My time among the Clans was short. Embracing life was not my main concern. It was all about my Clan. Nothing more, nothing less. I only wish I could have enjoyed life while it was possible. I had one shot. One opportunity. And I didn't take it. My name is Hiddenmoon, and this is my story.

"All cats old enough to swim against the current gather before the TideRock to hear my words!" called Piperstar, leaping up onto the reddish stone surrounded by tidepools.

Shellkit was already sitting at the edge of the tidepool, impatiently waiting for us to join him. "C'mon, guys! We'll never be apprentices if you don't get over here!"

"Okay, okay. We're coming, Shellkit!" called Kelpkit, bounding up to Shellkit. My brother, Wetkit, pelted past me and sat down next to Shellkit, his eyes round with excitement. I followed him and waited for the rest of the Clan to gather around us.

"Today, four kits have come to the age of six moons. It is time for them to be given their apprentice names," announced Piperstar, resting her gaze on each of us.

"There should be five of us becoming apprentices," murmered Kelpkit from next me. I felt my ears droop a bit. Our youngest sister, Sandkit, had died two moons ago. She had strayed away from camp and drowned in the ocean while searching for shells. A chance wave came up behind her when she was unearthing a blue shell and she was swept away into the vast sea.

Are you watching this, Sandkit? I asked her in my mind. I felt a familiar warmth by my side and knew it was Sandkit. I smiled and looked up at Piperstar as she continued.

"Shellkit, step forward," ordered Piperstar gently. My brother did as he was told and took a step forward. The salty water of the ocean washed up on his paws as he stood.

"Shellkit, you are ready to receive your apprentice name and begin your training. Addershadow shall teach you and guide you through the next six moons of your life. Addershadow, I trust that you will pass down all you know to Shellkit.

"Shellkit will no longer be known as Shellkit, but by Shellpaw, for he is now an apprentice in OceanClan." The cats around me hollered and cheered my brother's new name. Shellpaw dipped his head and padded silently over to his new mentor.

"Wetkit, step forward," meowed Piperstar, and immediately my brother stepped forward into the water.

"Wetkit, you are ready to receive your apprentice name and begin your training. Cloudfoot shall teach you and guide you through the next six moons of your life. Cloudfoot, I trust that you will pass down all you know to Wetkit.

"Wetkit will no longer be known as Wetkit, but by Wetpaw, for he is now an apprentice in OceanClan." Again, the Clan whooped and hollered and my brother stepped over to Cloudfoot.

"Kelpkit," continued Piperstar once the Clan was quiet, "step forward." Kelpkit excitedly stepped forward into the ceremonial pool, trembling from nose to tail tip.

"Kelpkit, you are ready to receive your apprentice name and begin your training. Poolheart shall teach you and guide you through the next six moons of your life. Poolheart, I trust that you will pass down all you know to Kelpkit.

"Kelpkit will no longer be known as Kelpkit, but by Kelppaw, for she is now an apprentice in OceanClan." Kelppaw raced over to her mentor and exchanged a wink and an excited purr.

"And finally, Hiddenkit. Step forward." I fumbled forward into the tidepool and looked up at the strong leader.

"Hiddenkit, you are ready to receive your apprentice name and begin your training. I shall teach you and guide you through the next six moons of your life.

"Hiddenkit will no longer be known as Hiddenkit, but by Hiddenpaw, for she is now an apprentice in OceanClan." My heart skipped a beat. Piperstar was going to be my mentor! I almost jumped for joy once she finished, but I kept myself together.

It was tradition to stand next to your mentor until the Clan was dismissed, so I scrambled up onto the large rock and stood next to Piperstar. Reedfang had done this when he was her apprentice seven moons ago, he had told her.

I looked up at Piperstar and she smiled down at me. I felt my ears become hot and I looked down at my paws.

"As you know, leafbare is approaching, and there is a chance that the ocean will freeze again like last leafbare. I advise all of you to stop fishing in the ocean and start fishing in the river if you don't want to freeze to death," Piperstar meowed, flicking her tail. "I will also be making a permanant patrol to go up to twolegplace to get catmint during leafbare. These cats will be Cloudfoot, Hiddenpaw, Brokenwave, Torrentclaw, Shellpaw and Eelpelt."

