AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH! So sorry for my over-two-months-long disappearance! I had SERIOUS writer's block! I mean, I had the ideas and I knew what was going to happen in the chapter, but I just couldn't write it. Do you know what I mean?

Anyway, this chapter wouldn't even be up if TheMouseOfAwesomeness hadn't helped me, so thank her xD

Oh, I also realized that I mislabeled last chapter and put it as six, it was really five.

On to la reviews!

Leafdapple: I hate that feeling when it's something I normally like though. It just gets SO annoying.

Galaxy-drops: Thanks. I'll see if I can work that in somewhere

Zion The Cookie Empress: Sure! *gives cookie*

Leefpool: Oh well. Thanks for reviewing anyway *eats cupcake*

TheMouseOfAwesomeness: Hmmmmm. I was thinking about making one of her brothers get mad later in the story, maybe, but I don't know how to do it xD

~Chapter 6~…

The rain poured down like tears, splattering onto Meadowpaw's fur. It seemed as though even the sky had decided to share in her grief that day. For the clouds were grey and gloomy, reflecting the mood of her heart. Shaking her fur, she trudged over to the fresh-kill pile. She wasn't really in the mood for eating – her mother's death had also caused her to lose her appetite – but knew it was necessary.

But her devotion to her Clan had still lived on, despite her loss. She still had to wake up every morning, train with her mentor, and go on patrols. It was like nothing had changed. She sighed, dragging a small, soggy vole from the pile. If only they all knew her pain.

Carrying her prey, the silvery white apprentice slipped to a spot near the apprentices' den sheltered from the rain by some heather and gorse. Meadowpaw settled herself and started to eat her meal, watching the camp silently, gloomily.

Few cats were out and about – no cat wanted to be out in the rain – but those that were didn't seem unduly bothered by their drenched fur. They were the ones who didn't really care about getting their fur wet. Crazy furballs. Meadowpaw didn't care at the moment, either, but that was just because of her grief.

Due to the small size of the shrew, she soon finished it and absently buried the bones, rising to her paws with a barely audible sigh as the brown tabby figure of her mentor emerged through the rain, heading towards her.

"Border patrol," Dashfire said briefly, his tail tip twitching. He didn't seem very bothered by the wetness, but then again, he had short fur. Meadowpaw merely nodded, following her mentor to the camp exit silently. Fluffypaw and her mentor, Crowfur, waited there. The white apprentice seemed absolutely miserable in the wet weather, while her long-furred mentor didn't seem to be much happier.

With a flick of his tail and a seemingly relieved look – which probably had to do with not waiting around anymore – Crowfur turned around and strode from the camp, closely followed by the two apprentices and the other warrior.

As they padded through the rainy moor, Meadowpaw's thoughts drifted. She thought mainly of her mother, but also of recent events in the Clan. The kind elder, Sedgefoot, had died. He had been old, so it hadn't been that much of a shock when he died. His daughters, Smalldusk and Littledawn, were still very upset, however.

Of course, his death also meant that it probably wouldn't be long before the other elder, Embertail, who wasn't much younger, joined him.

Morningsky had also started expecting kits again; her second litter. Her first litter had been before Meadowpaw was born, but she had heard that it had contained only one, a black tom, who had died at three moons from greencough.

The medicine cat apprentice, Larkpaw, had also gained her full name, Larkwing, at the last half-moon. It had been about time too. Her littermate, Meadowpaw's father, had been a warrior for at least eleven moons when she had got her name. Although, she had been apprenticed late, due to being a sickly kit, but that still meant she had been an apprentice for around fifteen moons.

Meadowpaw was jerked out of her reveries as she walked right into a gorse bush, getting a thorn stuck right in her nose and causing tears to spring to her eyes.

Jumping back with a hiss of pain, she pawed at it until the small thorn came out, causing some blood to flow. She stuck out her tongue and drew it over her nose several times until the bleeding stopped.

