Thunderclan:

Leader: Birchstar- A light brown tabby with green eyes

Deputy: Cloudwhisper- A white tom with pal gray eyes

Medicine Cat: Tawnystripe- A white and brown tabby with one yellow stripe on her back.

Apprentice: Smallpaw

Warriors:

Beardance- A dark brown tabby tom with blue eyes

Mysticpool- A pretty tabby she-cat

Apprentice: Russetpaw

Scarletbark- A dark red she-cat with amber eyes

Azuretears- A blue-gray tom with azure eyes.

Lightwater- A light-colored she-cat with peircing blue eyes

Apprentice: Gingerpaw

Sweetlaughter- A cream and gray mottled she-cat with light blue eyes

Apprentice: Quickpaw

Apprentices:

Russetpaw- A dark ginger she-cat

Gingerpaw- A ginger she-cat with dark green eyes

Smallpaw- A small tabby tom

Quickpaw- A quick-footed yellow tom

Queens/Kits:

Badgersong- A black and white striped she-cat

Mate: Cloudwhisper Kits: Oakkit, Robinkit

Auburnsky- A auburn she-cat with pale green eyes

Mate: Scarletbark Kits: Fierykit, Brightkit

Spiritkit- a light gray and white tabby

Elders:

Sorrelpatch- A sorrel tabby with amber eyes

Dustytail- A light brown tabby with dappled eyes

Morningsun- A light-colored she-cat


Prologue:

Bearpaw was on yet another hunting trip. His mentor, Dustytail, seemed far more interested in his two new kits, Lightkit and Sweetkit, to notice Bearpaws frustration at the boring pattern that was developing. He supposed it was only natural for him to be proud of the two little she-kits. Even Bearpaw had to admit they were cute- unnaturally cute. With their beautiful blue eyes (recently open) and light patterened fur, it was hard to resist admiring them.

It was also strange that neither of them looked much like their father, but he seemed not to notice, as taken with them as he was. Bearpaw was getting rather annoyed with them though. He was six and a half moons and was itching to train in other things, like fighting.

He scented a mouse, and crouched, stalking it quietly. It would start easily if he wasn't careful. He saw it, a pretty light-colored mouse. It seemed to look right at him with piercing blue eyes. Bearpaw was so surprised at how similar it looked to the kits that he shook his head, causing the mouse to dart away.

Bearpaw hope that had just been a side-effect of not sleeping well. How would he explain to Dustytail he'd caught a mouse that looked just like his daughter? His mentor would just laugh until Bearpaw produced the mouse and then things would be really strange.

No, Bearpaw trotted away from the spot, refusing to catch the mouse (wouldn't the mouse appreciate that?) Instead, he stalked a squirrel he saw foraging beneath the base of a nearby tree. It was a successful catch.

Soon, Bearpaw had five spots with buried prey beneath them. This would take forever to get back to camp by himself! Thankfully, Badgerpaw and her mentor, Ashear, arrived, and Bearpaw was able to enlist them as prey-carriers.

On the way back to camp, Bearpaw noticed Badgerpaw was acting particularly please with herself. When they unloaded their prey at the fresh-kill pile, Bearpaw decided to ask her about it.

"What did you do- fly?" He asked bitterly, knowing his day would be boring in comparison. Badgerpaw narrowed her eyes at him and batted his ear with a paw.

"No, mousebrain, we might become warriors!" Badgerpaw squealed with delight. Bearpaw even smiled at this news. A warrior? This is what he'd waited for since being a tiny kit! "Ashear said she'd talk to Birchstar so we might become warriors!"

"Thats great Badgerpaw!" Bearpaw said, thrilled. Wait until Dustytail heard about this! He would be excited too because he would finally have a chance to be with Morningsun and the kits as long as he wanted!

"Isn't it? I'm going to ask Cloudpaw what his mentor said, he's ready too probably!" Badgerpaw said. Bearpaw rolled his eyes. Cloudpaw was all he'd heard about for two moons, since Badgerpaw had declared him the cutest and friendliest tom ever.

This was a little irritating to Bearpaw, who was already a little unsure about himself. He was a rather large cat, a good head taller then most of the apprentices, and even some warriors were an ear shorter then him. He got his name from that. Badgerpaw was pretty big too, but she was far more graceful then Bearpaw, who had a hard time learning to hunt with his clumsiness.

But size had been an advantage with fighting. He could easily overpower a cat with strength alone, but swift cats could easily attack him before he could dodge. He found this a constant annoyance. It was hard to be the big one.

Bearpaw went to see his mentor, but he was talking with Birchstar and Ashear over by the highrock. He decided to visit the kits and see if they were doing anything interesting. He found it hard to believe how still they were. Bearpaw could remember getting in a lot of trouble because of his constant energy.

