A/N: It's suspenseful but it's worth it. Enjoy!
Leafclan
LeaderFernstar- Pale brown she-cat with ruffled fur.
DeputyBouncetalon- Dusky brown tom.
Apprentice, Orangepaw
Medicine CatWavespill- A kind and beautiful blue-gray she-cat
Apprentice, Honeypaw
WarriorsClovertail- Orange she-cat with green eyes.
Redthroat- A gray tom with a blood-red chest.
Turtleclaw- A brown tom with green eyes.
Whitefoam- Small, pure white she-cat with a bubbly attitude.
Apprentice, Gorsepaw
Gingerbolt- Ginger she-cat with sunny yellow eyes
Apprentice, Valorpaw
Dragonlull- a kind, pale brown she-cat
Brighteyes- A black she-cat with bright blue eyes.
Apprentice, Junglepaw
Wolfblaze- Brown tom.
ApprenticesJunglepaw- Dark brown tom.
Gorsepaw- Pale brown she-cat with a ginger tail.
Orangepaw- Orange she-cat with sunny yellow eyes.
Valorpaw- Gray tom with leafy green eyes.
Honeypaw- Ginger she-cat with blue eyes.
QueenOnyxleaf- Tortoiseshell she-cat, mother of Turtleclaw's kits, Sedgekit, Thornkit, Talonkit.
Lilystripe- Pure white she-cat, mother of Wolfblaze's unborn kits.
EldersWrenstain- Black she-cat with one brown splotch.
Stemtopple- Clumsy yellow tom.
Prologue"Wavespill, have you heard any Starclan news?" A leader asked frantically.
"Yes I have Fernstar." Wavespill said calmly. "One forbidden, one unhidden, but in the end blood will be spilled."
"What in Starclan's name does that mean?" Fernstar blurted out.
"Not even I know, but blood will be spilled."
Chapter 1
Orangepaw was running for her life. There was a ravenous fox at the border and it had almost bit her tail tip off. She wished Valorpaw was there but it was only her, Bouncetalon and Dragonlull. She slowed, panting. Bouncetalon and Dragonlull skidded just in front of her. Swiftly padding through the forest they finally reached camp. Valorpaw and Gingerbolt ran up and started licking them. Orangepaw was head over tail in love with Valorpaw and he somewhat liked her too. Bouncetalon went off with his mate, Gingerbolt, to report the fox to Fernstar. Valorpaw just dashed to the fresh-kill pile, picked up a scrawny mouse and padded back over. "Sorry. This is all to offer in leaf-bare so we have share this tiny mouse." Valorpaw said sadly.
"I know, it's sad but, I can get through it as long as I'm with you." She bent her head and took a gulp of the meager offering. Valorpaw playfully batted her ear.
"I like you but, I'm not sure if I want to be mates when we're warriors yet." Heartbroken, Orangepaw padded, head down, to the apprentices' den and settled down in her nest. She didn't sleep but she looked out into the clearing. How could Valorpaw do such a thing? She thought to herself. There's no one I could love more. And he knows that but he still isn't sure yet. She almost said out loud. Her heart was full of agony. Gorsepaw padded into the den.
"What are you doing in here?" She asked comfortingly. Gorsepaw was her best friend.
"It's Valorpaw."
"C'mon, you two aren't even warriors yet. Trust me he likes you but toms are mouse-brained at the apprentice stage, I thought you were with me when Whitefoam told me about Redthroat." She said her eyes full of concern. "Let's go hunting to take your mind off things, I'll go ask Whitefoam and Bouncetalon."
"By ourselves?"
"Yes. I need to talk to you, no mentors but, we will still hunt so nobody will notice that we didn't only go out there to hunt" She said, her blue eyes blinking deviously. She turned and dashed out. Getting to her paws, Orangepaw stretched and padded out. She saw Gorsepaw flick her tail toward the Bramble Tunnel. Gorsepaw came up and they walked side by side out into the forest.
"What did you need to say?" Orangepaw asked curiously.
"Valorpaw is just confused. He doesn't know who he wants yet, he's probably looking at a young warrior like Brighteyes." Gorsepaw explained.
"But still…" Orangepaw's voice trailed off.
"But what?" Gorsepaw challenged.
"But what if he doesn't end up with me?" Orangepaw wailed.
"Then just move on. If he's mouse-brained enough to choose anyone other than you, then he's not worth it." Gorsepaw said fiercely. "Now let's go hunt."
Orangepaw hunted sloppily. She scared away three mice and had only caught a vole. Gorsepaw on the other hand had caught two blackbirds and a squirrel. "Let's go back now. Here." Gorsepaw said giving Orangepaw the squirrel to carry. "Now it looks like we both hunted even."
"Thanks." Orangepaw said, her head down and her tail dragging through the dust.
Finally padding into camp, they set down their prey and went into their den. Whitefoam intercepted them meowing, "Good job you two. But lucky you guys that wasn't your assessment. I'll tell Bouncetalon." The two went into the den and settled down for the night. Orangepaw slept next to Gorsepaw as usual because, Valorpaw always went off at night because he likes hunting in the dark. As she drifted to sleep, Valorpaw clouded her thoughts.
Blinking her eyes sleepily, Orangepaw arched her back in a long luxurious stretch. She scanned the den and Valorpaw wasn't in his nest yet. It was dawn so if he was on the patrol, his bedding would still be warm but it wasn't. She padded out of the den to see that Valorpaw still wasn't in sight. Then she heard a rustle at the tunnel and the gray apprentice skipped inside. What is he so happy about? "Hi Orangepaw!"
"Valorpaw. Am I the one you want to be with? I need to know."
"Well…"
"Valorpaw! Now, no wells!" Orangepaw demanded.
"Orangepaw I can't make that decision yet."
"Sure ya can! Just tell me and if you don't, well… I'll leave you alone… forever." Orangepaw barely uttered the words.
"No! Not yet! I need time!" Valorpaw roared like a warrior of Lionclan.
"Fine!" Orangepaw whirled around and stalked back to the Apprentices' den. If he wasn't going to be her mate, then she'd just have to find another.
The morning was bright. It had been many sunrises since Orangepaw's fight with Valorpaw. She hadn't felt his warmth since then and she regretted the fight. Valorpaw was nowhere near though. Suddenly, he burst into camp, panting. Orangepaw ran to him, "What is it?" She asked frantically. Again he ignored her. Sprinting, he made his way to the high-slope.
"Earthclan's invading!" He screamed. Orangepaw saw him take a small, nervous gulp. That gulp wasn't only about the battle. Orangepaw wondered what was going on but already enemy cats were streaming into the clearing.