Shaking her head, she realized she had fallen behind by several fox-lengths and bounded forward to catch up, slowing to walk beside Fluffypaw.

The older apprentice glanced at her but didn't speak, her fluffy fur soaked through and no doubt causing discomfort. Meadowpaw gave her a nod and they walked in silence until they reached the ShadowClan border.

The sharp scent of the pines was easily recognized even through the rain, and the young apprentice wrinkled her nose in protest, staring at the gloomy forest. How could they live among the trees? It sounded horrible, never being able to see the sky and constantly having that sharp scent up your nose.

Then again, it didn't sound as bad as losing your mother, which she had.

The other three seemed to echo her thoughts, as Crowfur and Dashfire exchanged glances, while Fluffypaw stuck out her tongue.

After a moment, Crowfur led them right up to the border and they all started checking it, and marking it, heading in pairs in opposite directions for a bit before meeting up again and going together.

They found nothing until the end, where the loud call of a cat suddenly cut through the curtain of drizzle, and a grey tabby apprentice came into view a moment later, chasing a rabbit right towards the border.

Crowfur leaped forward, landing on the rabbit just as it crossed the border, and the tabby apprentice skidded to a halt.

"Hey!" He said indignantly. "That was my prey!"

Crowfur eyed him calmly, slowly blinking, but didn't say anything. The apprentice was just starting to look uneasy when three other cats came into sight, one slightly in lead of the other two.

"Stonepaw!" hissed one, a ginger and black tabby tom. "What were you thinking? This is a border patrol not a hunting patrol!"

The grey tabby, Stonepaw, looked sullen but didn't respond, prompting Meadowpaw to think that the tom was his mentor. One of the other cats, a grey and white she-cat who looked about Stonepaw's age, frowned at the other apprentice, though a light in her amber eyes suggested she wasn't really annoyed.

The third cat, a silver she-cat who had an air of authority to her, dipped her head slightly to Crowfur. "I apologize for this apprentice's behavior," she said. "This is only his third time out of camp."

Crowfur merely nodded, accepting the apology, and ducked his head to pick up the rabbit. The jet black tom turned around and signaled for his patrol to follow him with a flick of his tail.

Meadowpaw followed with the others, glancing back once to see that Stonepaw was being scolded by the two warriors. She suppressed a giggle, and for the first time since before her mother died, her heart felt lighter.

..

Meadowpaw pushed her way out of the apprentices' den, yawning slightly. When they got back from the patrol, Dashfire had told her that she was going to the gathering that night and had better get some rest, so she had slept the rest of the afternoon.

The rain had finally stopped and the full moon rode high in the sky, with nary a cloud to be seen. Its silver light shone down into the camp, making her silver coat shine, and she arched her back in a stretch, pushing her forepaws out in front of her.

She relaxed as Rosepaw, her brown and white patched friend, padded over, greeting her with a cheery mew.

The silvery white apprentice returned the greeting, cocking her head slightly. "You're coming too?"

Rosepaw nodded, flicking her tail happily. "Falconpaw is too. And so is Boulderpaw. But Sunpaw, Rabbitpaw, and Fluffypaw have to stay behind, with Lionstrike."

Meadowpaw grinned, slightly surprised at how cheerful she was acting. It wasn't characteristic of her these days. "I bet Lionstrike doesn't like that," she said, continuing to grin at the thought of the arrogant tom's reaction.

Rosepaw nodded, laughter shining in her blue eyes. They shared a moment of amusement before they were rudely interrupted by a call from the camp exit. Turning, they realized that everyone but them was gathered, ready to go to the gathering. Exchanging glances, the two friends bounded forward, joining the group of cats moments later.

Without a word, Snakestar headed out of the camp, Adderfang just behind him, and the rest of them followed.

The leader set a steady pace, one that every cat could keep up with but was still covering ground, and it seemed like no time before they reached Fourtrees.

