with a full black coat, silver eyes, the color of moonlight, and black large claws.

• Originally from Shadowclan

Prologue

Minnowmoon glanced around the Gathering Island, looking for a certain cat. The moon glowed brightly above her head, turning her gray fur to silver.

Cats from all Clans swarmed around her, each going to talk with another before the Gathering was over.

Then she saw him-Standing by a holly bush, his yellow eyes staring around the clearing, probably looking for her. She stalked over to him. She shivered from the cold.

"We need to talk," She growled.

The tom's fur bristled as they walked behind the bushes, where no cat would overhear them.

"Have you decided who will keep the kits?" He asked, hostility showing in his eyes.

"Yes. That's the only reason I wanted to speak with you at all, Sycamoreclaw." Minnowmoon snapped.

"Who will keep them, then?"

"I will."

Sycamoreclaw's claws unsheathed and his fur was bristled so he looked twice his usual size. "Don't forget I've met the kits. Don't be a mouse-brain, Minnowmoon. Thunderkit obviously has the strength and courage to be a ThunderClan cat!"

"Are you saying that RiverClan cats don't have strength or courage?!" Minnowmoon glared at Sycamoreclaw. I can't believe I actually loved this Snake-heart!

"Do you want me to prove that ThunderClan is stronger?"

"You wouldn't dare break the full-moon truce!"

"I'm just saying that Thunderkit's strength could be useful in ThunderClan, not wasted on catching fish all day!"

"They're my kits, I'll decide what to do with them!"

"They're also my kits!"

"Then just try and take them from me!" Minnowmoon snarled.

"RiverClan! We're going back to camp!" Ripplestar called.

Minnowmoon turned away from this cold-hearted cat she once thought of as her mate. "I never want to see you again. If I do, I'll claw your ears and tail off. Just stay away from me!"

"Fine!"

*********************************************************************************

Minnowmoon wrapped her tail protectively around her kits. I'll never let any cat steal them from me-Especially Sycamoreclaw.

Rainkit yawned, her pink mouth small with tiny white teeth in it. The small kit's fur was brushing against her littermate's.

Stormkit, she realized, was snoring. Thunderkit kicked him in the belly, making him stop snoring and was now breathing softly, just like his littermates.

Minnowmoon purred, licking each of them on the head.

She hadn't mentioned to Sycamoreclaw that only Thunderkit had his ThunderClan blood. The other two's father was Riversplash, a cat who actually had a brain in his head. Sycamoreclaw seemed to have no sense or sympathy at all.

Chapter 1

Rainkit peered out of the nursery. Her sister, Thunderkit, was already outside, playing with Leafkit and Petalkit. Leafkit and Petalkit were two moons older than them, but they were still fun to play with.

Her brother, Stormkit, pushed past her. "Hurry up, slow-poke!" he mewed as he ran past her. "Hey! I'll catch you!" Rainkit squeaked excitedly, pulling him backwards by his tail. "See? I'm the best hunter in the forest!" She pinned him down, eyes glittering with triumph. Stormkit sat up, tipping his head to one side.  "Come on, Rainkit! Lets go play with the others! Petalkit, Thunderkit and Sunkit are all going to be ThunderClan warriors, and you, me, and Leafkit are going to be RiverClan warriors!"

A ginger-and-white apprentice padded up to them. He yawned. "You kits should go to sleep soon. Reedtail trained me so hard today, and all I want to do is sleep! I can't do that with a stampede of kits screeching outside my den!" He called to his friend, who was finishing a mouse next to Maplepaw. "Stormpaw, Maplepaw, hurry up! The den is much warmer when you guys sleep in it! I'm freezing!" Leafkit looked up at the ginger apprentice. "Hi, Gingerpaw! Are you going to take us out to see the river, like you promised?" he mewed, admiration in his amber eyes. Gingerpaw frowned.

"Ok, Ok. But not until tomorrow. My paws won't take me anywhere until I've had a good rest." Then he added, "But if you kits keep me from sleeping, then I won't show it to you! And besides, you aren't even allowed out of camp until you're an apprentice!" Leafkit and Petalkit nodded, racing off to their nests. Fastriver, Leafkit and Petalkit's mother, nudged them sleepily into the nursery. "Can we come, too?" Rainkit asked before Gingerpaw padded into the apprentice's den.

He looked at Rainkit and Thunderkit for a moment before replying. "No. Leafkit and Petalkit are five moons, two older than you two. And surely two kits wandering the forest with one apprentice is enough danger?" Rainkit stared at him with disappointment. She padded back to the nursery, paws heavy.

Minnowmoon was waiting for her and Thunderkit at the entrance. Rainkit went to her nest, resting her head on her paws. We will go to see the river tomorrow, all by ourselves. Then Leafkit and Petalkit will see how brave we are!

Chapter 2

A creamy light filled the nursery, and Rainkit knew it was finally morning. She looked for Thunderkit, only to realize she wasn't in the nursery. She must have already sneaked out, Rainkit thought hopefully. She decided to creep out of the dirt tunnel, seeing that Darkstorm was still guarding the entrance to the camp. No cat noticed her. They were all still asleep. She smelled her sister's sweet scent there, trailing off into the forest. Maybe she found the river! Rainkit followed it until she smelled a new scent. WindClan! She had found the border. Thunderkit's scent was leading straight across it! Rainkit ignored the river, leaping over the stepping stones and into WindClan territory.

Thunderkit's scent lead steadily towards ThunderClan territory. What would she be doing here? Rainkit wondered. She paused. A river split the land, stopping her from entering the territory. What if Thunderkit is in danger? What if the ThunderClan warriors are going to put her on the fresh-kill pile? I have to save her! Rainkit leaped as far as she could, but her claw missed the grassy shore on the other side, and she fell into the merciless river.

StarClan, no! Her paws thrashed wildly, but she was only sinking deeper. She couldn't swim! Stones scraped her pelt, and she was getting weaker and weaker. Suddenly teeth grasped her scruff and dragged her to the surface. She lay there for a moment, on the grass, water dripping from her mouth, until the strange cat nudged her and she coughed out what seemed like a whole river of water.

"Is she going to be Ok?" Asked a worried voice. It sounded like an apprentice. Another voice, much fiercer, replied. "It doesn't matter if the kit's going to be Ok or not. She's RiverClan, remember, Branchpaw? If you weren't so soft on kits, you would know that!"

