Sorry it took me so long to update! Exams, school and blah. But summer is almost here so I'll be able to update more often!
Enjoy!

Leopardpaw was lying down in a patch of sunlight, glaring at the ground.

Stupid ShadowClan. She thought.

Leopardpaw had been doing nothing for days now, too much in grief to do much. But Mosspaw seemed to be taking it all well.

Maybe she doesn't understand that Brownpatch is really gone, Leopardpaw thought, because Mosspaw was younger than her, almost a season.

"Leopardpaw!" Came the sharp meow of Timberstar. Leopardpaw looked up, her leaders eyes once again held pride in them, but the sadness was still there.

"What are you doing?" Timberstar demanded, flicking his tail irritably.

"Umm, lying down." Leopardpaw mumbled, looking down. Timberstar sighed. "Leopardpaw, it's been almost half a moon since your mother died, I know your grieving for her, but you can't just sit there and do nothing!" Leopardpaw flinched at her leader's harsh tone.

"Timberstar! Be nice, she doesn't need this right now." Flowerleaf came to stand beside Timberstar. Even Timberstar couldn't disagree with Flowerleaf, she was too respected. Timberstar gave Leopardpaw one last look then stalked off towards his den.

"You know, Leopardpaw, Timberstar is also having a hard time, Brownpatch was a very special cat to him," Flowerleaf meowed then lied down in front of her.

"I remember when your mother was a kit, she was always in the warriors den," Flowerleaf rolled her eyes, "She definitely couldn't wait to be a warrior, always saying she was going to be the best warrior ever, and you know what? She was. I have never seen such a warrior," Flowerleaf's eyes where momentarily glazed over with a memory.

"You know, she was my apprentice." Leopardpaw was shocked at this, perhaps that's why Flowerleaf was always watching Brownpatch or always praising her.

"I think you're not afraid of battle because your mother never was. Just like you," Flowerleaf eyed her, "Just because I don't go out to battles anymore doesn't mean I don't hear what goes on. I heard how you carelessly jumped into that battle with ShadowClan by the border, not even thinking to crouch then spring. But that what also makes you one of the bravest cats I've ever known, especially for an apprentice."

Flowerleaf sighed, "Which is why I think if, Brownpatch was battle ready, just because she wasn't afraid of it, but she wasn't ready for it. That's why I think she was killed, she might not have been scared but she wasn't ready for it." Leopardpaw listened, hearing how her mother used to be, or how she was.

Flowerleaf looked at Leopardpaw. "Another thing about your mother is that she never gave up. Even when everything seemed like nothing would turn out."

Then the elder heaved herself up and padded into the elders den, leaving Leopardpaw staring after her. Leopardpaw sighed then stood up and headed towards the fresh-kill pile. Blackpaw and Mosspaw where crouching together, sharing a mouse.

Leopardpaw wished she had that kind of relationship with Blackpaw. Then something struck her, she didn't even really have a relationship with any cat, only her mother and Clawstripe. And now they were both gone.

Leopardpaw looked up at the darkening sky, one star shone brightly, and Leopardpaw wondered if that was her mother. Leopardpaw looked at Blackpaw and Mosspaw and cleared her throat.

Blackpaw looked up. "Oh, hey Leopardpaw!" Blackpaw said brightly, he was almost a season older than Leopardpaw; he should be made a warrior soon. Mosspaw looked up, her green eyes brightened up.

"Leopardpaw!" Leopardpaw couldn't help but purr, her siblings did like her, but did they love her, like a sibling should? She shook that thought, of course they did!

"Guess what Leopardpaw! Blackpaw's warrior ceremony is today!" Mosspaw meowed, sitting up and licking a paw and rubbing it over her whiskers. Leopardpaw's ear pricked up. "Wow! That's great, Blackpaw!" Leopardpaw couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealously, she was bigger than Blackpaw, but he was older.

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own food join here beneath the great rock for a Clan meeting!" Timberstar yowled from the great rock. Cats gathered around, a curious gaze in each cats eyes. Huh, they must not know about Blackpaw's ceremony today.

Leopardpaw thought, sitting beside Blackpaw and Mosspaw. "Cats of ThunderClan, I bring great news! Blackpaw please step forward." Timberstar meowed.

Blackpaw took a step forward, his head high. "Blackpaw, you have learned the ways of the warrior, and you have proved that you ready.

"Timberstar then looked to the skies. "StarClan, I ask that you look down on this apprentice and approve that he ready to become a warrior. Blackpaw from this day forward you will be known as… Blackstorm!" Yowls surrounded the camp.

"Blackstorm, Blackstorm!" The Clan chanted. "But, this ceremony is not over," Timberstar meowed.

"Mosspaw," Leopardpaw stared at her leader in disbelief, he was going to make Mosspaw a warrior before her?

"You have trained as a warrior for a little while, but you have told me and Cindernose that, that is not the path you wish." Mosspaw nodded slightly.

"And that you wish to be Medicine cat apprentice. Mosspaw by the powers of StarClan I now name you medicine cat apprentice." Then Timberstar looked at Cindernose. "Cindernose, make sure you pass on your incredible medicine skills and your endless care for the sick and injured." There was a quick silence before the Clan started chanting Mosspaw's name. But for some reason, Leopardpaw could not.

Sunset was crawling closer, the sky was turning a red colour and Silverpelt was starting to reveal itself. Leopardpaw was drowsily sharing tongues with Blackstorm.

She had decided to try and build a strong relationship with Blackstorm, since Mosspaw was now medicine cat apprentice! Just then an alarming yowl came from Foxtail, who was on guard.
Leopardpaw bolted up, ears pricked forward. Then Foxtail jumped down from his guard post and flicked his tail.