The group of cats split up, going off to meet their friends, but Meadowpaw just stood there. This was her second gathering, but the first one she had been too frightened to talk to others, so she had stuck by Flowersky the entire time, and hadn't made any friends.

Falconpaw came bounding back, calling out to her, "Hey Meadowpaw! Come meet my friends!"

Glad for something to do, she followed the older apprentice over to a group of four other cats. There were two ShadowClan cats, one RiverClan cat, and a ThunderClan cat. All of them appeared to be apprentices, though one could've been a young warrior.

Falconpaw stopped by them and glanced at Meadowpaws. "Guys, this is Meadowpaw."

The cats chorused greetings and Meadowpaw looked around at them, feeling slightly nervous. Falconpaw nudged her and pointed to the RiverClan cat. "That's Spottedpaw, and the ThunderClan she-cat is Nettlepaw." He then gestured to the two ShadowClan toms, one of which she recognized. It was the grey tabby from earlier, Stonepaw. "And that's Oakpaw, and his brother Stonepaw.

"Nice to meet you," she said politely and sat down, curling her tail over her paws. Nettlepaw, Oakpaw, and Stonepaw started talking to each other, and Falconpaw and Spottedpaw chatted.

Taking the time to examined them, she let her sky blue gaze roam over the four apprentices. Spottedpaw was a rather elegant she-cat with reddish fur and darker, more brown spots. Her eyes were a startlingly bright color of blue. Meadowpaw had to stifle an amused snort as she saw Falconpaw unable to take his eyes off of her as they talked. She certainly was beautiful.

Turning her attention to the others, she tilted her head slightly. Nettlepaw had sleek black fur and her eyes were a dark shade of amber; her wiry frame gave off a sense that made Meadowpaw instantly think she would not be a good cat to cross, despite the fact that she seemed rather good-natured.

Oakpaw and Stonepaw were clearly brothers. They didn't have the same pelt or eye color, but they were built the same way and they had the same wide paws; and overall, they just gave the clear impression that they were related.

Suddenly, the other five apprentices fell quiet and Meadowpaw was abruptly stopped from studying them. She directed her gaze up, and realized that the gathering was starting.

Darkstar of ShadowClan was the first leader to step forward, challenging the other leaders to cut him off with a yellow glare. "Our deputy, Badgerclaw has decided to step down and become an elder. Silverpool has replaced him."

Meadowpaw stretching up on her paws and saw the silver she-cat that had been at the border earlier sitting among the deputies. So that's the new ShadowClan deputy, she thought.

"Gingershade is also expecting kits, and we mourn the loss of Whitepelt, who was killed by a fox while out hunting," Darkstar went on, before stepping back, concluding his news.

Next came Hawkstar of ThunderClan, a powerful brown tom. "Four of our kits have become apprentices, and are now known as Wildpaw, Fernpaw, Dustpaw, and Mousepaw."

Cheers rose from all four Clans, though RiverClan stayed mostly silent, which Meadowpaw didn't get. Weren't all the Clans at peace?

After a brief pause, her own leader, Snakestar stepped forward. "One of our warriors, Morningsky, has moved to the nursery, expecting another litter of kits," he announced, causing Adderfang to look proud. "Also, our medicine cat apprentice, Larkpaw, has finally received her full name, and is now known as Larkwing."

After a pause, the brown and black tabby continued. "And one of our elders, Sedgetail, has passed away. We will always honor his memory."

Finally, he stepped back, and…wait, not Ripplestar, but Mistpelt stepped forward. What happened to Ripplestar? Meadowpaw thought, Did she die or is she just incapacitated?

Apparently, the apprentices around her, except Spottedpaw, shared her confusion.

"I regret to share the death of our leader, Ripplestar," Mistpelt said, head slightly bowed. "She died of her wounds after a battle with ThunderClan." At this, Meadowpaw mentally nodded. So that was why RiverClan did not cheer for the new ThunderClan apprentices.