Branchpaw nudged Rainkit again. "Yes, I know that she is RiverClan! I'm not a mouse-brain, Adderheart! But the warrior code says that you have to help an injured kit, even if they are from another Clan!" Rainkit lifted her head slowly, only to drop it on the ground again.

She opened her eyes, seeing Branchpaw, a small brown tabby she-cat, Adderheart, a dark brown tabby tom with amber eyes, who was standing next to her. But two more cats that she didn't know stood behind them. One was a dark ginger tom, and the other one was a blue-gray she-cat. "Well, I think we should teach the kit a lesson before we take it to the medicine den. Tigerstripe, do you agree? After all, the warrior code also says that we have to defend our territory." Adderheart growled, turning to look at the ginger tom, who nodded.

 No! Please! I was only looking for my sister! To Rainkit's surprise, the gray she-cat stepped infront of where she lay, still on the ground. "No, Adderheart. You will not touch this kit. She's hurt. And I think she was only looking for her sister," the she-cat turned towards Rainkit. "Am I right? Are you looking for Thunderkit? Don't worry, young one. She is safe. I will take you to our camp and show you where she is before I take you back to RiverClan, if you like." Rainkit nodded, and the she-cat picked her up by her scruff. Adderheart looked down at his paws. "I'm sorry, Miststar." he muttered. The patrol ran quickly back to their camp.

Many cats turned to stare at Rainkit as she hung from Miststar's jaws. "Is that kit going to join ThunderClan, too? Are we just going to take care of any kit that wanders over the border?" A dark brown tabby tom growled.

Miststar walked past him, heading straight towards a hollowed out den. The scent of herbs reminded Rainkit of Dappledpool's den. This must be the medicine cat's den, she thought. ThunderClan isn't that different from RiverClan! A ginger she-cat sniffed Rainkit's pelt, which was slowly drying. She sat up, tail curled neatly over her paws.

Chapter 3

"Who's this? Another kit's crossed the border?" The she-cat asked as she put herb-juices on Rainkit's scratches. Miststar looked at her. "Well, yes. We had to save her from drowning," then she added, "This is Goldpetal. She is our Clan's medicine cat." Goldpetal gazed at Rainkit, sympathy glowing in her eyes. "My brother pushed me into the river when I was a kit. He had to sleep in the Elder's den for a moon!" She mewed. Rainkit liked this cat. She was kind and funny. Maybe Thunderkit would be safe here after all. "Can I see Thunderkit now?" she asked, gazing up at Miststar politely.

"Yes. She is playing outside the nursery with Jaykit and Mousekit." Miststar flicked her tail towards the middle of the clearing, where three kits played. Rainkit ran out to meet her sister, joy filling in her eyes. Thunderkit looked up. "What are you doing here?" She mewed. Rainkit purred. "I wanted to see you, mouse-brain!" she tilted her head to one side. "When are you coming back to RiverClan? Minnowmoon will want to know where you are." Jaykit and Mousekit had stopped playing. "Who's that?" Jaykit asked. He was a blue-gray tom with a sleek pelt. He looked like a wave of water in the sunshine. Thunderkit looked away. "You can go back whenever you want. But I'm not coming. I want to stay here."

"What?" Shock froze Rainkit's paws to the ground. "Staying here?! Why?" Thunderkit just looked at her calmly. "I fit in better here. And besides, I don't really like the taste of fish everyday!" Rainkit sighed. Why won't she listen to me? She shook her head. When she sees that ThunderClan cats aren't that special, she will come back to RiverClan. She looked at Thunderkit again. She will come back, right?

Chapter 4

Anger sparked beneath Thunderkit's pelt. Why can't Rainkit understand that this is where I belong? Doesn't she want me to be happy? She stared at her sister. Her eyes were full of confusion and worry. She only wants me to be safe. But if she would only see.... She glanced around the clearing, full of cats sharing tongues. I'm safe here. She will get used to the way things are now. She has to. I want to stay here.

Her fur bristled as a ThunderClan patrol escorted Rainkit out of the camp. She ran into the nursery. Rainkit can't make me go back to RiverClan! She shouldn't be sticking her nose into where it doesn't belong.

Miststar peeked into the nursery. Her eyes were full of concern. Thunderkit wasn't in the mood to deal with more cats that over-worried about her. "What is it now?" She snarled before she thought about what she had said.

Thunderkit looked guiltily at her paws. "Sorry. I'm just angry at Rainkit for not understanding." But Miststar only looked at her calmly. "You're a bit young to be making such big decisions," She purred.

"Don't worry. I think you will make a fine ThunderClan warrior." Thunderkit felt warmth fill her heart at the thought of being a warrior. But a chilling thought filled her mind. I will never hunt with Rainkit again.

She heard excited squeals coming from outside. She ran out into the clearing. Juniperfur was play-fighting with the other kits. Thunderkit leaped onto her back and was pleased when she collapsed underneath her, her eyes gleaming with amusement and surprise. "You win! You win!" Juniperfur mewed. A gray she-cat looked over at her, eyes cold as stone. "Junipertail, stop it. You aren't a kit anymore, so stop acting like one!" She snarled. Junipertail got up, her tail drooping. "Sorry, Silverfang. But I only wanted to have some fun." She looked at Thunderkit, as if she had just stopped herself from saying a deeply kept secret. What? What aren't you telling me?

Chapter 5

As the strange ThunderClan cats carried Rainkit back into camp, her Clanmates turned to stare. Rainkit looked around for Minnowmoon.

There! Her gaze was filled with relief, while Riversplash, standing next to her, looked a bit angry. Of course he's angry. Rainkit looked guiltily at the ground. I ran off to an enemy territory! The Clan's gaze seemed to turn to panic as they realized Thunderkit was not with them.

Deerblaze dipped his head to Ripplestar. "Thunderkit chose to stay with ThunderClan." He dropped Rainkit at Ripplestar's paws then nodded to his Clanmates and walked out of the camp.

As soon as they had gone, Ripplestar swung his broad head into Rainkit's face. "What? You mean you went all the way to ThunderClan and then just left her there?! What kind of cat are you?!" He snarled.

Rainkit took a pace back, startled. "I-I tried to stop her-" But Ripplestar interrupted her. "Well, you obviously didn't try hard enough!"

Minnowmoon padded up beside him. "Don't be too harsh on her," She mewed quietly, "She's only a kit."

Ripplestar sighed. "I guess you're right... I just don't like the fact that a to-be warrior was lost to an enemy Clan, even when all of her kin are here...."

