Chapter 2

Mistpaw woke up stunned, she flashed back to the incident that happened last night. She stood up and looked around. Nothing was what she was use to, everything was different. She took in a sniff of the area and opened her mouth to taste the air. It was dull and murky. Hardly any light showed through the path of trees around her.

She suddenly felt a burning sensation on her paw. She lifted it up to lick it but stopped before it touched her mouth. Her eyes beamed at the small mark that took up her paw. The mark clearly showed a full moon with a shadow of a cat in front of it.

She put her paw back down and search for a creek to soak it in. When she did find one she looked at her reflection. Stunned again she jumped away. She had seen a white cat with bright blue eyes. She looked at her fur and it was her normal gray color. When she looked back at her reflection she dabbed at the water when she saw that she was a tabby cat.

Every time she touched the water her pelt color changed. After doing this for a few heartbeats bubbles started to rise to the surface. She jumped back when she saw a glowing figure at the bottom of the creek. Th cat rose and rose to the surface but it could never reach the top. The she- cats lips for a sentence that seemed to say "Help me!" Dozens of cats appeared in the creek each trying to get out of the creek.

Mistpaw yelled into the air "Where am I! Help me!" the wind picked up and rustled her fur. She listened carefully when she finally heard something. Soulclan

"Mistpaw are you okay?" she heard. Feeling frightened she yelled again this time she closed and opened her eyes. She shot up and realized she was in her nest again next to Blackpaw. "Are you okay?" he said again.

"What happened? Where was I?" Mistpaw blurted out.

"You're here with me. It's okay. You freaked me out for a few heartbeats." he meowed nudging her closer to him.

"What happened?" She said fear in her eyes.

Blackpaw licked her ears trying to sooth her, "You were screaming. I tried to wake you up but every time you said something about a place called Soulclan." he looked deeply into her eyes as if to say I will never let anyone hurt you. Mistpaw leaned onto him. It was nice having him around, she considered if she really did love him. He leaned closer to her and stayed by her side until she closed her eyes and drifted into sleep again.

The next morning everyone was up and moving around the camp. Mistpaw looked up to thank Blackpaw for comforting her but he was already gone. She slowly got up and made her way to the fresh kill pile. Smallpool was eating a Water Vole, the scent of it made her jaws water.

Smallpool turned to look at Mistpaw with sincere eyes, "You know, you stole Blackpaw's heart." she said. Mistpaw felt her face go warm, "He talks about you all the time. He really loves you. And he wants to tell you everything, including-"

Mistpaw looked toward Smallpool after picking a black bird, "I know, he told me last night." She interrupted.

Smallpool smiled for just a moment, "I can't believe he would tell so quickly. You weren't suppose to find out until you're a warrior."

Mistpaw tilted her head in confusion, "About him loving me?"

"No! About you're past and you're-" she paused, "So he didn't tell you! Okay I've said to much. I got to go!"

Mistpaw thought about what Smallpool had just said. What did she mean when she said "He told you and you weren't suppose to know until you were older?" she thought. She had to say something but she couldn't think what. After a heartbeat she decided on, "Wait! What do you mean?"

Smallpool looked around and shushed her. "Come with me!" She finally said. She led Mistpaw to a small bushel of trees and whispered, "Don't tell anyone about this!"

Mistpaw gave a firm nod and added, "I promise!"

Smallpool checked around her before she meowed, "You're mother and sister are still alive." Smallpool looked away from her as if she was trying to hide away what she had just said.

It had been moons since she had thought about her past family. The memories of her mother and sister were very faint. Since she had no mother she had suckled on Brightwing with Blackpaw, Icepaw, and Heatherpaw. After what seemed to be an eternity of being shocked Smallpool got up and walked back to camp. I still have a family! She thought.

She tried to get everything off her mind. The last few days had just been crazy! With Flamepaw, Blackpaw, her family, and her mark. Her mark! She had completely forgotten about it. She looked down but it was barley visible.

"Mistpaw!" her mentor called. Quickly she ran out and caught up to Blazeeyes.

"Sorry, I got distracted!" she said trying to hide what she had just learned.

"Poppyheart wants me to organize the morning patrol." he meowed, "I need you, Raventail, Icepaw, and Brightwing."

"Where are we going?" Mistpaw questioned.

"The edge of our territory and Lightningclan's." Blazeeyes turned to lead the way around the forest until they reached the edge of their territory. When Blazeeyes twitched his tail to signal everyone to stop Mistpaw scented the air. Her heart filled with warmth when she recognized Flamepaw's sweet scent.

"Looks like we found another morning patrol!" Raventail commented.

Mistpaw walked forward to the very edge of their territory ignoring Blazeeyes. She was glad that Blackpaw wasn't there with her, she needed to be away from him even if it was for only a little while. She twitched her ears straining her ears to her for Lightningclan cats.

When she caught a glimpse of Flamepaw she lost control of herself and tripped over a rock. With a hard crash she heard a rush of cats and snarls gather around her. She looked up and found herself surrounded by three Lightningclan cats. "Mistpaw! Get back onto our territory!" Blazeeyes shouted.

She hopped quickly back onto Moonclan territory at his shout. She smiled a little bit when she saw that Flamepaw was the only one who was glaring at her. "What were you wanting apprentice? Prey, Territory?" A large dark gray tom spat.

"Back off Nightshade! She tripped!" Blazeeyes spat back.

"Does Moonclan not teach it's apprentices how to stand on all four feet?" he teased. Mistpaw's paws itched with irritation. She looked innocently at Flamepaw hoping he would say something. He caught her eye and quickly turned away.

"It won't happen again." Blazeeyes said more calmly. He turned around and looked at Mistpaw, "It won't, will it Mistpaw?" he questioned. Mistpaw gave a firm nod before turning to look at Flamepaw.

"That's what you said last time." Nightshade added. He turned and looked at Blazeeye's face that was ruefully turned down, "Remember? Your precious first mate Leafstream. How she was trying to sneak to your secret hiding spot, before I killed..."

"Okay! You're done!" he shouted loud enough that could have shook the forest floor.

"What is he talking about?" Mistpaw meowed. She looked sincerely into his eyes. She was trying to understand what she had just heard but she couldn't. He loved Lillypetal.

"Nothing!" he finally replied. Mistpaw turned and glared at Nightshade.

"Do we have to do the same thing to Mistpaw?" Nightshade chuckled.

"You heard them! She tripped!" Flamepaw finally butted in. Nightshade turned around and snared his teeth at him.

"Why do you suddenly feel like protecting these useless cats?" Flamepaw looked away and then back at Mistpaw. "Oh, I see! You have feelings for her! You're trying to protect her!"

Flamepaw flashed his head around, "No you're wrong! I have no feelings for her!" He shouted. "I just want to keep peace!"

"Tell her that!" Nightshade snarled.

"What?" Flamepaw shouted back.

"Tell her! Prove to us that you are still faithful to our clan." he whispered into his ear.

Flamepaw looked ruefully up at Mistpaw's worried eyes. He walked over and whispered, "I'm sorry! I will explain everything later! Meet me here tonight!" he backed up and said, "You mean nothing to me!" he looked back toward Nightshade and slowly walked away.