"I received my nine lives at the Moonstone and am now Miststar," she said after a pause. "My new deputy is Mossycloud. Also, Willowpool has given birth to her kits, a healthy litter of three. They are named Streamkit, Nightkit, and Softkit."

On that note, the leaders concluded the gathering, and leaped down from the Great Rock. "'Bye," Nettlepaw said quickly as the ThunderClan deputy, Flaremist, called for her. The wiry black cat jumped to her paws and dashed to the bright orange she-cat.

Spottedpaw left soon after, leaving Meadowpaw and Falconpaw with Stonepaw and Oakpaw. Their Clanmates called out for them at the same time, prompting an amused laugh from Oakpaw and Falconpaw.

As she and Falconpaw hurried to join their Clan, Meadowpaw glanced over her shoulder, watching her new maybe friends leave with their own Clan.

Her gaze met Stonepaw's ice blue one and she shivered as a chill went down her spine, and she hurried after her Clanmates.

~Allegiances~…

WindClan

Leader: Snakestar- black and brown tabby tom with piercing amber eyes (Apprentice: Falconpaw)

Deputy: Adderfang- black tom with striking amber eyes

Medicine Cat: Heatherbreeze- pale grey she-cat with light green eyes

MCA: Larkwing- small grey and white she-cat with pale blue eyes

Warriors:
Morningsky- creamy golden she-cat with silver tints in her fur and sky blue eyes
Marigoldheart- golden tabby she-cat with leaf green eyes
Swiftstep- black and white tom- black forepaws and black left hindpaw, white right hindpaw, black patches over his eyes- with dark blue eyes
Skypelt- white tom with long, black-tipped fur and sky blue eyes (Apprentice: Sunpaw)
Smalldawn- small light grey she-cat with golden markings and blue eyes (Apprentice: Boulderpaw)
Littledusk- little light brown she-cat with pale ginger markings and dark blue eyes
Violeteyes- brown she-cat with odd violet-colored eyes
Whiteflower- white she-cat with perpetually ruffled fur and yellow eyes
Crowfur- jet black tom with long, thick fur and dark amber eyes (Apprentice: Fluffypaw)
Wrenfur- grey tabby she-cat with short fur and bright green eyes (Apprentice: Rosepaw)
Featherleap- silver she-cat with dark tabby markings on her legs and blue eyes
Grassclaw- dark grey tom with long claws and green eyes
Spottedheart- dilute tortoiseshell she-cat with big blue eyes
Hawkwind- light brown tom with white paws and amber eyes
Dashfire- brown tabby tom with green eyes (Apprentice: Meadowpaw)
Cloudfur- grey and white tom with silver markings and blue eyes
Runningwater- brown tabby tom with blue eyes (Apprentice: Rabbitpaw)

Ashstorm- light grey tom with light blue eyes
Eagletail- dark brown tabby she-cat with a long tail and piercing amber eyes
Gorseshadow- brown and black tabby tom with light blue eyes
Sandpool- sandy brown she-cat with light blue eyes
Lionstrike- golden tabby tom with dark amber eyes
Nightleaf- jet black she-cat with long, thick fur and leaf green eyes

Apprentices:
Falconpaw- brown tom with little silver streaks and green eyes
Fluffypaw- fluffy white she-cat with blue eyes
Rosepaw- brown and white patched she-cat with blue eyes
Sunpaw- pale ginger tom with long legs and blue eyes
Rabbitpaw- grey and white tom with blue eyes
Boulderpaw- grey tom with silver markings and blue eyes
Meadowpaw- silvery white she-cat with sky blue eyes

Queens:
Morningsky (expecting)

Kits:
None

Elders:
Embertail- dusky brown tom with a ginger-flecked tail and green eyes

Mates:
Littledusk&Swiftstep
Morningsky&Adderfang
Violeteyes&Skypelt
Smalldawn&Snakestar
Featherleap&Dashfire
Marigoldheart&Crowfur