Minnowmoon flinched, as if what Ripplestar had just said wasn't true.

*********************************************************************************

"Rainkit, you have reached the age of 6 moons, and it is time for you to become an apprentice. From this day on, you will be known as Rainpaw. Your mentor will be Oakblaze. I hope he passes down all he knows on to you." Ripplestar meowed. Oakblaze came to stand in front of his leader.

"Oakblaze, you are ready to take on a second apprentice. You have received excellent training from Tigerleap, and you have shown yourself to be a strong and loyal warrior. You will be the mentor to Rainpaw, and I expect you to pass down all you know to her."

Rainpaw ran foward and touched her nose to Oakblaze's. She heard her Clanmates call out her new name, and her heart swelled with happyness. "Rainpaw! Stormpaw! Sunpaw! Hollypaw!"

Stormpaw, Sunpaw and Hollypaw sat next to their mentors, Cloudspots, Whiteflower, Darkcreek and Willowlight.

Pebblespot was standing next to the nursery, her belly heavy with kits. The rest of the Clan was crowding the new apprentices, congratulating them by calling out their new names.

Gingerdash, who had gotten his warrior name two moons before Rainpaw had gotten her apprentice name, was the first to talk to her. "So, you finally started your apprenticeship? Believe me, it'll take awhile to get used to waking up so early!" he joked. Stormflight, Maplesky and Lightningblaze nodded in agreement.

Rainpaw purred with amusement. She felt a pelt brush beside her. She turned around to see Leafpaw. "I'll show you which nest is yours," He offered. "I filled it with moss for you. Come on!"

He turned around and raced for the apprentice's den. Rainpaw followed, her heart racing. Yes! I'm finally an apprentice! Now I'm one step away from being the best warrior ever!

Chapter 6

Thunderpaw walked along the border between RiverClan and WindClan. ThunderClan and WindClan had united as one Clan, because both Clans were finding much less prey than any leaf-bare before. The leaders figured it would be easier to find food with a shared territory, and give them a much, much bigger chance against enemies. But only for this leaf-bare. The Clans would become enemies after leaf-bare was over.

A familiar scent touched her nose. She looked across the border, only to see Rainkit on the other side. She must be Rainpaw now, She decided.

But then Rainpaw did something she didn't expect. Thunderpaw gasped in surprise as Rainpaw looked around to see if any cat was watching her--which, she didn't see Thunderpaw, because she was hiding behind a tall patch of grass and heather- and crossed the border into WindClan territory. Rainpaw crouched, then, before Thunderpaw could see what she was stalking, pounced. Her head popped up a moment later, a rabbit limp in her jaws. Rage made Thunderpaw's fur bristle and her claws unsheathed. How dare she hunt in WindClan's-No, ThunderClan and WindClan's territory! Slowly Thunderpaw crept forward, making sure Rainpaw didn't see her. Rainpaw was scenting the air for more prey.

Thunderpaw leaped. She easily pinned down Rainpaw, who was smaller than her, and surprised by Thunderpaw's unexpected attack. The Mouse-brain! She should know better than to come into enemy territory and hunt without anycat noticing her! Her claws dug into Rainpaw's fur, making blood turn the gorse around her red. Rainpaw went limp, as if giving up. Ha! I knew you were weak! But just as she loosened her grip, Rainpaw surged upward with a burst of strength, twisting in mid-air and landing on Thunderpaw's back. She felt Rainpaw scrape her spine.

Thunderpaw shook her off, wincing in pain at the new wounds on her pelt. Rainpaw bit down on her paw. Sharp pain shot through her paw, fierce as a fire. She stumbled backwards, tripped by a bit of grass, and fell on her side. Rainpaw took advantage of Thunderpaw's clumsy movement and sprang ontop of her. Thunderpaw could feel Rainpaw's claw at her throat. Uneasiness pricked her fur. She wouldn't kill me, would she? Then Rainpaw released her and walked calmly back to her own territory.

She looked back, her eyes blazing a challenge. "Looks like you're not so strong by yourself, Thunderkit!" Thunderpaw flattened her ears in embarrassment. Why couldn't I beat her? She stomped away angrily. I'll show her! Next time we meet, I'll make sure she's the one crying for mercy!

Thunderpaw walked back to ThunderClan's camp. She had washed off the blood from her wounds, but she was limping badly by the time she had returned. The setting sun blazed as the first StarClan warriors appeared in the sky. Shadows lay across the forest. She put her prey-a rabbit and three mice-on the

fresh-kill pile.

Goldpetal, who obviously knew there was something wrong with her paw, rushed over to her. "What happened to you?" She mewed worriedly. "It's nothing, really." Thunderpaw lied. It hurts so much! But Goldpetal was already hurrying to her den. She came back a moment later with a bunch of herbs.

"What are all those for?" Thunderpaw asked.

"Marigold to keep away infection. And comfrey if the bone in your paw is broken." She replied.

Goldpetal licked the marigold juice into her wounds, and then compared her paw to Thunderpaw's. "You're lucky you didn't break your paw. How did this happen?" Thunderpaw began to tell Goldpetal how she found Rainpaw hunting on their territory, and how she had attacked her. Though she didn't tell Goldpetal about how Rainpaw beat her in her own territory.

Chapter 7

Rainpaw almost bounced in the air with excitement. Finally! My first Gathering! She had missed the last one because the wounds Thunderpaw had given her had stopped her from going.

She leaped over the log to cross into the Gathering place. Then she heard a splash. Turning around, she saw Leafpaw fall in the water. She rolled her eyes and jumped in after him. She grabbed his scruff and pulled him out. "Do I have to save you everytime?" She began to lick her fur dry. Leafpaw gave an irritated shake and playfully shoved her in the lake. Rainpaw swam back to shore, her fur now very wet. "Oh great! Now I'm going to be all wet for my first Gathering!" Even though her words sounded harsh, both of the apprentice's eyes were glowing with amusement. She heard Ripplestar call out their names, his voice impatient.

"Rainpaw! Leafpaw! Hurry up, before both of you miss the Gathering!"

The apprentices looked at each other for a moment, then ran to catch up with the rest of their Clan. Wow! Look how many cats there are! I didn't expect there to be so many...

She looked for a place to sit. Leafpaw had gone off to talk to some ShadowClan and WindClan apprentices.