"Hello Bearpaw, I hear you might become a warrior soon!" Morningsun greeted. The kits were awake and exploring the den.

"Yes, I can hardly believe it!" Bearpaw said enthusiastically.

"I remember my ceremony, it was really special. You'll never forget yours." She told him. Bearpaw nodded.

"How's Lightkit and Sweetkit?" He asked.

"They're good, they're starting to get curious and move about more." Morningsun said.

"Isn't that normal?" Bearpaw asked.

"Oh yes, soon they'll be out in the clearing getting underpaw whenever they can." Morningsun said.

Bearpaw smiled. Suddenly, he heard Birchstar summoning the clan. He quickly gave his bushy fur a few licks and dashed off after meowing a few farewells. He got there as Birchpaw was speaking

"-Badgerpaw, Cloudpaw, and Bearpaw have been traing for several moons, and their mentors and I believe it is time for them to become warriors. Do you all swear to serve and protect the clan, even at the cost of your life?"

"I do!" Chorused Badgerpaw and Cloudpaw together.

"I do!" Echoed Bearpaw.

"Then I hereby give you your warrior names. Badgerpaw, from now on you will be known as Badgersong. Cloudpaw, from now on you will be known as Cloudwhisper. And Bearpaw, from now on you will be known as Beardance. I congradulate each one of you and welcome you as full warriors of Thunderclan."

"Cloudwhisper! Badgersong! Beardance!" Chorused the clan. Beardance could hardly believe it. A warrior- finally! He smiled with pleasure at the name. It suited him, he knew, because of his odd gait. He looked for his denmates, but they were off talking to their mentors.

"Also, we have a gathering to attend tomorrow night, I want the three new warriors and their mentors to come along, I'll talk with everyone else who is to come later." Announced Birchstar. In the excitement, Beardance had quite forgotten the gathering. He would be attending as a warrior!


The next evening, Beardance was half-listening to the clan leaders and half-watching a Shadowclan warrior who'd ruffled his fur. Beardance didn't like that warriors sinister smile, and wished he'd disappear. His name was Darktiger.

Suddenly, he caught that name coming out of Snowstars announcement. He turned his head to catch what she was saying.

" -Darktiger and his mate, Leopardstorm, had kits, we hope these kits will be healthy and strong and make good warriors for Shadowclan!"

Beardance tought he had misheard, but Darktiger was staring at the cats proudly, his dark fur making him look bigger. Beardance rolled his eyes. Shadowclan was so prideful!

When the meeting was done, Beardance happened to watch Darktiger walking away with a spottted she-cat at his side. Their fur brushed together lovingly. Beardance growled softly.

He didn't like that dark furred warrior or his spotted friend, but Beardance couldn't figure out why. There was a strange foreboding about those two, and Beardance wasn't quite sure why.

Instead, he followed his clan out of the clearing and fell into step with Badgersong... or maybe she fell into step with him, Beardance didn't know which.

"You okay?" She asked him.

"Yea, I just didn't like the look of that Shadowclan warrior." Beardance replied.

"Which one?" She pressed.

"Darktiger," Beardance meowed, "something about him just seems... off."

"Off? He looks strong and proud, like the rest of the clan. Forget about him." Badgersong told him.

"I suppose your right..." Beardance said. "We're falling behind, common!" He called, shooting forward on his strong hindlegs.

"Wait up!" Badgersong called, running after him. However, she stopped when she caught up with Cloudwhisper, Beardance stopped when he realized she wasn't with him anymore. He walked beside Dustytail instead, in silence.


Twenty seasons on...

It was a crisp autumn day, nearly leaf-bare. There was little noise in the forest except that of one large brown cat made his way through the forest.

Beardance was out hunting. Well, not exactly hunting, but that was his excuse. He didn't want to be in camp, not now. His former apprentice and sister would try to comfort him, but it would do no good. What had happened was done.

He could hardly stand it. The guilt that pierced him so deeply it made him loose sleep and hardly eat.

So instead, he preoccupied himself with hunting, even though he was stumbling through the woods so loudly the prey would all be hiding. He found himself suddenly staring at the Thunderpath and towards Shadowclan. Suddenly, he watched a dark cat appear, a kit in its mouth. The kit looked newborn, its eyes shut and its body still damp. Beardance watched in amazement as the warrior put the kit on the Thunderpath, then turned to leave.

"What are you doing?" Beardance called, leaping out from the undergrowth.

The dark warrior turned to look back, glaring hatred at Beardance. Beardance remembered those amber eyes, that dark pelt... Darktiger!

"None of your buisness Thunderclanner!" Darktiger spat.