RiverClan

Leader: Miststar- light grey she-cat with yellow eyes

Deputy: Mossycloud- tortoiseshell and white she-cat with blue eyes (Apprentice: Thornpaw)

Medicine Cat: Splashtail- black and white she-cat with a silver tail and blue eyes

Warriors:
Daisystream- cream she-cat with white patches and pale blue eyes
Reedclaw- black and silver tom with green eyes
Mudwhisker- dark brown tom with long whiskers and amber eyes
Oaktooth- pale brown tom with a white chest and amber eyes
Piketail- spiky-furred brown tabby tom with a long tail and amber eyes
Troutshade- white tom with large black patches and very dark blue eyes
Blackfur- pitch black tom with a white muzzle and ears and green eyes
Redfoot- reddish she-cat with blue eyes
Dawncreek- bright ginger she-cat with silver flecks and blue eyes
Willowpool- light grey she-cat with long, fluffy fur and blue eyes
Volepelt- pale brown tom with dark yellow eyes
Hailstorm- dark grey tom with yellow eyes (Apprentice: Spottedpaw)
Lakeripple- silver and grey she-cat with blue eyes
Petalcloud- grey she-cat with blue eyes
Fishtail- silver tom with blue eyes

Apprentices:
Spottedpaw- reddish she-cat with spotted fur and blue eyes
Thornpaw- tabby tom with thorn-like markings and amber eyes

Queens:
Willowpool (mother of Streamkit, Nightkit, and Softkit)

Kits:
Streamkit: light grey she-cat with a white muzzle and green eyes
Nightkit- pitch black tom with long, fluffy fur and blue eyes
Softkit- light grey she-cat with long, fluffy fur, black paws, and blue eyes

Elders:
Mothleap- tortoiseshell she-cat with green eyes

Mates:
Daisystream&Reedclaw
Redfoot&Oaktooth
Willowpool&Blackfur
Lakeripple&Volepelt

ShadowClan

Leader: Darkstar- very dark grey tom with white speckles and yellow eyes

Deputy: Silverpool- silver she-cat with a white left hindpaw and aqua-colored eyes (Apprentice: Cloudpaw)

Medicine Cat: Stripefur- brown tom with a white stripe running down his back; yellow eyes

Warriors:
Blackwhisker- pure black tom with white whiskers; bright green eyes
Nightshade- black she-cat with grey eyes
Ivysnow- calico she-cat with ice blue eyes
Scorchblaze- ginger and black tabby tom with amber eyes (Apprentice: Stonepaw)
Rockclaw- grey tabby tom with amber eyes and long claws
Redflash- red tom with streaks of yellow and amber eyes
Rowanleap- reddish brown tabby tom with long legs and amber eyes
Snowflight- white she-cat with black speckles and blue eyes
Pinefrost- dark brown she-cat with white paws, chest, tail tip, belly, and a white ring around the neck; emerald green eyes (Apprentice: Longpaw)
Deerleaf- brown/grey she-cat with white forepaws and leaf green eyes
Gingershade- light creamy ginger she-cat with dark ginger tabby legs, ears, muzzle, and tail, and a white tail tip; light green eyes
Smokefoot- brown/ginger she-cat with black paws and pale aqua-colored eyes
Leafflash- light brown tabby she-cat with white paws, chest, and muzzle, and yellow eyes
Frostpatch- seal point Siamese tom
Patchtail- white tom with a grey tail and grey patches; dark violet-blue eyes
Grayfoot- white she-cat with dark grey paws and dark blue eyes
Nettlefur- tortoiseshell tom with a white muzzle, hind paws, and left forepaw; blue right eye, green left eye
Fireblaze- bright ginger tabby she-cat with white paws, chest, throat, and muzzle; dark blue right eye, light blue left eye (Apprentice: Oakpaw)
Shadedapple- dark brown marbled she-cat with a small white patch on her chest and yellow eyes
Hazelstep- seal point Siamese she-cat
Thistlefang- tortoiseshell tom with pale aqua-colored eyes