A familiar scent touched her nose. A blue-gray tom was standing next to her. I remember him! That's Jaykit-No, Jaypaw. She corrected herself. "Hi," She mewed. Jaypaw turned his head to look at her. "Oh, hi! I didn't see you there. You're Rainpaw, right? I'm guessing your not a kit anymore," He joked. "I think the Gathering's about to start. Why don't we sit over there?" He flicked his tail towards a spot near a holly bush.

Rainpaw nodded shyly. She felt safe with this cat...But why? She asked herself. He's a ThunderClan cat! He'd still attack me if we were in a battle. He's just like any other cat.... But no matter how many times she told herself this, she couldn't bring herself to believe that Jaypaw would do that.

Once the Gathering was over, her heart felt torn and alone at the thought of leaving Jaypaw...Stop it! He's only a ThunderClan cat! And besides, you're from different Clans! You can't be together..She stopped herself. Do I.....Love him? No, I can't! It's against the warrior code...

Over and over again throughout the whole night, she looked for answers to her questions about if she really did love Jaypaw...But couldn't find any. She felt more lonely than ever without him, though! Fine! I'll go see him tomorrow... All I have to do is find him.. That'll be easy, right?

*********************************************************************************

Rainpaw padded silently across the moor, the ground freezing her paws. Frost covered the land, touching everything in sight. She pricked her ears, wanting to make sure no cat spotted her. When there was no cat in sight, she crept across the ThunderClan border, which, as she noticed, was stale. She had had to make sure she had left before the sun rose, so not even the dawn patrol was awake.

Brambles snagged on her fur, making her feel as if her whole pelt would be torn off. How can Thunderpaw live with this?! RiverClan territory doesn't have nearly as many trees and bushes to crash into!  When she finally tore free, several tufts of fur were left behind.

After what felt like moons, she finally reached ThunderClan's camp. She paced around the edges of the hollow, looking for what seemed to be the apprentice's den. As she planned, no cat was awake yet.

She had thought out every detail of this trip last night.

Her fur had been covered in mud to hide her scent.

Rainpaw stalked through the dirt-place tunnel, quietly going along the sides of the camp, fiercely hoping that her gray fur blended in with the shadows.

She reached the apprentice's den, looking around to see that no cat was watching her. The sky was just beginning to turn creamy with dawn. Oh StarClan, please don't let me be caught!

She stepped into the den, seeing Jaypaw, his flank rising and falling softly, the remaining moonlight shining on his blue fur.

Another apprentice-Mousepaw, she remembered- was just a few tail-lengths away.

And then finally, in the very back of the den, was Thunderpaw. Rainpaw's fur bristled at the sight of seeing her sister-a traitor.

Though she was pleased at the scars on Thunderpaw's pelt. I did that. She flicked her tail. She deserved it! She left me and her family in RiverClan! For what? Does she like stepping into bramble bushes?! Rainpaw shook her head slowly. That's not what I'm here for... She poked Jaypaw.

"Wha..?" His sleepy eyes blinked open in confusion.

"Hi, Jaypaw."

"What'ya doin here?"

"I missed you," Rainpaw's eyes clouded. "Didn't you miss me?" Was I wrong?

Jaypaw's eyes filled with understanding and emotion. "I..I knew I wasn't the only cat who felt this way... " He purred for a moment. "We can't speak here. The warriors will wake up soon."

Rainpaw nodded, wanting to get away from ThunderClan as soon as possible, so she could be with this cat she felt so strongly about....

Chapter 8

Thunderpaw blinked away sleepiness, the bright light from a leaf-bare sun shining in her eyes. She shivered from the cold. Pure white snow covered the camp as if the brown dirt and stone that used to be there never existed.

She glanced around the den. Jaypaw was no where to be seen, but, as always, Mousepaw was still asleep. She rolled her eyes and sighed dramatically, reaching over into his nest to prod him awake.

"Wake up, you lazy furball!" Thunderpaw whispered.

"Huh...?"

"The sun's already above the trees, mouse-brain!" Thunderpaw was pleased that she had used a ThunderClan word.

Mousepaw leaped out of his nest like a rabbit. Thunderpaw purred with amusement as he raced outside. She joined him a moment later, looking around for their mentors, Moonleaf and Ratclaw.

Stoneclaw was eating a small, skinny sparrow near the fresh-kill pile. Thunderpaw noticed with surprise that the ThunderClan cat's ribs were visible, as if he hadn't eaten anything good in awhile. All the ThunderClan cats looked like that, in fact. Even with the help of WindClan, there was not enough food for everycat.

Stoneclaw looked up. "Are you looking for your mentors?" He asked, and when both apprentices nodded, he added, "They're both on a hunting patrol. Guess you'll have to pull the elder's ticks until they return!"

Mousepaw let out a groan.

"Oh, come on! It's not that boring! The elders have good stories!" Thunderpaw mewed, giving Mousepaw a sharp nudge.

Mousepaw glared at Thunderpaw, but reluctantly followed her to the elder's den.

*********************************************************************************

Mousepaw lashed out at Thunderpaw, managing to land a blow on both her ears and her shoulder, his claws sheathed. This was only battle training, so it didn't actually hurt, but still left Thunderpaw tired.

This is the perfect time to use that move I made up! Thunderpaw ran forward, quick as a squirrel, climbing up a tree. "Scaredy-mouse!" Mousepaw called.

But, before the words had even come out of his mouth, Thunderpaw let go of the branch she held, twisted in mid-air, and landed squarely on is back.

"Oof!"She heard Mousepaw mew.

The unexpected attack made Mousepaw crumble beneath her, all four of his paws splayed out. Thunderpaw's paw was planted firmly on his head, making him unable to move.

"Alright, alright! I give up! Now get off of me before you crush me!" He yelped reluctantly.

"I can't hear you!" Thunderpaw mewed.

"I give up!"

"Who's your leader?"

Mousepaw rolled his eyes. "Ok, ok, Thunderstar. Now will ya get off?"

Thunderpaw let out a mrrow of amusement. She stepped away from Mousepaw, seeing her mentor giving her a small nod of satisfaction.

Jaypaw was gazing off into the distance, and Thunderpaw suspected that he didn't even see how quickly she had defeated Mousepaw.

What is he thinking about? She was jolted away from her thoughts when she heard Moonleaf's voice. "Battle training's over for today. Feel free to do whatever you want. You've worked hard enough for today."

As soon as Moonleaf said that, Jaypaw half-ran half-leaped away from the training hollow. Where is he going? Jaypaw seemed to be headed towards the border. I've got to find out what he's doing.

