Disclaimer: I do not own the Warriors series, Erin Hunter does. Also the idea of the Fearsome Foursome rightfully belongs to malicent. However, all characters and the plot are mine.

Big thanks to malicent for letting me use the idea of a Fearsome Foursome :)

"That which does not kill us makes us stronger."

-Friedrich Nietzche

Chapter 4: Silver Stars

I screamed as I was pulled under again, water filled my mouth and my lungs. I wanted to cough, spit, and cry or do all three of those things at the same time. The water was cold and heavy, numbing my body so it tingled and throbbed from the pain of being smacked against the stone bottom of the river.

You know how someone would always say your life flashes before your eyes right before you die? We'll mine didn't, could it have? Had I really even lived a life? Does being rejected by your siblings and stuck to daydream by yourself for five moons count as life?

Weakly, I managed to open my eyes. A dark form was coming towards me and for a second I was worried it won't reach me in time because of the waterfall that could only be about twenty cat-lengths away by now. Was it the silver she-cat from my first death? Would I get to talk to her again? Should I put up a fight once more, is my life really that much worth fighting for?

Of course it is, I tell myself, only a coward doesn't fight, and you are not a coward; you are strong.

The dark form was closer now. I didn't recognize the face however. A small brown she-cat with blue eyes similar to the color of the river. She reached out a paw and I forced myself to try and grab it.

Teeth hooked themselves to my scruff and strong paws cut through the water, allowing us to surface seconds later. My aching lungs sucked in the air gratefully as I drank it in with famished gasps.

Now I could see there was another cat helping me. It was a silver tom with black stripes who swam up next to the brown she-cat and gently helped steer me towards the shore. With a fearful growl I slammed my paws hard against the water, "I'm ThunderClan! Take me back to my shore!" I know I'm begging but I almost died. Again. And all I wanted to do was go home and curl up in my soft nest.

The she-cat's voice was sympathetic as she spoke through the mouthful of my fur, "You'll get home, but we need to rest first; my brother and I are tired."

The two managed to somehow make it to shore just before we went over the waterfall. The brown she-cat released her grasp and grabbed a willow branch in her jaws, using it to steady herself as she swam out of the current and onto the bank.

I reached out to grab a branch but the silver tom grunted and miraculously managed to pull us both onto the bank. I collapsed against the soft grass and coughed up water, groaning in pain. My stomach ached from swallowing the river water and my paw still stung from where I had cut it.

"That was a close one!" the brown she-cat chuckled nervously. "What were you doing? Don't you know ThunderClan cats don't swim?" she teased.

I hissed, "I wouldn't have been in the water in the first place if I hadn't been startled." The silver tom shot me an apologetic glance and I glared at him when I realized it had been him that spooked me.

Sensing the tension the brown she-cat gave me a friendly smile, "I'm Brookkit and that's my brother, Bravekit," she introduced herself proudly.

Struggling to my paws I stared at them curiously, "That was good swimming for kits," I commented lightly.

Bravekit bristled in defense, "Hey we're almost apprentices! Besides we've got to be the best if we want to be worth something," he retorted.

"Leopardkit?" a familiar voice called. I felt myself freeze. What will my Clan think seeing a five-moon-old kit outside of camp with two kits from a different Clans on enemy territory? StarClan, I was an idiot. Reluctantly I turn to see my guilty-faced brothers with Cloudykit standing there watching me along with Poolmist, Firepelt, and Stormflight, all staring questioningly across the river. "Hi," I mumbled, not meeting their gazes.

"Why didn't we get to meet kits from another Clan?" Wolfkit muttered with jealousy in his voice.

With ease Stormflight leaped across the stepping stones and landed on RiverClan's bank gracefully. Walking over he scooped me up in his jaws and I huffed in annoyance at being carried, "I'm five moons old, I can walk," I growled.

He pointedly ignores me and instead stared at Brookkit and Bravekit, "I trust you two not to mention this accident lest your Clan discovers you snuck out of camp?" he meowed, though it sounded more of an order than a question.

The two nodded obediently and Stormflight started towards the stepping stones once more. For once I'm grateful to be carried because my paws ached so bad I thought they might fall off. "Thank you," I whispered as he crosses the river and we started back to camp.

A feel a rumble in his chest from silent laughter. I managed a small smile; at least I'm not in huge trouble. I mean, Stormflight doesn't seem that mad . . .

I feel a bit of doubt as we entered camp. Thousands of eyes seemed to train themselves on all the kits, causing me to gulp audibly. Stormflight set me down and I scurried over to my brothers and ducked behind them, not wanting to be the cause of so much attention.

Even though we aren't the closest siblings, my brothers aren't cruel. They pushed together, forming a small wall between me and the crowd. Relief flowed over me and I watched as Swiftstar emerged from her den and started to cross the clearing towards us.

Despite the fact the other kits had snuck out of camp I knew I would still be in the most trouble because I actually crossed the border and was talking to cats from a different Clan. Poolmist explained quietly to Swiftstar, mumbling in the leader's ear and occasionally shooting eye rolls in my direction.

I always said had said she was a tattletale.