All of the chosen cats nodded, including me. "Clan dismissed!" called Piperstar, and all of the cats began to break apart and go back to the cove.

I hoped that all of the catmint that we would gather would not be needed this leafbare.

•~•~•~That Leafbare~•~•~•

Bitter coughing filled the den and echoed throughout the cove. Another case of Black Cough I thought with a sigh. Within four moons of apprenticeship, deadly Black Cough had broken out in the Clan. There were only three kits left in the nursery, and we had already lost two apprentices and seven warriors, including my father, Torrentclaw. I really missed him.

As I got up to go and see who had the disease, my breath caught in my throat. Kelppaw and Shellpaw were laying in their nests, coughing and gasping. I immediately pelted to Willowbranch's den and told her about my siblings' condition. She rushed out with sweet smelling leaves in her jaws.

I showed her to where my brother and sister were sprawled out.

~•~•~•Sunhigh•~•~•~

"I am so sorry, Hiddenpaw. There was nothing I could do to save them. Shellstride and Kelpfur will be missed greatly," Willowbranch told me solemnly.

"It isn't fair!" I cried. "First Sandkit, then TorrentClaw, and now Shellstride and Kelpfur!"

"I know it's alot. Just please eat these. They will ease your pain," soothed the pale ginger she-cat, nudging small black seeds to me. I took a long hard look at the berries and weakly lapped them up.

I layed my head on my paws and closed my eyes. I awoke to silver light shining on my face. The moon I thought, standing up. I padded out of the medicine den and through the entrance of camp. I sat down in a silver beam of moonlight.

I looked up at the familiar moon. It was the first thing I had ever laid eyes on. It was so beautiful and mysterious, yet calm and comforting at the same time. I loved the moon and Silverpelt. I used to worship them, but being an apprentice with duties left me with barely any time to come and enjoy the calm light of the moon.

"Starshine, I am so sorry for not talking with you for a while. Kelpfur, Shellstride, Sandkit, Torrentclaw, I hope you can hear me. I miss you. And Dad, I promise that I'll help Wetpaw take care of Mom," I whispered, my voice fading into the darkness of the night.

Then I stood up and went back to camp. I curled up in my nest and watched the moon for a while before falling asleep.

~•~•~•Two Moons Later•~•~•~

I smiled as my name was cheered. "Hiddenmoon! Wetstep! Hiddenmoon! Wetstep!"

I had been waiting so long for this day, and now it was here. I was a warrior now. The cheering died down and everyone looked up at Piperstar.

"Clan dismissed!" called Piperstar, leaping off of the TideRock.

I dipped my head to her and padded alongside my brother to the entrance of camp. Cats congradulated us on their way past and we gave them thankful nods and smiles in return. Once every cat was inside, me and my brother blocked off the entrance with our bodies.

I bowed my head and let out an inaudible sigh as the moonlight soaked into my fur. It was a feeling I would never forget.

I looked up at the moon and saw something run along its surface. It ran around a bit, then soared down, straight toward me. I gasped when I saw it's face. It was Sandkit! Familiar figures soared down beside her. It was Kelpfur, Shellstride and TorrentClaw! They were here, right in ftont of me. Wait... Why are they here? I asked myself, confusion clouding my mind.

"Crashing down will come a glowing stone. In its path a warrior will stand and fall and the full moon's light will cover all," said Sandkit mysteriously. I was really confused now.

"Huh?" I mumbled, staring at my sister with confusion. I had been looking at my paws, trying to figure out what this mysterious message meant, and when I looked up, the only family that was there was Wetstep.

My vision was clouded with confusion. What had just happened? What did the message mean? What did it have to do with me? I didn't understand, but I would soon.

I kept getting similar visions of my siblings and my father telling me the message, and it began to bother me. I was starting to struggle with my duties, and everyone began to worry about me.

I began to stick close to Cliffstrike, one of my best friends. After a while we became mates and had a litter of two kits. A silver, black and white she-kit named Poolkit and a dark gray and pale ginger tom named Pebblekit.