*********************************************************************************

Thunderpaw crept under bushes and behind trees while following Jaypaw's scent, but, sense it was leaf-bare, the leaves were very sparse, so Thunderpaw desperately hoped that her pelt blended in well enough to hide her from the apprentice.

It was even worse when Jaypaw entered WindClan territory. Where in the name of StarClan is he going?!

Finally he stepped into a grassy clearing near the Gathering Island. Thunderpaw hid in a bramble bush nearby, its thorns tearing at her fur, but hiding her well from Jaypaw.

Then a gray tabby apprentice walked into the clearing. Stifling a gasp of surprise, she realized it was her sister-Rainpaw.

Jaypaw-run! She prayed silently to StarClan. She'll claw your ears off!

Thunderpaw's yellow eyes widened as she noticed that both cats were purring. Rainpaw ran forward and pressed her fur against his. They twined their tails together.

Thunderpaw stared in surprise at the apprentices-Apprentices from two different Clans!

Oh, StarClan, no! My sister loves Jaypaw!

Chapter 9

Rainpaw glanced around the small clearing. She thought she saw a pair of bright yellow eyes gleaming, but when she blinked, they were gone. A black shadow seemed to run away from the clearing.

Some cat was watching us, She thought, a shiver going down her spine. She turned to Jaypaw. "I need to go...My Clanmates will begin to worry about me." Especially if one of them has seen me with Jaypaw.

Jaypaw glanced at his paws, but reluctantly nodded. "I guess my Clanmates will wonder where I am, too...Goodbye for now."

As the two cats walked away, loneliness crept up on Rainpaw again. She sighed. I'll see him again...

*********************************************************************************

Wariness dragged at Rainpaw's paws. She sank into her nest, grateful for the soft moss and feathers in it. Leafpaw looked at her, his eyes warm. "Do you like your nest? I thought you'd like all the feathers I put in it."

So he put those there. "Thanks," She mewed. "The're great! Finally a good night's sleep." She purred, tucking her tail neatly over her nose. This nest is so comfortable!

"How do I thank you enough, Leafpaw? Seriously! You didn't have to go though all of this for me.."

"You don't have to do anything to thank me," He mewed, "I wanted to do that for you!"

"Really?"

"Of course. I'd do anything for you, Rainpaw." He licked her on the cheek before curling up in his nest, his tortoiseshell fur rising and falling.

Rainpaw blinked in surprise.

She let her head droop back into her nest as she fell into sleep.

She woke standing in the middle of a grassy meadow. The warm breeze felt good on her fur. Sunlight made every drop of dew sparkle. But...Where am I?

A white she-cat with golden tabby patches walked into the meadow. Countless stars covered her pelt.

"A-are you a.....A StarClan cat?" Rainpaw mewed nervously.

"Yes. Don't be afraid, little one."

I must be dreaming, then!

"Why are you here?"

The she-cat sighed. "There is a prophecy. Fire and rain will destroy each other, as thunder will rise throughout the chaos and become a leader who will only be stopped by darkness."

"But...But what does it mean? And why are you telling me?"

"I'm sorry that I cannot tell you more. Sometimes StarClan doesn't even know the answers."

"Will you at least tell me your name? You know..If I see you again?"

"The name's Goldenshine."

Her dream began to fade. No! Come back, please....But she knew that Goldenshine couldn't tell her anything else, so she didn't say the words outloud. I just wish she could tell me more about this prophecy..

*********************************************************************************

Rainpaw felt a paw prod her side. She yawned, trying to go back to sleep, but once again felt the paw, sharper this time. She blinked open her eyes slowly, seeing a cat silhouette outlined against a creamy dawn sky.

"Rainpaw, wake up," The cat growled. "The other apprentices are already awake." Rainpaw realized the cat was her mentor, Oakblaze.

Her brother, Stormpaw, popped his head into the den. "Hurry up, slow slug!" He teased.

"I'm coming," Rainpaw muttered under her breath, "I hate getting up so early! Why couldn't we train later?"

"Would you rather wake up at sunhigh and find that ShadowClan had already taken over the camp? We always need to be prepared, especially now that it's leaf-bare." Oakblaze growled, obviously hearing what Rainpaw had just said.

"What are we going to work on today?" Sunpaw asked as they entered the clearing.

"I want to work on battle training!" Hollypaw mewed, unsheathing her claws and swiping at an imaginary enemy.

"You always want to fight!" Sunpaw protested.

"Calm down. We're going to hunt, and then do battle training, ok?" Willowlight meowed, sharing an amused glance with Oakblaze.

"Fine." Hollypaw sighed, sheathing her claws and following Willowlight, Oakblaze and the rest of the apprentices.

The patrol realized that a new river had formed between them and ShadowClan territory. The apprentices gave each other uneasy glances, but Stormpaw stepped forward to look at it.

Rainpaw heard Stormpaw let out a gasp. "The river's frozen!" He yowled.

Rainpaw swept her tail over Stormpaw's mouth. "Do you want every piece of prey in the forest to hear you? Let me see!"

Sure enough, the river had a thin coating of ice covering it. A snowflake touched Rainpaw's nose. She shivered.

Sunpaw raced to the edge of the river, peering down through the transparent ice. The small ginger-and-white cat gasped. "There are fish under there! If we can break through the ice, then we can hunt them!" He mewed.

Willowlight purred. "Good idea. Just make sure not to fall in, ok? The water's colder then you think."

All of the apprentices nodded, and Oakblaze used a claw to cut a hole in the ice.

Chapter 10

Rainpaw dashed a paw into the river and hooked out a fish, giving it a nip to kill it. Two more lay at her paws. The ice below her made her paws numb, so she felt like she had lost them altogether.

Its so cold out here! All she could smell was wind and frost-Wait-Do I smell ShadowClan? She pricked her ears and glanced around nervously.

The patrol looked up as six ShadowClan cats appeared, their fur bristling with hostility. "What are you doing in our territory?" A big brown tom snarled.

"Your territory?" Oakblaze's voice was filled with rage. "The river has always and will always belong to RiverClan!"

"The river in your territory is yours, fish-breath!" A black she-cat retorted.

"Like you would know anything about fishing, you pieces of fox-dung!" Willowlight snarled.

The apprentices nodded in agreement and unsheathed their claws.

"What did you just call us?!" The brown tom unsheathed his claws and glared at the she-cat.

"What? I only said what I saw in front of my eyes!" Willowlight snapped.