Swiftstar was silent when Poolmist finished, letting the information slip down nice and easy. "Cloudykit, Wolfkit, Gingerkit, and Leopardkit it has come to my attention you snuck out of camp without alerting anyone of your whereabouts or intentions, is that right?" the black she-cat asked.

"Actually that was what Wolfkit, Cloudykit, and I did. Leopardkit was by herself," Gingerkit corrected ThunderClan's leader with an innocent smile.

Traitor! I shot him a withering glare but he wasn't paying me any attention to notice. Swiftstar looked at me sternly, "Leopardkit, it's one thing to leave camp in a group but by yourself? Think about the dangers you put yourself in—all of you!"

We shot each other guilty looks and I stared pleadingly at Swiftstar, knowing the others were doing the same.

"Any of you could have gotten seriously injured or worse! But, despite your actions, I will not postpone your ceremonies," Swiftstar meowed, "however, you all must take care of the elders for one moon into your apprenticeship." A quiet round of booing erupted from our small group but we didn't push it.

Satisfied, Swiftstar padded away towards her den and the bystanders broke up, continuing with their normal activities. A small sigh escaped my mouth and only then did I realize I had been holding my breath while waiting for Swiftstar to decide her punishment.

"Are you excited?" a quiet but deep voice asked me from behind me.

I whipped around with wide eyes and my fluffy kit-fur puffed up in fear, "Don't scare me," I mumbled with embarrassment when I see it's only Stormflight.

He looked at me with amusement, "Your ceremony is tomorrow," he reminded me, staring at me with his calculating gaze as if he was trying to decide whether or not I'd make a good apprentice.

I stared right back into his eyes with my fiery green gaze that blazed with determination, "I'm ready for it," was all I said.

A small smile tugs on the corner of his lips but before he can reply someone calls me from across the clearing. I watched him go and I found myself hoping I passed whatever kind of test he had just set up. With jealousy I see him sit with three other warriors: Finchfeather, Thornwhisker, and Leafshade. Also known as the Fearsome Foursome; an elite group of warriors. They're the best of the best and everyone who's not a member of their group dreams of joining it. Not like it's easy though, the only way to get in is if a member dies or is kicked out—which is very, very rare.

Not that they're a horrible group of tyrants but not much is known about what being in the Fearsome Foursome because no one knows anything about them.

First there's the leader—Stormflight—who is the big decision maker of the clique, he's wise and strong but almost mysterious. Personally to me he's dangerous because no one understands him, I shivered.

Next is Finchfeather, a light ginger tom with two front claws that are permanently crossed in the shape of an X. He's not that bad, pretty nice but very stern and a close follower of the rules.

Third is Thornwhisker, he's big and strong but not very compassionate with a big temper to top it all off.

Finally there's the youngest member and the only she-cat—Leafshade. She's a very young warrior but has proved herself over and over, even having lost an ear in a vicious battle with ShadowClan.

I allowed a small yawn of weariness to slip out of my mouth before I limped over to the medicine den where inside I found Redfeather nibbling on a pathetic looking mouse. I settled down next to him, "Hi," I meowed tiredly.

He glared at me, "What were you thinking, Leopardkit? You could have been killed, waltzing onto enemy territory like that!" he snarled.

We got nose-to-nose as I stood up and faced him, giving a loud huff so he can clearly understand just how annoyed I am. "So I slipped into the river, big deal! I made it out didn't I? Do I look hurt to you?" I asked seriously.

"You limped into the den," Redfeather pointed out. StarClan! He never misses a detail, does he? I thought crossly. Mumbling under his breath he dug through the herb storage before pawing some spiky leaves in my direction. "Chew those up and put it on your paw," he instructed before going back to his meal.

I obeyed and talked to him as I do so, "Do you think I could join the Fearsome Foursome?" I asked curiously.

Redfeather scowled at his food, "Why would you want to be in that group of snobs?"

"They aren't snobs," I say defensively. ". . . You're just jealous you aren't one of them," I snapped and stalked out of the den, tail twitching back and forth. Though I let my excitement win me over in the end, only one of the four members of the Fearsome Foursome has an apprentice. I can't contain the purr of happiness that escaped from me because of what good odds I have about being one of the Four's apprentice. But being as clumsy as I am in my cheerful prancing I stumbled over my own paws and a sharp pain shot through my sliced paw once again.

A feral growl ripped through my chest and I spat out the herbs I had been chewing for so long. They sat in a sticky paste on the ground as I turned my paw over to examine the damage. I gasped in surprise; on my paw instead of a swelling cut there's a small silver star etched into the pad of my paw. I stared at it in wonder and gently touch the star with my nose. It was burning hot and I pulled back with a squeal of surprise.

"Leopardkit are you coming to bed? It's getting dark," A glossy black queen—Shimmermask—asked from the entrance of the nursery.

I looked around in surprise to find the clearing was mostly empty. "Coming!" I called and scrambled into the nursery.

Look I got the update done 3 days early :)

*****Next update around 4/19/13 or 4/20/13ish (because I have to update A Night of Storms)*****

~Stormyyy