Apprentices:
Stonepaw- grey tabby tom with long claws and ice blue eyes
Oakpaw- calico tom with amber eyes
Cloudpaw- grey and white she-cat with amber eyes
Longpaw- calico she-cat with grey mixed in and long claws; ice blue eyes

Queens:
Nightshade (mother of Crowkit)
Gingershade (expecting)

Kits:
Crowkit- black tom with grey eyes

Elders:
Badgerclaw- black and white tom with long, blunt claws and amber eyes

Mates:
Ivysnow&Rockclaw
Gingershade&Rowanleap
Nightshade&Redflash
Deerleaf&Frostpatch
Smokefoot&Nettlefur

ThunderClan

Leader: Hawkstar- brown tom with paler brown paws and darker brown spots; amber eyes

Flaremist- bright orange she-cat with misty blue eyes (Apprentice: Pinepaw)

Medicine Cat: Sundewe ginger she-cat with silver speckles and pale blue eyes

MCA: Poolripple- cinnamon-colored she-cat with sapphire blue eyes

Warriors:
Silverwing- silver she-cat with a long tail and yellow eyes
Graypelt- dark silver tabby tom with white hindpaws and dark blue eyes (Apprentice: Nettlepaw)
Stripesnow- snow Bengal she-cat with dark blue right eye and grey left eye
Thornstep- brown tom with white legs, belly, chest, and muzzle, and light green eyes
Honeywind- golden she-cat with white stripes and yellow eyes
Yellowclaw- light ginger tom with amber eyes
Smokyshadow- smoky grey tortoiseshell she-cat with a small white spot on her chest and pale blue eyes
Dappleriver- tortoiseshell she-cat with blue eyes (Apprentice: Dustpaw)
Grassheart- tabby tom with green eyes
Greenheart- tabby she-cat with yellow eyes
Blazefur- orange and black tortoiseshell tom with a white spot on his chest and golden eyes
Sandyleaf- sand-colored she-cat with white forepaws and leaf green eyes (Apprentice: Fernpaw)
Ravenflight- black tom with light grey paws and amber eyes (Apprentice: Mousepaw)
Shadetail- pure black tom with a long tail; green eyes
Robinfeather- red and brown mottled she-cat with green eyes
Flashtail- golden tabby tom with yellow eyes
Elmbranch- grey she-cat with amber eyes
Roseleaf- reddish she-cat with green eyes (Apprentice: Wildpaw)
Bluecloud- bluish silver she-cat with white paws and muzzle, and sapphire blue eyes
Lilyfire- white she-cat with amber eyes
Oakclaw- brown tom with blue eyes
Leafstorm- elegant dark brown tabby she-cat with amber eyes
Brownfur- brown she-cat with yellow eyes
Eaglestrike- brown and white tom with yellow eyes

Apprentices:
Nettlepaw- black she-cat with amber eyes
Pinepaw- tortoiseshell tom with amber eyes
Wildpaw- light ginger tom with yellow eyes
Fernpaw- tabby she-cat with amber eyes
Dustpaw- tabby she-cat with amber eyes
Mousepaw- tabby she-cat with amber eyes

Queens:
Robinfeather (mother to Swallowkit and Flamekit)

Kits:
Swallowkit- brown and black mottled she-cat with golden eyes
Flamekit- orange tom with reddish paws and green eyes

Elders:
Foldedear- grey tom with green eyes and a permanently folded ear
Stormleap- dark grey she-cat with a silver streak down her flank and sapphire blue eyes
Ashcloud- grey she-cat with green eyes

Mates:
Honeywind&Hawkstar
Silverwing&Thornstep
Stripesnow&Blazefur
Dappleriver&Ravenflight
Greenheart&Yellowclaw
Robinfeather&Blazefur

..

Ahhhhhhhh! My longest chapter yet! 11 pages on Microsoft word and 3,786 words! I can't believe it!

Meadowpaw plushies if you review!

~Indy