The brown tom threw himself at Willowlight, batting at her belly with sharp claws. Blood sprayed the grass and reeds nearby.

"Stormpaw! Run back to camp and get more warriors--hurry!" Oakblaze meowed urgently before leaping at a gray tom, scoring his claws against the tom's side.

Stormpaw nodded and ran in the direction of the camp- Rainpaw could see that ShadowClan was doing the same.

She looked around, ready to sink her claws into a ShadowClan cat's pelt. Then she saw Sunpaw. Sunpaw was in a defensive crouch, two ShadowClan warriors towering over him. Sunpaw's ginger-and-white fur was fluffed up in fear, his eyes as wide as an owl's.

Rainpaw raced to his side. She clawed the warriors, using all of the attacks her mentors had taught her. But she was gradually getting more and more tired. These warriors wouldn't give up...She felt her ear rip, and pain ran through her. How much longer can I stand through this?!

Lots of ShadowClan cats ran across the frozen river to help their Clanmates with the battle.

Rainpaw growled and leaped onto the back of one of the ShadowClan warriors. She raked her claws across the tom's back. The cat let out a sharp yowl of pain. Sunpaw raced around and bit his tail. The cat’s Clanmate leapt on Sunpaw.

Suddenly she heard a yowl, and saw that Stormpaw had arrived with plenty of RiverClan warriors. Silvery gray and black fur blurred her vision for a moment, then realized that Minnowmoon was standing next to her now.

Rainpaw glanced back at Sunpaw. The cat had pinned him down. He looked too stunned to fight. His ears were flattened against his head, and his mouth was gaped open in terror.

She leaped forward and knocked the cat that had Sunpaw pinned down away. The cat turned and leaped at her. She stepped to one side, dodging the cat’s attack. She turned and quickly scratched the cat’s face. The cat let out a frustrated growl, but, too weak to fight, ran off. Turning back, she saw that the snow had been turned dark red with blood. She couldn't see Minnowmoon or the other ShadowClan tom anywhere.

There! She saw her mother, still fighting with the warrior. Rainpaw prepared to leap forward to help her.

But midleap, the ShadowClan cat swiped his claws across Minnowmoon's throat. She fell to the ground and didn't get up again, blood pooling around her, staining the snow.

Horror pulsed through Rainpaw. She'll be okay, She told herself over and over again She'll be okay! She has to be!

She turned towards the cat who had done this. The tom returned the glare. "Don't look at me like I've grown wings," He growled. "That pathetic excuse for a cat was weak."

"You'll pay for this, scat-face!" Rainpaw spat, her lips drawn back in a menacing snarl.

"ShadowClan! Retreat!"

Rainpaw glared after the warriors as they ran away. Rage filled her mind, making up possible threats. I'll get my revenge on that cat! Soon he'll know what my claws feel like slicing through his throat!

Chapter 11

Rainpaw turned, a thorn piercing her heart as she saw her mother lying motionless on the ground. Her eyes were glazed and staring into nothingness. No! No, no no no!

A pelt brushed Rainpaw's. "She's dead, isn't she?" Rainpaw whispered.

She looked up to see Ripplestar looking down at Minnowmoon's body. "Yes," He sighed, sadness flashing in his dark blue eyes. "I'm sorry..."

Rainpaw flattened her ears. "No, its my fault! I should have been there to save her!"

Rain began to fall, making her shiver. Ripplestar let his tail rest on her back, but she shrugged it away.

Go away! I don't want your sympathy!

"Rainpaw, you can't save everycat." He muttered.

"But..." Rainpaw moaned, but knew she was completely helpless. Minnowmoon was in StarClan now, and she would never see her again.

*********************************************************************************

Rainpaw blinked as creamy dawn light filled the apprentice's den. It was a moon after Minnowmoon had died, and ShadowClan hadn't bothered them since.

"Rainpaw! Are you going to sleep all day?" She heard Oakblaze's voice calling her. "It's time for your and Stormpaw's assessment!"

Her mentor's voice was followed by Stormpaw's. "Hurry up, slow-slug!" He yowled.

Rainpaw pricked her ears, scenting the air for prey. RiverClan didn't usually eat land-prey, but for assessments, the apprentices needed to catch at least a mouse, bird, and a good-sized fish.

Finally, she located a vole scuffling among the reeds. It didn't seem to notice her-the scrawny thing was busily stuffing itself with nuts.

Rainpaw crept forward, setting her paws down as lightly as falling snow. Just a few mouse-lengths closer!

Suddenly a loud yowl interrupted her. The vole, alarmed by the noise, scampered away. Fox-dung! There probably won't be any more of those around here!

She pricked her ears again, trying to figure out where the yowl came from.

She wandered around the forest, suddenly worried. What if there's a cat in trouble?

She stumbled into a clearing. A cat she didn't recognize lay on it's side in the middle of the clearing. Blood pooled around it. The cat did not move. A small kit nudged the cat, possibly trying to get it to get up.

"Oh, no..." Rainpaw whispered. She took a couple steps towards the kit, wanting to help the poor thing.

Then she heard a loud growl behind her. She could feel the thing's breath on her neck.

She turned her head to see a big russet-and-white face staring at her. Blood specked it's muzzle.

She leaped away from the fox, prepared to fight it.

The fox ran towards Rainpaw. She jumped sideways, the fox's jaws snapping just above her ear. She raked her claws across it's pelt. The fox whipped around and bit her tail. Rainpaw yowled. Turning to face it, she scraped her claws across it's face and eyes. Blood sprayed onto the ground. The fox released her tail, and, before the fox attacked again, she leapt onto it's back, racing her claws through it's fur. The fox yelped and threw her off, running away.

She turned back. The kit was staring at her, his eyes wide with terror. "A-are you ok?" Rainpaw asked, her voice edged with worry. The tom was white, with light gray stripes and brilliant blue eyes. "I-I’m f-fine… B-but mommy isn’t waking up!" He whimpered. His voice was filled with fear, his fur bristling.

Rainpaw looked at the small kit sadly, afraid to tell him this cat wouldn’t wake up... Ever.

“Come with me”, she sighed. “I’ll keep you safe.”
The kit flattened his ears, distrust glinting in his eyes. “W-what about mommy?”
“We’ll come back for her, I promise.”

“Really..?”

“Of course.”

The kit slowly walked over to her, his eyes wary.

Rainpaw laid her tail across his back. The kit tensed, then relaxed.

