Thankyou all for your awesome support. I'm really hoping you enjoy this. I don't know if you read this bold at the top of anyone's story anyway but I'll keep on writing up here! There could be something important sometime because people keep asking me what this had to do with Squirelpaw and Leafpaw… I told you up here once that this setting is complete fan fiction.

Tigerstsar was just critical to the story plot. He's one of the only original cats that show up. Now I've probably offended people, sorry I just wanted to say that I've gotten some nasty feedback for asking a question on pm that the author had actually already stated on these black things at the top. Read them.

On with the show.

Their Territory

Hunting in this new me… or not new me in some ways but an older me was as easy as duck and jump- easy once you get the hang of it. The rustle of leaves usually caught my attention for I was hoping that it was Sam and I could talk to him for the first time in a moon.

I had caught two mice. Both were plump and juicy. I had eaten them both cause I knew Tigerstar wouldn't eat one and I knew there were plenty of prey in these dense woods. Plus, Tigerstar said I wouldn't be seeing him as often… I guess he had his own issues to attend to.

I watched the sun change one position after eating and then moved on. Crows were everywhere. In fact, they seemed to follow me wherever I went, but they tasted different now that the numbness had struck. Don't feel bad about it, we wanted it. We cant feel pain anymore. It was wonderful! Sure, there was slight discomfort when the thorn drilled my paw through, but after I bit it out and the flesh healed in a few seconds, it was gone. What I wanted.

The sudden smell of something new came to me. It surrounded almost everything in the forest already, but it was much stronger as I kept getting closer so the sound of water. I broke through the brush to reveal a beautiful clearing. The background was shining and I realized, after the sun stopped glaring my eyes, that it was a river full of fish. All of them were swimming upstream. The stone in the center of the clearing was not just one stone but many stones connected to one and it shone in the bright sun. The whole place shimmered… Shimmering Stones. That sounded nice. You know what else sounded nice? Tasting fish for the first time!

I trotted over to the river, the stone was warm on my paws I could still feel that. The water was wet and the ground was still moist from the earlier rain. It had fallen for ten minutes and then stopped out of the blue.

Once one of the fish came close enough, I swiped my paw down into the water and pulled it up. It too shimmered as it flopped on the ground. I dug my fangs into it and ripped it to reveal pink flesh and blood not even the bones were left after I was done.

Suddenly, a snap triggered behind me from the forest. I whipped around and saw three dark pelts, Three pairs of glowing eyes stared at me, but they didn't move. One pair unparticular caught my interest. The blue gaze was fiery and strong, but timid. And yet anger and hatred burned in them.

"I'm sorry, have I done something wrong?" I asked to them. The blue gaze widened and then angered again. The blue eyes launched and a pure black cat dashed at me snarling and slashing out his claws. The movements were sloppier then mine when we were first training. I simply dodged and ran for the top of the shimmering stones.

The black tom wouldn't stop there. He hissed at me and continued his chase. He was incredibly slow though. He seemed to be running out of steam while I was still barily breaking a sweat.

"Seriously, what did I do?" I shouted from above him where I presently was. I leaped down in front of him in all seriousness.

"Darkpaw! Keep away from the rogue. She needs to be handled professionally."

The other two cats from before leapt between us and swiped at my head. I ducked instinctively and rolled away.

"No! I can handle it! Stonefoot let me try again."

"My Apologize, but the last thing we need is another dead cat in our mourning graves."

Darkpaw was humiliated.

"Wait! I'm not a rogue, I'm from across the… thunderpath." I hoped that was what Tigerstar called it.

"A Shadowclan apprentice? She doesn't smell a thing like one."

"Well, I'm Fox… what's your name?"

"I knew it! A fox. Let's kill it before it destroys the clan!" Darkpaw hissed and crouched for attack.

I rolled my eyes and pounced on top of him. He thought I was attacking him obviously, because he tesed and his claws stretched.

I just moved his paws over and placed my paw gently on his tail end and pressed him down to a proper crouch.

"If your going to kill me, you at least need to know how to do a proper hunting crouch."

I shifted his paws again. The other two were just watching in humor. They didn't think I was too bad! The older tom Stonefoot was a dark grey tabby with a blue gaze that was bright, but not as deep as Darkpaw's who was pure black at the pelt. The other cat who had wronged me a Shadowclan apprentice (what ever that is) was a ginger and white she cat with amber eyes that glinted, but didn't show any sign of anything but remorse.

"There." I sat down in front of him and inspected my work. My word was infuriated.

"How dare you insult me! I'll rip your throat for that!"

"Darkpaw calm down, she's just a kit." the she cat hushed Darkpaw and he immediately responded by sitting up and mumbling. "Talks more like a smack elder if you ask me." I didn't know what that meant.

Darkpaw's fur flattened and he gazed at my unsheathed claws that were twice as large as the other's.

"Here's an idea. Sheath your claws, and we'll know your safe."

"Oh… forgive me. I would if I could but…" I tried again. Concentrating very sternly… nothing.

"…I can't." They seemed to believe me. The older two anyway

"We saw you hunting. That was very good. Where did you learn all this?"

"My Guardian angel." Wasn't it obvious?

"Yeah excellent hunting on our territory!" Darkpaw's gaze drilled and I got a bad feeling.

