The past three sunrises had gone well for Windpaw. She had not been teased by any her clan mates but the cats that would usually tease her avoided her. She got the feeling it was going to rain today so she went on the dawn patrol, an early hunting patrol, and an early training session. Echostar was impressed by her skill and taught her the most important skill for Windclan cats: Running.

Echostar had brought Grasspaw and her mentor and Windpaw's father, Blazefur, with them. Echostar did an example run and Windpaw watched her every movement. She studied how the gray leader's paws stretched as far as they would go then spring back under her. As Echostar slowed to a trot she asked, "Are you ready to try?"

Windpaw nodded and her heart pumped with determination. She padded up to the start and took a deep breath before dashing away. She felt her muscles stretch with every bound. She breathed out with pure bliss. It felt like she was running on the wind! She spotted her grandfather watching from a nearby boulder and she waved her tail as she ran she neared the start and suddenly Grasspaw joined the race. Windpaw bounded faster, feeling the energy start to drain and she thought she would give up...

"You can do it, Windpaw! I believe in you!" Windpaw's head shot up at Quietclaw's encouraging words and she thought of things that would fuel her energy. The first thought that came to mind was of how her own mother treated her as a three moon old kit. Anger surged through her and added to her energy, she was almost half way done. The next thought was of how everyone in her clan had turned against her. She growled and sped past Grasspaw. She was starting to get used to this! Finally, as she neared the end, she thought of the cats that wouldn't want her to give up: Willownose, Quietclaw, Echostar, herself, and Snowpaw... His blue eyes flashed in her eyes as she past the start and whipped around to face her father and leader.

Echostar looked taken aback, "You... You were so fast! How did you run faster than an older apprentice?" Blazefur scowled and was growling quietly.

Windpaw shrugged and flicked her tail before padding back to camp. She was so happy and relieved! But all that changed as the sun went down...

Deerspring and Sandclaw rushed into camp, calling for help. Echostar and Fallenclaw rushed to their aid and began to question them as Berryfeather and Tinypaw looked over their wounds. Windpaw padded closer with Quietclaw and Snowpaw following.

Deerspring whipped her head around camp, "They were everywhere! We were ambushed and they clawed us, declaring war!"

Echostar hissed, "It's those no good gang again! They killed Timberfoot last green-leaf for fun..."

Windpaw shook with fear and looked to see Emberkit standing tall, "I'll take them on! They are just mice compared to me!" Windpaw pulled him back by the tail and he began wailing to Appleheart.

Their mother rushed over and shoved Windpaw back, "How dare you harm my kit? I should rip your ear right off-"

"How dare I? How dare I? How dare you! You left your own kit to learn and fend for herself at the age of three moons! Three moons! You should be ashamed of yourself! When Emberkit goes to the Dark Forest for what he has done to me I won't be there to comfort you. From now on... I am no one's kit. You decided that three moons ago when you abandoned me..."

Appleheart looked at her paws and nodded before padding back to the nursery. Echostar padded up and placed a tail on the bristling apprentice's shoulders but the young she-cat shook it off. As far as Windpaw knew, her own heart was made of stone. For the rest of the evening she stayed in the apprentice den, not talking to anyone, not even Snowpaw.

What her parents had done to her as a kit was unforgivable. So she would never forgive them. Even as she began to fade in StarClan she would never feel for them again. It hurt her so much that at one point they loved her and then they left her like a piece of old fresh-kill. She remembered crying herself to sleep countless times in her short life and thinking, what did I ever do to deserve this? Why would they give me a taste of love and then rip it away from me? Windpaw answered her own question without thinking; StarClan had turned their backs on her.

Windpaw was ripped out of her thoughts by the battle screech of Echostar and she dashed out to see the war patrol leaving. Quietclaw was on the patrol and he turned to her as he padded out, "Don't worry. I promise I'll come back! Bye."

Windpaw watched him leave whispering, "See you later..."

She looked around and spotted a finch on the fresh-kill pile and ate it in famished gulps. Berryfeather padded towards the entrance and Windpaw called, "Where are you going?"

Berryfeather shot over her shoulder, "I'm going to tend to the wounded so that they can keep fighting."

Windpaw nodded and turned back to her meal. Mousepaw padded over to her and sat across from her, "You okay?"

Windpaw replied, "Yes. I was just thinking... What if something happens here and we need Berry-"

A screech sounded from the nursery and Appledawn called to Windpaw, "Moonwing is kitting! Get help!"

Windpaw rushed to Tinypaw and told her the situation and the young Medicine Cat quickly got the herbs she needed and dashed over to the queen in need. There were many loud screeches and one in particular, "Gorsegaze! Please help me! It hurts..." Whimpers and more yowls came from the nursery and soon the moon was high in the sky by the time Tinypaw padded out.

Windpaw rushed past the apprentice and looked into the nursery. There, settled in her nest, was Moonwing. At her belly were two kits. One was a tawny gray she-kit with a silver tail and the other was a silver tom with black splotches on his pelt.

Just as she pulled back outside the war patrol returned. They all were bloodied but still standing. Windpaw was happy to see that Snowpaw had returned with minor wounds but that all faded when she saw what he was helping carry on his back.

"No..." Windpaw whispered and dashed to his side. He set down the mass of bloody fur and looked away, unable to stand the look in Windpaw's eyes. There, bloody and dead, was Quietclaw. His eyes were still open but clouded over. There were many deep claw marks all over his body.

Echostar stepped forward, "We tried to save him..."

Windpaw growled low in her throat and looked up at her mentor, "You didn't save him! He's dead and I won't ever get to say hello again... Won't feel the touch of his fur when he congratulates me... Won't get to say good-bye..."

Tears fell down her muzzle and she rushed out of camp. StarClan had taken a loved one from her! He promised he'd return... They were going to play moss-ball together... Now she would never be able to do that again..."

She settled under a tree with the wind's gentle song rushing around her as she was overwhelmed by darkness...

Dun dun dun! Hello! Star whisper says hi too! Next chpter will be up as soon as she sends it to me, and thanks for reading!

REVIEWS!

Youknowme (AKA Starwhisper XD): No, Thank YOU! It is fun writing your story! That sounded weird but there you go…

Dark Hollyleaf: Hello. XD

Dark Hollyleaf: She said: "Oh and Starwhisper, what do you plan on doing with your other story? A lot of people liked it you know, including me. Did you give it to another author, quit it, or are you going to edit it at some point? If you need ideas, I have those too. I'm a writer myself. If you don't know what to do with it, perhaps a vote would be a good idea." So if you'd be so kind as to answer that Starwhisper…?

Doglovermastiff: So true! You must be a wise one… O.o

Remember to review and share the love! (if you want to that is…)

Maple and Star, out~