Rainpaw led him through the forest and carried him across the river into RiverClan’s camp, her assessment completely forgotten.

Cats stared at her as she brought the kit to camp.

Her mentor walked up to her. “I thought I told you to bring back prey, not kits!” He sighed. “Apprentices just can’t follow directions, can they?”

Rainpaw looked up at him apologetically. “I saved him from a fox. Was I not supposed to do that?” She mewed.

“No, no. You did great, Rainpaw. I’m proud of you.” Oakblaze purred.

She put the kit down near the nursery and then returned to Oakblaze and whispered, “His mother was killed by the fox. I don’t know what Clan he’s from. All I smelled on him was mint and fox-smell.”

“Oh...How sad...Well, unless the other Clans start crying for their lost kit, we’ll keep him safe here.” He replied.

Rainpaw smiled. “Great!”

Chapter 12

Thunderpaw felt a claw poke her awake. An unfamiliar scent hit her. Who was it?

She yawned, thinking she imagined it and tried to get back to sleep. The claw prodded her again.

Thunderpaw sniffed, trying to identify the scent.

It wasn’t Clan scent.

She leapt up, her fur bristling, ready to attack if it was an enemy.

Instead, it was a she-cat, with wild black fur, grazing her body, and silver, moonlight eyes, glaring at Thunderpaw. She was unusual due to her large, gleaming, black claws, digging into the ground hostily.

Thunderpaw turned her head to see that Jaypaw and Mousepaw were still sleeping. Thunderpaw glanced over to see that it was still dark, the full moon glimmering in the sky.

“Hello Thunderpaw,” She said, her voice sounding hoarse.

"Who are you?! And how do you know my name?!" Thunderpaw stared at the strange cat.

“That first question is -at the moment- none of your business. Now, how I know your name is that I have watched you, Thunderpaw,” the cat said, smirking slightly.

"That's...creepy."

“But I watch everyone. What else do you expect me to do besides hunt? I have to be entertained in some way, and your ‘Clan’ stuff is so dramatic it could be a Two-leg tragic opera!” the cat chuckled.

"What in the name of StarClan is an opera?"

“An opera is something Two-legs do to make themselves cry or laugh, when other Two-legs get onto some platform with really ridiculous costumes and often times sing so loud it makes us sane cats twinge, and on a frequency which I find annoys me, but they do it to spite us,” the cat shrugged.

"That's stupid." Thunderpaw looked at the cat and thought, Are you sure you're sane, stalker?

“I know that’s stupid, and I’m a perfectly sane stalker, Thunderpaw. Will you stop calling me a stalker if you know my name?” the cat said bitterly.

"Did you just read my thoughts?! That's also creepy."

“I read the look on your face, Thunderpaw,” the cat rolled her eyes.

Jaypaw looked at them sleepily. "Huh? Who's that?" He yawned.

Thunderpaw sighed. "Uh, you're imagining things."

Mousepaw looked up. "Huh? What?" He growled. "Whatever. Let me sleep!"

The cat glanced over at them, her pupils slipping into a hostile look, and then gentling.

"Are you just going to stand here forever or actually say something I want to know, cat?" Thunderpaw narrowed her eyes.

The cat chuckled, and leaped over Thunderpaw, onto something higher.

“My name is Moongaze. I would like to show you something, Thunderpaw,” She said, yawning.

"Okay... Stranger."

Moongaze leapt off, glaring at Thunderpaw irritatedly, and growling, “I don’t usually mess with you ‘Clan’ kits with all your stupid Clan stuff, but you’re important, you will come, now!”

"Why? I don't even know you!" Thunderpaw snapped.

“Yes you do. You’ve seen me, you just don’t remember. Remember being a kit, whimpering because of the shadows you saw? The nightmares? Those are me, and you’ve known me since you were born,” Moongaze said, and added, “I am your guardian. You have a path you must follow. I am here to make sure you can follow it and you do,”

"Really? Are you just making this up?" Thunderpaw looked at Moongaze, still trying to figure out where she came from.

“I swear it on all of Starclan and even that stupid Two-legged Heaven,” Moongaze said honestly, and grumbled, “And I don’t do that lightly,”

"Where do you come from? You speak of strange Two-leg things and Clan things."

“If it pleases you, and if I tell you, you will come with me, I will tell you. I am from Shadowclan, a friend of dear Tigerpaw and Tawnypaw, and when I ran from my clan I was known as Moonpaw. I think Ripplepaw and Oakpaw and Deerpaw and all them will remember that time Shadowclan searched for it’s most skilled apprentice,” Moongaze said

"You mean Tawnystar and Tigerstripe? And Ripplestar and Oakblaze and Deerblaze? And why did you run away from ShadowClan? And how do you know them? And why are you bothering around with me, a ThunderClan cat?

“No. They are still Tigerpaw and Tawnypaw to me, and all the other warriors and leaders can be kits if I wanted to, but I know calling them an apprentice is an offense to you, and I wouldn’t like to step my boundaries. I left because I didn’t like any of it. I don’t like any Clans, because they are too gullible and weak, and I myself don’t want to be like that. I know them because of the last Clan meeting I had I chatted with them. And bothering you is something I need to do, and that’s that. Can I continue?” Moongaze explained.

"But Clans are the strongest ever!" Thunderpaw argued. "Stronger than loners and kittypets and badgers and foxes and..."

“They are weak, Thunderpaw. Unity is your thing, individuality is mine. I will agree to disagree on the matter. But I will continue-uninterrupted. How I know of the Two-leg things is because I have watched them too. Listened to them. They are quite odd, but interesting, if you just give a moment to listen,” Moongaze said.

"I can't understand them even if I tried. All I hear is 'Blah blah blah' from Two-legs," Thunderpaw muttered. "Besides, they're stupid."

“No, the opposite. Quite intelligent. But they are close-minded, as are the Clans. You must be open-minded about these things, or else you cannot hear them. You must open your mind to hear everything you need to hear, Thunderpaw,” Moongaze said, and then added, “Follow me,”

Chapter 13

Thunderpaw sighed. "Okay, fine."

Moongaze smirked, and left the den. Thunderpaw followed, thinking, This mouse-brain is going to get caught by one of my Clanmates, and then what will they think of me standing next to an intruder?

“They will think nothing of it, for they will never find us,” Moongaze grinned, and soon became nothing but silvery eyes in the shadows.

"Yeah... Right... You do know that we have a cat guarding the camp, right? And other cats might wake up soon."