"Why are you leaving that kit to die!" Beardance demanded. He would not let it! He jumped forward, landing on the Thunderpath and padding towards the kit.

"Back off Thunderclanner." Darktiger growled, flexing his sharp claws.

"If you don't want it, then you back off." Beardance growled, his fur on his back spiking up.

"Its fate is sealed!" Darktiger said, leaping at Beardance. Beardance used his body to make a blocker between the kit and Darktiger. No way was Darktiger getting his claws on this innocent ball of fur!

Hissing, spitting, and growling curses, the two warriors tussled on the Thunderpath. Beardance knew it was dangerous, but at the same time, he knew this kit deserved a chance! Suddenly, the ground shook, and both warriors stopped fighting long enough to look behind them. A monster was coming for them. Darktiger, not willing to risk his life, ran towards Shadowclan's border. He made it, and Beardance ran for the kit, now a few taillengths away. She was whimpering and Beardance grabbed her by the scruff, but knew it was hopeless to head towards his own border. Instead, he crouched low, the kit under his chin and he ducked low.

The monster swerved. Beardance felt his breath taken away as the wind ruffled his fur. The kit cried out, and Beardance licked it's white fur comfortingly. He noticed small speckles of pale gray on her light fur. She was so cute! She backed up slowly, getting comfortably warm in Beardance's bushy fur. He smiled, then realized he had to get moving. Already he felt the ground trembling yet again. He pelted across the Thunderpath with his precious burden - struggling and squealing unhappily - and safely made it to the Thunderclan side.

He dropped the kit gently in the grass on the other side. She was whimpering again. Beardance licked her fiercly, trying to sooth her. She was very small and didn't have the look of a kit who could survive the tough life of a warrior, but Beardance didn't care. He carried her gently back to the camp.

He got a lot of puzzled and curious looks, but he ignored them, taking the little kit to the nursery where his sister was nursing two of her kits. Cloudwhispers little ones too. They were only a quarter-moon old, but they looked healthy and had their parents white and black colors. One was almost completely white, except for his ears and tail, and Badgersong had named him Oakkit. The other one was a black and white tabby named Robinkit.

"Beardance, whats that?" Badgersong asked, her eyes wide when she saw the kit in Beardance's mouth. His sister was a natural mother, already one of her kits, Smallpaw, was an apprentice and the other was already a warrior, Mysticpool. Cloudwhisper had also risen in status, now clan deputy.

"A kit, will you nurse it?" Beardance begged, setting the little kit down. She'd quieted since the Thunderpath, but gave a small growl as Beardance put her down.

"It smells of Shadowclan..." Badgersong hesitated.

"They didn't want her." Beardance explained.

"Well, alright, but you'll have to run this by Birchstar you know." Badgersong said, nosing the little kit towards her belly. The little kit drank hungrily. It was much smaller then Badgersongs other kits, and Beardance hoped the little kit would be alright.

"Beardance? Whats this I hear about you stealing a Shadowclan kit?" Birchstar came into the nursery, breaking Beardance away from his worrisome thoughts. She had an amused look on her face. She knew Beardance, not only a senior warrior and a trusted friend, would never do such a thing unless there was a very good reason. Beardance had one.

"I didn't steal, they were going to abandon it on the Thunderpath- I couldn't just leave it!" Beardance explained.

"I see, but we already have a lot of mouths to feed Beardance, I don't know if this little kit will be able to survive the harsh leaf-bare ahead." Birchstar said gently. It was a warning not to become attached, but Beardance already was.

"She will, her names Spiritkit." Beardance replied. He'd thought up the name when he noticed her determination. She was determined to live! Beardance could sense it!

"Very well Beardance, she's your responsibility therefore you must watch over Badgersong as well." Birchstar said.

"Yes Birchstar." Beardance replied, feeling more energy shooting through him like a fire. Birchstar flicked her light brown tail in awknowledgement. Beardance ran off to fetch Badgersong some food. He choose a squirrel, her favorite, and a vole for himself. It was skinny, a reminder of the harsh season yet to come. He went into the nursery and watched Spiritkit as he ate with his sister.

"I won't lose her Beardance, small as she is." Badgersong told him. She had an amused smile on her face when he tore his gaze from Spiritkit.

"I know, I just..." Beardance couldn't find the words to explain himself.

"You care about her, I know. She is special to you after... the accident." Badgersong herself looked away, choked with tears.

"I'm so sorry." Beardance replied, looking at Spiritkit.

"I know." Badgersong said, getting back to her meal.

"I'll check on her later." Beardance told her sister, flicking his tail goodbye. Badgersong nodded. Spiritkit purred when Beardance licked her head.

This little kit would survive!

TBC

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