Disclaimer: I do not own Warriors.

Note: Chapter one's in Sandpaw's POV. Enjoy!

Âme Empoisonnée

"May all cats old enough to catch their own prey join here beneath the Highrock for a meeting!"

Bluestar was sitting on the Highrock as the sun set and the full moon rose. The different light patterns illuminated her fur in many ways. Most of her blue-gray coat looked purple in the bloody red light of the dying rays of the sun, giving her a very unnatural look.

"Tonight is the Gathering. Along with myself, Redtail, and Spottedleaf, the cats attending will be Dustpaw, Lionheart, Graypaw, Mousefur, and Speckletail. Willowpelt, take Ravenpaw and Runningwind on a border patrol. Whitestorm, get Sandpaw and Longtail and go hunting. Tigerclaw, you're in charge of camp until we return."

I don't get to go, but Dustpaw and Graypaw do? Sandpaw thought resentfully. Dustpaw was only a half-moon older than she was, and Graypaw was the most idiotic cat in the world. She knew that Graypaw was a new apprentice—Lionheart had taken him on the tour around the territory just yesterday—so he had a right to go, but why did Dustpaw get to go with him?

While Sandpaw thought furious thoughts at Bluestar, Graypaw, and Dustpaw, the first of those three leapt off the Highrock and landed on the grassy ground with a small thud. Little clouds of dust came up around her legs. "We go immediately!" she shouted, flicking her tail in a beckoning way. The cats she had called joined her, and they set off.

"Come on, Sandpaw!" snapped Whitestorm a bit after they had left, striding over to her with his white-furred head held high and his big yellow eyes showing irritation. "I'm not going to call you again. Longtail's waiting for us!"

"You've been calling me?" asked Sandpaw absentmindedly. Her train of thought was still on the subject of resenting Bluestar, Graypaw, and Dustpaw.

Whitestorm hissed, exasperated. "Of course I have!" growled her mentor. "Let's go. We can't stand here all night." He bounded off toward Longtail, who was tapping his tail impatiently on the ground as Sandpaw lingered.

"At least you get your own mentor," Ravenpaw muttered beside her. "I've got to deal with Willowpelt and Runningwind. I only know them 'cause they're in my Clan!"

Sandpaw rolled her eyes. She knew that Ravenpaw would rather have to patrol with a bunch of ShadowClan cats than have to deal with Tigerclaw. She had just opened her mouth to say so when they heard a new voice.

"Ahem."

Sandpaw jumped. So did Ravenpaw. She recognized the voice, but it was less deep than Whitestorm's and much more angry. She whipped around. There, looming over her, was Tigerclaw himself.

"You're supposed to be hunting with Whitestorm and Longtail," he snarled. "And Willowpelt and Runningwind are waiting for Ravenpaw here. You're distracting him and wasting your mentor's time. Isn't that true?" Tigerclaw stared at her in a way that suggested he was trying to be intimidating. He succeeded.

"True," Sandpaw whispered meekly. Usually she was more defiant and headstrong, but she could feel the storm coming, and it was named Angry Tigerclaw.

"True. Too true. Now go join your mentor, and work extra hard to prove that you deserve the prey you'll catch. And you should go, too, Ravenpaw." The warrior's amber eyes glinted menacingly. "Or later you'll have to beg for a bit of the tiny shrew that Sandpaw gets to eat."

Tiny shrew?! Sandpaw had to bite her tongue to stop herself from screeching something horrible at the huge tabby. Her old self was back with a vengeance. Ravenpaw, meanwhile, had scurried off, and Willowpelt's patrol had left.

Not having anything better to do, she obediently loped over to join Whitestorm and Longtail. Both warriors glared at her with piercing eyes for what seemed like eons before Whitestorm finally said, "Thank you for joining us, Sandpaw. Now let's go."

It was the beginning of new-leaf; the frost had begun to disappear, the snow was starting to melt, and the forest was looking green again. Sandpaw tried to enjoy the experience, but Whitestorm and Longtail were murmuring to each other, shaking their heads, and looking back at her constantly, so she didn't appreciate the brisk air or the pretty scenery. She had a feeling they were talking about her, and when warriors did it, she hated it.

She concentrated on hunting, knowing that Tigerclaw would have her go without food if she didn't perform well on this trip. Whitestorm would probably try to defend her, of course, but Tigerclaw could be very persuading at times. Sandpaw shuddered just to think of those wicked amber eyes.

She chose the wrong moment to think of them. Her shudder rustled the bushes slightly, and the mouse she had been stalking dashed away into the slightly green undergrowth. Sandpaw hissed in annoyance. She turned around and, to her horror, saw that Whitestorm was shaking his big white head in disapproval. Longtail, pompous as usual, just looked at her with a disdainful sneer planted on his face.

Oh, StarClan, they saw that. Why had they chosen that moment to stare at her? Why had they chosen that moment to turn around and give her some attention? Why had they chosen that moment to watch her with every StarClan-forsaken eye they had? Why had they chosen that moment to—

"Ambush! ShadowClan!" screeched a sudden voice, and a small black tom hurled himself into the clearing. He was out of breath, and his nose had a deep scratch in it like Tigerclaw's did. A trickle of blood flowed from the cut.

Longtail gasped. "Ravenpaw!" Sandpaw tilted her head to one side. The apprentice hadn't been very recognizable, but now that Longtail mentioned it, by StarClan, it was Ravenpaw.

"Ravenpaw, what is it?" Whitestorm demanded. His voice was authoritative, but Sandpaw noticed the flicker of worry in his eyes.

"Brokenstar…he attacked Runningwind…Willowpelt's at camp…asking for help…she said to stay with Runningwind…but I knew you guys could help…" He gasped for breath and moaned; Sandpaw could see that he was on the verge of collapsing. "Help…please…"

"Calm down, Ravenpaw." Whitestorm stalked over to the young apprentice to help support him. "Did you leave Runningwind all alone?"

"Yes…but he…killed Brokenstar…"

"How many times?" Sandpaw demanded, wishing for nine but thinking it was probably only one or two. Whitestorm sighed, shaking his head. Apparently her curiosity was too much for him. His loss!

"Just…once…" Ravenpaw took some deep breaths, at Whitestorm's instruction. His sentences became more decipherable as he continued, "But he needs help. Brokenstar…he might wake up soon…" He looked pleadingly at Whitestorm. "You've got to help..."

"Yes, I know." Whitestorm glanced over his shoulder at Longtail and Sandpaw. "C'mon. Let's go help Runningwind. He's a good warrior, and maybe we can help him squeeze in a few more murders of Brokenstar. Where did you say it was, Ravenpaw?"

"I didn't…but…at Snakerocks!" His green eyes widened. "No! Runningwind…he'll get bitten! As long as he's fighting Brokenstar, he'll…he'll be blind!" He turned to Whitestorm, his voice pleading. "Come now!" He dashed off into the forest in the direction of Snakerocks. The three cats stared after him.

"Right," said Whitestorm, somehow still calm. "Follow me." He charged after the young cat with a sudden burst of speed. Longtail followed suit, quickly catching up with the senior warrior. Sandpaw stayed behind for a second, her heart pounding and her mind whirling. This day had transformed from boring to crazy, and she wasn't sure which adjective she liked more.

She took a deep breath and dashed after her Clanmates.