"Never mind, it's just some loner." Then the loner came trotting into the camp, her head and tail held high.

She was actually a strikingly beautiful cat; her face was a dark brown with a white stripe from her muzzle with the middle of her eyes. Her front legs where all white and her tail and back where brown, but her eyes where the most brilliant of blue eyes, even more brilliant than Stormpaw's.

"Well, what is your name?" Timberstar demanded when the loner had reached the middle of clearing and looked up at Timberstar. "Dalila," She said in a quiet voice, but it was heard all through the camp.

"Dalila? Hm, what an odd name," Timberstar observed. Dalila nodded. "Yes, it means gentle."

Timberstar twitched his tail. And from the corner of her eye, Leopardpaw saw Brambleclaw flinch. "Anyway, what do you want?" Timberstar asked. Dalila looked Timberstar right in the eye. "I want Bramble to come back home with me." There was a low growl from Brambleclaw.

"Have you got bees in your brain?" Leopardpaw hissed at Dalila.

Timberstar was angered by this. "What? He's a warrior! Not a rogue!" Timberstar spat at Dalila.

"No, but you have to listen! He's my nephew! I have kits and… and I need help with them!" Dalila seemed desperate now.

"Then where's your mate?" And to Leopardpaw's surprise it was Brambleclaw who spoke, his eyes and mew ice cold.

"I-I don't know. He left me." She hung her head.

"Liar! You don't have kits. You hate kits." Brambleclaw drew his lip in a beginning of snarl. Leopardpaw looked at Brambleclaw with shock; he obviously didn't like his aunt.

"Brambleclaw! You should some respect towards your aunt!" Cindernose scolded. "Respect?" Brambleclaw spat, he seemed enraged.

"She deserves nothing! And believe me when I say that." Brambleclaw glared at Dalila. But Dalila met his stare with the same coolness. "Alright then. I'll just leave."

Then just like that Dalila turned around stalked out of camp. There was a silence in the camp.

Then Timberstar looked at Brambleclaw with a questioning look. "Well, Brambleclaw? What was that all about?" Brambleclaw shook his head then looked up at Timberstar. "I rather not share it," Brambleclaw meowed, his tail drooping. "As you wish." Timberstar nodded then returned to his den.

Leopardpaw watched as Brambleclaw stalked out of camp, his tail and head drooping. Leopardpaw made sure no one was looking than padded after Brambleclaw.

When Leopardpaw found Brambleclaw, he was sitting by the river that divided them from RiverClan territory. Leopardpaw slowly padded up to him.

Brambleclaw turned his head slightly too look at her. "What do you want?" His eyes were wary, expecting her too make a rude remark. "I just came to see if you were okay," Leopardpaw murmured.

"Oh," Brambleclaw turned his head back to the river. "You know… You can tell me what happened between you and your aunt." Leopardpaw meowed.

Brambleclaw hesitated then looked at Leopardpaw, his eyes sparked with anger. "She's not my aunt. She's my mother."

Leopardpaw stared at him with wide eyes. "Your mother? Then why did she say you're her nephew?" Leopardpaw tipped her head to the side. Brambleclaw chuckled darkly. "Because she's a liar. Always has been." He paused a moment then turned his head slightly to Leopardpaw.

"Can I trust you?" he meowed.

"Of course."

Brambleclaw took a deep breath then turned back to the river. "When I was a kit, my mother tried to kill me. She hates kits," He chuckled darkly again, but there was no humor.

"She did end up killing my sister though." Leopardpaw let out a gasp of horror. "Who could be so cruel? Especially to kits!"

"She's… A cruel cat. She's the complete opposite of my father," When Brambleclaw spoke of his father his eyes gleamed. "I only met him a few times, only because my mother wanted nothing more of him. You know, he was a Clan cat."

Leopardpaw purred. "Well, then, we know where you get your loyalties from towards the Clans!" There was a hint of amusement in Brambleclaw's eyes.

"Yes, you could say that. He would always tell me stories when he came- or sneak to come and see me- but he was a ShadowClan cat." Brambleclaw looked at Leopardpaw.

"He wasn't like the ShadowClan we know now, he had a good heart," He paused again.

"But, he had too many unwanted whispers in his ears. He became too ambitious. You know his mother was ThunderClan, so ThunderClan blood does run in my veins." Leopardpaw stared at him in shock. So, he has ThunderClan blood! Which means no cat could question me if become my mat- Stop that! You should be thinking that right now. Leopardpaw thought then shook her head.

"What was her name?" Leopardpaw asked, after a minute a silence.

"Fierceheart," Brambleclaw meowed, staring out at the river again. Leopardpaw jumped away with shock.

Fierceheart? As in the cat that almost destroyed ThunderClan? Leopardpaw thought.

Brambleclaw looked at her oddly. "Is everything alright?" Brambleclaw asked.
"Y-yes, I'm fine. But did you say, Fierceheart?" she asked again. He nodded.

"Yes, I did. And I know what you're thinking, but Leopardpaw I will never become like her." His eyes where intense and pleading.
Leopardpaw blinked. "I know,"

But then Brambleclaw turned away from her, his tail lashing. "You're lying."

Leopardpaw stepped toward him a pressed her muzzled against his shoulder. "Brambleclaw, I trust you with my life." Leopardpaw meowed. Brambleclaw turned his head back to Leopardpaw. And just as he was about to say something, Brightpaw burst through the bushes. "Oh! There you are! Hawkheart has just had kits! Two toms!"

Brightpaw jumped up and now, her eyes bright. "I'm going to be an older sister!" Leopardpaw purred at Brightpaw, then stood up and followed Brightpaw back to camp, with Brambleclaw trailing behind.

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