“I have a trick to fix that,” she leaped to a tree, and climbed to its branches, and balanced across the branch, and leapt to another branch.

"You. Are. Crazy," Thunderpaw growled. "I can't leap across trees like that. I'm not a bird or a squirrel."

She rolled her eyes, climbed down, picked Thunderpaw up by her neck fur, and leapt back up, and dropped her on the branch.

“Open your eyes, Thunderpaw. You can do anything you think you can do! If you think like that, everything will be much easier,”

Thunderpaw looked doubtful. "All of your time outside of a Clan must have turned you into a squirrel or something. Maybe a crazy squirrel. No, not maybe. You definitely are a crazy squirrel."

“Or maybe all your time inside the Clan has left you cynical of new teachings,” Moongaze said. “Stand, one paw in front of another, and be careful. You can dance through the trees if you are careful,”

"And if I believe I can fly, I can?" Thunderpaw mewed sarcastically.

“Flight is not important, Thunderpaw. Sarcasm will get you no where. Do what I ask of you, walk on the branches,” Moongaze said bitterly.

"Okay..." Thunderpaw put her paw gently on the branch, then poked the branch. "Are you sure it's safe?"

“Positive, Thunderpaw,”

"But where are we going? I don't see why we should be in a tree," Thunderpaw tilted her head to one side quizzically. Trees are for squirrels. It just didn't seem right for a cat to be in one.
“I will show you. Just put one paw in front of the other, and when you run out of branch leap to the other end of the branch,”

Thunderpaw carefully obeyed Moongaze, wondering for a second why she was doing this, then reminded herself that this strange cat could have valuable information.

"Okay, there. I got to the end of this branch here, but... Uh.. What do I do now?"

Moongaze leapt after her.

“You learned. Follow me,” She said, and leapt to another branch, and another.

Thunderpaw turned to follow, but misplaced her paws and half slipped off the branch, her hind paws dangling in midair. "Eep! Help!"

Moongaze leaped over to her aid, glaring down at her, and helped her up, scratching Thunderpaw accidentally.

“Again,” she said.

"Ow..." Thunderpaw sighed and tried to leap up again. Her front paws hit the branch and she clawed frantically to get a grip. She pulled herself up onto the branch. She puffed out her chest triumphantly. "Yes!"

Moongaze smirked, and leapt again to the other branch, this time watching Thunderpaw as she leapt after her.

"Does this make me a squirrel-cat?" Thunderpaw meowed, half-jokingly. Moongaze smiled, and said, “No, only if your name was Squirrelpaw. You are now more open-minded than your other clanmates,”

"That's a good thing, right?"

“Yes. That means you may think of better attack strategies than them, and that will mean you can protect your Clan better,” Moongaze said. Thunderpaw had never thought of it that way.

For once she actually admired the strange cat. "Okay. So... What do we do now?"

“Again, follow me,” Moongaze leapt from branch to branch gracefully, turning to watch as Thunderpaw jumped after her.

"Again, where are we going? And how much longer do we have to be in the trees?"

Just then Moongaze leapt down from a tree, walking through some bushes. Thunderpaw realized that something was glimmering behind the bushes.

Chapter 14

Thunderpaw leapt after her, half-jumping half-tumbling down the tree. She fell into a thorn bush but quickly ran out, although her fur was torn and she was limping slightly. "What's that? What's in there?"

“What I came to show you,” Moongaze said. It was some sort of pond, glimmering unnaturally with moonlight. Each side of the pond as some sort of symbol, each one a symbol for each Clan, a flower that Moongaze had never seen before growing around it. In the center was a symbol for Starclan, and in the farther reaches was something that looked like Two-leg and loner symbols.

For a moment Thunderpaw just stared at it. "Um... Yeah. Okay. It's cool, but... Why did you make me come here? For some pool?"

“Do you see the flowers? The are tied together, the same one, the same plant. Everything is connected, dear Thunderpaw, except for Starclan, which stands untouched, unreachable, other than by cruel death. No one knows of StarClan, so why is it here? Mainly for comfort, to comfort the cats that there will be something else. Everything is affected by everything,”

"But StarClan exists. And without StarClan, who would give the medicine cats omens and prophecies?" Thunderpaw protested.

“Maybe the omens and prophecies are their imaginations, playing them for more comfort and support. No one knows, Thunderpaw--" Just then, Thunderpaw interrupted Moongaze. "But some prophecies are bad. How would that comfort anyone?"

“Other times cats find themselves bored, and to make themselves have excitement, have their imagination find something bad. But that’s one of the reasons I’m here. Don’t believe something that you’re not sure about absolutely. Believe its possible, but don’t hope for it, because you will crash down when you find out it isn’t true. My other reason here was earlier mentioned. Everything affects everything, and you must find out how. What actions will do what to the cats you know, or don’t know? What about future generations of cats? What will happen then? Think of every decisions’ consciously, think of their consequences, good or bad,” Moongaze said.

"I'm only an apprentice. Why should I know this now?"

“It will affect your future, Thunderstar. When taught at your age, these teachings bind into you for eternity. Which is why I am doing it now. I will come to teach you every full moon, Thunderpaw,” Moongaze said, nodding towards Thunderpaw, and then saying, “Shoo me from your den if you like to continue my teachings. I hope-no, I pray to StarClan- that you will not,” Moongaze disappeared into the shadows.

Does she like StarClan or not?! Thunderpaw sighed, half with frustration.

Thunderpaw walked back into camp, only wanting to sleep longer.

“Where were you last night?” Thunderpaw heard somecat ask, entering the den.

She turned to see Moonleaf looking curiously at her, and add, “Your fur is all torn up, and you look wounded! Where were you?!” Moonleaf's gaze was worried, her eyes wide.

"I'm fine. I, uh, accidentally ran into a thorn bush while hunting... Er... A mouse."

Moonleaf looked doubtful, but she didn't ask any more questions. "You should let Goldpetal have a look at those scratches, though!"

"Alright, fine." Thunderpaw walked off to the medicine cat's den, glad that her mentor wasn't nagging her for answers.

Chapter 15

It was a rainy day. The forest was soaked, and small puddles lay around the camp. The sky was gray with clouds.

The kit Rainpaw saved--who revealed his name to be Cloudykit-- was playing around in the puddles, getting himself and the cats who just happened to be around him covered in mud.

His fur looked completely brown, as if he weren’t white and gray at all, but a brown kitten.