"So that's what that smell was! I was wondering. Border markings right? Genius idea… but it isn't very protective. shouldn't you have traps or something?"

The older two twitched but kept calm. Darkpaw did not hold back however and was staring down at me with fury in his eyes.

"What do you think we're doing? We are the traps. We guard our territory strong willed and loyal."

While hot head raved on, a scent drifted to my muzzle that was cat, but just a difference in the must. This smelt cleaner, more like it had washed recently and had a bit of confusion.

I turned to the scent and four other cats from across stood across the river.

"Riverclan." Stonefoot mumbled.

"Oh! Are those your friends?" I ran up to the edge of the river and shouted, "Hello there! Nice to meet you!" The two smaller cats that looked Darkpaw's age padded up to the river's edge and shouted as well.

"HI! I'm Largepaw!" A silver tabby tom shouted over.

"Largepaw! That's a fox, stay away from them and if they attack you, kill them…" One of the older ones stepped up quickly and glared at me giving me a bad feeling. "Something Thunderclan has clearly forgotten how to do."

"Fernpelt! You know what another cat looks like don't you? Or has your clan grown so weak, you cant tell the difference between species?" The female growled. Wait, fox? Cat? Wasn't I a- … don't tell them. Destiny…

The demon inside me whispered. I shut my mouth before I said anything.

I felt something like a disturbance. I sensed something unpleasant was coming. The smaller cat next to Largepaw was on a sloped ledge… it was crumbling!

I couldn't warn her soon enough. The ground below dropped and along with it her. She yelped for help as she disappeared into the river. The soft flow now seemed to be a rage with a helpless creature in it.

An instinct. I leapt into the river after her.

"Mistpaw!" Fernpelt screamed after us.

I swam deep down into the water. Don't ask me how I knew how, I just did. The water wasn't very clear, but I could see well enough to see the white in the water. I grabbed the scruff of the she cat and kicked up as hard as I could.

Air was finally reinstalled into my lungs, but Mistpaw's nose kept going under. I took a deep breath that was poisoned by fur and held Mistpaw up higher so she could breathe.

Where was I? How far until the next shore? Can I hold my breath up? More importantly, by streangth. I suddenly wished I hadn't wasted energy on Darkpaw because stronger then normal or not, Swimming with extra weight was exhausting.

"Mistpaw!" I yelped through clenched teeth only to be choked by water.

She wasn't coming through. Then I saw the blood from her brow. She had hit her head on something hard when she fell. Maybe an underwater rock? Forget that!

I turned against the tide and started trudging in the deep. Which way was Fernpelt? I decided to go right. I was blinded by water and hungry for air, but Mistpaw was defenseless. No way I was going to let her feel any more pain then she was already in.

At last! Land! It wasn't dry, but it was above water and that was good enough for me. I hoisted both of us out of the water and laid Mistpaw gently on the floor when we got to higher land.

"Mistpaw?" Her white and grey fur was flattened on her skin and she wasn't breathing.

"Mistpaw?" I started to nudge her. I panicked and started shoving her stomach to wake her up.

Water! Mistpaw threw up water on my fur but I wouldn't have the world to see that. She was alive!

"Mistpaw!" The second older cat was sprinting towards us, the other two close behind. Darkpaw, Stonefoot and the other one came on the opposite side of the river from us.

"Mom?" Mistpaw whispered barley. She tilted her soggy head up at me. Relief and gratefulness in her misty green eyes.

"Thank you…" Mistpaw mumbled. I nod slowly in response. I felt no pain, but I was tired.

"Do you…" I pant in and out trying to make up for the air I lost. "know how much you weigh?" I joked. She smiled slightly before the same cat almost tripped over me getting to Mistpaw. She was sobbing but glad to be able to be with her daughter. 'mom' she had said… Melody and Timothy… They called Elsie that… what was a mom?

"You saved my sister!" Largepaw awed. "Thank you! Whatever you are, thank you." Largepaw rubbed up against my wet fur and licked my head, then nestled with his mom and almost dead sister. What was that for? It had felt so… warm.

Fernpelt cleared his throat behind me.

I look up at him expectantly and then bow my head. "I'm sorry I don't know what came over me." I didn't know why I was apologizing.

He just nods and flicks his tail at Largepaw who shrinks back at the gesture.

"Riverclan appreciates your bravery. But please leave back to your territory." The bad feeling was back.

"Yes sir." I hesitantly looked at the river, and reluctantly jumped in. The river had seemed to suddenly calm down, and it was easy to get across. Darkpaw's deep blue eyes were the first I met once I shook myself off.

"That was amazing!" He complimented. Wait… Oh I see how it is!

"Not bad for a smack elder right?" I say quietly, but harsh enough for some life to drain from his expression.

"That was wonderful. Well executed. Quick reflexes, good swimmer, and good hunter! Not to mention the incredible youth. What are you five moons old?"

Oh no! I forgot how old Tigerstar said I should pretend to be. I just nod silently hoping that five moons was it.

"How would you like to come with us and meet some really nice cats? Become part of Thunderclan!" The female suggested.

"Brightleaf!" Stonefoot was shocked as her words.

"Face it Stonefoot." Brightleaf whispered in his ear. "We need more warriors! She's good enough to need maybe two moons and only that amount and we've got a hunter."

Stone foot looked me over, then nodded. "To camp."

destiny…