In the time that I was expecting, a new Clan had formed called VineClan. It took about three moons, but now we had gatherings with them. The first one was being held two weeks after my kits had turned four moons.

I had been chosen to go to the first gathering, as I had been a loyal warrior all of my life. I was very nervous. And no, it wasn't because I was going to have to meet other cats.

I was still being traumatized by the horrible visions and message that came with it. "Crashing down will come a glowing stone. In its path a warrior will stand and fall and the full moon's light will cover all." The words flashed through my head over and over again as me, Cloudfoot, Cliffstrike, Fernpaw, Wetstep, Addershadow, Turtlepaw, Gingertuft, Urchinpaw, Foampelt, Nightfeather, Wrenwing, Sharptalon and Piperstar left for the first gathering under the full moon.

The last seven words of the message echoed through my mind on the way to HighTree, the gathering place.

I was worried and frustrated because one of the elders, Swiftrunner, was apart of a Clan that did not last long among two other Clans. He said that at the first gathering, a sacrafice was made in order to commence the truce between the Clans. The sacraficed cat had been crushed by a fallen tree that snapped the branch he was sitting on.

My throat was dry as we approached the large tree where the Clans would meet in peace and harmony for many seasons to come. I leapt up onto a branch beside Cliffstrike and huddled close to him. He made me feel safe.

Soon, the cats from OceanClan and VineClan were gathered and the gathering was started. Introductions were made and many of the cats were already getting along. I stayed with Cliffstrike the whole time.

While Vinestar was speaking, I saw a faint glow in the distant sky. It seemed to be getting bigger and bigger. Finally, I realised what it was. I jumped up and yowled, "We need to leave, now! There is a giant glowing stone coming straight toward us, and if we don't get away, we'll all be crushed!"

"Hiddenmoon, what are you-," but Piperstar never finished, she was to busy evacuating cats from the area. I helped, nudging cats along quickly.

Once everyone was out, I did a final sweep of the area. There was no one there. I was about to leave when I noticed the glowing stone flying at me, roaring as it went. I wouldn't be able to escape if I tried. I heard Cliffstrike's desprate cries for me to get out, but I couldn't.

Instead, I looked at him and called, "I love you! Take care of our kits, Pebblepelt and Poolmist!" I gave him a weak but loving smile as the rock neared closer and closer. It's shadow was already over me, and in seconds it would crush me. Tears brimmed my eyes as I smiled at him.

Then, all I could hear was the cracking of all of my bones in my body being crushed. It was a quick moment of immense pain, and then a feeling of perfect calm washed over me.

I opened my eyes to see me brother, my sisters and my father standing right next to the stone. I ran over to them and nuzzled them all. Tears formed in my eyes.

"I didn't want to leave..." I murmered through my tears.

"I know. And that's why you are going to go back. As Hiddenkit of OceanClan," purred my father.

I looked up at him with surprise. "R-really?!"

"Yes, but you must wait, my daughter. It will be a full season before you will be ready to go back. Until then, watch over your family as a star in the sky."

I nodded and turned my gaze to Cliffstrike. I knew how much it pained him to see me struck down so cruelly. He had collapsed and was yowling in agony. I touched my nose to his cheek and whispered, "I will always be with you. I love you."

He looked right at me, and he knew I was there. I smiled and licked his ears before I followed my family into the stars.

~•~•~•Twenty Moons Later•~•~•~

A yowl came from the nursery. Poolmist lay in her nest, her mate, Currentdash by her side. She was kitting. Mapleleaf rushed in with herbs and began helping the queen through birth.

The final kit was out. Three toms and three she-kits. Six kits in total.

"Hmm... How about Sandkit for this one? And Shellkit for this one?" suggested Poolmist.

Currentdash nodded. "Then this one can be Torrentkit, and this one can be Kelpkit."

Poolmist felt tears come to her eyes. The final to kits looked like her mother and father. "Cliffkit for this one and Hiddenkit for this one," she mewed, moving her kits closer to her.

"They're perfect."